Which warbird is this?

1) Designed and built for a particular role. This, of course, doesn't narrow the field much, as most planes are built with a purpose in mind. What makes this one unusual is that most of the planes used in its role were originally meant to be used for something else, and were later used for this purpose. This one was intended for its ultimate use from the start.

2) Twin engine. crew of two.

=Adrian=

Which warbird is this?

1) Designed and built for a particular role. This, of course, doesn't narrow the field much, as most planes are built with a purpose in mind. What makes this one unusual is that most of the planes used in its role were originally meant to be used for something else, and were later used for this purpose. This one was intended for its ultimate use from the start.

2) Twin engine, crew of two.

3) The second crew member was not a pilot, a gunner, a navigator, a radio operator, a radar operator, an observer, a flight engineer, or a bombardier.

4) Less than 25 built.

=Adrian=

Which warbird is this?

1) Designed and built for a particular role. This, of course, doesn't narrow the field much, as most planes are built with a purpose in mind. What makes this one unusual is that most of the planes used in its role were originally meant to be used for something else, and were later used for this purpose. This one was intended for its ultimate use from the start.

2) Twin engine, crew of two.

3) The second crew member was not a pilot, a gunner, a navigator, a radio operator, a radar operator, an observer, a flight engineer, or a bombardier.

4) Less than 25 built.

5) Maximum speed greater than 300mph.

=Adrian=

Which warbird is this?

1) Designed and built for a particular role. This, of course, doesn't narrow the field much, as most planes are built with a purpose in mind. What makes this one unusual is that most of the planes used in its role were originally meant to be used for something else, and were later used for this purpose. This one was intended for its ultimate use from the start.

2) Twin engine, crew of two.

3) The second crew member was not a pilot, a gunner, a navigator, a radio operator, a radar operator, an observer, a flight engineer, or a bombardier.

4) Less than 25 built.

5) Maximum speed greater than 300mph.

6) Some examples fitted with airbrakes.

7) Two versions produced, each for a different service. Did not enter service with either.

=Adrian=

Which warbird is this?

1) Designed and built for a particular role. This, of course, doesn't narrow the field much, as most planes are built with a purpose in mind. What makes this one unusual is that most of the planes used in its role were originally meant to be used for something else, and were later used for this purpose. This one was intended for its ultimate use from the start.

2) Twin engine, crew of two.

3) The second crew member was not a pilot, a gunner, a navigator, a radio operator, a radar operator, an observer, a flight engineer, or a bombardier.

4) Less than 25 built.

5) Maximum speed greater than 300mph.

6) Some examples fitted with airbrakes.

7) Two versions produced, each for a different service. Did not enter service with either.

8) Original requirement specifed that this aircraft should use the wing and undercarriage of a mass produced aircraft from another manufacturer. In the end a purpose designed wooden wing was used.

=Adrian=

I'm going to be on holiday (without internet) until next Thursday.

Top_Gun: I'm surprised you haven't got this one yet!!!

Best Regards,
=Adrian=

OK, I'll play. Miles Monitor, yet another target tug, this one fast enough to be exciting and with two engines. Wikipedia discussion here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miles_Monitor

Didn't know about this one: had to look it up.

Since Adrian won't be back for several days, I'm going to declare myself right about my answer to his question and post a new one to keep the quiz going.

Looking for a warbird.

1. Only a few of them produced, but all the ones that were manufactured were used by the one service that acquired them.

2. Some were civilian aircraft converted to military use, others were built specifically for the military, though based on civilian aircraft.

Go for it, Top_Gunn. I was hoping Adrian meant "next" Thursday rather than "next Thursday but one"; but apparently not. You're right; we need to keep things rolling. Thanks; Ernie P.

PS: I spent a very long afternoon trying to recover my granddaughter's SIG LT-40. A classic "lockout", apparently. Suddenly, nothing worked. The plane went into a gentle left circle, very slowly working it's way lower and lower. Lots of time to verify nothing seemed wrong at ground level. Unfortunately, we had a pretty brisk wind from 6 O'clock; and the plane was last seen dropping below tree level a half mile or more away. Aerial help from a friend with a Bellanca couldn't pick up a location. We'll look more tomorrow. Tnx; EP

Looking for a warbird.

1. Only a few of them produced, but all the ones that were manufactured were used by the one service that acquired them.

2. Some were civilian aircraft converted to military use, others were built specifically for the military, though based on civilian aircraft.

3. Twin engines, crew of two.

Looking for a warbird.

1. Only a few of them produced, but all the ones that were manufactured were used by the one service that acquired them.

2. Some were civilian aircraft converted to military use, others were built specifically for the military, though based on civilian aircraft.

3. Twin engines, crew of two.

4. A trainer, but some of them were used in other roles.

Fourth of July special: Two clues today!

Looking for a warbird.

1. Only a few of them produced, but all the ones that were manufactured were used by the one service that acquired them.

2. Some were civilian aircraft converted to military use, others were built specifically for the military, though based on civilian aircraft.

3. Twin engines, crew of two.

4. A trainer, but some of them were used in other roles.

5. Strictly speaking, it might have been more accurate to say "looking for a class of warbirds," because there was a fair amount of variation among the less than 30 of them used.

6. One of them played a minor part in a very-well-known operation, and the major role in an incident that still remains somewhat mysterious.

Tuesday morning clue:

Looking for a warbird.

1. Only a few of them produced, but all the ones that were manufactured were used by the one service that acquired them.

2. Some were civilian aircraft converted to military use, others were built specifically for the military, though based on civilian aircraft.

3. Twin engines, crew of two.

4. A trainer, but some of them were used in other roles.

5. Strictly speaking, it might have been more accurate to say "looking for a class of warbirds," because there was a fair amount of variation among the less than 30 of them used.

6. One of them played a minor part in a very-well-known operation and the major role in an incident that still remains somewhat mysterious.

7. A portion of one of them is (or at least was: my info may not be up to date) on display in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

Tuesday afternoon clue:

Looking for a warbird.

1. Only a few of them produced, but all the ones that were manufactured were used by the one service that acquired them.

2. Some were civilian aircraft converted to military use, others were built specifically for the military, though based on civilian aircraft.

3. Twin engines, crew of two.

4. A trainer, but some of them were used in other roles.

5. Strictly speaking, it might have been more accurate to say "looking for a class of warbirds," because there was a fair amount of variation among the less than 30 of them used.

6. One of them played a minor part in a very-well-known operation and the major role in an incident that still remains somewhat mysterious.

7. A portion of one of them is (or at least was: my info may not be up to date) on display in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

8. A portion of one of them ....

I'll take a shot, if for no other reason than to get it out of the way. How about the Lockheed Electra 10; specifically the B and E versions?


Electra 10-B
Powered by Wright R-975-E3 Whirlwind, 440 hp (340 kW) each; 18 produced
· Seven impressed by the U.S. Army Air Forces as C-36C, redesignated as UC-36C in 1943.
· One built as XR3O-1 for the U.S. Coast Guard for use by the Secretary of the Treasury.

Electra 10-E
Powered by Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp S3H1, 600 hp (450 kW) each; 15 produced. The version used by Amelia Earhart.
· Five impressed by the U.S. Army Air Forces as C-36B, redesignated as UC-36B in 1943.

The Lockheed Model 10 Electra was a twin-engine, all-metal monoplane airliner developed by the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation in the 1930s to compete with the Boeing 247 and Douglas DC-2. The type gained considerable fame as one was flown by Amelia Earhart on her ill-fated around-the-world expedition in 1937.

Probably the most famous use of the Electra was the highly modified Model 10E flown by aviatrix Amelia Earhart. It appeared in a little-known cameo role in the 1936 MGM romantic comedy Love On The Run with Clark Gable and Joan Crawford. At the controls is Hollywood stunt pilot and Earhart technical advisor Paul Mantz. The aircraft's registration number R16020 has been disguised but is briefly visible on the upper surface of the right wing. The scene was probably shot in late August 1936. The entire film can be rented or purchased from Youtube but the airplane only appears in this one and a half minute clip. In July 1937, Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan disappeared with this Electra during an attempted round-the-world flight. Despite an unprecedented, extensive search by the U.S. Navy—including the use of search aircraft from an aircraft carrier—and the U.S. Coast Guard, no traces of them or their Electra were ever found.

Many Electras and their design descendants (the Model 12 Electra Junior and Model 14 Super Electra) were pressed into military service during World War II, for instance the USAAF's C-36. By the end of the war, the Electra design was obsolete, although many smaller airlines and charter services continued to operate Electras into the 1970s[SUP].[/SUP]

Electra 10-E Special serial no. 3501, the XC-35 is currently in storage in the collection of the National Air and Space Museum.

Not the Electra, but the attempt earns a bonus clue (which will rule out the Electra as well as lots of others).

Looking for a warbird.

1. Only a few of them produced, but all the ones that were manufactured were used by the one service that acquired them.

2. Some were civilian aircraft converted to military use, others were built specifically for the military, though based on civilian aircraft.

3. Twin engines, crew of two.

4. A trainer, but some of them were used in other roles.

5. Strictly speaking, it might have been more accurate to say "looking for a class of warbirds," because there was a fair amount of variation among the less than 30 of them used.

6. One of them played a minor part in a very-well-known operation and the major role in an incident that still remains somewhat mysterious.

7. A portion of one of them is (or at least was: my info may not be up to date) on display in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

8. A portion of one of them ....

9. The only military user was the navy.

Grumman Goose, it did have a crew of two, was used by the US Navy and has twin engines;)

Today's clue:

Looking for a warbird.

1. Only a few of them produced, but all the ones that were manufactured were used by the one service that acquired them.

2. Some were civilian aircraft converted to military use, others were built specifically for the military, though based on civilian aircraft.

3. Twin engines, crew of two.

4. A trainer, but some of them were used in other roles.

5. Strictly speaking, it might have been more accurate to say "looking for a class of warbirds," because there was a fair amount of variation among the less than 30 of them used.

6. One of them played a minor part in a very-well-known operation and the major role in an incident that still remains somewhat mysterious.

7. A portion of one of them is (or at least was: my info may not be up to date) on display in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

8. A portion of one of them ....

9. The only military user was the navy.

10. The "very-well-known operation" referred to in clue 6 was the Doolittle raid.

Today's clue:

Looking for a warbird.

1. Only a few of them produced, but all the ones that were manufactured were used by the one service that acquired them.

2. Some were civilian aircraft converted to military use, others were built specifically for the military, though based on civilian aircraft.

3. Twin engines, crew of two.

4. A trainer, but some of them were used in other roles.

5. Strictly speaking, it might have been more accurate to say "looking for a class of warbirds," because there was a fair amount of variation among the less than 30 of them used.

6. One of them played a minor part in a very-well-known operation and the major role in an incident that still remains somewhat mysterious.

7. A portion of one of them is (or at least was: my info may not be up to date) on display in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

8. A portion of one of them ....

9. The only military user was the navy.

10. The "very-well-known operation" referred to in clue 6 was the Doolittle raid.

11. Their main use other than as trainers was as patrol aircraft. The one now (partly) in the Smithsonian was used in that role. In Ohio. Really.

Yesterday, I suddenly thought to myself "I wonder if Al....". Yep, it looks as though you are. You are a clever devil, Top_Gunn; I'll give you that. Thanks; Ernie P.

L-class blimp?

It is indeed the L-class blimp. L-8 was used to deliver spare parts to the Hornet by lowering them from the gondola to the deck, which was crowded with B-25's. It later became well known when it landed, intact and in good condition but without its crew, who were never found, in Daly City, CA. Here's an account:

https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4380

The gondola of the L-5 is (or was?) on display in the Air and Space Museum. I suppose displaying a whole blimp there would have taken up too much room, and in any event the L-5 had been sold back to Goodyear after the war and its gondola was used on a different sort of blimp. One of the things the L-5 did during the war was patrolling northern Ohio to make sure that blackout regulations were being observed, according to this account:

https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/blimp

You're up, Johnny S. Good job. I was running out of clues and would have had to mention the "ghost blimp" episode soon, which would have made the quiz a lot easier.

Are you suggesting that my clues were a touch sneaky, Ernie? Wherever would I have learned to do such a thing?

Thanks!

Friends, may I please turn the floor over to Ernie P.? I am in the middle of getting a new job and I have a LOT of stuff to sort through that just came in this morning.

Ernie, are you OK with that?

JS

<Chuckle> Top_Gunn, when I realized where you were headed, I laughed out loud. Good job! I suddenly remembered the delivery of parts to the Hornet by the blimp; and figured you were being playful. Until then, I was lost. But what was the "mysterious incident" to which you referred? Thanks; Ernie P.