One for the plane buffs and Blues lovers.

[chunkolini]

I have just re read The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe
Awsome description of the early days of the space race, inspiring writing about inspiring stuff, loved the film as well.
Anyway, the X15, rocket plane, amazing footage on Utube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skG5ioabGVQ

Balls of steel? to fly this thing? barely any aerodynamics, liquid fuelled rockets, getting into the fringes of space, by being dropped like a bomb from a B52, then Kapowww mach 4+ then a dead stick landing. And a soundtrack like that.
The shots of landings are amazing, how fast? no wheels, no brakes!!!! and so smooth. As I said Balls Of Steel. Oh and read Chuck Yeagers autobiography, the realise that it is true....
Truly awesome. Who is the soundtrack by? I loved the sleezy guitar sound..

Chunko'. One day I am going to build something like this.

 

[pedrobedro]

Here's your soundtrack Chunk
R.L. Burnside and Johnny Woods.

 

[Bsmith]

Reminds me of Scott Tracy in Thunderbird 1

 

[tigler]

Impressive, but the planned attempt at the landspeed record next year by the new Bloodhound SSC car is going to be 1000 MPH, ON LAND !!! It has both a Eurofighter jet engine AND a rocket motor !! Now I like speed but no way would I have the bottle to do that !!

 

[Arsonista]

Good find Chunko. A B52 taking off is something to see too. Balls of steel indeed.

 

[pedrobedro]

Reminds me of Scott Tracy in Thunderbird 1

Thunderbirds were o.k. but the acting was a bit wooden

 

[tigler]

Good find Chunko. A B52 taking off is something to see too. Balls of steel indeed.

First Gulf war my Dad and I heard about the B52's stationed at Fairford. We toddled off down there to try and catch a glimpse. We drove around the main perimeter fence and were told to do one when we stopped at one gateway on the main road. Continued to drive around and finally I saw a few cars going down a side road , we followed and came to an area where there were about 30 cars parked and people walking down to somewhere.
Parked up and followed the crowd and eventually came to a hard standing where about 10 B52's were arming up and warming engines. We were the other side of a security fence but were amazed we could get that close , within 30 mtrs , considering the political situation !! The crew waved at us , we took loads of photo's of stuff that we really shouldn't have been allowed to see and got video footage of taxiing and take off , it was fantastic. Seeing fully armed bombers actually taking off on an offensive mission was an amazing thing.
Then the local Police finally realised what was going on !! We walked back to the car trying to look as innocent as possible but they were stopping everybody there , giving us the big scary telling off and taking details etc. Thing is , there were no signs to say keep out or warning of trespass but when I mentioned this they got a bit heavy and asked if I would like to see the cells on the base !!
Was a great experience though , still have the pics and video.

 

[bill_gj]

The X15 - check this link - http://www.aviastar.org/air/england/miles_m-52.php

It was strongly rumoured that, along with the advanced jet engine work that was simply given to the USA at the end of WW2, the technology embodied in the M52 was also handed over and was also the foundation of a lot of the supersonic work done by the Bell X15

 

[Bsmith]

Thunderbirds were o.k. but the acting was a bit wooden

no strings attatched

 

[chunkolini]

Tigler,land speed record, pretty cool and a bit mad, but isn't it about some body had a go at the water speed record, balls of titanium and maybe brains of hay. I love any of this stupid speed stuff, irrational, stupid environmentally insane, but, hey it has t de done.

Arsonista, yet another British almost first, TSR2? HOTOL? Blue Streak? Concorde? Oh that one worked though. etc etc.

And the X15 is stil the fastest highest flying machine, shuttles and silly pilotless droid thngys excepted.

Wait till I get my acetylene plane working, all is I need is The Idiot to drive it.

The best laid plans by man always involve brains and an idiot. I was that idiot in my youth now I might be the brains.

Chunko'.