Aviation Archives: F4U Corsair Contributor: Riley Yelverton Sources: Sikorsky Archives, National Museum of the United States Navy On May 29, 1940, Vought-Sikorsky Aircraft Division test pilot Lyman A. Bullard, Jr. took the U.S. Navy’s new prototype fighter, the XF4U-1, Bu. No. 1443, for its first flight at Bridgeport Municipal Airport, Connecticut. Designed by Rex…
Monday Twofer On this Day in Aviation History Contributor: Barry Fetzer Sources: Foreign Affairs Magazine, History.com “As the last of more than 300,000 overwhelmed Belgian, British, and French troops were evacuating Dunkirk, the Luftwaffe bombed Paris for the first time. In broad daylight on June 3, 1940, a thousand bombers and fighters struck French…
On This Day in Aviation History-JFK Calls For Congress to Support the Space Program Contributor: Barry Fetzer Sources: History.com I hope you have (or “had” if you’re just reading this on Tuesday) an enjoyable Memorial Day Holiday, and did more than merely enjoy BBQ’s, the beginning of our summer season, and family, but also…
On This Day in Aviation History-Surviving Contributor: Barry Fetzer Sources: History.com I met a couple the other day who were, and are, “survivors”. My dad used to say, “That’s the name of the game, Barry. Surviving.” This couple…and Lindbergh as we’ll see below, too…remind me of dad’s aphorism. This couple lost their youngest daughter as…
This Day in Aviation History: Memphis Belle Contributor: Barry Fetzer Sources: History.com, Casinofreak.com On May 17, 1943, the crew of the Memphis Belle became one of the first B-17 aircraft and crew to complete 25 missions over Europe and return to the United States. Completing twenty-five combat missions. Most of us wouldn’t bet on…
On This Day in Aviation History: A Tuesday Twofer: May 14, 2005 Highest Landing and Takeoff and First Passenger Contributor: Barry Fetzer Sources: “This Day In Aviation History” by Bryan Swopes, At five and a half miles, there are precious few “Bernoullis”available (especially for inefficient helicopters), “Bernoullis” being an aviator’s tongue-in-cheek way of expressing…
MISTY 40 FAC has Flown His Final Flight Contributor: Barry Fetzer Nine days ago, we lost one of the our most accomplished aviators, Dick Rutan. The following tribute is by Jim Moore, Managing Editor-Digital Media for AOPA. A decorated war hero and aviation pioneer, Dick Rutan, who “played an airplane like someone plays a…
On This Day in Aviation History: May 9, 1926. Over the North Pole…or not? Contributor: Barry Fetzer Sources: Wikipedia According to Wikipedia, “Inaptronyms are names inappropriate for what the person does, such as Rob Banks, who is a British Police Officer. On the other hand, an aptronym, aptonym, or euonym is a personal name…