We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/continuing_the_5.html Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:15:40 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Here's a another shot of the Boeing 347 down at Rucker, this time from the flank. There's your turbine nacelles, NinjaFluff - though, as I noted in the comments other post, they're empty. Larger version can be had here. Now here's one that will turn a few heads around here - though I'm sure the Vulture Brothers are familiar with it. Who knew the Army operated the RP-2E - a variant of the only purpose-built anti-submarine bomber the US fielded (The others were derived from transport aircraft...)? It is also the last piston-engined bomber to be delivered into US service,... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/continuing_the_5.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/continuing_the_5.html Thu, 25 Oct 2007 05:21:35 -0600 But for serious ASW flying, the Argus. Cheers http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/continuing_the_5.html#comment-65903 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/continuing_the_5.html#comment-65903 Fri, 26 Oct 2007 12:11:46 -0600 Shipmates, Well, having flown aboard the P-2V, I can tell you one thing. It always smelled of JP and avgas. There was usually oil somewhere, and getting from the aft to the flight station was always interesting, having to use a crawl space over the wing. It was a tad noisy, but fun to be aboard. The P-3 Orion (where most of my 5K hours came) was derived from the Lockheed Electra airliner. The P-3 is a GREAT airframe, very strong, highly maneuverable, with a long range and good weapons load out. However, it is a beast in turbulence, it's wings not flexing like other large planes do. The S-3 Viking was designed purely as an ASW platform and was later expanded to multi-task as a bomber, recon, and tanker. respects, http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/continuing_the_5.html#comment-65899 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/continuing_the_5.html#comment-65899 Fri, 26 Oct 2007 11:14:47 -0600 This site seems to have the most comprehensive listing with explanations, and supports the "RP" designation. The National Security Agency, which was the real tasker of the aircraft, on their website also refers to them as RP-2E's - as laid out in the link in the post: Finally, a truly special unit was formed and deployed to Vietnam using Army pilots, Army ASA mission operators on board a Navy P-2V Neptune four-engine aircraft. This Army project was a significant leap in both mission coverage and overall mission capability. As with most of the other platforms, these aircraft were redesignated specifically as RP-2E aircraft with an associated mission project name of CEFLIEN LION or CRAZY CAT.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/continuing_the_5.html#comment-65889 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/continuing_the_5.html#comment-65889 Thu, 25 Oct 2007 22:35:25 -0600 This aircraft is yet another Army attempt to build something to fly that has a fixed wing fighter capability that they can get away with without offending he Air Force's sensibilities. Yawn. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/continuing_the_5.html#comment-65888 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/continuing_the_5.html#comment-65888 Thu, 25 Oct 2007 22:34:44 -0600 Doesn't the R prefix usually mean some kind of recon mission for the aircraft? Like the RC-135 'Cobra Ball', etc.? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/continuing_the_5.html#comment-65886 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/continuing_the_5.html#comment-65886 Thu, 25 Oct 2007 22:17:07 -0600 NinjaF - based on the tail number, your link is to the same aircraft. The site you link to is wrong, I believe. The RP-2E (I believe that's the correct Army designation) was used for electronic warfare purposes, not air support. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/continuing_the_5.html#comment-65876 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/continuing_the_5.html#comment-65876 Thu, 25 Oct 2007 19:58:01 -0600 Wait a minute! Martin built a dedicated ASW piston-(and jet)powered airplane, too. I think that Steeljaw did a feature about it on his blog, with purty pictures! It was built when the unbelievably cranky Glenn Martin was still alive. (Y'all should look up the Glenn Martin chicken(duck?)-feed stories.) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/continuing_the_5.html#comment-65875 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/continuing_the_5.html#comment-65875 Thu, 25 Oct 2007 19:48:58 -0600 Forward and Aft blades don't intermesh because of the increased height of the aft pylon. That would have increased Bill's "comfort level" Wings would have made great rocket pod mounts, ala Guns-A-Go-Go........ Throw in some Naphalm canisters on the wings, so you didn't have to roll drums of Phu-Gas with thermites wired to them off of the ramp....... I'm an old "Hooker", but didn't know this aircraft existed either. Perhaps the "wings" being present upset the Air Force? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/continuing_the_5.html#comment-65869 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/continuing_the_5.html#comment-65869 Thu, 25 Oct 2007 12:04:53 -0600 here There were so many one off mods done on older airframes for Viet Nam I'm not sure if anyone can keep track of which ones went where...]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/continuing_the_5.html#comment-65863 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/continuing_the_5.html#comment-65863 Thu, 25 Oct 2007 09:02:20 -0600 http://aeroweb.brooklyn.cuny.edu/specs/lockheed/ap-2e.htm]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/continuing_the_5.html#comment-65862 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/continuing_the_5.html#comment-65862 Thu, 25 Oct 2007 08:46:20 -0600