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Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Vintage Aviation News

Davis, who had developed a new wing, whose airfoil had a lower drag co-efficiency than other wing designs of the time, and which had already been used on the company’s Model 31/XP4Y Corregidor flying boat. Originally flown under the historic schemes for All American and The Dragon and His Tail , it is now painted as Witchcraft.

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Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Consolidated XP-81

Vintage Aviation News

Around this time, the USAAF was also developing its first jet fighters, but knew that all-jet aircraft at this time were short-ranged and burned fuel quicker than propeller-driven aircraft, and so the optimal design was to feature a propeller-driven engine in the front for long range performance and a jet engine in the tail for high speed in combat.

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Today in Aviation History: Loss of USS Macon

Vintage Aviation News

The airship initially recovered, dumping ballast and stabilizing at 700 feet above the sea and returning to its cruising altitude of 1,600 feet, but the ship was sent into another plunge, falling a rate of 14 feet per second tail-down.

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Cessna Skyhawk C172: Features, Performance, and Flight Experience

Airspeed Junkie

Notable design changes included the introduction of a swept tail design in 1960 and a new cowl design in 1961, which improved aerodynamics and performance. Micro vortex generators are also a popular upgrade, optimizing airflow over the wing and tail surfaces to enhance control. It is powered by a 180-hp Lycoming IO-360-L2A engine.

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Grounded Dreams: Cierva CR Twin

Vintage Aviation News

It boasts a top speed of 130 mph, a cruising speed of 120 mph, a range of 500 miles, a service ceiling of 20,000 feet, and a maximum take-off weight of 1,440 kg. Streamlined Pod and Boom Fuselage – The pod typically houses the passengers while the boom extends back to support the tail section.

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Our Overton Window

Air Facts

He was in his forties when we flew together in his V-tail Bonanza. I put the gear down one dot above the glideslope and let the drag bring the aircraft down at its 550 foot-per-minute descent rate. The Power Jockey. I could tell he was a good pilot. His skills were excellent, and his anticipation was admirable.

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COMBAT VIETNAM: The Threat Inside My Aircraft

Vintage Aviation News

I glanced over my shoulder to see our loadmaster scramble up the cargo bay’s side panels, then cling to the ceiling, barely clear of slashing horns. Load’s” relatively safe haven high in the tail section left him hanging upside down on steel-wire control cables, emulating a tree sloth. I was dragging tail. he screamed.