Monday, April 25, 2011
Aviation Commentary for the Week of April 25
Sorry for being AWOL for a number of weeks. It's as simple as not enough hours in the day (well, including some sleep anyway ;-)) for work and the fun stuff. Things have calmed down again, though, for now. As a lot of you know, you can reach me via andygroth21 on Gmail and Facebook if I need a kick in the butt. :-) I really do love the fact that many of the EAC and subsequent "crew" are still here.
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FC,
ReplyDeleteFrom two threads back, regarding a forum including archived posts from these blogs, it's still a work in progress. I found a nice setup for a forum, but I still haven't found an easy (like not transcribing them word for word ;-)) way to index blog posts. In reality, I've had barely any time to spend on it the last couple of months because we had a few contract starts and those tend to require a lot of attention (and we're not big enough yet to farm it out to a VP of Operations and company :-)).
Baron,
ReplyDeleteFrom two threads back, thanks for the comments on concealed carry. It's not controversial depending on who you ask. ;-) You're right that there's a lot less controversy than there used to be and it's widely accepted.
It will be interesting to see where this goes in Wisconsin. As you guys know, we've been preoccupied with another little issue lately. ;-)
The rest of my comments tonight are in response to the last thread, FWIW.
ReplyDeleteFrom ASM: "On the Czech Sport Aircraft web site there is a note explaining their side of the problem with Piper. Basically Piper wanted the entire production of the Czech firm. The Czechs wanted to market their airplane in Europe, Asia, and South America under their own name and develop their own brand. The Czechs were unwilling to become a captive supplier to Piper. Czech Sport were very effusive with praise for five people at Piper they had dealt with earlier. None of those five individuals are with Piper any longer."
ReplyDeleteASM,
Really interesting stuff! Also telling about those five individuals. Piper really seems to need a rudder these days.
From Baron: "Boys and girls, the iPad has just been approved as electronic flight bag primary chart use for part 135. Nice."
ReplyDeleteBaron,
So I won't have to get a ferry permit any longer to carry all the charts I need (somewhere in the range of 1,000 pounds worth ;-))? I'm barely flying these days (it will ramp up again in the future), but back when I was flying all over the country managing facilities contracts there wasn't room for anybody but me in the Cirrus due to charts. :-) The problem was that I couldn't rely on picking plates up on the road so I'd carry a whole trip's worth (not to mention contingencies) from the beginning.
From uglytruth: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgt8PMoRGG8
ReplyDeleteUT,
Great video! It's always nice to be reminded of those guys.
From Gadfly: http://www.airshows.org.uk/2010/airshows/duxford-battle-of-britain-airshow-review.html
ReplyDeleteAnother great link! One of my favorite parts of AirVenture at OSH (haven't made the one in the video) is seeing those WWII planes fly. Sends a chill down my spine every time.
From flightwriter:
ReplyDelete"Does the lack of commentary here about the Cirrus sale to CAIGA indicate a lack of interest... or just a complete lack of surprise?
I find it personally sad to see a true GA innovator like Cirrus slip away to ChiCom control, but I'm open to the possibility this can yield positive things for the company. Time will tell."
Flightwriter,
Welcome! Regarding your first paragraph, I think it's the latter.
I would have loved to see Cirrus "stay in the family" so to speak, but that ended a long time ago when Alan and Dale became minority owners.
Given that CAIGA will provide Cirrus with financial stability, that will be a major positive for the company. There are potentially some huge stumbling blocks, but China seems very serious about becoming a major player in aviation from piston singles on up to transport category aircraft so my guess is any issues will get ironed out.
From Baron: "I don't get it? If you don't like that a Chinese company is buying Cirrus and TCM and etc... Why don't you buy it?"
ReplyDeleteBaron,
It's going to be fascinating to see how the China/USA relationship develops over the next few decades. There's a lot of fear out there, but I'm more excited than anything. I'm definitely Team USA and love to see our country excel but I don't think it's a zero-sum game. That said, I hope China's growth leads to drastic reforms in the way the government treats its people. I get sick of seeing stories like this:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8471177/China-seizes-Christians-in-Easter-raid.html
From NOah Sam: "NOah Sam said...
ReplyDeleteLet's be realistic:
1- there are usually problems with new(ish)aircraft and ADs are issued for this reason
2- the performance of the EA50 required flying high to achieve fuel flows and range... this is a thing of the past, IMO... or more aptly characterized, probably something intentiaonally missed, a long time ago to make delveries possible. I am not kidding, here.
3- if this kind of thing continues, we can expect Ken back, to defend his POS plane."
NOah Sam,
Welcome to you, as well! FWIW, the Eclipse owners I know are very happy with their airplanes (although nobody can be happy with the altitude reduction). I've been surprised with reported reliability even on the earlier airplanes.
From Black Tulip:
ReplyDeleteLet us extrapolate the rate of maximum ceiling reduction for the Eclipse 500...
41,000 feet
37,000 feet
30,000 feet
We can conclude the aircraft will only be able to taxi to its destination sometime in 2019, but not through Colorado."
BT,
That's hilarious :-), but I think they'll get past this fairly soon. If not, I guess it will give new meaning to the word "air-taxi." :-)
"Baron,
ReplyDeleteI agree this is a minor weakness, as with all jets which are power limited at their ceiling. I’ve done numerous gross weight takeoffs including one last week which illustrates the limitation – climbed with few steps and little delay to FL410 where the Static Air Temperature was -60C, a little below ISA. TAS stabilized at 333kts with fuel flow of 534pph. Over the next hour or so the SAT rose to -47C (about ISA+10) as TAS dropped to 289kts with fuel flow of 466pph.
Note that specific fuel efficiency remained the same, 0.62nm/lb. However if the order of the flight had been reversed, we could not have climbed to FL410 immediately after takeoff… it won’t get there on a hot day until you’ve burned off fuel.
This is only an issue on max range flights as the planes best TAS is 390+kts at FL300."
BT,
To expand on Gad's comment in the last thread; you know how to motivate a guy! :-)
Have you run across Rob Luketic? He's a former Cirrus owner and now happy Phenom 100 owner. Also happens to be a great Hollywood director (my favorite movie of his is "21").
From Twinpilot: "Diamond's president says if they don't get 35 million from the federal govt. and get the D-Jet certified and in production, they won't be able to service the debt they have accumulated. Looks like they are betting the farm on the D-Jet."
ReplyDeleteTwinpilot,
Welcome to you as well, as well (forgive me, it's late :-). All kinds of good news coming out of general aviation these days! There has been some good news, but it's tempered by stuff like this.
From uglytruth:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=KZrFC988Thc
Wow! Wow! Wow! Going on my Facebook page, as well. Beautiful!
I don't know about you guys, but I am very sick of me at the moment. I'm done for the night. :-)
ReplyDeleteHoly crap - that is machine gun posting :) Welcome back. I don't even remember most of my comments you responded to, so I'll post something new.
ReplyDeleteFinancial Times reported today that light and midsized business jet prices declined by 25-35% from the same time last year. Cessna reported a $38M quarterly loss. So, anyone thinking that there is a recovery for GA/BizAv is in for a surprise.
Well, from 2009 to 2010 Dassault saw a 23.4% increase in deliveries, the 7X saw a 28.1% increase and models other than the 7X saw a 20.0% increase.
ReplyDeleteCessna has too many biz-jet models (nine) for the market and killed off the Columbus program which might have made it a contender. And they are plagued with horrible Textron management micro-managing an industry they have no expertise at.
FWIW, I hear that Columbus is back on, albeit on the down low.
ReplyDeleteIMO, Cessna's Q1 losses are due to their more tempered response to the change in market conditions (they held more staff longer) and heavy competition from EMBRAER.
I also hear that they are recalling furloughed workers on the support side, so there are already improvements being noted.
I agree with ASM that Cessna's depth of product line is a difficult-to-justify luxury for now, but I think as the market recovers it will be a good thing.
Once the Q1 GAMA stats come out, we can really have some fun with numbers.
Baron,
ReplyDeleteThanks. :-) That's interesting news on light and midsized jets! I was under the assumption (without supporting data, I guess) that those prices had largely stabilized over the last year.
ASM,
ReplyDeleteOnce again the big iron rules. :-) It make sense. Huge companies are going to be less sensitive financially to jet purchases in hard times than small and mid-sized companies, and their business takes them around the world (or to Aspen ;-)).
CWM,
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear about the Columbus! It's a smart direction for Cessna to head.
Also, ASM, I agree on the Cessna product line. They need to tighten it up some. IIRC, they are starting to do that by stopping the CJ1+. That leaves a pretty big jump price-wise from the Mustang to the CJ2+ (which is really close to the 3 in a lot of ways), but maybe Cessna's research shows it's not that big a deal.
ReplyDeleteWell....I'm no fan of Textron management....but, to be fair to them, Bell Helicopter (Cessna's sister Textron company), posted a very nice $750M profit on revenues that are up over 20% from 2010.
ReplyDeleteSo, my thinking is that is Cessna's strategic mis-calls, rather than Textron's, but, I could, of course, be wrong.
Cessna milked too many variations of fuselage/wing combos to launch a barrage of "new" jets that were really "old".
It will be very tough for them to be competitive with the truly new jets like the Phenom family and the Legacy 500 series (staying with the Embraer examples for now).
Cessna is a bit lucky that the Brazilian currency has appreciated by 100% in the past few years, and the Euro is back up as well. Else, they'd be in ever worse shape.
Cessna's other saving grace is the HBC is even more screwed up than they are.
As for Falcon, they are indeed doing well. Question is, can they continue to do well after the G650 and the new Globals come on line? Will be nice to watch. Anyway, there should be room for 3 pure play players at the large biz jet market.
Not sure where Bell made the profit but its good to see. Maybe the Ospry that they are partners with Boeing on? Eurocopter is coming on strong in the middleweight conventional models and Sikorsky is strong in the high end. None of the helicopter manufacturers are members of GAMA so it is hard to find comparisons easily.
ReplyDeleteTextron's Lycoming engine unit still has a lot of problems.
AVIC, which is owned by the Chinese government, completed their purchase of Continental Motors from Teledyne Technologies. They are setting up a
ReplyDeletesubsidiary called 'Technify' to be based in Mobile. Continental Motors, in turn, will be a subsidiary of Tecnify. So TCM will still be TCM? Only the name behind the 'T' is different? Right?
I love companies that have multiple names :)
ReplyDeleteAviation Industries of China (AVIC), also known as the China Aviation Industry Corporation [CAIC]
They can buy TCM as one, Cirrus as the other, avoid looking too greedy and avoid inviting anti-trust. :)
Pelton, Cessna's CEO got canned today. Retires June 1, but as of today, no longer does anything. Textron CEO is acting Cessna CEO.
ReplyDeleteAbout time - the guy is deer in the headlights. Always claims there is nothing that they can do differently/better.
You are correctamundo. As of today Pelton is a potted palm in the corner until June 1st. No word on the big question, though, what about Ms. Pelton and her 'Skycatcher' lessons? Figure by now she should have worked her way up into the right seat of a Citation Ten. What happened?
ReplyDeleteThe Cessna reins will be taken over by the CEO of Textron while they beat the bushes for a replacement!
The time was about the spring of 1959 . . . the class was “English Rhetoric”, . . . the book cost me “$2.75, “used”, in a Santa Ana, California, book store . . . plus a $5 parking ticket, for being too long there on Main Street.
ReplyDeleteMy teacher was excellent, as a teacher, although he was clearly a “Marxist” . . . and I had just got out of the U S Submarine Service, and was about to begin a few more years of education, including theology, various Bible subjects, teaching, . . . and training to be an “A&P” (Airframe and Propulsion mechanic), and “bush pilot”, to serve in some foreign land.
The book, I purchased that day, I have here on my desk: “Handbook of Marxism”, International Publishers, New York, 1935, 1,088 pages, Printed in Great Britain . . . well put together, and the writings of Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Stalin. It’s the “real thing”, with the most concise collection of communist thinking that I have ever seen, or read.
(By the way, Mr. Warnick, the communist professor and teacher of my class gave me almost straight “A’s”, on all my work, including the term paper on Communism.)
When Obama was running for president, he made many statements that clearly revealed his adherence to most of the tenants of Marxism. Anyone who had done at least the basic study of Marxism would not be in the least bit surprised, as to the direction that Obama is taking our nation.
These comments on my part are not to enter into a discussion with anyone . . .but simply an observation, that anyone with an “IQ” of 100, give or take, and even the slightest curiosity to investigate the comments, including those that seemed to be a major surprise to “Biden” (during the campaign) . . . there should not be the slightest mystery as to fuel prices, government regulations, the vast increase in national debt, etc., etc., and so forth.
One of the many things I learned, so many years ago, while studying Marxism, was that a “Marxist” (Communist, if you wish), will tell you exactly where he wishes to take you in the future . . . and then, go about it . . . knowing you won’t believe him. It’s all there in print . . . all those years ago, written by them, printed by them, and un-edited. Amazing!
gadfly
(Back aboard the sub, we were watching what was going on, up inside “Vladisvostok” and inside “Petropovlosk”, while the real battle was being conducted back in the US of A, by folks that really don’t want to know the truth. And yes, I’ve seen the cold ice-covered mountains of those that wish to bury us, through a periscope, inside their own harbor. But I’m more afraid for our nation of those that live “next door”, and up the road. Now, maybe you can add these comments to the questions of why our “General Aviation” industry is going overseas, and your liberties are “going south”, as they say.
And later, expanding on the theme of my term paper at Orange Coast College, I went on to get some other good grades on two more term papers . . . a rare thing for a submarine sailor, whose grades were below “C” level . . . that’s a joke, son . . . below “C” level, submarines?)
"A&P" obviously doesn't stand for "Airframe and Propulsion" . . . but "Airframe and Power", etc., but back then, we had just tranferred from "A&E" (Airframe and Engine) etc., and were still using "CAM 18" . . . anyone here remember "CAM 18"? It was the "Bible" for aircraft mechanics . . . Funny thing, even with modern technology, those principles are still valid . . . and anyone working on an airframe would do well to know "CAM 18".
ReplyDeleteAt my age, I'm studying to take the latest version of an "electrical exam", to wire a house . . . the one we hope to build this year . . . how far between outlets, which outlets require "ground fault" protection, what gage wire for 15Amp and 20Amp circuits . . . height above a sink, what size cable for 320 amp single phase . . . all that stuff. And then, the plumbing exam . . . my favorite indoor sport, putting together copper plumbing, and ABS vents, etc.
The problem isn't "how to build a house", with good materials, understanding the load requirements, etc., of a 20PSF to 40PSF roof, and the "R" factors, and the size and slope of the waste system, but jumping through the hoops of the new mentality in the state requirements. Our house will exceed the fancy housing developments by a factor of two or three . . . but being "green", or "politically correct", and paying the many fees and taxes . . . therin lies the problems.
Now, take that another notch higher, apply it to aircraft, and more specifically to manufacturing, and you get the "big picture" of why our most favorite industry is in serious trouble.
And don't kid yourself . . . China, India, nor even Brazil is going to be able to pull the system out of the muck and mire of this present mess. Remember, it was, and is, a free un-incumbered nation, that has given the world the many and vast conveniences that we have enjoyed. And for other reasons, we are watching the "sunset" on that period in history.
gadfly
(Much to think about . . . and there is an answer, but most folks don't wish to "go there", so I'm done for this evening.)
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteFC,
ReplyDelete"Ex-Piper dude"? Whaa happened? Imagine he could tell some stories?
Has your friend checked out Ryan Aeronautical in.........San Diego?
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteNice article in the February COPA Magazine comparing the Eclipse and the Meridian Andy.
ReplyDeleteGiven the limitations the Eclipse still faces WRT cruise altitude and resultant fuel flow, were you able to glean any real-world data about actual cruise speeds and fuel flows to compare to the Meridian?
Also curious if used aircraft have entered into your thinking as there are many recent but used platforms that would seem to fall into your price range and desired feature set.
Congratulations to you as well for creating a venture successful enough to fund and possibly justify (wink, wink) your aviation habit - live the dream.
So much about flying has to do with perception . . . haven’t you noticed? Watching a seagull hover over a “rise” for a hour or so, while watching out the window of a fifth grade class . . . dreaming of flying while the teacher is rattling on about some history lesson of early California. Then, building a glider, from balsa wood and Tester’s cement, made from supplies purchased with money from mowing the lawns in the neighborhood . . . flying takes on a certain element that cannot be expressed by those that have never dreamed . . . the seagull hovers above a simple rise on the playground . . . whatever the “dream”, I find myself gliding over the earth . . . never quite touching the surface, and with my “mind”, I can gain a little altitude . . . and then the dog barks, or something happens . . . I awake, and the dream is over . . . “to be continued”.
ReplyDeleteThe mind invents new wing forms to maintain lift, artificial stability, with minimal airflow (the study of Reynold’s numbers, and calculated lift, . . . and the venturi effect . . . that’s years in the future . . . after many other “disciplines”.
Then comes that first “solo” . . . when the instructor hops out of the right door . . .“OK, You take it around,” . . . the next few minutes is shear panic.
Years later, you find yourself in a Lear flying well above 49,000 feet . . . looking up at the “indigo” of space, and down at the surface of the earth, . . . “rainbows” are complete circles . . . landing means twisting and turning through the vaulted halls of massive cumulonimbus clouds . . . final approach, the tires produce their smoke . . . the flight is over.
Which is best? . . . flying near the indigo of space? . . . or how ‘bout diving in mid ocean a few hundred feet from your submarine . . . looking down into the “indigo” blue-black of the mid Pacific Ocean . . . learning minutes later, that you were almost the “entre” of an eight foot shark.
Wonderful experiences all . . . “been there, done that” . . . all of that, but, frankly, the most exciting “stuff” was gazing out the window . . . watching those California seagulls, hovering over the playground, hovering on the slightest suggestion of an air current . . . they were “out there”, and I was locked “in there” . . . watching them, while my fifth grade teacher was attempting to teach us about “Father Junipero Serra”, . . . and how the early California Indians used the giant “ants” to close wounds, etc.
Well, I dreamed and eventually used all that stuff to advantage . . . flying on the fringe of space, living aboard a submarine . . . and the “ants”? . . . Yep! . . . that turned into a method to connect blood vessels in vascular surgery, . . . go figure.
But I still think back . . . those simple gliders, bought with the hard work of mowing lawns, . . . and watching the results of my efforts, gliding low and slow down the hill . . . and dreaming of things to come.
gadfly
(Don’t “never” lose the excitement, the simple pleasure, of watching a “feather” spin, as it drops to the ground. One of my granddaughters learned that simple excitement, last Thursday.)
First quarter 2011 results out at gama.aero. Big surprise for me was that Dassault was down sharply compared to all quarters in 2011. They reported first quarter 2011 sales of 407 million dollars compared to 4 billion in sales for all of 2010.
ReplyDeleteOoops. The above should read "..compared to all quarters in 2010" My bad.
ReplyDeleteThink part of my last two comments may have hit too close to home now (literally and figurativly). And I don't want to ruffle anyone's feathers unnecessarily, because two and two could easily be put together here. I am surprised it never has been actually, but the harm the old EAC caused has been done and there's no going back to fix it.
ReplyDeleteI wish you all well and it's been great flying with you! Time for me to take off in another direction.
All my best,
FC
Just trying to delete two comments. The only way I can figure out how to do it is to post another one! Andy, thanks for everything you might want to fix that.
ReplyDeleteFC
The time was the early 1960's. Newly married and with a sick wife, I had to drop out of “A&P” school, for a time, to earn some money to continue school . . . and keep the old Plymouth supplied with oil (at about 20 miles per gallon) and sometimes gasoline. Getting off work at 2AM at O’Hare, it was no trouble to find the car in the United Airlines parking lot . . . it was the tallest car in the entire lot. The battery was good for about three or four “cranks” . . . a good shot of ether into the carburetor, and the engine almost always started on the second revolution, in the minus degrees cold wind. “Kraft” cheese and noodle dinners, and little else (in those bleak days), with the normal indoor activities of “newly weds” . . . what else to do?
ReplyDelete“Cheerios” cereal offered paper gliders, for a dime and a box top . . . could they actually be the very same gliders, fourteen different WWII aircraft, that I had back during the war? Yep! So the “newly weds” added Cheerios to our diet, and sent away for the paper gliders. Come next spring, the neighbors there in Bensenville, Illinois, saw a pregnant girl, and her husband, sailing paper gliders back and forth on the front lawn, there on the corner. Those little WWII “fighters” could sure sail.
And some thin balsa sheet, some glue, and a razor blade (double edge), and a little Japanese tissue, I designed and built the neatest little double-dihedral glider you ever saw. Wing span 6 inches, with a “tear-drop” nose, with some Ambroid cement to build up the side profile, and add just enough weight. The red tissue covered the under camber of the inner wings. (The glider is still around . . . the balsa has become too brittle in 47 years, and is cracked in places.) The following winter, with little other inside entertainment, my wife and I could glide that little plane from one end of our little house, to the other, with it gently landing in the others lap, every time. Simple pleasures for simple folk.
Once you get “flying” under your skin, you never get rid of the disease . . . it’s chronic, and incurable. And in these difficult times, maybe some of can get our “fix” by returning to the simple pleasures of building a simple model, from scratch. There is much to be said in planning, building, and gliding a little model . . . seeing how far, how slow, how long you can make your little gem fly. It’s a lot like “painting a picture” . . . it doesn’t have to please anyone else, it only has to please yourself . . . the sense of accomplishment, the fun of watching something you have made, do what you intended it to do. Set a goal . . . achieve the goal . . . and go on to exceed that goal. How do you measure the value?
gadfly
(On another note: I’d sure like to take some long looks at the inner “skin”, on a certain little jet, around the chem-milled areas, especially along the borders where they were masked off. And I’d be most interested to study the long term conditions of stir fried welding.)
Who knew that Benjamin Netanyahu was a flight instructor! . . . His “student” doesn’t understand the basics. The “student” takes off without a flight plan and attempts to land “downwind” with his gear up. Guess which part of his anatomy hit the runway first!
ReplyDeletegadfly
(Actually, it was a beautiful landing, depending on your perspective! Lesson: For this type of landing, don’t let the “press” show up with video cameras, especially when the guest speaker doesn’t use a “tele-prompter”, depending, instead, on intelligence, and wisdom . . . you might not be on the same page.)
By the time I was old enough to understand such things, I realized that I was part of a family of “geniuses”, when it came to inventing, designing, and manufacturing engines, devices, and mechanisms that would perform flawlessly over decades . . . and (looking back) over a century . . . .things that even today are part of general aviation, every time anyone puts their trust in almost any modern aircraft . . . cable tension regulators, tensiometers, quick disconnect cable connectors, etc., they perform, without a hitch. So be it.
ReplyDeleteBut, my family, did not fully understand the “politics” that have come to almost destroy the aviation industry of today. My own father died in 1957 . . . as some of his most valuable patents were in the process of being issued . . . and the pressure of finalizing his last inventions hastened his death. (A massive heart attack in Santa Ana, California . . . ‘just before the first crash of a “helicopter”, in the Swiss Alps, in which all aboard walked away, because of his inertia restraint system. Earlier, Bill Vukovich had his life saved, by my Dad’s restraint system in the Mexican road race, but within a year, Vukovich died in a fiery crash . . . the “restraint system” did not prevent death by fire.)
Since those early days, I’ve come to more fully understand the greed and lust for power that drives the system.
As time went on, I followed the family path . . . and found myself requested to invent a new system of attaching arteries/veins/ducts/etc., . . . and was successful. But, again, entered the arena of battling the major powers . . . this time, “J&J”, who fought for a couple years to prevent a better system of attaching blood vessels, instead of the older suture method. (For the record, they own 70% of the suture market, in the “free world”, and don’t want the competition.) We found ourselves in a battle, not our making . . . and by the efforts of others, . . . Won! We’re now a thorn in the side of the suture market.
We look at today’s general aviation industry, and wonder “why” doesn’t a good design survive, if not succeed. There is far more to the problem than the difficult problems of weight/balance/thrust/lift, etc., it goes right down to human nature, “pride” (#1 problem), control over others, and (of course) the love of money.
As someone has said, “Don’t worry . . . Nothing’s going to come out all right!” And if you only see the earthly physical side, that is probably true. But some of us are looking elsewhere . . . to the One that created all things, and provides a future hope, based on His conditions.
gadfly
(Yes, I’m an optimist, because I have my “sights” and trust in things far beyond General Aviation ever recovering. I work to make the recovery happen, but my foundation is much more firm, and secure. Make dead sure that your future is based on a sure foundation . . . there is no substitute.)
With the "Indy 500" coming up, I remember my Dad talking about a high school classmate of his, back at Riverside Polytechnic High School, in Riverside, California . . . about 1930 . . . Rex Mays. As I recall, Rex Mays won the "poll position" at Indy, the most times of any person, and a gold watch was presented to anyone who took that position, thereafter, in honor of Rex Mays.
ReplyDeleteAt one time, Rex Mays had won more races than any other man, except never the "Indy 500".
What was the old saying? . . ."Often a bridesmaid, but never a bride."
gadfly
(Forgive the memories of an old gadfly.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rex_Mays
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Vukovich
Is Godfly a rogue bot again?
ReplyDelete"History always repeats itself twice: first time as tragedy, second time as farce."
ReplyDeleteComments of late remind me of growing up, and being the “Charlie Brown” in my years in school (although, back then, Charlie Brown was not yet in print). I was that kid that always asked the dumb question . . . the one that wanted to know the answer. Once, I got straight “B’s” . . . I thought I had achieved the highest honors . . . think of it! . . . Not one “C”, and not a “D”. (For what it’s worth, only once did I almost get an “F” . . . I made a deal with my Spanish teacher that I would change my major, if she would “bump my grade” up to “D”, . . . she took the bait, she didn’t have me repeat her class, and I didn’t have to hear, once again, “El burro sabe mas que tu!”. So, with a grade like that, below “C” level, I went on to join the Navy, and went into the Submarine Service.
ReplyDeleteEarly on, I learned that it’s easy to set a match to something, and destroy the work of others . . .but building something of value takes much effort and dedication, even in the midst of the “cat calls” of others, with a clear focus and dedication on that future goal.
Well, even from the early years, at age five, I set the goals of my life, being an inventor (like my Dad), designing parts for aircraft (like my Dad), being an excellent machinist (like my Dad), being a father (like my Dad and Mother) . . . even a “Grandpa”, like my own grandpa and grandma, joining the Navy (like my uncle), and being a submariner. There were other goals, set early on . . . and early on, I learned that my so-called “friends”, and classmates, would fight my dreams at every turn. And in time, I learned that true education was a desire to learn . . . asking the dumb questions, in spite of what other classmates might think.
Virtually, everything on the “wish list”, or should I say, the “dedication to the goals list”, have become reality . . . plus a long list of added “extras”, that I never dreamed possible. Too bad I didn’t desire to become rich in having much money . . . maybe I missed that one. But, whatever, . . . now, as the “old gadfly”, I don’t regret the path taken.
What I’ve learned is that it’s easy for folks to destroy, by word or deed, but it takes a commitment in “people” to build excellent things, with a dedication to affirm each little thing, building precept upon precept . . . and hopefully turning minds and talents to the true Author of all good things.
“Aviation Enthusiasts”, was the sign over the door that I read as I entered this blogsite. I am an “aviation enthusiast”. I’ve been one since I first learned about airplanes, and just about anything that flies. The excitement of “walking on the wings of the wind” . . . that gets my blood going. The view of a seagull gliding over a rise along the beach . . . a hawk flying over the Verdugo Foothills in Southern California . . . even the “Humming Birds”, that come up to our porch, in the mountains of New Mexico . . . all that, I enjoy the things that fly.
And as a pilot (although no longer active), I cannot get “flying” out of my system. So I look for the readers of this blog to contribute, in a “positive” way, to the pleasure, the absolute enjoyment, of the God given privilege, of “walking on the wings of the wind”.
gadfly
(Always asking the dumb questions, as I, in memory, sit at the far back corner of the class . . . and more often than not, even the teacher seemed offended that I should ask.)
Safetyman . . . 'Would that I could share with you the good news that not all history, although at first sorrow or ruin, must end as going wrong, or becoming a sham . . . following the meanings of "tragedy" and "farce".
ReplyDeletegadfly
(To the rest of the "readers" of this blog, to me, the English language is basically a set of fine, precision, tools . . . each word, cared for like a precision instrument, may heal, kill, accomplish great things, or hurt terribly . . . depending on it's use. Think of it! . . . over 400,000 words, each having a special application . . . some are crude, some are so "fine tuned", that only the most skilled may detect their special use, or find pleasure in their subtle use.
"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!" . . . Don't you believe it.
Each word means something . . . some can heal, and some can kill . . . too many of the latter are being used, of late.)
Saturday, a hawk circled overhead . . . the grownups were being given a tour of the corral . . .the horses were old and gentle.
ReplyDeleteSuddenly, something “spooked” the horses . . . little Amelia was in the path of the old horse . . . the horse seemed to sense the little girl in his path, and didn’t put down the hoof with full force, but a mother screamed, the little one received much of the impact of a hoof on her right arm . . . a little error to the left, and we’d be attending a funeral this week.
The protective shield of a gracious God . . . this tiny little life, not yet three years old, with the clear imprint of a horseshoe in her bruised right arm, may yet go on to experience the sorrows, and joys, of a life firmly anchored in the things of eternity, and the One who holds all things in his hand.
gadfly
(The hawk circled on looking for a rabbit for lunch . . . there was an adequate number of the little long-eared, fluffy-cotton-tailed bunnies, looking to avoid being an “entre” at a late afternoon supper, for the hawks, or for a midnight snack, for the coyotes . . . who are always looking like starving refugees, traveling across the waning moonlit landscape.)
Baron . . . No, I'm not that "botfly".
ReplyDeleteAt once, I'm tempted to "tweek your beak", as it were, but I'd rather be your friend. What you may, or may not think of me, matters little. But since you seem to have been, or are, a pilot, we'd much like to share in some of your experiences.
(Playing with words is rather fun, but like "target practice" with a hand gun, I don't mix "play" with interaction with other folks. Words are serious things that require careful control.)
It's really "OK" to open up and share some experiences . . . maybe a landing that was out of the ordinary, or a flight somewhere, when you lost reference to where you were.
These are the things that can contribute in a positive way, and maybe help other folks who love to fly, do it safely . . . or simply enjoy the pleasure that you may have had.
What say you? Do you enjoy flying? . . . Tell us about it. Frankly, I'll be your first reader.
gadfly
(For what it's worth, I have an extremely short memory . . . and tend to only remember the good stuff. It keeps the books simple, and up to date . . . except for the basics of life and faith, those remain firm and don't move at all.)