Hmm, I can't say that I personally know about any saucers, extra-terrestrial or local in origin, though I admit I sometimes wonder if some of Avro Canada's more "interesting" projects were not taken deep into the "Black" world. On the other hand, I learned enough from what people wouldn't talk about to know that there's some interesting "vehicles" out there; forex. just from what folks at Northrop wouldn't talk about, I got a fair idea of what Tacit Blue looked like before it was declassified.
I'll admit to being prejudiced, I worked on the 152 and 172 (especially the 152, the fuel system changes from the 150 to the 152 were all mine and, back in my files, I've still got my copy of the certification report on the 152's fuel system.
Yeah, I can imagine the H-60's quite an improvement over the versions of the H-3/S-61 that the Navy operates (do they still still use any H-3s other than the VH-3s of HMX-One? If I take the outside walk from the plant gate to the office I work in, I go right by the dedicated maintenance and overall hanger for those and their sister VH-60s). A generation or two of design background will do that. I suspect though, that the newly remanufactured S-61T aircraft might be a lot closer to the H-60 since they incorporate a lot of technology from the H-60 and other lines.
Yeah, seeing your "babies" flying is quite a thrill. One reason I was most interested in seeing the flight of F-35B c/n BF04 was that it was the first with full, or almost full, equipment fit including some installations I did.
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AVRO's project was a hideously expensive waste of time. They wanted a coriolis powered saucer and got a horribly overpriced hovercraft with no directional stability. I would have loved to see the CF-105 'Arrow', though, but it was gone and done before was old enough to appreciate it. Le Sigh!
It's interesting how much information can be got from people who 'can't discuss that'. The problem is, the engineers and technicians who work on projects like Tacit Blue are justifiably proud of their achievements and want to brag.
Cessna/Piper: Usually people like one or the other. I prefer the Piper, but the Cessna is nearly impossible to spin...and it has that silly push/pull throttle. It works, but it's hardly 'gool'. The piper has a 'real' throttle quadrant.
The last plane I flew was a Stolt Starduster Too.
Now, THAT's a hell of an airplane!
HC-85 in San Diego, Operates the HH-3H, and I think there's at least one other HC squadron on the east coast.
If the S-61's flight control/stability system has been upgraded as well, I see no reason they shouldn't be flying for another ten or fifteen years. The 'kettle drum' is a good airplane.
F-35: Pretty bird. Fast, and most importantly, versatile. If it can be made rough-field capable, like the Yak 38, it would be an asset to any army.
Alorkin