This aircraft has shot down everything from biplanes to jets.  It dropped over 6 million lbs or ordinance.  It made a successful torpedo attack. 9 countries, two MoH, countless variants, and parts of it were still operational in 1991.  What was it?

that's it, glad you didn't say the F-117

that would be Lockheed

F-104 Starfighter  aka the missile with a man in it

my dad got me an aircraft of WW2 book when i was younger, and i remember seeing that picture and that it was russian. as soon as i read the question i knew exactly what to look for.

what is the only manufacturer of a century series aircraft to survive to this day as a military supplier?

Yes, that would be the host in this rather ridiculous infestation of parasites;

The Z-5 Samolet Zvena, which was based around a Tupolev TB-3.

http://www.unrealaircraft.com/forever/pages/vak2.php

Afraid not, the aeroplane in question is the "dog" (not to be confused with the doog) , not the flea.

Is the answer

Mignet Pou-du-Ciel

Thanks for that link, was great to hear it from the man himself!! WELL DONE Richard!!! RIP

satch_ip

I was wondering if you read that same article. 

I did last night when I was researching the supercritical wing. I was pretty clear on his discovery of area rule & was aware that Langley / NACA / NASA had aided the development of both the supercritical wing & winglet, but I was unaware that both were also specifically his children.

I would say he is to a degree a bit of an unsung hero when you consider that due to his developments the large percentage of air travelers can look out the window at his achievements, which allow them to go further for less.

There is an interesting NASA video article with him here;

 http://www.nasa.gov/topics/people/features/richard_whitcomb.html

I didn't realise that he had passed away last year - big up for Whitcomb

I was wondering if you read that same article.  I was flying back from Milan thinking about the question when I found that magazine in the airplane.  There were several good articles but the tribute to Whitcomb just jumped out at me as perfect question.

When I looked at the question, my first thought was area rule as it's an obvious one where the F-102 is mentioned & although the Falcon 50 benefited from it I couldn't find any reference of it in connection to the C-17. There may be area rule involved in the C-17, but looking at it, with the wing roots, engines & landing gear bay bulges all concentrated in the same area with no noticeable cross-sectional offset to them I have my doubts, further reading on the supercritical wing led me to Mr Whitcomb - an interesting article regarding him here;   http://www.airforce-magazine.com/MagazineArchive/Pages/2010/February%202010/0210whitcomb.aspx

The Question;

If this aircraft was a dog, it would be the most flea bitten in history?

well milairjunkie let me have the last one, so i'll let him take this one, seeing as how he did specify the person, where as i specified the area rule

The answer is Richard Whitcomb.  He came up with the Area Rule that enabled the F-102 to bread the sound barrier.  He designed the super critical wing used on the Falcon 50 and C-17.  He also invented winglets used on the C-17 as well as every modern airliner.

While navypitsnipe was first to mention Whitcomb, Milairejunkie was more correct.  It's a coin toss.

well, i got nothing else, maybe this will be a "sour grapes" that works out in my favor

Richard Whitcomb.

F-102 - area rule,

Falcon 50 - area rule & possibly wing design,

C-17 - Supercritical wing & winglets.

On a side note, I see the US secretary for defense is trying to have the C-17 production line shut down next year? 

Whitcomb (Transonic) Area Rule?? i know the F-102 and Falcon 50 follow it but i don't know about the C-17

You are correct sir, miss typed.  Give yourself a cookie!

satch_ip

No, not the answer.  The Falcon is powered by two Garret turbofans.

??...

Doesn't the Falcon 50 have 3 engines?

yeah i just found that, the falcon 40's had P&W, and some 50's were retro fitted

No, not the answer.  The Falcon is powered by two Garret turbofans.

Engine Manufacturer, Pratt & Whitney

Ok guys, I just got back from Milan and I'm sitting in JFK.  Here's the question.

What common thread ties the F102, Falcon 50, and C-17 together?

Woohoo!  I finally got one!  It was an easy question for me as I wrote the Official Squadron History blurb for the 86th Flying Training Squadron which was descended from the 86th Bomb Squadron of WWII.  We petitioned the Air Force to bring back the WWII squadron patch and also got a A/B-26 from the Air Force Museum for our static display at Laughlin AFB.

Give me a minute or two to come up with a question.

As per the original question, Bay of Pigs was a 'conflict'.

Correct Satch- Flown in WW2 by USAAF as A-26, then in Korea by USAF ar A-26. And reverted in Vietnam to A-26. Also flown in combat by the French during the Indochina war and in the Congo war of the early 1960s (I left out the Bay of Pigs as that was a single battle rather than a prolonged war)

all yours Satch.

i say that satch_ip has it. It/They served in WW2, Korea, the First Indochina War and in the Bay of Pigs invasion. The 3rd variant was the JD-1/JD-1D which were target tugs, and drone directors.

A-26/B-26 Invader?

OK, this aircraft served in at least five different "wars/conflicts" under three nations air forces over three decades. It also had its designation/title changed (not including variants) twice over this time span by the nation of origin's air force.

stikpusher's got it....the XF15C.  On to you....