Hearted Youtube comments on Not A Pound For Air To Ground (@notapound) channel.

  1. I flew the F-4 and (Then ) Colonel Olds was 100% right, The F-4E with the 20mm was the weapon that made the Phantom II the definitive fighter of its time. I am proud to have contact with his daughter and biographer Christine.and regret that i never got to meet him. Went from 4 to F-15. With the Vulcan Gun. (Christine, it's Vig!) Olds was the GOAT.
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  2. To be fair to the sidewinder kill ratio, the very high humidity levels of Vietnam apparently seriously hampered the reliability and maintenance of both the Sidewinder and Sparrow missiles. I don't know how well Israel maintained their equipment, but it is worth noting that the conditions of Sharm are likely much more favorable for A2A missiles than that of Vietnam. Great video!
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  3. Back in the eighties I once attended a professional meeting on aerospace instrumentation. At dinner I ended up sitting next to an engineer who worked at one of the military's missle test ranges. He explained how the Sidewinder missles under test would be setup with an offset to make sure they missed the target drone, as the drones were expensive. With the Hughes Falcon they found the offset was not required, as it never hit the drone anyway. Their nickname for the Falcon was "the friendly missle".
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  4. My dad was a SAGE AIC and spent time in Canada (eh) running 101s and 102s. Several of their attack profiles were one-way, because they never pulled out of burner (running out of gas and bailing out was part of the plan)... and the track update time was four to eight seconds (on a good day) when only one of the consoles was active. If all four consoles were active and it was a bad day, it was more like 20-30 seconds. After Canada he spent time in SEA controlling tankers (squadron motto: "We pass gas"). He told me a story of a 105 that asked for some gas on his way back south... every package and track was on a tight schedule, so butting in was frowned upon... "Are you declaring an emergency?" "Well, I'd rather not, but I could use the gas..." Dad squeezed him into the lineup, the 105 hooks up, and the boom operator keys up and says, "Uh, we got a problem here -- this guy is spewing gas about as fast as I can pump it in." Needless to say, an emergency was declared... decks were cleared, schedules were slipped, and the 105 stayed hooked to the tanker all the way home... disconnected, landed, and flamed out on rollout. Story was he took a 57mm right through the engine; no idea why it kept running, or didn't just explode. The squadron got a case of scotch from the pilot.
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  5. During the V-1 strikes on Great Britain, WW2, RAF interceptors found that shooting the V-1 would cause such a blast and flying debris that they would get caught up in it. Therefore they created a maneuver where they flew alongside the missile, then tipped one of its wings with their own wing, causing the unguided V-1 to dive uncontrollably into the ground. The only thing the US Navy needed was an interceptor that could fly as slowly as the Hellcat. Another Hellcat!
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  6. Hey everyone. This is a re-uploaded version of last Friday’s video. I had to remove a portion of it as I had inadvertently infringed a copyright. Sorry for any confusion!
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  7. FUN TRIVIA: The original USAF designation for the F-4C was the F-110 'Spectre'. Then came MacNamara and his Whiz Kids... FROM my reading back in the '70s, a lot of the missile problems were because they were originally intended for intercepts with little maneuvering, as well as the heat and humidity of SE Asia. Maintenance in austere settings didn't help, either. My brother-in-law served as an F-4 navigator, circa 1970. He never saw combat, though he spent a year at Clark AFB, then finished out his active duty in England. While he was not a rated pilot, he got plenty of stick time so his front seater could catch naps.
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  8. Thanks for making this. My dad flew (RO) the D/H/J models so I had him watch it. Here's his response: "By far the most complete and accurate video on the 89 I have seen. The only tiny error I noticed, though not about the 89, was when he mentioned the interim F-94C, the picture was an F-94B. I knew the 89 was historic, but this video really brings this fact home, and I flew every version except the early gun armed models. Very possibly, I am the most experienced 89 crew member left in the world. I remember the first time I ever saw a Scorpion. The commander of AF ROTC at NMSY (Las Cruces) flew some 6 of us students to attend an AF ROTC conference at, I believe it was Peterson AFB, Colorado. While standing around on the ramp at Peterson an F-89D taxied by; I was very much impressed, not realizing at the time that I soon would be flying that aircraft. Incidentally, at that conference I met a general, don’t recall his name, maybe Scott, who had been a Flying Tiger. So in my lifetime I have met two Flying Tigers, him and Bonington." What dad left out is that he flew the F-89D/H/J with the 76th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at McCoy AFB. The 76th, along with the 74th and 75th FIS, are the descendant units of Claire Chennault's 1st American Volunteer Group (nicknamed Flying Tigers). So, not only did he meet two of the Tigers, he technically flew with them too. They fly A-10s now, and retain the original patch: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/76th_Fighter_Squadron#/media/File:76th_Fighter-Interceptor_Squadron_-_Emblem.png Dad's next assignment was as "scope wizard" in the F-101B. It'd be fantastic if you could review this next. I'm sure he'd get a kick out of providing information, if you do. (FYI, his later assignments were RF-4C (100 Missions N Vietnam), and the F-111A/F)
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  9. A little bit later than usual this week as I got carried away on this one. A labour of love that I hope you enjoy. If so, please consider subscribing as it helps me climb up the algorithm. Thanks so much for your continued support!
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  10. Back around the same year, a small general aviation aircraft, maybe a Taylorcraft Auster, took off by itself (the pilot for some reason, had got out of the cockpit) near Sydney NSW. It climbed steadily then levelled out, heading for a heavily populated area. The RAAF were called out to shoot it down while that could still be safely done. The fighters, which I think were Gloster Meteors with cannon, couldn't slow down enough to get a good shot, so aborted the effort. Eventually, they sent up an old Wirraway ( first cousin to a NA Texan), with a guy in the back seat with a Bren gun.That worked!!
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  11. I have fired a AIM-9M and a AIM-7M, and watched an AIM-120 launched. The Sidewinder’s flight does indeed look like the path of a snake. The AMRAAM comes off the rail so fast it is startling. The Sparrow has the biggest warhead of all three missiles - it looks like a 500 lbs bomb has exploded in flight. The AIM-9X and helmet-mounted sight provide a new huge leap in capability. Thank you for another excellent video.
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  12. The difference Boyd's writings did was that it took existing knowledge, brought it together into a single place and properly codified it into something that was more teachable than the mishmash of more individual and often highly splintered and incomplete knowledge spread out among a horde of pilots. The understanding itself wasn't revolutionary at all, but being able to present it properly in a way that it could be provided with relative ease to all new pilots, THAT very much was revolutionary.
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  13. I have lived all my life 8kms away from the Naval Air Station Nowra. As a child they had the best air shows, Sea Venom, A4 Skyhawk, Gruman Tracker, Westland Wessex and Sea King. Now all in the excellent museum. As a police officer later in the 90s, we would spend a week each year doing courses and training with Australian, British and American troops - counter terrorism exercises and it was also in the days of the 3RAR parachute training school. I did the free fall course with them and also attended several aircraft crashes and parachute mishaps.
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  14. The analysis of the strategic context, and how it affected the design, is excellent. This is much more than a "it goes x mph" video. I love "improvised" design stories (like the Harrier and the Sten gun), and this a great one told well. Many thanks for sharing this 😊.
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  15. This is now my favorite channel. By covering less-well-known topics in depth, you really give us a lot of new knowledge. Not just a different “take” on old topics. Keep it up, please.
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  16. Excellent video, very informative. I didn't know about the accidental shoot down of the B-52.
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  17. The airstrip the F89s were based on is now Camarillo airport. The mascot of the Adolfo Camarillo high school is a scorpion in honor of the F89.
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  18. Prior to this incident Lomax was known to declare, in the Udorn Officer's club bar, that he intended to shoot down a Mig during his SEAsia tour with his F-102. He received a lot of laughs with that. It is understood that, on the ill fated mission, he had adjusted his orbit closer to the threat than was dictated by mission planners, hoping to engage any Migs who ventured South. It is also understood that he received warnings of the attack although he had already compromised the formation with his geographical position. He go what he asked for. Following the incident, we flew the mission in the F-4D. Often, if Migs ventured towards the South we would try to bait them into range for an engagement. They would invariably run away.
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  19. My dad flew back seat on an F-94A in 1950. He had to take a blanket with him to throw over his head to block the sunlight so he could see the radar screen, because it was too dim to be seen during the day. Considering what a flying coffin that plane was, the big mystery to me is how he and the pilot could fit their giant brass balls into the tiny space of that cockpit.
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  20. This is the best "run-down" video on a post war relatively unknown aircraft that I've ever seen. Normally, I'll watch a minute or so of the video and move on. This one kept me watching through to the end and the end time spent was well worth spending. The fight that never happened was a great what-if. Thanks.
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  21. So, the Syrians weren’t stupid… got it. It was the Israelis who were just smart! 😂
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  22. I flew F4E, I had bigger engines and a 20mm cannon. Gave me an advantage over F4C. I also got advanced training and was taught to be aggressive and think outside the box. I also grew up with Test Pilots. My father was an Aerospace Engineer.
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  23. Brilliant work dude. I’d not come across this event myself, loved your video on the F-102’s MiG encounter as well. Don Shepperd’s book ‘Bury Us Upside Down’ is a great read on the Misty ops. If you haven’t already read, I’m sure you’d appreciate it. Looking forward to the next video!
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  24. I love your deep dive stories of obscure designs that deserve a mention, and are otherwise often overlooked in the history of aviation....thanks for posting 😊
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  25. Good video about an oft forgotten battle. I agree the F-102 had no business doing that mission.
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  26. Wasn't sure what to expect when I added this to my playlist but very glad I did. 😂 Very entertaining, now subbed.
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  27. Holy crap dude! You are cranking out the long, detailed, EXCELLENT content!!! And i do not use the E word lightly. Thank you so much!
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  28. This was an absolutely enjoyable rendition of this oft-overlooked battle in the skies over Southern California. I worked with Falcons and Genies throughout my USAF tour of duty (F101s & F106s).
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  29. I cannot Have Doughnut because I am on diet. Sad.
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  30. To be fair, quite a lot of F-100 sorties were as forward air control, not as a fighter, so the sortie:kill discrepancy isn’t as stark as it seems. The story of the “MISTY” Fast FACs is another interesting facet of the Hun service record.
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  31. Again, an excellent video with ground-breaking theme and content. I have often wondered how fighter defence of the CONUS was theorised and what tactics would be employed in the late 50's and early 60's. Great work!
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  32. I have been enjoying this Yom Kippur War series so much, given my previous lack of knowledge in the area. Thanks for your hard work!
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  33. I had always assumed that the Fury preceded the Sabre, and the F-86 was a really fast redesign, but you make a good argument that they could be considered siblings. Given the primitive state of jet engines and overall jet technology, I'd say the Fury was a pretty good try at a difficult requirement with what was available. Even in falling short, it provided valuable service and experience--fortunately without the spilled blood of other designs.
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  34. This channel has rapidly become one of my favorites. Information is always presented in an accurate and precise manner on every subject. Like this one here, I look forward to future releases.
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  35. About ripple-fire, my dad flew F-89 D/H/J and he recalls the 102 firing three at a time, only. The 89's would fire three as well, but a mix of IR and radar. The idea being, if he target could jam one, probably would not jam the other as well.
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  36. FYI; the phot at 2:30 was an RF-4 being shot down by a SAM. Another excellent, informative video! Regarding the MiG-21, I once read an account (admittedly anecdotal in an aviation magazine) by a NATO F-104 pilot who had a friendly hassle with a WARPAC MiG-21 over the Baltic. He said he had an easy time with the MiG, though this was probably more to pilot skill than any great aircraft superiority.
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  37. I just wanted to thank you for the films you produce. They are so informative and interesting.
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  38. At 8 years old I vaguely recall a lot of adult conversation about something happening in the desert. Our family, my father a Navy MSC officer, had just been stationed at Camp Pendelton, CA . It explains one of those childhood memories. Narragansett Bay
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  39. FDR had just two catapults, not three. And on October 24-25 when DEFCON 3 was declared, FDR headed for its SIOP launch point (Poodle or Terrier, I forget which), and we A-6 crews in VA-176 broke out our pre-prepared SIOP target charts and weaponeering profiles.
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  40. The Israeli F-4 Phantoms were basically using similar tactics as the American Naval Aviators during WW2 in the Pacific and the North Vietnamese Air Force during Vietnam War.
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  41. I once talked to an F-4 pilot who worked with my dad at the White House. He said: "The first time flying the Phantom, I lit up the afterburners, and for the first five seconds, I was scared to death. After those five seconds, I flew it for another 12 years...and I never got enough of it!"
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  42. The F89 was the first jet aircraft model I made as a kid. We lived 30 miles from a SAC base and had B52's fly low level over our farm all the time. Glad I found your channel.
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  43. Thank you for bringing light to this early Cold Warrior! Born in '56, these early 2nd generation aircraft were still prominent during my early childhood and fed my early fascination with aviation! Please consider a video on the F-86D interceptor, also armed with the 2.75" rocket. Interestingly, the 2.75" FFAR (nicknamed 'Mighty Mouse') became the pod-launched ground attack rocket so prominent in the Vietnam war, and continues in use as the 70mm Hydra system.
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  44. Although rare, a landing plane accidentally spraying the air above the flight deck with machine gun fire did happen. The lockout when the arrestor hook was extended was wise.
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  45. Several years after the Vietnam War, F-14, F-15 F-16 and F-18 was born from the lessons of Vietnam War.
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  46. This was superb. Top notch investigative reporting. I love how you drew your own, logical conclusions and didn't pretend you knew more than that. I can tell you put a lot of work into this.
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  47. XF-86: "hey Willy, can I copy your wings?" Me262: "sure, just change it a little so it's not obvious."
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  48. Great video!! I‘d love to see more videos about lesser known soviet fighter aircraft, they seem to get little coverage
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  49. How are you not at 100k subs is a mystery to me another great video :)
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  50. There are many multiverses where it worked out for some reason.
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