US Jet aircraft in aviation art
prints by aviation artist Stan Stokes, the collection includes McDonnel
Douglas F - 15 Eagle, Lockheed F-117., F - 16 Falcon, SR 71
Blackbird. Boeing B - 52 ,
Republic F-105 Thunderchief , Lockheed Starfighter , and Lockheed U2. The collection by Stan Stokes is now available
direct from Cranston Fine Arts
The F-117A was developed by the Lockheed Advanced
Development Projects team, better known as the Skunk Works. This was a
top secret program, and the aircraft flew for several years before its
existence was known to the public. Early work on the project began in
1977 with the development of two 60% scale aircraft. Under the code name
Have Bluethe two prototype scale
aircraft were built in a matter of months at Lockheeds Burbank facility.
The first test flight was made in early 1978 by Bill Park. The Have Blue
aircraft proved undetectable by any airborne radar in existence other
than that on an E-3 AWACS. The F-117A was authorized into production in
1978. It is one of the most unique looking aircraft in the world because
it was designed as a stealth aircraft. It is made of geometrically flat
panes with sharply swept wings. The facing of the aircrafts fuselage
results in the disbursement of much of the radar energy which strikes
the F-117A. Radar absorbing materials are used throughout and the
propulsion system was ingeniously designed to dramatically reduce the
aircrafts infrared footprint. The F-117A is a fairly large bird for a
single seat aircraft with its 65 ft length and 43 ft wingspan. It
reportedly handles well with flight characteristics similar to other
delta wing aircraft like the F-106. The F-117A is capable of high
subsonic flight (646 MPH) and has a range of approximately 1000 miles.
The aircraft is equipped for aerial refueling. The F-117A is powered by
two GE F404-F1D2 engines which are non-after burning versions of the
engines used in the F/A-18. The bomb capacity is a total of 4,000
pounds. Designed to operate as a covert aircraft providing surgical
first strikes against heavily defended radar and communications centers
the F-117A was put to the test during Operation Desert Storm. The 37th
Tactical Fighter Wing, under the command of USAF Col. Alton C. Whitley,
Jr.,flew the first strike
missions against Baghdad, hitting important communications and control
centers, radar sites, and antiaircraft batteries. Utilizing laser guided
2,000 LB bombs, about thirty F-117As participated in the first nights
attacks. Despite an enormous amount of anti-aircraft fire, the F-117As
under Whitleys command carried out their missions flawlessly, and not a
single aircraft was lost to enemy fire. The Stealth fighters blinded the
eyes and crushed the nerve centers of the Iraqi Air Forces during these
missions, making it possible for other aircraft to carry out their
missions with less likelihood of Iraqi opposition. A total of 1,271
sorties were flown by F-117As with a success rate of 80% during the war.
One of the more impressive attacks was captured on film and showed a
deep penetration laser guided bomb being guided through the top of an
elevator shaft on the roof of the ten-story building which housed the
Iraqi Air Forces headquarters. The bomb penetrated deep into the
structure before detonating and blowing out all four walls of the
structure. While the F-117A is no longer a secret weapon, its
effectiveness may hopefully serve as a deterrent to future possible
conflicts.
The McDonnel
Douglas F-15 Eagle has been the USAFs primary air superiority fighter
for more than two decades. McDonnell Douglas won the competition to
develop this aircraft in 1969 over competing proposals from North
American Rockwell and Fairchild Hiller. The Eagle was designed to
counter the threat of new Soviet fighters like the Mig-25. The first
development versions of the Eagle flew in 1972. Designed as a single
pilot, twin-turbofan, all weather fighter, the Eagle had far superior
acceleration and maneuverability compared to the aircraft it would
replace. The F-15A was capable of speeds in excess of 1600-MPH and had
an operational ceiling of nearly 70,000 feet. Although the attack role
was a secondary design consideration, the Eagle can carry an impressive
bomb load of more than eight tons (externally mounted.)The F-15 is a large, very sophisticated aircraft, whereas the
General Dynamics F-16, a much simpler, smaller, and less complicated
design, was planned to compliment the F-15.On the morning of January 17, 1991 a USAF strike force comprised
of F-16s, F-15s, F-4G Wild Weasels, and EF-111s left its airbase at
Tabuk and headed for their target area the Al Taqaddum Airfield. Leading
a group of eight F-15 Eagles on this mission was USMC Capt. Charles
Magill, who was on exchange with the Air Force. On their way to the
target area the F-15s from the 58th Tactical Fighter Squadron
of the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing received information from
an E-3 AWACS aircraft than a pair of Iraqi Mig-29s were just south of
the intended target area. When the Migs turned and became a threat to
the task force, Captain Magill split his flight into two four aircraft
formations. As he took his flight towards the Migs, the other four F-15s
continued to sweep the area for other bogies. As the two Migs turned
back into them at a low altitude, Magill fired two AIM-7M Sparrows from
a higher altitude at his target. Magill bagged one of the Migs while the
second was downed by Captain Rhory Dreger. As a result of their
successes during Operation Desert Storm the 58th TFS received
the 1990 Hughes Achievement award as the Air Forces most outstanding
air-to-air combat squadron. In the hands of some of Americas best
pilots, the F-15 Eagle has proven its capabilities against the finest.
The Blackbirds origins,
amazingly, date back to the 1950s. At that time the U.S. government was
very concerned about nuclear developments in the Soviet Union, and a
high altitude reconnaissance aircraft was needed to overfly the Soviet
Union. The Lockheed Corporation responded by developing the U-2, which
was akin to a high powered glider. The U-2 was based on cost effective
adaptations of currently available technologies, and was very effective
initially, but as surface-to-air missile capability improved, the U-2
became vulnerable. What was needed was a long-range, very fast, very
high altitude aircraft, capable of outrunning Soviet surface-to-air
missiles. Mr. Kelly Johnson, Lockheeds project engineer who oversaw the
famous skunkworks, presented a proposal to the U.S. government in 1959
regarding the development of a state-of-the-art ultra high speed and
ultra high altitude aircraft. The plane, initially designated the A-12,
first appeared as the YF-12 interceptor, but the government decided not
to fund the YF-12. The design, however, became the SR-71, and the first
production Blackbird took to the skies in 1964. The aircraft
incorporated many design features never utilized on any aircraft up to
that time. For example, at cruising speed the Blackbirds skin would
reach nearly 1000 degrees, so the aircraft had to be constructed
primarily from a titanium alloy. The SR-71 gets so hot, in fact, that
the plane is one foot longer at cruising speed than it is on the ground.
For twenty-six years this secretive aircraft held many of the worlds
records for both speed and altitude. It is believed that about thirty
two Blackbirds were produced, and about twenty of these were still in
service with the Air Force in 1990. With the development of more capable
satellites, and the high cost of maintaining the Blackbird fleet, the
Air Force suspended Blackbird operations in 1990. On the final Air Force
flight of a Blackbird, from California to Washington, D.C., this
incredible aircraft once again set a speed record in making the trip in
only sixty-eight minutes. Mr. Stokes has depicted in his painting a
SR-71 Blackbird flying at 80,000 feet and at Mach 3.1 over the west
coast of the United States. The plane as depicted is piloted by Col.
Robert Powell, who is believed to have logged over 1.0 million miles in
his 1,020 hours of flight time. Becoming a Blackbird pilot was about as
difficult as becoming an astronaut, and Col. Powell personifies the
talented and dedicated pioneers, who much like the Blackbird, were way
ahead of their time.
Arctic Hustler by Stan Stokes.
No bomber made so definite a break with the past as the Convair B-58 Hustler. Reversing the trend towards ever-larger bombers, the worlds first supersonic bomber, the B-58, was ordered by the Air Force in 1954. This was also the final year of the production of the huge Convair B-36. From the beginning of its operational career, the Hustler set a string of performance records that may never be matched by another military bomber. Alone in its class, the B-58 could fly faster than twice the speed of sound, pinpoint targets from an altitude of 60,000 feet, and avoid radar detection in low level supersonic flight. Powered by four General Electric J79 engines delivering 15,600 pounds of thrust each, the Hustler was faster than any other bomber, and had a range of 4,500 miles without aerial refueling. The B-58s electronic bombing and navigational systems were ten times more precise than those on earlier bombers. To reduce drag the aircrafts designers utilized the area rule principle in the d.........
The jet transport age got underway in earnest in 1954 when the Boeing 707 prototype (Dash 80) made its maiden flight from Renton Field in Seattle. This was the culmination of a multi-year $16 million project, and the maiden flight coincided with the 38th anniversary of the Boeing Company. Powered by four Pratt & Whitney turbojets the swept-winged aircraft was the first in more than 1,000 707 commercial transport aircraft that would be built by Boeing through May 1991. Pan American Airways inaugurated trans-Atlantic jet service, utilizing the Boeing 707, in October of 1958. Some variants of the 707 were introduced, including the 707-320 for long distance intercontinental service, and the 720 series that was lighter and faster and could operate in and out of shorter length runways. The KC/C-135 tanker and transport aircraft were based on the 707. More than 800 of these aircraft were built during a long production run. The 707 became the first jet aircraft utilized for Presidential trans.........
Aerial refueling revolutionized aerial warfare. The first such documented refueling took place in June of 1923 when a specially modified DH-4B piloted by Lts. Virgil Hine and Frank Seifert took off from Rockwell Field in San Diego and managed to refuel another DH-4 piloted by Capt. Lowell Smith. The success of this aerial refueling permitted an attempt at a world record of flight duration. Taking off again from Rockwell Field Smith kept his aircraft airborne for more than 33 hours. Aerial refueling remained a novelty until many decades later when the jet age arrived. Modern jet-powered fighters are awesome machines, but they can consume enormous amounts of fuel, especially when flying at maximum speeds or climbing under maximum power. A jet taking off with a full weapons load that climbs to 60,000 feet under full power may consume more than half its fuel capacity. Aerial refueling was necessary to make jet powered fighters and bombers a practical weapon. In the 1950s the Air Force dev.........
Stan depicts a Stearman flying over the famous Cypress Point Golf Course in Pebble Beach, California. This selection is a real pleaser, and appeals to individuals who like both golf and vintage aircraft. The colors in this piece are striking, with the contrast between the colorful Stearman, the cobalt blue Pacific Ocean, and the greens of the golf course and forest are dramatic.
Item Code : STK0191
Stearman Over Cypress Point by Stan Stokes. - Editions Available
The A-6 Intruder has had a long and effective career as the Navys primary attack plane. A-6s were used in Vietnam and still were effective during Desert Storm, as the avionics on these aircraft have been constantly upgraded over the years. In Stans painting an A-6 departs the USS Ranger.
For thousands of years man has been fascinated by the heavens. Astronomy has evolved over the centuries, but all ground telescopes are handicapped because the Earths atmosphere distorts images and limits the ability to make observations. The Space Telescope was envisioned as an international effort to create a major breakthrough in astronomy. By place a huge telescope in Earth orbit, the limitations of ground-based observation would be overcome. Astronomers would be able to see objects 50 times fainter and 7 times farther away than before. The scope of the universe that could be seen would be 500 times greater than before. The Hubble Space Telescope was designed to do the job. It weighs 12.5 tons, is 43 feet long, and utilizes a huge 94.5 inch mirror. To get the Hubble into space one of NASAs space orbiters or shuttles, as they have popularly become known, was utilized. The shuttle crew did a great job, but unfortunately the telescope was flawed and could not properly focus. Fortunate.........
Print size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm) Supplied with signed and numbered certificate of authenticity.
Artist : Stan Stokes
£5 Off!
Now : £35.00
Working the Night Shift by Stan Stokes.
Cdr. Guy P. (Lucky Pierre) Bordelon was the only naval aviator to attain ace status during the war in Korea. Piloting Annie Mo, his F4U-5N night fighter version of the Corsair, Bordelon recorded five aerial victories. In so doing Bordelon became the last Corsair ace, and the last pilot to become an American ace while flying a propeller driven aircraft. Navy and Marine aviators were primarily focused on ground support and ground attack missions during the war, leaving the job of mig killing to the USAF. During three years of combat in Korea, naval aviators flew more than 250,000 combat sorties, delivering more than 326 million pounds of bombs to their targets. Naval aviation is generally credited with destroying 2,600 enemy vessels, 2,000 bridges, 250 tanks, and 74 aircraft destroyed on the ground. These missions were not without a price as more than 500 aircraft were lost to ground fire during the war. The U.S. Navy utilized a wide array of aircraft in Korea, as it transitioned from p.........
Construction of the first SR-71 Blackbird (61-7950) was completed by Lockheed at its Burbank California Skunk Works in October of 1964. The aircraft was then broken down for shipment to Palmdale, California where it was reassembled. Kelly Johnson, the famous aircraft designer for Lockheed, had oversight responsibility for this project, and Kelly gave specific instructions to Robert Gilliland, the pilot chosen for the first flight of the Blackbird. The first flight was originally scheduled for December 21, 1964. Bad weather had caused a one-day postponement. During the first flight only Gilliland would be on board, and a trio of F-104 fighters would fly chase. Following take off Gilliland performed a number of stability and handling checks. He then took the Blackbird up to 30,000 feet and easily went supersonic (hitting Mach 1.2) before some caution lights came on. Determining that he faced no serious problems Gilliland accelerated to Mach 1.5 and climbed to 50,000 feet. Returning to P.........
The McDonnel Douglas F-15 Eagle has been the USAFs primary air superiority fighter for more than two decades. McDonnell Douglas won the competition to develop this aircraft in 1969 over competing proposals from North American Rockwell and Fairchild Hiller. The Eagle was designed to counter the threat of new Soviet fighters like the Mig-25. The first development versions of the Eagle flew in 1972. Designed as a single pilot, twin-turbofan, all weather fighter, the Eagle had far superior acceleration and maneuverability compared to the aircraft it would replace. The F-15A was capable of speeds in excess of 1600-MPH and had an operational ceiling of nearly 70,000 feet. Although the attack role was a secondary design consideration, the Eagle can carry an impressive bomb load of more than eight tons (externally mounted.) The F-15 is a large, very sophisticated aircraft, whereas the General Dynamics F-16, a much simpler, smaller, and less complicated design, was planned to compliment the F.........
The F8F Bearcat and the F7F Tigercat were the final family members in Grummans fabulous series of prop driven USN fighter aircraft. The F7F Tigercat evolved from the work of a three-man design team at Grumman, which included Bob Hall, Dick Hutton, and Gordon Israel. The Navy gave an OK to the development of a prototype in mid-1941, however it would not be until April 1944 that the first production Tigercat was delivered. The Navy planned to use the first two hundred F7Fs as night fighters, but due to unsatisfactory carrier suitability trials; the decision was made to scale back the order and equip only shore-based Marine squadrons with this aircraft. Performance tests of the first production F7Fs were impressive. The F7F was almost 80-MPH faster than an F4U Corsair in level flight at sea level. As WW II wound down, the USN changed its plans for the F7F. Newer variants were developed with the most common being the F7F-3N. The 3N was the first F7F to pass carrier qualification on the U.........
Another Operation Desert Storm print, Stan depicts an Apache attack helicopter and Abrams M-1 tanks routing Iraqi ground forces during the short land war.
Item Code : STK0144
Desert Heroes by Stan Stokes. - Editions Available
Signed Limited edition of 200 prints, signed by Adm Stan Arthur, and the artist. Full Item Details
Print size 40 inches x 28 inches (102cm x 72cm)
none
£5 Off!
Now : £130.00
Mach 3 Paint Stripper by Stan Stokes.
Originally conceived in the early 1950s as a replacement for the B-52 (which incorrectly was forecast by Gen. Curtis LeMay to have a limited lifespan) the B-70 Valkyrie began life as Weapon System 110A. It was designed to have the same range as the B-52, but with as high a maximum speed as possible to avoid enemy defensive fighters or missiles. However, with the advent of intercontinental ballistic missiles, and the resulting debate over the cost effectiveness and efficacy of manned bombers, the funding for the B-70 program began to be cut. These cuts seemed academic at the time because engineers had not been able to overcome the many technical problems associated with the bombers design objectives. In 1956 a report from the NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics – which would later become NASA) revealed that Mach speeds of between 3 and 5 should be obtainable by an aircraft riding its own shock wave. North American Aviation engineers discovered this report and immediately .........
The time is early 1951, the place is Korea. The chequered-tailed Sabre, piloted by Francis Gabreski of the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing, has just scored a hit on a North Korean Mig-15. Gabreski attained 6.5 victories in Mig Alley, bcoming the 8th jet ace. Gabreski had over 25 aerial victories in WW II flying the P-47 before becoming a prisoner of war. At the onset of the Korean conflict the bulk of the U.S. Air Force consisted of technically obsolete WW II vintage aircraft. Early in the Korean conflict the U.S. military successfully utilized these piston driven aircraft, against the small and ineffective North Korean Air Force. However, in November of 1950, things changed dramatically with the first appearance of Mig-15 fighters flown by both North Korean and Chinese pilots. The F-86 was the most important air combat fighter flown by the American Air Force during the Korean Conflict, and the first swept-wing military jet produced in the United States. The first prototype flew in 1947.........
Lloyd Stearman was a Naval Aviator and former architecture student who moved from Wichita, Kansas to Venice, California in 1926 to set up his own aircraft manufacturing company. Stearman did business under the motto, Dedicated to the Discriminating Buyer, and given the test of time we can now certainly say that Stearmans customers got their moneys worth. Stearman moved his business to Kansas in 1927, and partially due to the publicity surrounding Lindberghs transatlantic flight, encountered strong demand for his C-3MB biplanes. These aircraft were utilized by both American and Varney Air Lines to provide mail service. In 1929 Stearmans high end model was the C-3R, which was powered by a 225HP Wright engine, and carried a price tag of $8,000. Stearman sold his company to the large aviation conglomerate, United Aircraft and Transport, in 1929. Shortly thereafter the depression had set in, and its devastating grip on the nation created very difficult business conditions for all companies.........
The Boeing Model 377 Stratocruiser was the commercial version of Boeings C-97 military transport. The first 377 was test flown on July 8, 1947. Stratocruisers were delivered to airlines in 1949 and 1950. Pan American, Northwest Orient, BOAC, United, and American Overseas Airlines were all customers. They sold for approximately $1.5 million each. Stratocruisers could accommodate anywhere from 55 to 100 passengers depending on configuration. With a pressurized cabin, Stratocruisers had a ceiling of 32,000 feet, thus permitting fights above the weather. Many were equipped with sleepers for long distance flights. The 377 had a large flight deck, and a lower passenger deck which was typically used as a lounge. With a wingspan of more than 141 feet, and a gross take off weight of 120,000 pounds, the Statocruiser was a big airplane. Powered by four Pratt and Whitney R-4360 engines, Statocruisers had a maximum speed of 375-MPH, and a range of more than 4,000 miles at a cruising speed of 340-M.........
In his very nostalgic mid-fifties painting appropriately entitled T-Birds, highly-acclaimed aviation artist Stan Stokes portrays a 1955 Ford Thunderbird on the tarmac next to a T-33 T-Bird jet trainer, while four USAF Thunderbirds roar by over head flying their F-100Cs. The 1955 Ford Thunderbird was Fords response to the introduction in 1953 of the Corvette by General Motors. The Thunderbird incorporated a powerful V-8 engine compared to the Corvettes 6 cylinder power plant, and with its contemporary styling the Thunderbird outsold the Corvette in 1955. Late in 1955 Ford made the distinctive porthole removable hardtop available, solving the poor visibility problem encountered with the original hardtop. The 1955 Ford Thunderbird is generally acknowledged to be one of the ten most significant American automobiles introduced in the 20th century. The T-33 was the USAFs first jet trainer designed from the start as a training aircraft. Nearly 6,000 T-33 T-Birds were produced and this reliab.........
Print size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm) Supplied with signed and numbered certificate of authenticity.
Artist : Stan Stokes
£5 Off!
Now : £35.00
Way Ahead of its Time by Stan Stokes.
Aviation artist Stan Stokes has appropriately entitled his outstanding painting of an SR-71 Blackbird as, Way Ahead of its Time. The Blackbirds origins, amazingly, date back to the 1950s. At that time the U.S. government was very concerned about nuclear developments in the Soviet Union, and a high altitude reconnaissance aircraft was needed to overfly the Soviet Union. The Lockheed Corporation responded by developing the U-2, which was akin to a high powered glider. The U-2 was based on cost effective adaptations of currently available technologies, and was very effective initially, but as surface-to-air missile capability improved, the U-2 became vulnerable. What was needed was a long-range, very fast, very high altitude aircraft, capable of outrunning Soviet surface-to-air missiles. Mr. Kelly Johnson, Lockheeds project engineer who oversaw the famous skunkworks, presented a proposal to the U.S. government in 1959 regarding the development of a state-of-the-art ultra high speed and u.........
The McDonnel Douglas F-4 Phantom II was flown by both the USN and USAF in Vietnam. The aircraft was utilized in many roles during the War. The only two aces in Vietnam both flew the F-4. Randall Duke Cunningham did the honors for the Navy, while Steve Ritchie attained five victories flying the Phantom with the USAF.
Item Code : STK0051
Flight of the Phantom by Stan Stokes. - Editions Available
The Republic F-105 Thunderchief, or Thud, as it was nicknamed by many of the pilots who flew it, was conceived as a supersonic, low altitude fighter-bomber capable of carrying a nuclear weapon in its internal bomb bay and two more on its wing stations. The F-105 evolved from a proposal made by Republic to the USAF in 1952. A series of delays, cancellations, spec changes, and other problems resulted in a very long gestation period for this aircraft, with initial production models not reaching operational units until 1958. The Thud was a big, powerful aircraft. With a length of 65 feet and a height of 20 feet, the F-105 would typically fly combat missions with a gross weight at takeoff in excess of 50,000 pounds. Although the F-105 was fortunately never utilized for the nuclear mission it was designed for, it did become the primary tactical bomber utilized by the USAF during the Vietnam War. In fact, the Thud flew more than 75% of all the bombing sorties directed at North Vietnam during.........
