September 25th, 2020: McDonnel Douglas F-15 Eagle
by Robert Phillips
Specs. (F-15C)
Crew: 1
Wingspan: 42 ft 10 in
Length: 63 ft 9 in
Height: 18 ft 6 in
Empty weight: 28,000 lbs
Loaded (maximum) weight: 68,000 lbs
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 afterburning turbofans
Engine power: 23,770 lbf per engine with afterburners
Maximum speed: Mach 2.5 at high altitude (about 16670 kn)
Range: 3,000 nmi (3,450 mi)
Combat Range:1,061 nmi (1,221 mi)
Ceiling: 65,000 ft
1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61A1 Vulcan 6-barrel rotary cannon
11x hard points with capacity of 16,000 lbs. of mixed ordnance
Fun Facts
- The F-15 is an American air superiority fighter and multi-role aircraft.
- The F-15 is regarded as one of the best American fighter planes ever built.
- The aircraft has been produced since 1972.
- The an Israeli F-15 once landed without it’s right wing after it was involved in a mid-air collision.
September 24th, 2020: Bombardier CRJ-200
by Robert Phillips
Specs. (CRJ-200LR)
Crew: 2
Capacity: 50 Passengers
Wingspan: 69 ft 6 in
Length: 87 ft 10 in
Height: 20 ft 8 in
Empty weight: 30,500 lbs
Max takeoff weight: 53,000 lbs
Engine: 2 x GE CF34-3B1
Engine power: 8,729 lbf (38.84 kN)
Cruise speed: 424 kn
Range: 1,700 nmi
Ceiling: 41,000 ft
Fun Facts
- The CRJ-200 is a regional jet designed by Bombardier.
- The CRJ-200 was developed into the CRJ-700 series.
- Production of the CRJ-100/200 ended in 2006.
- Many regional airlines still fly the CRJ-200.
September 23rd, 2020: Beechcraft Model 18 / C-45
by Robert Phillips
Specs. (UC-45)
Crew: 2
Capacity: 6 Passengers
Wingspan: 47 ft 8 in
Length: 34 ft 3 in
Height: 9 ft 9 in
Empty weight: 5,420 lbs
Max takeoff weight: 7,200 lbs
Engine: 2 x Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-1 “Wasp Junior” radial engines
Engine power: 450 hp
Max. speed: 225 mph
Range: 1,200 mi
Ceiling: 26,000 ft
Fun Facts
- The Model 18 first flew in 1937.
- During WWII Model 18s were used as transports and trainer planes.
- The Model 18 was known as the C-45 in military service.
- A few C-45s were converted into drone control aircraft (CQ-3s).
- 240 Model 18s are still registered in the US and some fly at airshows.
September 22nd, 2020: Douglas DC-9
by Robert Phillips
Specs. (DC-9-15)
Crew: 2
Capacity: 65 Passengers
Wingspan: 89 ft 4.8in
Length: 104 ft 4.8in
Height: 27 ft 7in
Empty weight: 49,162 lbs
Max takeoff weight: 90,700 lbs
Engine: 2 x Pratt & Whitney JT8D-1
Engine power:14,000 lbf (62 kN)
Cruise speed: 478 kn
Range: 1,300 nmi
Ceiling: 35,000 ft
Fun Facts
- The DC-9 was a very successful airliner designed Douglas.
- DC-9s had built in airstairs in the tail of the plane.
- The DC-9 was versatile and developed into the MD-80, MD-90, and Boeing 717 aircraft.
- A few DC-9s are still flying as freighters.
September 21st, 2020: Cirrus Vision SF50
by Robert Phillips
Image obtained from Markus Eigenheer from Genève, Schweiz – N124MW Cirrius SF50 c/n 0009
Specs. (SF50 G1)
General Statistics
Crew: 1
Capacity: 6 Passengers
Wingspan: 38 ft 8 in
Length: 30 ft 11 in
Height: 10 ft 11 in
Empty weight: 3,572 lbs
Max takeoff weight: 6,000 lbs
Engine: 1 × Williams FJ33-5A turbofan
Engine power: 1,800 lbf
Cruise speed: 240 kn (280 mph)
Range: 600 nmi (690 mi)
Ceiling: 28,000 ft
Fun Facts
- The Cirrus Vision is one of the few single engined jets on the market.
- It is the first certified civilian single-engined jet.
- The SF50 is equipped with a whole aircraft ballistic parachute system for emergencies.
September 18th, 2020: Boeing-Stearman PT-17
by Robert Phillips
Specs. (PT-17)
General Statistics
Crew: 2
Wingspan: 32 ft 2 in
Length: 24 ft 9 in
Height: 9 ft 8 in
Empty weight: 1,931 lbs
Loaded (maximum) weight: 2,635 lb
Powerplant: 1 × Continental R-670-5 7-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine
Engine power: 250 hp
Maximum speed: 124 mph
Range: 505 mi
Ceiling:13,200 ft
Armament
none
Fun Facts
- The PT-17 was the main primary trainer of WWII.
- After WWII the PT-17 was popular as a crop duster.
- PT-17s are common at airshows.
- Many wing walkers use PT-17s to perform their daring stunts.
September 17th, 2020: Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II
by Robert Phillips
Specs. (A-10A)
Crew: 1
Wingspan: 57 ft 6 in
Length: 53 ft 4 in
Height: 14 ft 8 in
Empty weight: 24,959 lbs
Loaded (maximum) weight: 50,000 lbs
Powerplant: 2 × General Electric TF34-GE-100A turbofans
Engine power: 9,065 lbf per engine
Maximum speed: 361 knots (439 mph) at sea level
Range: 2,240 nmi (2,580 mi)
Combat radius (CAS mission): 250 nmi (288 mi)
Ceiling: 45,000 ft
1 x 30 mm (1.18 in) GAU-8/A Avenger
11x hard points with capacity of 16,000 lbs. of mixed ordnance
Fun Facts
- The A-10 is known as the Warthog.
- The A-10 is used for close air support missions.
- The A-10 is tough and can take heavy damage.
- The A-10 is designed to take out enemy tanks and other armored vehicles.
September 16th, 2020: Douglas DC-6
by Robert Phillips
Specs. (DC-6B)
Crew: 4
Capacity: 42-89 Passengers
Wingspan: 117 ft 6 in
Length: 105 ft 7 in
Height: 28 ft 5 in
Empty weight: 55,357 lbs
Max takeoff weight: 107,000 lbs
Engine: 4 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CB17
“Double Wasp” radial engines
Engine power: 2,500 hp (1,900 kW) with
water injection each
Cruise speed: 293 mph at 25,000 feet
Range: 2,610 nmi (4,830 km) with max payload
4,100 nmi (7,600 km) with max fuel
Ceiling: 25,000 ft
Fun Facts
- The DC-6 was developed from the Douglas DC-4/C-54.
- The DC-6 first flew in 1946.
- Several DC-6 were converted into tankers and used to fight fires.
- Some DC-6s are still flying cargo flights in Alaska with Everts Air Cargo.
September 15th, 2020: North American B-25 Mitchell
by Robert Phillips
Specs. (B-25J)
Crew: 6
Wingspan: 67 ft 6.7 in
Length: 53 ft 5.75 in
Height: 16 ft 4.2 in
Empty weight: 19,490 lbs
Loaded (maximum) weight: 33,400 lbs
Engine: 2 x Wright Cyclone R-2600-29 14-cylinder radial engines
Engine power (take-off): 1,700 hp at 2,800 rpm
Maximum speed: 293 mph at 13,850 feet
Range: 1,350 miles with 974 gallons of fuel and 3,000 lb. bomb load
Ceiling: 24,500 ft
13 x .50-caliber machine guns
2 x 1,600 lb armor piercing bombs or 3 x 1,000 lb general purpose bombs and wing mounted 23lb parafrag bomblets or 6 x 325 lb depth charges
Fun Facts
- B-25s flew over Kenston during WWII. The Kenston became known as the Bombers as a result.
- The B-25 was a medium bomber.
- The B-25 is famous for the Doolittle Raid. During the raid, 16 B-25s took off from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CVN-8). The B-25s bombed Tokyo and several other Japanese cities before crash landing in China.
- The B-25 was named after General William “Billy” Mitchell.