The Great, Constantly Changing Picture Gallery, Troisième partie: la vengeance!

[Llarry]

The Leonardo AW609 tiltrotor recently conducted deck trials on an Italian navy ship. The 609 is projected to enter service later in the 2020s.

Talk about a protracted period of development -- the 609 first flew in 2003. It started out as the Bell/Augusta BA609, then became the Augusta/Westland AW609, and then became a Leonardo project.

It seems to me that a smaller tiltrotor like this has a myriad of potential uses. It can accommodate 9 or 6-7 in VIP form. It seems well-sized for SAR.

 

[VMO4]

USMC SBD's from VMS-3 wearing Atlantic Camouflage

 

[Flash]

The Navy has a 'new' air-to-air missile, the AIM-174B, the air-launched version of the ship-launched RIM-174/SM-6:

 

[ChuckMK23]

Apparently this is a big deal and represents a substantial amount of innovation. I've read in other forums that "this would not have been possible 10 years ago". Good stuff.

 

[Flash]

Apparently this is a big deal and represents a substantial amount of innovation. I've read in other forums that "this would not have been possible 10 years ago". Good stuff.

It was possible but the will and need to get it done weren't as strong or urgent. And money, of course.

 

[Notanaviator]

These Photos Provide a Size Comparison Between the New AIM-174B and AIM-120 Missiles

The air-launched SM-6, designated AIM-174B, is significantly larger than the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile. As reported in detail recently, F/A-18E/F Super

theaviationist.com

This article consolidates a bunch of openly available pictures of the new set up, she's a big sucker for sure. Of all that stood out, the canted Rhino pylons seem especially absurd in the VX-31 pics. I still can't believe there's not a fix to be made there - can't imagine how much speed and fuel has been lost due to the drag over the years.

 

[Swanee]

These Photos Provide a Size Comparison Between the New AIM-174B and AIM-120 Missiles

The air-launched SM-6, designated AIM-174B, is significantly larger than the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile. As reported in detail recently, F/A-18E/F Super

theaviationist.com

This article consolidates a bunch of openly available pictures of the new set up, she's a big sucker for sure. Of all that stood out, the canted Rhino pylons seem especially absurd in the VX-31 pics. I still can't believe there's not a fix to be made there - can't imagine how much speed and fuel has been lost due to the drag over the years.

In scientific terms- a shit load.

 

[SynixMan]

In scientific terms- a shit load.

Standard shit load or metric shit load?

 

[Uncle Fester]

On this day in 1991: the infamous KA-6 partial ejection incident on Lincoln. I didn’t learn until recently that apparently the BN wasn’t all that badly injured (considering) and was back on flight status only six months later.

 

[Griz882]

View attachment 40852
On this day in 1991: the infamous KA-6 partial ejection incident on Lincoln. I didn’t learn until recently that apparently the BN wasn’t all that badly injured (considering) and was back on flight status only six months later. View attachment 40853

I read somewhere that his arm was dislocated from his shoulder to the point of torn muscles!

 

[Uncle Fester]

I read somewhere that his arm was dislocated from his shoulder to the point of torn muscles!

Well I mean…dude was lucky he still *had* a frickin arm…

 

[TacticalTater]

View attachment 40852
On this day in 1991: the infamous KA-6 partial ejection incident on Lincoln. I didn’t learn until recently that apparently the BN wasn’t all that badly injured (considering) and was back on flight status only six months later. View attachment 40853

What did the BN do on a tanker?

 

[ea6bflyr]

What did the BN do on a tanker?

Co-pilot duties. Navigate, communicate, run checklists. Cross-check airspeed, altitude, etc…

 

[wink]

Somewhere on the interest I heard the prifly audio. Good listen.

 

[taxi1]

What did the BN do on a tanker?

Take the fat chick