Seat Cover
An insightful, if somewhat raw, quote from Eastern Airlines’ boss Eddie Rickenbacker. Clearly a design connoisseur, the irascible WW1 ace made the comment in 1958, on being shown proposed seat covers for Eastern Airlines’ new Lockheed Electra fleet. And here’s another view of VH-VXB with a bit more info (click to view full sized)… Continue reading Seat Cover
Billy Bishop VC
More than half of the RFC pilots killed during World War One died in training, not combat. So although Canadian Billy Bishop would claim 72 victories, he had to face the most dangerous part of war flying first… I tried very hard On November 1st, 1916, I was sent to a school for elementary training in the air. This consisted, first of all, in going up … Continue reading Billy Bishop VC
Planespotting
I’ve managed to invent (to the best of my knowledge) a new game for aviation fans. I was in Sydney this week (my six-mile-high commute) and, while I was riding the train to visit a friend, I noticed I was in carriage number N5334. ‘Hmm,’ thought the avgeek in me, ‘that sounds like an RAF serial number.’ It was an off-chance, but I had nothing better … Continue reading Planespotting
The Mother Lode of Invention
An article on Daniel Uhr’s digital art and book, Lufwaffe Confidential, which he co-created with author Claudio Lamas de Farias, (see Inside Loupe, airscape 3) stirred a long-dormant line of interest in me. I’d long wondered how much German science moved west, and east, before the Iron Curtain came down. Turns out – a big lot. In my mildly obsessive Googling, I came across Scientists and Friends, a … Continue reading The Mother Lode of Invention
iLove Aircraft
Just quickly, here’s a Gallery of photos all taken with my iPhone. It’s always surprising how nicely the little pocket camera performs… These are a few shots from the Australian Centenary of Military Aviation, Point Cook, 1-2 March 2014. Continue reading iLove Aircraft
(Why) Learn To Fly
In the earliest days of airscape, I published an article called (Why) Learn To Fly, setting out the arguments for pursuing the dream of flight. It’s proved a perennial favourite. So, whether you need to convince yourself or someone else, here’s a PDF copy of the complete piece that you’re welcome to download and use pretty much as you wish. Click this text link (not the image): Why Learn … Continue reading (Why) Learn To Fly
Hidden Treasure
Recently, I’ve been photographing Vickers Vimy G-EAOU (not as easy as it sounds!). There are some incredible aviation artefacts tucked away off the main tourist trails – and G-EAOU certainly qualifies. This is the actual aircraft that was flown by the Smith Brothers, Shiers and Bennett from Hounslow, England to (ultimately) Adelaide, Australia in November/December 1919. People have said it would have been like flying … Continue reading Hidden Treasure
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