![]() 08/06/2013 at 10:16 • Filed to: TWIN TUESDAY | ![]() | ![]() |
Does anybody know if it's still at Wright-Pat?
![]() 08/06/2013 at 10:19 |
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No idea.
I do, however, recall that it originally couldn't fly... until they swapped the engines left for right. They originally had the blades going down in front of the center wing... and that neatly cancelled the lift the center section produced. Oops.
Love those little engineering 'gotchas'.
![]() 08/06/2013 at 10:29 |
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The whole plane was just one big engineering gotcha.
Designer: "Well the P-51 sure did kick some ass. But you know what would be cooler? Two Mustangs put together. And we got a hole bunch of 'em lying around. We can use them to kick some commie ass"
Engineer: "Uhm, yeah I don't think that would work..."
Designer: "What are you? A damn commie?"
Engineer: "No, but they weren't desig..."
Designer: "Shut the fuck up and make it work!"
![]() 08/06/2013 at 10:32 |
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I guess we're lucky the designer didn't combine more than two at a time.
... that I know of. :-o
![]() 08/06/2013 at 10:33 |
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Sounds like everything else in the McCarthy era.......actually not much has changed, just swap Liberal/Conservative depending on the state you live in and you have the same effect.
![]() 08/06/2013 at 12:22 |
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It is indeed. Interesting bit of history from the AF Museum:
The F-82 was the last propeller-driven fighter acquired in quantity by the USAF. It appears to be two P-51 Mustang fuselages on one wing, but in reality, it was a totally new design. The Twin Mustang carried a pilot and co-pilot/navigator to reduce fatigue on long-range bomber escort missions. Production deliveries did not begin until early 1946, too late for World War II. After WWII, Air Defense Command flew radar-equipped F-82Gs as replacements for the P-61 night fighter.
![]() 08/06/2013 at 12:25 |
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I'm glad to hear that it's still there. It fascinated me when I was little.
![]() 08/06/2013 at 12:32 |
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The sad thing is that the Presidential and R&D Hangar is closed due to budget cuts. That's where the really great stuff is located. I've even been able to get in the cockpits of some of the aircraft.
![]() 08/06/2013 at 12:38 |
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Yeah, climbed all over the various AF 1 planes last year. Being in the plane where LBJ took the oath of office while Jackie was still spattered with here husband's blood was.. oddly moving.
![]() 08/06/2013 at 12:40 |
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Motherfucker. Really? Those bastards!
![]() 08/06/2013 at 12:42 |
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"ATTENTION: The Presidential and Research and Development Galleries will close until further notice beginning May 1, 2013, as part of budget reduction requirements due to sequestration."
![]() 08/06/2013 at 12:47 |
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Gods Damns It
https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A…
![]() 08/06/2013 at 17:57 |
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They actually now have two, but I was only able to grab a shot of one of them.
![]() 08/06/2013 at 18:22 |
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I don't remember that one, when did the get it?
![]() 08/06/2013 at 19:01 |
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Not sure when it was acquired, but I was just there 2 months ago. They had a second twin mustang in the Cold War Gallery.
![]() 08/06/2013 at 19:11 |
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cool