And there would have been far more L1011s sold (and therefore built) if Rolls-Royce hadn’t screwed up the development of the RB211 engine, delaying the first flight of the L1011 to a full year after that of the DC-10… and then delaying production further in the wake of RR’s bankruptcy in 1971!

For several months in early 1971, until the UK government stepped in, the possibility of RR going out of business was a strong likelihood… which would have meant a complete re-design of the aft fuselage of the L1011 to fit the longer GE or P&W engines in the same class. Due to Lockheed’s shaky financial situation at the time, this could have driven Lockheed into bankruptcy as well!

This uncertainty caused airlines to order DC-10s & B747s instead.

How can it be such a coincidence that most killed are involved in the OBL raid. Those killed include Afgan soldier onboard. It looks like well planned revenge mission.

I always believe Afgan soldiers can never be trusted….

None of the 22 SEAL personnel killed in the crash were part of the team that killed bin Laden in a May raid in Pakistan, but they belonged to the same unit.
http://newsok.com/copter-shot-down-killing-30-us-troops-7-afghans/article/feed/283288?custom_click=headlines_widget

so I don’t get why British designers preferred the heavy and troublesome contra-rotating turboprop solution.

Er it was to get rid of the massive torque effect that 3600hp gives you with just one massive spinning prop… it also means you can use a smaller diameter prop so better clearance and less chance of a ground (deck) strike on landing… I thought the reasons would be obvious on a carrier aircraft.

Not only the Brits & Russians…
Douglas A2D Skyshark
Powerplant: 1 × Allison XT-40-A-2 turboprop, 5,100 shp (3,800 kW)
First flight March 26, 1950; canceled late 1952.
2 prototypes and 10 production airframes built (last 4 of these never flew).

This was after examining mixed-propulsion with the Ryan FR Fireball, Consolidated Vultee XP-81, and Ryan XF2R Dark Shark

Part of the proposed Rafale-for-Brazil deal was French purchase of KC-390 (or at least financial involvement in the program).

Posted twice before…
20th July 2011 02:18

Boston V BZ590 lost Apr 21, 1945

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=110668&highlight=crew+found+Italy
and 25th July 2011 14:31

Douglas Boston wreck found in Italy

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=110785&highlight=crew+found+Italy

LSO School Welcomes Royal Navy Chief

For the third time in as many months, the U.S. Navy Landing Signal Officer School played host to yet another flag officer from a foreign navy. On this particular occasion we had the pleasure to welcome Admiral Sir Trevor Soar, RN. Admiral Soar commands all deployable fleet Royal Navy units, including the Royal Marines. A career submariner, Admiral Soar‟s visit to the LSO School was part of a comprehensive tour of NAS Oceana as the Royal Navy continues to broaden its exposure to American carrier aviation methods. As many are already aware, the United Kingdom is returning to the fixed-wing carrier aviation business after several decades of operating only Harriers from its current fleet of flat deck ships.

Currently, the British are deep in the development and construction of the HMS Queen Elizabeth and then subsequently the HMS Prince of Wales. By the end of the decade, the Royal Navy plans to be conducting fixed-wing carrier launch and recovery operations from these two ships using the F-35C version of the Joint Strike Fighter. Understandably, the Landing Signal Officer is a key piece of the puzzle that they must develop in order to stand up an effective carrier aviation program.

Over the course of the past few months, the LSO School has been actively assisting the RN with everything from the proper development of an LSO program to effective flight deck layout. This visit follows other official visits from both the Brazilian CNO as well as the Commandant of the French Naval Aviation Command. Over the course of the next few years, Landing Signal Officers across the fleet should not be surprised to be involved in assisting various foreign militaries as they look to develop carrier aviation programs.”

It slipped by my radar because I had thought it had flown long ago!

Here is the notice from The Me-262 Project‘s web-site of the roll-out of “White 3”:

13 APR 07

“White 3” emerges from the Hangar! Legend Flyers pulled out Messerschmitt 262 “White 3” for some sunbathing in the spring weather. The canopy for the single seat version is nearing completion and engines are nearing installation. It is possible that the Me 262 could be flying this summer, and MAYBE, just maybe even be available for the Gathering of Mustangs in Columbus, Ohio in September. You can be one of the first to ride in the Me 262 with the Collings Foundation.

So a 4-year delay between roll-out (and hints of flight by Sept. 2007) and actual first-flight!

BTB… these reproductions use J85 engines for reliability & certification reasons.

Vultee XP-54 Swoose Goose

Curtiss XP-55 Ascender

Northrop XP-56 Black Bullet