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Tom Stepleton's Snapshots

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  1. Two-way radio, Schweizer 1-23

    Two-way radio, Schweizer 1-23 by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Schweizer 1-23H-15 Glider Cockpit, Silvercreek Glider Club, New Douglas, Illinois (near St. Louis) by Tom Stepleton

    A popular two-way radio for gliders; takes up little space in the cockpit.

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  2. Schweizer 1-23 tow release

    Schweizer 1-23 tow release by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Schweizer 1-23H-15 Glider Cockpit, Silvercreek Glider Club, New Douglas, Illinois (near St. Louis) by Tom Stepleton

    Pull this handle to release the tow rope connecting the glider to the towplane (or winch). Be sure to check traffic first and turn right after the release on air tows!

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  3. Schweizer 1-23 air vent

    Schweizer 1-23 air vent by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Schweizer 1-23H-15 Glider Cockpit, Silvercreek Glider Club, New Douglas, Illinois (near St. Louis) by Tom Stepleton

    Connects directly to a hole in the nose: adjust airflow by pushing in or pulling out. High tech stuff!

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  4. Schweizer 1-23 magnetic compass

    Schweizer 1-23 magnetic compass by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Schweizer 1-23H-15 Glider Cockpit, Silvercreek Glider Club, New Douglas, Illinois (near St. Louis) by Tom Stepleton

    Also known as a "wet" compass or "whiskey" compass due to the fluid in which the compass card is suspended. Arguably less useful than having a familiarity with the area and navigating by simply looking out the window.

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  5. Schweizer 1-23 inclinometer

    Schweizer 1-23 inclinometer by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Schweizer 1-23H-15 Glider Cockpit, Silvercreek Glider Club, New Douglas, Illinois (near St. Louis) by Tom Stepleton

    Operates just like a spirit level, this instrument indicates whether the airplane is flying in a coordinated manner, i.e. whether the amount of bank matches the amount of yaw around the vertical axis. Many gliders lack this instrument, since the yaw string can provide similar information.

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  6. Schweizer 2-33 in background

    Schweizer 2-33 in background by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Schweizer 1-23H-15 Glider Cockpit, Silvercreek Glider Club, New Douglas, Illinois (near St. Louis) by Tom Stepleton

    This 2-33 landed while I was taking the gigapan.

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  7. Kollsman window, Schweizer 1-23 altimeter

    Kollsman window, Schweizer 1-23 altimeter by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Schweizer 1-23H-15 Glider Cockpit, Silvercreek Glider Club, New Douglas, Illinois (near St. Louis) by Tom Stepleton

    Calibrate the altimeter before flight by dialing in the altimeter setting---the barometric pressure at sea level---in the Kollsman window.

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  8. Schweizer 1-23 altimeter

    Schweizer 1-23 altimeter by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Schweizer 1-23H-15 Glider Cockpit, Silvercreek Glider Club, New Douglas, Illinois (near St. Louis) by Tom Stepleton

    Silvercreek glider club field elevation is right around 600 feet MSL.

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  9. Schweizer 1-23 airspeed indicator

    Schweizer 1-23 airspeed indicator by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Schweizer 1-23H-15 Glider Cockpit, Silvercreek Glider Club, New Douglas, Illinois (near St. Louis) by Tom Stepleton

    Looks like never-exceed speed is 140 MPH.

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  10. Radioplane OQ-19D

    Radioplane OQ-19D by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Cold War Gallery, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, featuring a "skinless" F-86 Sabre by Tom Stepleton

    This was an aerial target for gunnery practice.

    www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4777 Will open in a new tab or window

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  11. Grumman HU-16B Albatross

    Grumman HU-16B Albatross by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Cold War Gallery, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, featuring a "skinless" F-86 Sabre by Tom Stepleton

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_Albatross Will open in a new tab or window

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  12. Beech T-34A Mentor

    Beech T-34A Mentor by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Cold War Gallery, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, featuring a "skinless" F-86 Sabre by Tom Stepleton

    A training aircraft derived from the Beech Bonanza.

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-34_Mentor Will open in a new tab or window

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  13. Grumman OA-12 Duck

    Grumman OA-12 Duck by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Cold War Gallery, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, featuring a "skinless" F-86 Sabre by Tom Stepleton

    This Air Force version of the Navy's J2F-6 was used by the Air Rescue Service; later on, it appeared in several films.

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J2F_Duck Will open in a new tab or window

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  14. Cessna LC-126

    Cessna LC-126 by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Cold War Gallery, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, featuring a "skinless" F-86 Sabre by Tom Stepleton

    This military version of the Cessna 195 was used for Arctic rescue.

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessna_195 Will open in a new tab or window

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  15. Boeing WB-50D Superfortress

    Boeing WB-50D Superfortress by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Cold War Gallery, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, featuring a "skinless" F-86 Sabre by Tom Stepleton

    The Boeing B-50 was an "upgraded" postwar version of the B-29 bomber. This B-50 was used for weather reconnaissance.

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-50_Superfortress Will open in a new tab or window

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  16. Republic F-84F Thunderstreak

    Republic F-84F Thunderstreak by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Cold War Gallery, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, featuring a "skinless" F-86 Sabre by Tom Stepleton

    A fighter-bomber. The first F-84s had straight wings, but the F model was redesigned with swept wings.

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  17. KC-97L Stratotanker

    KC-97L Stratotanker by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Cold War Gallery, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, featuring a "skinless" F-86 Sabre by Tom Stepleton

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KC-97L_Stratotanker Will open in a new tab or window

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  18. North American F-86H Sabre with skin removed

    North American F-86H Sabre with skin removed by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Cold War Gallery, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, featuring a "skinless" F-86 Sabre by Tom Stepleton

    The skin has been removed from this Korean War-era fighter---check out all the parts!

    www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=376 Will open in a new tab or window
    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-86_Sabre Will open in a new tab or window

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  19. Jack L. Armstrong display

    Jack L. Armstrong display by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Cold War Gallery, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, featuring a "skinless" F-86 Sabre by Tom Stepleton

    This display commemorates Major Jack L. Armstrong, a test pilot.

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  20. De Havilland Canada U-6A Beaver

    De Havilland Canada U-6A Beaver by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Cold War Gallery, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, featuring a "skinless" F-86 Sabre by Tom Stepleton

    The US Air Force also operated this famous Canadian workhorse.

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  21. Cessna U-3A

    Cessna U-3A by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Cold War Gallery, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, featuring a "skinless" F-86 Sabre by Tom Stepleton

    Military version of the Cessna 310.

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessna_310 Will open in a new tab or window

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  22. Lockheed U-2 spyplane

    Lockheed U-2 spyplane by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Cold War Gallery, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, featuring a "skinless" F-86 Sabre by Tom Stepleton

    Hiding in the background, fittingly. Variants of the U-2 still fly for the US.

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_U-2 Will open in a new tab or window

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  23. Convair B-58 Hustler ejection seat capsule

    Convair B-58 Hustler ejection seat capsule by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Cold War Gallery, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, featuring a "skinless" F-86 Sabre by Tom Stepleton

    This capsule actually surrounds the seat of a B-58 crew member to protect them during an ejection at speed. In foreground: the barrels of the B-36 remote gun turret.

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  24. Convair B-36 Peacemaker remote gun turret

    Convair B-36 Peacemaker remote gun turret by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Cold War Gallery, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, featuring a "skinless" F-86 Sabre by Tom Stepleton

    Designed for air-to-air defense in a time when missile-based aerial combat was starting to come to the fore.

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  25. Convair B-58 Hustler

    Convair B-58 Hustler by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Cold War Gallery, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, featuring a "skinless" F-86 Sabre by Tom Stepleton

    The Convair B-58 Hustler, a Mach 2 supersonic strategic bomber.

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  26. Tail, Convair B-36 Peacemaker

    Tail, Convair B-36 Peacemaker by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Cold War Gallery, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, featuring a "skinless" F-86 Sabre by Tom Stepleton

    Vertical fin and rudder of a Convair B-36 Peacemaker, an enormous strategic bomber.

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-36 Will open in a new tab or window

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  27. Photographers

    Photographers by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at Broad and Sansom Streets, two blocks south of City Hall by Tom Stepleton

    I was so excited about taking Gigapans in Philly that I didn't even manage to button my shirt up correctly!

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  28. William Penn

    William Penn by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at Broad and Sansom Streets, two blocks south of City Hall by Tom Stepleton

    Bronze statue of William Penn atop the Philadelphia City Hall. Unfortunately, he's looking the other way...

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  29. Geometric pattern

    Geometric pattern by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Interior, Mercer Museum, Doylestown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania by Tom Stepleton

    A geometric pattern on a Mercer Museum artifact.

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  30. Mercer Museum interior overview

    Mercer Museum interior overview by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Interior, Mercer Museum, Doylestown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania by Tom Stepleton

    Large items from Henry Mercer's collection of pre-industrial American artifacts line the walls and roof of the Mercer Museum's central chamber.

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  31. The Oil Never Fails

    The Oil Never Fails by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Stove plate room, Mercer Museum, Doylestown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania by Tom Stepleton

    Decorative tile, Mercer Museum, Doylestown, PA. Any idea what "The oil never fails" might mean?

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  32. Overview, stove plate room, Mercer Museum, Doylestown, PA

    Overview, stove plate room, Mercer Museum, Doylestown, PA by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Stove plate room, Mercer Museum, Doylestown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania by Tom Stepleton

    An overview snapshot of the Mercer Museum's stove plate gallery.

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  33. Mercer Museum

    Mercer Museum by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Exterior, Mercer Museum, Doylestown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania by Tom Stepleton

    View of the Mercer Museum in Doylestown, PA

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  34. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania skyline

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania skyline by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Philadelphia, Pennsylvania skyline from the Benjamin Franklin Bridge by Tom Stepleton

    Skyline of Philadelphia as of 29 June 2008.

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  35. Windsock

    Windsock by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Bandel Airport (22D), Eighty Four, PA, home of the Pittsburgh Soaring Club, with Piper Super Cub towplane and Schweizer 2-33 glider by Tom Stepleton

    Windsock at Bandel Airport (22D).

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  36. Schweizer 2-33 glider

    Schweizer 2-33 glider by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Bandel Airport (22D), Eighty Four, PA, home of the Pittsburgh Soaring Club, with Piper Super Cub towplane and Schweizer 2-33 glider by Tom Stepleton

    The Pittsburgh Soaring Club's Schweizer 2-33 two-place glider. Most American glider pilots have flown in one at least once---many of them trained in these planes.

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  37. Young man with Bud Ice observes mitosis in progress

    Young man with Bud Ice observes mitosis in progress by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Infield View at Turn 4 before the 2008 Indianapolis 500 by NASA

    You don't see that when you drink Hoegaarden.

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  38. They're from Ball State

    They're from Ball State by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Infield View at Turn 4 before the 2008 Indianapolis 500 by NASA

    These guys (and the mysterious disembodied arm, maybe) kept going "BuuaaaAAAALLLL STAAAAAaaaate!!!" over and over again. It's nice to see the young people so excited about Muncie landmarks.

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  39. Turn 4 infield's front stretch view at Indy

    Turn 4 infield's front stretch view at Indy by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Infield View at Turn 4 before the 2008 Indianapolis 500 by NASA

    Your view of the finish line from the infield of Turn 4 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a few hours before the beginning of the 2008 Indianapolis 500.

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  40. Ed Carpenter's car in garage

    Ed Carpenter's car in garage by Tom Stepleton from the GigaPan Garages at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway before the 2008 Indianapolis 500 by Tom Stepleton

    Ed Carpenter's #20 car in the garage before the 2008 Indy 500. Carpenter started at 10th and finished 5th.

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