BUGATTI 100P
ETTORE BUGATTI combined artistry with his engineering of cars, boats, railway transport—and an airplane, the Bugatti 100P. In the mid-1930s, he teamed with Belgian aeronautical engineer Louis de Monge to … Continue reading
OPEL’S RAKS
WHEN WE last visited the German aviation industry (in 1922; see http://www.wp.me/p2ETap-W8), the Inter-Allied Commission had demanded—and got—destruction of the Zeppelin-Staaken E-4/20. This passenger liner was simply too advanced, potentially … Continue reading
ZEPPELIN-STAAKEN E-4/20
A DECISION made shortly after World War I likely delayed aircraft technology by more than several years. In its structure, power and utility, the German Zeppelin-Staaken E-4/20 was simply too … Continue reading
TUPOLEV MAKSIM GORKI
“GO BIG or stay home.” In 1932, Josef Stalin wanted to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Russian author Maksim Gorki’s first publications. So Stalin asked his favorite aircraft designer, Andrei … Continue reading
NORTH TO ALASKA—BY AERO
IT WAS the idea of Brig. Gen. William “Billy” Mitchell, father of the U.S. Air Force and, already in 1920, a firm believer in the importance of air power: Have … Continue reading
VICKERS VIMY
WHO MADE the first non-stop transatlantic flight? Not Lindbergh; his 1927 achievement was the first solo performance of this feat. Not the Navy-Curtiss NC-4 and its May 1919 flight from … Continue reading
NAVY-CURTISS NC-4
WHO FIRST flew the Atlantic? A quick answer is Charles Lindbergh. His stunning achievement on May 20-21, 1927, was the first solo flight from New York to Paris. But eight … Continue reading
BLÉRIOT TYPE XI TECHNICALITIES
IT WAS fun celebrating Louis Blériot and his epic flight crossing the English Channel in his Type XI (www.wp.me/p2ETap-M7). Just as they extended the celebration back in 1909, let’s continue it today, … Continue reading
BLÉRIOT XI
LET’S CELEBRATE Louis Blériot, his Type XI and its historic flight across the English Channel. The “Type Onze” generated great excitement with this July 25, 1909 flight, in no small … Continue reading
THE ART OF EARLY FLIGHT
FLYING WOULD have seemed magical to that earliest generation of viewers—including artists. Here’s a sampling of several books that display this. Each is listed at either http://www.amazon.com or http://www.abebooks.com. This … Continue reading
