An AMA Gold Leader Club
August, 2004
No. 447
THE PRESIDENT'S CORNER
by Russ O'Brien
Historical Point - Scorch Marks
Source: ME-262 Stormbird Rising by Hugh Morgan
Early model ME-262's were tail draggers because Messerschmitt
didn't want to
devote critical time to developing a nose wheel while
facing many
pathfinding problems with the first twin jet-powered
plane. Although strict
secrecy was maintained during the development and testing
of the new design,
twin scorch marks were left on the ground by the hot
exhaust from the jet
engines. These marks were visible tip offs to Allied
reconnaissance cameras
and were a factor in deciding air raid targets.
From the 1979 movie Going In Style
Art Carney to George Burns: "I can sleep in an
airplane like I can sleep on
a roller coaster. I don't trust no airplanes that ain't
got no propellers."
Meeting with Park Deputy Superintendent - Notes
The following was received from AMA Headquarters:
Dear AMA Member:
A major focus of the AMA Education Committee is promoting
aerospace
education activities across the country through school-based
curricular and
extra-curricular activities. We are looking for AMA
members who currently
are or have been classroom teachers. If you have experiences
to share, and
are interested in assisting the Education Committee
by participating in an
on-line exchange of activities and ideas, we would like
to hear from you.
Please send your name, telephone number, email and home
addresses to Jack
Frost, AMA Education Coordinator, at education@modelaircraft.org.
Fun Fly Committee Activities
In preparation for the next Fun Fly on September 11,
A list of action items
has been drawn up to work out some kinks. Some of these
items involve food
purchases, cooker glitches, separation of cooking from
the impound area,
adequate shade canopies, service tables, and suspending
open flying during
flight demos and candy drops. The field marshal walkie-talkie
system of
monitoring the flight box extremity at Route 252 worked
very well to prevent
over flights of the road.
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THE SUPER LOCKHEED CONSTELLATION
Submitted by Gene Gifford
The Super Lockheed Constellation Lives On - A Tribute
Posted September 19, 2003
By Bill Dixon
There is good reason to visit the "Save A Connie"
exhibit, now known as the
Airline History Museum, based at the old Kansas City,
Missouri, Downtown
Airport. They have masterfully restored a piston four-engine
1049G
Constellation, a Martin twin-engine 404, and are finishing
up exceptionally
fine work on a classic DC-3 - all in TWA logos and markings.
I have been fortunate in my time to have flown thousands
of hours on a
number of different air transports, from the Army Air
Corps Douglas C-47 and
Curtis C-46, to the giant Boeing 747 jet on TWA. Of
them all, I most enjoyed
piloting the Lockheed Constellation, known as the "Connie,"
above even the
jets.
The long-range 1049G version of the Connie boasted streamlined
fuel tanks
attached to each wing tip, which added to its majestic
look and were
reinstalled by the Museum. This restored Super G is
frequently flown at air
shows all across the United States.
The Constellation came on the commercial scene with
TWA and Eastern Airlines
immediately after the end of WWII. It was developed
prior to the war to the
specifications of TWA president Jack Frye and TWA's
majority stockholder,
Howard Hughes. The few early models that had been manufactured,
called
C-69s, were drafted by the Army Air Corps and turned
back to TWA at war's
end when production resumed.
Already nicknamed the Connie, the first commercial TWA
model was a sleek,
triple-tailed beauty with 51 seats, tastily furnished
inside and out. That
was the original model 049, pressurized but not air-conditioned.
It climbed
and descended fast to use the cold upper air for cooling.
All later models
were air-conditioned. The 1649A, the biggest and longest
range of the
Connies, had a wingspan of 150 feet and a maximum gross
take-off weight of
160,000 pounds. Models 749A and 1049G probably were
the most numerous
produced and carried 64 to 92 passengers, depending
on seating arrangements.
The seats all were comfortably spaced.
The history of the Constellation is being carried on
by "Save A Connie,
Inc." Founded in 1986, it has christened its
Connie the "Star of
America." It originally was purchased by the late
Jim Wheeler, a retired TWA
captain, who used it for a short period to carry cattle.
It stood unused for
approximately eleven years in Mesa, Arizona, and then
was virtually given to
the "Save A Connie" group.
In two months it was put in shape to ferry to Kansas
City where a full
airworthy restoration immediately began under the skilled
hands of active
and retired TWA employees. The Airline History Museum
at Kansas City was
established in 2000, with the "Save A Connie"
group as a key part of the new
museum organization. It has a fascinating display of
historic memorabilia.
Donations are welcome.
This Connie's vital statistics are:
Fuselage length, 116', 2"
Wing span with tip tanks, 123', 6 "
Weight (empty), 76,670 lbs
Usable fuel capacity, 7,020 gallons
Cruise speed, up to 328 mph
Flight range, 5,400 miles
Bill Dixon (1936-1978) started as a Ticket Agent and
served in the News
Bureau and Flight Operations.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
VFSS BOG NOMINATIONS & ELECTION
By Steve Kolet
Nominations for the VFSS Board of governors are being
taken until the August
club meeting. We are looking for a mix of new and experienced
members to
serve and would like to have at least 15 nominees. We
will be replacing
eleven (11) BOG members whose term ends in December.
As of the July club
meeting, we have four (4) nominees.
Folks, please help your club - serve as a BOG member.
The nominees will be introduced and will present a statement
of their
qualifications to the membership at the September meeting.
The BOG Election
will take place at the October club meeting. If you
are interested in
serving your club as a BOG member, please take a look
at the duties of the
BOG in the club bylaws and then inform the club secretary
by phone, email or
in person. Please read the club bylaws to familiarize
your self with the
nomination requirements.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CLUB CALENDAR
Friday-Sunday, August 6-8 -
Wings of Williamsport R/C flying club. Wings Over Piper
at the Wm. T. Piper
Memorial Airport, Lock Haven, PA. Event sponsored by
Balsa USA and Horizon
Hobby. Full-scale Cubs, museum, camping sites, shower
house, local motels,
pilot demonstrations, raffles, vendors, giveaways and
gifts to registered
pilots. Web site: www.wingsoverpiper.com.
Saturday, August 7 -
Quakertown "Warbirds Over Pennsylvania."
Giant scale Warbirds in military
colors only, from WW1 to present. IMAA required to
fly. Field location:
Approx. one mile east of Route 309 on Pumping Station
Road.
Tuesday, August 10 -
General Membership Meeting at the field. Time: 6:30
PM. BOG meeting
following the general meeting if necessary.
Saturday, September 11 -
VFSS Fun Fly at the Valley Forge National Park flying
field. Rain date,
Sunday, September 12. Starting time: 9 AM
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