Wednesday, November 13, 2013

North American Aviation XB-70 Valkyrie



The #1 XB-70A (62-0001) is viewed from above in cruise configuration with the wing tips drooped for improved controllability.

1968 NASA Photo / This file is a work of an NASA employee, taken or made during the course of the person's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the file is in the public domain.

Generally speaking, works created by U.S. Government employees are not eligible for copyright protection in the United States. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF from the U.S. Copyright Office.

NASA requests to be acknowledged as the source of the material except in cases of advertising.

The XB-70A, capable of flying three times the speed of sound, was the world's largest experimental aircraft in the 1960s. Two XB-70A aircraft were built. Ship #1 was flown by the NASA Flight Research Center (now NASA Dryden), Edwards, Calif., in a high-speed flight research program.

XB-70 Valkyrie

In this view the #1 XB-70A (62-0001) is in a level cruise flight mode at a relative high altitude judging from the darkness of the sky.

XB-70 Valkyrie





Wednesday, October 30, 2013

de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito



Mosquito B Mk IV serial DK338 before delivery to 105 Squadron - this aircraft was used on several of 105 Squadron's low-altitude daylight bombing operations during 1943. Description: de Havilland DH-98 Mosquito. Source: Canadian Forces.

Expired crown copyright. Image made by Canadian forces more than 50 years ago. This Canadian work is in the public domain in Canada because its copyright has expired. Crown copyright protection in published material lasts for fifty years from the end of the year in which the material was first published. HMSO has declared that the expiry of Crown Copyrights applies worldwide.

Role Fast bomber, Fighter-bomber, Night fighter, Maritime strike aircraft, Fast photo-reconnaissance aircraft. Manufacturer: de Havilland Aircraft Company. First flight: 25 November 1940. Introduction: 1941. Status: Retired. Primary users: Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, United States Army Air Forces. Produced: 1940–1950. Number built: 7,781.

de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito

de Havilland Mosquito B.XVIs, including the Percival-built PF563, closest to the camera. Expired Crown Copyright. Image by Royal Air Force

de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Hawker Hurricane



A Royal Air Force Hawker Hurricane Mark IIC (s/n BE500, 'LK-A', "United Provinces Cawnpore") being flown by Squadron Leader Dennis Smallwood, the Commanding Officer of No. 87 Squadron RAF based at RAF Charmy Down, Somerset (UK).

No. 87 Squadron was one of the first RAF night fighter squadrons. Sqn Ldr Smallwood led the squadron in 1941-42, when most intercepts were made entirely without on-board radar. The aircraft is painted in an overall black scheme known in the RAF as "Special Night". BE500 subsequently served with No. 533 Squadron RAF and finally in the Far East.

This artistic work created by the United Kingdom Government is in the public domain. Date: early 1942. This is photograph COL 186 from the collections of the Imperial War Museums. Crown copyright protection in published material lasts for fifty years from the end of the year in which the material was first published. HMSO has declared that the expiry of Crown Copyrights applies worldwide.

Hawker Hurricane

Hurricane Mk1, RAF serial R4118, squadron code UP-W, UK civil registration G-HUPW, at the Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford, Gloucestershire, England.

The aircraft was delivered new to 605 (County of Warwick) Squadron in August 1940. It flew 49 combat sorties from Croydon, England, destroying 3 enemy aircraft and damaging 2 others. Still painted in its original markings, R4118 is the only Hurricane from the Battle of Britain still flying.

This picture was taken at RIAT Fairford on the Thursday before the show days of Saturday and Sunday. Later the show was cancelled, due to waterlogged car parks.

Hawker Hurricane

Photographed by Adrian Pingstone in July 2008 and placed in the public domain. July 2008

This work has been released into the public domain by its author, Arpingstone. This applies worldwide. In some countries this may not be legally possible; if so: Arpingstone grants anyone the right to use this work for any purpose, without any conditions, unless such conditions are required by law.