Wez Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 37 minutes ago, RidgeRunner said: I have a suspicion that this was simply an aerodynamic test vehicle that was not reeled out. Maybe Robert Dorr's description was about the ultimate intent rather than reference to this exact set up. Not only is there no winch gear apparent there doesnt appear to be any recovery frame to bring such a device safely back on to the pylon. Or am I mistaken? Martin I reckon you're probably right, anyway, you have a photo to work on and you could justifiably model it in that configuration. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 (edited) 10 hours ago, RidgeRunner said: Where would the winding gear have been? Inside the thick pylon? Could i play devils advocate here ? That mount looks like it is forward of the belly tank mounts. Could it possibly be in the ammunition bay with cable fed through a hole of some sort ? As for a safe recovery, i have not seen any photo’s of the rear of that pylon/weapon arrangement. Its possible there is something there we havent seen from the 2-3 grainy photo’s ? Just my on the matter. Dennis Edited February 10, 2019 by Corsairfoxfouruncle 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted February 9, 2019 Author Share Posted February 9, 2019 Hi Dennis, that's a good thought. I'm still of a mind to think that it may have been an inert vehicle, dropped for aero testimg becaause of the lack of recovery gear. I'm happy to be proved wrong though ;). Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 Just spitballing my thoughts out loud. 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikolay Polyakov Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 On 09/02/2019 at 18:28, RidgeRunner said: I’ve never seen an NF-101A photos before, very interesting research! Take a look at the IP shroud, Martin - there are some brackets on it... Cheers! 😎 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted February 13, 2019 Author Share Posted February 13, 2019 (edited) Ah ha, I hadn't seen those. They don't appear to be in the first image that I posted. so, any ideas about those, anyone? Martin Edited February 13, 2019 by RidgeRunner 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted February 14, 2019 Author Share Posted February 14, 2019 It looks like a makeshift sight? Maybe related to the drone? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikolay Polyakov Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 (edited) On 14/02/2019 at 02:21, RidgeRunner said: Ah ha, I hadn't seen those. They don't appear to be in the first image that I posted. And you’re right... 22 hours ago, RidgeRunner said: It looks like a makeshift sight? Maybe related to the drone? ...it’s just a trap handles! The angle of a view makes me see something unusual... Pardonnez-moi! But now we know how the «what-if» parts appeared in some kits! 😀 P.S. Just googled the «NF-101» and found some interesting information in Russian: «Two aircraft under the designation JF-101A and NF-101A were used to test the General Electric J79 turbojet engine, apparently for the F-101D/E variant with the J79 engine.» I don’t know how this information is truthful. Cheers! 😶 Edited February 15, 2019 by Nikolay Polyakov Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted February 16, 2019 Author Share Posted February 16, 2019 4 hours ago, Nikolay Polyakov said: F-101» and found some interesting information in Russian: «Two aircraft under the designation JF-101A and NF-101A were used to test the General Electric J79 turbojet engine, apparently for the F-101D/E variant with the J79 engine.» Yes, Nikolay, the F-101A still exists in a US museum. Martin 4 hours ago, Nikolay Polyakov said: ...it’s just a trap handles! The angle of a view makes me see something unusual... What do you mean, Nikolay? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamevender Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 have no dog in this fight, but might the tow cable reel out AT 4O.OOO feet rather than TO 40 K feet?Seems more plausible. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaddad Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 Top of the ladder? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikolay Polyakov Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 4 hours ago, RidgeRunner said: What do you mean, Nikolay? This: 2 hours ago, spaddad said: Top of the ladder? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted February 16, 2019 Author Share Posted February 16, 2019 19 hours ago, spaddad said: Top of the ladder? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob de Bie Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 Maybe I was lucky tonight on Ebay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/MAYBE-UNIQUE-HAYES-AIRCRAFT-PROMETHEUS-TARGET-DRONE-DESK-MODEL/264196614355?hash=item3d835868d3:g:CbIAAOSw50JbNUR2:rk:2:pf:0 I had never seen it before, but it matches your photos reasonably well. Rob 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 Hello @Rob de Bie... I’ll be damned if thats not it ? Its the exact same down to the odd forward fins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 (edited) So armed with Robs info i found some more using “Prometheus towed target.” https://picclick.com/Hayes-Aircraft-Photo-Birmingham-Alabama-Prometheus-Tow-Target-152746458135.html https://www.worldcat.org/title/prometheus-supersonic-dart-type-tow-target/oclc/757378627 I think the 2nd entry is a book/PDF about the prometheus. If you go to worldcat looks like this Hayes aircraft also did work on the KB-50’s as well. Edited February 17, 2019 by Corsairfoxfouruncle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted February 17, 2019 Author Share Posted February 17, 2019 8 hours ago, Rob de Bie said: Maybe I was lucky tonight on Ebay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/MAYBE-UNIQUE-HAYES-AIRCRAFT-PROMETHEUS-TARGET-DRONE-DESK-MODEL/264196614355?hash=item3d835868d3:g:CbIAAOSw50JbNUR2:rk:2:pf:0 I had never seen it before, but it matches your photos reasonably well. Rob I'd say that you've hit the jackpot, Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted February 17, 2019 Author Share Posted February 17, 2019 6 hours ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said: So armed with Robs info i found some more using “Prometheus towed target.” https://picclick.com/Hayes-Aircraft-Photo-Birmingham-Alabama-Prometheus-Tow-Target-152746458135.html https://www.worldcat.org/title/prometheus-supersonic-dart-type-tow-target/oclc/757378627 I think the 2nd entry is a book/PDF about the prometheus. If you go to worldcat looks like this Hayes aircraft also did work on the KB-50’s as well. Great finds, Dennis! I just need to work out the best way of reproducing that needle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Des Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 On 1/31/2019 at 9:13 AM, RidgeRunner said: ........ any thoughts of the pylon apparatus would be of immense help. Thank you. I was looking through the Osprey book mentioned last night for something completely different and on coming across the black and white image and was reminded of the second part of your initial query .......... might the inner wing pylon from an F-84F be suitable for providing the basis for the carrier? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted March 5, 2019 Author Share Posted March 5, 2019 Maybe Des @Desbut I think I will build it from scratch using Plastikard. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikolay Polyakov Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 Hello Martin, even if it’s not an F-101A, I’ll post it here: Cheers! 🙃 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted March 26, 2019 Author Share Posted March 26, 2019 On 2/13/2019 at 5:54 PM, Nikolay Polyakov said: On 2/9/2019 at 3:28 PM, RidgeRunner said: Thanks Nikolay. An interesting shot that I hadn't seen before. As you say, not a F-101A and the dart is different. On the one I'm building it looks like the dart (Prometheus) was simply strapped to the pylon? THere appear to be white/metal straps in two points. my suggestion is tha this was an un-powered airborne dummy. If it were powered would there not be a rail or similar? Any thoughts? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikolay Polyakov Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 2 hours ago, RidgeRunner said: On the one I'm building it looks like the dart (Prometheus) was simply strapped to the pylon? Yes, looks like it fixed by the metal band for some aerodynamic tests(?). 2 hours ago, RidgeRunner said: my suggestion is tha this was an un-powered airborne dummy. If it were powered would there not be a rail or similar? Any thoughts? Maybe it’s not detachable. That’s why the pylon is so massive. Anyway, it’s just suggestions. Cheers! 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted March 26, 2019 Author Share Posted March 26, 2019 10 minutes ago, Nikolay Polyakov said: Yes, looks like it fixed by the metal band for some aerodynamic tests(?). 10 minutes ago, Nikolay Polyakov said: Maybe it’s not detachable. That’s why the pylon is so massive. Yes, that was my thought too 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob de Bie Posted December 15, 2020 Share Posted December 15, 2020 (edited) I came across this target again in a YouTube / Sand Diego Air and Space Musuem video. It's also seen at 23:57. The video shows the target was used operationally, Rob Edited December 15, 2020 by Rob de Bie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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