Archive for August, 2008
Thunder Over Michigan 2008 – Part 1
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Laser Gunship Fires; ‘Deniable’ Strikes Ahead?
August 20, 2008 9:04 amFrom blog.wired.com
Boeing announced today the first ever test firing of a real-life ray gun that could become US special forces’ way to carry out covert strikes with “plausible deniability.”
In tests earlier this month at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, Boeing’s Advanced Tactical Laser — a modified C-130H aircraft — “fired its high-energy chemical laser through its beam control system. The beam control system acquired a ground target and guided the laser beam to the target, as directed by ATL’s battle management system.”
“By firing the laser through the beam control system for the first time, the ATL team has begun to demonstrate the functionality of the entire weapon system integrated aboard the aircraft,” Boeing exec Scott Fancher said, in a statement.
This Week In Military/Aviation History 18 – 24 August
August 18, 2008 1:31 pmHello Folks, well I remembered this week to post on Sunday. I think it won’t be a problem anymore. Yesterday was the first (annual?) Volunteer Appreciation Day at the 1941 Historical Aircraft Group Museum in Geneseo. I had a good time. I got a 20-minute ride in HAG’s C-45H, had great food and met once again with some great Folks. That was my fourth flight. One commercial to and from Chicago on our honeymoon, and two L-Bird flights at HAG events. I thoroughly enjoyed this one because the aircraft was larger and I wasn’t cramped. It’s strange though, I really enjoy aviation but not so much flying. I’ll jump at a chance to fly if it’s there (for free, of course), but I really could take it or leave it. Sim flying is more my speed, I guess. We had headsets and we could hear the radio and intercom chatter which I liked. The takeoff was so smooth I didn’t know we were climbing until I heard “The gear’s up.” Really great visibility. My goal is to take a flight in “W7″ our C-47, Natasha, our Antonov An-2 or maybe even the “Movie Memphis Belle.” We’ll see. Now, let’s get down to some serious history, shall we?
Take Care and Be Safe,
Tom K. 
18 August 1903
German Carl Jatho ‘hops’ his 9 horse-power, gasoline-engined aeroplane a distance of 18 meters (59 feet).
22 August 1909
The first international air meeting takes place at Reims in France. 23 aircraft and their pilots compete for cash prizes in speed, distance and duration competitions.
20 August 1910
Lieutenant Jacob Earl Fickel of the United States Army, fires the first shots from an aeroplane at Sheepshead Bay in New York State. He fires a Springfield rifle at a target from the passenger seat of a Curtiss biplane.
20 August 1913
The first loop is performed by Lieutenant Nesterov of the Imperial Russian Army while flying a Nieuport Type IV monoplane over Kiev.
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This Week In Military/Aviation History 11 – 17 August
August 12, 2008 10:42 pmWell another week gone and would you believe I forgot to do this post Sunday since I decided to move it. Yep, mind like a sieve. Terminal CRS (Can’t Remember Sh–Stuff) Oh well. Another thing I never learn is “Don’t buy any more flight simulators.” I have enough…I have more than enough…OK, I have too many. I went out and got X-Plane 9. I should have known when I tried to download the demo and it blew up and didn’t install there would be issues. No, I had to get it anyway. After all the stuff I went through to get Microsoft Flight Simulator 10 (FSX) to work on my system, I had to go and try to add something even more involved on that same system. It works, kinda. You see, first of all the documentation sucks. You have two sources. The pamphlet that comes with the DVDs, yes that’s right, DVDs. Six of them. One disc containing the program and the scenery for the US and five discs for the scenery of the rest of the world and, I think Mars. The other source is the manual furnished on the disc which is more extensive than the pamphlet. This is one honkin’ involved program. You can design and build your own aircraft, livery, and scenery. You can customize the keyboard commands and your joystick buttons and it accepts any style of controls you choose to use. I, of course, am totally lost. I like the plug and play stuff. I always, whenever I can, buy the strategy guide and read that first before the instructions so I have an idea what I’m getting into. I have my favorite parts of each sim which I do over and over again. I have never really tried going from the beginning to the end of a campaign. I barely get out of the training part. Too many things. One sim (Falcon 4.0 and its successor Falcon 4.0 Allied Force) has 32 training missions before you get your wings. And it’s not like you can only do it once, you have to do it many times before you get it right. Oh, and should you not fly it for a while, refresher training is in order, just like the real world. Carrier Qualifications are the same as real life. I’m 60 years old. I don’t have time for all this training, let alone all the missions. On top of everything I’m heavy-handed on the stick. I’ll still keep pluggin’ though. Hope your week went well. Now, let’s get down to some serious history, shall we?
Take Care and Be Safe,
Tom K.;)
11 August 1906
Mrs C.J. Miller becomes the first American woman passenger in a dirigible (steerable airship).
17 August 1910
Franco American John B. Mosiant’s mechanic becomes the first passenger to fly across the English Channel, in a Blériot monoplane.
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2008 AirVenture Oshkosh Warbird Awards
August 6, 2008 9:55 pm
Another EAA AirVenture Oshkosh has come and gone, and numerous awards for fine quality warbird restorations flying in to participate were taken home by pilots, owners, and mechanics alike. We have compiled the list of awards below.
Preservation Award
Lewis Shaw, Dallas, TX, North American P-51 Mustang, N6168C
Preservation Award
John O Connor, Downers Grove, IL, North American P-51D Mustang, N151MC
Preservation Award
Charlie Grott, Jim Johnson, Pat Devine & Bob Vasquez, St. Charles, MO, Aeronca L-16A Grasshopper, N1143V
Preservation Award
Timothy McDonald, Niceville, FL, North American AT-6G Texan, N92778
Preservation Award
William L. Greene, Groveland, IL, North American T-6G Texan, N3172G
Judges’ Choice: SNJ
Open Cockpit LLC, New York, NY, North American SNJ-5, N3259G
Judges’ Choice: T28
Malte Lorenz, Islip, NY, North American T-28B Trojan, N128BS
Judges’ Choice: Primary Trainer
Mark Howard, Edmond, OK, Fairchild PT-26A Cornell, N9279H
Judges’ Choice: L-19
Stephen Frushour, Storm Lake, IA, Cessna L-19 Bird Dog, N140R
Judges’ Choice: CJ-6
Ron Lee, Palos Verdes Estates, CA, Nanchang CJ-6A, N250RL
Judges’ Choice: Yak 52
Ed Noel, Houston, TX, Yakovlev Yak-52, N713YK
Judges’ Choice: L-Bird
Joseph J. Miller & Tim Trimble, York, PA, Aeronca L-3B Grasshopper, N39563
Judges’ Choice: T-6
Nathan Davis, Tipton, IN, North American AT-6D Texan, N43826
Best T-6
A & M Flight, Eden Prairie, MN, North American T-6 Texan, N85696
Silver Wrench: Gary Allan, Seattle, WA
Best Yak 52/CJ-6
Dave Jester, Pensacola, FL, Yakelov Yak-52 TD, N152TD
Silver Wrench: Dave Jester, Elmore, AL
Best Primary Trainer
Commemorative Air Force – Wisconsin Wing, Waukesha, WI, Fairchild PT-26 Cornell, N103JC
Silver Wrench: Joe and Mark Denest, Westchester, PA
Best O/L-Bird
Duncan Cameron, Lebanon, TN, Consolidated Vultee OY-1 Sentinel, N452WB
Silver Wrench: Duncan Cameron, Lebanon, TN
Best Military Classic
Lil’ Dawg Aviation Inc, Huntsville, AL, Hiller OH-23D Raven, N2770
Silver Wrench: Pat Pockrus, Mineral Wells, TX
Silver Wrench: Bob Tumlin, Oxford, MO
Best T-34
George Frey, Fredrick, MD, Beechcraft T-34B Mentor, N5QN
Silver Wrench: Blackwell Aviation, Belle Vernon, PA
Best Jet
Stewart Fred, Houston, TX, Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatross, N626SF
Silver Wrench: Worldwide Warbirds, Phoenix, AZ
Best P-51
JTS Historical Aviation Foundation, Seattle, WA, North American P-51B Mustang, N5087F
Silver Wrench: Pacific Fighters, Idaho Falls, ID
Best Fighter
Rod Lewis, San Antonio, TX, Supermarine Spitfire MK VB, N628BL
Silver Wrench: Warren Denholm, AVSPECS, Auckland, NZ
Returning Best of Class
Frank Vranicar, Corona Del Mar, CA, Cessna L-19A Bird Dog, N5199G
Returning Grand Champion
Randy Maiville, Onondaga, MI, Cessna O-1G Bird Dog, N16886
Phoenix Award
JTS Historical Aviation Foundation, Seattle, WA, North American P-51B Mustang, N5087F
Dirty Bird
Barry Hancock, Provo UT, Nanchang CJ-6, N8120L
Reserve Grand Champion World War II
Jack Roush, Old Crow, Livonia, MI, North American P-51B Mustang, N551E
Gold Wrench: Cal Pacific Airmotive, Salinas, CA
Grand Champion World War II
North American P-51D Mustang, NL74190
FTRESC LLC, Happy Jack’s Go Buggy, San Antonio, TX
Gold Wrench: Midwest Aero Restorations Ltd., Danville, IL
This Week In Military/Aviation History 4 – 10 August
August 3, 2008 10:57 pmHello Folks, well, less than seven have flown by this time. I have decided to change my post day from Tuesday to Sunday. This way you Folks can start out the week with some nice historical tidbits to dazzle your friends and co-workers with. I hope you have fun and learn something with these posts. I know I do. I’m also including a link to show you Folks what the Blue Beauty looks like and the HAG logo Frank Schaufler did on the floor of “Swanson Hall” our new command building. Now, let’s get down to some serious history shall we?
http://members3.boardhost.com/1941AirMuseum/msg/1217416335.html
Have an AB FAB week,
Take Care and Be Safe,
Tom K.;)
8 August 1908
One of the Wright brothers, Wilbur Wright, makes his first European flight at Le Mans in France in the new two-seat Model A.
8 August 1910
The first aircraft tricycle landing-gear is installed, on a United States Army Wright biplane.
5 August 1912
United States Army officers gain double pay for volunteering for flying training, after the Hardwick Bill is passed in Washington, USA.
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