Vintage photos

[donv]

95019, when newish... this is the Indonesian 980, back in her glory days. Actually, at this point probably only a two owner airplane, which is sort of interesting... Erickson and then the Indonesian Air Force.

The hangar which she's pictured in front of is next door to my present hangar. Unfortunately, their ramp is covered in junk now.

[JMA]

More crazy 'astafan', just intrigues me....
http://lfmpnews.blogspot.com/2015/12/1990-1996-f-bstm-fan-commander-perpignan.html

[SKYFLYER]

Check out the turbines they hung on it. Also the ad stating "No pollution"... Gotta love it.

[Adam Frisch]

Wonder what the fuel burn and performance was...

[Steve binnette]

That’s fantastic, what model and manufacturers are those engines.  It looks like a very early high bypass turbine.  What I find weird is the centrifugal compressor as the last stage of the compressor section?

I love any innovation and this is cool but a -10 gets you up against redline with out all the fuss.

Great find I love the photos just need a translation.

[donv]

This was a jet evolution of the turboprop version of the Astazou, I believe-- you can see a picture on that page of the 680 with the Astazou turboprops mounted on it.

Wasn't the Astazou mostly used as a helicopter engine? Although I do believe the turboprops were on some version of the Jetstream?

[Adam Frisch]

That’s fantastic, what model and manufacturers are those engines.  It looks like a very early high bypass turbine.  What I find weird is the centrifugal compressor as the last stage of the compressor section?

Quite a few turboprops have that configuration - RR250/300 and the PT6's as well with a mix of axial flow and centrifugal as last stage. Not as common on jet engines, but some of the earlier ones with 60's provenance had it. I've heard the centrifugal is very efficient for TP's and axial flow doesn't make much sense there. But for jet engines it's the opposite - the axial flows do better there.

[Steve binnette]

Adam you are correct, it is used on TP but is unusual on jets.

Don you nailed it.  I looked up that engine.  It is unique for a couple of reason.  What I found most interesting is it had variable pitch fan blades.

It was like a ducted TP, interesting stuff!  It was the engine used on the Aerostar jet.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbomeca_Astafan

[JMA]

Funny old one... Wonder if we can get this to the current owner (N2141B)- looks like they upgraded to -10's now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mzSpthvqjE

[donv]

Wow, that video is a find! I want to watch the whole thing.

[Bruce Byerly]

Funny old one... Wonder if we can get this to the current owner (N2141B)- looks like they upgraded to -10's now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mzSpthvqjE

Yeah awesome video and thanks for posting. That is amazing and there are two legs to come! I emailed a link to the owner and his pilot. I believe the plane is 2241B out of Little Rock. Ironically I was scheduled to Litte Rock this morning with the 500B.

[donv]

I wonder if that was a delivery flight? I notice that airplane was subsequently under British registration before coming back to the US eventually.

[JMA]

Part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uta8t-eV4M8

[JMA]

Part 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTeiBo7pMF8

[JMA]

Overseas ad.  Love the old stuff.