Presidential Helicopter Squadron Author: Barry Fetzer Can you imagine the “dog fight” that would occur today if the military services were competing for the honor of being the “Presidential Helicopter Squadron”? In many ways, life was simpler back in 1957 and in the early 1970’s, when the Marines, who had been pioneering use of helicopters…
Amelia Disappears Author: Barry Fetzer Like many girls of her “vintage” (she was born in July, 1928), my mom’s heroine when she was a young girl was Amelia Earhart. Mom is dead, now, but scrap books of hers cobbled together as a kid and retained as an adult are replete with newspaper clippings of Earhart’s…
Atlantis and Mir Author: Barry Fetzer It’s probably just me (although I’d feel better if I knew others are as nuts as I am), but why is it I like round numbers so much? It may be my “manageable OCD” (manageable, depending on the eye of the beholder I suppose), enhanced, a bit, by my…
Sandhills Fliers Young Aviators STEM Camp The Moore County Airport hosted the Sandhills Fliers Young Aviators STEM Camp June 19-22, 2023 for rising 6th graders – 12th graders Our experienced and passionate instructors guided and mentored the children through the camp, ensuring a safe and enriching experience for all participants. We maintain a low camper-to-instructor…
The Berlin Airlift Author: Barry Fetzer Actions by the Soviet Union today in 1948 became the impetus for one of the largest, aviation-centric logistical efforts ever undertaken: the Berlin Airlift. Only two days after the Soviets closed all surface access to west Berlin, in what turned out to be a vain attempt to gain concessions…
Firsts in Flight Author: Barry Fetzer It’s easy to forget how many “firsts” the Soviet Space Program had. They “beat the pants” (and the skirts) off of us until all their firsts were pretty much forever buried by America’s first steps on the moon by Neil Armstrong, who coasted along to become the “toast of…
James Elms Swett Author: Barry Fetzer “Time,” it is said, “cures all ills.” Time, also, unless we take care to ensure it doesn’t, erases history. New history is created over time, burying the older history. Generations come and go and the experiences—the history—that meant so much to past generations, means increasingly less to succeeding generations. …
Memphis Bell Author: Bryan R. Swopes Submitted by: Barry Fetzer Completing twenty-five combat missions. Most of us wouldn’t bet on those odds. But we might bet on the odds at the casinos. According to Casinofreak.com, “The average payout percentage for slot machines in Las Vegas is around 85 cents per dollar earned.” Flying B-17’s in…