A couple of quick questions about XB-70 and Boeing L-15

[dusttinbound]

So I am in Dayton trying to do some aerial mapping and the weather has been horrible. Because of the weather I have been hanging out at the NMUSAF for the last two days. I got to go on the Behind the Scenes tour today and loved it. Yesterday I was able to go on the Presidential/Research tour which leads me to my first question. While looking at the XB-70 I noticed that the skin seems to have ripples on it just on the forward part of the fuselage. These did not look at normal ripples from stress or repeated decompression, but ripples from the sheet metal just not adhering to the plane. Is the skin on the forward fuselage a really light metal or protective fabric? Any ideas what might be causing this?

The second question is regarding the Boeing L-15. I was cruising through Platinum Fighter Sales website and noticed that they had two L-15 for sale. I am on their website often (dreaming with money I don't have) but never noticed these before. So my question is where did they come from and if anyone knows who bought them. Thanks for the help guys.

Kevin

[Chris Brame]

Platinum listed two L-15s, N4705C and N4435P. Baugher lists N4435P as "(47-)427 (c/n 20007) became N4435P, then N4777C":


...no info there on N4705C which comes up as a revoked registration for a Cessna 180. I recall one or two L-15s were used as floatplanes in Alaska into the early 1970s or so.

[Scooby]

The ripples are from the stress of flying. Obviously that was a high stress/weak location and had this aircraft gone to production that would have been one area that would have had to been addressed.

[CAPFlyer]

Yesterday I was able to go on the Presidential/Research tour which leads me to my first question. While looking at the XB-70 I noticed that the skin seems to have ripples on it just on the forward part of the fuselage. These did not look at normal ripples from stress or repeated decompression, but ripples from the sheet metal just not adhering to the plane. Is the skin on the forward fuselage a really light metal or protective fabric? Any ideas what might be causing this?

The wrinkles are normal stress-related ones. They just look odd on the XB-70 because of the fact they used an aluminum honeycomb for the skin, which allowed for them to use very thin sheets of aluminum for the exterior skin. This unfortunately also had the side effect of A/V-1 (the one at NMUSAF) shedding several large sections of it during high speed flight (above Mach 2. which resulted in it being limited to Mach 2.5 for most of its career and is what kept it from being more useful as a testbed after the loss of A/V-2, which had thicker skin panels.

[Steve Nelson]

I've noticed the same thing. It looks more like the skin is blistered, rather than wrinkled. I don't recall noticing it during early visits to the museum (but then I was a teenager then.) I assumed it was some sort of coating that had started to delaminate over the years.

Weird..at least two of my friends also visited the NMUSAF independently this week and took the behind the scenes tour


SN

[JohnB]

I'd like to see or learn more about the L-15s. From what I understand, there were no flying examples out there, yet the website does not list them as projects?

About12 years ago one was listed in Trade -A-Plane from Alaska. In the pre-internet age you had to write to the owner, which I did, and never heard back.
From photos since posted here, I've assumed the plane was a derelict...if not worse.

Also, years ago, someone modified a Super Cub type aircraft up there with the detached wing flaps and a few other parts from an L-15.
Since Peter M. Bowers states that they were given to the USFS and went to Alaska, I'd guess that's how/why they went up there.

On a more surprising note, I see a friend has listed his Laird for sale. Pity, it's quite a well-known aircraft around here. If it goes, it will make the third ac to recently leave our area (two others went to flying museums).

[Jesse C.]

Found this on airliners. Says it was in Anchorage in 1989.

This plane is so funky, and it is growing on me! I like it!!

[JohnB]

I'd take one in a heartbeat!

I've always liked something different, which the Scout certainly is.

[dusttinbound]

It looks more like the skin is blistered

Blistered is the word I was looking for. The skin does look like it is blistered. Having the thinner aluminum honeycomb would make sense for the cause of the blistering. Thanks for helping me out guys. It just looked odd and nothing I have seen before on a plane. It is a great looking piece of machinery considering the technology (slide rules) they used to design it.

I have looked on the internet and did find out there is an L-15 registered in MN. Other than that I could not find any more on the L-15's other than the pictures that have been posted here. I did write Platinum hoping that they could provide some more info on the planes; where did they come from, how long they were for sale, and who bought them? I will let you guys know what I find out.

Kevin

[Pogo]

Great thread! I wonder if anyone has pics of the blistered skin, y'al got me curious and wanting to see? And the Scout - lord yeah, how I'd like to see one of them flying! A couple of very interesting types.

[DaveG]

I saw a thread about the 1995 Dayton Air Show which led me to a video I shot and posted to Youtube from that show. It also shows the Valkyrie and at about 1:18:00 you can see some of the skin along the forward fuselage that is "bubbled".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFHR_9AaYNk

Dave

[dusttinbound]

Pics? I got pics!! Here is the right side of the XB-70 just before the engine intakes. The left side appeared to be worse.

[Clifford Bossie]

Pics? I got pics!! Here is the right side of the XB-70 just before the engine intakes. The left side appeared to be worse.

I believe that section is mainly a fuel cell and have been told that it was damaged during the tow from the old facility.