Airplanes & Rockets website visitor
David T. wrote asking about locating an article where the author reports on having
initially tried aero-towing
by a powered airplane with the tow line connected to the tail of the tow plane.
I have never seen that method tried, and this article demonstrates why it is not
commonplace. Disaster evidently resulted, so the author ended up connecting the
tow line to the wing hold-down bolts and success ensued. This is the only
aero-tow article I could find in the 1975 year range that David referenced, but
it is not what he was looking for. If you know of an article that contains the
experience he requested, please send me an e-mail and I will pass it along to
David...
American Modeler magazine has a rich history
rooted in the enthusiasm for model aircraft, covering topics such as building, flying,
engines, fuel, contests, advertisements, and product reviews. Its lineage can be
traced back to the publication Air Trails, which underwent a transformation
in 1955 to focus on scale modeling, broadening its scope to include aircraft, cars,
and trains. This evolution culminated in the December 1956 rebranding of Air
Trails as American Modeler. The first issue under this title was volume
47, number 3. Initially, the magazine was published monthly, catering to a wide
audience of hobbyists and enthusiasts. Albert L. "Al" Lewis, a pivotal figure in
the magazine's history, served as editor during its formative years. His tenure
began in the late 1950s and extended...
The term "gas" when referring to
miniature 2-cycle internal combustion engines (ICE) for model airplanes, boats,
cars, and helicopters, has its origin in the early days of modeling. Similar to
full-size automotive gas engines, they ran on gasoline, and used a spark plug with
a high voltage power source and timing mechanism that was an integral part of the
engine. As with a lawn mower or outboard boat engine, timing of the spark relative
to the position of the piston in the cylinder is critical for optimum performance.
Tuning the system could be a real challenge if inferior gas was used, the spark
plug was worn or dirty, or the spark generator / timing was poorly...
Today, computer software has replaced much
of the simulation and experimentation that used to be the sole domain of
wind and smoke tunnels.
The mathematical equations are so complex for high resolution, 3-dimensional calculations
that very powerful computers are required to run even relatively simple simulations.
While there are programs that can be purchased for about $1,000 that do a good job
for uncomplicated shapes, large, university and corporation scale computers are
needed for "serious" work like designing commercial and military aircraft, passenger...
Often when I see photos of some of the early
radio control gear for model airplanes, I have a simultaneous reaction of aghastness
and marvel at the crudity and ingenuousness, respectively, of the electromechanical
devices - the same kind of reaction I have to stories about early surgical procedures
and equipment. In 1940, when this article appeared in the ARRL's QST magazine,
successful takeoffs and landings were considered notable events not so much because
of pilot ability, but because of the low reliability of available electronic and
mechanical gear. Vacuum tubes with attendant heavy, high voltage power supplies,
and heavy metal gears and shafts required large airframes to support all the weight
and bulk. Modern-day low-cost, readily available R/C models incorporate, depending
on your requirements, autopilot, total prefabrication of airframe, propulsion, and
guidance components. BTW, dig Mr. Bohnenblust's ride in that photo...
After dropping off some stuff at the Erie
City Mission, Melanie and I walked through the display floor to see what was available.
We've gotten some good things there in the past, including a Queen Anne chair and
a china hutch. We've been looking for a used, full-size bed for the spare bedroom
to replace the twin bed that used to be our daughter's. Fortunately, the Erie City
Mission had recently acquired a turn-of-the-20th-century
rope bed that, according to lore, used to belong to the owner of a defunct local
brewery (Kohler?). Heavy pine is used for the entire framework. It was in fair shape,
with expected dings and scratches from 100+ years of use. Rather than undertake
a total restoration...
The
1961 Academy of Model Aeronautics' (AMA's) National Model Airplane Championships
(aka "The Nats") were held that year at Willow Grove Naval Air Station just North
of Philadelphia. The U.S. military was concerned with encouraging young men to excel
in the field of aviation in order to help breed future pilots, mechanics, researchers,
and other aerospace related careers within the Army, Air Force, Marines, and Navy.
In fact, the U.S. Navy was a prime sponsor of the Nats for many years. In the
early 1970s, geniuses in the Pentagon decided that such activity was no longer a
good investment, so the AMA had to find other private and public venues for events.
The AMA's flagship publication, American Modeler magazine, provided coverage...
If
you have been around the Airplanes and Rockets website for a while, you are probably
aware that my hobby activities have been funded by my profession in radio communications
(see RFCafe.com). Reading this, you likely
also know that each year the AMA holds national championships for all forms of model
aviation including radio control, control, and free flight. Airplanes, helicopters,
and theses day drones, are the primary focus, while rockets, cars, and boats are
sometimes featured. Various classes of contents are conducted, including Expert
and Standard, Senior and Junior, and others. What really caught my attention this
year and last year was the first name of the champion for the Junior class of control
line flying - Angstrom! Is that a great name or what? It sure beats Kirt. The name,
of course, is a unit of wavelength named in honor of
Anders Jonas Ångström.
Here is the origin of Ebernez.
"Designed to operate as a high-altitude,
long-endurance surveillance and reconnaissance platform the aircraft - defined as
a
High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) - has been
designed by BAE Systems subsidiary Prismatic, a division of the company's FalconWorks
advanced research and development arm. Alongside reconnaissance, the aircraft has
the potential to be used in the delivery of communications networks including 4G
and 5G and could be used in a wide range of applications, such as disaster relief
and border protection, as a cost-effective alternative..."
Once upon a time there was an organization
called the Boy Scouts of America, whose adult leadership sought to prepare generations
of young men to be brave, enterprising, purposeful, resolute, enduring, partnering,
assuring, reformed, enthusiastic, and devoted to himself, his community, and his
country. Its membership was exclusively biological male. The fact that I used the
term "biological male" is an indicator of what has gone tragically wrong with the
BSA in the last decade or so with wokeness and infiltration by ne're-do-well agents
of change. But, I digress. This aviation themed adventure article appeared in a
1938 issue of Boys' Life magazine, the official publication of the BSA.
Its arctic locale...
The
Estes Astron Gyroc model rocket,
introduced in the late 1960s, is a fascinating example of ingenuity in model rocketry.
It was designed to demonstrate an innovative recovery method - spin recovery - that
set it apart from traditional parachute or streamer recovery systems. The Gyroc
became an instant hit among rocketeers due to its simplicity, affordability, and
the spectacle of its recovery mechanism in action. A newer version called the "Tazz"
is now being sold. It simplifies the building process. Development History The Gyroc
was developed during a period when Estes Industries sought to expand the educational...
While orbiting the Moon on Christmas Eve,
1968, NASA astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and William Anders made a live broadcast
from from the Apollo 8 command module, in which they
showed video of the lunar surface and the Earth as seen from one of the spacecraft's
portals. That flight produced the famous "Earthrise" photograph which is featured
on a U.S. commemorative stamp issued in May of 1969 - just three months before Apollo 11
landed on the moon. On the ninth orbit, toward the end of the transmission, the
three astronauts each took a turn reading from the book of
Genesis, chapter 1, verses 1 through 10. They
finished with, "And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck,
a Merry Christmas – and God bless all of you, all of you on the good Earth."
From Melanie and
me here at AirplanesAndRockets.com, we wish you all a very
Merry Christmas and a
happy and prosperous New Year!
The
Honest John rocket, officially
designated M31, represents one of the earliest tactical ballistic missile systems
deployed by the United States Army. Its inception stemmed from the necessity for
a reliable battlefield nuclear delivery system during the early years of the Cold
War. Development began in 1950 under the auspices of the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps,
with technical guidance provided by the Douglas Aircraft Company, which was contracted
to bring the concept to fruition. By 1953, the Honest John was operational, making
it the first surface-to-surface rocket in the U.S. arsenal designed to deliver nuclear
warheads. Development Timeline and Key Personnel The Honest John program's roots
trace back to increasing tensions in the post-World War II era, as the United States
sought systems capable of delivering nuclear payloads without the need for long-range...
Let's see... if this was the
14th
Nationals contest, then that means the first one was held in 1941-14+1 = 1928.
That date agrees somewhat with the Academy of Model Aeronautics' (AMA) website that
documents the complete history of model airplane comteptition. To wit: "Airplane
Model League of America (AMLA) Nationals, sponsored by American Boy magazine, set
the standard for future events. Held in Detroit from 1928 to 1930, the two-day event
featured the Mulvihill and Stout indoor and outdoor trophies, plus a scale static
contest and an awards banquet." Another article sets 1923 as the first National
Aeromodeling Championships, although the only event was Mulvihill. The AMA itself
was officially founded in 1936. According to a June 1976 Model Aviation magazine
article entitled, "What You Should Know About Balsa," balsa wood was not the most
popular structural material for model airplanes until about the time of this contest.
Pine and bamboo were often used before then.
As with so many other aspects of technical
application, the state of the art of rubber motors
has advanced significantly since the writing of this article - not that the information
contained herein is anywhere near obsolete (except trying to find Pirelli rubber).
Rubber motor braiding techniques, lubricants, the rubber length, width, thickness,
modulus, composition, has all been studied and characterized to the nth degree so
most of the guesswork is gone as far as the actual motor performance is concerned.
Still all the other variables in the airframe and propeller system (prop, bearing,
gearing)...
"Unknown
drone activity forced one of the U.S.'s most critical military installations to
shut down for several hours late Friday evening and Saturday morning, officials
confirmed. The incident prompted heightened security measures and temporarily
halted operations at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. Home to the 88th
Air Base Wing, Wright-Patterson is one of the largest and most strategically important
bases in the U.S., tasked with advanced research, intelligence, and operations.
Unauthorized drone activity in military airspace poses significant risks, from espionage
to safety hazards. In audio recordings by the Air Force Base air traffic control,
which were shared online, an operator can be heard saying they are diverting 'over
base' air traffic..."
Lifeguard duty is the latest application
for radio-control systems and the combination of modern high-powered electric motors
and Li-Ion batteries. An Arizona-based company called Hydronalix has created a robotic
flotation device to deploy to reach swimmers in distress when a lifeguard can't
get there soon enough. The robot is called EMILY, which is an acronym for
Emergency Integrated Life-saving
Lanyard. EMILY weighs 25 pounds, can go up to 25 miles per hour and can be used
as a flotation device for up to six people. Its batteries will run the device for
about 15-20 minutes...
The 1939 Thompson Trophy Air Races, held
in Cleveland, Ohio, was the final show for that series until after World War II.
Roscoe Turner was there in his Meteor LTR-14 racer. He had won top spot the
year before with a speed of 283 mph, and in 1939 at 282 mph. In a unique
turn in aviation career tacks, Turner conjured up a scheme where, based on equally
unique circumstances largely of his own design, adopted a lion as a mascot to sell
his services as a corporate products promoter. His first big success was with Gilmore
Oil, after which the lion was named. "Gilmore" flew around the country with Mr. Turner...
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