Historic Aircraft from back in the day

SKlein wrote:

I've somehow never seen or heard about this before. It's a cool peek into the lengths engineers were going to for stealth testing."A experimental stealth...

I've somehow never seen or heard about this before. It's a cool peek into the lengths engineers were going to for stealth testing.

"A experimental stealth aircraft developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s as part of a darpa program to reduce radar cross section. it first flew in 1982 and used a rounded, whale-like fuselage to study low observable shaping and radar behavior rather than sharp facets.

The aircraft was built to test how stealth shaping affected sensors, stability, and flight control, not to be operational. it relied heavily on early fly-by-wire systems to remain controllable due to its unstable aerodynamic design. data from tacit blue directly influenced later stealth aircraft, most notably the b-2 spirit and advanced surveillance platforms.

The program remained classified until 1996, when the aircraft was revealed to the public. only one was built, and it now resides at the national museum of the united states air force."

G-man wrote:

I can't recall ever seeing the Valkyrie fly.... 

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1JSc9ss3UU/

 

SKlein wrote:

I've somehow never seen or heard about this before. It's a cool peek into the lengths engineers were going to for stealth testing."A experimental stealth...

I've somehow never seen or heard about this before. It's a cool peek into the lengths engineers were going to for stealth testing.

"A experimental stealth aircraft developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s as part of a darpa program to reduce radar cross section. it first flew in 1982 and used a rounded, whale-like fuselage to study low observable shaping and radar behavior rather than sharp facets.

The aircraft was built to test how stealth shaping affected sensors, stability, and flight control, not to be operational. it relied heavily on early fly-by-wire systems to remain controllable due to its unstable aerodynamic design. data from tacit blue directly influenced later stealth aircraft, most notably the b-2 spirit and advanced surveillance platforms.

The program remained classified until 1996, when the aircraft was revealed to the public. only one was built, and it now resides at the national museum of the united states air force."

Bearuno wrote:

Cripes, clip the main wings enough to be legal road width, and put solar panels on it, and it resembles a big proportion of a yearly...

Cripes, clip the main wings enough to be legal road width, and put solar panels on it, and it resembles a big proportion of a yearly E Vehicle contest, that , I think, goes up to Darwin.

G-man wrote:

Wow, another aircraft I do not remember much about, the F106 Delta Dart. It was one of the first to be flown by computer systems in...

Wow, another aircraft I do not remember much about, the F106 Delta Dart. It was one of the first to be flown by computer systems in 1956! 😳

Its primary mission was to intercept Russian high altitude aircraft from dropping nuclear bombs over the US.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1GDNTjKN7F/

The Convair F-106 Delta Dart was a single-seat, single-engine interceptor aircraft that served as the primary all-weather defense for the United States Air Force from the 1960s through the 1980s. It was a derivative of the F-102 Delta Dagger, but with extensive structural changes and a more powerful engine. The F-106 was capable of speeds exceeding Mach 2 and had a range of 1,500 miles. It was armed with air-to-air missiles and an air-to-air nuclear missile. 

 

harescrambled wrote:

I saw a documentary about the Sea Dart years ago. Had the engines above the wing, and it was the one and only seaplane to exceed...

I saw a documentary about the Sea Dart years ago. Had the engines above the wing, and it was the one and only seaplane to exceed the speed of sound

harescrambled wrote:

I saw a documentary about the Sea Dart years ago. Had the engines above the wing, and it was the one and only seaplane to exceed...

I saw a documentary about the Sea Dart years ago. Had the engines above the wing, and it was the one and only seaplane to exceed the speed of sound

lappedrider wrote:

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2026/03/19/a-10-warthogs-target-iranian-fast-attack-craft-in-strait-of-hormuz/

Maybe it’s time to stop trying to force early retirement.  

lappedrider wrote:

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2026/03/19/a-10-warthogs-target-iranian-fast-attack-craft-in-strait-of-hormuz/

Maybe it’s time to stop trying to force early retirement.  

harescrambled wrote:

It shouldn't be retired yet anyway. There is nothing else with the survivability the A10 has in the close support role. 

lappedrider wrote:

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2026/03/19/a-10-warthogs-target-iranian-fast-attack-craft-in-strait-of-hormuz/

Maybe it’s time to stop trying to force early retirement.  

Joey Bridges wrote:

Interesting P-51 mod...

Interesting P-51 mod...

G-man wrote:

Might not be from back in the day, but it certainly is Historic. Check out the B1 taking off. 🇺🇸👍 https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1FzrsJPpbK/ 

Might not be from back in the day, but it certainly is Historic. Check out the B1 taking off. 🇺🇸👍

 

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1FzrsJPpbK/

 

G-man wrote:

And here's one landing..... 😎

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18Z5TqduZi/

 

Sully wrote:

My youngest works on B1s. Can't wait to visit him and see those beasts fly. 

G-man wrote:

That's awesome! I bet you're very proud of your Son. I must have posted the wrong link. Here's the one of it landing and also a cool...

That's awesome! I bet you're very proud of your Son. 

I must have posted the wrong link. Here's the one of it landing and also a cool one of the U2.

Crazy to think both these AWESOME Aircraft entered service 40 and 69 YEARS ago and they are still getting the job done! 👍

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1C6bypYLLF/

 

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18dEj6YhSt/