The Aviation Thread [Contains Lots of Awesome Pictures]

I was like "yawn, noisy turbo-prop that I hate flying on" but then I noticed the thing on the underbelly. What is it?
Had to look it up myself.


Hawker Beechcraft MC-12W Huron
The aircraft accommodates a crew of four operators: the pilot, co-pilot, SIGINT operator and electro-optical systems operator. Each 'PLA aircraft is configured with a Wescam MX-15D EO multisensor payload providing full-motion video in day and night, through the color zoom video camera, high magnification camera and thermal imaging system, the payload also accommodates a laser rangefinder, laser target designator and laser illuminator. The electronic warfare segment on the aircraft comprises SIGINT and jamming system, enabling the operator to intercept and combat adversary communications.
More info: http://defense-update.com/features/2009/july/project_liberty_mc12W-iraq_040709.html
 
The Army isn't allowed to operate fixed wing aircraft and there's no way in hell that thing can land on an aircraft carrier. It's gotta be Air Force is if it's military rather than scientific. Odd paint job though.

Not all USN aircraft can land on carriers.
 
Fun fact about P-38's: They had a polished aluminum oval on the inboard side of the nacelle so the pilot could verify landing gear position.

Most light twins will have a small mirror to verify landing gear position (usually on the engine nacelle). Even some larger aircraft will have them installed - the King Airs I flew in my previous job had a mirror on the left engine nacelle to verify nose gear position. It also made taxiing the aircraft exactly down the centerline very easy :p

The Army isn't allowed to operate fixed wing aircraft and there's no way in hell that thing can land on an aircraft carrier. It's gotta be Air Force is if it's military rather than scientific. Odd paint job though.

The US Army is allowed to operate fixed-wing aircraft, but they are limited in many aspects. They have a number of transport aircraft (Cessna Citations, Fairchild Metros, Shorts Sherpas and a couple of Gulfstreams), plus a handful of RC-12s (the aircraft in the picture is an MC-12W, which is a USAF project). Beyond that, the USAF has a lock on essentially all other fixed-wing aviation operations affecting the Army.
 
Couldn't it be USMC? I believe they fly those.

edit: blah, new page, blah. One thing that the Marines do have that the USAF doesn't is Harriers for a couple more years until the F-35 enters into active service.

edit2: speaking of Harriers, why not post some pics?

1339208.jpg

1078050.jpg

0528138.jpg

0894130.jpg
 
Last edited:
The Army isn't allowed to operate fixed wing aircraft and there's no way in hell that thing can land on an aircraft carrier. It's gotta be Air Force is if it's military rather than scientific. Odd paint job though.

US Army is allowed to fly cargo and utility fixed-wings.
 
US Army is allowed to fly cargo and utility fixed-wings.

Yes, I should have clarified. I was referring to combat / surveillance / etc. craft -- those are the Air Force's job.
 
Hey look what I saw this weekend....Beechcraft Starship.

IMG_0695.jpg


IMG_0699.jpg
 
I'm on the fence when I join the army early next year if I should stick with IT Specialist or go in the Warrant Officer as a helicopter for the AH-64D.... childhood dream of mine :)

4367191521_13178896d4_o.jpg

Let me put it to you this way. I bumped into an entry level Civilian US-government helicopter pilot position while I was cruising the govt employment listings. With military training, the starting pay (for this entry-level position - just show up with experience and fly) was THREE TIMES a high-level IT manager's salary. If I had to make the choice between "IT" and "Helicopter pilot" it would be a no brainer - even without bothering to factor in the whole childhood dream thing.
 
Awesome looking aircraft, but shame it underperformed.

Just like women. If you want versatile go for the slightly wider, plainer looking one.......
 
Hey look what I saw this weekend....Beechcraft Starship.

I was never a fan of the Starship.

Now the Piaggio Avanti, that's another story. That as to be one of the most beautiful plane ever made. I regularly see one flying out of CYUL, and in fact saw it sitting at an FBO yesterday night when I left work (sitting in the same spot where a Falcon 7X was last Thursday).

1-private-jet.jpg
 
Let me put it to you this way. I bumped into an entry level Civilian US-government helicopter pilot position while I was cruising the govt employment listings. With military training, the starting pay (for this entry-level position - just show up with experience and fly) was THREE TIMES a high-level IT manager's salary. If I had to make the choice between "IT" and "Helicopter pilot" it would be a no brainer - even without bothering to factor in the whole childhood dream thing.


Dang, don't senior IT manager's get around mid 100-140k salary? I mean, money isn't everything, but it is pretty damn nice to get that coming in. Sadly helicopter pilot jobs isn't that big here where I'm at. Our area is mostly IT/Engineering Military type companies. Which is why I want to go to the army because when I get out, experience and security clearance is what I get out of it, major major plus here.

But if I decide to be in the military for a while, then I'd definitley bust my ass to get helicopter pilot.
 
I was never a fan of the Starship.

Now the Piaggio Avanti, that's another story. That as to be one of the most beautiful plane ever made. I regularly see one flying out of CYUL, and in fact saw it sitting at an FBO yesterday night when I left work (sitting in the same spot where a Falcon 7X was last Thursday).

One of my professors helped design that plane.
 
Top