PROPS IN THE JET AGE: Adapting Piston-Powered Aircraft in the Need For Speed!

[@jimandlindaready448]

Another great video.... as a lifelong aviation history nut, I thought I knew of every aircraft type ever built, experimental or production, but you surprised me with some I've never heard of with photos to prove their existence in this video.... your vast knowledge surely surpasses mine....

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

I'm dedicating that Lockheed R7V-2 photo to you Jim - appreciate the comment!

[@rubenomarbueno1134]

Si aparecen muchos aviones de un gran maestro diseñador de la Lockheed Kelly Jhonson . Son tantos que en el nombre de uno tratare de representar a todos . Lockheed F-80 C "Soothing Star ".

[@ELMS]

How interesting! I’m an airplane guy but you consistently mention airplanes I’ve never heard of. So fascinating to see all the blind alleys being chased by these pioneers as they moved forward into the unknowable future of aviation. And I swear there’s the slightest extra pride in your voice when you’re talking about a Douglas aircraft. 😃

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@kcouche]

@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 Of course there's extra pride...I always liked saying on the radio "Doug" (never Douglas)...And like already mentioned--I'm an airplane guy who just says "Whew" when I listened to MM rattle of airplane types...

[@donaldstanfield8862]

@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 Are the B-52s getting new engines now, I can't seem to find much info on the progress of this update, just hype, for the most part. Thanks for this fantastic episode!!👏🥰

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

@@donaldstanfield8862 Thanks for the question and 'glad you liked the video. Yes, the remaining B-52s are being re-engined with eight Rolls-Royce turbofan engines like those used on Bizjets. These will not only mate well with the airplane's existing pylons and nacelles (there were rumors of a four-engine version for years), but willl burn 30% less fuel than the early 1960s-era TF33s currently used.

[@donaldstanfield8862]

@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 I just searched and found the new engines will be installed in a couple more years and take several tears to complete. Exciting!

[@danf321]

It’s somewhat ironic that almost every appliance I’ve owned that was made by GE has been very unreliable. When I fly on a passenger plane using GE engines, I wistfully look out the window and hope the jet engines weren’t made in the same factory that made my appliance.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

A famous story at McDonnell Douglas was when Northwest Airlines CEO Doug Nyrop ordered the long-range DC-10 Series 40, he demanded it be powered by Pratt & Whitney engines rather than the GE CF6 normally on the jetliner. His famous quote was, "When I want a jet engine, it's Pratt & Whitney - when I want a light bulb, it'll be General Electric!" DC-10-40s were powered by the Pratt & Whitney JT9!

[@paoloviti6156]

@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 very interesting as I didn't know this story! But I must say that both the Pratt & Whitney and the GE jet engines are very reliable! By the way thanks for video showing those hybrids of which some are fascinating 👍👍

[@kdrapertrucker]

No the jet engines are made in a completely separate division. Most G.E. appliances are actually built by Amana under contract with G.E.

[@Skarry]

We were buying a washing machine recently and my wife pointed to the GE model and I said "I trust GE in the air, but not with my clothing."

[@michaelpielorz9283]

Oh,then you would jump out of the plane when you were told jets were a german invention (:-))

[@maxsmodels]

Another awesome one Mike. I still have that /72 Dark Shark to build. I brought it with me as a road build but didn't realize it had photoetch metal parts that needed CA glue. A bit too involved for a road build.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

An amazing airplane (and model)!

[@SPak-rt2gb]

Another jet prop combination was the Martin P4M Mercator, there was also the jet rocket combo NF-104...liked the video

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks, and good catch on the Martin P4M. And yes, the NF-104 was indeed a hybrid in the 1960s.

[@hooter63]

My father was a radio operator/ nose gunner on a P4M. The plane and its mission deserve a video…

[@davidharshbarger663]

​@@hooter63My dad flew Mercators with VP-21 on ELINT missions along the Russian and Chinese coasts in the 1950's.

[@hooter63]

@@davidharshbarger663 My dad had the same mission, Philippines to Japan then back. Our Dads very well may have known each other.

[@davidharshbarger663]

@@hooter63 That would not surprise me as there were only 21 Mercators built and VP-21 was the only squadron that flew them. Sadly, there is a considerable dearth of information

[@marcblank3036]

Thanks, Mike, even saw some birds I never heard of.

[@hertzair1186]

Love that thumbnail with the Revell PV Neptune Boxart…one of my favorite kits in my collection! Thanks again Mike for a great presentation on another fascinating aviation subject!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Good catch, and thanks for watching!

[@petekambe3279]

i had that the neptune from Revell...

[@donaldstanfield8862]

@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 That box art with the afterburner jet tanker was a, "gas!"🤣💥💨

[@chuck9987]

A lot of great information. BTW, the New York Central jet powered railcar was actually a test bed to see if existing track work could be used for high speed passenger rail. They just needed a quick and dirty power source to accelerate and sustain speed for the tests. Mixed bag on the results. Flat level track, no problem. Curves/grades/crossings, lots of problems. They still use recycled corporate jet engines for snow blowing and ice removal!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate that information, thanks Chuck! 'Loved riding on the new Long Island Railroad Budd RDCs out in eastern Long Island in 1956 - it was "the train of the future" back then.

[@chuck9987]

@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 there are still some of them roaming the rails. Mostly in secondary lines, mostly in Canada. A pair of six cylinder Diesel engines and a modified torque convert from a Patton tank and you have a pretty nice powered passenger car. Not “sexy” but very functional and efficient. I do find the jet engine snow/ice removal units fascinating. Original units were pretty large (retired passenger jets) and were mounted on work caboose partially to keep them from running away. New units are one man or two man speeders (conventionally powered) with small turbines for ice melting. Beats walking around with a blow torch.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

@@chuck9987 I'm sure riding an RDC today would be like driving a 1950s car - a neat vintage experience, but no comparison to modern high-speed trains. Rode the Bullet Train in Japan in 1967 - 125 mph, and as smooth as a jet airliner even back then. Thanks again.

[@andrewmoore7022]

They also used recycled jet engines to blow water on oil well fires after the first golf war.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

@@andrewmoore7022 Interesting point, thanks!

[@stevehomer7741]

Great Summary of the transition from recips to jets. Another variant on the piston-jet transition was the UAC Turbotrain. DOT and United Aircraft Company developed the Turbotrain in the late 60s and it saw limited service in the US and Canada. The train made a PR stop one evening (1969/70) in New Orleans. My father and I went to see it at the station (where the Super Bowl is now.) I guess the operators left the engines running in APU mode and that NO station may not have been included in the original design brief. The engine exhaust impinged on the platform roof and it began smoke and bubble. The visit soon ended and the train moved on.

[@jetsons101]

Sunday is always a great day but Mike Machat makes it just a bit better... The ME-262 was one "wicked" aircraft, looks and speed for the day. Mike, I learn something new with every video, thanks. Again super "Narration," you really know how to tell a story, oh and thanks for the image of that great model box art. In closing, I would hate to see that New York Central "train engine" go through a low tunnel.... Thanks again.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks Mike, and I just learned that the New York Central jet RDC was strictly a test vehicle for determining the integration of future high-speed trains. Although it performed well on straightaways, curves and inclines were a problem.

[@donaldstanfield8862]

That turbo train must have made a lot of noise, another obstacle they would have to solve!

[@lancerevell5979]

As always, another excellent video on aviation history! Thanks, Mike.

[@mmoly-cj4bd]

I can't emphasize enough how much I love these videos. The talent Mike has as well as the others he has mentioned in his videos is truly outstanding and unbelievable! I got the "Painting Aviations Legends" book and it just blew me away. I was born in 1957 and absolutely loved going to the hobby shops in the sixties and shopping for airplane models. The boxtop artwork triggered my imagination and I couldn't wait to go home and build my recent purchase. Even as a young boy I knew the artwork on these model boxes was exceptional. It's great to reflect back on this era. Thanks MIke! Mike - Denver

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the great comment, and thanks for buying the book also!

[@neooverby3750]

I’m addicted to you videos. I love all the stories and technical information you give. Most videos I watch on aircraft are all high production and are not what I want thank you for your videos

[@a3skywarrior929]

Father was an aircrewman for 2 burning and two turning P-2Vs and uncle flew skyraiders.. another good post 👍

[@TheDkeeler]

A special recognition to the test pilots who agreed to fly these experimental death traps some of which were not fitted without an ejector seat fitted . Thanks another superb video Mike.

[@PopsP51]

Oh, beautiful topic Mike. Max was just talking about doing a kit bash, putting some rockets on a plane, and here you present a bunch of full size "kit bashes". It just goes to show that sometimes"childish" sounding ideas (putting Estes rockets on a Revell model plane for example) get carried on to real life engineering! I love that train with the B-47 engines, what a hoot! You are sounding better, hope you are up to 100% soon!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Many thanks!

[@fanofjets]

Thank you, Mike, for a wealth of information - quite a bit of it new to me. I'd like to make honorable mention to two airliners: The Handley-Page Herald, which started out with four Alvis-Leonides piston engines, which were swapped for two Rolls Royce Darts, and the Dornier 328, which spawned the Fairchild-Dornier 328JET. Aircraft design is always full of wonderful surprises, your video so well shows.

[@donaldstanfield8862]

There sure have been some fascinating concoctions in this transition to jets! Very entertaining and provided a lot of work and opportunities for folks to learn!

[@stevenbiffoni9883]

Great video. Two comments: the Navy had a patrol plane the Martin P4M Mercator that had props and jets. Less than twenty were built.Unfortunately none were saved. Point two: the Navy had an experimental seaplane the R3Y Tradewind with contrarotating propellors, its engines were nightmare. Great video

[@Robutube1]

You're spoiling us with this slew of posts Mike! I obviously wish you a speedy recovery but equally hope you can find a way to keep the posts coming!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Many thanks!

[@rodgerhecht3623]

Another great MM Vid loaded with interesting photos and info. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment!

[@PatrickRosenbalm]

Pretty interesting and good job on your artwork too. What I really want to know is how that B-45 at 14:22 was able to take off and land with that big engine under it. Extended and retracted from the bomb bay?

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Yes, you can see the lines of the bomb bay on the lower fuselage, and the engine assembly was partially retracted into that aperture for takeoff and landing. Good catch!

[@donaldstanfield8862]

Yes, I wondered about that, well, they went to a lot of expense and trouble tinkering with jets, didn't they! The J-79 still astounds me, such an advancement I didn't imagine possible. The metallurgy was more advanced than I thought, and now, with 3-D printing, it's mind-bending!

[@venners4288]

That was one of the most interesting aircraft (and train) videos I've ever seen.

[@joeljenkins7092]

Great video. I really like the looks of the experiments, like the Super Savage and the turboprop B-47. My uncle, an engineer with McDonnell Douglas, always said that you can make a brick fly if you strap a big enough engine on it. I guess the adage, "If it looks good, it'll fly good," isn't always true.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Agreed, and great comment, thanks!

[@jakejacobs7584]

My favorites were the Convair 240/340/440 series being converted to the CV 600/640/580 versions. I flew both the piston and turboprop versions and the 580 was by far the best.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Loved flying on the Convair 580 as well (Allegheny).

[@donaldstanfield8862]

Same here, I'm crazy about all things turboprop, it just never ends being fascinating!

[@andersonnettleship845]

The Allison Turboliner was the first turboprop transport to fly in the USA it was a CV-240 (might have been military equivalent) that had Allison T-38 turboprops installed. I made many trips on Frontier Airlines (the original and superior) CV-580 aircraft and then on Metroflight (American Eagle) CV-580s after Frontier retired the 580s. Most people aren’t aware that the CV-580 designation was never official but was created by the marketing department of Frontier Airlines and it stuck, officially the Allison Convairliners are either CV-340a or CV-440a with the “a” designating the Allison Conversation. The CV-580 aircraft served in numerous capacities throughout the years with some still flying today mostly as Freighters bus several were converted to water bombers, some for research, and 6 were “stretched” almost 16’ to become CV-5800 all of which are still hauling freight to this day. I would love to see a Documentary on The Convairliners as this series of medium haul aircraft have been largely ignored.

[@jakejacobs7584]

@@andersonnettleship845 Nice history there! I didn’t know about the a designations. I went and took a look at my licenses and they were just listed as CV-600/640 and CV-580 there. I flew them for Freedom airlines (ex Allegheny birds) and Wright airlines ( ex American 240s with the dart conversion and a few 340/440s with the darts as well.

[@kiwitrainguy]

According to Popular Mechanics magazine the change from pistons to turboprops meant a 100mph increase in cruising speed for the Super Constellation.

[@bigiron383]

Exceptional, very well done. Can’t think of a single aircraft you may have missed. Most comprehensive

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks Greg, and 'appreciate the comment!

[@findo12]

Thank you for another informative presentation. Hindsight is wonderful, isn’t it? Looks like there’s still no substitute for bigger engines.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Agreed!

[@martinpennock9430]

Good morning Mike. Thank goodness you are sounding much better! What a great subject. Glad to see another wonderful video. I didn't know there were that many. Pray all is well with you. As always God bless you and yours and thanks again for all you do! Take care sir!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks Martin and Happy New Year!

[@shelleibach20]

Really enjoyed this one....seems you just get better....tks again

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@JohnLee-tf2tw]

Many thanks for showing the march of aircraft technology!

[@detroitoneness6237]

Excellent

[@geraldhoag5548]

Error. The airplane depicted as a C-123J at around 7 min. is a C-123K. The j-model had jet auxiliary engines mounted on the wingtips.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Yes, exactly correct. Good catch!

[@randytaylor1258]

Terrific video, Mike! I wince every time I see the Thunderscreetch, which you've covered before. Interesting to see the transition from fat centrifugal-flow to the longer, aerodynamic axial-flow jets. Cheers!

[@donaldstanfield8862]

I was flabbergasted to learn the first fans were at the BACK of the engines, astounding advancements in my lifetime, but jets go no faster! Kind of a bummer, lol 😆

[@jb6027]

The B-36 FICON program was operational 1955 - 1956 with Strategic Air Command's 99th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (SRW) flying ten specially modified GRB-36G; and the 91st SRW flying "parasites" The the parasite aircraft involved were a squadron of twenty-five RF-84K reconnaissance fighters. The specially modified RF-84 K models could be distinguished by the horizontal stabilizers being modified with a slightly downwards slant (anhedral) to better fit the GRB-36D when the RF-84K was carried aloft. As far as is known, the RF-84K was never used operationally. The concept of the program was that the GRB-36Ds, with their extremely long range, would carry the RF-84Ks close to the target(s) to be photographed, whereupon the RF-84Ks would release from the RB-36Ds, make a high speed dash to the target, and then return to the GRB-36D or a friendly airfield. In the long run, the Lockheed U-2 proved to be a much better idea and the FICON program was terminated.

[@paulbervid1610]

Great video

[@roberthill7335]

The Lockheed P-2V Neptunes. I used to live in CA, near FOx Filed in Lancaster CA. A company flies fire fighting aircraft out of there. I used to hang out at the airport, and had the pleasure of hearing both types of Neptunes taking off and landing. The ones with the auxiliary jets and the ones without. Interesting sound hearing a piston powered aircraft taxi out with the doors on the jets closed. Then on takeoff, you could hear when the jets came into play. Very unique sound with two large piston engines and two jets all running full bore at the same time.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks Robert, and I saw those P2Vs at Fox along with the C-54s used for several seasons. Great vantage point for watching all the ramp action

[@petermerz2704]

Very interesting Mike! Love these history videos! Always good to learn. Model on!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks, Peter!

[@eottoe2001]

Mike, this one my favorite ones of your that isn't model plane art. Thanks for the post.

[@CraigLYoung]

Thanks for sharing 👍

[@navret1707]

In 1968 I was in Patrol Squadron 10 in Brunswick, ME. One of the squadrons was transitioning to the P-3 but still had a couple of P-2V7’s. I got a flight in one of the P-2’s What a noisy, unpressurized, rough-riding aircraft. It made me really appreciate the P-3. Fly Navy

[@michaelgowen2242]

That is some great material. One of the other interesting JATO or RATO airplanes of note was the 727 with rockets for high/hot operations such as Mexico City. It was tested, but not implemented, to improve the engine out second segment performance of the 727. The Boeing archives should have video of the tests if you are interested to view them.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Great point, thanks, and ONA also had JATO for their DC-9-30s.

[@leonswan6733]

@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 Just trying to help get everyone on track, a lot of us say this incorrectly. The true acronym is R A T O for Rocket Assisted Take Off when using ROCKETs and J A T O for Jet Assisted Take Off when using JET engines for takeoff. Its facts

[@hattrick2219]

Mexicana had 727's w/RATO in service. Four bottles..two each side..buried in the aft wing root. Aircraft were easily identified because of a reinforcement hump on top of the fuselage. The system included a cockpit ignition switch in the overhead panel with a typical red safety wire cover and a key lock.

[@donaldwrissler9059]

Couple of other piston to turboprop re-engined planes jumped to mind. Not 1950's creations, but at least the designs are 40s-50's. 1. Piper PA-48 Enforcer (p51 reconfigured for COIN missions) 2. Super Guppy

[@BV-fr8bf]

I have never seen this type of assembled aircraft data (esp. the engine thrust data in table format!) Tremendous video!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Many thanks!

[@Ryanhothersall]

Like the Basler DC-3 conversions, don't forget about the various Convair turboprop conversions, CV580 etc.

[@glennweaver3014]

Another great one Mike. A lot of rare birds and interesting concepts. Always a pleasure to watch these and learn new details about some favorite airplanes. Thanks for the lesson.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks Glenn - we'll keep 'em coming!

[@ecidaho]

Great video!! Thanks!

[@coldwarchemical7857]

Would be great to see a video on maritime patrol aircraft as well as one on the history interceptors

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Great ideas, thanks!

[@tedsmith6137]

Just to clarify, the Bell P-59 Airacomet was powered by the GE Eye-A engine, not One-A.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Good catch, thanks!

[@AgentPepsi1]

I actually knew about the crazy locomotive at the end!! 😂😂😂 Yet, most of the other unique aircraft in the video, I had never heard about. Another wonderful video Mike!! 😘☺🤗💗

[@chuckcawthon3370]

Fascinating. Great History lesson.

[@atatexan]

Another interesting topic. I was waiting for the Convair YB-66 in the props-to-jets segment. An interesting topic - as if you will ever run out of them - would be all the weird ways engineers tried to install jet engines in postwar aircraft. “Buried” like the Comet, above the wings like the VFW614, the funky post WW2 bomber candidates vanquished by the B-47.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Great point Charles, plus the rear-mounted engines on the Caravelle, DC-9, and every Bizjet flying today!

[@philipcollura2669]

A note and a comment - the Neptune's J-34 turbojet and R3350 radials used the same fuel. I don't know if anyone is counting, but you have more info per minute (IPM ?) than any other video I've watched! Most enjoyable.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Great point, thanks Philip!

[@bertg.6056]

Mike, this was a very ambitious and extremely well-done presentation. Thanks !! FYI, there is an XA2D Skyshark on outdoor display at San Diego Aerospace Museum's Annex in El Cajon, CA. I just cringe seeing it wasting away outdoors, due to its rarity.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Great comment, thanks!

[@K-Effect]

You make the best videos!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Many thanks!

[@samueljohnclark]

Here in Australia we have an air museum about an hour south of Sydney called HARS ( Historical Aircraft Restoration Society). They have 3 Neptunes one of which is airworthy with a goal to get all three airworthy. HARS also has the world’s only airworthy Lockheed Constellation! Definitely worth a visit if you visit Sydney 😀 John from Oz

[@charleshouser3123]

Excellent and comprehensive. Thanks very much.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment!

[@coolbreeze253]

The B-17 with the nose mounted turbo prop used to fly out of what is now Essex County Airport in Fairfield, NJ, then owned by Curtiss-Wright who developed the engine to be used in the short-lived USAF C-133. I used to see it flying on the one engine while walking home from elementary school in the 1950s as my house was only a few miles away. The plane has since been undergoing restoration elsewhere to its original configuration.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Great information, thanks!

[@jamescatrett2608]

Good morning Mike. First, it sounds like you are recovering well and hope you keep on inproving. I seem to remember that on either the Boeing 707 (maybe Boeing 720), had a attachment location to carry a spare (non-active) engine in a pod (or just covers on intake & exhaust openings )under one of the wings. Used to transport the engine to a distant location where it was needed for another aircraft. Can't remember which airline used this concept. Love this phase in aviation, a lot of X planes during that time. As always a great way to start the morning. Thanks again for another excellent aviation history lesson.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks James, and yes, the Boeing 707, Douglas DC-8 and even McDonnell Douglas DC-10s were fitted with faired nacelles mounted inboard on the left wing to carry spare engines.

[@donaldstanfield8862]

Qantas used the spare pods, maybe PanAm and TWA, too!?

[@jimmbbo]

Another great video from the cobwebbed corners of aviation, Mike.. Even as a lifelong wingnut, I had seen many but not all the goodies you posted... If ever put into production, the J47 powered train was clearly from a day when JP4 was pennies a gallon... Airplane manufacturers need to rely on engine manufacturers to advance the state of the propulsion art by turning ideas and calculations into hardware. The XT40 engine was a great example of a convenient solution that the military saw as the "next gen" solution to the early jets' inefficiencies, only to see it fail, along with the airframes that were planned to use it. AFAIK, the only production airplane that used the XT-40 was the Convair R3Y Tradewind with 11 built (?). That's the price of being on the bleeding edge of technology, I reckon. Of interest is that after the XT40 failure, in 1954 Allison "evolved" the T-38 paired in the XT40 to create the single power section T-56/501-D that powers the C-130, P3 and a dozen more types.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Terrific comment, thanks!

[@donaldstanfield8862]

Isn't it amazing we have guys like Mike that provide fascinating aircraft entertainments!!

[@donaldstanfield8862]

Have you seen the great episode on Agent Jay-Z KZbin of the cutaway 501 turboprop? He gives a great account of how it works, and it good enough to watch many times!

[@vascoribeiro69]

Event the Nord Noratlas had wingtip jets (the same as the T-37 Tweet, original french version). These jets were used for higher MTOW or to improve take off performance when needed. Then they were shut down in flight. Of course in the the case of the KC they helped a lot for refueling speed. As far as I know they used jet engine versions adapted to burn AVGAS, even in the case of the KC with jet fuel onboard.

[@라이언브-q1x]

Good! You found some that I didn't know!

[@stevelipke827]

Great and interesting video Mike.

[@stevecausey545]

Another great episode! Thank you. I woke up in the middle of the night, ( I'm old...lol) and here is a new episode of my favorite channel. Did that P51 with ramjets become the " Beguine" air racer?

[@larryd.214]

Steve - nope. First and foremost, the 'Beguine' was a P-51C, the aircraft shown in this video with the ramjets on the tips was a P-51D. The 'Beguine' was modified with the lower "doghouse" and associated equipment being removed, and the radiator and oil cooler being moved to pods on the wingtips (supposedly made out of FJ-2 drop tanks).

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks Steve, and please see comment above from Larry D.!

[@stevecausey545]

@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 thank you Larry! As soon as a read your reply, I remembered she was a B..but I forgot they went through all that grief to relocate the radiators.

[@paulchsney5994]

The LP-2J pictured in the opening, equipped for cold weather operation, including skis once landed in Ohio, and was left by the crew. Not sure how long it sat there before our squadron flying SP-2H’s got permission to strip it for compatible parts. Spent 3 days stripping it including one 3350 and prop, and several crews boxes of parts. Even got an APU, but had no way to use it on one of ours as we didn’t use em.

[@skywatcher5616]

XF-84 Thunderscreech, 12 flights with 10 emergencies. How did this ever make it off the drawing board?

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Valid question, and best explanation is that experimental airplanes like the XF-84H, Skyshark, Convair Pogo, X-13 Vertijet, etc. were all designed and flown in the early to mid-1950s, an era of tremendous exploration and experimentation in aviation. In the days before digital simulation, these types of aircraft were built to see how their new technologies would work - or not. Thanks for watching!

[@stevennpitt]

Fantastic video !!!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Many thanks!

[@johnpinckney4979]

I wish you'd mentioned the proposed Douglas DC-7D...

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Good catch, and yes, a worthy addition, but I was focusing on the early 1950s in this video. A good suggestion for a future video though.

[@loneranger5349]

Man that was a good show

[@papadopp3870]

Flight Journal states that the turboprop/turbojet composite-powered versions of the Stratojet was actually designated XB-47D under USAF Air Materiel Command Secret Project MX-1637. Boeing model numbers were 450-162-48 and 450-162-49.

[@topturretgunner]

Good afternoon Mike. Well we started out earlier this morning and here I am still celebrating aviation with Mike Machat. Does the catch phrase hooked apply here? Well. Perhaps on some personal level for me at least. Seeing the KC-97's in this video brought me to this question. Are you familiar with a former aerial fire tanker company called Hawkins and Powers? If so then you might know of a handful of aircraft, engines and other various parts that were left sitting in a place called Grey Bull WY. There are photo's and a couple YT video's that can be found under the sad title of Aircraft Boneyards that give a glimpse into the aircraft once a part of the active H&P fleet or a source of spare parts. Older C-130 A's , C-119 Boxcars, several C-97/KC-97's. These picture's though of interest are of course sad to see. If you recall a movie starring Richard Dreyfuss and John Goodman. 'Always'. I'm given to believe that perhaps a few of H&P's fleet made cameo appearances in this movie. The PBY-5A, C-119, A-26 Invaders and there was a twin Beech on the ramp as well. Speaking of aerial fire tankers we can be thankful for the part that was played in the handful of F7F's that exist which of course were former fire fighting aircraft. It will be a very sad day for me to see the last of these radial engine recip's parked and relegated to mere museum pieces never to know the joys of flight. Funny just how we ascribe life to an inanimate mechanical object but oh how they can so often acquire a living spirit all their own, these airplanes.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Wonderful comment, thanks, and yes, I'm familiar with the H&P Grey Bull operation and the movies you mentioned. Thanks for watching!

[@EstorilEm]

Did I miss the PA-48 Enforcer, ie turboprop P-51?!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Yes, there was the Enforcer plus T-28 turboprop conversions in the early 1970s, but this video focused on 1950s aircraft. Thanks for watching!

[@EstorilEm]

@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 Ah I knew I was missing something - I keep forgetting how much time passed before Piper decided to get creative lol.

[@oxcart4172]

The first Me-262 was also a hybrid. It flew with a piston engine because the jets weren't ready, then they attached the jets with the piston engine still in it because they didn't trust the jets reliability!

[@johnortmann3098]

Cool! I'd heard of only a couple of these.

[@mode1charlie170]

Thanks for this Mike…I always enjoy your content

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@burtbacarach5034]

Great video,but you missed one of the biggest (literally) prop to jet conversions,the YB60.Yeah Convair added swept wings and modified the tail but underneath it was still a B36.Convair was trying to sell it as a cheaper alternative to the B52.Didn't work.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Good point, thanks!

[@kdrapertrucker]

Actually the B-36 was designed in WWII as a hedge in case England fell. This would allow the U.S. to run bombing missions in Europe from North America or Greenland. By the time it was ready WWII was over but the cold war was just starting.

[@jamescatrett2608]

Mike, many many years ago I seem to remember hearing a story (military urban legend or a big lie) concerning the Ryan Fireball. The story goes that a Lockheed P-38 pulls up in formation with a Fireball. P-38 pilot calls out: "Hey Navy look at this", cuts one engine and maintains formation. Seeing that, the Fireball pilot shuts down the radial engine. So with a feathered prop, and using the jet engine only, the Fireball maintains formation with 38; giving the appearance it is magically flying without the use of the prop (radial engine). The Fireball pilot calls out: "Hey Air Force (maybe AAF) Top This".Whether true or not, it does make a good story on post WII US Military Aviation rivalry and the coming jet age. Thanks again, Mike for sharing these great aviation art history stories!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Hadn't heard that one, but great story, thanks!

[@jamescatrett2608]

@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 Mike, I did a little digging in my collections of books and finally located my copy of Steve Ginter's book on the Ryan FR-1 Fireball and XF2R-1 Darkshark (Naval Fighters Number 28). There on pages 43 - 44, I found numerous stories of Fireball pilots showing off their feathered prop / radial engine off (jet engine on) flying capabilities to different aircraft including unspecting P-38 pilots. There is no mention of pilot to pilot conversations., but I guess that was added to the stories to make it "sting" a little harder when told in the following years.

[@jamesdelgado2009]

Excellent presentation, subscribed!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks , and great to have you aboard!

[@timothyboles6457]

one that you forgot in the piston to turboprop catagory, was the P51 modified to a ground attack aircraft with a turboprop. i can't remember the number

[@moriver3857]

I've been in military and civilian aviation since the 70s, and watching this video it dawn on me, how were those prop and jet airplanes kept their fuel supply separate. Obviously one fuel type, for appropriate engine type. Great video.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Good question, and most hybrid prop/jet aircraft used hi-octane av gas for the piston engines and JP-4 for the jets. One viewer commented that the Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune ran both engines on av gas! Thanks for watching.

[@leewilliams2094]

Boeing also mounted the two engine B47 pod upside down to power a experimental catamaran for the US Navy made from DC3 floats. It sat outdoors for many years at the Bremerton Washington US Navy mothball fleet Base . I don't know if it's still there the last time I was there and saw it was the 1980s. I also remember seeing a picture of this craft on the cover of a 1950s popular mechanics magazine.

[@timrathbone3891]

How about the 2 B 17's The Curtiss Wright B-17G underwent further alterations with a new underslung centerline mount for a J65 turbojet. Propellers on this airplane were Curtiss-Wright instead of Hamilton-Standard. (Photo via AFFTC/HO) and the B 17 with 4 Rolls Royce Dart Turbo Props that crashed in wyoming?

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Good points, thanks!

[@c123bthunderpig]

What an incredible video. You captured a period in aviation where developing aircraft did indeed project the need for speed. A lot of it done with pure mental energy slide rules and steel - no computers. We would not be at the level of aircraft designed today without this period. In fact in some cases I believe we have exceeded the capability of pilots being able to handle the aircraft, and are over engineering with size and materials A remarkable trip back in time because I was in at the crossover of the 50's into the 60's. Where in the world did you get some if these awesome pictures.? Thanks for the memories.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks. After 40 years in the aviation book and magazine world, I've been able to acquire a pretty good photo archive. Happy to share those on KZbin today!

[@peddler931]

If you're flying an aircraft with both piston and turbine engines, it must be a long conversation about refueling when visiting an airfield unfamiliar with the type.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

There were definitely challenges in fueling during this era!

[@alexfeeney4522]

Maybe not well known in the United States the Avro Shackleton 3 phase 3 had 4 RR Griffons piston engines and 2 Bristol Siddeley Viper Turbo jet engines to assist in take off.

[@pauljackson1744]

Well done

[@markrowland1366]

A few shooting Stars went to southern Italy, to counter the jet reconanse flights that were frustrating the army there. I believe they did fly.

[@fredsalfa]

I’d like to see more of the jet train!

[@hattrick2219]

There are some vids here on youtube.

[@lancomedic]

As you were showing all those early pictures it occurs to me that early jets and rocket planes really looked the part with their streamlined bodies. Nowadays even though they are faster some of the latest fighters don't even look like they could fly, stealthiness not withstanding.

[@jimmy_olds]

I live near Rickenbacker and get to see the KC-135’s almost daily, stopping to watch each time one flies over 😅

[@mickabikhair675]

Another oddball rocket engine in the assisted train upgrade kit mold was sold as a do it yourselfer weekender project in kit form over the spares counter by Ford for fitment to the rear final drive differential housing giving you boosted assistance to the family car.

[@pietrokania8684]

How do the B45 tornando teste bed lands???

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Good question, and that engine retracted into the bomb bay when not airborne. Thanks for watching!

[@allangibson2408]

Look up the Napier Nomad - that was a hybrid gas turbine piston engine. An axial flow jet engine with its combustion chambers replaced with a V-12 liquid cooled Diesel engine…

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Amazing, thanks!

[@tdave1234]

Well done!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Many thanks!

[@alanrogers7090]

Of course, England would have had the first jet engine flight if they had believed in Frank Whittle. He had tried for years to get the Air Ministry to take and develop his invention, but pistons were the way to go for the Ministry, and he was disregarded. Up until Germany flew the Heinkel He-178. It was only then that one man remembered Mr. Whittle and asked him what was needed to get a working jet engine. As you can see, it was two more years until Britain had a flying jet aircraft. In America, a Lockheed employee had developed, (on paper), a twin-engine jet fighter/interceptor and also the engines to use in it, but neither the War Department nor the US Army had any interest at all. It would have been the Lockheed L-133. For whatever reasons, when, much later, the Army came to Lockheed to develop a jet fighter using the British Whittle engine, they made the P-80, (later F-80), Shooting Star. Two examples were sent to Italy during the war, to intercept German Arado jet reconnaissance aircraft, but never found any so didn't have any engagements with an enemy until the Korean War in the early 1950's. BTW, I've often heard that the Republic XF-84H "Thunderscreech" was the LOUDEST airplane ever, but I've not heard what the decibel level was. Does anyone actually know?

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Great comment, thanks!

[@soonerlon]

You got some info wrong on the Boeing "Dash 80". The Dash 80 first became the C-135 Stratotanker and then Boeing used the basic design for the 707. While looking the same the 707 and C-135 are completely separate designs. The C-135 has a narrower fuselage and was built to a military specification while the 707 was built to FAA standards. BTW I'm a retired KC-135 engineer.

[@bocefusmurica4340]

The only intact Ryan Fireball is on display in Hickory, NC. It’s wild.

[@jamescatrett2608]

Good Morning Bocefus. That's a Very Very Rare Curtiss XF15C-1 Stringeree located a Hickory: R-2800 Radial up front & a J-36 Turboject in the rear. A surviving Ryan Fireball is located Planes of Fame museum in Chino California. Good eye, though: you are correct that it fits the catagory as a prop / jet mixture airframe.

[@bocefusmurica4340]

@@jamescatrett2608 ah yes. It’s so sad that it’s outside. They are trying to raise funds for a hangar for some of their aircraft. Do you live in the area? I can’t wait to move up there!

[@jamescatrett2608]

@@bocefusmurica4340 Good morning, I'm up early here in Houston TX; getting ready to head into work. No, i'm just a very novice aviation historian. I have gotten interested over the past few years in forgotten concept aircraft being developed after WWII and the transitation to the jet age. I love to visit aviation musuems (when I can) and Hickory is one of many on my list to visit. Thanks for reminding us of Hickory's collection. Hope they can keep the collection protected. When I was in the Navy, I watch over the years; the Florance, SC Aviation Musuem slowly go under. It was really sad. Was that airframe saved from the Florance collectiion?

[@bocefusmurica4340]

@@jamescatrett2608 I never knew Florence had a museum. I used to work there often in the 2000’s. I can’t say where it came from. I finally got sent to Tucson, AZ and had an amazing tour of the museum there! The boneyard is closed completely due to CCP Kung Flu. I hope not permanently.

[@jamescatrett2608]

@@bocefusmurica4340 You missed it by a few years. The Floence Air & Missile Museum closed sometime after 1997. A large number of aircraft thankfully survived being transported to other aviation museums. It is my understanding the airport was expanding & the the musuem fell on hard times. They had one of the last remaining Navy EC-121 Super Constellations, but it was heavily damaged by a grass fire. It had parts removed to support other C-121 restorations around the country. The fuselage was then scrapped. You can see photos and stories of the museum on the web by searching Florence Air & Missile Museum. Was that the Pima Air & Space Museum you visited in Tucson, AZ?

[@josemoreno3334]

Cool info, Thanks.

[@chrispacer4231]

I’m biased…I always thought or felt that PROP DRIVEN aircraft were more rugged durable , with those engines rumbling and power and thrust , those airframes needed to be built strong… IDK 🤷‍♂️ , just my opinion I still enjoyed watching this… another informative and well put together video THANKS MIKE ….. CHRIS from OHIO

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@anthonyxuereb792]

There's a distinction between the early German jet engine and the British one, German is axial flow which is widespread throughout the industry, the other is centrifugal.

[@Beechnut985]

I made a Static line jump from a C123 with the turbojets running, the noise when the side doors were opened was very loud.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

That's amazing, thanks!