What Just Flew By!

Flight Playlist Liner Notes

2012-02-11T20:04:00.000-05:00

Flight and music go together. For some reason, people who are good pilots are musicians or musical. I have been working on the below play list for over a year. It’s hardly complete and I know I have missed songs; if you have any suggestions feel free to ping me. I am always looking for another song. It’s just one more research project for me, but this does have some fun results. Some of the songs are those you might agree with; some you might not, and some you might not have ever heard of. Keep an open mind and take a listen.

Interestingly enough there are songs in here for everyone’s tastes. I also have songs from the 1930s to the present day. Some have more colorful language and I will try to make sure they are tagged. However, please don’t e-mail me saying, I didn’t warn you in advance, or to paraphrase Barry Manilow, “How could you do that garbage?”

So lets begin.

1. Aeroplane by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Music is my Aeroplane. It’s a metaphor for getting high and their Aeroplane takes them away. Expletives.

2. Airplanes by B.o.B. The first of airplanes = dreams. This one also gets an Expletive tag. I like the idea of sitting, watching the planes go by on a roof.

3. Amelia by Joni Mitchell. This is one of my favorites on the list. Shell turned me on to it. It has it all: 747s, vapor trails, and Amelia Earhart.

4. Back in the USSR by the Beatles. B.O.A.C. ‘nuff said!

5. Benny and the Jets by Elton John. Ok so the Jets are a backup group; it does have Jets in the title.

6. Blown by the Wind by Alan Parsons (no not the Alan Parsons Project). This one is about hot air ballooning (For Grant ) On Air is Parsons concept album about flight. I could have included the whole album in the list, but I chose not to. But may I recommend that you go get it. It’s worth a listen.

7. Brother up in Heaven off the same album is about a World War I pilot who looses his life fighting for his country.

8. Come Fly with Me by Frank, ok, Mr. Sinatra. Aviation at its most glamorous, except for Glennis. Pan Am, the 1950s and Martinis: that what it’s all about.

9. Coming In On a Wing and a Prayer by the Song Makers. It represents one of those songs you would hear coming out of the radio, in England in a Pub. It is a classic.

10. Corner of the Sky by Stephen Schwartz sung by John Rubinstein. Ok betcha didn’t expect a Broadway tune huh! I am a gleek; I sang in choir, was picked on by bullies, etc. This song talks about not fitting in and “finding my corner of the sky.” I always took that literally; I know there is a place out there for me.

11. Countdown by RUSH. It’s about the space shuttle. The sentiment though is good for any aviation enthusiast. I love the line “venting vapors like a sleeping white dragon.” The song is about Columbia, and its very first flight STS-1 April 12, 1981, flown by Young and Crippen. For me it was my Apollo; it was the future of Space Flight. I still feel the power of that launch when I listen to that song.

12. Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins. Do I have to say more?

13. Daniel by Elton John. Daniel is about a Vet who lost his eyes. But that first verse “Daniel travelling tonight on a plane. I can see the red tail lights heading for Spain.” Any Airplane Geek knows what it’s like to watch those tail lights fly off into the darkness. You get it!

14. Dreams by VanHalen. I am a child of the Eighties and we grew up with videos, the MTV kind, not the YouTube ones. Imagine my surprise when the Blue Angels, to celebrate their 40^th anniversary, teamed up to make the greatest rock video of all time. Oh and the Blues are in A-4F Skyhawks! It’s the Blue Angels I grew up with every year at Willow Grove. Check it out yourself http://youtube/qUFCBv0RduU (Ironic that I’m inserting a youtube here.)

15. Fall Free by Alan Parsons, another one from AP off ON AIR. This is about parachuting and free falling. Like I said previously, go buy the album: it’s great. Can we still call them albums?

16. Flight of the Snowbirds by David Foster. This song is about the 433^rd Canadian Demonstration Squadron, the Snowbirds. David wrote the song after a flight with the team. Foster actually is an accomplished pilot and one of his publishing companies is Air Bear.

17. Fly By Night by Rush: Escape life by flying away.

18. Fly Me to the Moon by Mr. Sinatra. Another classic by a classic. Wouldn’t be a play list without Sinatra.

19. Flying By the Beatles. Two minutes of instrumental joy by John, Paul, George, & Ringo.

20. Flying Solo by Love Seed Mama Jump. More about life, but the title fits.

21. Free Flight by Acos CoolKAs. An instrumental, with a nice groove.

22. Gonna Fly Now (Theme from Rocky) by Bill Conti. Yo! I’m a Philly boy! Well I am from the suburbs of Philly and that’s our song. Remember we invented stair climbing!

23. The Great Airplane Strike by Paul Revere & The Raiders. A weird song about getting trapped at an airport. But who hasn’t been trapped at an airport at least once in their lives?

24. In My Dreams by REO Speedwagon: another song that equates flying with dreams. “We climbed and climbed and at the top we fly!”

25. It Never Rains in Southern California by Albert Hammond. The first of our Boeing tribute songs: “Westbound 747.”

26. Jamaica Mistaica by Jimmy Buffett. Jimmy’s a pilot and song writer. He will show up many times in this play list. This is about his Grumman Albatross and when it was shot up by Jamaican authorities. The Hemisphere Dancer N928J now lives in Orlando, still with bullet holes.

27. Jeremiah Weed by Dos Gringos. EXPLITAVE! EXPLATIVE! Did I mention this has foul language! However, if you can stomach it, it’s hysterical! Dos Gringos are F-16 pilots from Arizona. It has the USAF down pat!

28. Jet Airliner by Steve Miller Band. It’s a classic! And pretty self-explanatory as to why it’s on the list.

29. Learn to Fly by the Foo Fighters. I like a song by a band with an aviation themed name. (I just can’t bring myself to include the B-52s, they are named after the hairstyle not the plane). Foo Fighters were lights (UFOs) seen by bombers in World War II. It’s a good rocking song and puts you into a good mood.

30. Learning to Fly by Pink Floyd. David Gilmour is another pilot songwriter. Gilmour used to cruise the English countryside in a bright yellow Folland Gnat. It also has great radio chatter.

31. Leaving on a Jet Plane by John Denver. Believe it or not, this was for a while a recruiting tool for the U.S. Air Force. Whatever were they thinking!

32. Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot by Sting. A typical Sting song with a moral tone. Be yourself. Live for individuality. Themes representing a pilot’s spirit.

33. Love’s Theme by The Love Unlimited Orchestra. Ok, believe it or not, the USAF Thunderbirds used to fly to this. When the Delta formed up they would play Love at the shows. Much to my wife’s dismay, when I hear it I tend to recite the demo narration up through 3 2 1 Break for the Bomb Burst. I still fly the routine in my mind.

34. ME-262 by Blue Oyster Cult. The Secret Treaties even had a 262 on its cover. Some Seventies metal.

35. Mighty Wings by Cheap Trick. Another from Top Gun. I just wished it was the instrumental version you hear during one of the “Hops.”

36. New Way To Fly by Garth Brooks. A song for the country fans.

37. Oysters & Pearls by Jimmy Buffett. Believe it or not, this song starts talking about Lindberg. Again, using aviation to show success.

38. Rocket Man by Elton John. I evidently was one of the few people who knew “Burning out my fuse up here alone.”

39. Sentimental Journey by Doris Day. Many a bomber had that slogan.

40. Silver Wings by Jimmy Buffett. Romance gone bad? Head to the airport, watch airplanes, and you’ll feel better.

41. Silver Wings in the Moonlight by Joe Reichman Orchestra. Close your eyes and you are transported to a smoky USO club in World War II.

42. Sirius by The Alan Parsons Project. Not from On Air but from Eye In The Sky. Yes it’s a name of a Lockheed aircraft but it’s another song from my childhood. The opening jump by the U.S. ARMY Golden Knights out of the C-7A Caribou was done to Sirius.

43. Sky Pilot by Eric Burdon & The Animals. Best listened to with brownies or a couple of strong beverages.

44. The Sky’s the Limit by Jason Deulo: modern pop song/ enjoyable 21^st century schlock.

45. Snoopy vs. The Red Baron by The Royal Guardsmen. Had this as a 45 when I was just a young pup. (If you don’t know what a 45 is, well. . .) Flying Ace was and is and always shall be my hero. Snoopy Rocks!

46. Straighten Up and Fly Right by The Andrews Sisters. 1940s classic and a slogan used by many World War II pilots and the cast of RED TAILS.

47. Take Me To the Pilot by Elton John. It’s all there in the title.

48. Taxi by Harry Chapin. No it’s not about moving it an aircraft around an airfield. “She was gonna be an actress. And I was gonna learn to fly!”

49. Those Magnificent Men in There Flying Machines by C.R.S Players. Wires Fabric and open cockpits. It’s just a fun song!

50. Top Gun Anthem by Harold Faltermeyer & Steve Stevens. It’s about Tomcats and A-7s and that opening scene of an iconic movie.

51. Tree Top Flyer by Jimmy Buffett Fly low and fast; you will make money!

52. Up, Up, and Away by the 5^th Dimension. Another song for brownies. It is the definitive hot air balloon song.

53. Vultee Special by Bob Crosby Orchestra. Another 40s swing tune harking to those SNV pilots out there.

54. Watching Airplanes by Gary Allan. I know this sentiment. Depressed? Go to the airfield and watch the airplanes take off and fly. A great song. Airplanes are cool.

55. When You Fly by Ansel Brown. I first heard this song at Oshkosh at the Women in Aviation Breakfast. We had Ansel on www.Airplanegeeks.com. He gets General Aviation. This song makes my heart sing. It is also cool he sings in my register. It’s worth a listen.

56. You’re So Vain by Carly Simon. Hey it’s about Biz Jets! Lear Jets are cool!

Last but not least, number 57: 99 Luftballons by Nena. It’s about Jets and a nuclear war. Remember the 80s when the Russians were going to attack at any minute?

Well that’s it! Let me know what you think.

The Airplane Geeks Aircraft of the Week: Supermarine Attacker

2012-02-10T07:38:00.001-05:00

This is for the fans of ‘50s naval aviation. The Supermarine Attacker was the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm’s first jet aircraft. The Attacker began life as a RAF specification for a Jet Attack aircraft. Like many aircraft of its vintage, it tried to keep the most radical aspect of the aircraft only to be the power plant. Using that logic the Attacker, originally called the Jet Spiteful, used the laminar flow wing of the Supermarine Spiteful, the successor of the Spitfire. The Spiteful had serious developmental problems and that delayed the Attacker. When the Attacker flew on July 27, 1946 the RAF found it had no serious advantages over the other two Jet aircraft in production the Meteor and Vampire. Due to the delay of delivery, to gain experience with new fangled jets, the FAA eventually bought 18 Vampires.

Eventually the Attacker went into production and onto Royal Navy Decks. The Attacker had one huge drawback, since it was based on the Spiteful, it had a conventional gear. Yes it was a jet with a tail wheel. The only other one I know of was the ME-262 prototype. This was because Supermarine did not want to reengineer the wing to make it a nose gear aircraft. So the Attacker eventually became known for its Scorching takeoffs and landings.

In November of 1950 the WA-470 & WA470 commenced deck handling trials aboard HMS Illustrious. The pair took part in 10 days worth of flying completing 197 take offs and landings. One result of these was the Tail was given a larger surface area and a dorsal fin was added.

The Rolls Royce Nene engine powered the production F.1. The RB. 41 Nene could be considered the definitive jet engine of late forties to Early fifties. The Centrifugal compressor turbojet engine would be produced in Great Britain, by Pratt & Whitney as the J-42 and after 40 had been exported to the Soviet Union, reversed engineered as the Kilmov RD-45. The Nene would be flown in F9Fs, MiG-15s, Gloster Meteors, P-80s and T-33s, Vampires and of course the Attacker. You could say Rolls Royce fought the Korean War on both sides.

The Attacker entered into service with 800 Squadron RN. Its armament started off with four Hispano Mk V. cannons with 125 rounds per gun. In March of 1952, 800 deployed operationally aboard HMS Eagle. 800 quickly converted to the second version the FB Mk1. The FB Mk 1 added a hard point on each wing able to carry a 1000 Lb bomb or four 60Lb rockets. The other development was the creation of a 250 gallon fuel tank. The tank in the center of the wing fuselage gave the Attacker a “pregnant” belly. The tank became standard on all Attackers, even thought it was removable.

Eventually two more squadrons were equipped with the Attacker, 803 Squadron and 890. Though this was short lived. All Attackers were retired from front line service by 1954. They served as the introduction to jet aircraft for Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve after. From 54 to 57 the FRU or Fleet Requirements Unit were equipped with a few Attackers before they were retired in favor of the Hawker Sea Hawk.

Believe it or not there was an export version of this aircraft. The Type 538 Attacker was a Nene 4 powered de-navalized aircraft based on the FB Mk.2. 36 were produced for Pakistan. The PAF flew the Attacker until 1964.

The total production was 182 aircraft. While it was short lived it did bring two important things, it brought both the Royal Navy and the Pakistani Air Force into the Jet Age.

Works Cited

Chiefs, Air Force. "Pakistan Air Force." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 05 Feb. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan_Air_Force>.

"Supermarine Attacker." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 05 Feb. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarine_Attacker>.

Williams, Ray. "Chapter Fourteen Supermarine Attacker." Royal Navy Aircraft since 1945. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute, 1989. 49-52. Print.

The Airplane Geeks Aircraft of the Week: The Lockheed L-10 Electra

2012-02-03T20:40:00.000-05:00

Designed to compete for airline business against the Boeing 247 and the Douglas DC-2 the Lockheed L10 was first flown on February 23, 1934. The design by, Hall Hibbard originally, featured one tail. Like all Lockheed aircraft, the aircraft was named after a star or constellation. Sometime take a look at the original Lockheed logo. In this case one of the Pleiades ( the seven sisters for us amateur astronomers) Electra.

The Electa was to follow the successful Orion and Vega aircraft, which were known for their streamlining. The L-10 was to be Lockheed’s first twin engined all metal aircraft A model of the aircraft was sent to the University of Michigan where a young engineer worked in the wind tunnel there. This engineer eventually suggested that the single vertical tail surface be replaced by twin tails. This suggestion would get the engineering student a job a Lockheed and become one of his signature design features. That grad student was Clarence “Kelly” Johnson. Who would eventually become a God in the Parthinon of Aircraft Designers.

Back to the Lockheed 10 H.T. “Dick” Merrill used the L-10 to make the first round trip crossing of the Atlantic in May 1937. His cargo interestingly enough was newsreel footage of the Hindenburg disaster at Lakehurst, NJ.

Of the 149 Electras built the most famous was the Model 10E NR16020. The 10E was equipped with a pair of P&W R-1340 Wasp. This was the aircraft used by Amelia Earhart. Financed by Perdue University the 10E was bought and modified to Earhart’s specifications. The fuselage windows were removed and streamlined over. The Interior was replaced with a large fuel tank. Dubbed the “Flying Laboratory” it was cursed from the beginning.

The round the world flight actually was started twice. The first attempt ended in Hawaii. The fight two the islands from Burbank ended due to a failure of the Variable pitched props. Three days later Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan ground looped the aircraft on take off. The aircraft with its broken landing gear was packed up and shipped back to Lockheed to be repaired by ship.

On the second flight, begun by an unannounced cross-country from Oakland to Miami, it was decided to fly the round the world flight west to east. On July 2, 1937 the NR16020 disappeared with its crew of two.

The Electra has completed two around the world flights a L-10A flown by Ann Pellegreno completed the trip on the 30^th anniversary of Earhart’s flight. On the 60^th Linda Finch flew an L-10E the exact model that Earhart flew, around the world.

The L10 flew for the USAAC in World War II as the C-35 and C-36. It also had two variants the L-12 Electra Junior, an Eight Seat version and the Fourteen seat L-14 Super Electra. The Electra would lead to the Hudson bomber of RAF Fame.

The L-10 is truly a very historic aircraft.

The Airplane Geeks Aircraft of the Week: The Sikorsky S-61L/N/T

2012-01-27T21:43:00.000-05:00

The S-61 is the Civilian version of Sikorsky’s very successful Sea King franchise of helicopters. Fifty years ago on December 6, 1960. the S-61L first flew. The S-61 received FAA certification on November 2, 1961. Inserting a 4 foot 3 in plug just under the intakes stretched the S-61. This made the S-61able to carry up to 30 passengers. The S-61L also featured a modified landing gear with out the amphibious sponsons. Los Angles Airways purchased the first three to replace S-55s. They were used to fly a 15 minute route from LAX to Disneyland direct. Disneyland at the time had it’s own heliport behind Tomorrow Land. http://www.airfields-freeman.com/CA/Airfields_CA_OrangeCo_NW.htm

Following the S-61L, was the S-61N. The “N” returned the 61 back to it nautical ways. The Float sponsons and a watertight hull were again added to the airframe. The “N” first flew on August 7^th 1962. This would be the definitive version of the civilian sea king. With the majority of them being used to support offshore Drilling. The additional weight of the floatation gear reduced the passenger load to 28 people.

Both the L & N would eventually be equipped with all weather radar, located in a thimble radome on the nose. On October 6^th 1964 the FAA made the variant the first helicopters certified for instrument fight ratings.

In order to improve its lifting capabilities Carson Helicopters of Perkasie Pennsylvania, in effect removed the “Plug” from the airframe and reduced its size back to standard military Sea King. This became known as the S-61 Shortsky. This gave the helicopter an additional 1000 pound sling capacity over original 10,000 pounds. Carson would also create the “CARSON BLADE” a carbon fiber blade to replace the original steal blades. These blades have been fitted to Sea Kings worldwide. The VH-3s used by POTUS and Westland Commandos used by the RAF in Afghanistan.

On June 9^th 1980 Sikorsky delivered the last of 136 S-61s. However that is not the end of the story, seems life gets better after 50. If you don’t believe me ask a BUFF or 130. The U.S. State Department has recently ordered 110 S-61T or Tritons. The S-61T is a blend of Sikorsky and Carson’s technologies. It will have both composite Main and Tail rotors and a state of the art Glass Cockpit. According to Carson just the tail rotors weight savings will provide and additional lifting capacity of 300Lbs. S-61T will be used as a transport for State department officials, to avoid having to lease helicopters.

Works Cited

Adcock, Al. H-3 Sea King in Action. Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications, 1995. 58. Print.

"Sikorsky S-61." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 22 Jan. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky_S-61>.

The Airplane Geeks Aircraft of the Week: O2U Corsair:

2012-01-21T10:18:00.000-05:00

Before the Corsair and then the Corsair II was the O2U-1 Corsair. A naval Scout Observation aircraft built by Vought Aircraft. The Navy issued specifications for a Scout aircraft that could have fixed gear, floats or be an amphibian.

But first a digression on U.S. Naval Designations. The first Letter designated its mission Observation the second Number showed it was the second aircraft of built by the third Letter “U” which stood for Vought. The Dash number was the variant. So shouldn’t have the aircraft been called the O2V-2? Nope V was for Vega or the Vega Burbank Division of Lockheed. So where do we get “U” The “U” stood for United Aircraft and Transport Corporation. When Vought went back to being Chance Vought the Department of the Navy kept the “U” designation. Later in its career it would be re-designated SU-1 through SU-4

So back to the O2U was originally powered by a P&W R-1340 Wasp engine. A post war hybrid, it was a steal tube fuselage with doped Fabric wings. It was a two place aircraft with a pilot and observer. It had one forward 30 Caliber Browning machine guns. It was also capable of carrying a double trainable mount for the observer.

The Corsair actually was successful on a couple of fronts. One was it was to quote Alton Brown a “Multitasker” The fact that the aircraft could be equipped with floats or conventional landing gear gave it a great deal of flexability It could to be launched from catapults aboard Battleships and Cruisers. When not at sea it could be still flown as an conventional aircraft. The Marines were given the aircraft and it was what was flown by Medal of Honor winner Lt Christian Schlitt.

Eventually 291 were built for the Department of the Navy. They were flown by the Navy, Marines and U.S. Coast Guard. The Coasties flew 6 and the majority were flown over the Rio Grand River to protect from illegal immigrations. The aircraft continued to be flown until World War II. When war did break out there were still 141 in active service.

Vought eventually built 580 Corsairs, and it was a very successful aircraft for export. Several were exported to countries that would evaluate the technology for the upcoming war. Both Germany & Japan received copies for evaluation as well as Great Britain. The following other countries flew the Corsair; Argentina Brazil, China, Mexico, Peru, Thailand. China and Thailand and Peru used the aircraft in combat.

For more information;

www.uscg.mil/history/webaircraft/Vought_O2U2.pdf

Works Cited

Doll, Thomas E., Berkley R. Jackson, and William A. Riley. Navy Air Colors: United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Aircraft Camouflage and Markings : Vol. 1, 1911-1945. Carrollton: Squadron/Signal Publications, 1983. Print.

"U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office Official Website." US Coast Guard Home. Web. 15 Jan. 2012. <http://www.uscg.mil/history>.

"Vought O2U Corsair." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 15 Jan. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vought_O2U_Corsair>.

PS it has a Facebook Fan Page:

The Aircraft of the Week: The Cessna A-37 Dragonfly “SuperTweet”

2012-01-13T07:47:00.000-05:00

You can’t discuss the A-37 without talking briefly about its parent the T-37 Tweet. Awarded a contract in 1954 Cessna built a prototype, which flew on October 12, 1954. The T-37 was a two side-by-side seat aircraft with initially two Continental J-69’s. The J-69 was a licensed copy of the Turbiomeca Malbore engine. One unique feature of the Intakes was a FOD screen that would come up from the bottom of the engine to cover the intakes since they were so low to the ground. Also the aircraft was given a 14-foot separation of the main landing gear for stability. The J-69 had a notorious ear splitting whine. Causing the aircraft to be known as the “6000 Pound Dog Whistle” or TweetyBird eventually this became shortened to just Tweet.

In 1961 the USAF wanted to add weapons delivery to the training syllabus. Cessna added a hard point capable of carrying 500 lbs under each wing. 65 Gallon wing tip tanks were added as well as a K14C Computing gun site. With these changes the T-37C was born.

In 1962 the Special Operations Air Warfare centre at Elgin AFB commissioned Cessna to build a Counter Insurgency or COIN aircraft. The aircraft was to have better range thrust and short field ability. Cessna returned with YAT-37D which competed against the YAT-28E a turboprop version of the T-28 Trojan. The YAT-37D replaced the J-69s with General Electric J-85-T-25s which doubled the amount of thrust.

The wings were strengthened and the 65-gallon tanks of the T-35C were replaced with 95 Gallon tanks. The hard points were increased to three on each wing. A GAU-2B 20mm minimum was placed in the nose and armor was increased throughout the airframe. Eventually a fourth hard point was added to each wing. To test the aircraft, the USAF decided that it needed to send it into combat. 39 aircraft were ordered and in the process the Air Force changed the designation to A-37A Dragonfly. To everyone else but the Pentagon it was known as the Super Tweet

OPERATION COMBAT DRAGON saw the first use of the A-37 in combat. 25 of the 39 ordered were operated out of Bien Hoa Air Base. The results of the 3000 sorties flown two aircraft crashed on landings, 24 suffered from anti aircraft fire but not a single aircraft was lost to enemy fire.

The Lessons learned from COMBAT DRAGON brought forth the A-37B the definitive version of the aircraft. The gross weight was increased to 14,000 pounds, from 6,500 in the T-37A. The ability to refuel was given to the aircraft. It was the last USAF aircraft to require probe and drogue refueling. The A-37B had a max ceiling of 25,000 Feet due to that fact that cockpit was unpressurized. Eventually 577 would be built. Of that amount 264 were actually transferred to the VNAF eventually falling into communist hands after the fall of South Vietnam.

After the War an additional 110 aircraft were built for the MAP or Military Assistance Program. Between 1980-1982 122 A-37Bs were re-designated OA-37Bs. AFRES and ANG squadrons would fly these aircraft. One of those Squadrons would be the 111^th TAS; Tactical Air Support Group of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard would be based at the Willow Grove Air Force Reserve Base. They were replaced eventually by OA-10As.

The T-37C and the A-37B were widely exported to Latin American Countries. In 1995 both Ecuador and Peru used them against each other during the Cenepa War. South Korea used it for their Black Eagles Demonstration team. The Following Nations have flown or are still flying the Super Tweet.

Chile, Columbia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru, South Korea, South Vietnam, Thailand, United States, Uruguay, Vietnam.

Currently there are 10 on the civilian registers 4 in Australia and New Zealand and the remainder here in the States.

One last note; the Prototype YAT-37D was originally given to the Air Force Museum in Dayton in December 1964. It was yanked out of the museum in August 1966 to be the prototype of the YA-37A. After two years of flight-testing, it was returned to the museum in July 1970 where it still resides today.

Love, Terry, and Joe Sewell. A-37/T-37 Dragonfly in Action. Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications, 1991. Print.

The Aircraft of the Week PT1 the MB-326

2012-01-07T11:21:00.000-05:00

The MB-326 first flew December 10, 1957, and was created as a replacement for Italy’s T-6 Texan fleet. The 326 used the Rolls Royce Viper engine was a non-afterburning turbojet and was initially built as a completely expendable engine for the Jindivik drone. Interestingly enough the T-38/F-5 family used the GE J-85 which was designed for the Quail drone and also to be expendable.

The MB-326 exported worldwide. Though one unique customer Alitalia bought 4 demilled airframes to help their pilots with the conversion to Jet airliners. Aermacchi was very willing to sell licenses to other nations to produce the aircraft. Two of the Largest were Australia for the RAAF and South Africa for the SAAF. The CAC or Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation produced 18 kits and 67 airframes for RAAF after getting 12 built by Aermacchi. The Maneuverability of the aircraft made it the perfect airframe for the Roulettes the RAAF who flew it from 1970 to 1989. The RAAF retired the aircraft in 2001 in favor of the PC-9.

South Africa received 40 Aermacchi airframes and the produced 125 as the Impala. The SAAF used the aircraft as a light attack aircraft in the Angolan conflicts. The Impala’s are credited with the shoot down 6 Mi-8 and Mi-24 Helicopters . The Silver Falcons the SAAF demonstration Team and flew it from 1967 to 1997.

Embraer built 167 aircraft for the FAB and various countries, Argentina Paraguay and Togo.

Cameroon still operates 8 of them.

The following Countries have flown or still flying the 326;

Argentina

Australia

Brazil

Cameroon

Democratic Republic of Congo

Dubai

Ghana

Italy

Paraquay

South Africa

Togo

Tunisia

UAE

Zaire

Zambia

So that is the brief history of the MB-326 and its varients.

The more things change . .. January 2, 1965

2012-01-02T09:59:00.000-05:00

January 2, 1965 Secretary of State for Defense Denis Healy cancels the TSR-2. Healy was the Labour Shadow Defense Secretary and would cancel the UK built TSR-2, for the GD F-111K. The RAF would never buy the 111K, but purchased the F-4 Phantom. The TSR-2 would go down like the Avro Arrow in Canada, as the greatest aircraft that never was put into production. Denis’ summed up his reason for cancellation this way:

"The trouble with the TSR-2 was that it tried to combine the most advanced state of every art in every field. The aircraft firms and the RAF were trying to get the Government on the hook and understated the cost. But TSR-2 cost far more than even their private estimates, and so I have no doubt about the decision to cancel."

Ironically you could substitute the word F-35 for TSR-2 and you hear the current arguments about that state of the art program. The more things change . . .


Used with permission by RUTHAS

Thank you Steve Jobs!

2011-10-08T10:38:00.000-04:00

This week we lost a great man, Steve Jobs, who has had an effect on just about everyone. He has changed my life in two ways, one even more profound than the other.

iblog, iRecord, and iWrite, on a 13-inch MacBook Pro

Most people know its name—that is, my computer—is HAL. But the ease of using this computer is not what changed my life. It was an iPod, specifically, an iPod Shuffle. Ironically, it wasn’t what it could do, but what it couldn’t. Shell bought me the first edition as a birthday present. It was purple! It was cool; I could download 1 GB of songs, which was a lot to me. Well, it seemed like a lot at the time. What could it not do? Well there were these mysterious things called podcasts. I couldn’t play a podcast on an iPod shuffle. The following Christmas, my sister-in-law, who should own stock in Apple, bought Shell and I iPod NANOs with 8 gigs. I could now listen to Podcasts! So I began to listen to Doctor Who Podshock and Stuff You Missed in History Class. I then went looking for aviation shows, found UCAP, and eventually I settled on Airplane Geeks I won’t go into the details. You can read that HERE

Mac Performa 6200

But being able to have the adventures, write, blog, and interact in social media isn’t the most important effect Steve Jobs had had on my life. What is, you ask? Well one word answer, SHELL! Yes that’s right; in a small way, Steve Jobs and his mighty Mac brought Shell and I together. When we first met, online—yes, I found my wife online—she was on a Mac! Over time, she converted me from PC to APPLE. But if it weren’t for her Mac 6200 desktop, I would have never met my soul mate. She is the “Apple” of my eye, in a home full of Steve Job’s creations.

I know that is similar to others stories this week, but I thought it was important that I get my thanks out to a man who had a huge effect on my life.

Thank you, Steve!

Photo Friday: Oceania 2011

2011-09-30T07:00:00.001-04:00

Its been several weeks since the last post. I am sorry about that! Here's a small start. Scenes from NAS Oceana's airshow last weekend.

Another First Flight August 18th 1903 Karl Jathro

2011-08-17T07:26:00.000-04:00

August 18, 1903 Karl Jatho flies his Motordrachen for a brief hop. Jatho’s glider is quipped with a 10 Hp motor driving a pusher propeller. Hanover Germany now claims that he was the first to fly, not the Wrights, by four months. His wings were based on Zadonia seed which flies very stable as it drifts to the ground. Eventually Jatho would produce a successful aircraft in 1909 that was fully controllable.

If you want to hear more of the history go to http://www.karl-jatho.com/html/we_were_the_first.html

As a Post Script Richard Pearce still holds the record for a non photographed first flight on March 21^st 1902.

Sikorsky Firefly and La France. Battery Power is new in 1884 and 2011

2011-08-09T07:46:00.000-04:00

August 9, 1884 Charles Renard & Arthur Krebs pilot the “La France” a war dirgable. The “La France” was the first “controllable” airship. The craft made 7 flights, five of which returned to the starting point. Interestingly enough the technology used propel the La France has become new again. The 8 KM round trip flight used a 435 Kg Battery, powering electric motors to drive the propellers. The flight lasted 23 minutes.

The current star of electric flight the Sikorsky Firefly! So what was old is new again!

Photo Friday: In honour of Steve Vissher the L-39

2011-08-05T07:56:00.000-04:00

Did you know he flew in one of these! The L-39 Albatross. All pictures copyrighted by the author 2011

The Dusk Flight of Curtis 1911 Pusher #OSH11

2011-08-01T16:12:00.000-04:00

Into a pink sky a lone biplane flies

Leaving the ground as the sun sets like a firefly coming aloft

from the grass at dusk

Always just beyond reach of earth as its motor hums.

Not being captured but capturing all who watch

Gently slipping and turning

turning back time

to days of uncertainty and dexterity

a reminder that dreams are always to be chased

even if you do it slowly

Dedicated to the Crew of the Curtis 1911 Pusher!

Thanks for an amazing Memory!

David

An open letter to the Podcasting Community at #OSH11

2011-07-17T15:16:00.001-04:00

BREAKING NEWS!!! PODAPALOOZA is going to be part of the myTransponder Party Thursday Night. Stay tuned!

-Podapalooza (N) a group of podcasters and shows comingling with each other recording something. Occasionally adult beverages and bacon are consumed.

Dateline July 17, 2011 T-8 to #OSH11

Gentlemen and Ladies of the Aviation Podcasting World,

I am seriously disheartened by news that reached my Skype this morning.

I read a nasty rumor that Podapalooza wasn’t going to happen this year. I am not going to say who said it. That is not important. That it was said, even thought is! How could there be an AirVenture without Podapalooza? Why? Because there was no one, person, to step up and run it. This just can’t happen!

We have the greatest collection of podcasters and social media/aviation geeks in one room for one week. Ok it’s a campground but you get the point. Will we not have anything to talk about? IT’S OSHKOSH! We all get it! We’ll never shut-up. Have you ever heard any of us for a loss of words besides? The only air, anything, we don’t like is Dead!

To remind everyone why we do this, I will give you five simple reasons:

1. It’s OSHKOSH! AirVenture don’tcha know!

2. Our Listeners

3. Our Listeners

4. US! No Grant & Steve it’s us not U.S. The Podcasting Community. We get to celebrate what we all do and for one night become part of something even bigger.

5. Lastly our LISTENERS! You know those people who actually give us a reason to do what we do. I know at Airplane Geeks we have a large portion of our Audience who will never get to #OSH11 or 12 or 13 for that matter. But we can bring it to them.

So, I am throwing down the silk aviator scarf. Taking off the gloves. I am calling out Rod, Tupper, Air Pigs, Flight Time Radio, Uncontrolled Air Space, Warbird Radio, The New Pilot Pod Blog PCDU, Airplane Geeks, and who ever else I missed. 9:00 PM Thursday Night July 28^th 2011 PCDU HQ or a better choice. Even if its just one of us recording and passing a ZOON around!!

Let me know you’re in. Otherwise you are fair game on the recording for not showing up.

Podapalooza come for the beer stay for the recording.

Signed everyone’s humble historian

David

Photo Fourth: Happy Fourth of July!

2011-07-04T09:59:00.001-04:00

These was taken by yours truly as it departed PHL on July First. Therefore I Declare them copyrighted 2011

I thought this summed up what the Independence Day means, in airline dork.

First we were part of a HUGE old Empire. Lumbering to keep its self aloft

Then from an international (air) port called Philadelphia we decided to become a nimble start-up got rid of a lot of excess Baggage (Fees) and soared into the clouds.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!

P.S. Could someone tell what is the name of the 73?

T-22 and counting a plea for Help

2011-07-01T16:48:00.000-04:00

First Let me say if you haven't read Airplanista this month. http://www.mygazines.com/issue/35392/18 GO DO IT NOW! I'll wait.

Now why I have been excited for weeks and couldn't say anything.

http://www.planecrazydownunder.com/

See why I was excited! They both have me in it! Good Taste on both sites. OK but lets get serious.

Well by this time in 22 days I will be winging it to CHI town aboard a UA 757. Final destination Whitman Field AirVenture 2011, OSHKOSH, or #OSH11. So what have I done so far?

I have made a couple of interesting Tech purchases. I bought a pair of noise cancelling headphones. They work pretty well, one of the selling features is a old school jack to go into airliner seats. Channel 9 here I come. Though with my luck I will have a pilot whom has it turned off?

I have been struggling with the tech requirements, and flights. Ok I do go to a lot of air shows but not often do I go by plane. Everyone knows about Baby, she is usually my companion. If you don’t know Baby, she’s my 2000 Pontiac Grand Am, whose got over 220,000 miles on her. Baby doesn’t charge me for luggage! But I digress, back to packing. Here’s what I normally take to an air show. Lets use my overnight trip to Langley’s show as an example.

Bag one or my “Flight line Bag” In it is a Nikon D-60, and an 18-55 and a 55-200mm lenses. With that comes the necessary charging equipment. So a Plug charge etc. So that. I have a 4 Gig HD card and spares (couple of 1 gig and 2 gig cards) I also take the point and shoot Cannon (Shell’s) it has a 2-gig card.

For the audio, I am a podcaster, and if I don’t come back with interview, it makes Airplane Geeks Bits and Pieces Episodes a lot more work. So for audio I have a small Sony IC recorder and a Radio Shack Mic. Extra AAA batteries, of course. The only other piece is the USB cord to download the files.

I have brought a Video Camera in the past but . . . Not sure its in the cards this year. I did an experiment last year at Oceana and still haven’t downloaded the videos. Though it still might go we’ll see.

I might dig out my photo vest (not sure) I have gotten away from using it. A bit dorky, but functional.

So that is what goes out on the flight line with me.

Now this is where things start getting complicated. I know I will need HAL. Who’s HAL he is my 13in Mac Book Pro. Did I mention everything gets a name in our household? Shell’s Mac is Marvin. I just got a new laptop back pack for HAL, it was $20.00 US from Target (pronounced Targeh) So that will transport HAL, with the intention of carrying it on the flight with the “Flight line bag” So what will this also carry? My intention is for it to carry the assorted plugs for HAL, my 2 Terabyte external drive. Some books (Yes, I still read books) my new Sony Noise Cancelling headphones. Lastly my Snowball Condenser Mick, and its USB connector fit nicely in the pockets. I should have plenty of room left over. Now the question is will these two bags pass the checkpoints at airport security.

The backpack will also carry the single most important things my Meds. I am a diabetic and I can’t afford to have UAL loose my meds. So they will be carried with me at all time. I think I can squeeze in a small change of clothes just in case.

Ok that’s the important stuff. Wait your saying what about Clothes and sleeping? Well I have one suitcase (I can’t afford two hundred dollars for my clothes to fly.) So I have one Large Suitcase. It will to carry 12 shirts 14 pairs of unmentionables two pairs of shorts one pair of sweats Two pairs of Jeans, Towel, Toiletries, Socks Pillow blankets and yoga mat. Yes you heard me right yoga mat. I need to sleep on something and don’t think the air matrice will fit. (I haven’t tried it yet but it’s a suitcase not a TARDIS.)

This is the dilemma. How am I going to fit all that stuff in one suitcase? So I am reaching out. Tell me what to pack.

So here it is HELP!!!!!!!!!!!! Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!!

P.S. I am also working on my Australian language skills! G’Day Mate!

Photo Friday: ME-163 Komet What a difference a year makes.

2011-06-24T07:34:00.000-04:00

Here is the National Air and Space Museum's ME-163B-1 Komet The first two pictures were taken last July (2010). The Second two taken on be a Pilot Day. It grew wings and moved.

Pilot Day 2011

2011-06-19T09:47:00.002-04:00

Pilot Day 2011 , a set on Flickr.

Here's the Show at Be a Pilot Day at the National Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center.

T-42 to #OSH11: Flights booked, interview requests started.

2011-06-12T14:29:00.000-04:00

Well the trigger was pulled I booked flights to ORD, much to the chagrin of Dan and Rob I am flying United. I was blessed, Shell let me use her miles.

So now the hard work has begun. I want to make this week count. I am setting a goal of 4 interviews a day. That’s twenty-eight interviews. Much of that could be the copyrighted David Vanderhoof, Grant McHerron technique of introducing ourselves and then before they know it shoving a mic under there noses. But also it involves sending out introduction letters/ emails. Scheduling and arranging them in advance. I sent out my first five today. I will see what kind of responses I get. Over the next week I will try and set a goal of sending out about 5 a day. Previous experiences show that for every 5 emails I get at least one response for the interview. Several times it didn’t happen because of circumstances but I tried.

The four interviews a day also will let me see the show. I looked at the Media News Conferences and I know that I will make it an intention to go to each mornings Media Conference. I also know that I will be at the Media event for Bob Hoover, on Tuesday the 26^th.

I want to see the Centennial of Naval Aviation Show. I would like to be there for

“The always popular Warbirds in Review on July 27 will profile the Navy pilots and current owners of a comprehensive list of naval aircraft on Scotts Warbird Alley, including an F8F Bearcat painted in a Blue Angels scheme, an F7F Tigercat, and an award-winning SNJ Tailhook trainer. Additional forums and interview sessions will be held alongside featured aircraft on ConocoPhillips Plaza.”

http://www.airventure.org/news/2011/110526_navyday.html

In other news, I have decided on Sneakers. Still trying to figure out if I fit in my flight suit from 20 years ago.

So the question of the day Ball Cap or Wide Brimmed hat?

Anyone want to take an Airplane Geek Flying?

Back to writing requests for interviews.

T-50 and Counting. Off to #OSH11

2011-06-05T12:43:00.002-04:00

Well the clocked started ticking. On Friday June 3^rd I received notice, that I have credentials as Media for EAA AirVenture 2011. I think I am going to blog about this on a regular basis and my prep to go to this show.

This is not my first trip to Oshkosh. In ~~1990~~ 1992 I went to Oshkosh with the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum aboard their Martin 404. Here it is 21 19 years later and I am going back. ( Messed up the dates!)

The last trip was a “working trip”, I had to spend at least 4 hours a day working the store at the airplane, or giving “tours”. This time is going to be different, I will be working but I will have cameras and my trusty Sony IC digital video recorder. Ok I had my Pentax K-1000, 21 years ago and 40 rolls of 36 exposure film (1,440 shots) Now I will probably shoot 4GB or 800 pictures a day. There is a huge difference, in 20 years makes.

Thinking some other differences. Communication. I had a calling card on that trip. I called home to my then girlfriend and my parents the pay phone was near AeroShell Square I vaguely remember. The calls were five minutes, life is good I am well and I miss you. This time I will be equipped with iPhone with email and GPS. I will have HAL my 13 inch Mac Book Pro and if I can get Wi-Fi hopefully a Skype call home to my beloved wife, on video no less.

I was just another visitor back in ~~1990~~ 92. Yes I was crew with a plane but really the only people I knew were the people I came with. This year it’s different. I tweeted that I was going to #OSH11 proper hash tag included. I then got many responses saying they were looking forward to meeting me there. Still haven’t gotten used to people wanting to meet me?

Commuting there, well again I am flying via an airliner however it will not be direct.

Somehow I need to get from ORD to OSH still need to work that out! More on that planning to come in future posts.

Staying will be different also. I as it stand now I will be living in a tent. The last time it was a college dorm room. It’s been a long time since I have been camping. While I do know where my towel always is, the same does not apply to my sleeping bag.

My goal is to begin making contacts. I have already said that I will be at Dan @Airplanista Pimentel’s party on Friday Night. Now to start making those other commitments and working on interviews. I do have some tentative goals:

· I want to somehow get to the Seaplane Base.

· I want to take more pictures of the ME-109E in the Museum, I took three pictures cause I was so shocked at what I was looking at.

· I need to go back to Ardy & Eds. Rootbeer Floats served by carhops on skates is still awesome.

· For the reaching for the skies interviews, I would love to interview two of my heroes RA “Bob” Hoover and Burt Rutan. Burt’s Niece Jenna has been on the Geeks and Bob and I go way back he used to shake my hand when he would fly into Willow Grove for the air shows. Still remember that smile, and straw hat.

· I was privileged to see the 357^th pilots; I look forward to Nightly Shows.

· I am looking forward to seeing Glacier Girl; she was there at OSH in 1992, albeit in parts, laid out in a tent next to the DC-3 that brought her to OSH.

· Anyone want to take a poor historian flying that week? Let me know!

Well 50 Days and yes I am counting! Now where is that sleeping bag????

Photo Friday: Langley 2011

2011-05-20T08:09:00.000-04:00

Here are some random photos from Last week's Airpower over Hampton Roads airshow. All photo's are Copyrighted David M. Vanderhoof 2011

Yoke Peter goes BOAC

2011-05-02T14:34:00.000-04:00

May 2^nd 1952 Yoke Peter a DH-106 Comet introduces BOAC Jet Service from London to Johannesburg G-ALYP was the first Production Comet and Yoke Peter was loaned to BOAC for this. The first fare paying customers for BOAC jet service were on the Return Trip from Johannesburg.

Today in History: The Flight of Daniel Edward Boi

2011-03-17T12:06:00.000-04:00

March 17, 1910 Flt. Officer Daniel E. Boi makes the first all weather flight from Dublin to Cloncurry. At the time there was a shortage of medicinal supplies for the town. In weather, Daniel took off in his overloaded Bristol Box Kite. Despite Heavy winds and rain, Daniel undaunted, flew on and on determined to get his supplies to Cloncurry. When he got over the farmer’s field he was supposed to land at, it was fogged in. He needed some way to find the field. By the grace of Ol’ St. Pat he began hearing Irish tin whistles and a set of bagpipes. That way he was able to snake around the bad weather to get to the town. The townsfolk had gathered to be there when he arrived. They desperately needed the supplies he was bringing on this day. Daniel followed those whistles and pipes to arrive safely in the field. The town’s people rushed the plane, grabbed the four kegs of Guinness Stout and were able to celebrate St. Pat’s day.

You know even today the locals of Cloncurry sing Daniels praises.You might have heard the tune. “Oh Dan E Boi the pipe the pipes are callin' you!”

So that might be just a little blarney for you to share at your local pub this special day.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

I was 17 . . . a Tribute to Jeffery Scott Harrison

2011-03-14T06:45:00.004-04:00

I was 17. He was ten years older than me. I had just started working at One Stop Hobbies in the Montgomery Mall in North Wales, Pennsylvania. For a geeky teen, it was a dream job. I wouldn’t have to flip burgers any longer (Ok, it was stuffing tacos at Taco Bell ) I thought I knew a lot. I had been building models as long as I can remember. I even thought I was good. One evening a man came in, and Tom, the owner, introduced me to Jeff. Jeff had been the Manager of the Store when he was my age. He was going to come back to work in the evenings to pay for his hobby. He built model airplanes like I did. That evening we talked. He and I had a lot in common; he drove a 84 Pontiac Fiero, red. I drove an 86 Pontiac Fiero, red. He liked models. He liked the World War II Luftwaffe. I did also. Little did I know, I had met the man who would become a brother to me.

Jeff was a good modeler. He was an even better teacher. I had a Hasegawa F-16C; I had made a diorama. I was hugely proud of it. I asked Jeff his opinion. His critique was a kick in the stomach. I had seams that weren’t filled. I had paint with orange peel. I had silvering on my decals. By the end of it I was devastated. Jeff then said, “How about you come over my house and we’ll work on it together?” I took him up on the offer. Jeff had been building and collecting models for years. In his built models was a Blohm & Voss BV-141B (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blohm_%26_Voss_BV_141) He knew what a BV-141 was! For a late teen boy, who quietly hid his model building and downplayed his knowledge of airplanes, I felt liberated. Here was someone who understood me.

We met that first summer regularly. When we worked together he and I would have class as a Jedi Master and his Paduan learner. He came to my parents’ house one Sunday afternoon. I have to admit my parents were concerned: why would anyone ten years older than their son want to hang out with him? That all went away, when we sat down to dinner, steak, potatoes, and vegetables. My mother, who always hated the fact her son did not like potatoes of any kind, suddenly found herself sitting across from Jeff who was asking for a second and third helping of them. To Jeff, it wasn’t about the , was about the copious amounts of butter and salt. To quote him “Mashed potatoes are a delivery system for butter and salt.” My mother suddenly liked Jeff. Eventually, Jeff would call her Mom! He would be there, physically or in spirit for every event thereafter. When Mom had surgery, the first and biggest bouquet of flowers was always from Jeff. If Jeff was home from Alaska, he would make a visit every time, not to see me, but to make sure he saw my mother. It was Jeff who dropped everything and flew home from Alaska to be there for her one last time, when she passed from cancer.

By the end of that summer Jeff asked my mother and father if he could take me to the Bux Mont Model Club; at the time it was 8:00 on a Wednesday night. He wanted me to see a “Contest.” They agreed, knowing I would be home about 12:30 on a school night. I went and was forever changed. Here were grown adult men, who did what I did. They built model airplanes, boats, cars, and tanks. They weren’t ashamed about it. I had found a place for me to be me.

Jeff was brilliant, cantankerous, and challenging. He was a reader. He loved books and he read science fiction. We would swop books. He loved DUNE. I hated DUNE, but eventually after forcing me for the fifth time, I finished it. I then went through the whole series. We took great joy reading the later series of books, and then would have lovely, in-depth conversation conversations. We were a two-man book club. He loved history and loved alternate history. Harry Turtledove, and he were good friends; it made him think. He was always in a book; he was always thinking…

He loved Star Wars and I can’t count how many times he watched the complete series of either Babylon Five or the Complete Lord of the Rings Series. Details mattered to him. We saw Hunt for Red October twice in two days, because our friend Dave was sure the crash on the deck of the carrier was an F-14. It wasn’t; it was an F9F-2 Panther. He did have a good sense of humor; he insisted on showing Firebirds to the same friend after he and I had watched it. Not because it has really cool flying scenes of Apaches, but because the acting in it was so bad. It was and still is really bad, but I can watch it at anytime with such pleasant memories. The last movie we went to together was the reboot of Star Trek. Dave, Jeff, and I watched every episode of Star Trek The Next Generation together. Dave taped them with a VCR and we watched them in two-hour increments. As the three of us left the movie theater, we stood in the parking lot for over an hour! The three of us talked and talked, and Jeff who usually was non-plussed about everything, was excited. He liked the movie.

Jeff should have been a Historian, or at least, a researcher. He loved books and he loved research. He said he had built over 1000 models in his lifetime, hundreds when he was a kid. He would run off to the local 5&10 and by two seventy-second scale Revell fighters with his allowance on Saturday. They would be built and flown to destruction by the following Friday. Eventually that pace would slow down. Over the last couple of years, he had become prolific again. His last model that he completed was a P-40 in under two days, start to finish.

Jeff, in my opinion, was a Mechanical Engineer in another life. What fascinated him on aircraft was how things worked. To quote my friend Dave, Jeff “needed to know how that pin moved, that link to retract, that rod which rotated the wheel, 60 degrees to get it into the wheel well.” Dynamics caused him to obsess over DC-3 landing gear as long as I knew him. He finally did build a C-47A, from the Monogram kit. However he didn’t get the DC-3 or more importantly a DST done. Jeff new there were differences. He knew way too much about B-17s also. Little Miss Mischeif also was forever researched but not started. One of his biggest pet peeves of all was someone who would paint exhaust stains out of the hot air vents on the wings. I swear he made it his life-long mission to correct anyone who did that. In fact I know of one modeler who went back and repainted his model after talking to Jeff.

As I said, previously, Jeff challenged me; he also challenged everyone else. He liked pushing people. He built a HE-162 Volksjager and painted it “correctly.” Each wing was a different colour and the fuselage was silver with red primer spots. When it was done, most people thought it was one of the ugliest models they had ever seen. But Jeff knew it was “right!” He also challenged people to build because it’s fun. It’s a hobby, people. He had this long-term project about building models as a reenactment. He wanted to build sixties and seventies vintage models with only the tools and paints that were available then. He did finish a couple of them. Most people didn’t get it. They tended to get bogged down by the fact why would anyone want to build that vintage of a kit? They missed the point.

His SB2C Helldiver

Jeff's last project.

Jeff was a “tester.” He worked for RCA and worked on classified radios. Eventually, he worked for Lochkeed Martin. He worked on Satellites. He went to Cape Canaveral for a pair of satellite launches, or shots, for them. He saw the Shuttle go up from the Vehicle Assembly building. He left Lockheed Martin when he and his then wife moved to Alaska. When he separated from his wife, he started his own photography business. Photography was Jeff’s other love. He loved taking pictures. He took great joy shooting PeeWee football, or soccer. He taught me a great deal about taking pictures. He hated digital photography; film and black-and-white were they only way to go. The town of Ketchikan, Alaska, had two photography studios, and not enough people to support one, so Jeff closed up shop and reluctantly packed up all of his belongings and moved back to Pennsylvania. He went to work for Ritz Camera and Image, until the economy tanked and he was laid off, not once but twice from the organization.

My wife and I both benefited from his skills as a photographer. He took our engagement photos, then somehow made the white wall of our apartment at the time into a Studio Backdrop. Two years later for my 35^th birthday he would venture down to Cape May with Shell and I. We were there for two reasons. Jeff, even though he hated shooting weddings, agreed to be our photographer. We were going to look at places around town we could have our pictures taken. We also were getting our wedding license. So Jeff had the honour of witnessing our license. He took one of his favorite pictures of me that day. He somehow framed me with the Cape May Lighthouse behind, so it looks like I am standing there with a little red hat. I was not amused. Jeff and Shell thought it was hysterical.

As you look at my various avatars, you will see Jeff. He took them.

Jeff didn’t like change. When I first met him back in 1987 he still was listening to vinyl records. He hated Compact Disks. It was the same shooting film over digital. That Christmas I found him a clock. It’s the face was of a Compact Disk. I gave it to him. He now had one CD. It started a tradition: every Christmas like clockwork, he would get another. Every one was different, everyone special. He did have favorites. Shell and I got him a clock that told time in binary language. He liked it because he could tell time but most people just saw a set of blinking red lights. When asked, a Cheshire Cat smile would cross his face, and he would say it’s a clock, and it’s 7:30. He then would explain how it worked. To this day I still don’t have a clue how to read it.

I am now sitting in my living room listening to a clock in the shape of a pyramid clicking softly. The chimes of another clock are going off. There are clocks now all over my apartment, including a CD on my desk. I spent two hours this morning setting them all to daylight savings time. I heard laughter in the ticking. Someone was enjoying watching me go to all this work, much like he had twice a year over the last twenty.

Clocks were Jeff. They were gears and drives, moving parts. Without Clocks we would have no time, so no history. They keep moving and are subjective, yet are consistent. They startle you, when they go off. Yet, they also have a calmness and reliability when you need it most.

Last Sunday I received a call from my friend Dave that started out with “are you sitting down?” Jeff had passed due to a heart attack sometime on Thursday or Friday. He was found in his bed with a book about P-35s in his lap. He died doing what he loved best reading about aircraft. Ironically we will never know the time he left this world for a better place, I think he likes that.

Today would have been Jeffery Scott Harrison’s 51^st Birthday.

Jeff you went away before your time. God Speed my friend! I miss you.