Dassault Super Etendard
The Super-Etendard is an attack aircraft by Dassault Aviation; it was developed to operate from the French navy’s aircraft carriers in the 1970′s.
The Etendard is/was operational with the French and Argentinean Navy and some flew for the Iraqi air force in the conflict with Iran in the 80′s.
The French ?tendard are capable to drop the Nuclear Air Sol Moyenne Portee missile, the export versions do not have this option.
The last Etendard in the French Navy will be phased out by 2010; they will be replaced by the new Dassault Rafale M.
Etendard in action:
The Argentinean Etendards were successful against the British Navy in the Falkland War, sinking 2 ships with Exocet missiles and badly damaging a third.
In the Iraq-Iran war 5 Etendards with Exocets of the Iraqi air force operated successfully against Iranian tankers in the Gulf.
The last version of the Dassault Etendard (SEM) joined NATO in operations above Kosovo, and with Operation Enduring Freedom.
| Developing Nation: | France |
| Task: | Carrier strike Fighter |
| First Flight: | - Etendard IV: July 24th 1956- Etendard IVM: October 28th 1974 (Super Etendard prototype) |
| First Delivery: | 1977 |
| Crew: | 1 |
| Wing Span: | 9.60 m |
| Wing Area: | 28.4 m² |
| Length: | 14.31 m |
| Height: | 3.86 m |
| Engine (s): | SNECMA Atar 8K-50 turbojet (49.0kN) 1x |
| Weight: | 6910 kg |
| Max.Take off weight: | 12000 kg |
| Max. Speed: | 1180 km/h |
| Max. Range: | Combat radius with one Exocet and two drop-tanks: 910 km |
| Service ceiling: | 13500 m |
| Weapons: | - Two internal 30 mm DEFA cannons- up to 4500 kg of weaponry on two under fuselage, and four underwing hardpoints. Rocket pods, bombs, laser guided bombs, Magic AAM’s, one Exocet or one ASMP stand-off nuclear missile |
Countries that use(d) the Super Etendard:
Iraq: 5 France: 71 Argentina: 11
Douglas DC-6
DC-6A, British Eagle. Photo: Carmen v/d Werf
The Douglas DC-6 was Douglas’ most successful four engine piston airliner.
The DC-6 was developed as a response to a military airlift requirement in World War 2. The C-54 impressed the USAAF and they ordered the development of an improved and larger variant. The designation: YC-112.
By the time the Second World War ended the requirements no longer stood, and therefore Douglas continued to develop the YC-112 as an airliner resulting into the DC-6.
During the Korean War military interest was renewed resulting in the C-118 and USN R6D-1. Witch were built in large numbers. Later these planes found their way too many airlines.
Canadian Fire Fighter, converted DC-6B
| Developing Nation: | United States |
| First flight(s): | (YC-112) February 15th 1946 |
| First civilian delivery: | March 1947 to US Airlines |
| Crew: | Three, or Four |
| Passengers: | DC-6: Typically between 48 and 56 DC-6B: Typically 54, but a max. of 102 |
| Task: | DC-6A: optimized for freight DC-6B: optimized for passengers DC-6C: Convertible passenger/freight |
| Wing Span: | 35,81 m |
| Wing Area: | 135,9 m² |
| Length: | 30,66 m DC-6B: 31,18 m |
| Height: | 8,66 m DC-6B: 8,74 m |
| Operating empty weight: | DC-6: 23840 kg. DC-6B: 25110 kg. |
| Max. take-off weight: | DC-6: 44129 kg. DC-6B: 48534 kg. |
| Engine (s): | DC-6: Four 1800 hp. Pratt & Whitney Double Wasp R-2800-CA15 18 cylinder twin row radial piston engines (maximum output 2400 hp) with water injection. Driving three blade constant speed Hamilton Standard propellers. DC-6B: Four 2500 hp R-2800-CB17′s |
| Cruise Speed: | DC-6: 501 Kph DC-6B: 507 Kph |
| Operating altitude: | 7500 m. |
| Max. Range: | DC-6: 7376 km. DC-6B: 7595 km. DC-6B: 4835 km. with max. payload |
| Production: | DC-6: 174 DC-6A: 73 DC-6B: 288 C-118: 105 (Air Force DC-6) R6D: 25 (United States Navy DC-6) |
Boeing B-52
NASA, NB-52D Stratofortress, 52-0008, (oldest still flying B-52, used to launch X-planes)
In service since 1955, the Boeing B-52 is a dinosaur in the USAF still doing its duty. Developed in the early 50′s, making its first flight April 15th 1952, destined to be the major long distance (nuclear) bomber for the United States in the earliest years of the cold war.
Retired B-52D, 56-0585
| Developing Nation: | United States |
| First Flight(s): | YB-52 : April 15th 1952 B-52A : August 5th 1954 |
| First operational: | B-52B June 29th 1955, 93rd Bomb Wing, US Airforce Strategic Air Command at Castle AFB. |
| Crew: | 6 |
| Wing Span: | 56,39 m |
| Wing: | 371,6 m² |
| Length: | - B-52D: 47,72 m - B-52G,H: 49,04 m |
| Weight empty: | 87.090 Kg. |
| Weight Max. Load: | - B-52G: 221.350 Kg. - B-52H: 229.060 Kg. - B-52H after mid-air refueling: 256.730 Kg. |
| Engines: | - B-52D: 8x Pratt & Whitney J57-19W turbojets with 5443 Kg. Thrust. - B-52G: 8x Pratt & Whitney J57-43W or 43WD turbojets with 6237 Kg. Thrust - B-52H: 8x Pratt & Whitney TF33-1 turbofans with 7711 Kg. Thrust |
| Max. Speed: | - B-52D: 982 Kph. - B-52G: 1019 Kph. - B-52H: 1009 Kph. |
| Max. Height: | - B-52D: 13,7 Km. - B-52G: 14 Km. - B-52H: 14,3 Km. |
| Weapons: | - B-52D: 108 HE, or 4 Atomic Bombs - B-52G: 27 HE, or 8 Atomic Bombs, or 20 SRAM/ALCM missiles and 4x 0,5 inch Guns. - B-52H: Like the B-52G, only with 1x 20 mm Gun. |
The B-52 is only in use by the United States Air Force.