GEORGE CONSTANTINESCU—SCIENTIST, INVENTOR, ENGINEER, CARMAKER PART 1
ALLIED AIRCRAFT synchronized armament in 1917. An automotive torque converter in 1926. Let’s celebrate the fellow who devised these two and other technicalities: George Constantinescu, a Romanian-Briton with an office … Continue reading
AERO HISTORY—A CENTURY AGO PART 2
C.G. GREY’S 1917 Jane’s summary of “modern” aeronautics seems to predate his political inclinations discussed yesterday here at SimanaitisSays. However, his views were no less outspoken in matters technical and … Continue reading
AERO HISTORY—A CENTURY AGO PART 1
“A BRIEF History of Modern Aeronautics,” by C.G. Grey, appeared as a supplement to Jane’s All The World’s Aircraft 1917. By that time, Jane’s had become the world’s authority on … Continue reading
A THREE-ENGINE TRANSPORT—FROM BOEING
DO I MEAN the 1926 Fokker F.VII in its trimotor configuration? Or the 1926 Ford TriMotor? Them too, but Boeing introduced its Model 80, a three-engine transport in 1928. Yet, … Continue reading
LAFAYETTE, THEY WERE THERE
IT WAS just about 100 years ago that American pilots transferred their service from the Escadrille Lafayette to the newly formed U.S. Army Air Service. In addition to the 38 … Continue reading
HEDGING THE ODDS OF WARTIME AVIATION
IT HAS been said, “There are no atheists in foxholes.” And so it is for those fighting in the air above. Flying Against Fate, by S.P. MacKenzie, is a highly … Continue reading
DOUGLAS DAUNTLESS SBD—SLOW BUT DEADLY
LET’S CELEBRATE an aircraft that contributed mightily to our victory in the Pacific in World War II, the Douglas Dauntless SBD. Indeed, the SBD accounted for destroying more Japanese tonnage … Continue reading
CELEBRATING THE BOEING 747
AFTER 48 YEARS of service, the Boeing 747 is being replaced by newer, more efficient wide-body aircraft. The 747 is a glorious example of aeronautical engineering and, for crew and … Continue reading
B.R.1 ROTARY AERO ENGINE
QUICK: NAME a famous automaker who first manufactured aero engines. Oh, the one with the spinning prop logo? Actually, I was thinking of an even earlier one: W.O. Bentley and … Continue reading
DOUGLAS DC-3
THIS DOUGLAS DC-3 pin was the object of my recent rummaging through the desk. The search was prompted by a cameo appearance of Donald Douglas in a recent item here … Continue reading
