Posted on 09/01/2021 7:32:34 AM PDT by DUMBGRUNT
I love those Lightnings - very unique. Built a few models growing up.
Blew Yamamoto out of the sky.
Air Force 1 will break the sound barrier in a dive and has a cruise of 630 knots with a takeoff weight of 830,000 pounds
18 degree dive in a 747.
The things boys do for fun.
Pulling it back to level flight must have been memorable.
I don't dispute this, but why isn't his name in the record books?
After the war, Welch returned to flight testing; this time in the F-100 Super Sabre, with Yeager flying the chase plane. Welch became the first man to break the sound barrier in level flight with this type of aircraft on May 25, 1953.
He is also in the books for being a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross (and Medal of Honor nominee) for his heroics along with Ken Taylor on Dec 7, 1941.
His history is well known in the flying community, not so much to the general public.
China Airlines Flight 006.
Allegedly supersonic and 5G’s in the dive recovery.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_Airlines_Flight_006
—”Pulling it back to level flight must have been memorable.”
And not even so much as a “Hold my beer and watch this”
—”Allegedly supersonic and 5G’s in the dive recovery”
Just WOW!
“The aircraft was significantly damaged by the excessive G-forces. The wings were permanently bent upwards by 2 inches (5 cm), the inboard main landing gear lost two actuator doors, and the two inboard main gear struts were left dangling.[1][4] Most affected was the tail, where large outer parts of the horizontal stabilizer had been ripped off...”
“After repairs were made to the plane, it returned to service on 25 April 1985. It continued in service for nearly 12 years until it was leased to China Airlines’ sister company, Mandarin Airlines, on 1 January 1997, and was in daily service for the remainder of that year....”
“Der Komet’’. Check out the Arado 234. Boy, gotta hand it to the Krauts.
From April 2002 it was owned and operated by a religious organization known as Gospel to the Unreached Millions (GUM), headed by K. A. Paul, and was christened 'Global Peace One'. On 17 July 2005, the FAA suspended its operating certificate due to insufficient maintenance.
What a legacy!
60 years late ...
https://www.airspacemag.com/history-of-flight/i-was-there-when-the-dc-8-went-supersonic-27846699/
Welch was a character too, like a lot of fighter/test pilots.
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