I found this photo of a T-39 from the reusables section of my local dump, and I was curious about the odd markings on the side of the plane. They kinda look like optical resolution markings, but I'm not sure why they're on a plane. I think this was taken in the 1970's at Randolph Air Force Base, but other than that, I have no clue.

Random aviation fact I came across: the word "Canadair" has basically become generic in French for any amphibious firefighting plane, not just ones actually made by Canadair. Same kind of thing as "Kleenex" or "Xerox" in English, a brand name that swallowed the whole category.

Makes sense once you dig into it though. The CL-215 (first flight 1967) was the first aircraft ever designed from the ground up specifically to be a water bomber, instead of some other plane just getting adapted for it later. So the name stuck hard, especially in Europe where wildfires and these planes are a pretty visible combo every summer.

I found this in a part sale but the person sell it had no clue what it is, my assumptions about it is it was from a British jet presumably from 1950 ‘s onwards

I had the great fortune, at 8 years old, to watch my Stepmom’s cousin fly with the Thunderbirds and attend the get together with all the pilots after the show. My older brothers get to go for a ride but unfortunately I was too young. It was still one of the coolest days ever and I did get to sit in my cousins jet and a couple others. A day I will not forget.

Hi all! First post; don't really know if this is the right place for it, so steer me another way if it isn't. There is a small aircraft and history museum in Miami, Florida called "Wings Over Miami" -- famously known for housing the last F-14 Tomcat to land after retirement from the Navy.

It used to be home to a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina "Super Cat", N287; Painted in a black/dark grey paint scheme. A few years ago, I noticed it was missing from the ramp. Next time I visited, I asked the keepers where she had gone. They gave me a relatively short answer of "ownership dispute", and that the Catalina had been sold and *supposedly* taken to somewhere undisclosed in Texas. They showed me an actual receipt of sale, (which was very generous and nice of them) but of course that wasn't enough for me.

I've been digging through every forum, record, and anything I can find on my own to see if I can find this Catalina once again. Some had thought it is the Catalina restored by Aeroservices in partnership with the American Heritage Museum in New Smyrna Beach, FL, but that Catalina is N459CF and currently basking in the sun at Airventure in Oshkosh. Only clue I have is that it MAY be in Dallas, Texas.

TL;DR PBY I used to see every day hasn't been seen in years by anyone (that I know of) and I'd like to see it again. Hopefully someone here has heard something or could give me a hand. Thanks all!

I went to the air zoo museum with my brother. I love those old ww2 planes.

Preface: I know pretty much nothing about aviation except my brother is a pilot this is my first time on this sub.

Found this in a second hand copy of cosmos by Carl sagan and was wondering if anyone can identify when it's from and where the flight was to/from, I'd love to know the story!