Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis
The “Spirit of St. Louis” registration N-X-211 made the First Nonstop Solo Transatlantic Flight in 1927 and is on display at the Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum, Milestones of Flight Gallery in Washington DC, USA.
Developing nation: United States of America.
Manufacturer/designer: Ryan Airlines Co., San Diego, CA, Donald A. Hall.
Number built: 1.
Type aircraft: Long-range aircraft (for record attempt).
First flight: 28 April 1927.
Retired: 30 April 1928, at the time of its retirement, the “Spirit of St. Louis” had made just 174 flights for a total of 489:28 flying time.
On 21 May 1927, Charles A. Lindbergh completed the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight in history, flying his Ryan NYP “Spirit of St. Louis” 5,810 kilometers (3,610 miles) between Roosevelt Field on Long Island, New York, and Paris, France, in 33 hours, 30 minutes. With this flight, Lindbergh won the $25,000 prize offered by New York hotel owner Raymond Orteig to the first aviator to fly an aircraft directly across the Atlantic between New York and Paris. When he landed at Le Bourget Field in Paris.
The “Spirit of St. Louis” was designed by Donald Hall under the direct supervision of Charles Lindbergh. It is a highly modified version of a conventional Ryan M-2 strut-braced monoplane, powered by a reliable Wright J-5C engine. Lindbergh could not see directly ahead (fuel tanks were located ahead of the cockpit for safety in case of an accident), except by using a periscope on the left side or by turning the airplane and looking out a side window. Extra fuels tanks were added and the wing span increased to accommodate the additional weight. Any item considered too heavy or unnecessary was left behind. These included a radio, parachute, gas gauges, and navigation lights.
General characteristics
- Crew: One
- Length: 8.4 m (27 ft 7 in)
- Wingspan: 14m (46 ft)
- Height: 3m (9 ft 10 in)
- Wing area: 29.7 sq m (320 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 975kg (2,150 lb)
- Loaded weight: 1,310 kg(2,888 lb)
- Useful load: 1,703 l (450 gal)
- Max takeoff weight: 2,330 kg (5,135 lb)
- Powerplant: 1x Wright Whirlwind J-5C Single blade Standard Steel Propeller, 223 hp (166 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 220 km/h (133 mph)
- Cruise speed: 160-175 km/h (100- 110 mph)
- Range: 6,600 km (4,100 mi)
- Service ceiling: 5,000 m (16,400 ft)
Photos: Rob Vogelaar, ZAP16 Group
Fairchild A-10A Thunderbolt II
In 1967, the USAF originated its A-X program for a new CAS (close air support) warplane with anti-armor capability. The A-X was expected to be lethal against main battle tanks and to stay as long as possible in the battlefield zone. Prototype awards were issued for the Northrop A-9A, and the Fairchild A-10A, the latter becoming the USAF’s A-X choice on January 18, 1973.
The A-10A is uniquely dedicated to a single mission -killing tanks, the A-10A is built around a single 30 mm cannon which can disable a main battle tank from a distance of 6580 m. The A-10A a compromise between weapons-carrying capability and affordable cost, is well-armored for protection of pilot and systems. The pilot is shielded by a bulletproof wind screen and encircled by a titanium armor “bath tub” which weights 544 kg and varies in thickness up to 3,8 cm. The A-10A can survive if some parts were shot away by enemy fire.
The first pre-production A-10A (73-1664) was converted to YA-10B configuration as the proposed two-seat trainer version. Following an evaluation by the manufacturer and the USAF, the project was abandoned and the YA-10B is placed on display at Edwards AFB, CA.
Many A-10A’s were redesigned for Forward Air Control (FAC) duties OA-10A, the prefix O means observer.
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Specifications: A-10A Thunderbolt II |
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| Developing Nation: | United States |
| Task: | Kill enemy tanks / Forward Air Control |
| First Flight: | Prototype: May 10, 1972 YA-10A cn/71-1369 Production: A-10A October 21, 1975 YA-10B May 4, 1979 |
| First Delivery: | February 1976 Last delivery: March 1984 |
| Crew: | 1 |
| Ejection seat: | ? |
| Wing Span: | 17,53 m |
| Length: | 16,26 m |
| Height: | 5,74 m |
| Engine (s): | General Electric TF34-GE-100 (2x) |
| Weight: | 9771 kg |
| Fuel/Payload: | Max. internal fuel: 4853 kg. External fuel: up to three 2271 liters drop-tanks Max. Payload: 7250 kg. |
| Max.Take off weight: | 22680 kg |
| Max. Speed: | 834 km/h |
| Max. Range: | 3949 km |
| Weapons: | - One single General Electric GAU-8/A 30mm – Avenger cannon (1350 rounds) - AGM-65 Maverick - AIM-9M Sidewinder - Conventional low drag and retarded bombs - Cluster bombs - The OA/A-10A’s also carry the AN/ALQ-119 ECM pod (US based) or the AN/ALQ-131 ECM pod (overseas based) |
The A-10A is only in service with the USAF.Production:YA-10A 2 |
A-10A in action:
Operation Desert Shield/Storm 1990 – 1991
The USAF deployed 144 A-10′s to the war zone. During the January- February 1991 fighting, when air superiority was quickly gained, A-10′s were used in various roles. A daytime tank killer, Scud hunter, suppressed Iraqi air defenses, attacked early warning radars and even shot down two Iraqi helicopters with its cannon.
The A10′s were also in action in Deliberate Force August – September 1994 and Allied Force March – June 1999 in former Yugoslavia.
Airbus A300B2/B4
KUZU cargo A300B4
Airbus Industries was formed in 1970 as a multinational effort between Germany, England and France to create a high-capacity twin-jet transport (this developed into the A300). Today Airbus Industries has become the world’s second largest manufacturer manufacturer of civil airliners.
Two prototype A300B1s were built, the first of these flying from Toulouse, France on October 28 1972, the second on February 5 the next year. The General Electric CF6 was the power plant choice for initial A300s. Following the prototype A300B1s was the 2.65m longer A300B2, the first production version which first flew in April 1974. The B2 entered service with Air France on May 23, 1974.
Airbus A300 Zero-G: converted for astronaut training by Novespace, Sogerma and CNES (French space travel agency)
Production of the A300B2/B4 ceased in May 1984, with manufacture switching to the improved A300-600.
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Developing nation: |
Europe. |
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Manufacturer/designer: |
EADS – Airbus Industries. |
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Production line: |
Toulouse-Blagnac, France. |
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Type aircraft: |
Medium range wide body airliner. |
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First flight: |
- A300B1, October 28th, 1972. F-WUAB. |
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First delivery: |
May 23, 1974. by Air France. |
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Airbus A300B2-200 |
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Cockpit crew: |
Two pilots and a flight engineer. |
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Passengers single class: |
270 – 336. |
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Passengers two class: |
- 20 business class. |
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Cabin length: |
40,70 m. |
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Cabin diameter: |
5,28 m. |
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Cargo volume: |
- Maine deck 304,6 m³. |
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LD3 containers in belly: |
20. |
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Standard 2.24m x 3.17m pallets: |
- in belly 4, with 8 LD3 Containers. |
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Wing span: |
44,84 m. |
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Wing area: |
260 m². |
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Wing sweep: |
28 degrees. |
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Fuselage length: |
53,62 m. |
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Fuselage diameter: |
5,64 m. |
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Height: |
16,53 m. |
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Wheelbase: |
18,62 m. |
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Track: |
9,60 m. |
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Engines: |
- Two General Electric CF6-50Cs rated 227 kN. |
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Weight: |
- Empty: 85.910 Kg. |
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Max. take off weight: |
136.985Kg. |
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Max. landing weight: |
130.000Kg. |
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Cruise speed: |
854km/h. |
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Max. speed: |
889km/h. |
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Service ceiling: |
10.058m. |
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Max. range: |
6.300km. |
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Airbus A300B4-200* |
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Weight: |
- Empty:88.500 Kg. |
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Max. take off weight: |
165.000Kg. |
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Max. landing weight: |
134.000Kg. |
* Generally similar to the Airbus A300B2-200 except in the following particulars.
Production:
Airbus A300B2 and B4 orders stood at 249 when production was completed in 1984. Approximately 198 in service at late 2004.
| Airbus A300 built of each type: |
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A300B1 – 2 |
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A300B2-1C – 22 |
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A300B2-101 – 7 |
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A300B2-103 – 1 |
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A300B2-203 – 11 |
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A300B2K-3C – 14 |
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A300B2-320 – 4 |
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A300B4-102 – 8 |
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A300B4-103 – 28 |
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A300B4-120 – 8 |
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A300B4-2C – 23 |
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A300B4-203 – 106 |
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A300B4-220 – 14 |
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A300F4-203 – 2 |
18 Airbus A300B2/B4 written-of by accidents:
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March 17, 1982. F-BVGK Airbus A300B4-203 Air France crashed in the take-off at Sana’a, Yemen none fatalities / 124 on board. December 18, 1983. OY-KAA Airbus A300B4-120 Malaysian Airline System crashed during final approach in heavy rain at Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, none fatalities / 247 on board. September 29, 1986. VT-ELV Airbus A300B2-1C Indian Airlines crashed in take-off after collision with a bird at Chennai, India none fatalities / 196 on board. September 21, 1987. SU-BCA Airbus A300B4-203 Egypt Air during touch-and-go training touched down 700 m past the runway threshold at Luxor, Egypt 5 fatalities / 5 on board. July 3, 1988. EP-IBU Airbus A300B2-203 Iran Air shot-down en route in the Strait of Hormuz by missiles, fired by the US Navy cruiser USS Vincennes. 290 fatalities / 290 on board. September 28, 1992 AP-BCP Airbus A300B4-203 PIA-Pakistan International Airways the Airbus A300 crashed into a steep cloud-covered hillside 20 Km from Katmandu, Nepal. April 24, 1993. F-BUAE Airbus A300B2-1C Air Inter Hit light pole during pushback at Montpellier-Frejorgues Airport, France; damaged beyond repair. 0 fatalities / 324 on board. November 15, 1993. VT-EDV Airbus A300B2-101 Air Indiaexecuted forced landing in an open paddy field about 23 kilometers from Tirupati airport, India 0 fatalities / 262 on board. October 22, 1994. HS-THO Airbus A300B4-103 Thai airways International hit by a MD-11 Thai Airways during a engine run-up at Bangkok International Airport, Thailand. The Airbus A300 was damaged beyond repair. December 26, 1994.F-GBEC Airbus A300B2-1C Air France this Airbus was Hijacked by 4 members of the Groupe Islamique Arm?e, The aircraft was stormed, causing substantial damage to the cockpit at Marseille-Marignane Airport, France. 7 fatalities / 170 on board. May 17, 1996. TC-ALP Airbus A300B4-203 Air Alfa Cabin fire on ground; the Airbus burned out at Istanbul, Turkey. 0 fatalities / on board. September 26, 1997. PK-GAI Airbus A300B4-220 Garuda Indonesia Airwayscrashed 32 Km from Medan Indonesia. 234 fatalities / 234 on board. February 2, 2000. EP-IBR Airbus A300B2-203 Iran AirCollision on the ground with a C-130 Hercules both aircraft were destroyed by fire, Tehran, Iran. 0 fatalities / on board. February 12, 2000. TU-TATAirbus A300B4-203 Air Afrique written-off at Dakar, Senegal after undercarriage problems during taxiing, a fire broke out and the A300 fuselage was damaged. 0 fatalities / 182 on board. October 17, 2001 AP-BCJAirbus A300B4-203 PIA-Pakistan International Airwayswritten-off at Dubai ,United Arabs Emirates the right hand main gear collapsed as it touched down. 0 fatalities / 205 on board. March 8, 2002. VT-EFW Airbus A300B2-101 Indian Airlines at Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport, India a maintenance crew lost control of the aircraft and it went straight through the airport perimeter wall next to the hangars. The nose wheel collapsed and the aircraft nose dived into the ground. 0 fatalities / 5 on board. November 22, 2003. OO-DLL Airbus A300B4-203F European Air Transport for DHL hit by a SAM-7 surface-to-air missile while climbing through 8000 feet shortly after departure from Baghdad. The missile struck the wing and penetrated the no. 1A fuel tank. Fuel ignited, burning away a large portion of the wing. The pilots landed the A300 save. 0 fatalities / 3 on board. March 1, 2004.AP-BBA Airbus A300B4-203PIA-Pakistan International AirwaysSuffered serious damage to its undercarriage and engines when it aborted a take off from Jeddah due to nose gear tire failures. 0 fatalities / on board.
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| Airbus A300B2/B4 & A300-600 civil operators*: | |
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44 – Federal Express. |
5 – Indian Airlines. |
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38 – UPS. |
4 – Monarch. |
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33 – American Airlines. |
3 – Islandsflug. |
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21 – Thai Airways. |
3 – Mahan Air. |
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19 – Japan Air Lines Domestic. |
3 – Tunis Air. |
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14 – Lufthansa. |
3 – Aero Union. |
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14 – European Air Transport – DHL. |
3 – Air Contractors – DHL. |
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13 – China Eastern. |
3 – Air Hong Kong. |
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12 – China airlines. |
3 – Ariana Afghan Airlines. |
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12 – Saudia – Saudi Arab Airlines |
3 – Channel Express – TNT. |
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10 – Japan Air system. |
3 – Olympic Air Lines. |
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10 – Korean Air. |
2 – AMC Aviation. |
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9 – Onur Air. |
2 – Orex – Orbit Express. |
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8 – Qatar Airways. |
1 – Paradise International. |
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8 – Egypt Air. |
1 – Afriqiyah Airways. |
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7 – Astar Air Cargo. |
1 – Air France. |
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7 – PIA-Pakistan International Airways. |
1 – Air Macao. |
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7 – Fly Air. |
1 – Air Scandic. |
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7 – MNG Cargo. |
1 – Baron Air Cargo. |
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6 – Iran Air. |
1 – China Southern Airlines. |
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6 – Express net Airlines. |
1 – Saga Airlines. |
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6 – TNT Airways. |
1 – Sogerma. |
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6 – Tradewinds Airlines.? |
1 – Sudan Airways. |
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5 – China Northern Airlines. |
1 – Tristar Air. |
* Summary October 2004 .