tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581529699221437110.post5014491793359573364..comments2024-03-10T07:05:57.101-04:00Comments on U.S. Navy Aircraft History: The Vought F5U: Missed it by that much...Tailspinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837863895661437038noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581529699221437110.post-58316586152287026332023-05-06T00:11:22.886-04:002023-05-06T00:11:22.886-04:00In about 1945, all of the most every 'SERIOUS&...In about 1945, all of the most every 'SERIOUS' research aircraft were brought to "Ladd Field" in Fairbanks, AK. for "Cold Weather Testing". Almost every company that made anything for the military, brought it to Fairbanks because after "Thanksgiving" the temp, some times would get down to 50 to 55 below Zero, (F). The Air Force and Army wanted to see how airplanes, tanks, trucks, et al operated in MINUS 30 to 50 below zero (F). When the guys who flew those test airplanes weren't working, many of them hung-out at "The Elbow Room", my Dad's bar. One night in Feb or Mar of 1953, in the back of the bar was a big round booth where 5 or 6 guys were sitting. I was cleaning peanut shells off the table when one of the guys said, "Would you like to see some airplanes tomorrow? "YES". The next morning my name was on the list at the door to the hangar, so I was escorted into the hangar. The XF101 & XF102 were there, and I got to sit in each. I was in Navy on 30 day leave from Adak, AK. It's May 5, 2023, and I'm close to getting over that hour, just 70 yrs ago. ###I just turned 90 last March.### Ray Wallacenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581529699221437110.post-84986493671628130382016-01-17T09:49:16.664-05:002016-01-17T09:49:16.664-05:00Strange, but my first thought was of the stones to...Strange, but my first thought was of the stones too. But then... It is too many possibilities! The clam, by the way, was named after kitchen utensil (and used by first New England settlers in that way), as OED says. And that shells are not the worst substitute for flat stones on sandy shore, where there are no stones at all...<br />My favorite version is that skimmer is the skimmer hat, popular in the 1930s. It's not only round and flat, but also yellow (of straw color, to be precise). I think, the names Pancake and Flapjack were given not only because flatness and roundness of airplane, but also for its color. Yellow, i think, was pretty unusual color for late 1942 and on (except on primary trainers), so name could had been given for the paint job too.<br />I asked Vought Aircraft Heritage Foundation about that, but they haven't answered yet, so that mystery of Flying Soucers remains unresolved ;)Snorry Tokayhttp://snorska.livejournal.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581529699221437110.post-14339333223599195082016-01-17T06:36:42.360-05:002016-01-17T06:36:42.360-05:00Skimmer? I always thought it referred to the past ...Skimmer? I always thought it referred to the past time of throwing a flat round rock at a low angle onto the surface of a pond to make it skip as many times as possible. The shape of the rock was important as well as the speed and angle of the throw. See<br /><br />https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_skipping<br /><br />There is also a clam of a similar shape that in New England is called a skimmer. See<br /><br />https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_surf_clamTailspinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17837863895661437038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581529699221437110.post-5311486121652883912016-01-17T04:20:03.079-05:002016-01-17T04:20:03.079-05:00Hello! I have one strange question about these pla...Hello! I have one strange question about these planes: what does the name 'Skimmer' means? Im not an English-speaker, and dictionaries, even OED, do not give an answer. ;) Is that means kitchen utensil, straw hat ot something else?Snorry Tokayhttp://snorska.livejournal.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581529699221437110.post-89301232207696230302012-08-15T18:38:09.748-04:002012-08-15T18:38:09.748-04:00Might be just me, but the center section of the F5...Might be just me, but the center section of the F5U bears some vague reseblance to the Horton 229. Great photos.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4581529699221437110.post-40464215149225498622012-07-25T04:16:09.335-04:002012-07-25T04:16:09.335-04:00I love that plane!I <i>love</i> that plane!Nebrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05974591864059776528noreply@blogger.com