Can someone identify this aircraft.....

[jtexas]

Took this photo at an airshow this past fall -- one of these is an F15, does anyone know what the other is?

 

[JB]

Re: Can someone identify this aircraft.....

That's a P-40 Warhawk in Chinese (Flying Tiger) markings.

When I was 8 years old I could ID every warplane flying, under any flag.

Never realized that skill would be useful 65 years later.

 

[tallcanadian]

Re: Can someone identify this aircraft.....

i'm thinking p40?

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Unti...hoto_id_DESC_&prev_id=1097440&next_id=1077825

 

[amendegw]

Re: Can someone identify this aircraft.....

Curtiss P-40?

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Can someone identify this aircraft.....

There was a special on the Military channel a couple of weeks ago on the P-40. Awesome in its day, and still is to those in its class.

 

[DJ]

Re: Can someone identify this aircraft.....

P-40. No question. They flew in may theatre's.

Many names attached to them.

Basically the USA's (pitiful) attempt at staying out of WW II.

Underpowered, overclassed (handling) by the Japanese and German offerings. The P-40 featured an Allison V-12.

We overtook that with: J4U (Corsair), P-38 (Lightening), P-47 (Thunderbolt, "JUG"), P-51 (Mustang) and numerous Douglas offerings on the Naval front: F4F (Wildcat), F6F (Hellcat) to mention a few.

That was when this nation had a Manufacturing base. Could we do it agian----NOPE!

 

[JB]

Re: Can someone identify this aircraft.....

The FXF Navy fighters were Grummans and the Corsair was F4U.

The P40 was slower and less maneuverable than the Zero and the ME109s, but it was more heavily armed and armored, so it was respected, or even feared, by enemy pilots. It's kill ratio was positive, even against the over-rated Zero.

 

[angus63]

Re: Can someone identify this aircraft.....

JSF(F-35) current program is US built and the most technologically advanced aircraft ever. Will dominate the skies for decades to come. Will also be the last manned combat aircraft program for the US. Future leading efforts are expected to be remote platforms.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Can someone identify this aircraft.....

JB, I'm impressed! I knew it was a P-40 the second I saw the sillouette, but getting the paint scheme too - you are a true airplane junkie, sir!

You just made me smile because my three year old has been playing with an A-10 (warthog) toy for a week. He even took it to bed last night and I had to fish it out of his covers after he fell asleep, so he wouldn't poke himself with it!

Whether we are talking about an 8 year old kid during WW2, or a three year old today, there is stil a fascination with stuff that flys!

 

[DJ]

Re: Can someone identify this aircraft.....

I stand corrected by the master "JB".

This man, as my father, actually saw those aircraft in "real time", not in airshow trim.

I've flown in a 'Texan" with dad (at 81) at the controls of another "Texan" flying 20' apart. The owners of the aircraft were amazed at how Dad remembered how to fly "real" formation. Scary! He could have landed it-no problem. He said: "Remember your reference points-Horizon, next wing (aircraft) and altitude." 'Other than that it's like falling off of a bike." You only do it once-so-REMEMBER.

Lesson-LEARNED. I was scared &*(^-less. But, confidence, as always was portrayed by the old man. I actually flew the bird. What a thrill.

Next year is a Mustang ride.

BTW, My father, now 86, remembers and tells me more than he ever shared before. I'm a sponge. What's even better is that he tells my sons more. Hair raising stories (true) from WWII.

A Wealth of knowledge.

Dad was a B-24, B-17, B-29, B-36, B-50 pilot (Army Air Corps's To SAC) during humankinds worst years. He "bailed" as transitioning into B-52's

My Father in law escaped, just in front of the NAZI's, in 1939. His family made it, the family behind him didn't. Gunned down. He's just started to open up. I think a book is in the works. We must NEVER forget how cruel we can be.

My FIL is the proudest American you'll ever meet. He gained his citizenship in 1960. He knows what "pride" in citizenship means.

Nothing but GM's and Fords in his stable. He worked for both and says nothing but admiration for the "American Dream". He's lived it and seen it.

 

[QC]

Re: Can someone identify this aircraft.....

My Father in law escaped, just in front of the NAZI's, in 1939. His family made it, the family behind him didn't. Gunned down. He's just started to open up. I think a book is in the works. We must NEVER forget how cruel we can be.

My FIL is the proudest American you'll ever meet. He gained his citizenship in 1960. He knows what "pride" in citizenship means.

Nothing but GM's and Fords in his stable. He worked for both and says nothing but admiration for the "American Dream". He's lived it and seen it.

I LOVE these stories despite the horror. This is what makes me proud to be an American.

I often take cabs or Super Shuttles to the Airport, or cabs in other American cities. Almost 100% of the time the driver has an accent. I always say, "I hope I don't offend you, but where were you from originally?" They are never offended and always open up, and they are from "Persia" which is code for pre-Revolution Iran, or Russia, or Iraq or Ethiopia or whatever. And to a man or woman they cherish this country and are often on their way to citizenship. They always have begun a family here, and are almost always sending money back to their old country and waiting for their next relative to come here. I actually get choked up :redface:

Sorry for the hijack . . .

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Can someone identify this aircraft.....

That's a P-40 Warhawk in Chinese (Flying Tiger) markings.

When I was 8 years old I could ID every warplane flying, under any flag.

Never realized that skill would be useful 65 years later.

Back in the day when war planes were flying in the war, was it not part of school curriculum to be able to identify enemy planes as part of the war effort?

 

[captquest]

Re: Can someone identify this aircraft.....

I have flown most of the WWll aircraft and many of the modern fighters such as the F-16, F-15, FA-18, A-10, and even the Migs. On computer simulations that is lol.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVeSDWy6WHU

 

[jtexas]

Re: Can someone identify this aircraft.....

Thanks, it was bugging me I couldn't remember what it was. The USAF and Navy both do these "Heritage" flights now, a vintage and modern fighter in close formation, it's really very striking. Just about my favorite part of the show.

My dad (85) was on a 40mm AAA gun in France, Belgium & Germany in '44 & '45; just in the last couple years he's started talking about it. He was on hand for the liberation of Nordhausen concentration camp...pretty amazing, guess it's the sort of thing you keep to yourself for 60 years.

Just for fun, here's another pic:

 

[MikDee]

Re: Can someone identify this aircraft.....

Yep, a "Flying Tiger" the P-40 Warhawk. I used to build plastic models of these planes, & Navy ships, from the time I was about 8yrs old. I was fascinated by them, I knew every one of them back then. That was one of my Favs. along with the F4U Corsair, plus the F86, & F86D Sabre Jet, until the Panther was built. One of my most favorite prop driven planes was the P51 Mustang. I was happy as a pig in manure when I got the "Admirals fleet" for Christmas that year, it had in kit form, all the Navy ships in one box, plus a seperate box with a PT boat kit, ever since then I wanted to be a PT Boat captain, that's why I admired JFK even more.

 

[JB]

Re: Can someone identify this aircraft.....

Back in that day I lived in a center of military activity. Our neighbors included Gen Arnold (Air Corps), Gen Chapman (Airborne) and a bunch of other senior officers associated with Fort Bragg (20 miles away), Camp Macall and the Air Corps Training Center a block from our house.

The local airport, a mile away, always had a squadron or two of fighters (they were called Pursuits, then) in training before shipping out to the UK or the Pacific theatre. Major Magid, of whom I have spoken in "Red sky at night" commanded a squadron of P38s that were there for a few months before heading for the Solomons.

We were as immersed in the war as though we were a military family, had many close friends in the military and kept close track of everything.

I remember one humorous incident. My Uncle, who was an ensign in the Navy, came by to visit one evening. My half brother and I were having a Birthday party and there were about a dozen youngsters running around the yard. Uncle Tom came looking for me and ran into another Officer seeking his son. It was dark and all Uncle Tom could see was two shiny things on the Officer's collar. . . he thought they were Lieutenant's bars and struck up a conversation. When they came indoors in the light and he realized that they were stars (and there were three of them!) he nearly fainted. Gen. Arnold thought it was great and corresponded with Uncle Tom for years.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Can someone identify this aircraft.....

I remember one humorous incident. My Uncle, who was an ensign in the Navy, came by to visit one evening. My half brother and I were having a Birthday party and there were about a dozen youngsters running around the yard. Uncle Tom came looking for me and ran into another Officer seeking his son. It was dark and all Uncle Tom could see was two shiny things on the Officer's collar. . . he thought they were Lieutenant's bars and struck up a conversation. When they came indoors in the light and he realized that they were stars (and there were three of them!) he nearly fainted. Gen. Arnold thought it was great and corresponded with Uncle Tom for years.

I bet Uncle Tom fealt like crawling under a rock and hiding . That was pretty funny JB thanks for sharing, great read.

 

[mthieme]

Re: Can someone identify this aircraft.....

I'd love to have the Allison out of that P-40.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Can someone identify this aircraft.....

Although I spent 20 years in aviation as an occupation, I always found myself looking up any time an aircaft passed overhead. In fact, I still do it.

Three of those years were spent flying as a crewmember in Grumman Albatross seaplanes, which had the same engines as the B17s (Wright 1820, 9 cylinder radial). The sound of those motors was always music to my ears because they reminded me of the many flights that my family took in DC6s, DC7s & Lockheed Constellations.

Years later, an aviation journalist friend of mine was offered two seats on a ferry flight of a B24 bomber. At the time, I think it was one of only two flyable B24s in the world. He called me immediately and offered me the second seat, which I would not have refused if the world were coming to an end! We sat in the back, where the waist gunners would have been, and had a great time. Between the sound of the motors, the constant creaking of brakes on the ground (the WW2 era aircraft don't have steering in the conventional sense - they were steered via differential braking), and the smell of oil and avgas, it was like we had been transported to another time!

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Can someone identify this aircraft.....

I'd love to have the Allison out of that P-40.

Or one of those Rolls Royce Merlins from the Mustangs???? That was the motor that really made that plane. My Dad is also aWWII vet and has some pretty harrowing stories from his time over there. He was attached to the 454th bomb squadron, 8th AF. He recently returned from his annual squadron reunion...very few of the men and their familys survive today. I believe the latest statistic has about 1100 of them dieing every day..
Nedless to say we were raised on or at AF bases, so we also knew every one of the current planes as well as what was flown in the past.
I was chuckling reading JB's Hap Arnold story! Back in our youth we respected officers and always called our adults "sir" or "maam". Very little of that comes from the mouths of our youth today...