Building runways

This video discusses the problems and considerations of airport runway design and structure. The difference of the weight, due to fuel, of an airplane taking off and landing had never occurred to me. It is an interesting video.

 

WWI Fokker DVII biplane

The above video shows the construction methods and workings of a Fokker DVII biplane. The planes entered service in 1918, late in the war, but proved to be an excellent warplane. After the war all existing DVIIs were transferred to the allies as part of the armistice. Below are a pictures of surviving planes. 

 

We have wonder weapons on the way

A high-quality film showing the proposed Aerogavin flying tank in action. I'm guessing that there may be a couple of minor bugs that still need to be worked out in its design. I do love the mismatch between the dramatic soundtrack and the rather poor Ray Harryhausen style graphics. At any rate, ship a couple of these puppies to Ukraine (or to Russia if you're a tanky) and the war will be over in hours.

  

Old airline ads

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These are a collection of mid 20th century airline ads. They are from an era when air travel was more exotic than it is today. It would be slightly gauche to not wear a suit or dress. They started by emphasizing the reach of airplanes, but eventually moved on to targeting other groups of travelers than the early adopters: older people, single woman, families, businessmen and so forth.

They are taken from the Duke Library's Transportation Archive. 

Dogfights in art

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These are various paintings of aerial dogfights. Of course, out of necessity they are contrived, packing the planes tightly together to give a feel for the combat that actually happens at greater distances. Still, they do a good job of depicting the kinetic chaos of fighting in planes. There are more after the jump. 

Innards of a P-51 Mustang

A nicely detailed look at a P-51 Mustang starting with the frame and working though the engine, fuel tanks, landing gear, weapons and the cockpit controls. It looks like a complex plane to fly, but I'm not a pilot.

 

Catapult launch from an aircraft carrier

Above is a very close view of the catapult assisted launch of a C-2 Greyhound from the Harry S. Truman. Berlow is a cockpit view the same pilot's first carrier launch, this time in a T-45 Goshawk. You can hear his breathing and tell he is pumped as the launch approaches. Finally, we'll end with an approach and landing. 

Airplanes vs apples - which will triumph?

F86 Sabre walk-around and flight

Two videos that look at a Korean War era F86 Sabre jet fighter. It is a much simpler machine than a modern fighter jet. The sound in the above video starts out distorted from the wind, but the problem is quickly cleared up.

Early in the occupation of Japan

James N. Methven, a pilot of a cargo plane, recalls an encounter with Japanese troops early in the occupation of Japan. He was flying to Fukuoka with a Captain and Sergeant who were delivering a payroll. When he landed his plane was met by a Japanese unit that didn't know the war was over. Needless to say, it was a sticky situation.

 

The engineering of the Wright brothers' first airplane

Ekranoplans

During the Cold War the soviets worked on a series of ground effects crafts, called ekranoplans, that were neither ship nor plane, but a hybrid between the two.  

Below, from La Boite Verte, are pictures of the Lu from both today and when it was active. It is a missile firing variant that was the last of the Soviet ekranoplans built.

 

Martin Mars Water Bomber startup and taxi

It used to be used to fight fires in Canada, but it is now retired. It is the World's largest flying boat.

Approaching Heathrow

A nicely done time lapse viseo of planes lining up for the approach to Heathrow airport.The drifting clouds, planes jittering in the wind and the music chosen make for a strangely evocative film.