Well, it's that time of year again, folks....the time when a young man's fancy turns to thoughts of fuselage hatches and APU intakes.

Yes folks, it's the next round of "Identify This"!

For those of you who don't remember, "Identify This" is an aircraft identification game, based on technical, aerodynamic, and mechanical details of aircraft.

In 2006, an the first competition took place. It was so popular, it had to be extended into part two.

After the smoke had cleared, seven weeks had passed. There were 14,000 views, 578 posts, and 82 individual aircraft shots. To this day, the number of discarded relationships, neglected marriages, and divorce hearings remains unknown. The winners were:

Lowrider - First place winner
3DPlanes - Second place winner
Scooter01 - Third place winner

In August of 2007, Part Three took place. It was a cutthroat competition that went into a Sudden Death round. In the end, the winners were:

AeroWeanie – First place winner
Starglider – Second place winner
Francoflier – Third place winner



The Dealio:

1) Guesses will be submitted to me directly, via the contact link in my profile.

2) When submitting a guess, please include "Identify This" in the subject line of the email to help me organize the emails.

3) Contestants will receive one point for each correct guess. A correct guess must include the manufacturer, model number (if applicable), and model name (if applicable).

- Example “Cessna Skyhawk” or “172” are not complete guesses, and will be marked incorrect. “Cessna 172 Skyhawk” is a complete guess.

4) I will attempt to post a new aircraft every other day. Due to my travel schedule, I won't always be able to adhere to this, but I'll do my best. I'll post results and the next shot as soon after the deadline as possible.

5) There will be a TON of prizes to choose from this time....36, to be exact! Prizes can be viewed here.

Some photos picture multiple items, but each sticker/patch/etc is counted as a single prize. They will be awarded in the following manner:

- The first-place winner will have his/her choice of FOUR prizes.
- The second-place finisher will have his/her choice of THREE of the remaining prizes.
- The third-place finisher will have his/her choice of TWO of the remaining prizes (after the winner and runner-up choose their prizes).
- The fourth-place finisher will receive the remaining prize.

6) The contest will conclude on October 31, 2008. If there is a tie, we will go into a "sudden death" round to determine the winner.

7) Prizes have been provided by myself, 474218, Tdscanuck, and Starglider. If the prize needs to be shipped thousands of miles away, you may be asked to chip in a bit for shipping, but only in extreme cases.

============================================

Here's the first shot:



The deadline for guesses for this shot will be Thursday, September 11th at 8pm. Good luck!

2H4

Oh, and I almost forgot....one point to anyone who can correctly identify (and prove) what engine type the turbine compressor blade came from.  

2H4

First the Large Hadron Collider and now this. The world really is going to end. 

Quoting Starlionblue (Reply 2): First the Large Hadron Collider and now this.

Well, I wasn't going to say anything, but the real reason that sucker is being fired up is to provide additional power to a.net's servers in the event of a "Sudden Death" round.

2H4

Quoting 2H4 (Reply 3): Well, I wasn't going to say anything, but the real reason that sucker is being fired up is to provide additional power to a.net's servers in the event of a "Sudden Death" round.

That, or we could hook up some treadmills to a generator, and run some aircraft at takeoff thrust on them............  

To get back on topic....I hate you, 2H4. As in the previous "Identify This" competitions, I shall petulantly warm the bench  

Quoting Vikkyvik (Reply 4): To get back on topic....I hate you, 2H4. As in the previous "Identify This" competitions, I shall petulantly warm the bench

Me too. Vikkyvik and I know all the answers already but find the whole concept deeply offensive and will therefore withhold participation.  

Does it also count to identify the gender of the worker (m/f) 

Woo Hoo!

Been waiting for the next round since last fall, thanks for doing this again for us 2H4  

Think I see the a/c but......what blade?? Am I totally blind or did something just go zinging over my slightly numb skull   

Damn, my boss is gonna get nothing out of me again this fall   

Quoting DaBuzzard (Reply 7): Think I see the a/c but......what blade?? Am I totally blind or did something just go zinging over my slightly numb skull

Sorry, I should have specified. I was referring to one of the prizes that is being offered. I believe it's actually a compressor stator, but I don't know what type of engine it's from.

You can see it (along with all of the other available prizes) here.

So, anyone who can identify (and provide some kind of proof) what type of engine that blade is from will receive one point!

2H4

Lucky me, caught this great thread just in time.

I'm ready   

Quoting Starglider (Reply 9): Lucky me, caught this great thread just in time.

Just in time to tear your hair out in frustration?  

Using partially assembled aircraft this time? That is really tournament level, isn't it?

Due to a general increase in the difficulty level of this contest, SlamClick will suck at it more than usual.

P.S. I always thought of the AWACS antenna as beinging somewhat larger than that!

P.P.S. There is only one country on Earth that would paint toolboxes that color!

Quoting Lowrider (Reply 11): Using partially assembled aircraft this time? That is really tournament level, isn't it?

Oh, it gets worse. Or better, depending on your perspective. But easier ones will show up, too.

Quoting SlamClick (Reply 12): P.S. I always thought of the AWACS antenna as beinging somewhat larger than that!

I prefer the medium-sized, SR-71 variant:



2H4

Quoting Starlionblue (Reply 5): Me too. Vikkyvik and I know all the answers already but find the whole concept deeply offensive and will therefore withhold participation.

Indeed!

Quoting 2H4 (Reply 8): Sorry, I should have specified. I was referring to one of the prizes that is being offered. I believe it's actually a compressor stator, but I don't know what type of engine it's from.

Hah! How many of us were ripping our hair out trying to find a blade in the photo? I was too afraid to ask, lest I unleash the competitive (and deeply offensive) fury of the "Identify This" threads  

Quoting 2H4 (Reply 8): I was referring to one of the prizes that is being offered.

   Whew, had me worried there for a minute! OK, let me go look.......

I can't view the picture for some reason  

Gathering photos has been fun this time.

A regular Tech-opper sent me a photo of an old black & white photo of a prototype aircraft. He took the photo of the photo decades ago, while visiting the headquarters of a certain interesting aircraft manufacturer.

The thing is, neither of us know exactly what the thing is. We know who made it, but beyond that, it's sort of a bizarre frankenplane with characteristics of various production models. A textbook I recently purchased suggests it might actually have an official model number, though.

So I emailed the manufacturer. They're having a look and will get back to me. This one is so tricky, I might just include it as a bonus shot to see if anyone can school us all and impress everyone with their incredible knowledge.

Awhile back, during a road trip, I was also able to take several photos of a crazy-looking aircraft that I never knew existed. There's one shot of it in the database, though.

Another Tech-opper graciously shot some photos specifically for this game of an aircraft that I think we all are familiar with, but that (probably) none of us have ever seen in person. He was considerate (and devious) enough to include up-close detail shots of it.

I found two shots of an aircraft that I never knew existed. That's nothing too impressive, but when I mentioned it to four of the manufacturer's representatives at Oshkosh, none of them had even heard of it. They referred me to the company librarian. He was familiar with it, but had no photos of it.

In one of my old Jane's encyclopedias, I discovered an aircraft whose manufacturer name apparently consists of twelve (12) words, most of which I can pronounce.

Despite finding all of these oddities, though, I'll make sure the contest features a well-balanced selection of photos.....devious shots of common aircraft, and common shots of devious aircraft.

Quoting YWG747 (Reply 16): I can't view the picture for some reason

Here it is again:



2H4

Quoting Starlionblue (Reply 10): Just in time to tear your hair out in frustration?

Yep, luckily i had a year's time to have it grow back on since the previous competition. To prevent tearing my hair out this time i have    everyone out of the house for the next 7 weeks   

And the correct answer is......

Boeing C-17 Globemaster III




Correctly identified by:

oly720man
Nohag
Starglider
Bengan
Aeroweanie


Other guesses included:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Lockheed C-5 Galaxy
Boeing E-6B Mercury


Current point standings:

oly720man - 1
Nohag - 1
Starglider - 1
Bengan - 1
Aeroweanie - 1


Well done, gentlemen!


Here’s the next shot:



Guesses for this one will be due by Saturday, September 13th, 11pm EST.

2H4

Congrats to:

Quoting 2H4 (Reply 19): Correctly identified by: oly720man Nohag Starglider Bengan Aeroweanie

(had a feeling some of you would get it)   

But what is it?

View Large View Medium

Photo © Wu Weiqiang

and

View Large View Medium

Photo © Max Bryansky - Russian AviaPhoto Team


shows none, but the aircraft in


View Large View Medium

Photo © Simon Blakesley


View Large View Medium

Photo © Kevin Whitehead - Jetwash Images


shows 3 of them. -And the little white "thingy" on top is missing.....
see
View Large View Medium

Photo © Kenneth C. Iwelumo


Gotta go to work now


Scooter01

Hi Scooter01,

It's a UHF SATCOM antenna. More info about this antenna can be found here:

http://www.edocorp.com/documentation/Antennas_c34.pdf

In the mean time ..... those business jets are my weak spot!!! Damm

Cheers

Only RAAF, RCAF and RAF C-17s appear to have Satcom "flying saucers":

View Large View Medium Photo © Torin Wilson

View Large View Medium Photo © Michael Durning

View Large View Medium

Photo © Mark Kwiatkowski

Quoting 2H4 (Reply 8): I believe it's actually a compressor stator, but I don't know what type of engine it's from.

The picture I saw (page 3?) seems to me more likely to be a rotating turbine blade, rather than a stator. Note the style of 'firtree slot' which usually indicates it is for mounting in a rotating disk.

Beyond that, somewhere between a Whittle and a Scramjet I suppose.

I'm pretty sure I got this one...my guess is in the mail!

Quoting Rampkontroler (Reply 24): I'm pretty sure I got this one...my guess is in the mail!

Ditto. Hopefully my first point in this quiz ever  

Quoting 2H4 (Reply 19): Here’s the next shot:

Hmm... I'm thinking it might be either a Dassault Falcon 10/20, or a Cessna CitationJet or Citation V.

Quoting UltimateDelta (Reply 26): Hmm... I'm thinking it might be either a Dassault Falcon 10/20, or a Cessna CitationJet or Citation V.

Bad bad UltimateDelta. No posting of guesses in the thread.

I'd feel proud of myself for getting this one (I hope...)

...But I seem to remember the Last ID-This thread came with the token biz-jet at the start as well. That was the only shot I got last time. Here's hoping I can do better now...

Quoting DaBuzzard (Reply 7): Think I see the a/c but......what blade??

Isn't it the blade lying in the upper right corner?

2H4,

There have been two "identify this" pictures and I haven't seen a Lockheed plane yet. How do you expect me to have a chance?

Carl

Quoting BuyantUkhaa (Reply 29): Isn't it the blade lying in the upper right corner?

Nope...I was referring to one of the prizes that is being offered.

You can see it (along with all of the other available prizes) here:

http://2h4.smugmug.com/gallery/5932037_aSE86#369470911_PBaFh

Anyone who can identify (and provide some kind of proof) what type of engine that blade is from will receive one point.  

2H4

Quoting SlamClick (Reply 23): The picture I saw (page 3?) seems to me more likely to be a rotating turbine blade, rather than a stator. Note the style of 'firtree slot' which usually indicates it is for mounting in a rotating disk.

It's a turbine blade, not a stator. And I would certainly like to know what it came from.

Tom.

Quoting 474218 (Reply 30): There have been two "identify this" pictures and I haven't seen a Lockheed plane yet. How do you expect me to have a chance?

If I include a bunch of Lockheeds, nobody else would stand a chance!

I'm sure something of interest will pop up...

2H4

Quoting Tdscanuck (Reply 32): It's a turbine blade, not a stator. And I would certainly like to know what it came from.

I shall go down to our engine shop and will try to find out if one is missing . . . .



Starglider

I have been waiting for this thread for a while... Now, If only I was not in PDX for training when the first photo was released (not that I would have guessed it correctly)...

Time to pull out the books again... only this time around I am married and I am not too sure what the wife will say...

Kris

And the correct answer is:

Raytheon 390 Premier I




Correctly Identified By:

BigSaabowski
tb727
G4doc2004
Aeroweanie
Scooter01
Airkas1
Vzlet
TupolevTu154
Oly720man
Nohag
Bengan
DAIRBUS
Lowrider
Starglider
Rampkontroler
KPWMSpotter
Jetlagged
Lemmy
KELPkid
speedracer1407
474218
KBFIspotter
Vikkyvik
Francoflier
Atlturbine
Larshjort


Other Guesses Included:

Citation Excel
Citation X


Current Point Standings

Oly720man - 2
Nohag - 2
Starglider - 2
Bengan - 2
Aeroweanie - 2
BigSaabowski - 1
tb727 - 1
G4doc2004 - 1
Scooter01 - 1
Airkas1 - 1
Vzlet - 1
TupolevTu154 - 1
DAIRBUS - 1
Lowrider - 1
Rampkontroler - 1
KPWMSpotter - 1
Jetlagged - 1
Lemmy - 1
KELPkid - 1
speedracer1407 - 1
474218 - 1
KBFIspotter - 1
Vikkyvik - 1
Francoflier - 1
Atlturbine - 1
Larshjort - 1


Well done, everyone! Just remember to include both the model number and name, though. I let a few people who forgot the 390 slide, because....well, if you know it’s a Premier, you know it’s a Premier.  

The complete model number and name will matter in future shots, though, so always be sure to check. When in doubt, just check the Photo Index.




Here’s the next shot:



Guesses for this one will be due by Monday, September 15th at 10pm eastern time.

2H4

Besides for 2H4, who is pretty much the master of ACID (Aircraft ID) do we have any past or present NIFA members?

Quoting Alaska737 (Reply 37): . . . . do we have any past or present NIFA members?

Alaska737,

Could you please explain what a NIFA member is?

For now i will go back under my rock to digest the latest "ID this" shot . . . . nice colors, blue and white   



Starglider

For once I actually know what some of these aircraft are  

Third photo, no problem (hopefully!)

Tom 

Quoting 2H4 (Reply 36): Correctly Identified By: BigSaabowski tb727 G4doc2004 Aeroweanie Scooter01 Airkas1 Vzlet TupolevTu154 Oly720man Nohag Bengan DAIRBUS Lowrider Starglider Rampkontroler KPWMSpotter Jetlagged Lemmy KELPkid speedracer1407 474218 KBFIspotter Vikkyvik Francoflier Atlturbine Larshjort

Too easy?  

Quoting Starlionblue (Reply 40): Too easy?

Great, now you've done it. This could become the lowest scoring ID thread yet.

Quoting Starglider (Reply 38): . nice colors, blue and white

It's all greek to me....

Scooter01

Quoting Starlionblue (Reply 27): Bad bad UltimateDelta. No posting of guesses in the thread.

Well this is only the first time I've done this... I'm starting to get it now.

Quoting UltimateDelta (Reply 43): Well this is only the first time I've done this... I'm starting to get it now.

Welcome to the group of "Aviation Masochists"

Here's a link to another, somewhat easier site, that 2H4 steered me into a while back...

http://www.dauntless-soft.com/AviaQuiz/

-No prizes, but kinda fun anyway.

Scooter01

PS. Another good idea is to read trough "I T "1,2 and 3 and also "I T -Freestyle Edition" to pick up some clues to wots going on.....

Quoting Starglider (Reply 38): Alaska737, Could you please explain what a NIFA member is? For now i will go back under my rock to digest the latest "ID this" shot . . . . nice colors, blue and white

Of course, NIFA is the National Intercollegieant Flying Association. Colleges here in the states have "Percision Flight Teams" we have regional and national compititions where team memebers compete in different events such as ACID, which is what Im in. Theres also five flying events, four simulator events, and three other ground events
Heres the Link

http://www.nifa.us/

Quoting Lowrider (Reply 41): Great, now you've done it. This could become the lowest scoring ID thread yet.

good, make them hard!!!!

Quoting Alaska737 (Reply 45): Of course, NIFA is the National Intercollegieant Flying Association. Colleges here in the states have "Percision Flight Teams" we have regional and national compititions where team memebers compete in different events such as ACID, which is what Im in. Theres also five flying events, four simulator events, and three other ground events Heres the Link http://www.nifa.us/

Untill two weeks ago, I never knew such a thing existed...and I was rather excited to find out that there was. I'm in the process of trying out for the Flight Team here at ERAU Daytona Beach. So far...2H4's questions have been a little bit tougher.

Quoting Alaska737 (Reply 45): Heres the Link http://www.nifa.us/

Thanks for the very interesting info and link.



Starglider

Quoting KPWMSpotter (Reply 47): Untill two weeks ago, I never knew such a thing existed...and I was rather excited to find out that there was. I'm in the process of trying out for the Flight Team here at ERAU Daytona Beach. So far...2H4's questions have been a little bit tougher.

Good Luck, Im teaching tryouts ACID at ERAU Prescott. Hope you make the team and hope I see you in St. Louis this year. You guys need to knock UND out so we can have a Riddle sweep! Your not going to see pictures this hard on any test you take, Nationals last year was pretty simple, hard shots but not like this.