Found on eBay: MSFC "Space Taxi" concept

Artist's impression of Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) "Space Taxi" concept found on eBay.

Source:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1966-Vintage-NASA-8x10-Photo-Space-Taxi-Artists-concept-drawing-/110787704453?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19cb763685

Mission Essential Unit (MEU) or CG V/STOL

According to the Global Security web site:

[The United States Navy studied a cruiser alternative in the late 1980s] variously entitled a Mission Essential Unit (MEU) or CG V/STOL. In a return to the thoughts of the independent operations cruiser-carriers of the 1930s and the Russian Kiev class, the ship was fitted with a hangar, elevators and a flight deck. The mission systems were Aegis, SQS-53 sonar, 12 SV-22 ASW aircraft and 200 VLS cells. The resulting ship had a waterline length of 700 feet, a waterline beam of 97 feet, and a displacement of about 25,000 tons.

Source:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/cruiser-cold-war.htm

BAE Systems UXV Combatant

Type: Multirole ship
Displacement: approx. 8,000 long tons (8,128 t)
Length: 500 ft (152.4 m)
Beam: 70 ft (21 m)
Propulsion: Un-confirmed
Speed: 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph)
Complement: 60 (not including UVX support crew)[1]
Sensors and
processing systems:Radio Frequency Identification sensors, infrared, radar
Armament: • 20 × MK 57 VLS modules, comprising a total of 80 missiles
• Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM)
• Tactical Tomahawk Vertical Launch Anti-Submarine Rocket (ASROC)
• 1 × 155 mm gun (920 × 155 mm)
• 2 × Mk 110 57 mm gun (CIWS)
• 4 × CIWS missile launchers
Aircraft carried:

Taranis UCAV or other UCAVs.
Merlin and Lynx wildcat or possible new helicopter's.
possibly VTOL or STOL aircraft.
other Various aircraft ranging from anti-submarine helicopters, Helicopter gunships,Unmanned helicopters or others.

Aviation facilities: small hangars below launch decks

Found on eBay: Lockheed Alpha Jet

Model of Lockheed Alpha Jet proposal for the United States Navy VTXTS competition found one eBay.

URL: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Lockheed-Alpha-Jet-US-Navy-Proposal-Model-/180678659449?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a11498d79

Seller's description:

Here is a Lockheed Proposal Model to the US Navy for a carrier based trainer based on the Dassault / Dornier Alpha Jet. Very unusual, and definitely an in-house model. The US Navy started the VTXTS advanced trainer program in 1978. I'm making my best guess that this was done and used in presentations around that time or by 1981 at the latest.

Rockwell Space Station Proposal Model

Model of Rockwell Space Station proposal found at the Bonhams Auction House web site.

URL: http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/pubweb/publicSite.r?sContinent=USA&screen=lotdetailsNoFlash&iSaleItemNo=4570361&iSaleNo=17778&iSaleSectionNo=1

Seller's description:

Lot No: 1135
PROPOSED ROCKWELL SPACE STATION.
Model of an early earth orbiting space station 6 inches tall and 3 inches wide made from wood and metal. Displayed on an 8 by 5½ inch wood base with a plaque that reads: "North American Rockwell Space Division Space Station 1/200 scale." The seven 2½ by 1 inch cylinder type modules are attached to a central core with a 10 by 3½ inch movable (and removable) solar panel array.

Several proposals throughout the late 1960s and 1970s were developed to create a permanently manned space station. North American Rockwell was aggressive in proposing a space station to keep their talented work force together as the Apollo Program funding was ending. A Nixon Administration decision to fund either a Space Station or Space Shuttle, but not both, was given to the space agency. NASA chose to develop a space shuttle, with Rockwell winning the contract. This space station design never had the funding to be developed. Presented to Dr. Faget.

Estimate: $1,500 - 2,000

LTV Gemini Astronaut Maneuvering Unit (AMU) Model

Model of LTV Gemini Astronaut Maneuvering Unit (AMU) found at Bonhams Auction House website.

URL: http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/pubweb/publicSite.r?sContinent=USA&screen=lotdetailsNoFlash&iSaleItemNo=4565052&iSaleNo=17778&iSaleSectionNo=1


Seller's description:

Lot No: 1084
GEMINI ASTRONAUT MANEUVERING UNIT (AMU) MODEL.

Model of the AMU made of metal, wood, and plastic in one quarter scale. Two arm control units extend 4 inches out from the 8 by 6 by 4 inch "back pack" unit. Details include small thruster jets, astronaut support strap, wire electrical connectors, two large tanks, and instrument gauge decals.

The US Air Force awarded a contract to Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV) Aerospace Corporation for development of a system to allow a space-suited astronaut to maneuver untethered in space, totally free from this spacecraft. The AMU consisted of 12 hydrogen peroxide reaction jets to allow three axis movement via hand controls which extended from the unit.

NASA carried the AMU on Gemini 9 during June 1966. Astronaut Gene Cernan performed a spacewalk on this mission traversing out from the crew cabin to the aft spacecraft adapter section and strapped himself into the AMU. This effort caused some fogging of his helmet visor due to heaving breathing which continued to get worse because of difficulty deploying the AMU's control arms. When he connected to the AMU's communications unit, broken and garbled sound was the result. Cernan was nearly blind by this time due to the visor fog which endangered his ability to return safely to the spacecraft cabin. The crew and Mission Control decided to cancel all AMU operations and allow the visor to clear. Cernan was then able to slowly get back to the crew cabin.

The AMU was then schedule to fly on Gemini 12 but NASA decided the risk and unknowns associated with the unit did not warrant the effort involved. Due to the limited flight use of the AMU during the Gemini Program, models of this system are extremely rare.

Estimate: $4,000 - 6,000

Found on eBay: North American Rockwell VTXTS Concept

Artist's concept of the North American Rockwell VTXTS proposal found on eBay. The United States Naxy VTXTS competition would be won by the McDonnell Douglas T-45 Goshawk.

URL: http://cgi.ebay.com/Navy-North-American-Rockwell-Jet-Trainer-Concept-Art_W0QQitemZ110499269906QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item19ba450d12

Seller's description:

North American Aviation - Rockwell International Navy Jet Trainer Concept Art.

I was fortunate to have obtained a number of ORIGINAL concepts from North American Aviation.This 1980 Navy twin engine jet trainer concept art shows a twin jet in Navy high visibility orange and white paint scheme. Aircraft was painted and then applied to a sky photo background . There is some wrinkles in the upper left (see photos) Size is @ 24"x19" and is labeled DS-80-5931.

Found on eBay: North American Rockwell NGT Concept

Artist's concept of the North American Rockwell Next Generation Trainer (NGT) proposal found on eBay from 1978. The United States Air Force NGT competition would be won by the Fairchild T-46 "Eaglet".

URL: http://cgi.ebay.com/North-American-Rockwell-Jet-Trainer-Concept-Art_W0QQitemZ110499263933QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item19ba44f5bd

Seller's description:

North American Aviation - Rockwell International USAF Jet Trainer Concept Art.

I was fortunate to have obtained a number of ORIGINAL concepts from North American Aviation. This 1978 USAF twin engine jet trainer concept art shows a side by side twin jet in USAF high visibility orange and white paint scheme. Aircraft is similar to the Cessna T-37 in size with the exception of external engines. Size is @ 22"x18" and is labeled TSP78-9892 on #82 water color board

Iranian AWACs Crash

Recently released video of a terrifying crash that occurred on September 22, 2010 of an Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) AWACs-modified Ilyushin Il-76 taken by the boom operator of an IRIAF Boeing 707 tanker. The Simorgh, formerly an Iraqi Air Force Adnan, collided with an IRIAF Northrop F-5E Tiger II in mid-air during a display commemorating the Iran-Irag War. Both planes crashed with the loss of seven crew members.

More information can be found here at DefenseNews:
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4289949&c=AIR&s=MID

Found on eBay: Douglas Model 2067

Douglas Model 2067 factory model from the late 1950s found on eBay. The Model 2086 was a Douglas Aircraft Company proposal for what became the DC-9 airliner.

URL: http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-4-Eng-DC9-Douglas-Factory-Model-Airplane-DFM-ORIG-/200463534066?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2eac8ec7f2

Seller's description:

In this auction you are bidding on a DOUGLAS FACTORY MODEL of the 1962 [sic] DC-9 model 2067 proposal. This is probably one of the RAREST models I have ever owned. This WOOD desktop display model of this EARLY, 4-ENGINE VERSION of the DC9 passenger jet transport is in House Colors livery and includes the ORIGINAL STAND and SWIVEL! Many of the EARLY Douglas Factory Models were made in wood. This VINTAGE model is ALL ORIGINAL and, other than a few age-related hairlines (from age, not damage!), it is in EXCELLENT PLUS to NEAR MINT condition with VERY LITTLE WEAR in the ORIGINAL PAINT AND DECALS, as can be seen in the pics. The length is a LARGE 17 1/4 inches and the wingspan is about 16 inches, which makes it http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif1/72 scale. The ORIGINAL METAL STAND is included.

This particular model was originally owned by aviation historian Terry Waddington and featured in his classic and definitive book, McDonnell Douglas DC-9, part of the Great Airliners Series. Fred Cox, the DC-8 guru, also owned this model at one time. You can read more about it on his website at http://www.dc-8jet.com/dac-dc9-p2067.htm and
http://www.dc-8jet.com/dac-dc9-p2067-details.htm. This terrific aircraft model was made by the Douglas Factory, one of the premier modelmakers, such as Pacific Miniatures (PacMin), Westway, Space, W.J. Hyatt, Topping, Rolen, Precise, Air Jet Advance, Raise Up, Osgaard, Fermo, Verkuyl, Allyn, and Atlantic Models. These travel agency or factory type models would be used on a ticket counter or corporate office. The early ones were made of metal by such companies as the Lockheed Factory Model Shop, Nucci, and others.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

Exterior dimensions:
Length: 103 ft (31.39 m)
Wingspan: 94 ft (28.65 m)

Interior dimensions:
Length: 71 ft (21.64 m)
Width: 124 in (315 cm)
Height: 81 in (206 cm)

Maximum take-off weight: 120,000 lb (54,431.04 kg)

Cruising altitude: 35,000 ft (10,668 m)

Cruising speed: 520-580 mp/h (837-933 km/h)

Range: 2,500 miles (4,023 km) at max. takeoff weight

Powerplant: Pratt & Whitney JTF10A-1 fan jet

Thrust per engine: 8,250 lbs (3,752 kg) static thrust

Wing configuration: 30 degree sweep-Back with control & stabilizing systems similar to the DC-8. However, the Addition of high lift leading edge slats which would allow shorter take-off and landing distances.

Cockpit arrangement: Same as the DC-8.

Passenger configuration/Capacity:
All First Class: 68 passengers in four abreast seating*
All Coach Class: 96 passengers in five abreast seating*
* Both configurations using Douglas "Palomar Unitized" seats, as in the DC-8, with the Passenger Service Units (light, air vent, flight attendant call button) located inside the seat next to each passenger, rather than above the seats.

Additional feature: A self-contained stairway at the forward entry door for quicker turn-around times.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Estimated price: $3 million US dollars

Source:
http://www.dc-8jet.com/dac-dc9-p2067-details.htm

Found on eBay: Douglas Model 2086

Douglas Model 2086 factory model from the late 1950s found on eBay. The Model 2086 was a Douglas Aircraft Company proposal for what became the DC-9 airliner.

URL: http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-DC-9-Proposal-Douglas-Factory-Model-DFM-Airplane-/160416988811?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item255998fe8b

Seller's description:

This model is SO RARE it is the ONLY MODEL I'm selling this week! In this auction you are bidding on a DOUGLAS FACTORY MODEL of the 1962 [sic] DC-9 model 2086 proposal. This is probably one of the RAREST models I have ever owned. This WOOD desktop display model of the early DC9 passenger jet transport is in House Colors livery and includes the ORIGINAL STAND and SWIVEL! Many of the EARLY Douglas Factory Models were made in wood. This VINTAGE model is ALL ORIGINAL and, other than a few minor age-related cracks in the underside and wing-fuselage joins, it is in EXCELLENT PLUS to NEAR MINT condition with VERY LITTLE WEAR in the ORIGINAL PAINT AND DECALS, as can be seen in the pics. The length is a LARGE 18 inches and the wingspan is about 15 1/2 inches, which makes it 1/72 scale. The ORIGINAL METAL STAND is included. This particular model was originally owned by aviation historian Terry Waddington and featured in his classic and definitive book, McDonnell Douglas DC-9, part of the Great Airliners Series. Fred Cox, the DC-8 guru, also owned this model at one time, and it is featured on his website at http://www.dc-8jet.com/dac-dc9-p2086.htm. This terrific aircraft model was made by the Douglas Factory, one of the premier modelmakers, such as Pacific Miniatures (PacMin), Westway, Space, W.J. Hyatt, Topping, Rolen, Precise, Air Jet Advance, Raise Up, Osgaard, Fermo, Verkuyl, Allyn, and Atlantic Models. These travel agency or factory type models would be used on a ticket counter or corporate office. The early ones were made of metal by such companies as the Lockheed Factory Model Shop, Nucci, and others.

"Project: Cancelled The Cheyenne"

"TSR2: The Untold Story"

"The Atomic Bomber"

The Discovery Channel documentary series Planes That Never Flew documented the United States Air Force WS-125 program in an episode titled "The Atomic Bomber." In 1954 the United States Air Force released a weapon systems requirement, designated WS-125, for a nuclear-powered long-range bomber. A General Electric and Convair team and a Pratt & Whitney and Lockheed team competitively addressed this requirement. After spending more than 1 billion US dollars, the program was canceled on March 28, 1961. The episode contains computer-generated animations of the Convair NX2 concept.

Beriev Be-2500P Neptun

"Iron Sky" Teaser 3

Space Cruiser Yamato music

"Space Cruiser Yamato: Resurection"

Space Cruiser Yamato: Resurection (2009)

"Missile Experimental"

Defiant Revision

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine production artwork by James (Jim) Martin dated November 9, 1994 depicting design revisions to U.S.S. Defiant found on an auction website. The design revision comes several months after the introduction of U.S.S. Defiant in "The Search, Part I", probably for an episode later in Season Three.

Airbus A380 Design Evolution

Short video found on YouTube showing the design evolution of the Airbus A380 superjumbo airliner.

"Star Blazers" Fan Remaster

On May 1, 2008, the last episode of the Star Blazers Remastered project was completed. This project was strictly a fan-based, non-profit effort, done by fans for fans to digitally remaster the first two seasons of Star Blazers. Star Blazers was the English-language adaption of the Japanese animated television series Space Cruiser Yamato (宇宙戦艦ヤマト, Uchū Senkan Yamato). It was first broadcast in syndication in the United States and Australia in 1979. The United States copyright-holder of Star Blazers and the owner of the Star Blazers trademark, Voyager Entertainment, was in no way involved with this remastering project.

The project took three years to complete using existing English-language soundtrack material previously released on VHS and DVD by Kidmark and Voyager Home Entertainment. The original Japanese audio was used for restoration of selected scenes where English-language dialog was not present or not an issue. I presume that video source material for the project came from the digitally remastered Space Cruiser Yamato DVD box set released in Japan.

In Japan, the original 35mm master negatives were digitally revived and restored in consultation with Space Cruiser Yamato co-creator Yoshinobu Nishizaki to create the Space Cruiser Yamato DVD box set. I understand that the digital restoration process also faithfully reproduces all foreign objects that were also present on the animation stand when the cels were filmed. Dirt, cigarette ashes, hair, and dandruff all leap off the screen in razor sharpness.

US Navy CGH-67

Artist's impression of a United States Navy guided-missile helicopter carrier (CGH-67) photographed on March 1, 1986.

The description of the image at DefenseImagery.mil calls the design a battlecruiser. I have no other details concerning this ship concept. It is possible that this ship is a concept from the David W. Taylor Naval Ship Research and Development Center, now Carderock Division of the Naval Surface Warfare Center. The David W. Taylor Naval Ship Research and Development Center researched many Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull (SWATH) and hybrid warship designs and designed many SWATH warship concepts.

Source:
http://www.defenseimagery.mil/imagery.html#a=search&s=artist's%20concept%20&guid=c9ac99d262da8bfb073e9f2d11c589987e6752c1

Boeing RC-1 "Flying Pipeline" (1972)

The Boeing RC-1, for Resource Carrier 1, was a joint development project of Boeing and the Great Plains Project, a think tank created by the Canadian government under Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau to develop the country's Far North. Of particular interest was extracting oil, natural gas, and mineral ores from the Arctic Archipelago. The building of pipelines or roads between the frozen islands to transport these natural resources to an ice-free port or rail head was deemed unfeasible.

Planners envisioned round-the-clock operation of a fleet of 50 RC-1 resource carrier aircraft with each carrying 2.3 million pounds of cargo, such as 8,100 barrels of oil, in two wing-mounted detachable cargo pods. The system had to match the flow capacity of a 48-inch pipeline at comparable cost.

The aircraft would have been powered by 12 Pratt & Whitney JD9 turbofans for a cruise speed of 450 mph. 500 to 1,000 mile hauls were planned for the aircraft. Cargo would then be transported by ship or rail to southern markets. Wingspan was 478 feet, 87 feet tall, and the aircraft would ride on 56 wheels!

Because of its large size and cargo carrying capacity, the aircraft was nicknamed the "Brute Lifter" and "Flying Pipeline." Each aircraft was expected to cost $70 million in 1972 US dollars.

Wahl, Paul "What Has 56 Wheels and Flies? The World's Largest Aircraft" Popular Science October 1972

Shin Meiwa GS (1977)

The Shin Meiwa, now ShinMaywa, GS (for "Giant Seaplane") was an amphibian airliner concept from 1977 designed to carry 1,200 passengers on three decks. 344 passengers on its upper deck, 626 on the main deck, and 230 on the lower deck at a 34-in. seat pitch. Payload was estimated at 120 tons.

Designed for transoceanic service, the GS would have a range of 3,500 nm. Cruising speed would be 486 knots at an altitude of 37,000 feet. The plane would take off in 3,800 feet at 92 knots and land in 1,903 feet at 102 knots. The aircraft was designed to operate in Sea State 3 (maximum wave height at five feet).

Six advanced, high-bypass ratio turbofans of about 77,000-pounds of thrust would be needed to power this mammoth flying boat. For enhanced STOL capability, the engines would exhaust air over the wing's upper surface in a propulsive lift concept similar to the Boeing F-15. To that end, engines would be mounted above and forward of the supercritical wing. An advantage of this arrangement is that the engines are out of spray range and thus safe from flameout due to excessive water ingestion.

Advanced turbofans, improved hull and supercritical wing designs, composite materials for weight savings and salt-water corrosion resistance, and water evacuation systems required by the GS were expected to take about six years to achieve.

The freighter version would have a nose loading door and an elevator just aft of the cockpit.

Purchase price was expected to be $60 million in 1977 dollars, based on a production run of 150 aircraft.

General Characteristics

Length: 293.9 feet
Wingspan: 255.9 feet
Height: 71.3 feet
Width: 27.6 feet
Weight: 1.04 million pounds

Found on eBay: Lockheed P-7 LRAACA

Model of Lockheed P-7 Long-Range Air Anti-Submarine Warfare Capable Aircraft (LRAACA) manufactured by Pacmin found on eBay.

Source:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-Pacmin-desk-factory-1-100-Lockheed-P-7A-USN-model-/160463347769?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item255c5c6039