Flymall / Kraemer Aviation February 2024 Wheels & Wings Newsletter

Written on February 28, 2024 at 7:58 pm, by hkraemer

Welcome to the Kraemer Aviation/Flymall.org Wheels & Wings Newsletter

You can view past newsletters here. This month we’re featuring Glenn Curtiss, the Glenn Curtiss Museum, and the town of Hammondsport in the Finger Lakes area. Harry was at the Glenn Curtiss Museum earlier this month for their annual event Winter Cycle Therapy event.


Due to multiple snow storms in the Finger Lakes and Harrisburg PA areas, they have to drive up for the Winter Cycle Therapy event. Once north of Harrisburg, it is a very scenic drive.

Interested in living at an airport?  Visit our Aviation Real Estate page here. You can view price data for airport property in our Market Watch section of the Flymall. Here is the data for all airport property. You can refine the search by “state” simply by searching for the desired state under “Model”.

Want to have your business highlighted on the Flymall???  We offer inexpensive rates to have your business featured on our Wheels & Wings page.  Contact us for more info.

History Trivia: On Friday, February 16, Chrissie, Jon, & Harry visited the historic Depot Park in Hammondsport. The population is only 753. The land that makes up Hammondsport was purchased by Captain John Shethar in 1796. Years later the land was owned by Lazarus Hammond and it became known as Hammond’s Port and that name would eventually be changed to Hammondsport.

They also visited an area called Kingsley Flats where in 1908, John Newton Williams demonstrated rotary wing test rigs. Click on the image below for a larger view. The engine in Williams’ machine was built by Glenn Hammond Curtiss.

A favorite place to eat in the historic village of Hammondsport, is Burgers & Beer of Hammondsport.

The town of Hammondsport is what you would expect for a small town with rich history, lots of historic buildings.

The Finger Lakes region has a deep history in wine making. And to try some of the locally made wine, they visited Bully Hill Vineyards that sits on a hill on the west side of Keuka Lake with fantastic views of the lake. The history of wine making in the Finger Lakes dates back to the 1800s. Click here for an article on how wine making began in the Finger Lakes.

If you enjoy history we have a new aviation history fact each day at the bottom of our webpages.  Some days there may be more than one, just refresh the page.  And if you like Beatles history, checkout our Events Calendar and select the Beatles category.  This is a work in progress, we’re building the most comprehensive calendar of important dates in Beatle history.  For those that like to stick with current news, we have an aviation news ticker on our home page.  This is updated daily to show the current aviation news.

Achievements & Special Recognition: Earlier this month, Kelly passed her Instrument Flight Instructor checkride with Harry. This was their third checkride together. Kelly is an excellent instructor and we wish her a lot of success in her aviation career.

Instructors, what to highlight your students first solo or other achievement here?  Just send us a short write-up and a picture or two and we’ll post it here for you.  Click here for our contact info.

Aviation/Aviators in the news: After Glenn Curtiss made a name for himself building motorcycles and setting land speed records, he became famous for his aircraft designs and his aircraft engines. Among the many other aircraft on display in the Glenn Curtiss Museum, is a beautiful Seagull Curtiss Model 18 (pictured right). The Seagull Curtiss Model 18 was part of the Curtiss Models F series of pre WWI and post WWI flying boats. Widely produced, Model Fs saw service with the United States Navy under the designations C-2 through C-5, later reclassified to AB-2 through AB-5. Model Fs built from 1918 featured a revised, unequal-span wing that incorporated the ailerons into the upper wing and sponsons on the sides of the hull to improve the aircraft’s handling in water. These were known as the Model MF (for Modernised-F), and years later as the Seagull in the postwar civil market.

The aviation section of the Flymall is full of aviation news, training info, and much more for the aviator.

Air show season is always just around the corner.  Want to travel to air shows in your own aircraft?  Visit our used aircraft page on the Flymall to view our inventory.

Car/Motorcycle Show News:   The Laytonsville Cruise In is the place to be on a Friday night in Montgomery County.  The Laytonsville Cruise In was started by Harry in 2010. It has become one of the most popular cruise ins in the area. You can follow Harry on Facebook for daily updates during the many shows and events he attends. Click here for the latest news and information for the Laytonsville Cruise In.

Below are some pictures from the Winter Cycle Therapy 2024 at the Glenn Curtiss Museum.

Saturday, February 17 was the opening day for the 2024 Winter Cycle Therapy at the Glenn Curtiss Museum.

As always, the motorcycles are the stars of the show. This museum probably has one of the largest collections of Glenn Curtiss motorcycles. Glenn Curtiss started developing motorcycle engines in 1902. The first one was a single-cylinder model generating 3 horsepower. And by 1903, he developed a 8-horsepower V-Twin engine.

And by 1907, Glenn Curtiss was setting land speed records on his legendary V-8 motorcycle. Glenn Curtiss soon became known as the fastest man in the world.

There were a lot of nice cars/trucks on display at the Winter Cycle Therapy event. One of Harry’s favorites was this 1919 Model 913 Franklin 4 Door Sedan. The Franklin Automobile Company was a marketer of automobiles in the United States between 1902 and 1934 in Syracuse, New York. Of the 150,000 Franklins manufactured, approximately 3,700 remain. Herbert H. Franklin, the founder, began his career in the metal die casting business before establishing his automobile enterprise. The two major characteristics of their automobiles were their air-cooled engines and in the early years their lightness and responsiveness when compared with other luxury cars.

The Glenn Curtiss Museum has an awesome collection of engines on display.

If you appreciate the craftsmanship that goes in to making wood propellers, the Glenn Curtiss Museum has many propellers to enjoy.

Speaking of propellers, here is a 1929 Curtiss-Wright propeller used on the Lockheed Constellation that was on display at the Glenn Curtiss Museum last year.

Before Glenn Curtiss was making a name for himself building and racing motorcycles, he was racing bicycles. And the Glenn Curtiss Museum has a very nice collection of early bicycles. Bicycles are what started his career, Curtiss began his career as a Western Union bicycle messenger, a bicycle racer, and bicycle-shop owner.

The Glenn Curtiss Museum also has an awesome collection of early industrial equipment on display seen here in these photos along with some miscellaneous pictures from the 024 Winter Cycle Therapy event.

Our Events Calendar has the most current info regarding local and national car shows, air shows, and more.  With nearly 30 categories, there is something for everyone.  The Day Tripper section of the Flymall has dozens of day trip ideas and interesting places to visit.  Check it out here.

Click here for the Glenn Curtiss Museum page in the Day Tripper section of the Flymall. There you can see pictures from past events including their Hammondsport Wings & Wheels event held each September.

Earlier this month, Pat, Jett, Ace, & Harry attended the monthly Cars, Bikes, & Coffee at District Harley Davidson. Jett has made a lot of friends there over the years. She knows her way around the showroom and knows where the food is kept.

Barn Finds/Hangar Finds:  Need an appraisal on your barn find?  Visit our Appraisal Page for information on our appraisals. We have made some additions to our appraisal page, you can now view sample appraisals.

Visit our online store to search for hard to find car parts, aircraft parts, and much more.  You can pay online in our secure store, just click on the Store button on our home page.

Visit the Test Drive section of the Flymall for reviews on automobiles, aircraft, motorcycles, and more. Read about it before you buy it.  You can also research price info on a wide variety of vehicles, collectibles, and more in the Market Watch section of the Flymall. 

If you’re restoring a fabric aircraft, Ira Walker of Walker Aviation is your resource.  Visit his page on the Flymall by clicking here

CFI / DPE Notes:  Visit Harry’s Practical Test page for information on his checkrides.  You will also find useful information there to help you prepare for your checkride.  You can also visit Harry’s Lesson Plan section of the Flymall for other flight training information.  Visit our Flight Training page for information on our aviation training classes.

Earlier this month, Niel passed his private pilot practical test with Harry. He did an outstanding job. When Niel is not flying, he is riding motorcycles and participating in triathlons.

Here’s Niel performing slow flight hand free.

Weather in the news: On February 22, the Mid-Atlantic region had several lines of heavy thunderstorms move through the area. This is very unusual for this time of the year in the area of the country.

And on February 28, we saw another line a storms move through the area. Both events were very unusual for February. The February 28 system produced 11 tornadoes in Chicago. This was the most ever in a single day for the month of February.

Three Wheel Association (TWA) & 3-Wheelers.com:  Harry started the Three Wheel Association in 2013 to promote/support the industry of three wheel vehicles of all types. Visit the Three Wheel Association page on the Flymall for more info on the association. Our sister site, 3-Wheelers.com has over 1,000 vehicles listed in the A to Z list. 3-Wheelers.com is the foremost reference for all types of 3 wheel vehicles, from motorcycles, bicycles, military vehicles, tractors, amphibious vehicles, and more.

The Glenn Curtiss Museum always has a few 3 wheelers on display. Here’s a favorite, a Glenn Curtiss Motorcycle with a wicker sidecar. Click here to see some of the 3 wheelers on display from past events at the museum.

Want a reproduction vintage 3 wheeler.  Walker Aviation can scratch built from pictures or drawings.  Visit his page on the Flymall.  

Prototypes: In 1904, Curtiss became a supplier of engines for the California “aeronaut” Tom Baldwin, which is who inspired Curtiss to pursue aviation. In that same year, Baldwin’s California Arrow, powered by a Curtiss 9 HP V-twin motorcycle engine, became the first successful dirigible in America. In 1907, Alexander Graham Bell invited Curtiss to develop a suitable engine for heavier-than-air flight experimentation. Bell regarded Curtiss as “the greatest motor expert in the country” and invited Curtiss to join his Aerial Experiment Association (AEA).

Pictured below is Harry at the controls of the Goodyear Blimp. This picture was taken in the late 1980s or early 1990s at the Martin State Airport in Middle River Maryland. Harry is on the right side of the picture or the left side of the blimp. And “Yes” he did fly it and it is logged in his logbook.

Nautical Notes: Chrissie, Jon, & Harry also visited the Finger Lakes Boating Museum housed in the  former Taylor Wine Company building. Click here to tour the museum via Harry’s pictures on Flickr.

The Finger Lakes Boating Museum has multiple buildings full of boats on display. Here’s a tour of them from our February 2024 visit.

We mentioned earlier that the Finger Lakes Boating Museum is housed in an old winery. And no winery is complete without a wine cellar. Click here for pictures of the wine cellar in the museum’s main building.

There is a rich history in wooden boats and wood boat making in the Finger Lakes. The Glenn Curtiss Museum had a few nice wooden boats on display. Many of the wooden boats from the Curtiss Museum have been moved to the Finger Lakes Boating Museum.

Here’s a 1905 Fay and Bowen 2.5 horsepower engine on display at the Finger Lakes Boating Museum. It’s a work of art. Click here to view the many engines on display at the museum.

Riding The Rails: Did you know that the Finger Lakes region has it’s own railroad? It’s called the Finger Lakes Railway. The Finger Lakes Railway started business in 1995 and has over 150 miles of track in Finger Lakes region including Ontario, Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Yates, and Schuyler.

Native American Indian Transportation: Since we’re featuring the Finger Lakes region, here’s some interesting facts about the area courtesy of the Best Western of Hammondsport. The Iroquois Indians were some of the last native American Indians to live in the Finger lakes region. The Iroquois Indians used canoes for transportation on the Finger Lakes. Pictured here is an Iroquois Indian and his canoe.

Click here for a Flymall Newsletter that includes the Pesse canoe, which may be the oldest known canoe. The Pesse canoe doesn’t look as sleek as our modern canoe.

Animals in the headlines: We’re happy to report, that Jett & Ace are getting along good together.

We close this newsletter with these words: Look for opportunities to make people feel important.

Flymall.org / Kraemer Aviation January 2024 Wheels & Wings Newsletter

Written on January 26, 2024 at 11:25 am, by hkraemer

Welcome to the Kraemer Aviation/Flymall.org Wheels & Wings Newsletter.

This month we have a special feature, we’re highlighting Maria Leijerstam. Maria is an adventurer with numerous expeditions under her belt. She even has a Guinness World Record. Click here for her story and parts of Harry’s interview with her.

You can view past newsletters here. January is the middle of winter here in the Northeast. We’re not enjoying our collector vehicles and we’re not flying too much in January. So this month we’re featuring “decorating your home with wheels & wings”.

Interested in living at an airport?  Visit our Aviation Real Estate page here. You can view price data for airport property in our Market Watch section of the Flymall. Here is the data for all airport property. You can refine the search by “state” simply by searching for the desired state under “Model”.

Want to have your business highlighted on the Flymall???  We offer inexpensive rates to have your business featured on our Wheels & Wings page.  Contact us for more info.

History Trivia: Chevrolet has been building trucks since 1918. The first production truck from Chevrolet was inspired by vehicles used in plants to move parts and pieces from place to place. Essentially a rolling chassis with a configurable body or cargo area allowed the original Chevrolet pickup to be the versatile vehicle of choice for hauling goods to and fro. The Chevrolet C/K series ran from 1960 to the year 2002 when it was replaced by the Silverado.

Here’s what you can do with your old Chevrolet pickup that is no longer road worthy.

And here’s a bed for the helicopter pilots.

If you enjoy history we have a new aviation history fact each day at the bottom of our webpages.  Some days there may be more than one, just refresh the page.  And if you like Beatles history, checkout our Events Calendar and select the Beatles category.  This is a work in progress, we’re building the most comprehensive calendar of important dates in Beatle history.  For those that like to stick with current news, we have an aviation news ticker on our home page.  This is updated daily to show the current aviation news.

Achievements & Special Recognition: This month we should remember the crew of Challenger whom lost their lives in the exploration of space on January 28 1986.

Instructors, what to highlight your students first solo or other achievement here?  Just send us a short write-up and a picture or two and we’ll post it here for you.  Click here for our contact info.

Aviation/Aviators in the news: This month we have to mention a private pilot applicant that did his practical test with Harry earlier in January. Eyal is the first applicant that Harry had that did not get ONE question incorrect during the ground portion of the test. This is amazing. Great job Eyal.

The aviation section of the Flymall is full of aviation news, training info, and much more for the aviator.

An airplane bed.

Air show season is always just around the corner.  Want to travel to air shows in your own aircraft?  Visit our used aircraft page on the Flymall to view our inventory.

Car/Motorcycle Show News:   The Laytonsville Cruise In is the place to be on a Friday night in Montgomery County.  The Laytonsville Cruise In was started by Harry in 2010. It has become one of the most popular cruise ins in the area. You can follow Harry on Facebook for daily updates during the many shows and events he attends.

We have sad news to report on this month. Earlier in January, our friend from the Laytonsville Cruise In, Less Slick passed away. Here he is in his beloved Corvette.

Stay tuned for our February newsletter. Harry will be attending the Glenn Curtiss Winter Cycle Therapy next month and our February newsletter will have full coverage of this event.

How about cooking up some homemade soup on this awesome VW themed kitchen stove?

After you cooked dinner on the VW stove, you can enjoy it on this awesome table.

Or if you’re a rider, here’s your table of preference.

Speaking of riding, the Flymall team attended Cars, Bikes, & Coffee at District Harley Davidson on January 27. Jett & Ace were also on hand. The weather was perfect.

Our Events Calendar has the most current info regarding local and national car shows, air shows, and more.  With nearly 30 categories, there is something for everyone.  The Day Tripper section of the Flymall has dozens of day trip ideas and interesting places to visit.  Check it out here.

For the car enthusiast, having to go to work and being away from your babies at home in the garage, is a drag. Unless your office is as cool as this office.

Barn Finds/Hangar Finds:  Need an appraisal on your barn find?  Visit our Appraisal Page for information on our appraisals.  Here’s a barn find for you, a 1974 Ducati 750 SS. Earlier this month Harry was asked to do an appraisal for an estate of a gentleman that recently passed away. The attorney for the estate said they guy kept an old motorcycle in his house. Well that old motorcycle turned out to be an original 1974 Ducati 750 SS “Green Frame” bike. These bikes can sell for upwards of $190,000 or more.

If you’re looking for parts for your barn find, try the Howard Country Motorcycle Swap Meet held each year.

If you not sure what to do with that old firetruck that you found in a barn, here’s an idea. Click on each image for a larger view.

Visit our online store to search for hard to find car parts, aircraft parts, and much more.  You can pay online in our secure store, just click on the Store button on our home page.

Got an old Jeep that doesn’t run? Here’s an idea.

Visit the Test Drive section of the Flymall for reviews on automobiles, aircraft, motorcycles, and more. Read about it before you buy it.  You can also research price info on a wide variety of vehicles, collectibles, and more in the Market Watch section of the Flymall. 

If you’re restoring a fabric aircraft, Ira Walker of Walker Aviation is your resource.  Visit his page on the Flymall by clicking here

CFI / DPE Notes:  Visit Harry’s Practical Test page for information on his checkrides.  You will also find useful information there to help you prepare for your checkride.  You can also visit Harry’s Lesson Plan section of the Flymall for other flight training information.  Visit our Flight Training page for information on our aviation training classes.

Weather in the news: In early January, the Mid-Atlantic was hit with back to back storms. First was Ember and Finn followed a few days later.

Winter storm Ember.

Winter storm Finn.

Here’s winter storm Finn on January 9 as it moved into the Mid-Atlantic region. And after Finn, the country saw numerous other storms move across from west to east.

Here’s some pictures of the flooding we had on January 28 after a line of heavy storms moved through the night before.

Three Wheel Association (TWA) & 3-Wheelers.com:  Harry started the Three Wheel Association in 2013 to promote/support the industry of three wheel vehicles of all types. Visit the Three Wheel Association page on the Flymall for more info on the association. On 3-Wheelers.com, we now have over 900 listings in the A to Z list with many sub categories as well. And we have some very nice coffee cups and beer mugs available in our Cafe Press shop.

Want a reproduction vintage 3 wheeler.  Walker Aviation can scratch built from pictures or drawings.  Visit his page on the Flymall.  

Prototypes: Our “Concepts” section on 3-Wheelers.com has some awesome prototypes and other concept 3 wheelers. Here is the Toyota i-Road electric concept vehicle seen at the Washington DC auto show in 2014.

Nautical Notes: This is cool! Enjoying a movie indoors sitting on the deck of this boat.

Riding The Rails: And if decorating with car, plane, or boat parts isn’t enough, how about an entire motel made from caboose cars? The Red Caboose Motel & Restaurant did just that. Your motel room is an actual caboose.

Native American Indian Transportation: This odd looking boat is called a Bull Boat. It was used by Native American Indians. It was made using a framework of willow poles, covered with raw buffalo hides. Its said they they were not very stable.

Animals in the headlines: Since we will celebrate “Groundhog Day” next month, here’s a little history on that day. What is the history on letting a rodent forecast the weather? It derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerges from its burrows on this day and sees its shadow due to clear weather, it will retreat to its den and winter will go on for six more weeks; if it does not see its shadow because of cloudiness, spring will arrive early. The Pennsylvania Dutch were immigrants from German-speaking areas of Europe. The Germans had a tradition of marking Candlemas (February 2) as “Badger Day” (Dachstag), on which if a badger emerging from its den encountered a sunny day, thereby casting a shadow, it presaged four more weeks of winter. The Pennsylvanians maintained the same tradition as the Germans on Groundhog Day, except that winter’s spell would be prolonged for six weeks instead of four.  For the Pennsylvania Dutch, the badger became the dox, which in Deitsch referred to “groundhog”

We close this newsletter with these words: Make it a habit to do nice things for other people without them asking for it.

Maria Leijerstam’s Journey to the South Pole

Written on January 13, 2024 at 10:21 am, by hkraemer

This month we’re highlighting Maria Leijerstam. Maria is an adventurer with numerous expeditions under her belt. She even has a Guinness World Record.

In 2013 Maria Leijerstam became the first person to cycle to the South Pole from the edge of the continent. Her expedition was named the White Ice Cycle and the bicycle was called the Polar Cycle. Click here for details on her bike used in 2013. Her bicycle was a custom-built recumbent trike. It was made by Inspired Cycle Engineering (ICE). During this trip, Maria set a human-powered speed record that still stands today. At the time of the 2013 journey, Maria had two male competitors that left for the South Pole two days before her and she ended up getting to the South Pole first. This was a grueling 10 day trip in extremely harsh conditions. Some days, Maria cycled up to 17 hours. And she had to endure temperatures as cold as minus 40 degrees Celsius. Maria spent years planning the South Pole trip. Click here for Maria’s website that cover her trip to the South Pole.

When we asked Maria what her daily routine was like, here’s what she had to say “Basically I cycled between 12-17hrs per day. I slept/dozed for between 1-4hrs per night. It took me about 3 hours every stop to put up my tent, melt snow and ice to make water to drink and to rehydrate my food, eat, to tend to my alignments, such as my knee injury and get myself sorted to sleep, then to take the tent down and get going again. During the day I would cycle for 10k then have a 2 minute stop. I was able to eat and drink on the move as well as take photos/film. This is the benefit of recumbent cycling that doesn’t need much steering!  Having said that once I got to the sastrugi section on the polar plates I was having to navigate large boulders of ice which required a lot of concentration.”

Obtaining a world record from Guinness is a very rigorous process. Every detail of the trip needs to be documented as well as getting signatures from people along the way.

Cycling to the South Pole wasn’t a new idea, others have tried before Maria and failed. Maria was in top condition physically and this gave her an advantage. Her day job is running different adventure races in South Wales teaching people to be active and stay fit. Maria once ran 6 marathons in 7 days across the Sarah Desert. Maria also competed in the Black Ice Race in Siberia. Thirty people started this race and only 8 finished and Maria finished second. Some of Maria’s training for the South Pole trip included spending a day in an industrial freezer all day on the Polar Cycle at temperatures of minus 30 degrees.

She did made this incredible trip on a custom made tricycle called the Polar Cycle.

The bicycle for Maria’s 2013 expedition to the South Pole was completely her idea/design. Here’s Maria’s words on the 2013 bicycle; “The polar cycle was conceptualized by me and I drew up a user spec after lots of trails with normal 2 wheeled bikes on snow and ice.. It was then handed to Inspired Cycle Engineering who made it all in Falmouth in the UK. We went through a year of trail and testing and made multiple changes until we developed what is now the Polar Cycle. This was a name I created. ICE now have their version of it called the Full Fat, which is in full production selling 10-20 of them a month, mainly in the US and Canada. We have a special edition version of the FullFat coming out this year to celebrate my 10yrs of reaching the South Pole on it. It comes with my signature on it as well as a signed copy of my book and a few other things. It comes either as an electric or manual version. I still have the polar cycle but don’t ride it anymore as it’s too precious. I take it to talks and allow children to sit on it in schools. One day I will place it in a polar museum or a museum of British History.” From Maria’s idea/concept for the bike, it took 2 years to complete the custom build. One of the unique features on the Polar Cycle was an oval sprocket. This oval sprocket allowed Maria to have the power when needed and it gave her an easy stroke when that was needed.

You can read more about Maria’s incredible journey in her book Cycling To The South Pole.

Maria considered 2 wheel bicycles for the trip, however, they would have needed some sort of stabilizer system. And without enough knowledge on the subject or a suitable manufacturer, a 3 wheel bicycle became the better choice.

Maria said she was lucky her trip with regards to repairs on her bicycle. She only need to put air in the tires from time to time. And she had a brake freeze. She had no major repairs to make or major breakdowns. While in Iceland testing the Polar Cycle for the expedition, she had a chain break. While testing the bicycle, Maria and her team did make several minor changes. One was adding studs to the tires for traction. They also tried skies, however, they decided these were not a good idea.

The permit process and planning for the 2013 trip started a year in advance. Maria had numerous interviews in London and eventually was issued a permit to land on Antarctica.

Navigation for the South Pole trip was simple Maria said, it is just due South. Of course she had some minor deviations to avoid crevasses. She said most crevasses have been marked by the South Pole Traverse. However new ones can open up at any time. Maria did use GPS for the trip as well. Maria said that climbing the Leverett Glacier was challenging because she had to deviate a lot to avoid crevasses.

For most of the 2013 expedition to the South Pole, Maria carried all of her own equipment and supplies (55kg of gear). This included her food, camping supplies, cooking fuel, etc. Once she got onto the polar plateau, cycling conditions were much more difficult so she decided to use a support team to assist with her gear and supplies.

Here’s Maria with her custom bicycle after just arriving at the South Pole in 2013.

In December 2023, to commemorate her 2013 trip to the South Pole, Maria Leijerstam cycled from the east edge of Ireland all the way to the South Pole Inn on the west side of Ireland. She did the 320km trip in just under 27 hours. Here are some of Maria’s major points along her 2023 expedition across Ireland: Waterford, Cappoquin, Mallow, Newmarket, Castle Island, Castlemaine, South Pole Inn. Click here for some information on Maria’s bicycle used the 2023. Here’s Maria (pictured right) on her 2016 Scott Scale 910 Carbon Mountain Bike while on the 2023 expedition across Ireland. Maria used Komoot and Google maps for the planning of the actual trip/route for the Ireland trip.

Here’s Maria in 2023 celebrating her successful 2023 expedition with a glass of Guinness at the famous South Pole Inn in Ireland.

When we asked Maria “What is your next adventure?  Any more world records in the making?”, here’s her reply “I’ve always got more ideas!  In fact as the years go on and I watch other cyclists attempting to reach the south pole or do a full Antarctic crossing, but fail, it makes me think I’d like to head back to Antartica to do a Trans Antarctic crossing as I know how it could be done successfully! Chris Hoy, world famous professional British Cyclist was hoping to cycle to the South Pole but didn’t make it and this year Italian professional cyclists Omar De Felice tried for a 2nd time to cycle across Antarctica, but  didn’t make it. It goes to show you don’t have to be world famous or a professional cyclist. It’s all about having the right idea, equipment and willing to try something new! Becoming the first person to cycle across Antarctica from coast to coast is very appealing to me but this time I’d need sponsorship. I’m also very busy providing adventures for other people, in particular families with children. It’s Called the Burn Series and is modelled on the sport of Adventure Racing which I love so much. “

We asked Maria if the Polar Cycle may be used for her possible Trans Antarctic crossing and her reply was “Hi, no I’ve got some other ideas for a bike…. It’s the bit I love the most creating, designing and testing! It’s such a diverse project with so many elements to it.”

Maria also had this to say regarding future adventures, “So I did have a crazy idea of cycling across the Atlantic also, which you’ll read in my book.  It’s still somewhere in the background for the day when I get sponsorship and can really focus on doing world firsts without having to worry about everything else!”

In addition to her job at Burn Series, Maria stays busy with speaking engagements. She will do between 4 to 5 corporate talks per year as well as speaking at schools, sports clubs, and other related events. Be sure to follow Mari’s adventures on her website.

Flymall.org / Kraemer Aviation December 2023 Wheels & Wings Newsletter

Written on December 30, 2023 at 9:28 am, by hkraemer

Welcome to the Kraemer Aviation/Flymall.org Wheels & Wings Newsletter

You can view past newsletters here. Since December is the start of the winter season in the Northeast, this month we’re featuring snow and ice vehicles, fun in the snow this month.

Since it’s Christmas time, here is our collection of different versions of T’was The Night Before Christmas. If you find a version that we do not have, please share it with us in the comments section below.

Kraemer Aviation hosted their annual Christmas dinner. It was a true Wheels & Wings event with pilots, car collectors, bicycle collectors, and motorcycle enthusiasts.

Earlier this month, December 17, we celebrated the 120th anniversary of power flight.

This all happened within a lifetime, plus we landed on the moon.


Earlier this month, the Flymall team attended the District Harley Davidson Christmas party and open house. This was the first outing with both Jett and Ace.

Interested in living at an airport?  Visit our Aviation Real Estate page here. You can view price data for airport property in our Market Watch section of the Flymall. Here is the data for all airport property. You can refine the search by “state” simply by searching for the desired state under “Model”.

Want to have your business highlighted on the Flymall???  We offer inexpensive rates to have your business featured on our Wheels & Wings page.  Contact us for more info.

History Trivia: Did you know that Honda made a snowmobile? In 1973 they made the Honda White Fox. With all of the products the Honda company has made, not many realize they did make this snowmobile in 1973. At least 200 were made. Most of them were distributed to dealers in MI and WI, but not long after that, Honda recalled all of them to be destroyed. It is thought that only 2 survived the recall.

If you enjoy history we have a new aviation history fact each day at the bottom of our webpages.  Some days there may be more than one, just refresh the page.  And if you like Beatles history, checkout our Events Calendar and select the Beatles category.  This is a work in progress, we’re building the most comprehensive calendar of important dates in Beatle history.  For those that like to stick with current news, we have an aviation news ticker on our home page.  This is updated daily to show the current aviation news.

Here’s an awesome Larry Shinoda designed Rupp Super Sno-Sport. From the web: An Unlimited Class Snow Dragster. Conceived of by H.E. Rupp, built by Jim Head, styling by Larry Shinoda. 520hp 308ci V8, 1,000lbs, 150mph. First of it’s kind, original styling sketches done on napkins at a hamburger joint.

Achievements & Special Recognition: The Wright Brothers are in the news this month. We recognize them as the first to achieve powered flight on December 17 1903.

Instructors, what to highlight your students first solo or other achievement here?  Just send us a short write-up and a picture or two and we’ll post it here for you.  Click here for our contact info.

Aviation/Aviators in the news: Earlier this month, Moriya passed her private pilot checkride. She did an excellent job. She came from Israel to study aviation in the states. She plans to be an airline pilot. We wish her the best in her aviation career. Next up will be her instrument rating checkride.

The aviation section of the Flymall is full of aviation news, training info, and much more for the aviator.

Air show season is always just around the corner.  Want to travel to air shows in your own aircraft?  Visit our used aircraft page on the Flymall to view our inventory.

Car/Motorcycle Show News:   The Laytonsville Cruise In is the place to be on a Friday night in Montgomery County.  The Laytonsville Cruise In was started by Harry in 2010. It has become one of the most popular cruise ins in the area. You can follow Harry on Facebook for daily updates during the many shows and events he attends.

When the roads are too slick for your Excelsior motorcycle, it’s time to get out the Excelsior powered sled.

Our Events Calendar has the most current info regarding local and national car shows, air shows, and more.  With nearly 30 categories, there is something for everyone.  The Day Tripper section of the Flymall has dozens of day trip ideas and interesting places to visit.  Check it out here.

Here’s our 1896 ice racing bicycle made by the Elizabeth Cycle Mfg. Co. Click here for more information. Ice racing was very popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Necessity is the mother of invention. Here’s an invention from necessity. Click on the image for a larger view.

Barn Finds/Hangar Finds:  Need an appraisal on your barn find?  Visit our Appraisal Page for information on our appraisals. 

Visit our online store to search for hard to find car parts, aircraft parts, and much more.  You can pay online in our secure store, just click on the Store button on our home page.

Visit the Test Drive section of the Flymall for reviews on automobiles, aircraft, motorcycles, and more. Read about it before you buy it.  You can also research price info on a wide variety of vehicles, collectibles, and more in the Market Watch section of the Flymall. 

If you’re restoring a fabric aircraft, Ira Walker of Walker Aviation is your resource.  Visit his page on the Flymall by clicking here

CFI / DPE Notes:  Visit Harry’s Practical Test page for information on his checkrides.  You will also find useful information there to help you prepare for your checkride.  You can also visit Harry’s Lesson Plan section of the Flymall for other flight training information.  Visit our Flight Training page for information on our aviation training classes.

Weather in the news: The storm system that moved through the Northeast on December 10 and 11, brought the first snowfall for Maryland in the early hours of December 11.

On December 17, we had two major storm systems merge/come together over the Mid-Atlantic region. One was a storm system moving west to east and the other was a Northeaster moving from the south northeast.

Three Wheel Association (TWA) & 3-Wheelers.com:  Harry started the Three Wheel Association in 2013 to promote/support the industry of three wheel vehicles of all types. Visit the Three Wheel Association page on the Flymall for more info on the association. We now have over 820 listings in the A to Z list on 3-wheelers.com.

Want a reproduction vintage 3 wheeler.  Walker Aviation can scratch built from pictures or drawings.  Visit his page on the Flymall.  

Prototypes: If you enjoy reading about concept vehicles, check out the concept section of the A to Z list on 3-Wheelers.com. Here’s a sample of one of the concepts listed there, these are by Vanderhall Motors. The Vanderhall Miramar. Rumor has it that this may be a tilting three wheeler. The vehicle may lean in the turns.

Nautical Notes: It is not exactly clear as to what was the first icebreaker ship. The Yermak was a Russian and later Soviet icebreaker. It was the first polar icebreaker in the world, having a strengthened hull shaped to ride over and crush pack ice.

Riding The Rails: When the railroad tracks are snow covered, the railroads use a rotary snowplow or snow blower. The rotary snow plow was invented in Toronto, Canada, by dentist J.W. Elliot in 1869.

Native American Indian Transportation: The shoeski (pictured here) was invented in 4000 B.C. in Central Asia. It was a solid piece of wood with a very crude binding. The first people that migrated over the Bering Land Bridge into North America used these.

The Native American Indians refine these a lot into the much larger webbed snow shoes. Here is a pair from the Têtes de Boule Indians of Quebec.

Animals in the headlines: Pat & Harry have a new addition to our K9 pack. Here’s Ace (pictured with Jett & Harry). Ace is a Belgian Malinois.

Pat & Harry plan to switch out the one dog harness on their dog sled, to a two dog harness and start training Jett & Ace to pull the sled as a team.

We close this newsletter with these words: Commit yourself to constant self-improvement.

Flymall / Kraemer Aviation November 2023 Wheels & Wings Newsletter

Written on November 26, 2023 at 6:30 pm, by hkraemer

Welcome to the Kraemer Aviation/Flymall.org Wheels & Wings Newsletter. This month we’re featuring failed technology. We have some very cool technology this month, from dual motor cars, to the hyperloop high speed transportation tunnel. Plus we have a special interview with a young helicopter pilot that made an awesome flight in a very cool helicopter.

You can view past newsletters here.

Earlier this month we celebrated Pat’s birthday at the Laytonsville Cruise In (Julliano’s). Click here for more pictures.

Pat & Harry hosted their annual Thanksgiving dinner. It was truly a Wheels & Wings event. There were pilots there, car collectors, and bicycle collectors. Click here for more pictures.


Interested in living at an airport?  Visit our Aviation Real Estate page here. You can view price data for airport property in our Market Watch section of the Flymall. Here is the data for all airport property. You can refine the search by “state” simply by searching for the desired state under “Model”.

Want to have your business highlighted on the Flymall???  We offer inexpensive rates to have your business featured on our Wheels & Wings page.  Contact us for more info.

History Trivia: How many knew that Cessna made a helicopter. The Cessna CH-1 Skyhook is the only helicopter ever built by the Cessna Aircraft Company. It was the first helicopter to land on the summit of Pike’s Peak and the last piston-engined helicopter to set the helicopter altitude record. With having such a record breaking helicopter, one must wonder why Cessna did not continue producing helicopters. Was this just some failed technology? Why didn’t Cessna stay in the helicopter manufacturing business?

If you enjoy history we have a new aviation history fact each day at the bottom of our webpages.  Some days there may be more than one, just refresh the page.  And if you like Beatles history, checkout our Events Calendar and select the Beatles category.  This is a work in progress, we’re building the most comprehensive calendar of important dates in Beatle history.  For those that like to stick with current news, we have an aviation news ticker on our home page.  This is updated daily to show the current aviation news.

On November 10 1885, we had the first test ride of what is often considered the first modern motorcycle, the Daimler Reitwagen (“riding car”), occurred. At the controls was 17-year-old Paul Daimler, son of the bike’s inventor, Gottlieb Daimler. This journey effectively made Paul the world’s first biker. This is certainly NOT failed technology. It has been improved upon over the years and we’re still riding on 2 wheels.

Do you recall NASA’s research on lifting bodies in the 1960s? Lifting bodies paved the way for the Space Shuttle! The M2-F1 lifting body research program required a tow vehicle for its low-speed glider. Engineers, including Walter Whiteside, modified a 1963 Pontiac Catalina convertible with a more powerful engine, custom gearbox, and drag slicks. The car, which remained street-legal with NASA license plates, made its first successful tow on 1 March 1963, and would make over 400 more tows before the project moved onto the next phase, where the M2-F1 would be towed by a Douglas C-47 at altitude instead.

Achievements & Special Recognition: Carmel Haas: Earlier this month, Carmel celebrated her two year anniversary (November 11 2021) of passing her instrument checkride. A flawless checkride at that. She had moderate turbulence and 20 to 30 knots of wind at altitude and she kept the needles centered for every approach. This girl is outstanding. Her first lesson was 9-3-2021, first solo was 9-23-2021, private pilot checkride 10-7-2021, and instrument rating 11-11-2021. Now she is flying with the airlines. Best of luck to her in her aviation career.

Instructors, what to highlight your students first solo or other achievement here?  Just send us a short write-up and a picture or two and we’ll post it here for you.  Click here for our contact info.

Aviation/Aviators in the news: This month we have a special interview with Lexie Diedrich. She has just completed an awesome flight ferrying a Chinook helicopter from Istanbul Turkey to Burkina Faso Africa. Click here for her interesting story.

While air-to-air refueling is commonplace for our military today, it was very different in 1929. On November 12 1929, the first air-to-air refueling took place. It was accomplished by Wesley “Wes” May, Frank Hawks and Earl Daugherty whom devised a simple plan to strap a 5 gallon can around Wes’ back, who then, carefully made his way from the Curtiss Jenny to the Lincoln Standard to transfer the fuel. Here’s a picture from that day. The method used in 1929 is failed technology.

The aviation section of the Flymall is full of aviation news, training info, and much more for the aviator.

Air show season is always just around the corner.  Want to travel to air shows in your own aircraft?  Visit our used aircraft page on the Flymall to view our inventory.

Car/Motorcycle Show News:   The Laytonsville Cruise In is the place to be on a Friday night in Montgomery County.  The Laytonsville Cruise In was started by Harry in 2010. It has become one of the most popular cruise ins in the area. You can follow Harry on Facebook for daily updates during the many shows and events he attends.

In 1965 Ford introduced the wrist twist steering for cars. We don’t believe that it ever got past the testing stage. Here is a YouTube video of the wrist twist steering in action.

Does anyone remember the fifth wheel to assist in parking your car? This is technology that didn’t make it. Click here for a YouTube video of this in action.

Our Events Calendar has the most current info regarding local and national car shows, air shows, and more.  With nearly 30 categories, there is something for everyone.  The Day Tripper section of the Flymall has dozens of day trip ideas and interesting places to visit.  Check it out here.

Chrysler Corporation introduced high fidelity record players for their 1956 line-up of cars on Oct 12, 1956.
The unit measured about four inches high and less than a foot wide and mounted under the instrument panel.
The seven inch discs spun at 16 2/3 rpm and required almost three times the number of grooves per inch as an LP.
A set of 35 classical recordings were available that provided between 45 and 60 minutes of uninterrupted music. The players would be discontinued in 1961.

Barn Finds/Hangar Finds:  Need an appraisal on your barn find?  Visit our Appraisal Page for information on our appraisals.  It would be awesome to find one of these sitting in a barn. This is the 1959 Ford Country Squire concept camper station wagon. Dubbed the Swiss army knife of cars.

Visit our online store to search for hard to find car parts, aircraft parts, and much more.  You can pay online in our secure store, just click on the Store button on our home page.

The Citroen Sahara built for the North African terrain. It featured identical front and rear engines and could be driven using either engine or both. A multi engine car! There is nothing failed about dual motor cars, we have them now. They are referred to as hybrids. And we also have cars with electric motors at each wheel. Chevrolet’s new E-Ray uses power from the gas engine on the rear axle and power from an electric motor in the front (a dual motor Corvette).

Visit the Test Drive section of the Flymall for reviews on automobiles, aircraft, motorcycles, and more. Read about it before you buy it.  You can also research price info on a wide variety of vehicles, collectibles, and more in the Market Watch section of the Flymall. 

If you’re restoring a fabric aircraft, Ira Walker of Walker Aviation is your resource.  Visit his page on the Flymall by clicking here

CFI / DPE Notes:  Visit Harry’s Practical Test page for information on his checkrides.  You will also find useful information there to help you prepare for your checkride.  You can also visit Harry’s Lesson Plan section of the Flymall for other flight training information.  Visit our Flight Training page for information on our aviation training classes.

Weather in the news: Just 2 days before Thanksgiving, we had a major storm system move across the states. Just in time to disrupt travel plans for many.

Three Wheel Association (TWA) & 3-Wheelers.com:  Harry started the Three Wheel Association in 2013 to promote/support the industry of three wheel vehicles of all types. Visit the Three Wheel Association page on the Flymall for more info on the association. Check out the all new 3-Wheelers.com site. We have over 750 listings in the A to Z list. The A to Z list has numerous sub categories as well. Check it out here.

In the late 1800s, the Rex Cycle Company tried something that failed. Their unique bicycle was only in production for one year. The Rex Cycle Company of Chicago, Illinois manufactured this three-wheel bicycle in 1898. The bicycle was designed by Bohn C. Hicks, who obtained three patents on this type of machine (patents, 557,387, 557388 and 561710) in 1896. The unusual construction of the Rex cycle resulted from Hicks’ efforts to produce a machine “particularly adapted to absorb or minimize the shocks incident to riding over obstructions.” The seat was mounted on a tube attached to pivot points on the front wheel and the rear third wheel, a design to allow the wheels to undulate over bumps with minimal jostling to the rider. We have both a single and a tandem in our collection. The tandem is so rare that only two are know to exist, the one we have and one in the Henry Ford Museum. Click here for info on our Rex single. Click here for info on our tandem.

Want a reproduction vintage 3 wheeler.  Walker Aviation can scratch build from pictures or drawings.  Visit his page on the Flymall.  

Click on image for larger view

Prototypes:  Ford Levacar was a concept vehicle from the 1950s that is failed technology in terms a transportation for the public. The Ford Mach I, also known as the Ford Levacar Mach I, is a concept car hovercraft developed by the Ford Motor Company in the 1950s. The Mach I was a single-seat automobile which rode on pressurized air, not wheels. Its name was inspired by the speed Mach 1, an aspiration speed not yet achieved by vehicles at the time. It used air pressure at a force of 15–100 psi to provide lift and propulsion.  In experiments, 50–60 psi was used so that 15 hp was needed for levitation and 2.5 hp propelled it 20 mph.

The Levacar project was led by Andrew A. Kucher (a Ford Vice-President for Engineering and Research) and David J. Jay (a Senior Development Engineer). Kucher had initially conceived the concept around 1930.  One of the lead designers was Gale Halderman, known for being the initial designer of the Ford Mustang. In addition to the Mach I automobile, the project also developed a similarly outfitted scooter, the Levascooter.  In experiments on a circular track,[4] vehicles would raise .125 inches (3.2 mm) off the ground and could jump 1 inch (25 mm) obstacles

Click on image for larger view

When Chevrolet recently “re-introduced” the mid-engine Corvette, there was a lot of excitement. Yes, we said “re-introduced”. The idea has been around since 1968 with the 1968 Chevrolet Astro II (XP-880). This mid-engine Chevrolet concept car was introduced at the 1968 New York Auto Show as a practical, personal sports car designed to carry two passengers and their luggage comfortably and rapidly. A hint of Astro I styling flavor is seen in the frontal appearance of this running experimental car, but unlike the Astro I, Astro II had doors to access the passenger compartment. The contours had been altered slightly to accommodate wide section tires, which promoted stability and handling and reflected the change in dimensions, which resulted from the adoption of a mid-wheel base location for the engine. The air-cooled, single overhead camshaft six-cylinder engine used in the Astro I was replaced with a liquid-cooled 390 horsepower MK IV big block V8 engine, with power passing through a two speed torque converter from a Pontiac Tempest transaxle. Unlike many European mid-engine vehicles, the Astro II carried its radiator at the rear; a location intended to minimize the amount of plumbing required and to keep the hot water lines from passing through the passenger compartment. This arrangement freed the front compartment for the storage of luggage. The sponson area on either side of the car behind the passenger compartment was available for extra storage on the left and a collapsible spare tire on the right. The rear section of the Astro II raised immediately aft of the passenger compartment to allow access to the sponson storage areas and to the engine and suspension. The Astro II has a wheelbase of 100 inches, overall length of 181 inches, and a height of a mere 43.7 inches. Overall width is 74 inches.

Lead engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov and GM styling chief Bill Mitchell were hoping Astro II would be the concept for the next generation Corvette, but the GM management figured the public was not ready for a mid-engine car.

The Astro II is currently part of the GM Heritage Center Collection.  This isn’t really “failed technology”, it is just technology that was decades in the making.

Nautical Notes: How useful is a boat that can crawl onto land? This could have some military uses as well as search and rescue. Click here for a YouTube video of a crawling boat. This seems like an improvement of the landing craft we saw in WWII. This is just some more technology that we will need to see if the test of time makes it failed technology.

Riding The Rails: Is it possible that the Virgin Hyperloop could make other forms of transportation obsolete? Or is this just some failed technology? We will need to wait and see. Hyperloop One is an American transportation technology company that works to commercialize the high-speed travel concept called the Hyperloop, a variant of the vacuum train. The company was established on June 1, 2014, and reorganized and renamed on October 12, 2017.

Native American Indian Transportation: The travois was a popular means of carrying loads over long distances. These were widely used by the Plains Indians of North America.

The basic construction consists of a platform or netting mounted on two long poles, lashed in the shape of an A-frame; the frame was dragged with the sharply pointed end forward. Sometimes the blunt end of the frame was stabilized by a third pole bound across the two poles.

Animals in the headlines: Meet the newest addition to the Kraemer family, a Belgian Malinois.

We close this newsletter with these words: Here are some words of wisdom from Sir Paul McCartney: And in the end,
The love you take, Is equal to the love you make.

Ferry Flight Across 13 Countries From Istanbul, Turkey To Burkina Faso, Africa

Written on November 26, 2023 at 10:47 am, by hkraemer

 What is it with pilots and the lure of flight?  Leonardo da Vinci has been quoted to say: For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward; for there you have been, and there you long to return.  For most pilots, flying is flying.  It doesn’t matter if you are going from place to place or just flying circles in the pattern. 

 Imagine being a pilot and your current job is flying a helicopter over a cherry tree orchard to dry cherries.  Cherries are easily damaged from being too wet.  Many growers will hire a helicopter to fly above the orchard and dry the cherries to prevent damage.  Cherry drying is very seasonal and when the crop is picked, the pilot is looking for their next job.  This is exactly what happened to Harry’s friend, Lexie Diedrich.  Lexie had applied for a position to ferry a BV-234 Chinook across 13 countries, over 7500 miles.  As her cherry drying contract was coming to an end, she received an email from the assistant chief pilot that her application (for the Chinook ferry flight) was reviewed and that they would like to do an interview.

The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a tandem-rotor helicopter developed by American rotorcraft company Vertol and manufactured by Boeing Vertol. The Chinook is a heavy-lift helicopter that is among the heaviest lifting Western helicopters. Its name, Chinook, is from the Native American Chinook people of Oregon and Washington state. A commercial model of the Chinook, the Boeing-Vertol Model 234, is used worldwide for logging, construction, fighting forest fires, and supporting petroleum extraction operations. In December 2006, Columbia Helicopters Inc purchased the type certificate of the Model 234 from Boeing, Columbia Helicopters’ model is the Columbia Model 234 Multi-Mission Chinook. 

Here’s Lexie about the interview:  It was a pretty informal phone conversation. I remember thinking, “there is no way that I got the position… that would be too good to be true.” “Fast forward to two weeks later, I was on the phone with a friend whom I was telling that it would be too good to be true if I got the job. At that moment, I looked at my phone and saw a call from my new company. I was hired! The timing worked out perfectly with the end of the cherry drying season in Washington, and my drive to Oregon for training. I am so fortunate to have been picked for the ferry trip as well.”

 Lexie’s ferry flight started in Istanbul, Turkey and ended in Burkina Faso, Africa.  The crew consisted of a captain, the second in command (Lexie) as well as two maintenance personnel: one Crew Chief and one mechanic. Since they were flying into many remote areas and maintenance from outside sources would not be available, they carried the two A&Ps. They did have some maintenance issues in Greece, for a short time, they thought they would need to return to Turkey, however, their maintenance crew resolved the issue.

 Here are the countries that Lexie visited on this awesome flight; Turkey, Greece, Italy, Algeria, Spain, Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Burkina Faso.  The trip was just over 44 total hours.  The Chinook burns from 1250 to 1500 pounds per hour.

 The Chinook is a true, two pilot aircraft that requires a type rating for the captain as well as the SIC.  The PIC is the one flying the aircraft and the SIC is very busy with the radios, navigation and pretty much every task other than stick-and-rudder flying. Lexie says “It is like the synchronicity of a brain and body; the PIC is the body, the SIC is the brain.”

When asked what her favorite part of the trip was, Lexie repliedOur three days in Greece. Though the delay was due to unfortunate circumstances, I was able to see some of the most beautiful, secluded beaches I have ever seen. The rural, oceanic landscapes we saw while flying over Greece inspired me to build a homestead here one day.”

 Harry asked what her least favorite part of the trip was and Lexie replied “The fact that we only got to stay in many beautiful places for a night; no time for exploring, if you want to get any rest.”

Here’s more from Harry’s interview with Lexie.

Question – Do you have any other ferry flights coming up?

Answer – The flights I do are all at the mercy of my company’s business needs and if I get chosen.  We often don’t know our schedule until the day before!

Question – Did you get to do any sight seeing?

Answer – Many places we did not have enough time to, as the needs of the business went before our leisure. However, I would go to the beaches as much as I could. The hotels we stayed in were incredible; I learned there is a hotel in Africa built where no natural growing plants can be found for hundreds of miles, that teaches windsurfing guests. I got ideas from all the places we stopped at of locations that I would like to go back to and visit for a longer period of time. I will definitely be seeing more of Greece and Spain!  When the trip was over, I tried to take a couple day trip to the beach in Morocco. Word to the wise; do not try to change your flight on Royal Air Maroc at the airport in Morocco, Africa. It is not worth the effort. 

Question – Did you cross over the western mediterranean sea or stay close to land?

Answer – We hugged the shorelines. It made for a picturesque view, places to land in case of emergency, and a good way to stay on course.

Question – Any border crossing or customs issues?

Answer – The company hires another business to handle our General Declarations, hotels, visas etc. They were a big help as we did not have to figure these things out as we were handling our pilot duties. 

Question – Was there any complex airspace to deal with?

Answer – YES. It turns out that controllers in Italy will not hand you off to the next controller whose airspace you will be flying through, despite the fact that they have your flight plan. They also get irritated when you ask to get handed off to the next controller so you don’t get in trouble.  At one point, we were flying along the coast of Italy from one CTA to another. The controller did not hand us over to the next and we were told to call “the number.” Thankfully they never called us and we were able to continue. 

Question – Were there any issues getting fuel?

Answer – Typically not. Occasionally our hired company forgot to send the fuel release form. That was fixed with a phone call, and at worst having to wait until the next day for fuel. 

Question – Did you use a flight planning service?

Answer – No, we needed to file our own flight plans because we are a helicopter flying VFR. We would have to explain to the tower personnel that we don’t want to climb up to 10,000+ feet, but needed to stay low level. In many African countries, we were not allowed to use IFR waypoints. The charts with the VFR waypoints are not online. The VFR charts are only found as physical copies in the flight planning offices of each airport. One airport would not have the charts with VFR waypoints for the next airport to land at on our route, so we kept having to explain to them we don’t have their points. We would write down all the applicable VFR points for the local airspace on our route and use them to be directed out of their airspace. 

Question – Were you able to get accurate and current weather information?

Answer – Only in first-world countries. Many places in Africa would only update their Metar once a day. The weather was also inaccurate in terms of cloud layers. There were a couple times when it was questionable as to whether we would be able to land VFR at our destination airports. 

Question – What were your longest weather delays?

Answer – We wouldn’t be able to depart after noon local time, since we do not fly after dark. So if the adverse weather remains past noon, we would stay at the current location for the night. We hoped for bad weather when we were at good locations and to depart early in less favorable locations.

Question – Did you get flight following?

Answer – Per company policy, we had to have flight following for every leg. We would typically get flight following from the company headquarters. The PIC was to call company headquarters before our departure each time we took off and get the flight following. If we did not have service, the cockpit was equipped with a satellite phone that we could call company headquarters from. 

Question – Did most controllers speak good english?

Answer – Oooof…not at all. I would often have to turn my volume up to ear piercing decibel levels to try to make out what they were requesting. There were a good amount of “say again?” Radio calls made by me. 

Question – What are your career goals?

Answer – This has changed throughout time for me. My current career goal is to get away from contract work and work for one company indefinitely. I desire to have a living wage and work/life balance from said company, such as two week on/off. Doing short contracts can be exciting, but I desire to know where my next paycheck is coming from.  I am actually about to move to New Mexico to get my add on fixed wing ratings to continue my aviation education. Perhaps I will work in the airlines for a couple years until I get on my feet financially. 

Lexie is a very experienced helicopter pilot and CFI with over 1,000 hours of flight time.  She also has her fixed wing ratings.  In addition to her cherry drying contract flying, Lexie has flown aerial tours, ferry flights, flight instruction, and other contract work.

Here is a list of the airports Lexie stopped at on her trip with a map showing each stop: LTBU – LGKV – LGKF – LGPZ – LIBG – LIPY – LIML – LFML – LERS – LEMI – GMTT – GMMN – GMAD – GMML – GMMH – GQPP – GQNO – GOBD – GGOV – GFLL – GLRB – DIAP – DFOO – DFFD

Click on the image for a larger view.

Flymall / Kraemer Aviation October 2023 Wheels & Wings Newsletter

Written on October 29, 2023 at 9:35 am, by hkraemer

Welcome to the Kraemer Aviation/Flymall.org Wheels & Wings Newsletter

You can view past newsletters here. This month our theme is “Un-stoppable”

Interested in living at an airport?  Visit our Aviation Real Estate page here. You can view price data for airport property in our Market Watch section of the Flymall. Here is the data for all airport property. You can refine the search by “state” simply by searching for the desired state under “Model”.

Want to have your business highlighted on the Flymall???  We offer inexpensive rates to have your business featured on our Wheels & Wings page.  Contact us for more info.

History Trivia: We start our un-stoppable theme with Violet Jessop. Who’s she you may ask? In 1911, Jessop began working as a stewardess for the White Star liner RMS Olympic.  Olympic was a luxury ship that was the largest civilian liner at that time.  Jessop was on board on September 20 1911, when Olympic left from Southampton and collided with the British warship HMS Hawke. Jessop later boarded RMS Titanic as a stewardess on April 10 1912, at age 24.  Four days later, on April 14, it struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic and sank about two hours and forty minutes after the collision. In the First World War, Jessop was a stewardess for the British Red Cross.  On the morning of November 21 1916, she was aboard HMHS Britannic, the younger sister ship of Olympic and Titanic that had been converted into a hospital ship, when it sank in the Aegean Sea after an unexplained explosion.  Britannic sank within 55 minutes, killing 30 of the 1,066 people on board. While Britannic was sinking, Jessop and other passengers were nearly killed by the ship’s propellers that were shredding lifeboats that collided with the propellers. Jessop had to jump out of her lifeboat, resulting in a traumatic head injury which she survived. Jessop survived 3 major mishaps (2 sinkings) on 3 of the White Star Line’s best ships and she kept going.

If you enjoy history we have a new aviation history fact each day at the bottom of our webpages.  Some days there may be more than one, just refresh the page.  And if you like Beatles history, checkout our Events Calendar and select the Beatles category.  This is a work in progress, we’re building the most comprehensive calendar of important dates in Beatle history.  For those that like to stick with current news, we have an aviation news ticker on our home page.  This is updated daily to show the current aviation news.

Achievements & Special Recognition: On October 10 2023, Pat’s student Noah did his first solo on his 16th birthday. He did a great job. Noah has been flying since he was 11 years old. Here is a YouTube video showing his first solo takeoff, first solo landing, the traditional clipping of the shirt tail, the water bucket, and some pictures. Click here for more high resolution pictures and videos from that day.

Noah hopes to take his checkride with Harry next year on his 17th birthday. We hope Noah has a long and prosperous career in aviation.

Instructors, what to highlight your students first solo or other achievement here?  Just send us a short write-up and a picture or two and we’ll post it here for you.  Click here for our contact info.

Aviation/Aviators in the news:  On this date October 14th 1947 Chuck Yeager flew faster than the speed of sound. Chuck Yeager was un-stoppable as an aviator. Visit the Chuck Yeager Wikipedia page to see his awards and honors.

Meet George Frederick “Buzz” Beurling, a Canadian fighter pilot that was un-stoppable in WWII. By the end of the war, he had 31 confirmed kills. Most of his kills were when he was based on the island of Malta. His most famous shot of WWII was when he shot down a Messerschmitt 109 from 800 yards. This is said to be the most famous kill of WWII. At the time, Beurling was flying a Spitfire. Spitfire guns were said to be good for about 450 yards.  This shot/kill was done at a distance of almost twice that.

Another Canadian fighter pilot that was un-stoppable, was William Avery Bishop. Bishop was a Canadian flying ace of the First World War. He was officially credited with 72 victories.

The aviation section of the Flymall is full of aviation news, training info, and much more for the aviator.

Air show season is always just around the corner.  Want to travel to air shows in your own aircraft?  Visit our used aircraft page on the Flymall to view our inventory.

Car/Motorcycle Show News:   The Laytonsville Cruise In is the place to be on a Friday night in Montgomery County.  The Laytonsville Cruise In was started by Harry in 2010. It has become one of the most popular cruise ins in the area. You can follow Harry on Facebook for daily updates during the many shows and events he attends.

October 20th was supposed to be the last award night at the Laytonsville Cruise In for the year. However, the weather wasn’t at it’s best. We did give out some awards on the 20th to the few cars that did show up and we gave out the remainder of the awards on October 27.

Here are the award winners from October 20th.

The weather was perfect for Friday October 27, for “Award Night Part 2”.

Here are the award winners for October 27th.

Our Events Calendar has the most current info regarding local and national car shows, air shows, and more.  With nearly 30 categories, there is something for everyone.  The Day Tripper section of the Flymall has dozens of day trip ideas and interesting places to visit.  Check it out here.

Earlier in October, Pat & Harry attended the Fall Fest hosted by District Harley Davidson. Free food, live music, bikes, vendors, and more. Click here for more pictures.

The Earnhardt name has been un-stoppable in stock car racing with Dale Sr. and Dale Jr. Earlier in October we celebrated Dale Jr.’s birthday. Dale Jr. began his racing career at the late age of 17. Together, Dale Sr. and Dale Jr. hold many awards and championships in their careers.

Barn Finds/Hangar Finds:  Need an appraisal on your barn find?  Visit our Appraisal Page for information on our appraisals. 

Visit our online store to search for hard to find car parts, aircraft parts, and much more.  You can pay online in our secure store, just click on the Store button on our home page.

Visit the Test Drive section of the Flymall for reviews on automobiles, aircraft, motorcycles, and more. Read about it before you buy it.  You can also research price info on a wide variety of vehicles, collectibles, and more in the Market Watch section of the Flymall. 

If you’re restoring a fabric aircraft, Ira Walker of Walker Aviation is your resource.  Visit his page on the Flymall by clicking here

CFI / DPE Notes:  Visit Harry’s Practical Test page for information on his checkrides.  You will also find useful information there to help you prepare for your checkride.  You can also visit Harry’s Lesson Plan section of the Flymall has had a facelift. The lesson plans are now in categories according to the certificate and/or rating.  Check it out on the Flymall by clicking here. Visit our Flight Training page for information on our aviation training classes.

Weather in the news: Earlier this month, parts of the states experienced the ring of fire eclipse. Our next eclipse is in April 2024.

Three Wheel Association (TWA) & 3-Wheelers.com:  Harry started the Three Wheel Association in 2013 to promote/support the industry of three wheel vehicles of all types. Visit the Three Wheel Association page on the Flymall for more info on the association.

Established in 1901 in West Norwood, United Kingdom, AC Cars is Britain’s oldest active vehicle manufacturer. With Carol Shelby, the AC name became un-stoppable in auto racing. Here is our 1912 AC Delivery trike, the vehicle that kick-started the AC name.

More progress has been made on the new 3-Wheelers.com site. The A to Z list has over 700 entries/listings in it now.

Want a reproduction vintage 3 wheeler.  Walker Aviation can scratch built from pictures or drawings.  Visit his page on the Flymall.  

Prototypes: If you enjoy reading about prototypes and concept vehicles, Harry has added a “Concepts” category to the A to Z list on 3-Wheelers.com. Check it out at https://3-wheelers.com/magento/index.php/a-z.html?cat=35.

Here is the Aprilia Magnet Tilting Reverse Trike that can be found in the Concepts category of the A to Z list. Click here for more info.

Nautical Notes: The Flymall team is continuing with their sailing education. Earlier this month they rented a 37 foot Beneteau and a captain for a full day of sailing on the Chesapeake Bay. Click here for more pictures.

A few weeks later, they had their Walker Bay 8 out for a day of paddling around on Little Seneca Lake.

On the last Saturday of October, the temperatures were in the mid 80s and the weather was perfect for an afternoon on Little Seneca Lake. Pat & Harry were treated to an unusual sight on the lake that day. A 1922 steam boat.

Click here for some video shot inside the steam boat. Click here for Harry’s video montage of the steam boat on the lake that day. Click here for a video of the engine operating.

Riding The Rails: The Middleton Railway is the world’s oldest continuously working railway, situated in the English city of Leeds. It was founded in 1758 and is now a heritage railway, run by volunteers from The Middleton Railway Trust Ltd. since 1960.  In 1812, the Middleton Railway became the first commercial railway to use steam locomotives successfully. Here’s a picture of one of the early steam locomotives used on the railway.

Native American Indian Transportation: Tecumseh, was a Shawnee chief and warrior who promoted resistance to the expansion of the United States onto Native American lands. A persuasive orator, Tecumseh traveled widely, forming a Native American confederacy and promoting intertribal unity. Even though his efforts to unite Native Americans ended with his death in the War of 1812, he became an iconic folk hero in American, Indigenous, and Canadian popular history. Tecumseh was widely admired in his lifetime, even by Americans who had fought against him. The name “Tecumseh” is iconic today day as a popular small engine used in mini bikes, go-karts, and other small utility vehicles and lawn mowers.

Animals in the headlines: Salukis are acknowledged as the world’s oldest dog breed by the Guinness Book of World Records, which states that the breed has been around since at least 329 B.C. This breed was highly prized because of their speed, stamina (un-stoppable), and hunting abilities.

We close this newsletter with these words: Since The Beatles are un-stoppable, we close this newsletter with a quote from John Lennon. When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life. Pictured here are John and Sean on their birthday.

We’re also remembering John Lennon on his birthday, October 9 1940. And Sean Lennon on his birthday, October 9 1975. We can forget that also on October 9 2011, Paul McCartney married Nancy Shevell.

Janice Love

Written on October 17, 2023 at 1:18 pm, by hkraemer

Janice Littell Love was a member of the original Unicycle Wranglers (see Note 2), a professional unicycle group from Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Unicycle Wranglers were managed and trained by Loyd Smith, the inventor of the Loyd Unicycle (click here for more information on Loyd Smith). Janice was an accomplished unicyclist able to ride on a tight wire, foot walk forward and backward, jump rope, ride with one foot, and perform many other unicycle tricks and stunts. Ted Jorgensen (now deceased) was a member of the original Unicycle Wranglers. Ted Jorgensen (now deceased) was the biological father of Jeff Bezos.

The Unicycle Wranglers had many acts including a square dance, a unicycle trapeze act, modern swing dance, jump rope, head-to-head stand, and many others. In the mid 1960s, the Unicycle Wranglers left the cowboy boots behind for more traditional circus attire and they changed the name of the group to the Uniques (see Note 1). The Uniques performed throughout the southwest and western United States at variety shows, state fairs, and at many other venues including the Los Angeles Press Club and the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles where the Academy Awards were held. The Uniques also performed with the Rudy Bros. Circus. The Uniques could do all of their acts on ice (thumb tacks were pushed through the tire for traction). In the late 1960s, the Uniques once again changed their name, this time to the Universals. The Universals continued to perform throughout the early 1970s.

Janice joined the Albuquerque Unicycle Club (the Albuquerque Unicycle Club was incorporated in 1953) in 1962 and she was active until about 1970. History says that the Albuquerque Unicycle Club was the first in the world to play unicycle hockey. Janice says that she does not personally remember that and that by the time she joined the club, they had replaced the hockey sticks with polo mallets. She says the game remained the same. Every Tuesday night, the Albuquerque Unicycle Club would gather at the Heights Community Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico to ply polo, practice tricks/stunts, and race. There was a four foot cinderblock wall that surrounded the Heights Community Center and the riders would compete to see who could ride the farthest on the wall without falling off. Once a year the Albuquerque Unicycle Club had formal competitions. There was a race for the fastest, a technical and trick competition for the most versatile, and a creative competition in which unicyclists spent weeks preparing their costumes and their “show”. The unicyclists were awarded with beautiful tall hardwood and metal trophies. The first place awards had the rider’s name and year engraved on the trophy and the rider got to keep the trophy for a year. If a rider won a first place trophy 3 years in a row, they got to keep it forever. These trophies were very special because each one had all of the previous winners names on it. They were a piece of history. Janice retired both the Most Creative and the Versatile trophies. These trophies were given out at the club’s annual banquet. The club also rode in many parades and often won awards for their performances.

Janice on the tightwire

During this same time period, there was another unicycle club called the Little Wheels (see Note 2). This was a group of kids that did free shows for children’s hospitals and senior centers in Albuquerque, New Mexico and other locations throughout New Mexico. The founder and leader of the Little Wheels was Ken Littell from 1963 to 1993.

Click here for more pictures of Janice with these various unicycle clubs. Descriptions are with the pictures when viewed in Flickr.

Did you know??? US patents for single-wheeled ‘velocipedes’ were published in 1869 by Frederick Myers and in 1881 by Battista Scuri.

Note 1 – The Uniques (established in 1962), was Smith’s top performing group, pulled from about 150 youngsters who had been riding in Albuquerque over an eight-year period. Membership in the Uniques was limited to seven riders and one alternate at any given time, with Smith as director. They traveled, with their costumes and equipment, in a custom-built 12-passenger limousine.

Note 2 – The more talented of the younger riders were organized into a second group trained by Kenneth Littell, who later lived in Phoenix, Arizona. These youngsters, called Little Wheels, provided a feeder system for a third group, the Wranglers, who were excellent riders in need of something more challenging to do.

Flymall September 2023 Wheels & Wings Newsletter

Written on September 29, 2023 at 1:45 pm, by hkraemer

Welcome to the Kraemer Aviation/Flymall.org Wheels & Wings Newsletter

You can view past newsletters here. This month our theme is “Great Races”

You can visit the Wheels & Wings section of the Flymall for more information on great races held around the globe.

Kraemer Aviation hosted it’s annual Labor Day cookout. Click here for more pictures.


Interested in living at an airport?  Visit our Aviation Real Estate page here. You can view price data for airport property in our Market Watch section of the Flymall. Here is the data for all airport property. You can refine the search by “state” simply by searching for the desired state under “Model”.

Want to have your business highlighted on the Flymall???  We offer inexpensive rates to have your business featured on our Wheels & Wings page.  Contact us for more info. We also have advertising spots available on the all new website 3-Wheelers.com.

History Trivia: According to information online, the first motorcycle race involving exclusively two wheel designs occurred at Surrey, England, in 1897.

If you enjoy history we have a new aviation history fact each day at the bottom of our webpages.  Some days there may be more than one, just refresh the page.  And if you like Beatles history, checkout our Events Calendar and select the Beatles category.  This is a work in progress, we’re building the most comprehensive calendar of important dates in Beatle history.  For those that like to stick with current news, we have an aviation news ticker on our home page.  This is updated daily to show the current aviation news.

Achievements & Special Recognition: Harry’s friends Lin & Carlo had a very special wedding this month. Both are pilots and they eloped and got married while flying in a DC3. How cool is that? After a 15 year engagement, an opportunity came up to get married in a DC3 in the air! So they hurried and made the arrangements very quickly and off they went. They met each other at a fly in and Carlo took Lin for a ride in his Air Cam and the rest is history. Click here for more pictures. Carlo is an award winning aircraft builder and Lin is a flight instructor. Lin is currently preparing Carlo for his commercial pilot certificate.

On September 30, Harry attended the Frederick Festival of Flight at the Frederick Municipal Airport. It was an excellent event. The weather was perfect. Lots of aircraft on display, venders, and more. Click here for more pictures. The Frederick airport is a growing airport and it is well supported by the county.

Instructors, what to highlight your students first solo or other achievement here?  Just send us a short write-up and a picture or two and we’ll post it here for you.  Click here for our contact info.

Aviation/Aviators in the news: Since our theme this month is “Great Races”, we should also include something on a great racer, Glenn Curtiss. Earlier this month, Harry was in Hammondsport for their annual Wheels & Wings event that includes a seaplane fly in. In 1907 Glenn Curtiss earned the title the fastest man in the world on a V-8 motorcycle that he designed. And by 1909, Glenn Curtiss was the fastest man in the air after competing in the Grande Semaine d’Aviation aviation meeting at Reims, France.

The aviation section of the Flymall is full of aviation news, training info, and much more for the aviator.

Air show season is always just around the corner.  Want to travel to air shows in your own aircraft?  Visit our used aircraft page on the Flymall to view our inventory.

This month we said good by to the Reno Air Races.

Car/Motorcycle Show News:   The Laytonsville Cruise In is the place to be on a Friday night in Montgomery County.  The Laytonsville Cruise In was started by Harry in 2010. It has become one of the most popular cruise ins in the area. You can follow Harry on Facebook for daily updates during the many shows and events he attends.

September 15 was an award night at the Laytonsville Cruise. The weather was perfect and the turn out was even better. Click here for pictures from that night. Click here for our award winners from the 15th.

Earlier this month some of the Kraemer Aviation employees were at the start of the 2023 Motorcycle Cannonball race in Virginia Beach. Click here for Harry’s YouTube video of the bikes crossing the starting line. Click here for a YouTube video showing an overview of the bikes on the fishing pier and then crossing the starting line. Click here for a YouTube video of the bikes arriving at Neptune Park. Click here for a YouTube video showing an overview of the bikes at Neptune Park.

Click here for pictures from day one of the event. Click here for pictures of the bikes on day one.

Click here for pictures from day two of the event. Click here for pictures and videos of the bikes on day two.

Click here for pictures from day three of the event. Click here for pictures and videos of the bikes from day three of the event. On day 3, the bikes gathered at Neptune Park on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk.

Our Events Calendar has the most current info regarding local and national car shows, air shows, and more.  With nearly 30 categories, there is something for everyone.  The Day Tripper section of the Flymall has dozens of day trip ideas and interesting places to visit.  Check it out here.

We need to say Congrats to Todd for his run in the Motorcycle Cannonball this year. Todd raced his 1909 Indian single across the USA with a perfect score.

Todd Cameron from Monrovia, CA is a a 2 time Cross Country Chase Legend and now a Motorcycle Cannonball Champion! Congratulations to Todd for successfully navigating his 1909 Indian Motorcycle from coast to coast starting in Virginia Beach, VA and ending 3800 miles later in Oceanside, CA in the hardest antique motorcycle event in the world!

In early September, the Flymall Team was at District Harley Davidson for their open house. We had our 1917 Peerless motorbike on display.

If you love classic cars, antique motorcycles, and seaplanes, then Wings & Wheels of Hammondsport is the place to be in late September. That is exactly where Harry was earlier this month.

Wings & Wheels of Hammondsport 2023:

We can’t talk about great races without talking about the great racer Glenn Curtiss. On Friday, September 15, Harry visited the Glenn Curtiss Museum for a Wings & Wheels event. Glenn Curtiss was the fastest man alive on two wheels and then he was the fastest man alive in the air.

Click here for pictures of the engines on display.

Click here for pictures of the boats on display.

Click here for pictures of the bicycles on display.

In 1907 Glenn Curtiss went over 136 miles per hour on this Curtiss V-8 motorcycle. He shattered the world speed record on this bike.

Click here for pictures of the motorcycles on display.

Click here for pictures of the aircraft on display.

Click here for pictures of the automobiles on display.

Later that evening, Harry visited Depot Park where the seaplanes were arriving for the big event on Saturday. Click here for pictures and videos of a few of the seaplanes arriving. Click here for Harry’s YouTube video of the seaplane action at Kueka Lake on Friday evening.

The Finger Lakes Beer Company is a local brewery in Hammondsport with some very good locally brewed beer on tap. If you are in the area, be sure to stop by and have a taste.

Saturday, September 16 was the big day for the car show and the seaplane competition at the lake.

Click here for pictures from the car show.

Click here for pictures and video of the seaplanes in action. Here’s Harry’s YouTube video montage highlighting the seaplane activity at the lake on Saturday.

Harry was able to fit in a visit to the Finger Lakes Boating Museum on Saturday as well. Click here for pictures.

Barn Finds/Hangar Finds:  Need an appraisal on your barn find?  Visit our Appraisal Page for information on our appraisals. 

The use of a solid mold for boat construction has its origins in the Canadian canoe making industry. The first known use in sailboat building was with the Comet class. It was part of the Skaneateles Boats, Inc. entry in the 1938 New York Boat Show.

In the mid 1930s, Skaneateles Boats, Inc. engaged marine architects Sparkman & Stephens to design the Lightning. The goal was to produce a one design boat that was family friendly and would be a fine racer and could be built by professionals as well as amateurs. Skaneateles Boats, Inc. had no trouble with the rights of the design being sold to the newly formed International Lightning Class Association. They believed that their solid construction technology would make them very competitive in this new market.

While design was intended to minimize construction costs, its arched hull created some production challenges. Skaneateles Boats, Inc. constructed their boats with double planked bottoms.

The 17-foot mold on exhibit at the Finger Lakes Boating Museum was built by Skaneateles Boats, Inc. in 1939. This was the first year of Lightning sailboat construction. The boat on display at the Finger Lakes Boating Museum is #167 and it was build on this very mold. At some time later, Skaneateles Boats, Inc. created a more sophisticated mold using metal surfaces that served as a backing iron to clinch the brass tacks that held two layers of planks together. This mold pictured here was retired and set aside. It was removed from the factory and placed in an open area under the factory floor where it sat until 2016 and brought to the Finger Lakes Boating Museum. A lot of the deterioration is from the result of exposure to years of flood waters that at times, partially buried the mold in mud and debris.

Visit our online store to search for hard to find car parts, aircraft parts, and much more.  You can pay online in our secure store, just click on the Store button on our home page.

Visit the Test Drive section of the Flymall for reviews on automobiles, aircraft, motorcycles, and more. Read about it before you buy it.  You can also research price info on a wide variety of vehicles, collectibles, and more in the Market Watch section of the Flymall. 

If you’re restoring a fabric aircraft, Ira Walker of Walker Aviation is your resource.  Visit his page on the Flymall by clicking here

CFI / DPE Notes:  Visit Harry’s Practical Test page for information on his checkrides.  You will also find useful information there to help you prepare for your checkride.  You can also visit Harry’s Lesson Plan section of the Flymall for other flight training information.  Visit our Flight Training page for information on our aviation training classes. This month we started revamping our training section of the Flymall. We made some changes to our Lesson Plans page. They are now grouped by certificate and/or rating. Soon, this section will be searchable via the codes in the ACS.

Weather in the news: On Saturday, September 23, we had a tropical storm hit the Mid-Atlantic area.

Three Wheel Association (TWA) & 3-Wheelers.com:  Harry started the Three Wheel Association in 2013 to promote/support the industry of three wheel vehicles of all types. Visit the Three Wheel Association page on the Flymall for more info on the association.

The new 3-Wheelers.com site is up and running. The A to Z listing has about 600 entries in it. There is also a section in the A to Z listing for current production 3 wheelers which includes links to their sites. With the A to Z listing you can also find 3 wheelers that were at major events that Harry has attended over the years, for example: the motorcycle Cannonball can be found under “C”. Another example is 3 wheelers at the AACA/America’s Transportation Experience can be found under “A”.

Want a reproduction vintage 3 wheeler.  Walker Aviation can scratch built from pictures or drawings.  Visit his page on the Flymall.  

Prototypes: We have a lot of cool motorcycle info this month and to keep going with that. Here is a 1909 Harley-Davidson prototype. This machine is the first known Harley-Davidson with a magneto ignition, and also the only produced with a V-belt drive along a 500cc engine, with atmospheric intake valve. This is currently owned by and located at the Dale’s Wheels Through Time museum. Dale purchased the machine in 2016 and it is run only on special occasions.

Nautical Notes: On Harry’s September trip to the Finger Lakes, he visited The Finger Lakes Boating Museum. The main museum building, the former Taylor Wine Company’s main building was built in 1886. Click here for pictures of the wine cellar at the museum.

The museum is dedicated to preserving the rich history of Boating and Boatbuilding in the Finger Lakes.

The historic Taylor campus consists of 14 acres and 19 buildings.

Riding The Rails: Since we’re featuring great races this month, we’re going to introduce you to the Blue Train Races. The Blue Train Races were a series of record-breaking attempts between automobiles and trains in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Here’s an interesting article on AutoWeek.com about a Bentley and the great Blue Train Race.

Native American Indian Transportation: Have you heard of the Indian Relay Race? There are different accounts of it origins. One account says it started like this; “When the horse that they rode got played out, they would jump on another horse, and they would do that all the way back home. That’s where the Indian relay started.”

Animals in the headlines: Its likely that we have all heard mention of the race between the tortoise and the hare. Click here to read about the origins of this tale.

We close this newsletter with these words: You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.

Motorcycle Cannonball 2023

Written on September 13, 2023 at 6:19 pm, by hkraemer

3-Wheelers.com owner, Harry Kraemer was on hand for the 2023 start of the Motorcycle Cannonball in Virginia Beach. This was basically a networking and reconnaissance trip. Harry plans to participate in the race in the near future.

Enjoy these pictures and video from the event.

On day one, the bikes had their inspection and then they were lined up on the boardwalk for the public to see. Click here to open up a new window in Flickr to view the pictures of the bikes from day 1.

On day 2, the bikes were lined up on the Virginia Beach fishing pier for display and then they crossed the starting line. Click here for pictures and videos of the bikes from day 2.

Here is Harry’s YouTube video of the bikes going across the starting line.

Here is Harry’s video of the bikes on the fishing pier and then each bike crossing the starting line.

On day 3, the bikes gathered at Neptune Park near the boardwalk for the local media and for the public to see them one more time before they headed for their next location.

Click here for Harry’s pictures and video from day 3.

Here’s Harry’s video of the bikes arriving at Neptune Park on day 3.


Today in Aviation History