Helicopter – Bell 47J Ranger (ah – remember Whirlybirds on TV??!!) or a Whirlwind. Executive twin would have to bee the Cessna 310 family. IMHO the nicest looking twin ever built.

Oh, I remember Whirlybirds…that’s what got me into flying 47s. A show that I don’t think was shown in the UK was “Sky King”, who flew a 310. Ever since I saw the show as a kid, I’ve wanted an early (straight tail) 310…just to fly low over the western deserts.

How about Tony Blair?
Judging from some of the posts on this forum, a lot of Brits would like to see him in a new role. 🙂

Don’t forget that the C-137 is also actually a 707-320, so they 707’s at AMARC could be used for spart parts for them as well.

To the best of my knowledge, all the VC-137s are out of the inventory.
the three short-body jets, (VC-137B) one is in the Museum of Flight Seattle, another is is the Pima Air Museum. The third is listed as reduced to spares by Boeing in Wichita.
The two VC-137Cs: 26000 at USAF Museum, and 27000 at the Reagan Library.

The latest review says that they can keep going to 35,000 hours. The main problem is that the TF-33 engines are getting pretty unreliable (no matter how many sparesd they have). An E-8 lost an engine over Baghdad a little while back, I think it may have caused it to cut its mission short.

Recently in Aviation Week, there was an article about the KC-135E’s…the Air Force wants them replaced as soon as possible. The TF-33 appearently having problems driving the mission availability rate for the planes below acceptable levels. If the USAF gets its 767 (or other new) tankers, the plan is to get rid of the “E” models first. Appearently, they don’t want to re-re-engine them into “R”s…because of airframe age and condition.

No, that was a real American Motors (now part of Daimler-Chrysler) Matador coupe (one of the oddest looking U.S. cars of the time) mated to fictional wings and jet. According to a TV & movie car book all the “flying” of the car was done with models.

C-133 considered…

Does anyone know about the Douglas C-133 being considered for the Belfast mission?
In searching the inetrnet for C-133 information, I found a photo of a 1/72 scale metal Douglas desk model with complete RAF markings. The model was found in an antiques store in Australia of all places.
Since the desk model is a rather rare item, I’m guessing it was a factory submission. Any information on it?

After reading about the Cargomaster’s terrible safety record in the recent Air Enthuiast, the RAF is probably glad it bought the Belfast, though the R&D bill for such a small fleet must have been huge.

I might be wrong…FIRST TIME EVER!!!!!!

Mike,
Having thought about the plane overnight…it might be an Italian plane called the Riveria…or something similar. Again, it’s a limited production plane from the 60s..I might be able to confirm it as I have a few books at home on general aviation aircraft.

Later checking confirmed my guess..it is a SIAI Marchetti FN 333 Riveria.
They only made 23 in the mid-60s. Powered by a 250 hp Contenintal…might be a bit underpowered …I’d guess a 300 would be better for an amphib.

Not a Twin Bee

Not, it’s not a Seabee…it has a longer keel and the tail grows out of that…this looks like it has a upper boom.
My guess is that it’s a Spencer Aircar…a Canadian project from 30 years ago. I believe they built a few…and it was supposed to be offered as a kit as well.
I believe the designer, Spencer, was involved in the Republic Seabee and other amphibs.