1937 German Heinkel He 119 With 2,350hp Armrest!

(5 pix)

 I remember learning about the Bell P-39 Airacobra as a kid, and how the engine was mounted behind the pilot and a shaft ran under the floor 10 feet forward to the prop.  It was an interesting configuration which was done to allow for the quite large cannon, that shot 37mm projectiles, to be mounted on the centerline up front where the engine would normally be.

 I also remember my dad and I talking about how we figured that it would always be on your mind when flying an airplane like this… what would happen if that shaft let loose that was running right under the seat?

 Well, I recently learned about the 1937 German Heinkel He 119, and my concerns about a shaft running under the floor in the P-39 are all pretty much gone now.  Why?  Because the He 119 had two, 12 cylinder, BMW 1,175hp inverted V engines (like the ones used in the Bf-109) mounted in an inverted W configuration and coupled to each other, positioned behind the cockpit with a shaft running forward to the prop.  Here’s where it gets weird… the cockpit is all that flush mounted glass directly behind the prop, and the pilot and co-pilot sit on either side of the housed shaft (that’s carrying 2,350hp) where it’s pretty much there for them to use as an armrest! 

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CoolPix - Vintage Military: Awesome Lineup Of 10 de Havilland Mosquitos

(click pic for hi-res)

 Here’s another CoolPix in the 'Vintage Military' category.  A lineup of 10 de Havilland Mosquitos that appear to be factory fresh and ready to go to war.

 In my mind, the de Havilland Mosquito is one of the best aircraft of all time for a variety of reasons.  Fabulous structural engineering resulted in an extremely light but strong airframe made mostly out of wood.  Great aerodynamic design made it an exceptional performer… extremely fast with a top speed of nearly 400 mph, and great handling qualities as well.  And then there’s the gorgeous lines of its shape.  Everything just seems to be in the right place.

 Be sure to view the hi-res version (click the pic) and look at the details of the airplanes.  It also looks like there’s a wind sock on beyond the last airplane in the line.  And look at that field… huge, smooth, and with short grass.  This is an absolutely awesome picture!

 Loads more Mosquito info at dhmosquito.com.

Blue Angels Backseat During Airshow - Awesome Flip Video!

 This incredible vid wasn't just shot with a Flip Video camera, it is a flip video!  Raw footage, with no music to mess it up, from the backseat of Blue Angels F-18 #7 during an airshow.  

 Sure, a 'media' ride would be really nice, but c'mon, this is what we all want... the chance to experience the insanely close formation at high speeds with lots of unusual attitudes!  

 This vid is as close as we'll ever get.  Sensational ride, and almost surely the best 9 minutes and 55 seconds you'll experience today.  Enjoy : )

CoolPix - X Planes: Vertol VZ-2 Tiltwing Research Aircraft Circa 1960

 (click pic for hi-res)

 Another new category for the CoolPix feature here at AirPigz… this time it’s ’X Planes’, which is meant to reflect predominately any experimental or research aircraft sponsored by a government agency.  That means that while it certainly includes the ‘official’ X-Planes that started with the X-1, it also includes many other ‘X’ designated aircraft, like the XFY-1 Pogo (video) as well as others like this sorta freakish looking Vertol VZ-2, which doesn't have an ‘X’ in the designation at all.  I hope that all makes sense.

 As with all the CoolPix, viewing the hi-res version is what it’s all about.  This pic was taken in December 1960 and shows several of the rather bizarre features of the VZ-2.  It was powered by a single turboshaft engine in the 700hp range that sits on top of the fuselage, right behind the tiltable wing.  That engine drives to the prop/rotors (presumably via shafting) which allows the wing-mounted nacelles to be rather small.  The engine also drives two small ducted fans at the rear, incorporated into the ‘T’ tail.  One for added pitch control, and the other, seen in the pic at the end of the fuselage, for yaw control.  It also has both a small nosewheel and tailwheel.  This hi-res pic allows you the chance to see lots of interesting details of a very unusual flying machine!

 The program ended in 1965 after the odd VTOL made about 450 flights, including 34 full transitions from vertical to forward flight.  The aircraft is believed to be currently in storage at the National Air and Space Museum.  The rare video below shows the VZ-2 in flight - cool stuff!

Cool Video Of The Convair XFY-1 Pogo Making Vertical Take-Off AND Landing!

 Hot Dog!  This is a cool video for at least 3 reasons.  First: cuz it actually has a lot of footage of the 1950's Convair XFY-1 Pogo in the air... vertical take-off, lots of horizontal flight, and vertical landing.  You'd actually think from this promo video that we would have soon been transitioning all aircraft to VTOL.  Turned out that while it did 'work', there were a lot of other issues that kept if from truly being a success.

 Second: there's actual footage of the Pogo flying inside Hangar One at Moffett Field, which just happens to be the first ever AirPigz CoolPix posted recently.  What a sight to see the Pogo doing tethered flying tests inside the huge airship hangar!

 Third: this video is from YouTube channel mcdonnell220, who's a guy that contacted me thru Oshkosh365.com a few days ago.  Turns out that we went to 1st thru 3rd grade together at a really small private school south of San Fransisco back in the late 60's.  We haven't talked since we were kids... it's pretty cool that aviation and the internet connected us again after 40 years.

 So anyway, if you're a fan of the crazy/cool X-Planes from the post WWII era, I think you're gonna really like seeing the Pogo in flight - enjoy : )

CoolPix - Airshow: Blue Angels At 2009 Reno Air Races

 (click pic for hi-res)

 This is only the second post in the new AirPigz feature called ‘CoolPix’, with this one coming in under the category ‘Airshow’.  After seeing how nice it was that the first post with the pic of Hangar One at Moffett Field was also viewable in hi-res, I’ve decided that I really need to try to work that element into as many CoolPix as I can.

 So, this one is available in hi-res too simply by clicking the picture.  It’s actually a photo I took of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels at the 2009 Reno Air Races.  The F-18 is one of the most beautiful jet fighters ever built, and when flown with the unbelievably high level of precision demonstrated by the Blue Angels (like as close as 18” apart!), it’s simply a mind-boggling experience.  This diamond formation looks especially nice with the airplanes all in tight, the perfect colored sky and the beautiful clouds in the background.  I hope you enjoy it : )

CoolPix - Vintage Military: US Navy Airship In Hangar One At Moffett Field

(click pic for hi-res)

 CoolPix is a new regular feature that’s starting right now.  Intriguing pictures (hopefully!) from all over the world of aviation.  From the past and the present,  broken down into at least 12 categories, like ’Vintage Military’, that will follow the word ‘CoolPix’ in the title so they can easily searched.  I also plan to have pre-sort links set up after the database builds up so you’ll be able to quickly experience some fab pix that are meant to inspire and educate.  I hope you’ll take the few extra moments these pix deserve to really take in what is going on.  You can just glance at them, but I promise you’ll be missing a lot if that’s all you do : )

 So, the very first CoolPix is an awesome view of a U.S. Navy airship in Hangar One at Moffett Field.  These type of hangars are awe-inspiring to say the least.  The hangar measures 1,133’ long, 308’ wide, and 198’ tall!  Airships, like the USS Macon and USS Akron were 785’ long, so it obviously took a super-sized hangar to house them.  Hangar One was built in the 1930’s.

 Most CoolPix won’t be available in hi-res (click the pic) but this one is, which is especially cool as it pulls you in close so you can see more of the structure details… but the best part for me is to look really close and notice the people inside.  They are so small!  It’s then that you really get the sense of how crazy huge both the hangar and the airship are.

 Lastly, this is an interesting pic because there have been efforts to possibly tear down, or at least remove all the skin from the still-standing Hangar One landmark.  There have been several ’rescue’ thoughts and attempts, but it appears at the moment that a final decision still hasn’t been made.  Anyone with more info on the status please share them in the comments - thanx!

Stunning Polikarpov I-16 (Soviet 1930’s) In 1/32 'Hyperscale'

(3 pix)

 No trickery on this post, I’m telling you right up front that this Polikarpov I-16 is a model… and unlike the privately owned F-16, this one doesn't even fly.  But OMGosh is it ever an amazing piece of work!  Do you see that engine detail in the pic above?  That engine is less than 2 inches in diameter, and the entire wingspan is only about 11 inches!

 It’s 'hyperscale' modeling as done by Aleksandar Sekularac, who seems to have an incredible eye for completely convincing weathering techniques as wells as relentless patience in dealing with so many small, detailed parts.  The basis for the model is a plastic Azur Models Polikarpov I-16 kit in 1/32 scale.  From there, Aleksandar has added an aftermarket enhancement kit for the engine, and then did wild detailing from scratch on the cockpit.  He’s also made several other

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Cool Video From The 50's - Ryan X-13 Vertijet!

 The Ryan X-13 Vertijet was just pure craziness as a concept considering it was built in the mid to late 1950's... and yet the little bugger actually worked pretty well.  At least well enough that the only two ever built are still intact with one on display at the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio and the other at the San Diego Air and Space Museum.

 Old aerospace testing footage like this is simply amazing to watch, especially if you really soak up what these people were doing (and try to imagine what the technology level was like at the time).  If you're like me, one time thru a video like this isn't enough.  Enjoy!

Perseverance: Airbus A400M First Flight

Screenshot pic from the Airbus live webcast of the A400M first flight

 On Friday morning at San Pablo airport just outside of Seville, Spain a major milestone was reached in the much-troubled Airbus Military A400m program: a beautifully successful first flight!  This particular achievement (and hopefully another successful one very soon with the Boeing 787) mean even more to me than usual. 

 Sure, it's always great to see a brand new aircraft verify all the complex design, engineering and fabrication work by proving itself in the sky, but with the massive time delays and cost overruns in this project (and the 787), I feel a special connection to these efforts.  The last 18 months of my life have been the most difficult ever from a financial and perseverance standpoint.  Even a relatively simple project like AirPigz.com has been beaten up by the difficulties and setbacks that have stood in my way.

 That's what makes it so special to see the A400M finally get into the air.  It's a great example of perseverance in the face of huge obstacles.  We sometimes follow projects like the A400M and the 787 and get frustrated when they can't meet their deadlines and goals. But for just a minute, imagine what it's like for the people directly involved in such massive, and at times, seemingly hopeless projects.  Their will to continue to push ahead is greatly tested.

 In my own tiny little way, the re-launch of AirPigz.com just a few days ago helps me to have a lot more appreciation for work of those involved in getting this airplane off the ground.  So I celebrate with Airbus Military's successful accomplishment this day of getting the A400M into the air.  Never give up!