Pima Air and Space Museum, Tucson, AZ

[Joe Copalman]

CH-21C

Thanks Joe!

With this next post (CH-21C) I've moved out of my "corner" to the other edge.  I don't know what it is about this old helicopter that intrigues me. I've taken dozens of photos of it over the years.  Something about that era and the fact that it still in its original paint, what's left of it. I often find the scruffy aircraft straight out of the boneyard more interesting than the restored aircraft.

Scott, I couldn't agree more.  With a few exceptions (the Hunter immediately comes to mind), I gravitate toward the more "textured" aircraft there.  I think they tell more of a story.  I also like some of the scrapyards in the area for the same reason - you get the weathered look of the AMARG birds, but without the spray-lat and often without the inventory numbers. 

[Scott Youmans]

Joe - That Hunter is very nice and I have yet to get a shot of it I'm really happy with.

Here's a shot that's not strictly a Pima photo but is about as close as you can get with out being there.  Good example from a scrapyard. Too bad they cut this one up.

[Joe Copalman]

Too bad indeed:

[Scott Youmans]

I was pretty disappointed when I saw that.  I love all those old Trackers, Traders, and Tracers.  Hawkeyes too.  Please excuse image quality...

[Scott Youmans]

Jeff, Thanks regarding the Pima photos. I thought I had responded earlier but I must have hit the wrong button when I went to post the message.  Tough place to shoot but I get one right every once in a while. Glad I'm not shooting film!

[Matt Ottosen]

Boeing KB-50J Superfortress
4505th Air Refueling Wing

[Jeff D. Welker]

Cool shot of a big old bird Matt. Is this a converted B-29 or something completely different?

[Jay Beckman]

AFAIK, KB-50s were B-29s with jet engines added outboard to increase cruising speed so they could service the early Century-series fighters.

[Joe Copalman]

Kinda-sorta.  The B-50s were new-build aircraft based on the B-29, but with different engines and some structural differences.  Given SAC's thirst for A-bomb-capable bombers at the time (late 40s, early 50s), it wasn't until after the B-50 had given way to the B-36 and B-47 that conversion to KB-50 tankers really got underway. 

[Scott Youmans]

As Joe mentioned the B-50 had different engines which were R-4360s like the B-36, C-124, some C-119s, and the C-97 which was based on the B-50 airframe. Interestingly that engine also powered the F2G. Other than the engines/nacelles, the most noticeable difference is the much taller vertical stabilizer. I always thought the B-50/KB-50 was a nicer looking aircraft than the B-29.

[Brian Lockett]

As Joe mentioned the B-50 had different engines which were R-4360s like the B-36, C-124, some C-119s, and the C-97 which was based on the B-50 airframe. Interestingly that engine also powered the F2G. Other than the engines/nacelles, the most noticeable difference is the much taller vertical stabilizer. I always thought the B-50/KB-50 was a nicer looking aircraft than the B-29.

This picture of an XC-97 with R-3350s and the wing structure and smaller tail of the B-29 helps illustrate some of the differences:
My father took this picture at an open house of the General Electric Air Research Laboratory in Schenectady, New York in June 1946.

[Scott Youmans]

Brian, great photo to illustrate the differences. As can be seen in the photo the prototype C-97 was based on the B-29 whereas production C-97s were based on the B-50. Love those Schenectady photos!

[Matt Ottosen]

Cool shot of a big old bird Matt.

Thank you!

[Matt Ottosen]

Boeing C-97G Stratofreighter
International Red Cross

[CJPalmer]

A couple from my large format camera.

AV-8C Harrier by CJPalmerPhoto, on Flickr

Flap Detail by CJPalmerPhoto, on Flickr