Jul 022013
 

At last: issue V3N3 of APR is now available. The first article covers the proposed use of bombers, specifically the B-52 and B-70, as launch platforms for the Dyna Soar manned military spaceplane.

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The second article is on the Martin Astrorocket, a series of early-sixties design studies of reusable low-cost manned launch systems for the USAF.

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The next article covers the development of the Douglas XC-132 turboprop transport/tanker plane throughout much of the 1950’s. This would have been by far the biggest turboprop plane the us would have built… had it been built. Article contains a number of good photos of the full-scale mockup.

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Next is an article on the A-12 Avenger II stealthy strike plane for the US Navy. This article includes info and drawings on the Northrop competitor, as well as a number of rarely seen and all-new detailed diagrams of the A-12.

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A brief article on a trio of Grumman designs from the 1989-1993 time period, VTOL lift-fan combat aircraft, including the Future Attack Air Vehicle (FAAV).

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Last but not least, an article describing a trio of seemingly unrelated – yet possibly related – designs: a “landing boat” for Project Orion, a lifting body design for the Apollo program, and a fighter jet designed to be launched via booster rockets. Included is information on the logistics Landing Vehicle, General Dynamics’ equivalent of the Douglas ICARUS/Ithacus troop transport rocket.

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And two “Aerospace History Nuggets,” a Ryan concept for a VTOL jetliner and a concept from Bell for linking two helicopters together to forma  single heavy lifter.

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Here’s the complete issue V3N3 layout:

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It is available in three formats. Firstly, it can be downloaded directly from me for the low, low price of $8.50. Second, it can be purchased as a professionally printed volume through Magcloud; third, it can be procured in both formats. To get the download, simply pay for it here through paypal.

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To get the printed version (or print + PDF version), visit my MagCloud page:

http://scottlowther.magcloud.com/

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Also available: the V3N3 Addendum. This contains 30 pages formatted for 11X17. Includes larger and improved versions of all the CAD diagrams produced for V3N3, including:

  • 1/72 versions of the A-12 diagrams
  • Scans of the original A-12 diagrams
  • 1/144 versions of the XC-132 diagrams
  • 1/288 versions of the XC-132 antecedents
  • 1/250 versions of the Dyna Soar/bomber launchers
  • 1/72 versions of the Landing Boat, “Space fighter” and Apollo lifting body
  • 1/200 version of the Nova/LLV

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The V3N3 Addendum can be downloaded for only $3.00!
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 Posted by at 8:58 pm
Mar 062013
 

While V3N3 is still quite a way from finished, here’s a look at some of the X-20 Dyna Soar Model 2050E drawings being worked on for V3N4. It has been well over a year since V3N2 was released; whether there is a similar delay between V3N3 and V3N4 will be driven in part based on how well V3N3 sells.

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 Posted by at 2:08 am
Mar 052013
 

AIAA-Houston has just published the Jan-Feb 2013 issue of “Horizons,” a free downloadable PDF magazine. Along with quite a number of other articles, also included is a restored reprint of the “Man’s Survival In Space” article from the Feb. 23, 1953, issue of Collier’s magazine. This is the fourth in the series of eight reprints of the famed Collier’s “Man Will Conquer Space Soon!” articles from the 1950’s. As always, this issue can be downloaded as either high or low resolution.

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And as before, the restoration of the scans was done by yours truly.

Also included in this issue is a Mini-APR article on a NASA-Langley concept for a two-man inflatable spaceplane concept from the early 1960’s.

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NOTE: Tell anyone you might think would be interested in the Collier’s series.

 Posted by at 11:19 pm