![]() |
Excerpts
from
|
Jack Conroy and
his Flying Fish Many large
components of the Apollo moon mission
systems were being built on the West Coast,
thousands of miles from the ultimate launch
site at Cape Canaveral, Florida. In order to
transport these parts, it was determined
they would need to be shipped via water on a
barge passing through the Panama Canal on
the way to Florida. This method was
expensive and very time consuming, taking
nearly a month for the passage. John M.
"Jack" Conroy, a former Air Force pilot,
(already renowned as the first person to fly
round trip from California to New York and
back between |
|
The Last
Allison-Powered P-51 Mustang
This is a story of the XP-51J lightweight
Mustang– the aircraft shown in Figure 1. The
story is not long as only two of this P-51
variant were built, and they did not fly for
very long, nor did they get into combat. Their
short history ended when the Army sent them
from North American Aviation to Allison for
engine testing – until now. Recently some
information, including several pictures of the
XP-51Js, was found in the archives of the
Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust (RRHT), which
contains history of the Allison Division of
General Motors. This story summarizes what has
been known about the XP-51J, some of which is
untrue, and the new information found in old
Allison and National Archives records.
Unfortunately, no flight test reports have
surfaced, but some information can be inferred
from the pictures that have been found. The Lightweight
Mustang |
|
Arctic Ops
Part II: Early Secret Military Cold War
Arctic Operations
Coping with
Arctic Weather |
|
It should
come as no surprise to readers that the first
airplane factory was founded in Dayton, Ohio,
or that it bore the name Wright. What may come
as a surprise is that those original buildings
still stand, and until three years ago they
were still part of a functioning factory. The Wright
Company |
|
In the
summer of 1958, I made my first trip out of
the United States, to Sweden, on the
International Air Cadet Exchange (IACE). I
was one of five American Civil Air Patrol
(CAP) cadets who spent two fascinating weeks
touring the country, along with pairs of
cadets from Belgium, Canada and the United
Kingdom. Hosted by the Swedish Air Force
(Flygvapnet), we visited air bases and other
locations from Kalmar, in the south, to
Abisko, well above the Arctic Circle.
We were introduced to Swedish aviation,
culture and society, making friends and
developing interests that for me, at least,
have been important parts of my life ever
since. I will attempt to recreate the point
of view and impressions of an 18-yearold on
his first major international journey. But,
first, a brief explanation of the IACE. |
|
United States
Army Air Forces WWII aviation
enthusiasts and Hollywood tend to remember
specific fighters, such as the P-51 Mustang or
the P-47 Thunderbolt, and bombers, such as the
B-17 Flying Fortress or the B-29
Superfortress. Often forgotten or
misunderstood are the much smaller and slower
monoplane and biplane piston-engine aircraft
that were used to train thousands of United
States Army Air Corps and Air Forces pilots.
These aircraft, built mostly by such companies
as Stearman, Fairchild and Ryan, were used in
what some deemed the most important stage of a
cadet’s training career: primary. Each
possessed certain strengths and weaknesses.
Some of these aircraft can still be seen
flying out of small airports in the United
States, offering rides to those willing to pay
$50 or more for a half hour of flight. Their
occupants probably have no idea that over 60
years ago these airplanes played a vital role
in laying a foundation upon which the United
States built a mighty air force. |
|
"Number Two;"
Helicopter Pioneer Stewart Ross Graham "I have always been
fascinated by the wonders of flight – the
flying machines as well as the daring aviators
who flew them. The flying machine I came to
know best was the helicopter." |
|
A careful
look at early Wright brothers and Glenn
Curtiss engines reveals a fascinating design
feature. Small holes can be seen at the base
of their engine cylinders. The Wright
brothers used circular (and later rectangular)
"holes," also referred to as "auxiliary
exhaust ports," in their 1904 Engine No. 3 as
well as their Vertical-4 engines. Glenn
Curtiss also used auxiliary exhaust ports in
some of his 2, 4 and 8-cylinder aero engines.
A few others, including engines from the Kemp
Machine Works, Bates Engineering Co., as well
as the famous Anzani engine in the Bleriot IX
also used this engine design feature. These
auxiliary exhaust ports were through holes at
the base of the individual cylinders that
exposed the inside of the engine cylinder to
the atmosphere when the piston was near
the bottom of its stroke. Since these engines
operated under the four-stroke cycle
principle, these holes, at first, seem rather
odd to the modern observer. Who did this and
what was Steam Engines |
|
Like a
lot of AAHS members, I’ve had a lifelong
interest in airplanes and aviation history,
and even have some stories that might be of
interest to others. What follows is one of
them. |
|
This series focuses on
sales literature that prompted light aircraft
during the Golden Age of American aviation. It
will illustrate sales and marketing messages for
popular, and not so well known, aircraft from
the 1920s and 1930s, illuminating insight into
the perspectives associated with the aviation
industry of that era. |
|
The FORUM is presented as an
opportunity for each member to participate
in the Journal by submitting interesting or
unusual photographs. Negatives,
black-and-white or color photos with good
contrast may be used if they have smooth
surfaces. Send submissions to the Editorial
Committee marked "Forum of Flight," P.O.
Box 3023, Huntington Beach, CA 92605-3023.
Mark any material to be returned: "Return to
(your name and complete address)."
Please include as much information as
possible about the photo such as: date,
place, names, etc., plus proper credit (it
may be part of your collection but taken
by another photographer). |
|
Additions,
corrections and general comments from AAHS
members and other individuals that have
contact the Society. |
|