What kind? It was absolutely massive. Is it a new plane? I live near a base that builds military aircraft.
2006-10-07 11:28:55 · 11 answers · asked by tedbatman1 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
I know it wasn't a needle, but that is the best way to describe it. I saw the same plane a few weeks ago with an escort jet. Wasn't sure if they were testing it or a pilot was training to fly it.
2006-10-07 11:29:42 · update #1
WHAT KIND OF PLANE IS IT?
2006-10-07 11:35:53 · update #2
It was probably the C-5 Galaxy with a new, prototype engine modification. The C-5 Galaxy is the Air Force's largest airplane. It is 248' long. Right now the Air Force is doing tests because they want to replace the existing C-5 fleet's engines with a newer, more efficient, more powerful, more reliable engine. They have modified one or two airplanes with the new engines, and those modified airplanes have the giant needle on the front of it.
I am a C-5 Galaxy instructor pilot, I have almost 4,000 hours flying it. It is slightly larger than a Boeing 747-400. It is knicknamed "FRED". The Air Force's newest cargo plane, the C-17, is somewhat smaller, and is knicknamed "BARNEY", Fred's little friend. That's cool that you saw one of the ones with the modified engines because even I have yet to see one.
Anyway, I hope this helps.
2006-10-07 14:33:58 · answer #1 · answered by Kelley S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's likely not any of the above answers, when a new plane is developed they use a special airflow measuring device called a Pitot Tube. On an new aircraft they often hang these way off the nose to get accurate data of air speeds without the design of the plane affecting thier data. This is very common to do on new prototype or experimental aircraft.
2006-10-07 12:05:02 · answer #2 · answered by citation X 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most likely the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy that is being used for flight testing of new engines and modern avionocs. The needle on the nose is so that others know that it is an aircraft in flight testing.
Lucky you for seeing that, I'v been hoping to get a glimps of it for a while now
2006-10-07 13:58:23 · answer #3 · answered by Timothy B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The biggest plane the air force has is the c-5a cargo plane and it is the size of a 747.
2006-10-07 14:50:37 · answer #4 · answered by mister ss 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is the Antonov-124-100. The largest cargo plane ever built. It is the only one I know which had a long pitot tube in the front (to ensure it stayed the largest cargo plane) for many years.
http://www.3dcenter.ru/blueprints/air/antonov-124.gif
2006-10-07 15:10:35 · answer #5 · answered by Drewpie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was most likely a C-17, a large cargo aircraft. They have been around for a few years.
2006-10-07 12:10:51 · answer #6 · answered by Ranger473 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The "needle" was probably an in-flight refueling probe
2006-10-07 11:51:28 · answer #7 · answered by Philip W 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, it's called the C5B now, and Fred was an acronym for f***ing radical engineering disaster.
2006-10-07 17:57:07 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the needle could possibly be used for in air refueling...alos a needle on the tip is sometimes used for airspeed sensing...the air rushing into the tube give it the airspeed indication..................you wanna see large....i suggest you look at the worlds biggest plane....the antaov 223
2006-10-07 12:11:17 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
and your point is....?
dont be afraid of those planes they dont usualy fly them over city roofs. unless theres a world war III in your city.
2006-10-07 11:34:46 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋