The Aircraft Connection....

knightmare1015 · #1 06-16-2011, 06:10 PM

I've noticed something erie over the last several years. Have you guys noticed that alot of the most popular car and truck names are based apon past aircraft models? I have. The thing that sold it in my mind was when I heard of a version of a ranger being called the "Thunderbolt" which came from a WWII aircraft. Now if Ford were to use some design cues, and the names god knows what kind of business they'd do with the general public. That would be kool to see a ranger that looked like this wouldn't it? I wonder what a Thunderbolt version of the Ranger looks like?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_F-117_Nighthawk

01_ranger_4x4 · #2 06-16-2011, 06:13 PM

Yeah automakers have been doing it for years. Hell back in the 50's and 60's they used to try and make them looks like airplanes

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knightmare1015 · #3 06-16-2011, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 01_ranger_4x4

Yeah automakers have been doing it for years. Hell back in the 50's and 60's they used to try and make them looks like airplanes

[posted from my space aged wireless mobile communtication device using tapatalk]

Yeah I know they've been doing it for years, but it just now kind of sunk in with me I guess. What does the Ranger Thunderbolt look like? I have yet to see one, but I have heard of it though.

01_ranger_4x4 · #4 06-16-2011, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knightmare1015

Yeah I know they've been doing it for years, but it just now kind of sunk in with me I guess. What does the Ranger Thunderbolt look like? I have yet to see one, but I have heard of it though.

They look like a regular ranger but they have a hood scoop, ground effects, differnt wheels, a decal on the side, dual exhaust, lower stance and a little spoiler on the back. Do a google image search for one.

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knightmare1015 · #5 06-16-2011, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 01_ranger_4x4

They look like a regular ranger but they have a hood scoop, ground effects, differnt wheels, a decal on the side, dual exhaust, lower stance and a little spoiler on the back. Do a google image search for one.

[posted from my space aged wireless mobile communtication device using tapatalk]

I'll do just that later on. I bet it looks kool.

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Well I just now googled the Ranger Thunderbolt and it looks pretty kool, but I don't care for the raised whiteletter tires, and the non functional hood scoop on the base package. here's the link I found that has a few photos of it:

http://www.therangerstation.com/reso...hunderbolt.htm

They could've done a little bit better than what they did. Do they even offer that package anymore or has it gone by the wayside now?

HazardousRanger · #6 06-16-2011, 06:35 PM

the edge u have kind of has a non functional hood scoop...minus the hole for the air

knightmare1015 · #7 06-16-2011, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HazardousRanger

the edge u have kind of has a non functional hood scoop...minus the hole for the air

I guess they did get rid of it then. Yeah I know I just want to change the look that mine has a little bit, and add a V8 to mine. No luck on the body kit yet. They aint cheap by any means that's for sure. The cheapest price I have gotten for a stealth looking custom body kit so far is $2K and it's unpainted to.

mransr · #8 06-17-2011, 03:47 PM

the Fairlane Thunderbolt pre-dates the Ranger t-bolt by a few decades

knightmare1015 · #9 06-17-2011, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mransr

the Fairlane Thunderbolt pre-dates the Ranger t-bolt by a few decades

Oh I know. Fairlane's main design also came from a B-24 Liberator Bomber that Ford actually built during WWII. That same plane along with the P-38 Lightning also influenced Carol Shelby when he designed the 1965 427 Shelby A/C Cobra too. Google "Willow Run" and you'll see where Ford's aircraft connection starts. They played a huge roll in WWII during the long range bomber shortage. In fact a popular headline for the local news papers during that time was called "Will it run". Alot of history here concerning aircraft names. That's what I like is the automotive connection between WWII and Ford motor company. That's what gets me excited about WWII is the technology they came up with back then.

jetmex · #10 06-19-2011, 03:26 PM

Continuing the Ford aviation connection - they built the Ford Trimotor and a light airplane called the Flivver in the 20's and 30's. And Lee Iacocca named the Mustang after the North American P-51 fighter.

DiabloBlanco · #11 06-19-2011, 03:31 PM

Thats because airplanes are sexy. Trust me im a pilot. lol

knightmare1015 · #12 06-24-2011, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jetmex

Continuing the Ford aviation connection - they built the Ford Trimotor and a light airplane called the Flivver in the 20's and 30's. And Lee Iacocca named the Mustang after the North American P-51 fighter.

Yep. Lee Atwood was who designed the P-51 fighter, and the British coined the name "Mustang" to the fighter. When it first came out it was only good for low level recon attacks and info gathering. The 8th airforce didn't like it at all despite the rave reviews the British gave the new aircraft. The Merlin Engine didn't come into play until 1942 when a few pilots and mechanics proposed an engine swap to an american general. He approved it and went ahead to get the government's approval. The Merlin was a V12 British engine produced by Packard in the U.S. at that time. Afterwards, that was the only engine that came in the old P-51 fighter. The first engines were made by Allison a GM owned company. The first model to come out with a Merlin engine was the P-51 B model. The P-51 D had the absolute best visibility with it's "bubble top" canopy. Another aircraft connection right there.

FL Zipper · #13 06-25-2011, 10:07 PM

Surely the most pitiful "aircraft" connection was the British Triumph Spitfire?

Asthmatic, underpowered, and made to UK clearances standard (1mm? Nah, half inch will do..) with a highly suspect rear suspension fond of depositing the car into the undergrowth when even slightly pressed.

FlyinRyan · #14 06-25-2011, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knightmare1015

Yep. Lee Atwood was who designed the P-51 fighter, and the British coined the name "Mustang" to the fighter. When it first came out it was only good for low level recon attacks and info gathering. The 8th airforce didn't like it at all despite the rave reviews the British gave the new aircraft. The Merlin Engine didn't come into play until 1942 when a few pilots and mechanics proposed an engine swap to an american general. He approved it and went ahead to get the government's approval. The Merlin was a V12 British engine produced by Packard in the U.S. at that time. Afterwards, that was the only engine that came in the old P-51 fighter. The first engines were made by Allison a GM owned company. The first model to come out with a Merlin engine was the P-51 B model. The P-51 D had the absolute best visibility with it's "bubble top" canopy. Another aircraft connection right there.

Somebody knows his aircraft history!

IDK about you but I'm an airplane nut. I fly R/C planes and I'll be going to an aviation college.