Author: thejivebombers
The A-36 Apache
Though often thought of as the same plane with a different name, the A-36 Apache differed considerably from its more common P-51 Mustang cousin.
Fairey’s Metal Airscrews
Vernon L. Burge of the “Government Aero Corps.”
Burge was one of the first members of the Aeronautical Division, US Signal Corps, and was also one of America’s earliest pilots, having been taught to fly when he was an army corporal in the Philippines. Promoted to sergeant, and much later, to colonel, Burge had an interesting and long career.
The aircraft may look ridiculous…
…but Mr. Claude Grahame-White was a serious engineer and an accomplished pilot. The Aero-Limousine seen here didn’t catch on, but other Grahame-White designs did.
Rohrbach Metall Flugzeugbau
Located in Berlin, Rohrbach were innovators in the use of metal in early aircraft designs. They also paid for some great ad work.
F4U Corsair Fans May Disagree…
…but the aircraft sure looked a lot better with a “bubble” type canopy.
Barling NB-3
The Nicholas-Beazley Barling NB-3 made a lot of claims, including that it was “spin-proof.” Not “virtually” spin-proof, but the whole works. Whatever their claims, they had nifty ads.
Hughes XH-17
Your October 31, 1952 copy of “Hughes News” featured the roll-out of the XH-17 helicopter. If you have not seen the videos of this beast aloft, I urge you to do so. It still holds the record for the largest rotor system even built.
Inland Aviation
Inland Aviation of Kansas was only around a few years, but they built some excellent aircraft such as the Inland Sport seen here. One of its principal features was side-by-side seating. You knew the modern age had arrived when whatever it was you invented for transporting people from one place to another gained the ability for two of those people to sit side-by-side. Apparently, sitting next to your sweetie also keeps one’s hair in place — even when you’re going so fast blurry lines indicating speed are emanating from your windscreen.
A pair of small posters announcing big news in 1930. Meet me in St. Louis at the World Air Fair, the International Aircraft Exposition. There’s also the All-American Airshow in Detroit. Added bonus: you only have to wait six weeks between the two shows.
A Handsome Pair of F4B-2’s
Despite belonging to different squadrons, these Boeing F4B’s are taken up for a drive by what appears to be the same pilot. 8799 is from VF-5, and 8636 is from VF-6.
Boeing F4B-1 (8133)
Seen here undergoing some heavy maintenance at NAS Anacostia. Those tubes beneath the aircraft? I will take a guess that they are used for laying down a smoke screen.
Boeing F4B-1 Demonstrates its Ability to Lug a Variety of Ordnance
Radiators for the GA-1
Radiator assembly for Boeing’s GA-1, or “GAX.” You ask “what is GAX?” I answer: “Ground Attack eXperimental. GAX Almighty was a great armored triplane that was supposed to be impervious to the puny weapons of enemy soldiers. While bullets pinged off its armored sides, GAX’s gunners amused themselves by shooting the enemy below like they were fish in a barrel. Well, that was the idea. In reality, GAX weighed so damned much you could hardly get it off the ground. The Air Service bought 10 of the beasts, flew them for a few years, and then moved on.
Simple
Pretty basic instrumentation, but even when this photo was taken in 1931, I am sure there were already those saying, “Wow, look at all them fancy dials!”.
This instrument panel would make a handsome addition to any Man Cave.
F4B 8895 of the Marine Corps pays a visit to Selfridge Field in the mid 1930’s
Radio & TV star (and Naval Reserve pilot) Arthur Godfrey
Godfrey at the controls of an SNJ at NAS Pensacola in September, 1950. At that time, he was one of the busiest men in the entertainment world as well as being a tremendously successful pitchman. And, in case he was not busy enough, he was also an aviation advocate and veteran pilot who flew for both the Naval and Air Force Reserve (such was his fame, both wanted his association for recruitment purposes).
PB4Y Privateer of VPB-891
Members of VPB-891 pose before one of their PB4Y Privateers at NAS Seattle. PBM Mariner in the background is a visitor from VP-47 at NAS Alameda.
For the Boeing Clipper Fanatics
F-86E, 119th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, New Jersey Air Guard.
A Coast Guard JF-2 “Duck” (V144)
This crew prepares to engage in what obviously involves some aerial photography. I say “crew”, but the man on the right looks like a civilian. He’s wearing a necktie, glasses, and a pretty nice pair of wingtip shoes. On the “Duck”, note the tube protruding below the numbers. This was used for dropping flares and smoke pots.
The B-50
B-50’s of the late 1940’s & early 1950’s. First up is B-50 (46-044) of the 43rd Bomb Wing on final to its home at Davis-Monthan AFB. On the nose is the group’s motto “Kensmen.” 47-0161 is up next. Last, 49-337 of the 509th Bomb Wing.
F-86E (52-2857) of the 336th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
The Jive Bomber 