Salbando,
That's what I like about the forums as well. I've been into this stuff since I was about 11 or so and have gathered quite a database of info including a huge library of books, rags (magazines) and alotta other stuff. I've got literally tens of thousands of photos and images and such. BUT I've had relatively few outlets in which to use all that info until I got on the net. I like to share what I have and the forums have given me an opportunity to do so. And I'm glad that some appreciate it!
Wayne Baker,
To answer your question of how I do searches on the net, and for anyone else who's interested...
To use this particular aircraft, the XF15C as an example:
If I had no idea what it was, I'd first use the obvious clue that it's an American aircraft.
Apparently, it's a photo that was taken in the mid-late 40's.
Looking at the paint scheme, it looks to me to be a Navy bird, as it appears to be one color overall and is obviously glossy.
Also, the company it keeps on the ramp includes a couple of other Navy birds which lends further credence to the idea that it's a Naval aircraft.
It looks like an experimental aircraft, one that was never in service. (A sharp eye will notice that, although it has a prop, it also appears to have an exhaust pipe underneath. The shape and size of the fuselage supports the idea that it has both a piston engine and a jet engine.)
Lastly, it looks like a fighter.
So, using all that as a basis, I'd do searches for 'experimental USN fighter' or 'exerimental USN aircraft', using several combinations and variations of key words; USN, navy, naval, fighter, experimental, aircraft, prototype and others. I'd also toss in references to the timeframe; 40s (40's), 1946, 1947 etc. Sometimes if you have an idea of a general timeframe you can throw in a year with other keywords and luck out.
Another thing you may want to do is just toss in some manufacturers' names as well. This worked for me several weeks back on a quiz over at Scale Hobby Forums. I had given the quiz up for the week to let Pix do one and he threw a real doozie at us.
I had never seen the airplane before but I had a starting point; it was ugly and had French markings. (Which figures perfectly!
![Wink [;)]](/FSM/CS/emoticons/icon_smile_wink.gif)
) I knew it had to be a post war aircraft just by the way it looked and by the markings that it carried. I won't go through the entire thought process but, in the end, I went back to one of my first ideas about the thing; it vaguely reminded me of another aircraft. So at some point I started searching using the manufacturer's name and eventually got a positive hit. I then backed it up with an image search on Google and was absolutely sure that I had the right aircraft.
In the end it's just a matter of trying different search terms until you come across something that is either exactly what you're looking for or something that's similar.
Another way to go about it is to start with a search for something that is similar to what you're looking for. In this instance, I've determined that the aircraft is probably an experimental US Navy fighter. So I'd try and think of another experimental US Navy aircraft, do a search on it and see what I come up with. Often times websites will have info on more than one type of similar aircraft.
Now if you
do know what it is that you're looking for, there are several ways to go about searching. For example, if you're looking for photos of F-14 Tomcats from a certain unit, let's say VF-124 The Gunfighters, you'd inevitably find something by doing searches with F-14, Tomcat, VF-124 and Gunfighters or some such combination of these terms.
Also, if you know that VF-124 was based as NAS Miramar and that their callsign was 'Gunslinger' and that they also flew T-34's for currency, target range and other miscellaneous duties, you can do searches using that info as well.
If you know that VF-124 shared the base at Miramar with other units like the NFWS (Navy Fighter Weapons School or TOPGUN, known to the masses as TOP GUN) or VF-126 Bandits, you can do searches on those units as well and hope to find a connection. Any avenue is worth exploring.
BUT, things can get confusing unless you know
exactly what you're looking for.
For instance, let's just say that you start a search for VF-124 Tomcats using their name, 'Gunfighters'; you may end up finding info on VF-101 The Grim Reapers instead. VF-101's callsign is "Gunfighter'!
But in this case that may not be too bad, because both VF-124 & VF-101 were F-14 RAG/FRS units (Replacement Air Group/Fleet Replacement Squadron = Training Unit) and if a site has info on one, there may also be info on the other. (FYI: VF-124 was disestablished in 1994, leaving VF-101 as the sole F-14 RAG.)
So, as you can see, unless you know this stuff beforehand, it can be confusing. But the only way to know stuff sometimes is to be confused for awhile!
![Tongue [:P]](/FSM/CS/emoticons/icon_smile_tongue.gif)
Sticking with F-14's as an example, if looking for an F-14 unit that deploys aboard carriers you can search for other units within the same carrier air wing. If I'm gonna look for info on the F-14's from VF-41 that shot down the Libyan Su-22's back in '81, at some point I'd do a search on VF-84 which was VF-41's sister squadron onboard the Nimitz. Or I'd look for Su-22 stuff. Basically,
any info that's even loosely related to what you're looking for is worth checking out.
Also, don't always put absolute faith in what you find on the net, especially if it's the first site you come across. Too many times I've come across websites that were obviously created by an enthusiast who has no real knowledge of the subject. So it's good to find as many sources of information as you can, after a while it'll be evident as to what is a good source, a mediocre source and a bad source. BUT, even some more reputable sources contain errors. The more info you have the better you can correlate it all and weed out the bad stuff. Just keep hammerin' away and you'll eventually find what you're looking for. And if not, that's what the forums are for!
Fade to Black...