Flymall Wheels & Wings December 2017 Newsletter

Welcome to our December 2017 Wheels & Wings newsletter found only on the Flymall.  We hope you have enjoyed our new format for the past 3 months.  This month we have decided to add a new section to the newsletter – “Achievements & Special Recognition”.  This section will highlight achievements and recognition by flight students and our readers on the “wheels” side of Wheels & Wings.

Since it is Christmas time, here are a few different takes on “Twas the night before Christmas”.  Click here for a collection of “Twas the night before Christmas”.   There are some for the automotive enthusiast and a few for the pilots.  Click here for a late addition, one for the bikers.

Visit our eBay store for some great deals happening until the end of the year. We have lots of items that start at just $1 with no reserve. Click here for our eBay store.

Achievements & Special Recognition:  On December 2 2017, Joe Neely took to the skies on his first solo in Cessna N2621Z.  Joe has been training on weekends and has about 22 hours.  It was cold that day, but he handled the water bucket rite-of-passage like a winner.  Way-to-go,  Joe!  Pat Kraemer is his flight instructor.

Aviation/Aviators in the news:  We’re featuring some “old” news this month in Aviation/Aviators in the news.  Here is the Futuro, or Futuro House.  These were a prefab house built in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Less than 100 were made.  There were several of these spaceship houses around Harry’s hometown of Baltimore, Maryland.

There is one currently located at Eagle Crest Hudson Airport in Delaware. For more reading on these unique homes click here.

Also, last month (November) we celebrated the birth of aviation.  No, not the Wright Brothers. The Montgolfier Brothers, who on  November 21 1783, flew their hot air balloon in Paris.  120 years before the Wright Brothers first successful powered flight.

Here is an interesting takeoff from an interesting airport. A Twin Otter takeoff from Barra Airport. This is a short-runway airport (or STOL airport) situated in the wide shallow bay of Traigh Mhòr at the north tip of the island of Barra in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. The airport is unique, being the only one in the world where scheduled flights use a beach as the runway. The airport is operated by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited, which owns most of the regional airports in mainland Scotland and the outlying islands. Barra Airport opened in 1936

There is some good news in the aircraft manufacturing industry.  First, Cessna has announced a new aircraft – the Cessna SkyCourier 408 and Pilatus Aircraft Ltd has recently received FAA approval on their new PC-24 Jet.

Here is a picture of the new Cessna 408 next to the Cessna 208.

Car/Motorcycle Show News:  There are still lots of car shows through out the winter months. Visit our events calendar or our classic car cruise in page for up to date information.

While not really news, this is something that was very common to do in the 1960s and 1970s.

Barn Finds/Hangar Finds:  If you’re considering purchasing a barn find, here is a guide to interpret the car ad.  You can click on the image for a larger view.

If you need an appraisal on your barn find visit our appraisal page for information on our appraisals.

How would you like to find something on Craigslist for $700 that turns out to be worth millions.  Interesting?  Click here for the story.

Here is a rare barn find seen on eBay Motors UK. A 1983 Vauxhall Chevette with a 1.3 engine.  One owner and only 31,000 miles on the clock. It comes with the original Bill of Sale from 1983.  Click here for the listing.

CFI Notes:  This month we have started to update/upgrade the flight training section of the Flymall.  Just click on the Flight Training icon on the right side of the home page. Visit Harry’s Lesson Plan page found on the Flymall for up to date flight training information.  You can also click here to read the numerous articles Harry has published over the years.

Weather in the news:  Once again, the California wildfires are in the news.  Fueled by strong winds and dry air.  Click here for the latest from Google news search results.

Three Wheel Association (TWA):  Visit the TWA page for up to date information on the association.  On the TWA forum there is also an area for the latest news pertaining to 3 wheelers. Click here for the TWA forum page.

Prototypes:  This month we’re featuring concepts of the 1960s and vehicles made from drop tanks (aircraft fuel tanks made to be dropped after use).

Here’s an interesting idea that GM’s Truck Studio was working on in March, 1961 for the next generation Suburban.  The studio mocked up their “Regatta” concept for a wood-grained panel option on the studio’s fiberglass model.  The concept also included a wood grained panel between the taillights.

Here is another concept from the 1960s. The Singolette: was a concept of tiny cars that would occupy a very minimum area. It was considered personal transportation of the future designed for busy city travel. This illustration is by  Walter Molino for the Italian magazine, Domenica del Corriere, 16 December 1962.  Click on the image for a larger view.

Here is a 1963 Cadillac V12 concept.

Here is another GM concept from the 1960s. The 1968 Chevrolet Astro II (XP-880). A mid-engine vehicle.  It was introduced at the 1968 New York Auto Show.

Here is the original Facebook post on this vehicle.  Click on the picture below for more reading.

Here is the 64 Pontiac Banshee XP 833

Here is the 61 Pontiac XP – 758 Scorpion

And now for the drop tank vehicles.  Here is a 1968 Belly Tank Trailer that was made from a Corsair A7 drop tank.  It was made to haul a motorcycle.  Very creative!

Here is a Facebook find. Built in 1946 in Lake County, CA. by a gentleman that was fabricating custom equipment for hospitals. The drop tank is aluminum 300 gallon. Perhaps a P-38 lightning tank. The car was used as a daily driver into the 1950s. In around 1964, the owner was giving a grandchild a ride, and hit a tree in his driveway. He then hung it from the rafters of his shop. The next owner mounted it on a tilt trailer and it became a Lake County parade favorite – He would raise the front end, and exhaust a fire extinguisher for blast off! The 1949 Triumph twin was installed sometime in the fifties. Trans, wheels, brakes, fenders are Harley Knucklehead/ Panhead. Steering wheel is VW. Controls, front axle, suspension, and rear swing arm are all home made. The gas tank is custom made and sits behind the driver.

Animals in the headlines:  For those of you that travel with your pets, here is something we found online regarding motels allowing pets: We allow pets in this motel. We never had a dog smoke in bed and set fire to the blankets. We never had a dog that stole our towels, had the TV too loud, or had a noisy fight with his travelling companion… we never had a dog that got drunk and broke all the furniture… So if your dog can vouch for you. You’re welcome too….

Enjoy this video about the friendship between a dog and a duck.

Here is a companion dog for those that drink too much wine!

We close this newsletter with a quote from Winston S. Churchill:  “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”