FSM Aircraft ID Quiz #6

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! ) 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!

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...

I believe the XF15C came about from a request for a Naval fighter that was both piston engine powered for endurance but had a jet engine for speed. The competition winner however was the Ryan Fireball. The Fireball also made the first aircraft carrier landing when on approach the piston engine quit and the pilot landed with jet power.

Ratfarts. I guessed F2A Buffalo rather than SB2C Helldiver. Other than that I had it.

Here's another pic of the exact same plane Curtiss XF15C-1 Stingaree as photo'd in the composite above.


This would make a nice build at 1/48 scale!

Great quiz! Been gathering info on the XF15C for a few months now hoping to do up the ancient Airmodel Vac. Haven't been able to come up with much though. Was going to see if anyone lives near the Quonset Piont Air Museum (RI) where they have one of these on display. Just wondering now Blackwolf if you might have some details?
Gary

Wayne,
There are also other resources besides the web for trying to find data about interesting aircraft, a good book. My personal favorite is The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft usually found at Barnes & Noble on sale for $29.99.
The Stingaree took me a while to find as the book is laid out by Manufacturer so it was, check out Grumman, Boeing, etc till I found it.
Check out your local library, they can probably have it sent inter library if they don't have a copy. Once you see it, you will buy it. (wonder if I can get a commission?)

Steve-O,
Love the quizes, it is really nice when I know the planes but even more fun when I get to research. Heck, never seem to have time to get the stuff out and build so got to have some fun with this hobby. How about doing some pics of Small Airforce planes and require us to guess the nationality as well?

Gary,

Nope, I haven't any detail shots on the XF15C. There's next to nothing out there on the web about this bird (mostly the same info over and over...) and even less in print; at least there's nothing major. Just a few blurbs in books like that one philp mentioned. Usually a couple photos, basic info, a short history and that's it.

My Grandfather worked at Curtiss during and after the war and he made mention of the bird in his notebooks. I dunno if he took any photos or had anything related to it. He died when I was very young and I never really knew the man. And I'll never know much thanks to my Grandmother and others on her side of the family. I won't go there, lest I wind up on CNN tomorrow...

Anyhoo, I was able to find a few more photos of the Stingaree, including a shot of the first prototype with the original tail configuration.

For those who are interested:




philp,

Y'know I had thought of doing quizzes like you suggested, but I initially decided to stay with simple ID stuff so as to appeal to the masses.

I've even thought of doing one of those 'ID the aircraft this blade antenna belongs to' kinda quizzes, modeled after the ones in WARPLANE which were undoubtedly the inspiration behind 'The Fiendishly Difficult Photo Quiz' which you can find HERE.

Now that someone has suggested it, I may do a few multi-part quizzes with conditions like you mentioned; ID the air arm, unit etc...

But, as I said, I'll stick mainly to simple ID stuff. After all, I'd bet that not everyone here is intimately familiar with the Force Armee du Burundi order of battle!

Come to think of it, neither am I...

(actually a quick web search will give you some info )


Fade to Black...

Think they still fly Texan's.

Thanks Black Wolf,
You've have probably seen the same things I have. There is one at the Bradley Air Museum in Rhode Island so I hope to track down a fellow modeler who might be able to snap a few picks. The plan now is to use some resin P-51 details to dress up this dog. That should due the trick.
Gary

Thanks Black Wolf,
You've have probably seen the same things I have. There is one at the Bradley Air Museum in Rhode Island so I hope to track down a fellow modeler who might be able to snap a few picks. The plan now is to use some resin P-51 details to dress up this dog. That should due the trick.
Gary