In September 1944 nine US airmen were shot down over Chichi Jima, a small island 700 miles south of Tokyo, Japan. Of these nine men, only one evaded capture by the Japanese. […]
After Escaping Cannibals, Dealing With Politicians Was Easy
How Did the Hindenburg Disaster Nearly Destroy Marvel Comics?
The unexpected explosion of the Hindenburg on May 6, 1937, left an enduring mark on history. Thirty-six people were killed as the massive airship attempted to dock at Naval Air Station Lakehurst in […]
The Wright Brothers Fly to the Moon
The first airplane flight covered a mere 852 feet, but a part of that plane ultimately flew nearly half a million miles.
Flying a Plane is All in the Numbers
If Airport X has a runway 30, and Airport Y’s top-numbered runway is 27, logic suggests that Airport A is the larger airport, right? Actually, the number of the runway has nothing […]
The President with 5 Stars Also Had Wings
If you are looking for a poster child for “overachiever” you might consider Dwight D. Eisenhower. This Kansas farm boy rose from modest beginnings to become one of only five Americans to achieve […]
Speedy Pit Stop
Mid-air refueling is impressive by any standard. For two or more aircraft to join together while flying at 300 mph, it requires pilot skill and technological sophistication well beyond average. Among the […]
Tuning the Helicopters
Musical instruments can be costly, and any band student who has had to lug a tuba or bell set on a school bus knows they can be unwieldy, too. The Sousaphone or cello […]
I Tawt I Taw a RNAV (GPS) Approach to Runway 16
Pilots use agreed-upon geographic locations as reference points for navigation. Many times, these points have no distinct visible features, but they have been designated as points on a map so pilots can line […]
Anchors Aweigh for a Singular Honor
Air Force One is well known as the aircraft of the President of the United States. Technically, it is any US Air Force aircraft in which the President is a passenger. […]
Building Zeppelins Took a Lot of Guts
photo credit: Alexander Sovpel. Used by permission. During much of World War I, sausage consumption was illegal in Germany. The reason was to preserve the supply of cow intestines, which were needed to seal […]
Unnecessary Instructions
Betty Ford recalled a time when she was First Lady and was flying aboard Air Force One. She was in the restroom when the plane hit some unexpected turbulence. The Secret Service […]
When Judgment Trumps Skill
“A superior pilot uses his superior judgment to avoid situations which require the use of his superior skill.” — Frank Borman, commander of Apollo 8, in Flying Lessons, Federal Aviation Administration, January 8, 2008
When the Flight Attendant Tells You How to Fasten Your Seat Belt, Pay Attention
Captain Tim Lancaster was in command of British Airways Flight 5390 on June 10, 1990, when the windscreen failed and he was sucked out of the cockpit. The plane, a BAC 1-11, […]
Surviving An Unscheduled Flight
On February 14, 1945, Margaret Horton, an member of the Royal Air Force’s Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF), was assigned a familiar job: sit on the horizontal stabilizer of a Spitfire to […]
With a Little Help From My Friend Adversary
The SR-71 Blackbird was one of the greatest tools of espionage ever built. Flying at speeds of Mach 3, it could out-fly any enemy fighter or surface-to-air missile. In addition to its […]
