Hello Folks, I apologize for being late with this post. Geez, another month almost gone already. One good thing, we’re closer to Election Day. Well, I don’t consider that really a good thing, just that it’s closer and less campaigning to put up with. Sorry Folks, but I’m not looking forward to the next four years no matter who wins, but that’s just me. Don’t get me wrong, I love my country, but not necessarily the people who have been/will be picked to run it. Or, if you listen to the campaigning, ruin it. (Notice, there’s only one little letter difference.) We’ll see. Let’s get down to some serious history, shall we?
Have an AB FAN (ABsolutely FANtastic) week,
Take Care and Be Safe,
30 September 1906
The first international balloon race starts from Les Tuileries in Paris and is won by Lieutenant Frank P. Lahm of the United States Army.
Lahm flies his balloon ‘United States’ a distance of 637 kilometers (402 miles) to Fylingdales Moor in North Yorkshire, England.
29 September 1907
The Bréguet-Richet helicopter lifts off but has to be steadied by ground crew using poles.
The Boeing XF8B (Model 400) was a single-engine aircraft developed by Boeing during World War II to provide the United States Navy a long-range shipboard fighter aircraft. The XF8B was intended for operation against the Japanese home islands from aircraft carriers outside the range of Japanese land-based aircraft. Designed for various roles including interceptor, long-range escort fighter, dive-bomber and torpedo bomber, the final design embodied a number of innovative features in order to accomplish the various roles. Despite its formidable capabilities, the XP8B-1 was fated to never enter series production. (WikiPedia)
Well Folks, seven more gone and here we are again. Quite a week, eh? Big Business getting bailed out by who? The Government? Nah, just us struggling taxpayers. As if we weren\’t doing enough already, ya know? The KC-X aerial tanker fiasco has now been shoved over to the new administration when it comes in, with this bailout, that new administration won\’t have as much money to work with. It just never ends does it? Catch 22 over and over. Oh well, let\’s get down to some serious history, shall we?
Have an AB FAN week,
Take Care and Be Safe,
23 September 1910
Peruvian Georges Chavez flies over the Alps, from Brig to Domodossola, in a Blériot monoplane but is killed when he crash-lands.
27 September 1910
Roger Sommer flies in his unique twin-engined biplane.
23 September 1911
The first official airmail flight in the USA is piloted by Earle L. Ovington in his Blériot monoplane, flying from Nassau Air Park to Mineola in Long Island. It is also the first airmail to fly on a set route.
The success of the Beaufighter as a torpedo bomber lead to the development of an aircraft dedicated to this role. Developed from the Bristol Buckingham bomber, the Brigand used most of the Buckinghams flight surfaces. Deliveries of the TF.1 Model (Torpedo Fighter Mk I) were made to 36 and 42 Squadrons but with the war over the future of this aircraft was in doubt. It was decided that the type was versatile enough to be rebuilt for a different role. The Brigand was removed from service and rebuilt as a bomber with a clear view canopy and other detail changes and returned to service in Malaysia and Kenya. This robust aircraft served with distinction until eventually replaced by the Canberra.