Lady Jane wrote

Rutan Boomerang.

I've seen this airplane at our local airport. It seemed to fly just fine, but I just can't get my head wrapped around the asymmetrical design.

North American Aviation XF-107A "Ultra Sabre".

Here's the very weird M2-F2.

But an easy trivia question for all of you - why is this aircraft in particular forever etched into pop culture?

BMWGUYinCO wrote

Here's the very weird M2-F2.

But an easy trivia question for all of you - why is this aircraft in particular forever etched into pop culture?

The 6 Million Dollar man.

A previously-posted shot by M_Six of a Douglas AD-5 Skyraider warbird painted up in the colors of 1950s Marine Attack Squadron 332 'Polka Dots.'

I can just picture the all-pilots meeting where someone (the CO?) suggested they call themselves the Polka Dots. "You mean alongside the Vampires and the Red Wolves and the Death's Avengers, we will be the Polka Dots?!?"

Here's an unusual in-flight photo of an Atlantique maritime recon sub-hunter aircraft.

PZL M-15 Belphegor.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PZL_M-15_Belphegor

Rutan Long-EZ.

Lady Jane wrote

Rutan Long-EZ.

First one I've seen with those underwing pods. Are they fuel tanks or storage compartments?

Nevermind. I found that photo on Wikipedia. Those are baggage pods.

On 29 May 1953, the first of two 40 passenger de Havilland Comets arrived in Ottawa. With the arrival of this aircraft, the RCAF became the first air force in the world to operate jet transports and the first operator to make scheduled trans-Atlantic crossings.

The photo above of the Comet shows perforated "barriers" on the wings. I understand the principle of parallel wing fencing on swept wings but this one eludes me.

Any ideas?

Lady Jane wrote

The photo above of the Comet shows perforated "barriers" on the wings. I understand the principle of parallel wing fencing on swept wings but this one eludes me.

Any ideas?

Typically called a spoiler, as it spoils lift. But in this case, with both present (and fixed?), I admit I am stumped. Perhaps related to the Comet's teething problems, as it was breaking new (aerodynamic and other) ground when first placed into service.

I hope flybigjet or another expert will weigh in on this. Very curious.

Lady Jane wrote

The photo above of the Comet shows perforated "barriers" on the wings. I understand the principle of parallel wing fencing on swept wings but this one eludes me.

Any ideas?

Next theory: deployed air brakes during descent.

I googled another RCAF DH Comet shot which does not appear to show the "barriers" on the wings. So a possible theory: During descent or other situations requiring slowing, flip a switch and the airbrakes deploy.

Llarry wrote

Next theory: deployed air brakes during descent.

I googled another RCAF DH Comet shot which does not appear to show the "barriers" on the wings. So a possible theory: During descent or other situations requiring slowing, flip a switch and the airbrakes deploy.

I thought about speed brakes as well but they appear to be fixed and can't find any other references. Still searching...

Lady Jane wrote

I thought about speed brakes as well but they appear to be fixed and can't find any other references. Still searching...

This page mentions "air brakes."

https://www.cometra.uk/?page_id=19802

Another Comet.

Lady Jane wrote

The photo above of the Comet shows perforated "barriers" on the wings. I understand the principle of parallel wing fencing on swept wings but this one eludes me.

Any ideas?

Here's a photo that shows the spoilers retracted:

From Comet to Nimrod:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Siddeley_Nimrod

A sad fate for one of them in Lake Ontario in1995:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1995_Royal_Air_Force_Nimrod_MR2_crash

I think Murf the Surf witnessed it first hand.

Lady Jane wrote

The photo above of the Comet shows perforated "barriers" on the wings. I understand the principle of parallel wing fencing on swept wings but this one eludes me.

Any ideas?

I did a quick search and found two possible reasons for these "wing fences". Apparently, they keep the entire wing from stalling at once.

Lady Jane wrote

From Comet to Nimrod:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Siddeley_Nimrod

A sad fate for one of them in Lake Ontario in1995:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1995_Royal_Air_Force_Nimrod_MR2_crash

I think Murf the Surf witnessed it first hand.

I was there and then spent the next several months involved in the recovery of the aircraft and lost airmen.

Lady Jane wrote

Another Comet.

From the design it looks very familiar to the older ME262 for me, just without jet engines.