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Flyin' Jenny Comic Strip - January 4, 1942

Flyin' Jenny Comic Strips: January 4, 1942 Baltimore Morning Sun - Airplanes and Rockets

The Baltimore Sun newspaper, published not far from where I grew up near Annapolis, Maryland, carried Flyin' Jenny from the late 1930s until the strip ended in the mid 1940s, so I saved a couple dozen from there. The first one I downloaded has a publication date of December 7, 1941 - that date "which will live in infamy," per President Roosevelt. Many Americans were receiving word over the radio of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor while reading this comic at the breakfast table. This is the January 4, 1942, Flyin' Jenny comic strip. I expect that soon there will be World War II themes...

The 19th Model Nationals

The 19th Model Nationals, October 1950 Air Trails - Airplanes and RocketsAs reported in this 1950 issue of Air Trails magazine, the 19th annual National Championship Model Airplane Contest, held at Hensley Field Air Station in Dallas, Texas, in 1950, unfolded against a backdrop of military readiness as Marine and Navy air units prepared for the Korean War. Despite the gravity of the situation, more than 500 ardent contestants from the United States, Canada, and Mexico eagerly arrived at Hensley Field, ready to participate in the first-ever National model meet in the Southwest. For many senior flyers, aged between 18 and 21, the competition held special significance, as they were either expecting draft notices or had already decided to enlist...

Radio Measurements in Space

Radio Measurements in Space, May 1967 Electronics World - Airplanes and RocketsThe first thing I learned (or re-learned) in reading this article is that in 1967, "Hertz" had only recently been assigned as the official unit of frequency. According to Wikipedia, International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) adopted it in in 1930, but it wasn't until 1960 that it was adopted by the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) (Conférence Générale des Poids et Mesures). Hertz replace cycles per second (cps). The next thing that happened was that I was reminded of how images such as the op-art tracing of antenna oscillation that are routinely generated today by sophisticated software, required huge amounts of setup time and trials to yield just a single useful and meaningful image using actual hardware...

Dremel Model 381 Moto-Tool Kit & Instructions

Dremel Moto-Tool Model 381 Kit & Manual - Airplanes and RocketsThis Dremel Model 381 Moto-Tool Kit is the next generation after my Dremel Model 371 Moto-Tool kit that my Dremel Model 370 Moto-Tool was part of. Somewhere along the line I disposed of the plastic box that held the Moto-Tool and accessories, so I looked on eBay for a replacement. After many years of waiting, the closest I came was this Dremel 318 Moto-Tool Kit. It appears to be identical to the Model 371, only it came with the Dremel Moto-Tool Model 380. The Model 380 has ball bearings whereas the Model 370 uses brass bushings. This Dremel Model 381 Moto-Tool Kit appears to be in like-new condition and looks like it has never been used. Scans of all the manual pages are posted below in case you have been looking for them.

Cavalry of the Clouds

Cavalry of the Clouds, March 1937 Flying Aces - Airplanes and RocketsArch Whitehouse's air adventure stories with wily ballistics expert and ace pilot Kerry Keen (alter ego, The Griffon) are one of my favorite reads in the vintage Flying Aces magazines. While testing their amphibious Black Bullet over Long Island, aviator Kerry Keen (the Griffon) and mechanic Barney O'Dare spot a stolen experimental aircraft - a winged fortress capable of carrying tanks. When Barney vanishes mysteriously, Keen discovers his partner has been entangled in a plot to steal "Avalin," a revolutionary armor formula. The trail leads to kidnapped movie star Doreen Yardley, who unknowingly received the formula- all while protecting Keen's masked identity...

The Boom in R/C Boats

The Boom in R/C Boats, June 1955 Popular Electronics - Airplanes and RocketsThis article entitled "The Boom in R/C Boats" appeared in the June 1955 edition of Popular Electronics magazine which, during the early years of its existence devoted quite a bit of print space to radio control airplanes, boats and cars. As with all things electronics, a huge surge in consumer interest was occurring with over-the-air communications. Bill (William) Winter served as the editor of the Academy of Model Aeronautics' (AMA's) American Modeler and American Aircraft Modeler magazines from 1966 through 1974, but his efforts to promote all form of modeling - airplanes, helicopters, cars, boats, trains, and rockets - covered many decades. His first recorded article, "Building the Famous Udet Flamingo," (co-authored by Walter McBride), was published in the March 1935 issue of Universal Model Airplane News magazine...

More... About Stunt Theory

More... About Stunt Theory, March 1957 Model Airplane News - Airplanes and RocketsIt would be interesting to do a side-by-side comparison on what was considered engineered control line stunt model airplane design in 1957, when this article was written, to what is today considered to be optimal design criteria. I am trying to get back into control line stunt flying and have one model built currently, the Enterprise-E. It has been flown a few times and is (was) extremely sensitive on the controls when set up per the plans. A little bit of control handle movements resulted in a huge amount of both elevator and flap deflection. Fortunately, access to the flap control horn is available through the removable top fuselage hatch, so I was able to relocate the pushrod from the bellcrank to the flap horn, and then from the flap horn...

Lite-Brite by Hasbro

Lite-Brite by Hasbro - Airplanes and RocketsWhen Melanie and I got married in 1983, part of her dowry included some of the toys she had as a little girl. A Hasbro Lite-Brite was one of them. Our kids played with it when they were young, but somewhere along the line during our many household moves, it disappeared. We probably donated it to the Salvation Army at some point - a lot of our stuff has ended up there. About a month ago we started watching for a good one on eBay that didn't cost too much. Finally, there was a 1967-vintage Lite-Brite in like-new condition up for auction that we got for around $45. It has a nice box...

Wild Bill Netzeband's Control Line Capers

Wild Bill Netzeband's Control Line Capers, October 1961 American Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsPer "Wild Bill" Netzenband's report in this 1961 issue of American Modeler magazine covered the Vancouver Bi-Liners, MAC highlights, Alan Nichols' success in Thompson Trophy Racer events, encouraging clubs to adopt the affordable, and slow-flying contests. He addresses backlogged club crest submissions, noting the impracticality of featuring all due to volume. Alan Nichols debunks the myth that models wear out quickly, citing his year-old Nobler and a five-year-old Fierce Arrow with original engine. Memories resurface of McDonnell Aircraft's picnic air shows, where Phil Hamm's reliable metal jet stood out. Southern California's new Control-Line Association, led by John Gudvangan and others, seeks enthusiasts. Detroit's Metropolitan Speed Association unveils an $8,000 Rouge Park speed circle, aiming for a competitive...

Pilots Matter in Age of Autonomous Planes

Why Pilots Matter in Age of Autonomous Planes - Airplanes and RocketsThis article entitled "Why Pilots Will Matter in the Age of Autonomous Planes" appeared in the June 2025 issue of IEEE's Spectrum magazine. "Long after planes start flying themselves, humans will still be in the loop. In August 2001, an anonymous guest posted on the forum at Airliners.net, a popular aviation website. 'How Long Will Pilots Be Needed?' they wondered, observing that '20 years or so down the road' technology could be so advanced that planes would fly themselves. 'So would it really be useful for a person to go to college now and be an airline pilot if a few years down the road they will be phased out by technology?' Twenty-four years later, the basic technology required to make aircraft fly themselves exists, as evidenced by the fact that most commercial flights are flown largely on autopilot..."

Flyin' Jenny Comic Strip: February 8, 1942

Flyin' Jenny Comic Strips: February 8, 1942 Baltimore Morning Sun - Airplanes and RocketsThis is the February 8, 1942, "Flyin' Jenny" comic strip. The Baltimore Sun newspaper, published not far from where I grew up near Annapolis, Maryland, carried "Flyin' Jenny" from the late 1930s until the strip ended in the mid 1940s, so I saved a couple dozen from there. The first one I downloaded has a publication date of December 7, 1941 - that date "which will live in infamy," per President Roosevelt. Many Americans were receiving word over the radio of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor while reading this comic at the breakfast table. I expect that soon there will be World War II themes. "Flyin' Jenny," whose real name was Virginia Dare (what's in a name?), was a test pilot for Starcraft Aviation Factory who divided her time between wringing out new airplane designs and chasing bad guys. She was the creation of artist and storyteller Russell Keaton...

Peanuts Skediddler Collection

Peanuts Skediddlers Collection - Airplanes and RocketsThis is the complete set of Peanuts Skediddlers, sold by Mattel. Linus is extremely difficult to find, and when you do, he typically sells for $200 or more. If you find a Linus Skediddler with the original box, expect to pay $400. Over time, our (Melanie and me) Peanuts collection of memorabilia has grow from the few items she had left over from her girlhood to complete sets. Everything was gotten via eBay auctions. It took a lot of patience to be able to get good quality items at an affordable price. Here is a bit of history I gathered on the Skediddlers. Phenomenon: In the mid-to-late 1960s, Mattel capitalized on the explosive popularity of Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts comic strip by releasing the Skediddler - a line of friction-powered toys. Unlike wind-up mechanisms, these toys relied on a simple push-and-go design: sliding them across a surface activated internal gears, causing the characters' limbs and heads to jerk in a whimsical "skedaddling"...

The Reds Aren't Stallin'!

The Reds Aren't Stallin'!, February 1949 Air Trails - Airplanes and RocketsThis 1949 Air Trails magazine article warns that the Soviet Union has surpassed the U.S. in military aircraft production by a 15-to-1 margin, with advanced jet fighters, bombers, and long-range piston-engine planes already operational. Soviet scientists have also conducted atomic tests and are close to producing compact A-bombs. Intelligence reveals a Red Air Force of 15,000 first-line aircraft, including 2,400 jets, some surpassing American designs. The Soviets broke the sound barrier before the U.S. and have developed powerful turbojet engines, some with innovative features like variable-pitch stators. German scientists and captured technology accelerated Soviet progress, particularly in rocketry and jet propulsion. Their aircraft feature advanced construction techniques, such as metal-plywood sandwich wings, and superior armament...

Glider Winch Construction Article

American Aircraft Modeler Glider Winch Construction Article (April 1973 American Aircraft Modeler) - Airplanes and RocketsA long time ago (circa 1977) I bought a used glider winch at an auction held by the Prince Georges Radio Club, in Maryland. It cost me somewhere around $25, which was a lot for me in the mid 1970s. The motor and control circuitry was contained in a plywood box, with a jack for the foot switch and terminals to clamp jumper cable to from a car. In looking at these plans for the AAM Glider Winch shown here from the April 1973 American Aircraft Modeler, it looks a lot like mine, only mine was in a wooden box. It worked extremely well for my 99" Windfree and 99" Aquila sailplanes. Unfortunately, I sold it shortly after getting married in 1983 (couldn't eat the winch). I would love to have it back. Actually, what I would rather have at this point is a winch that is powered by a cordless drill that would be lighter...

Weather Surveillance by Satellite

Weather Surveillance by Satellite, March 1967 Electronics World - Airplanes and RocketsWe take for granted most of the technology that surrounds us. Unless you were alive 60 years ago at the dawn of microelectronics and space flight, it would be difficult to imagine a world without cellphones, desktop computers, color TVs, the Internet, and even satellite-base weather forecasting. Everyone likes to make jokes about weathermen being no better at predicting the weather than your grandmother's roomatiz[sic], but the fact is that, especially for short-term (2-3 days) predictions, we get pretty good information. As a model airplane flyer, I check the wind level forecast nearly every day to see whether my model plane can handle it. AccuWeather's free hourly forecast is usually pretty darn accurate for today's and tomorrow's wind...

Phineas Pinkham: Smoke Scream

Phineas Pinkham: Smoke Scream, March 1937 Flying Aces - Airplanes and RocketsIn this 1937 "Smoke Scream" in a 1937 issue of Flying Aces magazine, by Joe Archibald, Lt. Phineas Pinkham, the 9th Pursuit Squadron's resident troublemaker, stumbles into chaos when he encounters an elephant named Hungha Tin and its Hindu mahout. After the elephant drinks a bottle of arnica meant for a local's backache, it goes berserk, wreaking havoc across the Allied camp. Meanwhile, Brigadier Scruggs confesses to Pinkham that he sleepwalked and handed top-secret battle plans to an unknown spy. Pinkham, framed by the mahout - who's actually a German agent - unknowingly smokes a drugged cigarette and nearly flies a stolen Spad to the enemy. The vengeful elephant interrupts his forced defection, allowing Pinkham to escape with Hauptmann von Spieler as his prisoner. Back at base, Pinkham...

Control-Line Aerodynamics Made Painless

Control-Line Aerodynamics Made Painless, December 1967 American Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsThe Academy of Model Aeronautics is granted tax-exempt status because part of its charter is for activity as an educational organization. I think as time goes on, it gets harder for the AMA for fulfill that part of its mission because presenting anything even vaguely resembling mathematics or science to kids (or to most adults for that matter), is the kiss of death for gaining or retaining interest. This article, "Control-Line Aerodynamics Made Painless," was printed in the December 1967 edition of American Modeler magazine, when graphs, charts, and equations were not eschewed by modelers. It is awesome. On rare occasions a similar type article will appear nowadays in Model Aviation magazine for topics like basic aerodynamics and battery / motor parameters. Nowadays, it seems, the most rigorous classroom material that the AMA can manage to slip into schools is a box of gliders and a PowerPoint presentation...

Airplanes and Rockets Homepage Archives

The Airplanes and Rockets Homepage Archive is a comprehensive collection of every item appearing daily on this website since 2017 - and many from earlier years.

Windmill Planes

Windmill Planes, February 1939 Popular Science - Airplanes and RocketsLeonardo da Vinci is usually credited with producing the first illustration of a helicopter concept. It employed a rotating helical corkscrew device at the top in order to enable the craft and occupant to "screw his way aloft, in much the same manner as Archimedes designed his eponymous helical screw device to lift water from a lower level to a higher level. Water, being dense and cohesive with itself, was easily elevated, whilst air, not being dense or cohesive, did not yield to the same technique. In fact, if the "aerial screw" were able to spin rapidly enough and was of an efficient aerodynamic design, it would work. Here is a 4-screw drone to prove it. These "Windmill Planes" presented in the February 1939 issue of Popular Science magazine represent the state of the art at the time. Surprisingly omitted is an example of Igor Sikorsky's helicopter design, which he first flew successfully in September...

Electrodrome: Fog and Poison Gas

Electrodrome: Fog and Poison Gas, May 1934 Flying Aces - Airplanes and Rockets1934 was still riding the back of the high voltage craze popularized by Nikola Tesla at the turn of the century. Super high voltage spark gap transmitters were still being used in long distance communications for special applications. William Haight was one of many people engaged in weather manipulation - both its creation and destruction. Transportation, agriculture, and recreation would greatly benefit from the ability to locally and temporarily control weather. This story of Mr. Haight's high-voltage "electrodrome" machine appeared in the May 1934 issue of Flying Aces magazine. Another version of this electrodrome article by author Mel Wharton, entitled "Eliminating the Peril of Fog," appeared in the April 1934 edition of Flying magazine. There he says, "Repeated tests have shown that the operations of dispersing fog is most effective at about 600,000 cycles - though work is done all the way on a range from 500,000 to 1,500,000 cycles. The machine is capable of developing 500,000 volts, but only a fraction of this voltage is found necessary." A 4½ horsepower gasoline engine-powered generator provides the voltage. A May 1935 issue of Popular Mechanics magazine reports on Mr. Haight's electrodrome work...

Radar Rockets

Radar Rockets, July 1946 Radio-Craft - Airplanes and RocketsDuring World War II, Germany terrorized Europe with it rocket bombs, most notably the V−1 Buzz Bomb and the V−2 Rocket. The "V" prefix, BTW, stands for Vergeltungswaffe, translated as "vengeance weapon," or "retribution weapon." Both "vengeance" and "retribution" are really misnomers since it was Germany that was the aggressor in both WWI and WWII. The vengeance or retribution in Hitler's view was likely the punishment and restrictions imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles for its vicious and inhumane behavior before and during World War I. History shows they doubled down on it during World War II. But I digress. This 1946 article in Radio−Craft magazine proposes a scheme for a "radar rocket" system that could detect, acquire, and intercept an enemy rocket bomb in flight - a concept that was never really successful until the Patriot Missile...

AMA Museum Donations Viewable Online Now

AMA Museum Donations Viewable Online Now - Airplanes and RocketsThe December 2021 issue of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) Model Aviation magazine contained an article about the AMA Museum's effort to post model aircraft related historical items on their website. I check to see whether the two kits I donated in 2019 are there, and indeed they are. One is a Parris-Dunn Little Bobby Helicopter Kite Kit and the other is a Guillow's D-4 Menasco Trainer Kit. Both were gifted to me by Mr. Steven Krick. Realizing their historical significance, I contacted the AMA Museum and they gratefully accepted the donation offer. I have not been to the AMA Museum since 1999, not long after the initial building was commissioned, so it would be nice to make another trip there and see the incredible collection on display now - especially the vintage hobby shop.

Find the Scale Wingspan & Area

Find the Scale Wingspan & Area - June 1969 American Aircraft Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsDave Platt - aka "Mr. Scale" - is one of the world's most accomplished scale model airplane builders and flyers. He somehow manages to turn out magnificently detailed scale models year after year. If you haven't seen his "Platt's Laws of Scale Modeling," derived from his decades of experience, you'll want to do so. He has built and flown his scale models in the realms of free flight, control line, and radio control, using internal combustion engines with propellers, ducted fans, and turbine jets for propulsion. There might be someone somewhere equally qualified to comment on scale airplane modeling, but none more qualified. When this "Find the Scale Wingspan & Area" article appeared in a 1969 issue of American Aircraft Modeler magazine, slide rules were the de rigueur...

CallAir Snowcar Will Liven up Winter Contests

Control Line or Radio Control CallAir Snowcar Will Liven up Winter Contests (January 1957 American Modeler Magazine) - Airplanes and RocketsPropeller-driven air cars and boats were popular in the 1950 and 1960s. They solved the problem of complicated and failure-prone transmissions and had no traction issues regardless of terrain. Recall the James Bond movies of the era that featured these vehicles regularly. As a teenager, I built an air boat out of a block of styrofoam and a Cox .048 Babe Bee engine. A rudder was controlled by my OS 3-channel RC system. It ran pretty well - nothing to get excited about but it was my first radio-controlled model of any sort. This CallAir Snowcar is a much more sophisticated type of vehicle and is actually modeled after a full-scale propeller-driven vehicle. Call Aircraft made a few lightplane models, including agricultural (Ag) types, under the CallAir moniker...

How to Target AirplanesAndRockets.com for Your Google Ads

Google AdSense - it makes good sense - Airplanes and RocketsSome companies have expressed an interest in being able to target Airplanes and Rockets via the Google AdSense program. Yes, it is possible to do that. As you might expect, finding the exact information on the Google AdSense website is a bit difficult. This short video does a good job summarizing exactly how to implement the "Ad Targeting" option, then "Placements," and then add "Websites." Just enter   airplanesandrockets.com   . There are other settings to optimize your advertising campaign with keywords (both included and excluded), pricing, scheduling, statistical data collection and reporting, etc. If you are currently using Google AdSense, then please consider this method, and if you are not using AdSense, now would be a good time to look into it. I have had reports from some companies that experience great results using AdSense (not just on Airplanes and Rockets)...

Starting Control Line Flying Scale

Starting Control Line Flying Scale, Annual 1960 Air Trails - Airplanes and RocketsThis "Starting Control Line Flying Scale" article in the 1960 Annual Edition of Air Trails magazine is still a good primer on how to go about getting into scale flying model competition. Some of the contest rules have changed over the decades since, but the basics are the same. The table of model sizes and engines might need to be adjusted for electric powered models, but in the scale world there are still many modelers who use internal combustion engines - especially in the large airplanes. A quietly humming motor does not give quite the same real-world affect as a screaming engine. Even with all the research going into full-scale electric aircraft, we're still many moons away from have a viable military fighter, transport, or commercial commuter. The drawing is by the famous Cal Smith (as is the cover image), but the text of the article is not attributed to any named author...

American Telasco Limited Jet Propulsion Lab

American Telasco Limited Jet Propulsion Lab, Annual 1960 Air Trails - Airplanes and RocketsJetex "rocket" motors were quite popular during the 1940s through the 1970s. Their debut in the modeling world was in 1948, per the Jetex.org website. Unlike Estes rocket engines that used combustion to generate a high velocity ejection stream, Jetex fuel pellets merely "burned" at a constant rate while the exhaust was forced through a small orifice in the engine's metal housing (casing). Also unlike Estes engines, the Jetex casing was reusable and re-fuelable. Half a dozen or so sizes and thrust levels eventually were produced. I had a couple of the Jetex 50 engines that got strapped to Guillows balsa gliders and, to some degree, were made to fly in jet-like fashion...

How to Target AirplanesAndRockets.com for Your Google Ads

Google AdSense - it makes good sense - Airplanes and RocketsSome companies have expressed an interest in being able to target Airplanes and Rockets via the Google AdSense program. Yes, it is possible to do that. As you might expect, finding the exact information on the Google AdSense website is a bit difficult. This short video does a good job summarizing exactly how to implement the "Ad Targeting" option, then "Placements," and then add "Websites." Just enter   airplanesandrockets.com   . There are other settings to optimize your advertising campaign with keywords (both included and excluded), pricing, scheduling, statistical data collection and reporting, etc. If you are currently using Google AdSense, then please consider this method, and if you are not using AdSense, now would be a good time to look into it. I have had reports from some companies that experience great results using AdSense (not just on Airplanes and Rockets)...

SIG Manufacturing Company Advertisement c1963

SIG Manufacturing Company Advertisement, January/February 1963 American Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsSIG Manufacturing, forever located in Montezuma, Iowa, is among the ranks of a dwindling number of America's original model airplane kit and accessories makers and distributors. Sig's catalog from the early 1970s was the first hobby catalog I ever owned. You can bet I read it cover-to-cover many times, wishing to own everything on its pages. In case you don't know, the name SIG is a shortened version of Sigafoose, which is the last name of the company founders, Glen and Hazel Sigafoose. According to a press release, "In February 2011 SIG Manufacturing Co., Inc. was purchased by Herb Rizzo (President), David Martin (VP and General Manager), and Ron Petterec (VP) ...

Ace R/C Mini Foam Wing Resources - Constant & Tapered Chord

Ace R/C Mini Foam Wing Resources - Constant & Tapered Chord - Airplanes and RocketsUp until sometime in the early 2000s, Ace R/C manufactured a very popular set of injection molded foam wings for ½A size models - the Ace R/C Mini Foam Wing. There was a constant chord and a tapered chord version. Up until fairly recently, a third-party firm was selling equivalent foam wing panels eBay. Of course you can often buy original Ace R/C Mini Foam Wings on eBay so you might want to check periodically to see if they appear. Laser Design Service and Balsa Builder both offer a balsa built-up version of the foam wing. Andy Kunz has a free plan for cutting and building your own Ace tapered chord mini foam wing replica. Owen Kampen and others designed and kitted many ½A airplanes using his Mini Foam Wing cores ...

Jetex-Powered "VTO" Article & Plans

Jetex-Powered "VTO" (Article & Plans) is Third in Series of Air Adventurers Models, March 1957 American Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsJetex rocket motors were a big deal to my friends and me in the early 1970s, although they had been around a lot longer than that. In fact, this article in the March 1957 edition of American Modeler magazine was printed a year before I was born. The motors did not product a whole lot of thrust, so light weight was an absolute necessity. Once I finally got the buggers lit, they worked well and made a really cool hissing noise as the fuel burned. However, the amount of fuse wire provided never was enough to use up all the pellets in the pack because the darn things kept going out as it tried to enter the nozzle. No doubt it was my ineptness that caused the problem, but my excuse was only being a dumb kid. Now, I have a whole lot of fuel pellets but no engines for them...

Lew McFarland's Shark "45"

National Champion Lew McFarland's Shark "45", October 1961 American Modeler - Airplanes and RocketsThe Jetco Shark 15 was my very first built up control line airplane. Before that they had all been plastic Cox models. As did many kids in the 1960's and 1970's I learned to fly on a Cox PT−19 Trainer (summer of 1969, about the time Apollo 11 landed on the moon). Before building the Shark 15, my experience with built-up models was with rubber-powered free flight. Mustering enough money for a Shark 15, a Fox 15 C/L engine, and covering materials was not easy in those days. The Shark 15 flew very nicely when I could get the Fox 15 started and running properly. Loops, wingovers, and inverted flight were much more satisfying than with the Cox models, whose .049 engines had a nasty habit of quitting during inverted flight. I resolved to someday step up to a Shark 45 once I had enough spare cash, but to this day I still have never owned one. The largest engine I've ever had on a C/L model was a Fox 35 (equally temperamental and frustrating) on a Sterling Ringmaster...

The Ghost from G-2

The Ghost from G-2, May 1934 Flying Aces - Airplanes and RocketsDonald Keyhoe wrote a huge number of aviation adventure articles for Flying Aces magazine in the 1930s. His flying ace was Captain Philip Strange, a "G−2" agent with a unique sense of intuition that allows him to practically (but not really) read people's minds. He is also a master of disguises. Capt. Strange's era is World War I and his venue was the front lines of Germany and France. After Philip Strange came Kerry Keen (aka "The Griffon") during the World War II era, written by real-world ace pilot Arch Whitehouse. You will likely be introduced to a new bunch of words that were particular to the times, like "ack emma," referring to the signalman's phonetic pronunciation of "A" and "M." In "The Ghost from G−2," the reference is to "aircraft mechanics," but ack emma was more routinely applied to "A.M." for morning, or ante meridian ("pip emma" was P.M., or post meridian). "Ack-ack" was for...

About Airplanes & Rockets 

Kirt Blattenberger, Webmaster - Airplanes and RocketsKirt Blattenberger

Even during the busiest times of my life I have endeavored to maintain some form of model building activity. This website has been created to help me chronicle my journey through a lifelong involvement in model aviation, which all began in Mayo, Maryland...

 

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