Category Archives: Aviation

Jimmy Doolittle

Posted on November 19, 2010 by Joe Clark

On Tuesday, September 28, 1993, my alarm was set for 6 a.m. as usual. When the radio clicked on, the newscaster said, “Yesterday, famed aviator and American hero Jimmy Doolittle died peacefully at his home in Pebble Beach, CA.” As … Continue reading →

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The Jenny and the Barnstormers

Posted on November 18, 2010 by Joe Clark

One of my favorite airplanes is the Curtiss JN-4D “Jenny.”  Benjamin Thomas, an Englishman working for Thomas Sopwith of Sopwith aeroplane fame, designed the Jenny and the airplane went into production in 1915.  It became the most important Army training … Continue reading →

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Teaching Self-Confidence

Posted on November 17, 2010 by Joe Clark

Teaching student pilots how to be confident aviators can be one of the most challenging tasks facing a flight instructor.  Older instructors probably have a better handle on this problem, while new CFIs may still be working on the concept. … Continue reading →

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The Mighty Eighth

Posted on November 16, 2010 by Joe Clark

If you are driving down to Florida along Interstate 95, you might see something amazing near Savannah, GA.  As long as you are not sleeping, it is hard to miss the Boeing B-47 Stratojet parked next to the highway. The … Continue reading →

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Which do you prefer?

Posted on November 13, 2010 by Joe Clark

Which do you prefer?  Would you rather have naked photography or groping?  Many Americans are opting for neither and choosing not to fly and there is a real sense this is going to boil over on November 24, the busiest … Continue reading →

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It Was Easy Enough

Posted on November 9, 2010 by Joe Clark

Eugene Ely was a pioneer aviator in the very early days of aviation.  Ely was born in Williamsburg, IA on October 21, 1879 and was only 31 years old when he became the first pilot to take off from the … Continue reading →

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Headwinds

Posted on November 7, 2010 by Joe Clark

My wife and I spent a wonderful evening with friends Saturday evening and then had to drive home north along Interstate 95.  As we drove home steadily at 70 miles per hour, I looked up to my nine o’clock position … Continue reading →

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Bad Week for Jet Engines

Posted on November 6, 2010 by Joe Clark

Airbus and Rolls Royce are having a bad week this week, Qantas Airlines, too, to a degree.  On Thursday Qantas Flight 32 departed Singapore’s Changi Airport shortly before 10 a.m. enroute to Sydney, Australia. Six minutes after takeoff, the number … Continue reading →

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Luvin' Speed

Posted on November 3, 2010 by Joe Clark

Speed is a very relative concept.  Airplanes go fast – and slow.  Many consider sailboats slow, but yachtsmen can sail them fast.  Cars simply take forever to get anywhere, unless the driver is a teenager.  Then it is probably just … Continue reading →

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Luvin’Speed

Posted on November 3, 2010 by Joe Clark

Speed is a very relative concept.  Airplanes go fast – and slow.  Many consider sailboats slow, but yachtsmen can sail them fast.  Cars simply take forever to get anywhere, unless the driver is a teenager.  Then it is probably just … Continue reading →

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