Right on Jim the B-25 Mitchell is a cool plane too, can we say Doolittle raid, (hopefully we have some history buffs on this board). <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> I personally have not piloted a plane at this point in my life, other than Radio Controlled ones, someday hopefully. I do however work for a little company that makes jet engines, and just happens to have the USAF contract for both the F-22 and F-35 engines, the F119 and F135 respectively.

Sean

Ug you think they could have picked a better name than lightning II. (i thought lightning never struck twice <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />)
We have a Raptor, an eagle, a falcon, a hornet. Almost as bad as when they named our hockey team the "avalanche"
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />
Josh

Looks like it was officially announced about a week ago the F-35 is the Lightening II.

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123022931

Given the circumstances though, it couldnÆt be an easy plane to pick a name for. USAF planes are typically birds, while US Navy plane have typically been cats, and this plane will be used my USAF, USMC, and US Navy, as well as several other countries. I would have been impossible to please everyone.

I just hope it is effective against the H/T "Shoebomber"
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

I'd make a standing bet right now that the Lightning II eventually gets the nickname of "Jr." And I betcha Junior is gonna be one hell of a fighter.
The guy that taught me to fly was Author Jones (he invented Nautilus Athletic Equipment) The guy was a genius..still is in fact.
My first flight with him was across country at night. He sat in the right seat and for hours on end taught me to fly instruments.. I learned I never needed to look outside the plane to fly the thing...right there in the cockpit.
We did things that I am sure one could not do today and not be arrested. We flew under bridges landed on bridges made short field landings on ranches in the desert and generally had fun playing with the B-25's abilities.
We lost an engine on takeoff in San Juan. Had electrical fires twice over the Jungles of S. America.. But we were young and invincible, never gave death a second thought.
Big JIm <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Hey Jim, were you flying B-25's in the service, or did Author Jones have one for some other purpose? I only asked because from the sites I was just reading, the B-25 was basically out of service by the early 50's. Also is goldfish code for something? Forgive my ignorance; I am just a youngin (30). <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

They were surplus aircraft. You could buy them real cheap at the time. Although there are only a few left now they were available in the 50's and 60's.
The airplane has large engines and a narrow body. It would never make any service other than used as a bomber in wartime...
BUT hauling goldfish is the same as hauling water. As the live goldfish are in plastic bags filled with water and these bags are inside cardboard boxes. So having an aircraft that was intended to haul heavy bombs in a narrow space was ideal for hauling goldfish/water. We could fill every available space with the small heavy cardboard boxes
and the 25 would still fly! Those huge engines would do whatever was asked of them.
As the fuel load went away the plane would get light enough to land. When we lost the engine in San Juan, on take off, we had a full load of both fish and fuel... On our way back to Miami, We went around on one engine and landed with the full load with no problems.
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> It was the right engine that went away. So the aircraft naturaly turned to the right...which is out of the pattern.. The San Juan tower seeing the smoke and the prop feathered came on and said "89 Whisky permission to turn right granted" We were so busy we never answered, but later we had a good laugh at it. Because we had no choice of going to the left! The plane even climbed on that one engine. But always to the right.
My memory tells me we had the left engine pulling 40 inches (I may be wrong on this) And we both had our feet on the rudder pedal pushing with all our might to just get her kinda straight. But I am still here and the fish made it by other carrier to miami.
Big JIm <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Thats awesome! I love hearing stories about old war birds. Gotta love those Wright Cyclones.

We did do a pretty good job of getting this thread off topic though, sorry about that all.

Big Jim,

If you ever get homesick for the old bird, come on up to the Yankee Air Force in Michigan. We have a restored, flying B-25. We also have restored, flying B-17.