A FLYING CAR? A ROADABLE PLANE?
WE HAVE UPSIZED drones proposed today as just-around-the-corner flying cars. But it’s interesting that we’ve already been there, done that. Here are tidbits about the 1921 Tampier Avion-Motorcar, not exactly … Continue reading
BAMBERG TO ROME, 1926—AND VIRTUALLY 2021
WHEN I COMPLETE modeling an airplane for my Microsoft Flight Simulator, I typically fool with it a couple times on the sim, then go on to a new GMax project. … Continue reading
FLYING THE ALPS IN A SMALL PLANE—AND I MEAN SMALL PART 2
YESTERDAY, WE MARVELED at aviation pioneers challenging the mighty Alps. Today in Part 2, a young Willy Messerschmitt challenges the Versailles Treaty with the M-17, a powered aircraft of his … Continue reading
FLYING THE ALPS IN A SMALL PLANE—AND I MEAN SMALL PART 1
EVEN TODAY, FLYING the Alps can be an exhilarating experience. Imagine what it must have been like in the early days of aviation. Here today and tomorrow in Parts 1 … Continue reading
THE SIAI-MARCHETTI-NARDI FN-333—FOR PIRATES OF THE RIVIERA PART 2
YESTERDAY, THE FN-333 RIVIERA’S heritage was described here as a rare amphibious aircraft, 26 produced in Italy, perhaps six in the world airworthy today. Here in Part 2, I offer … Continue reading
THE SIAI-MARCHETTI-NARDI FN-333—FOR PIRATES OF THE RIVIERA PART 1
IN “THE COOL World of Seaplanes,” Flying magazine, June 1966, James Gilbert summed up the FN-333 Riviera, “The ads talk about your being a private pirate in the Riviera, but … Continue reading
CHRONICLE OF AVIATION—1921
THE ROARING TWENTIES followed the roar of warfare, the latter including unprecedented combat in the air. Bombers were converted to passenger service. Surplus fighter planes gave barnstormers a peacetime career. … Continue reading
THE ANTONOV AN-2—A CLASSIC SOVIET
AIRCRAFT, BY VIRTUE of their technology and engineering, are sleek and well-finished. Unless they’re the Antonov An-2, affectionately known as the “Aннушка,” “Annushka,” “Annie.” Close up, an Aннушка looks like … Continue reading
BEECHCRAFT PREMIER I BUSINESS JET
IT HAS BEEN almost 15 years since I held the controls of a Beechcraft Premier I business jet, briefly at Flight Level 410 and also during our descent into Beech … Continue reading
ALOFT IN PARIS PART 2
YESTERDAY IN PART 1, we began our time travel above Paris with the Opéra Garnier. Off in the distance at about 11:35 was the Grand Palais along the Seine. The … Continue reading
