Duxford Flying Legends 2005

Nonskimmer · 07-14-2005, 05:08 PM

Interesting. It's much like that in US naval aviation today (Air Force too?). The pilot is ultimately in charge, irrespective of rank, so you could have a lieutenant (j.g.) in command of the aircraft giving instructions to a commander.

Gnomey · 07-14-2005, 05:11 PM

Nice photos everybody

plan_D · 07-14-2005, 06:03 PM

I saw the tank one of that programme about the top ten - it was bullshit. And if you have top ten fighters of all time and don't have the English Electric Lightning - you're talking bullshit.

FLYBOYJ · 07-14-2005, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nonskimmer

The USAAF very briefly employed NCO (or warrant officer, I can't remember. Maybe both.) pilots in 1942.

They were "Pilot Officers" (PO - the same as a Warrant Officer) that started out usually as "flying sargents." Later other occupations used the ranks when NCOs were being trained for Navigator and Bombadier positios. My Uncle Joe was one, he was later made a 2nd Lt.

Nonskimmer · 07-14-2005, 06:15 PM

Ah, cool. Thanks for clearing it up.

FLYBOYJ · 07-14-2005, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nonskimmer

NCO pilots were often considered inferior by the officers. Tell that to Buzz Beurling.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nonskimmer

It's much like that in US naval aviation today (Air Force too?). The pilot is ultimately in charge, irrespective of rank, so you could have a lieutenant (j.g.) in command of the aircraft giving instructions to a commander.

Its like that on the P-3. The Tactical Coordinating Officer (TACCO) is like the bombardier on the plane. He's the one who actually kills the target (The sub - ARE YOU READING THIS NS?

). They are always battling the pilots as they think the pilot could make the aircraft go backwards and turn 15Gs to track a target. Usually the pilot usually "educates" them.

Nonskimmer · 07-14-2005, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLYBOYJ

Its like that on the P-3. The Tactical Coordinating Officer (TACCO) is like the bombardier on the plane. He's the one who actually kills the target (The sub - ARE YOU READING THIS NS?

).

I see.

*Note to self: From now on aim for the TACCO.*

FLYBOYJ · 07-14-2005, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nonskimmer

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLYBOYJ

Its like that on the P-3. The Tactical Coordinating Officer (TACCO) is like the bombardier on the plane. He's the one who actually kills the target (The sub - ARE YOU READING THIS NS?

).

I see.

*Note to self: From now on aim for the TACCO.*

Oh please do! Everyone on the plane will buy you beers!

On some of the P-3"C" models there was on old ICS button one the pilot's pedestal, this was to be used to talk to maintenance personnel outside the aircraft. Many units had them de-activated so there was this little push button switch that did nothing. Almost every squadron had at least one plane where someone got a hold of a label maker and labeled the switch "TACCO EJECTION SEAT!"

Nonskimmer · 07-14-2005, 08:30 PM

That sounds something like the "Cloaking Device" switch we had on one of the frigates I was on.

FLYBOYJ · 07-14-2005, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nonskimmer

That sounds something like the "Cloaking Device" switch we had on one of the frigates I was on.

Did you have some newbees thinking the ship could go invisible?

evangilder · 07-14-2005, 10:57 PM

Nice shots trackend! Believe it or not, out C-46 actually has a fuse on the fuse panel labelled "MISSILE POWER". It really was for missile power! Back in the old days, there were gyros in the missiles that had to be powered to know where they were at all times. So they were plugged into the power panel on the C-46 while being transported.

trackend · 07-15-2005, 12:40 AM

I do like your sig Skimm its a cracker.
Thats very interesting Evan it must have been a real bitch if the power to the gyros failed, I assume there must have been a procedure to reconfigurer the missiles in such an eventuality but I would imaging it would be very time consuming so the weapon would have been off the ordinace ready loop for sometime.

Nonskimmer · 07-15-2005, 04:22 AM

Thanks trackie. The sig will just be temporary. The dolphins were a long time coming, so I felt like celebrating.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLYBOYJ

Did you have some newbees thinking the ship could go invisible?

Two or three honestly thought it did something.

Idiots.

superunknown · 07-15-2005, 04:37 AM

I was there too, I would have put up pictures sooner but I couldn't be bothered. I only managed to get 44 pictures and most of them were crap!, my camera is a really cheap digital job which claims to have 3m pixels (more like 2m) with no optical zoom, just digital. I was most impressed with the B-25's and the Hawk-75.

evangilder · 07-15-2005, 06:24 AM

Yes, it would take it out for a while, but I have no idea how they would recover the gyros. I am sure there was a way, but knowing the technology of the time, it was probably pretty primitive and time consuming.