XC-142 Mock-up

     Continuing with the Mock-up theme, here are a few images from the VAHF collection with the XC-142 mock-up as the subject. The mock-up was full size and had a separate section in the hangar for VIP presentations, mock-up board and engineering work.

CVPR-3845-XC-142-Mock-up-Right-Front-Overhead-VAHF-Collection

    This upper view shows the walkways for inspecting and servicing the XC-142 along with the hatches that allow access to the top of the aircraft.

CVPR-3846-XC-142-Mock-up-Left-Rear-Overhead-VAHF Collection

    The XC-142 was a combined project with Vought-Hiller-Ryan. The aircraft was innovative, as well as complicated, for it's time. Linking two engines on the XV-15 and V-22 is a technical challenge, imagine the complexity in linking four turboprop engines and propellers together. And if that was not enough make it a tilt wing for STOL/VTOL operations off of unimproved fields.

CVPR-3856-XC-142-Mock-up-Right-Front-Wing-Vertical-VAHF Collection

     The obvious needs of the four engines are visible in this cockpit image. The center panel is dominated with engine instruments, there are four fire handles on the glare-shield along with the four power levers on the center console. Interestingly the gauges are all turned with the indicator needles pointing to the left rather than having the gauges mounted with the proper orientation to the painted markings of the instrument faces.

CVPR-4010-XC-142-Mock-up-Cockpit-VAHF Collection

     Far more detailed than the OS2U Mock-up of the 1930's, the XC-142 featured retractable landing gear, outfitted cargo compartment and cockpit. Other working features included a tilt-able wing and flaps along with engine mock-ups. Unlike the OS2U there was no radioman-gunner on-board.

     This interior view shows a mix of two different configurations with web troop seats on the left and casualty litters on the right. Just a couple of different missions envisioned for the C-142A.

CVPR-4011-XC-142-Mock-up-Interior-VAHF Collection

    

 The final image in this post shows an Army artillery piece being loaded into the mock-ups cargo compartment. A set of two doors opened to give full access to the cargo compartment. Fold-able ramps completed the accessories needed for smooth loading and unloading of the cargo compartment.

CVPR-4172-XC-142-Mock-up-Artillery-loading-VAHF Collection

August 21, 1956 1,015.428 MPH!

CVPR-820-F8U-1-141345-photo-opportunity-during-a-test-run VAHF Collection

     August 21, 1956 F8U-1 Number 15, 141345, exceeded 1,000 mph over California with Commander "Duke" Windsor at the controls. The speed record was observed and verified by the NAA (National Aeronautic Association). The recorded average speed was 1,015.428 mph which established a new world record for a production military aircraft.

CVPR-866-Checking-Time-After-Run VAHF Collection

     141345 was a standard production F8U-1 with a few small additions. A photo observer along with two barographs were installed in the ammunition compartment and a radar marker beacon was installed in the rocket pack. The aircraft carried it's full compliment of four 20mm cannons for the record runs. The only other alteration was the painting of the underside of the outer wing panels and the vertical fin and rudder florescent flame orange to aid visibility of the aircraft by ground observers.

CVPR-815-F8U-1-141345-Mojave-VAHF-Colllection

CVPR-828-F8U-1-141345-being-towed-from-hangar-at-Mojave VAHF Collection

     The Thompson Trophy was awarded to CDR Windsor at the 1956 National Airshow at Will Rogers Airport, Oklahoma City over Labor Day weekend.

CDR-Windsor-Thompson-Trophy-September-1956 VAHF Collection

     Here are links to two videos are excellent resources for those looking for more information on the record setting flight.

News reel ; F8U Record Flight

Vought reel: Project_One_Grand

A-7A Mock Up Weapons Loading 1964 Part Five and Final!

     For this fifth and final installment illustrating some of the various loads tested on the A-7A Mock up go from the mundane (slicks and snakes) to the ALDS. Enjoy!

Here are MK-81 slicks and Snakeyes along with MK-82 Snakeyes sharing the wing of the mock up.

LTV-65500U-A-7A-Mockup-MK-82-MK82-Snakeye-MK-81-Snakeye-19640623 (VAHF Collection)

     Next up the deadly combination of the AGM-45 Shrike and the MK-57 (Later designated B57) and MK-43 (Later designated B43) nuclear bombs.

CVC-65412U-A-7A-Mock-up-Shrike-MK-57-MK-43-19640612 (VAHF Collection)

     This load is a MK-20 Smoke Tank and MK-116 Weteye chemical bombs.

LTV-65530U-A-7A-Mock-up-MK-12-Smoke-Tank-and-Weteyes-19640625 (VAHF Collection)

     Finally, the series will end with a bit of a mystery. This store is listed as the AERO-18A ALSD. Searching the ole interwebs for AERO-18A ALSD brings up Aero L-39, lots of drug references (LSD) but nothing that looks like a combination ECM pod and external fuel tank, If anyone out there can add something, please do!

CVC-65421U-A-7A-Mock-up-AERO-18A-ALSD-19640616 (VAHF Collection)

     That concludes this five part series on external loads hung on the A-7A full scale mock up, Maybe there was something new or of interest to you.

A-7A Mock Up Weapons Loading 1964 Part Four

     As this series on the A-7A Mock up weapons loading continues the focus shifts to how to load all that hardware on the jet. These images show the mock up of the integral pylon hoist mock up and the bomb farm that supported all the different configurations that were loaded on the A-7A mock up.

LTV-66501U A-7A Mock up Integral Pylon Hoist Mock Up Utilizing a Mechanics
Speed Handle Socket Wrench 19641201 (VAHF Archives)

LTV-66503U A-7A Integral Pylon Hoist Mock-up Utilizing Milwaukee half-inch drill and 10 volt EverReady
Nickel-Cadmium Belt 19641201 (VAHF Collection)

LTC-66502U A-7A Mock up Integral Pylon Hoist Utilizing 12 volt battery powered Half-inch
electric drill by Milwaukee Electric 19541201 (VAHF Collection)

     Look at that cordless drill and battery pack, and you thought your's was heavy!.

LTV-66505U A-7A Integral pylon Hoist Mock up Milwaukee and Black and Decker Half-inch
Drills with Batteries and Chargers 19641201 (VAHF Collection)

     Here is one view of the stores array to support the A-7A mock up trials. Rocket pods, drop tanks, Snakeyes, and refueling stores are visible in this image.

LTV-65537U A-7A Mock up Stores Array 19640625 (VAHF Collection)

     In this second view of the stores array mines, cluster bombs, tactical nuclear weapons shapes, and Walleyes are visible.

LTV-65538U A-7A Mock up Stores Array 19640625 (VAHF Collection)

A-7A Mock Up Weapons Loading 1964 Part Three

    The Navy A-7 aircraft was a well known, long serving "Buddy Tanker". This ability was illustrated in the mock up fitting trials at Grand Prairie. Here are a few photos of the Beechcraft Model 385 refueling store and the D-704 refueling store. VAHF photos.

CVC-65425U-A-7A-Mock-up-Model-385-Refueling-Store-19640616

CVC-65426U-A-7A-Mock-up-Model-385-Refueling-Store-19640616

LTV-65408U-A-7A-Mock-up-D-704-Refueling-Store-19640612

LTV-65409U-A-7A-Mock-up-D-704-Refueling-Store-19640612

LTV-65534U-A-7A-Mock-up-D-704-Refueling-Store-19640625

LTV-65535U-A-7A-Mock-up-D-704-Refueling-Store-19640625

LTV-65536U-A-7A-Mock-up-D-704-Refueling-Store-19640625

A-7A Mock up Weapons Loading 1964 Part Two

     For this post the focus will be on the MK12 20mm cannon and ammunition installation in the A-7A Mock up. The AERO 33-D truck and platform is in use for ammunition loading.

LTV- 65763U A-7A Mock up Ammo Loading 19640708 VAHF Archives

LTV-65764U A-7A Mock up loading ammunition using an Aero 33-D truck and platform 19640708 VAHF Archives

LTV-65765U A-7A Mock up ammunition loading different angle 19640708 VAHF Archives

LTV-65619U A-7A Mock up ammunition compartment 19640630 VAHF Archives

LTV-65575U A-7A Mock up MK12 20mm Gun Installation LH Side 19640630 VAHF Archives

A-7A Mock up Weapons Loading 1964 Part One

     The A-7 had a tremendous load carrying capability. This was built into the design from the beginning. Here are a few images of the A-7A Corsair II Mock up demonstrating various weapons loads. These images were out of a set of almost 100 images including close ups, fit checks and various weapon loads that were demonstrated on the mock up. There will be a couple of posts showing some of the more interesting load configurations.

CVC-65453U A-7A Mock up with Mission C configuration 19640622 VAHF Collection

LTV-65504U A-7A Mock up with Bullpup B missiles 19640623 VAHF Collection

LTV-65508U A-7A Mock up with LAU-3, LAU-10 and LAU-33 rocket pods 19640623. VAHF Collection

LTV-65511U A-7A Mock up with CBUs, Walleyes and LAU-33. VAHF Collection