A very good find Dave.
Rob.
A very good find Dave.
Rob.
"Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."
Another class find Dave.
Rob.
"Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."
...and now I'm picturing a squadron of six Avro 504 anti-zep acft. with ID letters "M", "A", "L", "D", "O", and "N"....
[ http://www.fismeister.eu/wp-content/...ga-300x227.jpg >;) ]
Rob where did you get a SCHLITZ TALL BOY ? I haven't seen one of those in years.
Substitute whisky for sake -- "Irish Car Bomb". >;)
Two more good ones Dave.
Rob.
"Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."
So many beers, so little time (and stomach!).
Karl
It is impossible for a man to begin to learn what he thinks he knows. -- Epictetus
Today we celebrate the Barnstormers and the Curtiss Jenny.
Produced as a WWI trainer in 1916, the famous Jenny proved the foundation of the Curtiss-Wright Company. Thousands of these biplanes in various models were built in the U.S. and Canada, introducing a new generation to flying.
After the war, adventurous barnstormers could buy a surplus Jenny for $500 and head out on the circuit. The mass of bracing posts and wires were useful for wing walking and stunts. After a hard landing in a farm field, the simple craft was easy to repair. The Jenny and barnstormers served to take aviation out to an appreciative public in towns and cities across the country.
There are several restored Jennies still flying.
Last edited by Naharaht; 01-17-2017 at 22:27.
Today we remember an iconic plane of the inter-war years, the Gee Bee Racer.
During depression years, the Granville brothers of Springfield, Massachusetts built some of the most famous race planes in history. Their Sportster aircraft won many races, setting speed records that gained the aircraft fame as the fastest in the world.
In 1931, with Jimmy Doolittle as pilot, the Gee Bee Model Z won the prestigious Thompson Trophy race in Cleveland, setting a speed record of 296 mph.
None of the original Gee Bee Sportster Series survives, though several flying replicas keep memories alive.
That guy has some massive 'cohones', I remember ready this years ago on the warbird.ccom website - http://www.warbird.com/gbvsfaa.html
"Delmar Benjamin brought his remarkable replica of the Gee Bee R-2 racer back to Reno for the fourth consecutive year since its completion. When he took to the racecourse to start his aerobatic show on Thursday, the photographers out on the course knew they were in for some fun!
Delmar has developed a reputation for providing the photographers with spectacular but hair-raising shots of the Gee Bee racer flying directly at the pylon where they are standing - at breathtakingly low altitudes - I mean ON THE DECK!
Good news travels fast, however, and at Reno, you can be sure at least one official with not enough to do will stick his nose into any given piece of action. So it was that when racing resumed on Saturday after a bad weather blackout on Friday, an ominous black car sat positioned out on pylon #8 where all the Gee Bee action had been happening. Inside, in a black hat sat the FAA guy and a major RARA official.
Delmar gave the self-appointed gendarme plenty of ammo with which to shoot himself in the foot, tho! Informed sources report that after three unbelievable low passes at the pylon, the FAA official phoned the tower and demanded that the show be stopped immediately and all aircraft be grounded until the course was cleared of all personnel. Surprisingly, temporary radio failure apparently prevented this urgent message from ever being transmitted.
Delmar finished his show and the remaining heat races were run without incident until the FAA guy had an "interview" with Delmar in which he uh, "criticized" his "low and dangerous flying", adding a little 120 day suspension of his license. This was later withdrawn when Delmar pointed out that not only did he have "zero-altitude" waivers for his airshow, but the ONLY person out on the course who had NOT signed liability waivers was the FAA guy himself! This meant that he was on the course illegally to begin with, endangering the sport and the livelihoods of the professional photographers and reporters he was so charged up to protect."
Great Story Carl! Now that is a Pilot with REAL attitude & Zero altitude!
Perhaps there should be a Delmar Benjamin beer.
Today we remember Pan Am's famous Clipper flying boats.
The magnificent Boeing 314 flying boat led the way in opening up international travel routes. It was the largest, most luxurious civil aircraft of its time, carrying 74 passengers, or 40 on long night flights.
Dubbed the Dixie Clipper, the Pan American plane established the first Trans Atlantic schedule mail and passenger flights in May 1939. In its relatively short but exotic service, the aircraft also introduced routes across the Pacific and into Asia.
None of these marvelous flying boats survives.
The B-17 Flying Fortress has appeared before but here is another tribute.
One of the most famous of WWII bombers, the B-17 was conceived by the then small Boeing Airplane Company in the mid 1930s. As the aircraft evolved through numerous models, thousands were built to serve with great distinction as a daylight strategic bomber. The aircraft is legendary for sustaining great damage, but still managing to bring its crew back home.
B-17s have been restored, some to flying condition, in the United States and Europe.
Yes David it was a fantastic ride. Not as big of a plane as some of the movies make it out to be.
Slightly off topic, I found this website belonging to someone who makes model planes from old beer cans. http://www.bcair.com/gallery/index.htm
David thats crazy but a clever way to recycle empty cans. Good find.
Nice find Karl.
I resemble that remark.
Kyte.
"Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."
You should check out the rest of their regular offerings; you might find a few relatives:
http://fatheadscleveland.com/beer.html
Karl
It is impossible for a man to begin to learn what he thinks he knows. -- Epictetus
I may just do that Karl.
Kyte.
"Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."
Bookmarks