aviation flight helicopter airline aerospace airbus aviation weather schools

Messerschmitt Bf109G-६ 19

2010-07-22T14:19:00.001-07:00

Views of the Revi C/12D reflecting gunsight, which was standard equipment on models through the G-4, and on a few early G-6s. The illustration below shows an installation of the Revi C/12 D gunsight on the G-6 (1/32 scale). Compared to the Revi 16, this gunsight was much larger overall, had the light source within a tube, had a sliding glare filter with a covered storage area, and included a protective cushion for the pilot's head. Note the differences in color between the main gunsight and the pad.
The auxiliary gunsight was mounted on the right side. (private collection)

Messerschmitt Bf109G-६ 177

2010-07-22T14:18:00.000-07:00

One of the best design points of the Revi 16 gunsight was its ability to be moved into a stored position during landing or other periods of non-use.
If one pulled the Revi 16 forward and then twisted it to the right, it could be pushed into the stored position shown in photo 17.
Because of this feature, the head cushion for the pilot, which was a standard feature on gunsights previous to this. was eliminated. The diagram below shows the Revi 16B as used in the G-6/G-14 (1/32 scale).

Messerschmitt Bf109G-६ 16

2010-07-22T14:17:00.002-07:00

A view of the front reflecting giass with a forward glare filter lowered.

Messerschmitt Bf109G-6

2010-07-22T14:17:00.001-07:00

A view from overhead with the night filter in place.

Messerschmitt Bf109G-६ 14

2010-07-22T14:16:00.001-07:00

The reticle which appears in the gunsight. Unfortunately, it is not properly lined up.

Messerschmitt Bf109G-६ 10

2010-07-22T14:15:00.001-07:00

Compared to previous models of reflecting gunsights manufactured by Germany, the Revi 16 was smaller and easier to mass-produce, and quickly became the standard for German gunsights for the second half of World War Two. Photo 10 shows the left side, while photo 11 is from straight ahead. Photo 12 is taken looking down on the gunsight, while photo 13 is of the right side. The small lever visible at the rear of the top of the gunsight is to adjust the brightness of the light. Photo 13 shows the gunsight with a forward glare filter lowered.

Messerschmitt Bf109G-६ 9

2010-07-22T14:13:00.001-07:00

A fine view of the Revi 16B gunsight that was installed in the Bf 109 G-6/G-14. A few G-6s which were produced early mounted that the Revi C/12 reflecting gunsight which had been standard equipment through the G-4. However. nearly all early production G-6s which were delivered to actual units mounted that the Revi 16B. The reflecting glass. glare filter, precision-ground lens. and overall compact design of this unit testify to Germany's superb engineering and technological skills at the time. The small protruding piece of metal towards the right rear of the top of the gunsight is the rear sight portion of the aircraft's auxiliary gunsight. The front sight of the auxiliary gunsight is mounted on the frame of the reflecting glass at the right edge. It ís visible here as a small, upward- pointing piece of metal.

Messerschmitt Bf109G-६ 8

2010-07-22T14:12:00.001-07:00

A close-up of the upper left of the instrument panel. From the top is the signal light, the magneto selector switch, the NW50 master switch, and the engine starter switch.

Messerschmitt Bf109G-६ 7

2010-07-22T14:11:00.001-07:00

The plate at the top of the photo covers the engine starter switch. Below that, to the left is the position indicating lamp for the landing gear. Two red lights in the top row, and two green lights in the bottom row indicate the position of both the left and right main gear.

Messerschmitt Bf109G-६ 6

2010-07-22T14:10:00.000-07:00

A close-up of the right side of the instrument panel. This area primarily contains instruments related to the aircraft's fuel and engines. In the upper row, from the left is the engine boost gauge. the AFN2 radio homing gauge, and the FuG16Z talk/dtrection finding selector switch. The center row is the tachometer, propeller pitch gauge (fuel warning light to its lower right), and the temperature gauge for coolant and engine oil to the right of the propeller pitch gauge. Of the two instruments below that, the upper one is the fuel gauge, and the lower one is the fuel and engine oil pressure gauge. The large red handle the load of fuel warning iight is an emergency release for the main gear lock.

Messerschmitt Bf109G-६ 5

2010-07-22T14:09:00.001-07:00

The central portion of the control panel contains the usual flight instruments.
From the upper left to the lower right are Ihe repeater compass, artificiai horizon, turn and bank indicator, altimeter, and air speed indicator.

Messerschmitt Bf109G-६ ४

2010-07-22T14:08:00.001-07:00

A view of the top of the instrument panel with the Revi gunsight removed. Weapons controls are primarily located in this area. From the left. the control lamp for the MG 151/20 gondolas, master armament switches, ammunition counters for the MG 151/20 and the MG 131 nose armament, an aviation clock with stopwatch button, and the control lamp for MG 151/20 gun gondolas. See p. 53 for details regarding the MG 151/20 gondolas.

Messerschmitt Bf109G-६ २

2010-07-22T14:06:00.000-07:00

A close-up of the ZSK244A armament controller, and rocket launch control {to the right) at the bottom of the instrument panel.

Messerschmitt Bf109G-६ २

2010-07-22T14:04:00.000-07:00

A view of the rear of the instrument panel.

Messerschmitt Bf109G-६ 1

2010-07-22T13:59:00.000-07:00

The main instrument panel of the Bf109 G-6. The gunsight is a Revi 16B. all of the instrument seen here are originals.
The actual panel is a replica. but its shape and color were carefully researched. The gunsight is shown in its normal location for the purposes of the photo. Normally, it is rotated 110 degrees to the right and then pushed into its storage position. At the bottom of the panel is located a ZSK244A armament controller, and the rocket launching control is located to the right of that. This reconstruction is an extremely valuable reference work. (private collection)

FLEET AIR GUNNERY UNIT & PACIFIC (FAGU)

2010-06-12T20:13:00.000-07:00

The Fleet Air Gunnery Unit, Pacific, provided aerial gunnery training for Navy and Marine pilots from NAAS El Centro, California, and from MCAAS Yuma after mid 1959. A small number of F8U-ls, FJ-4Bs, A4D-2s, and F4D-ls were used by FAGU. The FAGU F8U-1 pictured below carried a red and white checkerboard stripe on the tail.

THUNDERBIRD AVIATION F-8K N19TB

2010-06-12T20:11:00.000-07:00

The Crusader did make it into the 1990s as evidenced by this Thunderbird Aviation F-8K at Miramar in August 1990. Colors were overall grey with blue T-bird, nose number and "N" number. Wing pylon and tail stripe were gold and blue. (Ginter)

NAVAL AIR DEVELOPMENT CENTER (NADC) & NAS JOHNSVILLE & PA.

2010-06-12T20:08:00.000-07:00

NADC was originally designated the Naval Air Development Station. Because of continued growth at the station, the Naval Air Development Center, NAS Johnsville, Pennsylvania, was established on 1 August 1949. The Development Center was given the primary mission of providing design and development of air¬craft electronics, aviation armament and pilotless aircraft. To accomplish its mis¬sion, NADC Johnsville flew a mixed bag of fleet aircraft including the Crusader.

NADC flew at least two F-8A Crusaders as shown below. In addition to the fighter variant of the Crusader, NADC Johnsville flew at least four Photo-Eights (see Naval Fighters Number Seventeen, Vought's F-8 Crusader Part Two, Navy and Marine RF-8 Photo-Recon Squadrons). Below, F-8A 145443 stands display duty with a Dou¬glas A-3 Skywarrior in May 1966. Sharkmouth is red with white teeth and black lips. (Besecker) F-8A 144435 in 1965 with the remnants of the base insignia on the tail. (R. Esposito via Clay Jansson)

NAVAL AIR TEST FACILITY (SI) NAS LAKEHURST _ N. J.

2010-06-12T20:05:00.000-07:00

The Naval Air Test Center (ships installations) was established at NAS Lakehurst, N. J., on 1 Octo¬ber 1957. Utilizing 11 test sites, the test facilitys primary mission was to develop catapult and arresting sys¬tems for both land and sea.

NATF F-8s wore a red-orange tail triangle bordered by thin white and black stripes. F-8L 145419 below sports an added red tail.

NATF F-8A 143720 launches from a ground-based catapult developed for the Marines. (USN) Ex VC-7 F-8A 145412 was used for barricade tests in 1966. (Esposito) F-8L 145419. (Besecker) F-8D 147046 in 1967; tail is da-glo red. (Esposito via Jansson)

PACIFIC MISSILE RANGE / NAVAL MISSILE CENTER & NMC / PACIFIC MISSILE TEST CENTER & PMTC

2010-06-12T19:38:00.000-07:00

F8U-1D 141345 on 4-22-61. (Bill Swisher) DF-8F 144431 on 10-18-64. (Clay Jansson) DF-8F 143703 on 5-15-65. (Bill Swisher) Aircraft 141345 and 144431 were painted with da-glo red outer wings and tail. The F8U-1 D was used as drone director air-craft and the DF-8Fs were target tugs.

NAS Point Mugu, California, is home for the aircraft assigned to PMTC. The basic mission of the test center is to take new and existing missile systems and to develop and refine their usage so they can be integrated into the fleet.

DF-8A 143771 on 10-21-62 with the da-glo tail and outer wings and with the last 3 digits of the BuNo repeated on the nose.
DF-8As were employed as drone control aircraft for the Regulus II missile program. (William Swisher)

DF-8F 144449 on 5-20-67. (William Swisher) DF-8F 143691 in 11-69_ (Harry Gann) Both aircraft have the red tail and outer wings

DF-8F 143693 in 11-69 in drone director colors as described on page 26 and as shown in the color section. (Harry Gann)

F-8.1 150920 (#107) with the Naval Missile Center insignia on the tail. The triangle was white with the lower quadrant red, upper
left navy blue and upper right powder blue. Behind the triangle were two stylized boomerangs with the upper one red and the
lower one navy blue. NMC was painted in red. (Stan Wyckoff)

DF-8F 143699 at Point Mugu on 10-17-70. This target tug was
previously used at China Lake. (via Burger)

DF-8L 145450 at Mugu on 7-6-72. These were drone control
aircraft for QF-86Fs and Hs. (Clay Jansson)

DF-8L 145498 during The Space Fair at NAS Point Mugu on 10-23-72. (William Swisher)

On 26 April 1975 the Test Center adopt¬ed a new insignia as worn on the tail of these Crusaders. The triangle was dark blue with a gold eagle and an¬chor. The stars and the ocean line were white.

PMTC DF-8L with external power plugged in prior to Mugu's 10-76 Air Show. (B. Miller)
DF-8L 145450 in 10-76; tail stripe was medium blue. (Ginter)

DF-8J 150302 being towed at the NAS Point Mugu Air Show in October 1977. The gun ports were black as well as the intake lips and the stripe be¬hind the radome. (via Burger)

DF-8J 150297 at Scott AFB on 9-24-77. Sensors have been added to either side of the intakes and a blade antennae has been added to the ra¬dome. (L. Reynolds via Fred Roos)

NAVAL WEAPONS CENTER & CHINA LAKE & CALIFORNIA

2010-06-12T19:21:00.000-07:00

F8U-1 144430 equipped with a Del-Mar tow rig consisting of a wing mounted black target housing and a fuselage mounted sliver wind-driven cable reel. As with 145443, 144430's lower forward fuselage, tail and outer wings were da-glo red. (William Swisher 11.18-61)

The Naval Weapons Center, China Lake, formerly Naval Ord¬nance Test Center (NOTS), is responsible for research, develop¬ment, lest and evaluation of naval air launched weapons and weapon systems. Over the years the center has also been called on to take part in underwater programs such as ASROC. The center has developed and tested the following weapons; 5" WAR, Tiny Tim, Mighty Mouse, Zu¬ni, Shrike, and Sidewinder.

F8U-1 (F-8A) 145331 with CHINA LAKE painted on its tail, fires a red-bodied Sidewinder from its fuselage missile rail during ongoing testing of improved Sidewinders. (USN via Barry Miller)

China Lake-based F8U-1 145443 con-ducting an aerial pick-up or extraction of a ground object, probably a target. The lower fuselage, outer wings, and tail were da-glo red. (R. Harrison, Candid Aero)

DF-8F 143699 with red tail and outer wings and with the last three digits of the BuNo on the nose on 1-28-67. (Jansson)

DF-8F 143813 awaiting scrapping in 1971. Colors were drone director col¬ors, see page 26 for description. (via Burger)

DF-8F 145351 at China Lake on 5-9-70 with red outer wings and tail. (G. Liang via Fred Roos)

F-8H 147057 at China Lake on 11-17-70 with Agile AAM missile mock-ups on the lower "V" fuselage mounts and the wing pylons. (USN)

Three China Lake test aircraft from above, which shows off the location of CHINA LAKE on the upper wings in 1958. Top to bot¬tom; Vought F8U-1 Crusader, McDonnell F311-2 Demon, and Douglas F3D-2 SkyKnight. All three aircraft were armed with two Sidewinders. (USN)

China Lake-based F-8E 150284 on 3-16-67. Tail and outer wings were once again red. Notice how a border of white was painted around the stars-and-bars to help them stand out against the red of the wing. (Clay Jansson)

SEVENTH FLEET FLYING BROTHERS

2010-06-12T19:18:00.000-07:00

A U.S.-Asian Fighter Weapons Conference was held at Clark AFB, Philippines, in 1959. For this conference the Seventh Fleet put together a team for the competition called the "Flying Brothers".

The team was equipped with F8U-1 Crusaders but was unable to compete because the competition was in close air support, skip bombing, air-to¬ground rocket-firing, glide bombing and strafing.

Because of this the F8Us were replaced by A4 Skyhawks in subse¬quent competitions. Markings were red check marks with a white 7 and black FLEET on the forward fuselage and black FLYING BROTHERS on the tail.

U. S. NAVAL TEST PILOT SCHOOL _ NAS PATUXENT RIVER

2010-06-12T19:13:00.000-07:00

TPS F-8B 145521 taxiing at PAX River in July 1968. Tail and outer wing panels were red with a black F4D Skyray paint¬ed on the tail. (Barry Miller)

The U. S. Naval Test Pilot School (TPS), is located at the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Maryland. The mission of TPS is to train experienced Naval Aviators, Naval Flight Officers, and engineers to become qualified for duty at the various Naval research and development facilities, as well as at the testing centers of the other U. S. mili¬tary services and those of foreign allies.

TPS F-8K 145584 on 4-21-71 with red tail, nose and outer wing panels. U. S. NAVAL TEST PILOT SCHOOL is painted on the fuselage under the wing. (Roger Besecker)

TPS F-8K 145580 in storage at the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposal Center (MASDC) on 3-19-72. Tail, nose and out¬er wing panels were red. (D. Slowiak via Fred Roos)

TPS TF-8A TWOSADER
In a effort to sell pilot transition and combat efficiency trainer aircraft to the Navy, Vought modified the 74th pro¬duction F-8A, 143710, into a dual control tandem seat aircraft designat¬ed F8U-1T (TF-8A). As a one-of-a-kind prototype, the Twosader was given to the Test Pilot School and performed extremely well. While at Patuxent Riv¬er the aircraft wore da-glo red tail, nose and wing markings.

NAVAL AIR TEST CENTER PATUXENT RIVER & MARYLAND & NATCI

2010-06-12T18:59:00.000-07:00

Armament Test IF8U-1 creating mach-diamonds in afterburner In August 1956. (National Archives

Contractors FBU-1 #346 (141346) in overall natural metal finish, conducting aerial refueling tests with NATC AJ-2 124158 In
February 1957. The Crusader was initially built without refueling gear. (National Archives)

Weapons Test F8U-2 145560 on 29 November 1961 with a target tow rig installed on the forward fuselage and a TDU-22 target on the NADC-developed wing pylon. (USN)

Weapons Test F-8C 145553 at a Naval Air Test Center air show open house at NAS Patuxent River. The stylized "W" on the tall was in da-glo red-orange. (D. Ostrowski via Menard)

Weapons Test F-8E 150889 at NAS Patuxent River (PAX River). The stylized "W" was used on this aircraft also. (D. Ostrowski)

Flight Test F8U-2N (F-8D) 145548 on 7-8-61. Faded and over-sprayed da-glo red tail, outer wings, nose and test boom are evident. (USN)

Flight Test F-8E 149218 with twelve iron bombs mounted on the wing pylons on 2-17-64. The fuselage is painted with camera reference lines. (D. Ostrowski)

Flight Test F-BE/J on the USS Midway (CVA-41) with a Flight Test A-3 Skywarrier on 8-5-70. (USN)

Flight Test F-BE 149218 on 2-14-64 with eight Zunis and two Bullpups. (D. Ostrowski)

Flight Test F-BE 149218 prepares to launch while loaded with eight Zunis and two 2,000 pounders. Mad Bomber characture is painted in front of the main gear doors. (USN)

F-,8E 149218 on 8-26-67 at NAS Miramar with the wing pylons mounted and the photographic reference fines removed. (Clay Jansson)

Fright Test F-8K 145548 with red tail and outer wing panels basking in the sun after being sent to MASDC, Arizona. (Swisher)

First flight test in a fighter of the Goo drich Omni-Environment Mark-1 Mod-2 full pressure suit by CDR Jack Morris- hr.
sey on 3-2-57. (National Archives) Service Test YF8U-1 143740 in 1958. (via Burger) Service Test YF8U-1M in 1958 with da-glo aft fuselage, wings, and tail In 1958. Ventral fin stripes were red and white. (via Clay Jansson) Service Test F-8H 147922 with red tail and outer wings on 11-12-73. (Jim Sul¬livan via Fred Roos)

Flight Test F-8K 146947 with FLIGHT TEST NAVAL AIR TEST CENTER painted under the wing. Tail and outer wing panels were red. (via Clay Jansson)

FIGHTER SQUADRON NINE THREE TWO VF-932 (VF-33W2, VF-34W2)

2010-06-12T18:55:00.000-07:00

LCDR Al Bazer In March 1966 when he was VF-932's XO. He served as VF-932's skipper from 7-1-67 to 7-1-68. (Al Bazer)

VF-931 was stationed at NAS Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. The squadrons shared North American AF-1 E Furys un¬til they were replaced with Vought F-8B Crusaders in 1964. F-8As were added at a later date and the squadron was rede¬signated VF-33W2 on 7-1-68. Four months later VF-33W2's designation was changed to VF-34W2 on 11-1-68. The squadron received the prestigious CNO safety award for 1969, the year in which the F-8L was acquired. VF-34W2 was decommissioned on 11-1-70.

The flight line at NAS Willow Grove in 1965. F-8B 145515 is in the foreground, followed by 145486 (#34), 145453 (#27), 145475 (#22) and nine other F-BBs. Shield on the tail was red bordered by black with a white and black liberty bell. (R. Esposito via Janssen) F-8L 145444 landing at WAS Willow Grove. (unknown) F-8L 145514 at Andrews AFB in August 1970. (D. Kasulka via Clay Janssen)