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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Apr 13, 2024 8:03:38 GMT
Been trying to attend to this for Erik for the past few days .... just not been possible before now I believe this's the last installment to be included among his above/earlier presented AIR CANADA/ZIP AIR B737-200 ADV representations .... this version featuring black tail of 2004. AIR CANADA ZIP (black tail) B737-217 ADV C-GCPZ (2004)A "NICE" and impressively colourful "WRAP-UP" Erik Mark C AKL/NZ
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Post by Erik Ingram - HJG on Apr 14, 2024 2:15:03 GMT
One more new one for the moment- it's not the most colorful or exciting MD-90 out there, but it's certainly important for a myriad of reasons! N931TB is most likely the last MD-90 to ever fly, having been flown from storage at Victorville, CA to Boeing's facility in nearby Palmdale on August 15, 2023. As the small titles indicate, it's there to be used in the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator program, which is expected to result in the X-66 flying by 2028. As shown in the picture below, it will use Boeing's Transonic Truss-Braced Wing as well as a next-generation engine (currently planned to be the CFM RISE which is an open-rotor design similar to the Un-Ducted Fan project of the 1980s), though some sources indicate the PW1000G or CFM LEAP are in contention depending on RISE development. This will also involve cutting the airframe down to about the size of a DC-9-50. Regarding the airframe itself, it was originally B-2266 with China Northern and China Southern, and later became N962DN with Delta. Another aircraft, N930TB (formerly N908DA with Delta) is also being used in the development process.
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Apr 14, 2024 9:09:07 GMT
She may be "A Plain Jane" .... BUT .... as evidenced per both the name on her nose, and logo on her fuselage crown skin, and considering very nature of her tasking too, she's certainly "A Plane With A Name" and one that'll most likely become "A Plane Of Fame" when current aviation development's reviewed in tomorrows aviation history books.
Mark C AKL/NZ
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Post by Herman on Apr 14, 2024 11:44:26 GMT
Interesting subject Erik....combination of high wing and low wing.... that X-66A. Thanks for that Boeing photo. Herman
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Apr 16, 2024 7:34:14 GMT
Straight out of of Erik's hangar/paint shop comes the following MD-90-30 .... MD-90-30 (IGW) BOEING/NASA SUSTAINABALE FLIGHT DEMONSTRATOR N931TB (2024).... and which has also just this moment been released per today's "NEW FILES" offerings .... tonymadgehjg.proboards.com/thread/10543/files-releases-april-15th-2024Currently parked on the HJG development apron and awaiting someone/anyone to take it up on her first ever virtual flight. Mark C AKL/NZ
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Post by Erik Ingram - HJG on May 3, 2024 4:57:12 GMT
Thanks Herman! Continuing (if somewhat unintentionally) the theme of incognito airplanes, the C-135 family has seen plenty of disguises in its day as well! First is this RC-135U, which, despite what the tail says, is actually 64-14849. On several occasions during forward deployments to RAF Mildenhall, the U models were known to adopt fake tail numbers, as 849 did during 1976. As with some of the other more creative artworks, these were usually removed before returning home to Offutt where wing leadership might see. Then, from this year, we have KC-135R 63-7997 of the 92d Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild AFB, Washington. Per a directive from AMC's commander, airplanes have very slowly started to lose their identifying markings, including the "U.S. AIR FORCE" titles, unit identifiers, and tail numbers. It remains to be seen how widely this will be adopted, as it was kind of a unilateral decision, plus I understand it's been very unpopular with Air National Guard units, many of which pride themselves on their creative tail designs or nose art. In any case, only 2-3 KC-135s have appeared in these markings so far, and new aircraft such as KC-46s are still being delivered in the traditional scheme.
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Post by Nathan Ford - HJG on May 3, 2024 10:31:31 GMT
Loving 64-14849, that’s a beautiful repaint.
Nathan
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on May 4, 2024 1:47:54 GMT
This group is very lucky to have Erik's "EXPERTISE/KNOWLEDGE" in respect of these military uniformed aircraft subjects. I doubt anyone among us (including me) understands them better than he does Mark C AKL/NZ
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