December 2019 Articles

• Ask World War I aviation buffs about their favorite fighter pilots and you hear names like Eddie Rickenbacker, Frank Luke, Raoul Lufbery, and Paul Baer. Wait, Paul who? Pictured above: The 103rd Aero Squadron’s first SPADs were updated to the latest version, but the XIII retained their Indian Head insignia, as seen on the side […]

  

  Paul Baer: First U.S. Combat Ace?

  Ask World War I aviation buffs about their favorite fighter pilots and you hear names like Eddie Rickenbacker, Frank Luke, Raoul Lufbery, and Paul Baer. Wait, Paul who? Pictured above: The 103rd Aero Squadron’s first SPADs were updated to the latest version, but the XIII retained their Indian Head insignia, as seen on the side […]
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• What, you may logically ask, is a type hunter? Well, they come in degrees, but a dedicated type hunter is a severely addicted person with a clear goal to fly as many different types of airplanes as possible. He or she can’t explain why. It just is. Part of the explanation might be rooted in […]

  

  Confessions of a Type Hunter

  What, you may logically ask, is a type hunter? Well, they come in degrees, but a dedicated type hunter is a severely addicted person with a clear goal to fly as many different types of airplanes as possible. He or she can’t explain why. It just is. Part of the explanation might be rooted in […]
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• It’s a terribly trite cliché to say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The irritating thing about clichés, however, is that they become clichés because of the self-evident truth they contain. So in the case of determining what is beautiful about an airplane, it has to be recognized that it’s a subjective […]

  

  Beautiful Unknown Airplanes of the Reich

  It’s a terribly trite cliché to say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The irritating thing about clichés, however, is that they become clichés because of the self-evident truth they contain. So in the case of determining what is beautiful about an airplane, it has to be recognized that it’s a subjective […]
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• The extreme need for anti-drone defenses was clearly demonstrated in September 2019, when Houthi rebels in Saudi Arabia used relatively inexpensive drones to disable five percent of the world’s oil supply in a single attack. For a few thousand dollars and almost no manpower, Third World insurgents inflicted billions of dollars of damages on nations […]

  

  The Drone Killers – Warfare in the New Millenium

  The extreme need for anti-drone defenses was clearly demonstrated in September 2019, when Houthi rebels in Saudi Arabia used relatively inexpensive drones to disable five percent of the world’s oil supply in a single attack. For a few thousand dollars and almost no manpower, Third World insurgents inflicted billions of dollars of damages on nations […]
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• It’s commonly agreed that the Spitfire/Seafire configuration was the most beautiful fighter ever. Its elliptical wing and long, slim fuselage were most delightful to the eye, and its flight characteristics equaled its aerodynamic excellence. The Navy Spitfire, the Seafire, was heavier, but otherwise retained all of the Spitfire’s delightful flight characteristics. Pictured above: The Comanche […]

  

  Elliptical Elegance – Flying and Evaluating the Seafire Mark III

  It’s commonly agreed that the Spitfire/Seafire configuration was the most beautiful fighter ever. Its elliptical wing and long, slim fuselage were most delightful to the eye, and its flight characteristics equaled its aerodynamic excellence. The Navy Spitfire, the Seafire, was heavier, but otherwise retained all of the Spitfire’s delightful flight characteristics. Pictured above: The Comanche […]
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• Contrary to a bit of universally accepted fake news, the 1940s are not actually over. The decade is still alive and well, although somewhat disassociated from the main landmass of America, and lagging behind the new millennium. If you don’t believe that, head for Katama Airfield, 1B2, owned by Edgartown, Massachusetts. And don’t plan on […]

  

  Martha’s Vineyard’s Workin’ WACOS

  Contrary to a bit of universally accepted fake news, the 1940s are not actually over. The decade is still alive and well, although somewhat disassociated from the main landmass of America, and lagging behind the new millennium. If you don’t believe that, head for Katama Airfield, 1B2, owned by Edgartown, Massachusetts. And don’t plan on […]
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• Lt. Charles E. Hughes could never sleep before missions. He paced outside his tent in the darkness of the desert, restless and contemplative. “I had too much on my mind,” he said. “I was in charge of bringing my men back and I wanted to make sure I had a plan to do that.” The […]

  

  Low and Lethal: The Ploesti Experiment

  Lt. Charles E. Hughes could never sleep before missions. He paced outside his tent in the darkness of the desert, restless and contemplative. “I had too much on my mind,” he said. “I was in charge of bringing my men back and I wanted to make sure I had a plan to do that.” The […]
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