Just A Nice Picture Thread

Threads about the world of aviation outside of airshows. General aviation, airlines, spotting, etc.
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Tue Aug 17, 2021 2:54 pm

The 86th goes heritage

The 86th Flying Training Squadron of the United States Air Force could not stay behind. During a ceremony held at Laughlin Air Force Base on 13 August, a new heritage tail of one of their Raytheon T-1A Jayhawks was unveiled. The paint scheme of the aircraft reaches back to the Douglas B-18 “Bolo” of World War II and honors the Airmen who served aboard, the nose of the aircraft is also inscribed with Capt. Glen Edward’s name in memory of his service to the U.S. Air Force.

The 86th was activated as a light bombardment squadron, flying antisubmarine missions in the B-18 from McChord (WA) in January 1941. One year later the squadron was sent to the North African and European theatre of war, flying the Douglas Boston/Havoc and later the A-26 Invader. After returning to the USA the squadron saw a transition to the B-45 Tornado jet bomber but was inactivated in 1949.

Reactivated in 1954 during the early days of the Cold War, the 86th took on their North American B-45 Tornadoes again and later the Douglas B-66 Destroyer aircraft and served as a bomber unit, primarily stationed at RAF Sculthorpe and RAF Alconbury (England) until June 1960.

In March 1972, the 86th was redesignated the 86th Flying Training Squadron, based at Laughlin Air Force Base. It provided undergraduate pilot training in the T-38 Talon until 1992. Reactivated in 1994 it now utilizes the T-1A Jay Hawk for Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training.
https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/t ... s-heritage
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Tue Aug 17, 2021 4:28 pm

Just a nice picture…..

It shows North American P-51D Mustang NL951HB which came out of a long term restoration at Glenn Wegman's Fighter Enterprises, Inc. in Florida last year. It made its first flight on 26 September 2020.

The proud owner, Hannu Halminen chose to have his Mustang finished in Canadian colours. The fighter wears the livery of RCAF9253 with code “BA-S” as was flown by "City of Hamilton" 424 Squadron.

On Sunday 22 August, Halminen will present his P-51 on the ramp of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton (ONT, Canada)

Interesting to know is that the “real” RCAF9253 also still exists. This Mustang, former 44-74582, nowadays flies as N51JT, in USAF colours with buzz code FF-582 as “Crusader”.

The P-51 on the picture has an interesting history as it was delivered to the USAAF 8th AF as 44-72059 (c/n 122-31918) but soon passed on to the Swedish Air Force as Fv26142 in 1945.

Ten years later this airframe was sold to Nicaragua and flown there as GN-96. From Nicaragua, the Mustang was salvaged by Will Martin of MACO sales in 1963.

He registered the machine in the USA as N6150U but sold it, now to another South American air force, that of Bolivia. They operated the fighter as FAB-513 from 1966 to 1995.

It was then repatriated by World Jet Inc. of Fort Lauderdale (FL) and registered N711WJ. Not so long afterwards the plane was bought by Vintage Aero Inc. as N951HB. The restoration started in 2002, and was, as said, finished in 2020.
https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/j ... picture-50
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Mon Aug 30, 2021 4:29 pm

French Air & Space Force have released some stunning photos of the Dassault Rafale C in a special camo livery to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the 3/30 "Lorraine" Fighter Squadron.
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Tue Aug 31, 2021 2:54 pm

Recently, aviation friend Matt Ellis was on the right time and place to photograph this stunning coloured 71st Flying Training Squadron T-38A Talon.
Mat...
Please read more on our website by clicking the link below.
#avgeek #avgeeks #militaryaviation #USAF #T38A #Talon #71stFTS #LangleyAFB #adversary
Last edited by n33d4sp33d_85 on Tue Aug 31, 2021 2:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Wed Sep 15, 2021 2:21 pm

RAF Typhoon fly's the flag over iconic white cliffs ahead of Battle of Britain Anniversary
The RAF Typhoon Display team have retraced the footsteps of the heroic Battle of Britain pilots, known as the 'The Few,' by flying over the White Cliffs of the southern British coastline ahead of the anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
The Typhoon, callsign Blackjack, which is based at RAF Coningsby made several passes along the landmark as part of their return flight from the south coast after a successful four days of displays at the Bournemouth Air Festival.
The sortie provided essential training for Quick Reaction Alert, which is the pilots primary role based at RAF Coningsby. The aircraft was conducting a training exercise to intercept a low slow target in unfamiliar airspace.
"It was an honour to fly the Union Flag over the White Cliffs to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Looking down to see the stunning coastline and the pure whiteness of the cliffs, as the Fighter Pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain would have done many years ago, was an incredible experience."
Flight Lieutenant Sainty
Typhoon Display Pilot
The Cliffs saw plenty of action in the summer of 1940 and has a long history as a location for observation and warning. The location hosted a Chain Home Radar Station, which helped provide an early warning system along the east and south coasts of Britain. By 1940 the chain was completed and could detect low-flying aircraft which proved invaluable in getting RAF Fighters airborne.
"After shutting down the engines, I sat in the cockpit as the stillness of the air that day enveloped me and I reflected on how they must have felt in the summer of 1940, returning to base after fighting in the skies of the UK. This was a sortie that I will remember for the rest of my life."
Flight Lieutenant Sainty
Typhoon Display Pilot
Charged with capturing the imagery from the air was Senior Aircraftman Lewis, from the Photo Section at RAF Coningsby; he was also joined by aviation photography specialists Center of Aviation Photography Media for the sortie.
"Having the opportunity to photograph the Typhoon Display team aircraft over the Cliffs was a real privilege and something I won’t ever forget. Having such a unique vantage point looking down as the Typhoon flew the Union Flag colours over one of the country’s most iconic locations was a photographer’s dream."
Senior Aircraftman Lewis
Photographer, RAF Coningsby
Although fighting continued for another few weeks, the action on 15th September was seen as an overwhelming and decisive defeat for the Luftwaffe. For this reason, this date is celebrated in the United Kingdom as Battle of Britain Day.
The RAF will commemorate the Battle of Britain at the traditional service this Sunday (19th September) at Westminster Abbey attended by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshall Sir Mike Wigston.
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Wed Sep 15, 2021 2:35 pm

Czech Air Force Mi-35 in a brand new colour scheme
This livery was created on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the NATO Tiger Association. The paint job is dedicated to the No 311 (Czechoslovak) Squadron RAF with the paintings of the Vickers Wellington bomber on the left side and Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber on the right side of the helicopter as well as 247 stars each representing a fallen airman.
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Wed Sep 15, 2021 5:47 pm

A blue and white F-16 from the 114th Fighter Wing was painted for the South Dakota Air Guard in commemoration of their 75th anniversary. The paint scheme was conceptualized to emulate the WWII era Grumman F-4F Wildcat flown by South Dakota native and Medal of Honor recipient Joe Foss who was instrumental in founding the South Dakota Air National Guard.
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Mon Sep 20, 2021 2:39 pm

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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Mon Sep 20, 2021 5:34 pm

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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Fri Sep 24, 2021 3:23 pm

Taken from 300 feet above the flight path of the RAAF C-17 Globemaster III airlifter doing the Riverfire Festival practice run. Yesterday we posted some really amazing shots of the Royal Australian Air Force C-17 Globemaster III that flew a practice run for the annual Riverfire Festival along the Brisbane River and through the central business district on Sept. 23, 2021....

https://theaviationist.com/…/09/24/c-17 ... ane-video/
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