To view our current newsletter click here. or copy and paste this link into your browser https://flymall.org/blog/2020/12/flymall-december-2020-wheels-wings-newsletter/ … You can view past newsletters here. Want to find something we covered in the past? Just use the search box in the newsletter section and search for the subject/topic.
This month: Zimmerman Flying Platform, 280 mile 1986 Dodge Charger, Ford’s first assembly line, a mine find (we brought you barn finds, hangar finds, wall finds), the first hybrid vehicle, is it an engine or motor, and more. Plus, as a bonus, a collection of different versions of Twas The Night Before Christmas.
History Trivia: On December 1 1913 Henry Ford’s assembly line was started for the first time.
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.
Earlier this month, HiLi Lev passed her CFII checkride with Harry. She has taken 3 checkrides with Harry (Commercial, CFI, and CFII). Her entire family flies, her dad, mom, and all of her brothers.
Aviation/Aviators in the news: The aviation section of the Flymall is full of aviation news, training info, and much more for the aviator.
Ofir and Inbal, two applicants that Harry tested recently for their instrument rating, completed a long trip across the United States to build time for their Commercial Pilot Certificate. The trip took 63 flight hours and 14 days to complete. See map below. Click on the image for a larger view.
Sources are saying that Boeing’s two T33 flight test chase planes are “going to the boneyard”. Too bad that they may not be saved or even put in a museum.
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: If you’re a car enthusiast, you know the song “Hey Little Cobra”. But do you know the origins of it? The story goes that the song writer Carol Connors (best know as the lead singer on the Teddy Bears’ single To Know Him Is To Love Him) owned an AC Ace Bristol similar to the one pictured below. Carol Shelby made this car famous by putting a Ford engine in it and it became the Shelby Cobra. Connors’ AC was damaged and she could not find anyone to repair it, so she went to Carol Shelby. Shelby was aware of the success of the Beach Boys songs about cars and he told Carol Connors if she could write a song about the Cobra and get it to a number one hit, that he would give her a Shelby Cobra. She did, and he did! And the rest is history. Click here for a version of the song by The Rip Chords via YouTube.
When speaking of legendary sports cars, Porsche is usually one that comes to mind. Did you know that Porsche had the very first hybrid vehicle back in 1900? It was know as the Lohner-Porsche Electromobile. It is pictured below. Nowadays Porsche is known for racecars. RACECAR spelled backwards is RACECAR. Does a racecar have an engine or motor? Click here for a post Harry did on this topic.
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 ideals and interesting places to visit. Check it out here.
Barn Finds/Hangar Finds: Need an appraisal on your barn find? Visit our Appraisal Page for information on our appraisals.
Here is an “ebay find” for this month. How would you like to have a 1986 Dodge Charger with only 280 miles? That’s correct, 280 miles. As of the writing of this newsletter, the bid was up to $8,100.00 and the reserve was not met.
Over the years we have highlighted barn finds, hangar finds, and even a wall find. Click here for the post on the wall find. This month we have a mine find. Here is the Davis Motor Mine Cart. This was found in an abandoned Gold Mine in Northern California sometime in the late 1970s. A home made creation using most of a 1926 Harley Davidson B-Model motorcycle, a Ford Model-A transmission, and an electric starter.
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. Our Market Watch section is an online searchable database and it is smart phone friendly. It was set up as a database for vehicle prices, however we have added other collectibles as well. For example, under “Make” you can search for Paul McCartney for data. You can also use the database to see what celebrity ownership of a vehicle does to the value. For example, under “Model” search for Trans Am, click here to view the results. You can also search the Market Watch for famous collections that have sold, for example, here is the data for the Bruce Weiner Microcar Auction. And here is the data for the Lee Roy Hartung collection that sold a few years ago. We have also included price data from TV shows such as Jay Lenos Garage, American Pickers, and others, simply search under “Make” for Jay Lenos Garage and click on search.
CFI / DPE Notes: You can follow Harry on Facebook to stay up to date with his checkrides and other adventures. He does daily post on his Facebook page.
Ofek passed his instrument checkride with Harry earlier this month. He did an outstanding job. He was very detailed in his flight planning and briefings. Outstanding!
In September of this year Rachel passed her Private Pilot checkride with Harry. She did it just a few months after her 17th birthday. She recently received news that she was accepted to both the United States Air Force Academy as well as the United States Coast Guard Academy. She is pictured here with Harry on her checkride day.
On December 15 German passed his CFII checkride with Harry. The most amazing part was December 15 was a picture perfect day for flying. December 14 and December 16 we had major storm systems in the Northeast, see below.
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: December 5 2020, the Northeast saw a Nor’easter pass through the area with heavy rain and strong winds.
Mid month, we had back to back storm systems move through the Mid-Atlantic area. The first one was on December 14 that was mostly a rain event.
The second storm system was on December 16. Checkout the forecast for Dulles below. It includes just about every type of hazardous weather for a pilot; moderate snow, heavy freezing rain, moderate ice pellets, gusty surface winds, and wind shear. Click on the image for a larger view.
Here is the radar image for the December 16 storm system. It has every type of precipitation included.
Earlier in this newsletter we talked about the origins of the song “Hey Little Cobra”. The Cobra was a car made by the AC Car Company originally as the AC Ace Bristol. Did you know that this iconic car company got it’s start by producing a 3 wheel delivery motorcycle? It was known as the AC Auto Carrier Delivery Box Van. Here is the 1912 AC Delivery in Harry’s collection. It is most likely the only one in North America. Click here for more information on this 3 wheel delivery trike and some history on the AC Car Company.
Want a reproduction vintage 3 wheeler. Walker Aviation can scratch built from pictures or drawings. Visit his page on the Flymall.
Prototypes: This month we have the Flying Platform prototype aircraft. This was developed by Charles Zimmerman. The aircraft was controlled by an individual’s “kinesthetic control,” giving the pilot the ability to stand upright and steer by leaning toward the direction of intended motion. The concept was designed with military applications in mind. Operated by an individual soldier, the platform was designed to be used for easier travel over rough terrain, assisting in reconnaissance, or spotting land mines. Zimmerman was known to think “out-of-the-box” and this was just one of his unique designs. Unfortunately, the concept could not compete VTOL aircraft, and the idea was discarded.
And for the automotive readers, here is the 1969 Vega Pickup Prototype. Any of our subscribers “Vega lovers”? This is one cool pickup.
Nautical Notes: This month we’re introducing a new section in our newsletter. Harry grew up on the Chesapeake Bay often spending the entire day on the water with his grandfather. Harry learned to sail large sailboats in the early 1970s. Seaplanes are a way to combine your love for flying and your love for the water. Harry & Pat are both commercial seaplane pilots.
This month we are highlighting a vehicle that is part boat and part airplane. While they have been around a while, there is a new “term” to describe them. They’re called a WIG craft. It’s basically a boat that cruises just above the water.
Animals in the headlines: This month he have a poem dedicated to Harry’s neighbor who’s dog Twix passed away recently.
From time to time, people tell me, “lighten up, it’s just a dog,” or, “that’s a lot of money for just a dog.” They don’t understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for “just a dog.”
Some of my proudest moments have come about with “just a dog.” Many hours have passed and my only company was “just a dog,” but I did not once feel slighted.
Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by “just a dog,” and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of “just a dog” gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.
If you, too, think it’s “just a dog,” then you will probably understand phases like “just a friend,” “just a sunrise,” or “just a promise.” “Just a dog” brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. “Just a dog” brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person.
Because of “just a dog” I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, it’s not “just a dog” but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.
“Just a dog” brings out what’s good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.
I hope that someday they can understand that it’s not “just a dog” but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being “just a human.”
So the next time you hear the phrase “just a dog.” just smile, because they “just don’t understand.”
Welcome to our November 2020 Wheels and Wings newsletter. Click here to view and search past newsletters.
The Kraemer annual Thanksgiving dinner was small this year due to the virus. However, everyone had a good time with lots of fine food and conversation. Click here for pictures from the dinner which was outside this year due to the very warm temperatures.
This month: road engine patent, Cadillac V16 concept car, Chevrolet Astro II XP-880, largest piston aircraft engine, 2020 hurricane season, checkride successes, air show news, wingless aircraft, vintage bicycles, and more.
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: Tuesday 5th November 1895, 125 years ago Inventor George B. Selden received US Patent No. 549,160 for his “road engine” (gasoline-powered automobile), granting him the monopoly on the concept of combining an internal combustion engine with a carriage. Although he never became an auto manufacturer himself, every other automaker would have to pay Selden and his licensing company a significant percentage of their profits for the right to construct a motorcar, even though their automobiles rarely resembled Selden’s designs. In 1903, the Ford Motor Company, which refused to pay royalties to Selden’s licensing company, was sued for infringement on the patent. Thus began one of the most celebrated litigation cases in history, ending in 1909 when a New York court upheld the validity of Selden’s patent. Henry Ford appealed the decision, and in 1911, the New York Court of Appeals again ruled in favour of Selden’s patent, but with a twist: the patent was held to be restricted to the outdated construction it described. In 1911, every major automaker produced vehicles that were significantly different from that described in Selden’s patent, and major manufacturers like the Ford never paid Selden another penny.
Since the bicycle patent is 154 years old this month, we have some interesting bicycle history. November 20th , marks the 154th anniversary of the first bicycle patent in the world US 59,915 granted to French import, Pierre Lallement .
Meet Mile a Minute Murphy. He actually pedaled a bicycle at 60 miles per hour. He did this remarkable feat in 1899.
Below we have a picture of the Upright Bicycle, made by Herbert Torrey of Boston, Mass. Made in 1896, this bicycle was designed to have the rider sitting in an upright position. Its not clear how many were made, there is one know example in a Maryland collection.
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: 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.
Tal passed his commercial pilot checkride the day after Thanksgiving. Everything was at the last minute. His knowledge test expired in 3 days and he was the last plane to land before they closed the airport for VIP movement. He did his power off 180 and landed on the mark and the airport was closed. Perfect ending for a checkride!
Aviation/Aviators in the news: The aviation section of the Flymall is full of aviation news, training info, and much more for the aviator.
Here is a unique aircraft, the Horton Wingless aircraft. Designed by William Horton. Horton did not have the money to develop the aircraft so he teamed up with Howard Hughes which turned out to be the wrong decision. Horton and Hughes ended up in a lawsuit which ended the relationship and the wingless aircraft.
Car/Motorcycle Show News: Think your “big block” is big??? What is the largest US made piston aircraft engine? The Lycoming XR-7755 is the largest piston aircraft engine ever built in the US. The 36-cylinder, single overhead cam, water-cooled behemoth displaced 7756 cubic inches and made 5,000 horsepower.
Martinsburg West Virginia is not usually know as a town that produced automobiles like Detroit is. However there was an automobile produced in Martinsburg, the Norwalk. Here is a 1914 Norwalk automobile. And the only remaining example has found its way back to West Virginia. It is located at the Rural Heritage Museum.
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 ideals and interesting places to visit. Check it out here.
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. Our Market Watch section is an online searchable database and it is smart phone friendly. It was set up as a database for vehicle prices, however we have added other collectibles as well. For example, under “Make” you can search for Paul McCartney for data. You can also use the database to see what celebrity ownership of a vehicle does to the value. For example, under “Model” search for Trans Am, click here to view the results. You can also search the Market Watch for famous collections that have sold, for example, here is the data for the Bruce Weiner Microcar Auction. And here is the data for the Lee Roy Hartung collection that sold a few years ago. We have also included price data from TV shows such as Jay Lenos Garage, American Pickers, and others, simply search under “Make” for Jay Lenos Garage and click on search.
Want a reproduction vintage 3 wheeler. Walker Aviation can scratch built from pictures or drawings. Visit his page on the Flymall.
Prototypes: This month we have the 1963 Cadillac V12 concept car along with some other very cool GM concepts. As part of the General Motors V-Future program, Cadillac had an overhead cam V-12 slated for production in the late 1960s. The program led to a fiberglass mockup of a V-12 powered Eldorado coupe that remained hidden from public view until an article appeared in Special Interest Autos in 1984.
Cadillac offered a V16 in 1930 and it was available up to 1940. This was the first V16 powered car in the United States. In 2003, they created another concept car called the Sixteen. This used a 13.6 litre V-16 engine that developed 1,000 bhp. Pictured below is the 1963 V12 concept car.
We have another GM concept car for this month. Unveiled at the 1968 New York Auto Show, the Astro II XP-880 features a liquid-cooled 390hp MK IV big block V8 mid engine. Reports state that this was basically a research test bed for the mid engine Corvette.
The Cadillac XP-74 Cyclone, 1959.. Before computers, there was imagination, slide rules and hand-craftsmanship that turned out beauties like this. All done by hand!
Animals in the headlines: This month we have a video of two women that ended up in a humpback whale’s mouth.
We close this newsletter with these words: Stay close to anything that makes you feel glad you are alive.
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There is indeed a bolted-in section of tubing in the upper (top) plane of the forward-most fuselage “bay”, located immediately between the firewall and the opening of the front cockpit – the area immediately above the front rudder pedals. This bolted-in section is V-shaped, with a single bolted fitting forward, at the center of the forward-most fuselage left-to-right cross tube (immediately aft of the firewall). From that centered forward fitting, two tubes welded to that fitting run diagonally toward the rear of the fuselage, one to the left and one to the right, with their rearward ends each welded to individual bolted-in fittings. These left and right fittings are secured to the upper-most left and right fore-and-aft fuselage tubes respectively, just forward of the junction of the second fuselage cross tube. The base of the forward cockpit instrument panel is clamped to that second fuselage cross-tube.
All Model 75 Stearman aircraft were originally designed and built with a single tube welded into the forward-most fuselage “bay” in that location, oriented and running diagonally from the right side of the fuselage to the left side, across the top plane of that “bay”. When these aircraft were “retired” from military service and were sold to the public as military surplus at the end of WW II, many were converted from their original two-cockpit configuration into a single-seat configuration in order to be used as crop dusters and sprayers. That single diagonal tube was cut out without replacement, and the dual controls of the front cockpit were removed in order to mount a tank or hopper into the space that was the front cockpit. This alternation of the fuselage was made to many Model 75 Stearman aircraft. In fact, it is commonly accepted that their conversion and use as dusters and sprayers is one reason why so many Model 75 aircraft survive to this day.
In restoring a Model 75 Stearman to its original two-cockpit “military” configuration, a new diagonal tube was commonly welded into place to replace the cut-out diagonal tube, and the front cockpit controls re-installed.
In the case of N49680, that single diagonal tube was not replaced to restore the original fuselage configuration, but rather, a V-shaped two-tube replacement was bolted into place. Instead of a fuselage tube running in a single diagonal direction from one side of the fuselage to the other, two tubes were put into place. one running diagonally in one direction (for example, from center to right), and a second tube running in the opposite direction (from center to left). That is, the diagonal bracing in the top plane of the forward-most bay of the front cockpit is double that of the original configuration, resulting in bracing of the fuselage not merely in one direction, but two opposing directions simultaneously.
This non-standard bolted-in two-tube configuration was inspected during the restoration, and has been inspected during every annual inspection since, and found to be acceptable.
Nevertheless, this bolted-in two-tube replacement could easily be removed, and a new single diagonal fuselage tube welded into place to return the fuselage to its original “factory” configuration, as has been done with many “restored” Model 75 Stearman aircraft.
Those who are “very knowledgeable” about the Model 75 Stearman aircraft, their design, configuration, and history, including their extensive use as dusters and sprayers after the war, should be very familiar with this fuselage modification and its restoration. Indeed, it is widely known among Stearman restorers, experienced owners, and enthusiasts that a Model 75 fuselage that has not been cut is a true rarity.
To substantiate my statement that this Model 75 aircraft was originally designed and built with a two-cockpit configuration, we have copies of Boeing engineering drawings, numerous published reference documents, and the military history for this serial numbered aircraft, prepared by Ken Wilson, Stearman Restorers Association Historian. Boeing Model A75N1 PT-17 serial numbered 75-2242 was assigned to and served training military pilots at the Contract Pilot School, Bennettsville, South Carolina, after its delivery from the Boeing Wichita factory on 01 October, 1941. All Model 75 aircraft were originally built with a two-cockpit configuration.
History Trivia: As early as 1959, Nils Bohlin, a Volvo engineer is credited with inventing the 3 point seat belt. Volvo did patent the design, however they basically “gifted” it to their competitors, to encourage mass adoption and to save lives.
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 want to congratulate Lusia for passing her Private Pilot Checkride with Harry earlier this month. We surprised her with a cake for the post checkride festivities. She did a great job. She is pictured below with “her plane”. Click here for more pictures from her checkride day.
Aviation/Aviators in the news: The aviation section of the Flymall is full of aviation news, training info, and much more for the aviator.
Hi-Li Lev passed her initial flight instructor checkride with Harry earlier this month. She scored 100 percent on both the FOI and the FIA knowledge test. Great job.
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 have 2 very nice aircraft for sale. We have a 1941 Stearman that comes with a hangar full of spare parts, tooling, supplies, and even spare engines. Click here for more information.
We also have a 1977 Piper Arrow III Turbo for sale. This is one of the nicest/best equipped Turbo Arrow on the market. Click here for details.
Car/Motorcycle Show News: 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 ideals and interesting places to visit. Check it out here.
Here is a cool car for this month in our Car Show News. How about a million mile Honda Accord! Yep, here it is.
Alternate power sources for cars is not something new. Alternate power is as old as the car itself. Here is a wood gas driven Cadillac truck railroad inspection vehicle from the early 1940s.
Barn Finds/Hangar Finds: Need an appraisal on your barn find? Visit our Appraisal Page for information on our appraisals. We maked some changes to our appraisal section, now you will be able to pay online for your appraisal.
This month we have a museum find, and a rare one at that. Indian Motocycle Company made four experimental cars, designated X1 through X4, between 1927 and 1928. This car is the fourth, X4. Click here for more info.
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. Our Market Watch section is an online searchable database and it is smart phone friendly. It was set up as a database for vehicle prices, however we have added other collectibles as well. For example, under “Make” you can search for Paul McCartney for data. You can also use the database to see what celebrity ownership of a vehicle does to the value. For example, under “Model” search for Trans Am, click here to view the results. You can also search the Market Watch for famous collections that have sold, for example, here is the data for the Bruce Weiner Microcar Auction. And here is the data for the Lee Roy Hartung collection that sold a few years ago. We have also included price data from TV shows such as Jay Lenos Garage, American Pickers, and others, simply search under “Make” for Jay Lenos Garage and click on search.
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 2020 hurricane season is one for the record books. As of this newsletter, 11 have made landfall in the US.
Three Wheel Association (TWA): How about a three wheeler that is a camper as well as a boat. Meet the Z Triton, a three wheel electric tricycle that is a camper as well as a boat. Very cool in deed!
Want a reproduction vintage 3 wheeler. Walker Aviation can scratch built from pictures or drawings. Visit his page on the Flymall.
Prototypes: This month we present the 1958 Buick XP75. The body of the XP75 was built by Pinin Farina (now Pininfarina) of Turin, Italy. Click here for more information on the XP75.
I am pleased to recommend Ms. Lear Jet as a pilot/crew member for your organization. I met Ms. Jet at the Wright Bros Flight Academy (Kitty Hawk NC) in early 2019 where she was a full time flight instructor. As a FAA appointed Designated Pilot Examiner, I tested many of her students with positive results.
As a 10,000 plus hour flight instructor and Designated Pilot Examiner, I can see that Ms. Jet is a talented aviator. She is motivated, driven, and determined to succeed in her aviation career as a professional airline pilot.
Ms. Jet has been on the fast-track in getting her aviation credentials and has accumulated over 3000 hours in just over a year’s time. TALK ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE HERE. Ms. Jet is a well-balanced, mature, extraordinarily talented young lady who truly will be an asset to your organization and to the aviation profession.
Sincerely,
Harry Kraemer
Designated Pilot Examiner
harry@flymall.org
301-520-2109
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History Trivia: Did you know that Goodyear made an inflatable airplane? It was called the Inflatoplane. It was to be used by the US military as a rescue plane to be dropped behind enemy lines. Only 12 were made. It did prove to be an airworthy airplane.
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’re highlighting several high achievers and outstanding pilots.
Katie passed her Instrument Instructor checkride with Harry.
Katie scored a 100 on her Instrument Flight Instructor Knowledge Test. Excellent job!
Harry has another high achiever. Sharon passed her initial flight instructor checkride earlier this month. Sharon scored 100 percent on the FOI and the Flight Instructor Knowledge Test. Great job Sharon.
Brian passed his Private Pilot checkride. Brian is a very smooth pilot and has a good “feel” for the plane. This probably comes from his years of riding motorcycles and boating.
Rachel passed her private pilot checkride earlier this month. She did it just a few months passed her 17th birthday. Now she can fly a plane anywhere in the world, however she cannot drive a car by herself. She is pictured here with her parents. This is surely and accomplishment that deserves some special recognition.
Kathleen passed her initial flight instructor checkride earlier this month. She already has a job lined up to flight instruct part time.
Melissa earned her commercial pilot certificate. Melissa learned to fly in a Cessna 140 and it shows in her flying. She is a great stick and ruder pilot. She earned her instrument rating in Alaska, so she has a lot of experience. She will hopefully get her CFI checkride in with Harry in early October.
Aviation/Aviators in the news: Xwing has been operating a Cessna Caravan for a number of years. What is newsworthy about this you ask? Their aircraft do not have pilots. They have actually operated passenger carrying flights with no pilot onboard. Click here for the full story.
Ofir Daniel passed her instrument checkride today with Harry earlier this month. She did it in less than a month after her private pilot checkride. She did both under Part 141 which involves a lot of classroom time. She did a great job keeping the needles centered the entire flight.
Harry’s friend and flight school owner Brenda flew a turtle from Florida to Chicago in their new Tecnam multi-engine trainer aircraft . Pistachio (an endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle) has been at the Florida Aquarium during her rehabilitation. She was hit by a boat and suffered severe injuries. She is not releasable. Brenda & Bravo Flight Training flew the turtle to it’s new home in Chicago, at the Brookfield Zoo.
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. We have a very nice Turbo Arrow III. This aircraft will not stay on the market long, it is priced to sell.
Car/Motorcycle Show News: How well do you know your cars? Here is a little quiz from the “Contest” section of the Flymall. This quiz is about car names. Click here for the quiz.
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 ideals and interesting places to visit. Check it out here.
Barn Finds/Hangar Finds: Need an appraisal on your barn find? Visit our Appraisal Page for information on our appraisals.
Here is a hangar find. A Boeing Stearman that has been sitting for a while. This will be for sale soon on the Flymall.
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.
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: Here is an interesting storm from September 3, 2020. Almost looks “hurricane like”.
Three Wheel Association (TWA): Visit the Three Wheel Association page on the Flymall for more info on the association.
Want a reproduction vintage 3 wheeler. Walker Aviation can scratch built from pictures or drawings. Visit his page on the Flymall.
Prototypes: Here’s something that will make you take a second look. A Ford Thunderstang, a cross between a Thunderbird and a Mustang.
Not really a prototype, however, still a rarity. Here is a 1956 MAZ-541, a Soviet aircraft tug. Only 3 were built. Powered by a 38.8L D-12A V12 diesel that produced 500 Brake Horsepower.
Animals in the headlines: An old friend of Harry’s (Matt Thurber), recently flew a sea turtle named Berni (an olive ridley sea turtle), from Boeing Field in Seattle to Sea World San Diego today. Berni is an endangered species and was being flown to Sea World in San Diego for rehab and to be release back in to the wild.
Here is another reptile that was hitchin a ride. This guy drove about 20 minutes to a cruise in and a few minutes after he parked, this little tree frog climbed out of his air intake.
We close this newsletter with these words: “Peace is not something you wish for; it’s something you make, something you do, something you are, and something you give away.” -John Lennon
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Taxiing Differences
1) Heavier airplane with more momentum. Needs to be taxied slow; cannot stop short.
2) Engines are not in the center. Use caution that propellers do not hit debris, taxiway lights, snowbanks or other obstructions on the left/right. Centerline!
3) Differential power can be used for tight turns. Left throttle to turn right, right throttle to turn left.
4) All turns, especially when vacating the runway must be taken SLOWLY. Side loads are especially bad for retractable landing gear. Sideloads combined with the weight of the engines on the wings can lead to loss of directional control.
5) Always verify clear left/right when pulling out and crossing intersections
Takeoff
1) Line up on centerline, hold brakes, apply power to 2000 RPM
2) Check engine gauges and heading indicator
3) Release brakes and apply full power
4) Call “airspeed alive” and rotate at 75 KIAS
5) Pitch for 88 KIAS
6) “Positive rate, Gear up”
7) At 500′ AGL verify flaps and gear are up, reduce power to “cruise climb” (25″, 2500 RPM)
8) Continue climb at 105 KIAS and complete climb checklist
Short-field takeoff (flaps 25)
1) Line up on centerline, hold brakes, apply power to 2000 RPM
2) Check engine gauges and heading indicator
3) Apply full power, release brakes
4) Call “airspeed alive” and rotate at 63 KIAS
5) Pitch for 67 KIAS
6) “Positive rate, gear up”
7) Upon clearing the obstacle (300′ AGL), accelerate to 75 KIAS (safe speed) and retract the flaps
8) Pitch for 88 KIAS
9) At 500′ AGL verify flaps and gear are up, reduce power to “cruise climb” (25″, 2500 RPM)
10) Continue climb at 105 KIAS and complete climb checklist
Short-field takeoff (flaps 0)
1) Line up on centerline, hold brakes, apply power to 2000 RPM
2) Check engine gauges and heading indicator
3) Apply full power, release brakes
4) Call “airspeed alive” and rotate at 70 KIAS
5) Pitch for 75 KIAS
6) “Positive rate, gear up”
7) Upon clearing the obstacle (300′ AGL), accelerate to 88 KIAS
8) At 500′ AGL verify flaps and gear are up, reduce power to “cruise climb” (25″, 2500 RPM)
9) Continue climb at 105 KIAS and complete climb checklist
Level-off from a climb
1) Slowly lower the pitch to level flight (begin doing this approximately 100′ before desired altitude)
2) Accelerate to cruise speed
3) Reduce manifold pressure FIRST (16″-24″), THEN reduce RPM (2200-2400). 22″ and 2300 RPM works well.
4) Trim
5) Cruise checklist
Transition from cruise to cruise climb
1) Raise pitch (5-10 degrees)
2) Increase RPM to 2500 FIRST, THEN manifold to 25″
3) Trim
4) Maintain 25″ manifold pressure (MP decreases 1 inch/1000 feet)
5) Consider cowl flaps and mixture
Transition from cruise to cruise descent
1) Reduce manifold pressure by 1 inch for each 1000 feet you plan to descend
2) Pitch down (approximately 5 degrees)
3) Trim
4) Consider cowl flaps and mixture
Level off from cruise descent to cruise
1) Raise pitch to level flight
2) Adjust manifold pressure
3) Trim
4) Cruise check
5) Consider cowl flaps and mixture
Acceleration in level flight
1) Increase/check RPM first, then increase manifold pressure
2) Apply forward pressure
3) Trim
4) Consider cowl flaps and mixture
Deceleration in level flight or descent
1) Reduce manifold pressure first, then reduce/increase RPM. Before landing, we reduce manifold pressure before bringing the propellers forward to high RPM to avoid RPM overspeed.
2) Adjust pitch
3) Trim
4) Consider cowl flaps and mixture
Slow Flight in the landing configuration (dirty)
1) Clearing turns
2) Cowl flaps, T, gauges/gauges, gear down, mixture
3) Manifold pressure-no less than 15″
4) Flaps-Extend below 111 KIAS (recommend full flaps before reaching 90 KIAS)
5) Props-full forward/high RPM below 100 KIAS
6) Adjust power to maintain airspeed and altitude
7) Trim for 75 KIAS (See ACS definition of slow flight) Recovery
8) Increase manifold pressure to 25″, then props back to 2500 RPM
9) Lower the pitch
10) Flaps, gear (below 107), flaps, flaps
11) Cruise checklist
Slow Flight in the takeoff configuration (clean)
1) Clearing turns
2) Cowl flaps, T, gauges/gauges, mixture
3) Manifold pressure-approximately 15″
4) Props-full forward/high RPM below 100 KIAS
5) Adjust power to maintain speed and altitude
6) Trim for 80 KIAS (See ACS definition of slow flight) Recovery
7) Increase manifold pressure to 25″, then props back to 2500 RPM
8) Lower the pitch
9) Cruise checklist
Power-off stall (landing configuration/dirty)
1) Steps 1-5 of slow flight dirty (maintain altitude)
2) Upon reaching 88 KIAS (blue line/final speed), enter a descent for 3-5 seconds
3) Power to idle
4) Smoothly pivot in place in an attempt to ‘stretch the glide’
5) Hold pitch approximately 10 degrees above the horizon (eyes outside)
6) Recover at the first indication of a stall (see ACS) Recovery
7) Reduce AoA by lowering the nose slightly below the horizon
8) Apply full power (minimizes the altitude loss)
9) Flaps 40 25
10) Gear up
11) Establish a climb pitch attitude when speed permits
12) Positive rate of climb, Flaps 25 10 then 10 0
13) Level off and cruise checklist at entry altitude
Power-on stall (takeoff configuration/clean)
1) Steps 1-5 of slow flight clean (maintain altitude)
2) Upon reaching 80 KIAS, simultaneously raise the pitch and apply 20″ of manifold pressure
3) Continue to smoothly and steadily increase the pitch
4) Recover at the first indication of a stall (see ACS) Recovery
5) Reduce AoA by lowering the nose all the way to the horizon
6) Apply full power (minimizes altitude loss)
7) Level off and cruise checklist at entry altitude
Accelerated stall
1) Steps 1-4 of slow flight clean (maintain altitude)
2) Nose up trim
3) Verify left is clear
4) Between 90-100 KIAS, idle both throttles and roll into a 45-degree bank to the left
5) Try to maintain altitude by increasing back pressure (use nose up trim)
6) Recover at the first indication of a stall (see ACS) Recovery
7) Release back pressure
8) Roll wings level using coordinated aileron and rudder
9) Apply full power when wings are level (must wait until wings level, reduces risk of a spin)
10) Level off and cruise checklist at entry altitude
11) Repeat steps 1-10 to the right
Steep turns
1) Clearing turns
2) Cowl flaps, T, gauges/gauges, mixture
3) Adjust power so that airplane is below maneuvering speed (20″, 2300 RPM)
4) Select a heading and/or landmark
5) Verify clear left
6) Smoothly roll into a 50-55-degree left turn using coordinated aileron and rudder; trim as needed
7) Smoothly roll out from the left turn into a 50-55-degree turn to the right (begin doing this approximately 25 degrees of heading before entry heading.)
8) At the completion of the 360-degree right turn, level off and complete the cruise checklist
Emergency descent
1) Clearing turns
2) Power idle, propellers full forward, mixture rich
3) Gear down below 140 KIAS
4) Cowl flaps closed, T
5) Pitch down for 130 KIAS
6) Make left/right clearing turns or spiral left Recovery/Cleanup
7) Level the wings and begin leveling off 200-300 feet before desired altitude
8) Hold altitude with pitch until speed drops below 107 KIAS
9) Retract landing gear below 107 KIAS
10) Immediately apply 25″ manifold pressure
11) Accelerate to cruise speed
12) Cruise checklist
VMC Demo
1) Steps 1-4 of slow flight clean (maintain altitude)
2) Left cowl flap closed; right cowl flap open
3) Declare a heading/visual reference to maintain
4) Before reaching 90 KIAS, bring the left throttle to idle and the right throttle to full
5) Slowly pitch up to decrease speed by 1 KIAS per second
6) Increase rudder and aileron to maintain heading
7) Recover upon losing directional control or at the first indication of a stall Recovery
8) Idle the throttle on the working engine. Remember to release rudder pressure as you do this.
9) Lower the nose below the horizon
10) SLOWLY bring the power back up on the right engine
11) Regain single engine straight and level flight
12) Resume normal flight with both engines
13) Level off and cruise checklist at entry altitude
Engine failure during the takeoff roll
1) Both throttles: Idle
2) Regain directional control: Parallel the centerline
3) Return to centerline
4) Apply braking
5) Notify the Tower or CTAF of aborted takeoff
Engine failure (left) below 1000 feet AGL
1) Maintain directional control and blue line
2) Mixtures full, props full, throttles full
3) Flaps up, gear up
4) Slap left leg and touch left throttle while announcing “left leg dead, left engine dead”
5) Verify left engine is dead by bringing the throttle back. If the airplane yaws, the left engine is not dead. You may have had a partial power failure, or you may have misidentified the dead engine.
6) Announce “left foot dead, left prop feather” and “left foot dead, left mixture idle-cutoff”
7) Close the cowl flap on the dead engine
8) Complete the feather checklist when time and altitude permit
9) Continue flying straight until reaching 1000′ AGL before attempting a turn back to the runway.
10) Declare an emergency with ATC and begin preparations for a single engine landing
Transitioning back to normal flight from simulated single engine flight (bottom to top)
1) Cowl flaps as required
2) Carb heat off
3) Propellers 2500 RPM
4) Slowly bring manifold pressure to 25″ while releasing rudder pressure
5) Accelerate to cruise speed
6) Throttles-desired manifold pressure for cruise
7) Props-desired RPM for cruise
8) Trim
9) Cruise checklist
Landing gear fails to extend
1) Recycle the gear selector handle (move it up, then back down)
2) Troubleshoot: Master switch on, Nav-lights switch off, indicator bulbs in, circuit breakers in
3) Leave the pattern: Find a safe and quiet area/altitude to continue troubleshooting. Notify ATC. Make sure to maintain situational awareness while troubleshooting (Eastern Airlines Flight 401)
4) Emergency Gear Extension: Reduce speed below 100 KIAS. Place gear selector in the down position. Pull the emergency gear extension knob. Leave this knob out…only maintenance can push it back in. Verify 3 green, no red.
One or more wheels not indicating down and locked
5) Yaw: If left gear does not lock in place, yaw left. If right gear does not lock, yaw right. If nose gear does not lock, use pitch. Ensure airspeed is at or below 100 KIAS.
6) Bulbs: Check that the green indicator bulbs are pushed all the way in. If one is unlit, swap it with a working one. If a green bulb is blown, the red light will most likely be unlit.
7) Test the gear horn: Bring throttles to idle and extend flaps past 25 degrees. If gear horn does not sound, landing gear is most likely down and locked.
Landing without positive confirmation of all 3 gear down and locked
8) Declare an emergency: Clearly explain your situation to ATC. Tell ATC what you need (long/wide runway, emergency services). Be prepared to provide information regarding fuel and souls onboard.
9) Make a low approach: Do a flyby of the tower or a low pass so that your gear can be inspected. ATC can tell you that your gear appears to be down, not if your gear is truly down and locked.
10) Notify ATC of your intensions to land: Let ATC know of your intentions to land (when you are ready). Inform them that you will be evacuating on the runway regardless of the outcome.
11) Land: Touch down smoothly on the positively locked main gear using a slip. If the nose gear is not locked, hold it off as long as possible. Avoid making turns (side loads) and avoid braking if able. Secure engines on landing rollout. Master switch off. Evacuate on the runway. Do not taxi. Do not try to ‘save’ the engines by shutting down on final as you may need to go around.
Engine failure troubleshoot flow
1) Fuel selector: On
2) Primer: Locked
3) Carburetor heat: On
4) Mixture: Set
5) Magnetos: On
6) Fuel pump: On
Engine feather/shutdown
Verbally identify left/right for each component on the checklist that could shut down the engine. This is to avoid inadvertently shutting down your only working engine.
“Left engine dead, left prop feather”
“Left engine dead, left mixture idle-cutoff”
“Left engine dead, left engine magnetos off” (turn off one at a time)
“Left engine dead, left fuel selector off”
T-Strobes, landing light, fuel pumps
Gauges/Gauges-Check left and right engine gauges
This month: A historic weather event, Private Pilot Ground School at Frederick Flight Center, Bravo Flight Training expands to Martinsburg, Harry’s barn find motorcycles, the father of the chopper, new pilots, and more.
Danielle recently passed her CFI (Certificated Flight Instructor) checkride with Harry. And she has put together a great Private Pilot Ground School at the Frederick Flight Center. It starts August 24th through September 28th every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday night from 6pm to 9pm. It is a part 141 approved ground school, call today to sign up and get more information!
History Trivia: Have you heard of the company AMF? This is the same company know for bowling alleys. Did you know that they owned Harley Davidson for a period? American Machine and Foundry (AMF) bought the nearly bankrupt Harley Davidson Motorcycle Company in 1969 for an undisclosed amount of money. AMF operated the company until 1981. In 1981, AMF sold the company to a group of 13 investors led by Vaughn Beals and Willie G. Davidson for $80 million.
Who invented the “chopper”? It seems as if Paul Jaray is the person. In 1921 he built the J-Rad bicycle. This was an attempt to come up with an aerodynamic riding position. His bicycle used a treadle-cable drive instead of pedals. Only about 2000 of these were built.
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: Bravo Flight Training has achieved a lot this past month. They are now a FAA approved Part 141 Flight School, they have a new Tecnam (multi-engine aircraft) online, and they have a new location in Martinsburg with their own maintenance facility.
May Yorgro passed her Commercial Pilot checkride earlier this month. She’s pictured here with Harry and her CFI Yehonatan Rubin. Look at her leap of happiness. Check out the weather for her checkride. There were storms North and South of her for the entire checkride.
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: 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 ideals and interesting places to visit. Check it out here.
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.
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: August 4 2020, Hurricane Isaias was the big weather news for this month.
History Trivia: Have you ever heard of Portolan Charts”? Aviators use charts/maps all the time. Nowadays most are electronic. Portolan or Portulan Charts are ancient nautical charts that were made in the 13th century. They were known to be very accurate.
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.
July is a busy month for aviators in the news, both past and present. Amelia Earhart was born on July 24 1897. She had many accomplishments due her short life.
Wiley Post completed the first solo around the world flight in July 1933. Wiley Post arrived back at Floyd Bennett Field. Fifty thousand people greeted him on his return on July 22 after 7 days, 18 hours, 49 minutes. The Winnie Mae’s cabin could not be pressurized, so he worked with Russell S. Colley of the B.F. Goodrich Company to develop what became the world’s first practical pressure suit.
Nir Levy passed her Commercial Checkride earlier in July. She’s a very smooth pilot and did an excellent power off 180 on her checkride.
Aviation/Aviators in the news: Tal passed her Instrument Rating checkride. She was fortunate to be able to use her dad’s plane for her training and checkride.
Tal has some weather to deal with on the way back to KGAI. She did a great job with the weather.
Raegan passed her Private Pilot checkride earlier in July. She is a very smooth and natural pilot. Now she is off to Embry Riddle in Daytona Beach for her aviation degree and ROTC. She wants to be a pilot in the military.
July was also the month that the United States put a man on the moon and returned him back to earth. Apollo 11 landed on the moon July 20th 1969.
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 attendance has been picking up since Covid 19 restrictions are slowly being lifted. For August 2020 we plan to have an award night on the third Friday with two judges, Pat & Chrissie (both part of the Flymall team).
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 ideals and interesting places to visit. Check it out here.
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.
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: July 2020 record days at 90 degrees or above.
We enjoy documenting the major storms throughout the year. Here are 2 for this month. July 6 storm system.
July 22 storm system
Three Wheel Association (TWA): Visit the Three Wheel Association page on the Flymall for more info on the association. This month we’re highlighting a few of the wooden wheel three wheelers in the collection. We have a 3 wheel wheel chair from around the 1850s and a side-by-side sociable bike made in 1896. Click on the picture to open a short slide show.
Want a reproduction vintage 3 wheeler. Walker Aviation can scratch built from pictures or drawings. Visit his page on the Flymall.
Prototypes: For this month we have the 1956 Mercury XM-Turnpike Cruiser. A very futuristic car for 1956 with a lot of high-tech features such as: a 3-speed “Merc-O-Matic” push-button operated automatic transmission, retractable rear window, a windshield curving into the roof, air conditioning, and even power side windows.
Animals In The News: Checkout Jett’s page on the Flymall. Jett will often join the Flymall team at local airports, car shows, and other Wheels & Wings events.
We close this newsletter with these words: We close with these words 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.
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