But of course none of this is in the public area.
It would be great to see a Dyna-Soar mock-up on top of the stack!
Quote from: Rocket Science on 08/28/2014 03:32 pmIt would be great to see a Dyna-Soar mock-up on top of the stack! Or a payload that actually flew on the 4B, like a KH-11
https://www.facebook.com/AFmuseum/photos/pcb.10153974390747230/10153974385362230/?type=3&theaterCheck out this week's photos of the Titan IVB solid rocket motor upgrades(SRMU's) being raised into their final position. Orbit Industrial Contractors, Consolidated Machinery Movers, and museum restoration crews worked together using various lifts and a gantry crane system. The Titan IVB will be on display in the new fourth building which opens to the public on June 8.
So what is this Titan IV? Engineering mockup?
Umm... those solids are just empty casings, right?I'd be somewhat uncomfortable seeing a museum display with aging SRBs, complete with fuel, sitting there. Maybe it's not possible for the fuel to go unstable over extended periods -- I'm not a chemist. But as a layman, those are awfully big firecrackers to be sitting there, if they're not just casings. For example, what would happen if a fire broke out near them somehow?Just -- sort of makes me itch, thinking about it.
c. Much higher capacity cranes would be required to lift them.
Quote from: Jim on 03/19/2016 05:53 pmc. Much higher capacity cranes would be required to lift them.Just out of curiosity, how much does an empty casing weigh vs a loaded casing?
Not to nit pick, did the X-15 with drop tanks ever fly without the ablative coating? Otherwise they need to cover it in the pink stuff.
I'll be there next Tuesday. Phil Pressel is speaking in front of the KH-9 HEXAGON.
Quote from: kevin-rf on 06/08/2016 03:30 pmNot to nit pick, did the X-15 with drop tanks ever fly without the ablative coating? Otherwise they need to cover it in the pink stuff.I have been building an X-15 model and doing a lot of research. The X-15 book I have says they were not coated because they were dropped before the ablative coating would be needed. They also had a LOT of different markings!
Quote from: Blackstar on 06/08/2016 02:05 pmI'll be there next Tuesday. Phil Pressel is speaking in front of the KH-9 HEXAGON.Can you give me more info about this event? Is it public?
Quote from: Ronpur50 on 06/09/2016 01:03 amQuote from: kevin-rf on 06/08/2016 03:30 pmNot to nit pick, did the X-15 with drop tanks ever fly without the ablative coating? Otherwise they need to cover it in the pink stuff.I have been building an X-15 model and doing a lot of research. The X-15 book I have says they were not coated because they were dropped before the ablative coating would be needed. They also had a LOT of different markings! I was referring to the X-15 itself, did the X-15 itself ever fly with drop tanks without the ablative coating on the X-15. If so, they need to paint it pink
Quote from: kevin-rf on 06/09/2016 03:07 pmQuote from: Ronpur50 on 06/09/2016 01:03 amQuote from: kevin-rf on 06/08/2016 03:30 pmNot to nit pick, did the X-15 with drop tanks ever fly without the ablative coating? Otherwise they need to cover it in the pink stuff.I have been building an X-15 model and doing a lot of research. The X-15 book I have says they were not coated because they were dropped before the ablative coating would be needed. They also had a LOT of different markings! I was referring to the X-15 itself, did the X-15 itself ever fly with drop tanks without the ablative coating on the X-15. If so, they need to paint it pink Oh, yes, it flew with tanks and no ablative. That is why I have to build two models. LOL
Quote from: kevin-rf on 06/09/2016 03:07 pmQuote from: Ronpur50 on 06/09/2016 01:03 amQuote from: kevin-rf on 06/08/2016 03:30 pmNot to nit pick, did the X-15 with drop tanks ever fly without the ablative coating? Otherwise they need to cover it in the pink stuff.I have been building an X-15 model and doing a lot of research. The X-15 book I have says they were not coated because they were dropped before the ablative coating would be needed. They also had a LOT of different markings! I was referring to the X-15 itself, did the X-15 itself ever fly with drop tanks without the ablative coating on the X-15. If so, they need to paint it pink Pink, are you sure? All the pictures I've seen of the X-15 in flight (or flight ready) with ablatives has been with white ablative. So did the pink ablative turn white, or was it never used?
This museum is definitely on my list of places to visit....no matter what the color of the X-15!
Okay, so just to be clear, this video shows the 2016 restoration of the fairing that has been on display at the museum since 2016.There's a Delta III that is apparently in California awaiting restoration. The upper stage is on display outside at the California Science Center and I was told that the rest of the rocket was in storage. Dunno if that's true.
Jan 15, 2024 NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE US AIR FORCEOpened to the public in 2004, the Missile Gallery is contained in a silo-like structure that stands 140 feet high. Visitors can view missiles such as the Titan I and II and Jupiter from ground level or can take in an aerial view from an elevated platform that hugs the inside circumference of the gallery.
Slightly off-topic, but also somewhat related to restoring a Titan.On Friday I was out at Patrick SFB and got over to their old rocket garden. Over the years they have moved a lot of things out of there, restored them, and put them in their Hangar C. There are still a few large pieces of hardware out in the weather. Off the top of my head:-Mercury Redstone-Mercury Redstone launch stand-IUS upper stage shipping container-Delta IV core stage (big orange thing, not in good condition)-USAF locomotive-ASROC anti-submarine rocket-Titan IThat Titan I is in rough shape, but I did not see any indications that it is falling apart. It may not be possible for them to save it. Restoration costs a lot of money, and even moving it would cost a significant amount of money. If they cannot restore/save the whole thing, hopefully they can save the engines and nose cone.It was drizzly and cloudy much of the day, so I did not do a lot of exploring. Note that the Navaho is actually outside the gate, near the badging office, museum, and SpaceX launch control.
So sad for some of them, It's better to keep these historic rockets indoors, where generations to come can appreciate what we as a nation did many years ago.Thanks for sharing Blackstar.
Here is Hangar C by the way. I have a bunch more photos somewhere. This one is from their website.
The cape has several bad things going for preserving outdoor objects: heat and humidity (rust), salt air (more rust), and hurricanes. I was at that outdoor rocket garden in 2016 or so and there were a bunch of things out there. Now many of them are in Hangar C, repainted and protected. That's a great improvement. I'd like to see them save that ASROC, IUS, and Titan I. The ASROC should be relatively easy, because it's not that big. The others are bigger problems.