(Sikorsky) S-58 H-34 Wessex @·AIRCRAFTUBE

  • UH-34D - USS Guadalcanal - 1971 UH-34D - USS Guadalcanal - 1971
    UH-34D - USS Guadalcanal - 1971
  • Sikorsky S-58<br>La_Fayette - 1962 Sikorsky S-58<br>La_Fayette - 1962
    Sikorsky S-58
    La_Fayette - 1962
  • S-58 - Coxyde 2001 S-58 - Coxyde 2001
    S-58 - Coxyde 2001
  • HUS-1A - VX-6 - McMurdo Sound - 1960 HUS-1A - VX-6 - McMurdo Sound - 1960
    HUS-1A - VX-6 - McMurdo Sound - 1960
  • Sikorsky HSS-1N - 1958 Sikorsky HSS-1N - 1958
    Sikorsky HSS-1N - 1958
  • Freedom 7 recovery Freedom 7 recovery
    Freedom 7 recovery
  • Eisenhower - USS Des Moines - Athens - 1959 Eisenhower - USS Des Moines - Athens - 1959
    Eisenhower - USS Des Moines - Athens - 1959
  • UH-34D Seahorse UH-34D Seahorse
    UH-34D Seahorse
  • SH-34J - USS Essex - 1962 SH-34J - USS Essex - 1962
    SH-34J - USS Essex - 1962
  • S-58TC - PT6T Twin-Pac turbine S-58TC - PT6T Twin-Pac turbine
    S-58TC - PT6T Twin-Pac turbine
  • Sikorsky S-58 Israel Sikorsky S-58 Israel
    Sikorsky S-58 Israel
  • Sikorsky H-34 - Vietnam Sikorsky H-34 - Vietnam
    Sikorsky H-34 - Vietnam
  • SABENA S-58 SABENA S-58
    SABENA S-58
  • HUS-1G - U.S. Coast Guard - Anacostia - 1960 HUS-1G - U.S. Coast Guard - Anacostia - 1960
    HUS-1G - U.S. Coast Guard - Anacostia - 1960
  • Sikorsky HSS_1 - Sonar - 1960. Sikorsky HSS_1 - Sonar - 1960.
    Sikorsky HSS_1 - Sonar - 1960.
  • Sikorsky S-58 Sikorsky S-58
    Sikorsky S-58
  • Westland Wessex - Uruguay Westland Wessex - Uruguay
    Westland Wessex - Uruguay
  • Westland Wessex Westland Wessex
    Westland Wessex
  • Westland Wessex - HMS Intrepid Westland Wessex - HMS Intrepid
    Westland Wessex - HMS Intrepid
  • Westland Wessex - Ascension - 1982 Westland Wessex - Ascension - 1982
    Westland Wessex - Ascension - 1982
  • Westland Wessex HU.5 - 1982 Westland Wessex HU.5 - 1982
    Westland Wessex HU.5 - 1982
  • Sikorsky S-58 - Coxyde - Belgium Sikorsky S-58 - Coxyde - Belgium
    Sikorsky S-58 - Coxyde - Belgium

Sikorsky S-58

The Sikorsky H-34 Choctaw (company designation S-58) is a piston-engined military helicopter that was originally designed by American aircraft manufacturer Sikorsky for the United States Navy for service in the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) role. It has seen extended use when adapted to turbine power by the British licensee as the Westland Wessex and Sikorsky as the later S-58T.

Various H-34s served, mostly as medium transports, on every continent with the armed forces of twenty-five countries — from combat in Algeria, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and throughout Southeast Asia, in roles such as saving flood victims, recovering astronauts, fighting fires, and carrying presidents. As one of the last piston-powered helicopter designs before its replacement by turbine-powered types such as the UH-1 Huey and CH-46 Sea Knight, it would see a remarkably long run of 2,108 H-34s produced between 1953 and 1970.

Development

The Sikorsky S-58 was developed as a lengthened and more powerful version of the Sikorsky (model S-55) or UH-19 Chickasaw, with a similar nose, but with a tail-dragger rear fuselage and landing gear, rather than the high-tail, 4-post pattern. It retained the nose-mounted piston engine with the drive shaft passing through the cockpit placed high above the cargo compartment.

The aircraft first flew on 8 March 1954. The first production aircraft was ready in September and entered in service for the United States Navy initially designated HSS-1 Seabat (in its anti-submarine configuration) and HUS-1 Seahorse (in its utility transport configuration) under the U.S. Navy designation system for U.S. Navy, United States Marine Corps (USMC) and United States Coast Guard (USCG) aircraft. The U.S. Army and Marine Corps, respectively, ordered it in 1955 and 1957. Under the United States Army's aircraft designation system, also used by the United States Air Force, the helicopter was designated H-34. The U.S. Army also applied the name Choctaw to the helicopter. In 1962, under the new unified DoD aircraft designation system, the Seabat was redesignated SH-34, the Seahorse as the UH-34, and the Choctaw as the CH-34.

Roles included utility transport, anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, and VIP transport. In it standard configuration transport versions could carry 12 to 16 troops, or eight stretcher cases if utilized in the MedEvac role, while VIP transports carried significantly fewer people in significantly greater comfort.

A total of 135 H-34s were built in the U.S. and assembled by Sud-Aviation in France, 166 were produced under licence in France by Sud-Aviation for the French Air Force, Navy and Army Aviation (ALAT).

The CH-34 was also built and developed under license from 1958 in the United Kingdom by Westland Aircraft as the turbine engined Wessex which was used by the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. The RN Wessex was fitted out with weapons and ASW equipment for use in an antisubmarine role. The RAF used the Wessex, with turboshaft engines, as an air/sea rescue helicopter and as troop transporter. Wessexes were also exported to other countries and produced for civilian use.

Operational history

Vietnam War

French evaluations on the reported ground fire vulnerabilities of the CH-34 may have influenced the U.S. Army's decision to deploy the CH-21 Shawnee to Vietnam instead of the CH-34, pending the introduction into widespread service of the Bell UH-1 Iroquois. U.S. Army H-34s did not participate in Vietnam, and did not fly in the assault helicopter role, however a quantity were supplied to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. These saw little use due to a lack of spare parts and maintenance.

Its higher availability and reliability due to its simplicity compared to the newer helicopters led Marines to ask for it by name. The phrases "give me a HUS", "get me a HUS" and "cut me a HUS" entered the U.S. Marine Corps vernacular, being used even after the type was no longer in use to mean "help me out".

USMC H-34s were also among the first gunship helicopters trialled in theatre, being fitted with the Temporary Kit-1 (TK-1), comprising two M60C machine guns and two 19-shot 2.75 inch rocket pods. The operations were met with mixed enthusiasm, and the armed H-34s, known as "Stingers" were quickly phased out. The TK-1 kit would form the basis of the TK-2 kit used on the UH-1E helicopters of the USMC.

Post-Vietnam War

The H-34 remained in service with United States Army and Marine Corps aviation units well into the late 1960s, and was standard equipment in Marine Corps Reserve, Army Reserve and Army National Guard aviation units until replaced by the UH-1 Iroquois utility helicopter. Sikorsky production ceased in 1968, with 1,821 built.[4] On 3 September 1973, the last flight of a USMC UH-34 occurred as Bureau Number 147191 was flown to MCAS New River. All H-34 helicopters were retired from service in the U.S. military by the early 1970s.

France

France bought 134 Choctaws in parts from the United States and assembled by Sud-Aviation. A further 166 were manufactured later locally for the French Army, Navy and Air force, these again produced by Sud-Aviation.

United Kingdom

Westland Wessex - See below.

South Vietnam

The H-34 was the primary VNAF helicopter until replaced by the Bell UH-1 Huey.

Israel

The S-58 flew combat missions after the end of the Six Days War, mainly against Palestinians infiltrating Israel or against their bases in Jordan. On 21 March 1968, they participated in the Battle of Karameh, bringing Israeli troops in and out as well as evacuating the wounded. This was the last operation of the S-58 as it was retired shortly later, replaced by the Bell 205 and Aérospatiale Super Frelon.

Civilian use

Civil S-58T powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T Twin-Pac turbine power plant

  • The H-34's lift capacity was just sufficient to lift a Mercury space capsule. In 1961, the hatch of Mercury-Redstone 4 was prematurely detached and the capsule was filled with seawater. The extra weight was too much for the H-34 and the capsule, Liberty Bell 7, was emergency released and sank in deep water.
  • In the 1990s, an S-58ET called Miss Piggy from "New York Helicopter" flew passengers from JFK International Airport to East 34th Street Heliport, New York.
  • H-34 have been used by forest firefighting contractors in Ontario.
  • At least one S-58 was purchased for civilian use by Oregon-based Columbia Helicopters in the 1960s.
  • In 1968, an S-58 was used to remove the wreckage of a Bell 47 G2 helicopter from the top of Uluru (Ayers Rock) in central Australia.
  • The 1980s television series Riptide featured an S-58T called "The Screaming Mimi". The special turbine engine cowling, together with a "face" paint scheme was used to good effect.

Variants

  • H-34A : U.S. Army version of the HSS-1 powered by a 1,525 hp R-1820-84, re-designated CH-34A in 1962, 359 built and 21 transferred from the U.S. Navy.
  • JH-34A : Designation for H-34A used for weapon tests.
  • VH-34A : Staff transport conversions of H-34A.
  • H-34B : H-34As converted with detail changes, became CH-34B in 1962.
  • H-34C : H-34B design with detail changes converted from H-34As, became CH-34C in 1962.
  • JH-34C : Designation for CH-34C used for weapon tests.
  • VH-34C : Staff transport conversions of CH-34C.
  • HH-34D : Designation applied to aircraft given USAF serials to be transferred under MAP and MDAP.
  • LH-34D : HUS-1L re-designated in 1962
  • UH-34D : HUS-1 re-designated in 1962 and 54 new build.
  • VH-34D : HUS-1Z re-designated in 1962
  • UH-34E : HUS-1A re-designated in 1962
  • HH-34F : HUS-1G re-designated in 1962
  • YSH-34G : YHSS-1 re-designated in 1962
  • SH-34G : HSS-1 re-designated in 1962
  • SH-34H : HSS-1F re-designated in 1962
  • YSH-34J : YHSS-1N re-designated in 1962
  • SH-34J : HSS-1N re-designated in 1962
  • UH-34J : SH-34J without ASW equipment for cargo and training purposes.
  • HH-34J : Ex-USN UH-34Js operated by the U.S. Air Force
  • VH-34J : Staff transport conversions of SH-34J.
  • XHSS-1 Seabat : Three Sikorsky S-58s for evaluation by the U.S. Navy, re-designated YHSS-1 then YSH-34G in 1962.
  • HSS-1 Seabat : Production Anti-Submarine model for the U.S. Navy, re-designated SH-34G in 1962, 215 built
  • HSS-1F Seabat : One HSS-1 re-engined with two YT-58-GE as a flying test bed, re-designated SH-34H in 1962.
  • YHSS-1N Seabat : One HSS-1 converted as the HSS-1N prototype, re-designated YSH-34J in 1962.
  • HSS-1N Seabat : Night/Bad weather version of the HSS-1 with improved avionics and autopilot, re-designated SH-34J in 1962, 167 built (an addition 75 HSS-1 airframes were built to CH-34C standard for West Germany).
  • HUS-1 Seahorse : Utility transport version of the HSS-1 for the U.S. Marine Corps, re-designated UH-34D in 1962, 462 built
  • HUS-1A Seahorse : Forty HUS-1s fitted with amphibious pontoons, re-designated UH-34E in 1962.
  • HUS-1G Seahorse : United States Coast Guard version of the HUS-1, re-designated HH-34F in 1962, six built.
  • HUS-1L Seahorse : Four HUS-1s converted for antarctic operations with VXE-6, re-designated LH-34D in 1962.
  • HUS-1Z Seahorse : Seven HUS-1s fitted with VIP interior for the Executive Flight Detachment, re-designated VH-34D in 1962.
  • S-58 : Commercial designation for basic cargo variant
  • S-58B : Commercial designation for improved cargo variant
  • S-58C : Commercial passenger transport/airliner version
  • S-58D : Commercial airliner/freighter version
  • S-58T : Commercial conversion to turboshaft power by Sikorsky, Orlando Helicopter, and California Helicopter. Kit uses Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3 Twin-Pac turboshaft with special nose cowling featuring distinctive twin rectangular air intakes.
  • S-58 Heli-Camper : Commercial conversion, fitted with a Wright Cyclone R-1820-24 engine.
  • Orlando Airliner : Commercial conversion. 18-seat passenger transport helicopter.

Operators

  • Argentina : Argentine Air Force, Argentine Naval Aviation
  • Belgium : Belgian Air Force, Belgian Navy
  • Brazil : Brazilian Navy
  • Canada : Canadian Armed Forces
  • Chile : Chilean Navy
  • Costa Rica : Ministry of Public Security
  • France : French Army, French Navy
  • West Germany : Luftwaffe, German Army, German Navy
  • Haiti : Haitian Air Corps
  • Indonesia : Indonesian Air Force
  • Italy : Italian Air Force
  • Israel : Israeli Air Force
  • Japan : Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
  • Laos : Royal Lao Air Force
  • Netherlands : Royal Netherlands Navy
  • Nicaragua : Fuerza Aérea Sandinista
  • South Vietnam : Vietnam Air Force
  • Republic of China : Republic of China Army
  • Thailand : Royal Thai Air Force
  • United States : United States Air Force, United States Army, United States Marine Corps, United States Navy, United States Coast Guard
  • Uruguay : Uruguayan Navy

Accidents and incidents

27 July 1960 Chicago Helicopter Airways Flight 698 a S-58C registered N879 crashed into Forest Home Cemetery, Forest Park, Illinois, United States with the loss of 11 passengers and two crew. The investigation concluded that the helicopter became uncontrollable as a result of structural disintegration in flight caused by a fatigue failure of the main rotor blade.

13 March 2011 Sikorsky S-58ET, N33602, suffered an engine failure, descended and veered off the side of an office building in El Segundo, California, while lifting an external load from the roof. The commercial pilot was seriously injured, the helicopter was substantially damaged and consumed by a post-impact fire. The helicopter was registered to Heli Flight, Inc., and operated by Aris Helicopters.

Westland Wessex

An American-built Sikorsky HSS-1 was shipped to Westland in 1956 to act as a pattern aircraft. It was re-engined with a Napier Gazelle turboshaft engine, and first flew in that configuration on 17 May 1957. The first Westland-built Wessex XL727, designated a Wessex HAS.1, first flew on 20 June 1958. The type first began performing anti-submarine duties in 1961, operated by the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm.

As an anti-submarine helicopter, the Wessex could track targets but not engage them with either depth charges or torpedos as this was beyond its carrying capacity; this limitation led to Westand and the Royal Navy quickly seeking a helicopter that could provide that capability, resulting in the acquisition and adaption of another Sikorsky-designed aircraft to produce the Westland Sea King.

The Wessex helicopter was successfully adapted in the early 1960s as a general-purpose helicopter for the RAF, capable of performing troop-carrying, air ambulance and ground support roles. In contrast with the HAS.1, it used twin Rolls-Royce Gnome engines. These marks (HC.2, HCC.4, HU.5) had a single large exhaust on each side of the nose, the Gazelle-powered examples having a pair of smaller exhausts on either side.

Overview

The Wessex was first used by the Royal Navy, introducing the HAS.1 to meet the service's growing need to counter the expanding capabilities and numbers of submarines. The Navy would quickly press the development of the HAS.1 into the improved HAS.3, which came into service in 1967. It saw embarked service on the County class destroyers. The HAS.3 could be identified by a dorsal radome and strake extending behind the "hump".

The RAF became an operator of the Wessex in 1962; those helicopters used for air-sea or mountain rescue duties helped make the Wessex a particularly well known aircraft of the service and contributed to the saving of many lives during its time in service. As one of the RAF's standing duties, multiple Wessex helicopters were permanently kept on standby to respond to an emergency located anywhere within 40 miles of the British coastline within 15 minutes during daytime, at night hours this response time was decreased to 60 minutes. SAR-tasked Wessex helicopters were also stationed abroad, such as at Cyprus.

Wessex helicopters were also used by the Queen's Flight of the RAF to transport VIPs including members of the British Royal Family; in this role, the helicopters were designated HCC.4 and were essentially similar to the HC.2, differences included an upgraded interior, additional navigation equipment and enhanced maintenance programmes. Both Prince Philip and Prince Charles were trained Wessex pilots, occasionally they would perform as flying crew members in addition to being passengers on board the VIP services. The Wessex was replaced in this role by a privately leased Sikorsky S-76 in 1998.

Wartime operations

In 1962, an international crisis arose as Indonesia threatened confrontation over the issue of Brunei, which was not in the newly formed Federation of Malaya. By February 1964, a large number of RAF and RN helicopters, including Westland Wessex, were operating from bases in Sarawak and Sabah to assist Army and Marine detachments fighting guerilla forces infiltrated by Indonesia over its one thousand mile frontier with Malaysia. Having removed much of the anti-submarine equipment to lighten the aircraft, during the Borneo Campaign the Wessex was operated as a large transport helicopter, capable of ferrying up to 16 troops or a 4,000 pound payload of supplies directly to the front lines. Alongside the Westland Scout, the Wessex emerged as one of the main workhorses of the campaign, roughly half were operated directly from land bases and would regularly rotate with those stationed on RN vessels stationed off shore.

Around 55 Westland Wessex HU.5s participated in the Falklands War, fighting in the South Atlantic in 1982. Their prime role was the landing, and moving forward, of Rapier missile systems, fuel, artillery and ammunition. On 21 May 1982, 845 Squadron's Wessex HU.5s supported British landings on East Falkland. The type was heavily used throughout the conflict for the transportation and insertion of British special forces, including members of the Special Air Service (SAS) and the Special Boat Service (SBS). A total of nine Wessex (eight HU.5s and one HAS.3) were lost during the Falklands campaign. Two HU.5s of 845 Squadron crashed on the Fortuna Glacier in South Georgia during an attempt to extricate members of the SAS, six of 848 Squadron's Wessex HU.5s were lost when the container ship Atlantic Conveyor was sunk and the HAS.3 aboard HMS Glamorgan (D19) was destroyed when the ship was struck by an Exocet missile.

Australia

In April 1961, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) announced that they had selected the Westland Wessex to become the standard service helicopter from their ships and its intention to purchase roughly 30 for anti-submarine patrols, casualty evacuations, and fleet communications duties. The Wessex was a major operational shift for the Fleet Air Arm, enabling the RAN to proceed with the conversion of the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne as an anti-submarine platform. The RAN formally accepted the first two of 27 Wessex helicopters in September 1963; 817 Squadron was the first to operate the type.

By 1980, the Wessex was no longer being used for anti-submarine operations, instead performing the personnel transport mission as a utility helicopter instead.

— — — = = — — —

This text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Source : Article Sikorsky H-34 of Wikipedia ( authors )

Specifications (H-34 Choctaw)

  • Crew: 2
  • Capacity: 16 troops or 8 stretchers
  • Length: 56 ft 8.5 in (17.28 m)
  • Rotor diameter: 56 ft 0 in (17.07 m)
  • Height: 15 ft 11 in (4.85 m)
  • Disc area: 2,463 ft² (228.85 m²)
  • Empty weight: 7,900 lb (3,583 kg)
  • Max. takeoff weight: 14,000 lb (6,350 kg)
  • Powerplant: A Wright R-1820-84 radial engine, 1,525 hp (1,137 kW)
  • Maximum speed: 123 mph (107 kn, 198 km/h)
  • Range: 293 km (182 mi)
  • Service ceiling: 4,905 ft (1,495 m[48])
  • Armament: Various

— — — = = — — —

This text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Source : Article Sikorsky H-34 of Wikipedia ( authors )
Sikorsky S-58 - H-34 - Westland Wessex : Your comments on this subject
Powered by Disqus
Top
Legal Credits FAQ Help Site Map

Terms of use for the services available on this site

By using this Website, Users agree to the following terms of use and rules :

Definitions

  • Webmaster : Head Administrator with all authority over the management and development of the Website.
  • Administrator : Anyone that was given by the Webmaster full or partial access to the Website's structure or with moderation rights on messages posted by Users.
  • User or Visitor : Any person visiting the Website pages.
  • Website : The following provisions apply to a single Website accessible via the www.aircraftube.com, www.aircraftube.org, www.aircraftube.net and www.all-aircraft.com. URL's
  • Service : All free informations and tools contained on the Website.
  • Comments : All text written by users on Blogs and comment pages available on the Website.
  • Media : All media available on or through the Website. One must distinguish the local media (photos, curves, drawings) and the external media (videos) which the Website refers.

    • Purpose of this site

    The purpose of this non-commercial site is purely educational. Reflecting a passion, it is also there to preserve the memory of all those who gave their lives, their health or energy in the name of freedom, aviation safety or simply our passenger comfort.

    Copyright

    Some media may have escaped the vigilance of Administrators with regard to copyrights. If a user reports copyright infringement, he will be asked to prove that he is indeed the rights's owner for the concerned media. If so, his decision on the Administrator's next action will be respected: A total suppression of the Media on the Website, or the addition of some owner's reference. The publication of a media on the internet normally having as a goal to make it visible to many people, the Administrators expect in any case that the second option will be most often chosen.

    Pursuant to the Law on copyright and related rights, the user has the right to download and reproduce information on the Website for personal use and provided that the source is mentionned. They cannot however be used for commercial or advertising purposes.

    Using Blogs and filing comments

  • Moderator : The Administrator reserves the right to prevent the publication of comments that are not directly related to the Service without providing any explanation. Similarly, all insults, out of scope or unethical material will be banned.
  • Identification : Persons wishing to post a comment or use any form of contact are required to provide identification by the means of a valid e-mail address.
  • Responsibilities : Comments are posted on the Website under the unique responsability of their authors and the Administrators may in no case be liable for any statements or claims that the users might have issued.

    • As the comment system is hosted and maintained on servers external to the Website, the Administrators may in no circumstances be held responsible for the use that administrators of these servers or other third parties may have with those comments or filed data.

    Content Liability

    The Administrators carefully check the reliability of the sources used. They cannot, however, guarantee the accuracy of any information contained on the Website, partly because of the multiple sources from which they come.

    JavaScript and cookies - Storing information

    This Website imperatively uses JavaScript and cookies to function properly. Neither of these technologies, or other means shall in no case be used on the Website for the retention or disclosure of personal information about Visitors. Exceptions to this rule will involve storing the Users banned for inappropriate comments they might have given as well as contact information for Users wishing to subscribe to future newsletters.

    When a user accesses the Website, the corresponding servers may automatically collect certain data, such as IP address, date and time of Website access, viewed pages and the type of browser used. This information is kept only for the purpose of measuring the number of visitors to the different sections of the site and make improvements.

    Donations - Advertising

    To continue providing the Service for free, the Webmaster reserves the right to insert advertising or promotional messages on any page of the Site. In the same idea, any donations will only by used to cover the running costs of the site, such as hosting, connection fees, hardware and software necessary for the development and maintenance of the Website.

    Links and other websites

    Administrators shall in no case be liable for the non-availability of websites operated by third parties to which users would access through the Website.

    Administrators assume no liability for any content, advertising, products and/or services available on such third party websites. It is reminded that those sites are governed by their own terms of use.

    Placing a link to third party sites or authorize a third party to include a link on their website refering to this Website does not mean that the Administrators recommend in any way the products or services offered by these websites.

    Modifications

    The Webmaster reserves the right to modify at any time without notification the present terms of use as well as all content or specific functionality that the Website offers.

    The modified terms and conditions immediately apply to the using Visitor when changes come online. Visitors are invited to consult the site regularly on the most current version of the terms and conditions

    Governing Law and Jurisdiction

    These general conditions are governed by Belgian law.

    In case of dispute regarding the interpretation and/or execution of the above terms, the parties agree that the courts of the district of Nivelles, Belgium shall have exclusive jurisdiction power.

    Credits page

    Wikipedia.org

    Wikipedia is a collaboratively edited, multilingual, free Internet encyclopedia.

    Youtube

    YouTube is a video-sharing website on which users can upload, view and share videos.

    Special thanks to all Youtube quality aviation vids providers, specially (Those I forgot, please excuse me or report) :

    Airboyd
    Andys Video
    Aviation videos archives
    Bomberguy
    Classic Aviation TV
    Historical Aviation Film Unit
    Horsemoney
    Jaglavaksoldier
    Joluqa Malta
    Just Planes
    Koksy
    Classic Airliners & Vintage Pop Culture
    Memorial Flight
    Octane130
    Okrajoe
    SDASM archives
    Spottydog4477
    The Aviators TV
    Valentin Izagirre Bengoetxea
    Vexed123
    VonBerlich
    Zenos Warbirds

    Bundesarchiv

    The German Federal Archives or Bundesarchiv are the National Archives of Germany.

    FAQ

    I don't see my comments any more!

    Please note that each page has it's own comment entry. So, if you enter a comment i.e. on the B-747, you will only see it on that related page.

    General comments are accessed via the "BLOG En" button.

    Comments are moderated, so please allow some delay before they appear, specially if you are outside Europe.

    Menus are developing below the page, because they are too long!

    But they remain accessible, for example by scrolling the mouse wheel, or with your finger (on the menu) on a smartphone or tablet.

    I see adds on all videos.

    Use a good free add remover software.

    The site is loading random pages at startup.

    We think it is a good way to bring back the memory of aircraft, persons or events sometimes quite forgotten.

    HELP PAGE

    Why this site?

    Discovery

    This website is dedicated to one's aeronautical passion (which I hope we share) and was realised mainly as an educationnal tool. Knowing that, you'll notice that each new visit brings random topics for the purpose of making new discoveries, some achievements or characters certainly not deserving the oblivion into which they have sometimes fallen.

    By these pages, we also want to pay tribute to all those who gave at one time or another, their lives or health in the name of freedom, aeronautical security or simply our comfort.

    Centralisation

    Internet is full of websites dedicated to aviation, but most are dedicated to subjects or periods that are very limited in space or time. The purpose of this site is to be as general as possible and thus treats all events as well as characters of all stripes and times while putting much emphasis on the most significant achievements.

    The same years saw birth of technologies like photography and cinema, thus permitting illustration of a large part of important aeronautical events from the start. Countless (and sometimes rare) media recently put online by enthousiasts finally give us access to these treasures, but the huge amount of information often makes things a little messy. A centralization effort is obviously most needed at this level.

    All persons who directly or indirectly contributed to the achievement or posting of such documents are here gratefully acknowledged.

    General

    Fluid website

    This site automatically fits the dimensions of your screen, whether you are on a desktop computer, a tablet or a smartphone.

    Bilingual website

    You can change the language by clicking on the flag in the upper left or via "Options" in the central menu. Of course, the videos remain in the language in which they were posted ...

    Browser compatibility

    The site is not optimized, or even designed to run on older browsers or those deliberately deviating from standards. You will most probably encounter display issues with Internet Explorer. In this case, it is strongly recommended installing a modern (and free!) browser that's respecting the standards, like Firefox, Opera, Chrome or Safari.

    Cookies and Javascript

    This site uses cookies and JavaScript to function properly. Please ensure that your browser is configured accordingly. Neither of these technologies, or other means shall in no case be used on the Site for the retention or disclosure of personal information about its Visitors. See the "Legal" page for more on this subject.

    Website layout

    Left menus

    Because of the lack of space on smartphones and small tablets, these menus are hidden. Everything is nevertheless accessible via the main menu option, located between the video and photo sections. This menu is placed there for compatibility reasons with some browsers, which play the videos over the menus.

    "Search" and "Latest" :
    The link "In Titles" restricts the search to the titles of different forms. Use this option if you are looking for a plane, a constructor, a pilot or a particular event that could have been treated as a subject.

    The link "In Stories" will bring you to a search in all texts (the "Story" tab) and will take more time. The search term will appear highlighted in green when opening the corresponding story.

    Would you believe, "Timeline" will show all subjects in chronological order.

    "Random" will reload the entire page with a new random topic.

    The bottom section keeps you abreast of the latest five entries. New topics are added regularly. Don't hesitate to come visit us often : add bookmark.

    Blogs and Comments central section

    Under the photos section comes the comments tabs window :

    You can enter general comments in your own language via one of the two buttons on the left (BLOG EN and BLOG FR). Note that these buttons are accessible regardless of the language to allow some participation in the other language.

    All comments are subject to moderation and will be published only if they comply with the basic rules of decorum, while remaining relevant to the purpose of this site.

    The third tab allows you to enter comments on the shown topic and is bilingual. Personal anecdotes, supplements and other information questions will take place here.

    The "Story" tab shows the explanatory texts. They are most often taken from Wikipedia, a site where we participate regularly.

    The "Data" tab is reserved for list of features and specifications.

    Right menus

    On a smartphone, the lack of space is growing and this menu is moved to the bottom of the page to give priority to videos and pictures.

    The top right icons are links to videos posted by third parties (on their own responsabilities) or by ourselves. The link below these icons will take you to the channel of the one who posted the video. Feel free to suggest other videos if you think they are of some interest (Use the BLOG button or the "Contact" link).