this post was submitted on
803 points (76% like it)
1,164 up votes 361 down votes
shortlink:

pics

subscribe2,450,957 readers

4,749 users here now

Looking for an image subreddit with minimal rules? Check out /r/images

A place to share interesting photographs and pictures. Feel free to post your own, but please read the rules first (see below), and note that we are not a catch-all for general images (of screenshots, comics, etc.)

Spoiler code

Please mark spoilers like this:
[text here](/spoiler)

Hover over to read.

Rules

  1. No screenshots, or pictures with added or superimposed text. This includes image macros, comics, info-graphics and most diagrams. Text (e.g. a URL) serving to credit the original author is exempt.

  2. No gore or porn. NSFW content must be tagged.

  3. No personal information. This includes anything hosted on Facebook's servers, as they can be traced to the original account holder. Stalking & harassment will not be tolerated.

  4. No solicitation of votes (including "cake day" posts), posts with their sole purpose being to communicate with another redditor, or [FIXED] posts. DAE posts go in /r/DoesAnybodyElse. "Fixed" posts should be added as a comment to the original image.

  5. Submissions must link directly to a specific image file or to an image hosting website with minimal ads. We do not allow blog hosting of images ("blogspam"), but links to albums on image hosting websites are okay. URL shorteners are prohibited.

  • If your submission appears to be filtered but definitely meets the above rules, please send us a message with a link to the comments section of your post (not a direct link to the image). Don't delete it as that just makes the filter hate you!

  • If you come across any rule violations, please report the submission or message the mods and one of us will remove it!

Please also try to come up with original post titles. Submissions that use certain clichés/memes will be automatically tagged with a warning.

Links

If your post doesn't meet the above rules, consider submitting it on one of these other subreddits:

Comics  
/r/comics /r/webcomics
/r/vertical /r/f7u12
/r/ragenovels /r/AdviceAtheists
Image macros Screenshots/text
/r/lolcats /r/screenshots
/r/AdviceAnimals /r/desktops
/r/Demotivational /r/facepalm (Facebook)
/r/reactiongifs /r/DesktopDetective
Wallpaper Animals
/r/wallpaper /r/aww
/r/wallpapers /r/cats
The SFWPorn Network /r/TrollingAnimals
  /r/deadpets
  /r/birdpics
  /r/foxes
Photography Un-moderated pics
/r/photography /r/AnythingGoesPics
/r/photocritique /r/images
/r/HDR
/r/windowshots
/r/PictureChallenge
Misc New reddits
/r/misc /r/britpics
/r/gifs Imaginary Network
/r/dataisbeautiful /r/thennnow
/r/picrequests /r/SpecArt
/r/LookWhoIMet
  /r/timelinecovers
  /r/MemesIRL
  /r/OldSchoolCool
  /r/photoshopbattles

Also check out http://irc.reddit.com

a community for
to anything interesting: news article, blog entry, video, picture...
message the moderators

MODERATORS

reddit is a source for what's new and popular online. vote on links that you like or dislike and help decide what's popular, or submit your own! learn more ›

802
803

War Birds over New York (i.imgur.com)

submitted ago by Scopolamina

all 87 comments
sorted by:
best
best
top
new
hot
controversial
old

[–]vorin 30 points31 points ago

DAT A-10.

Each of these beasts is awe-inspiring in its own right.

[–]Zazzerpan 17 points18 points ago

For anyone interested in just how big the main gun on an A-10 is.

[–]DCbusy 13 points14 points ago

A plane built around a gun

[–]rewere3 15 points16 points ago

Indeed.

[–]tmotom 2 points3 points ago

HOLY FUCKING BIG ASS GUN, BATMAN!!

That was silly of me. Is this beast of a gatling gun known as the Vulcan Machine gun? (Am I correct?)

[–]polarisdelta 1 point2 points ago

The Vulcan generally refers to the M61 series of 20mm Gatling guns, driven hydraulically or pneumatically, mounted on nearly every other U.S. fighter.

The 30mm monstrosity that comprises about 15% of the A10's unladen weight is referred to as the GAU-8/A "Avenger". When fully loaded, it's about 1800kg in weight, and each shell is 290mm long and weighs almost .7kg. It is a hell of a thing.

[–]tmotom 0 points1 point ago

That's amazing. Though with the sound that it makes, it probably runs out of ammo extremely fast in that thing! I guess it makes up in that with it carrying so many missiles...

[–]DaWolf85 0 points1 point ago

The recoil is so powerful that it slows the plane down quite noticeably, and shakes the whole plane violently (it's about 10,000 lbs of force!). The gun is so powerful it had to be in the center of the aircraft; otherwise the recoil would have pushed it off target. Because of this, the nose gear is off to the side to make way for the gun. Even the gun's smoke is potent - during testing one plane's engines flamed out due to smoke ingestion.

[–]polarisdelta 1 point2 points ago

Just so you know in the future, the recoil is nearly equal to the full rated output of one of the engines, so having both engines at 3/4 speed in a shallow dive will totally negate the effects of the recoil. It's like riding a rocket when it fires though.

[–]spermracewinner 0 points1 point ago

They're almost like missiles at that point.

[–]CircleOfNoms 0 points1 point ago

Well, with depleted uranium slugs...they are.

[–]rizwan_k 15 points16 points ago

The A-10 is also really fucking scary

[–]summerkc 9 points10 points ago

I love this youtube comment:

"british fire on the taliban they duck...taliban fires back we duck...the americans fire everyone fucking ducks!"

[–]spart1n158 1 point2 points ago

That shit was scary through a computer screen. I can't imagine actually being there. You could hear the dirt/rocks showering them after the second pass.

[–]SeanGone 3 points4 points ago

that sound from the 30mm guns on the A-10 is so damn unnatural. fucking terrifying.

[–]polarisdelta 0 points1 point ago

guns

Oh man, I know that's a typo and all, but shivers none the less imagining an aircraft with two or more 30mm cannons. Like tearing a sheet of canvas reverberating through a cavern, only louder.

[–]Allen139 6 points7 points ago

As an A-10C Crew chief, I approve this message.

[–]vorin 3 points4 points ago

This pilot is the closest connection I have with an A-10. He's a family friend of mine, and he's flown multiple tours in Afganistan. Ridiculous machines, those.

This warthog even has a pupil thanks to whatever's hanging in the cockpit.

[–]Allen139 3 points4 points ago

pupil? hanging in the cockpit? im not quite sure i understand.

[–]vorin 0 points1 point ago

I mean, the warthog has its mouth, and if you look at the cockpit glass, the shape/shadow makes it look like an eye.

[–]Allen139 0 points1 point ago

oh yea. i guess. theres already an eye on there though lol. pretty cool though. ive sat in the cockpit many a times. good stuff.

[–]kngof9ex 3 points4 points ago

I was at Nascar race in South Carolina and the fly-bye was a group of A-10s. It was awesome.

[–]vorin -1 points0 points ago

You may get a blue arrow or two because you mentioned nascar, but I would have loved to see/hear/feel that flyover. The most unique aircraft that I can brag about seeing/hearing/feeling is the takeoff and landing of the Concorde.

[–]MyaloMark 1 point2 points ago

I was in one of those tight New Hampshire mountain valleys when two Warthogs came racing through at a hundred feet or so. We didn't even hear the first one until it was right overhead. Then the other one roared by a few seconds later as we watched them bank to get through the curving pass between the mountains.

They appeared to be having a great time. Everyone who saw it was impressed, that's for sure, although they did scare the crap out of my girlfriend at first.

[–]kngof9ex 1 point2 points ago

Its OK I'm not even a fan of NASCAR fan. I used to road trip from NY to myrtle beach and somehow started going to the race while I was down there. The cool part about the flyover is that it was very low and you could see them coming in from a distance.

[–]overused-meme-alert -1 points0 points ago

bip bip bip bip bip bip bip

[–]PoeGhost 25 points26 points ago

The mustang is probably going as fast as it can and the jets are probably going as slow as they can just to stay in formation.

[–]Cladari 9 points10 points ago

A P51 cruises at about 360 mph and stalls at around 100mph. I doubt the modern jets had much trouble keeping aloft.

[–]MayTheTorqueBeWithU 4 points5 points ago

See the drooped leading edges (LEFs) on the F-16? HAL is increasing the wing camber so it can hang on at low speeds.

[–]Seamus_OReilly 1 point2 points ago

No shit. TIL.

[–]UndeadStormtroopers 3 points4 points ago

The A-10 doesn't go much faster than a mustang

[–]Joeblowme123 -1 points0 points ago

I remember a pilot talking and they can't maintain the formation for very long because the jets are losing altitude and risking stalling.

[–]Guysmiley777 5 points6 points ago

You misheard or were lied to. All 4 of those aircraft can comfortably operate at similar airspeeds. The jets are at the lower end of their envelope (you can see in this photo the leading edge flaps on the F-16 tilted down, indicating relatively low speed flight) but they're in no danger of stalling.

They quite often do these "heritage flights" at airshows, they do multiple photo passes for the crowd.

[–]summerkc 1 point2 points ago

I best the A-10 can fly slower than the P-51. That is one large, straight wing.

Edit: I stand corrected A-10 stall speed: 138mph, P-51: 100 mph. Of course I'm not sure what weights those speeds are calculated at. It could be if you have nearly empty A-10 you can get close to that speed. Interesting enough, the jets actually can hold a slower speed, just with the insane amount of thrust and hold a super high angle of attack. The interwebs is saying around 85kts/95mph

[–]Stuewe 10 points11 points ago

Nice, but it needs more P-38.

[–]WiseCynic 1 point2 points ago

Yes, sir. Yes, sir, that photo does need more P-38 Lightning in it.

I've been studying WWII for over 4 decades. That was one helluva plane. The Luftwaffe nicknamed it "The Twin-Tailed Devil." Speed and maneuverability and firepower in one tricycle-gear package.

[–]redinyourhead 19 points20 points ago

As cool as I think modern jets are, nothing will ever be as beautiful as the P-51...

[–]Mackinstyle 19 points20 points ago

Spitfire.

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]colon_capital_D 4 points5 points ago

The Mustang and the Corsair are two of my favorite from that generation of war planes. They are just beautiful planes.

[–]summerkc 0 points1 point ago

The Corsair is just pure sexiness.

[–]re-run 7 points8 points ago

WW2 planes are the high water mark in beauty and character.

[–]basec0m 7 points8 points ago

I wish my favorite, the F4 Phantom, was in there... Mustang and A-10 are awesome however.

[–]dustinborn 1 point2 points ago

I love the flying brick! Proof that anything can fly if you strap 2 big enough engines to it.

[–]diddletheskittle 0 points1 point ago

Given enough thrust even a brick can fly :)

[–]Seamus_OReilly 1 point2 points ago

Yes! Phantoms are so good looking.

[–]cheeeo 6 points7 points ago

Is it weird to have a boner right now?

[–]polarisdelta 2 points3 points ago

It'd be weird not to.

[–]Sabrick 2 points3 points ago

So that's:

P-51"Mustang": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_P-51_Mustang

A10 "Warthog": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairchild_Republic_A-10_Thunderbolt_II

F16 "Falcon: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Dynamics_F-16_Fighting_Falcon

What's the last one?

[–]Sthr33 6 points7 points ago

F-15

[–]rudesasquatch 1 point2 points ago

Thank you.

[–]KingFapsalot 5 points6 points ago

Love that F-15...33rd Fighter Wing FTW

[–]tmotom 4 points5 points ago

My favorite plane is the B-52 Stratofortress... I felt that you needed to know that. Thank you, I'll be here all week.

[–]h_lehmann 2 points3 points ago

Not even a good Photoshop.

[–]galbrth 2 points3 points ago

The A-10 is not a aircraft. Its a gun that flies.

[–]PeterAndres 0 points1 point ago

Watch out for the towers!

[–]Joeblowme123 1 point2 points ago

Generational formations are awe inspiring.

[–]xj13361987 0 points1 point ago

F-15, fuck yea!

[–]cyanwinters 0 points1 point ago

Which one of these is not like the other..

[–]Escalotes 0 points1 point ago

I'll be the Garbage Man!

[–]MAJORpaiynne 0 points1 point ago

There is just so much freedom in that picture

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKE

[–]cmdr_semi 0 points1 point ago

You are correct sir, but do you know why it has to be fake?

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

They are flying so low?

[–]cmdr_semi 1 point2 points ago

Sort of, its the fact that they are all at the SAME altitude. When flying in a formation as close as this one, all the aircraft in formation MUST be traveling at the same airspeed. Keep in mind that because of how an airfoil (wing) works there is a direct relationship between airspeed and lift being generated (The faster you go the more lift you generate and vise-versa). Now because of the massive weight and drag surface area differences among these different air frames, if they were to actually maintain the same airspeed (which in this case would be about the cruising speed of the slowest aircraft: The A-10 at about 340mph) they would all be at different altitudes when flying level.

[–]diddletheskittle 0 points1 point ago

They are at different alts, p51 and a10 are lower.

[–]veddy_interesting 0 points1 point ago

It's practice maneuvers for enforcing Mayor Bloomberg's ban on extra-large sodas.

[–]Ancel3 -1 points0 points ago

Still don't know how these photos are taken.

[–]CaptCollier 1 point2 points ago

That F-15 probably hates the P-51 he just wants to haul ass

[–]Reichsfuhrer_Grammer 0 points1 point ago

A warbird is a vintage military aircraft. Technically, only the Mustang is a warbird. The other jets are still in service and owned by the military.

[–]A-Lav -1 points0 points ago

dear god, I had an A-10 go WAAAAAYYYYYY lower than they're allowed to be one time when I was in Dubuque. I almost shit myself when it went over.

[–]estrangedpenguin -1 points0 points ago

So much awesome in this one pic. The F16 an agile as hell jet that can out smart an F15 in a dog fight. An F15 that will just scare anybody tempting to provoke it on a high speed and high altitude altercation. The A10 that will just fuck shit up because it is a flying tank. And of course the Mustang, coolness and history combined

[–]DasUberRedditor 0 points1 point ago

Uncredited reposts of r/militaryporn over r/pics.

[–]cosworth99 0 points1 point ago

Snake Plissken should be piloting that ten hog.

[–]kechuchuchu 0 points1 point ago

You forgot the drones.

[–]drillpill 0 points1 point ago

Where's Silverbolt?

[–]squilliam132457 0 points1 point ago

Calling it.

[–]Emily_MI 0 points1 point ago

The P-51 is just so amazing and stunningly beautiful. I love the plane designed of WWII . My 2nd favorite plane in that pic is the A10 Warthog - Can devastate anything it strafes..

[–]thistle172 0 points1 point ago

Way too little, WAY too late.

[–]diddletheskittle 0 points1 point ago

Official press release from 2006 http://www.af.mil/information/heritage/person.asp?dec=&pid=123020869

[–]WiseCynic 0 points1 point ago

I'd be HONORED to share the same piece of sky with a P-51 or an A-10. Especially the Mustang, though.

[–]UndeadStormtroopers -2 points-1 points ago

I feel like the A-10 would win in a fight, simply because you can't actually shoot them down.

[–]Guysmiley777 1 point2 points ago

They're plenty vulnerable, the USAF lost more A-10s during the first Iraq war than any other airframe. All to short range IR guided SAMs. They have a dangerous mission and they're slow.

They put some titanium plates around the cockpit area to give the pilot a fighting chance at low altitude in the face of ground fire but the rest of the aircraft is just aluminum. There's some redundancy with flight controls but they're not by any means invulnerable.

[–]UndeadStormtroopers 0 points1 point ago

Even with those, I can't think of a more survivable aircraft. They need one and a half wings and one engine,and no hydraulics.

[–]Crumbz 0 points1 point ago

Apparently an F15 doesn't need wings

[–]UndeadStormtroopers 0 points1 point ago

Doesn't need wings to land? Psh, an A-10 doesn't need wings to fly

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy. © 2012 reddit inc. All rights reserved.

REDDIT and the ALIEN Logo are registered trademarks of reddit inc.

π Rendered by PID 18666 on app-85 running 36b3b59.