Weird airplane...

[JWright]

I believe this is an aircraft fire fighting mock-up... It's on the base at NAS North Island in San Diego.

http://johnwright.smugmug.com/photos/245901806_E2Z7t-L.jpg

[CubsAngel]

Intriguing, looks like a very crude space shuttle.

[440roadrunner]

Of all the junk aircraft around the country, not to mention Davis-Montham, I can't imagine why "we" would spend the labor and materials to build that thing!!!!

[symbolphoto]

Looks like a fire training rig, on the way to NAS.

[PhotosGuy]

Serbian AF prototype all weather fighter?

[LBaldwin]

I was think that Virgin had ordered a new space ship...

[woodsie]

I'm a little concerned by the missile on the wingtip. How realistic are they trying to make the training? :shock:

[bsmotril]

Considering they are right near a Naval Air Station, I would imagine there is a real possibility that the firefighters training on this mockup might have to face the scenario of a wrecked armed fighter.

[Jeff]

Pretty sure the only flight that thing would take is straght down. :)

+1 on the firefighting training.

[Jim G]

Ooh, very ghetto. :D

[rockabilly808]

yeah it's a firefighting training aid, sure is goofy looking though

[woodsie]

Considering they are right near a Naval Air Station, I would imagine there is a real possibility that the firefighters training on this mockup might have to face the scenario of a wrecked armed fighter.

OMG!!! :shock:
That sounds insanely dangerous!
They should stop carrying weapons on fighters!
Don't they realise that somebody could get hurt? :shock:
;):p;)

[Eaton Photos]

OMG!!! :shock:
That sounds insanely dangerous!
They should stop carrying weapons on fighters!
Don't they realise that somebody could get hurt? :shock:
;):p;)

ROFLMAO :lol: :lol: :lol:

[justincase724]

Seeing that it's on a trailor, I can't imagine see this thing getting pulled down the highway. That would definitely be a traffic-stopper.

[LBaldwin]

:rolleyes:Hey I could fly it!!:lol:

[FlyingPhotog]

:rolleyes:Hey I could fly it!!:lol:

Given enough thrust, anything can fly!

Hell, they got the F4 Phantom II airborne...

[gjl711]

I'm guessing that George has finally located the WMD that he kept telling us about and thats it. Yup.. WMD for sure. ;)

[Mr Limpett]

Anyone here old enough to remember those old Flash Gordon shorts?

[andrewhuxman]

Serbian AF prototype all weather fighter?

Thats a good one Frank.

Looks like a B movie spacecraft waiting for Rex Reason to hop out .

[JWright]

Considering they are right near a Naval Air Station, I would imagine there is a real possibility that the firefighters training on this mockup might have to face the scenario of a wrecked armed fighter.

This isn't near North Island. It's on the base right next to the runway.

Given enough thrust, anything can fly!

Hell, they got the F4 Phantom II airborne...

The F-4, proof posititve that with enough engine power even a brick can fly.

Anyone here old enough to remember those old Flash Gordon shorts?

Yeah, me...

[RadAL]

people should look up the "cygnet II"

[RogerAylstock]

It is a firefighter training aid. My son was a firefighter in the California National Guard and he trained in a similar beast at the firefighter school at Goodfellow Air Force Base, TX. They light it up (with propane I think) and send the firefighters into the fusealage to practice pilot extractions. I took this pic at Goodfellow AFB.

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l90/ramjetvette/2003-09-20038.jpg

[tkoutdoor]

:rolleyes:Hey I could fly it!!:lol:
You might be the first one to do it if you could pull it off.

[LBaldwin]

Anyone here old enough to remember those old Flash Gordon shorts?

No I never did check our Flash's shorts!!:lol:

But Dale always was a looker!!

[LBaldwin]

You might be the first one to do it if you could pull it off.

Ya know like, bolt a biggun on the back and set her off.:p I can fly it!

[FlyingPhotog]

Ya know like, bolt a biggun on the back and set her off.:p I can fly it!

Knock off the fans on the wings and it does begin to look a little like a Piper Jet... ;)

[S.Horton]

It looks like something the company I work for would put into a PowerPoint slide package and sell as a fleet of 1st class passenger jets.

[snails]

I would have guessed movie prop at first.

[BobOh]

Of all the junk aircraft around the country, not to mention Davis-Montham, I can't imagine why "we" would spend the labor and materials to build that thing!!!!

You may have a point. On the other hand, this looks like it might be more durable for the purpose intended than a real junk airframe. This probably has much thicker sheet metal in it (steel, not aluminum) and it probably served as good practice for the welders and provided lots of opportunities for "attaboys" for the "volunteers" who built it.

[FlyingPhotog]

Of all the junk aircraft around the country, not to mention Davis-Montham, I can't imagine why "we" would spend the labor and materials to build that thing!!!!

These fire training "aircraft" can be used over and over and over while a real airframe would be consumed fully each time.

Plus, the 'gubmit' actually makes money off AMARC selling whole aircraft, parts and scrap metal... IIRC, it's the only part of the entire DoD that turns a profit. Roughly $2.50 for every $1 it takes to run it.

Pretty low overhead down here in the desert...

[alkyoneus]

haha

[tom1s]

Get a new 5D mark II and use that as a backdrop and you could have yourself one mighty fine, low budget Sci-Fi movie!