Unknown Category

[Glenn E. Chatfield]

Malcolm, I liked the shot of the B-47 as it was, just the tail needed sharpening for a definitive ID. But I think I got it right anyway.

Last night I skimmed through the "unknowns" and found almost a dozen I could ID and email the appropriate photographers. I think if those of us who are able to ID planes were to take some occasional time to skim through and ID what we can, we will substantially lower the number of Unknowns. Large formation shots are troublesome - maybe the suggestion of listing them at the airport might be of value for them - or maybe there could be a "formation" section!

Another thing I see are the many, many long-distance shots that I question as to their value. I wonder why some photographers post these shots.

[Malcolm Clarke]

[Chris Hall]

We know that Ken provides this site as a hobby. We also know he is busy with his day job, so cannot monitor the site fulltime.

So as a suggestion, how about having a small team of photograph screener's (like many other photo sites) but without some of the strict screening conditions. Just to check that the basic details and ID's are correct.

[Ztex]

Malcolm,

Those are great shots! Love the Shack photo! and the Tornado pic is indeed a nice shot!

I enjoy prowling around your collection of photos.

The European stuff is always interestingly different than what we in the US see.

Thanks!

[Malcolm Clarke]

[L-5jockey]

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/485460L.html

Malcolm

My guess would be tail# 2419 (serial 52-419),
if you took the photo after the delivery date (1952-53) of that frame??

Looking at the photo, with my eyes squinted,
there seems to be larger spacing between
the 2 and second digit, (4 ?) as compared to the
spacing after the third digit 1 and the 9).
c/n 450704 - B-47E-80-BW 52-0419.


John

[Malcolm Clarke]

[Airport-Data]

Corrections provided by Peter and Chris have been applied to the database.

Given the fact that I don'thave much free time, I would be glad if a small team of members can help me fixing the database and photo collection. My idea is to add a report function to each page, aircraft or photo, to collect corrections provided by all members(let's call them tickets). Then a member of the team can pick up any ticket and solve it using functions specially programmed for this purpose. The existing airframe correcting function can also be incorporated into the new ticket system.

Any feedback is always welcome.

Ken

[Chris Hall]

[Malcolm Clarke]

I am a little disappointed at the apparent lack of interest in something which affects all those who have an interest in the site - the accuracy of the information contained in the database. As Chris rightly points out, this is a site for us all to use.

Ken's proposal has a great deal of merit in that it would allow others, at their leisure, to progressively correct the errors. It would not prevent on-going errors but it would be a positive step forward.

If anyone doubts the level of inaccuracy, I would suggest having a look at this one area

http://www.airport-data.com/manuf/A.html

Avions Mudry for example (not suggesting this is necessarily the correct description) has 5 different entries for what is clearly the same manufacturer. Not helpful I would suggest for those searching the database under this manufacturer and also when someone uploads a new reg, they are left with these multiple choices and errors may be compounded.

I believe that the site deserves better!

Malcolm.

[Connor Shepard]

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/389495.html

I was reviewing my database and found this. It looks like the last part of the tail number was cut off. There are several airframes that start with N31 but without photos it is hard to determine. If someone could identify the type that would be helpful. It is definitely experimental, but is it a prefabricated model? Any help would be appreciated.

-Connor

[Malcolm Clarke]

Hello Connor.

I am fairly confident the the airframe is a Curtiss JN-4-D Jenny, and is most likely a replica. The only N number which may fit the bill is N3177D cn1321. No doubt someone on your side of the pond will be able confirm this.

When photographing an aircraft, I don't make a point of including the registration in my choice of angle, but always take an additional shot if required just to record the reg. A 'no cost' action in our digital age.

Nice image and well worth the upload!

Malcolm.

[mkiogima]

I've been able to identify a "few" more of the Unknowns:

The first four were taken at the Thunder in the Desert Air Show at Luke AFB in 2009.
Photo #311485 is BUNO 01-4024.
Photo #311499 is BUNO 89-2056.
Photo #311510 is BUNO 86-0134.
Photo #311511 is BUNO 57-2598.

The next two were taken at Fun n' Sun 2009:
Photo #318633 is BUNO 76-1591.
Photo #318636 is Tail # N911FH.

Random:
Photo #329881 is Tail # C-GDAK.

The next five are from the USS Intrepid:
Photo #349271 is BUNO 150628.
Photo #349275 is BUNO 142833.
Photo #349297 is BUNO 70-15956.
Photo #349306 is BUNO 159232.
Photo #349308 is BUNO 159218.

The next two are from Osh Kosh 2009:
Photo #363058 is BUNO 91-0479.
Photo #365736 is Tail # N348MS.

The rest are just more randoms that I found:
Photo #377570 is Tail # OH-LKN.
Photo #426015 is Tail # N179JB.
Photo #432232 is Tail # N167F.

Photo #468567 is going to need a little bit of an explanation as to how I determined it was Tail # N457AA just so you don't think i pulled that number out of my a**.

If you open the large version of Photo #468567, and look directly below the third and fourth windows from the front, you will see the numbers 457 just above and to the left of the two red circles. Knowing that most (if not all) of American Airlines’ tail numbers end in AA, you can combine the two to get the tail number. I’m not sure how accurate this method is but I’m fairly confident it works in this case.