The time has come for a control tower at Frederick Municipal Airport (FDK), say airport manager Charles Abell and a lot of pilots at one of Maryland’s busiest airports. The tower proposal isn’t the only thing on Abell’s wish list. Public meetings about updating the airport’s master plan have elicited discussions of additional hangars, improved […]
WASP Marianne Beard Nutt dies at 84
Marianne Beard Nutt, a member of the WASP class of 1943, died Jan. 16. Nutt developed a passion for aviation when she was 7, after seeing Amelia Earhart. She did not have the money for flying lessons and was told girls could not be pilots. Nevertheless, she learned to fly, working odd jobs at an […]
The corsair: Stories abound about one of the best fights to come out of World War II
The F4U Corsair was one of the best fighters to come out of World War II. Some claim it was the best. Marine Corps fighter squadrons such as Boyington’s “”Black Sheep Squadron,”” VMF-214, and the Navy’s VF-17, Blackburn’s “”Jolly Rogers,”” made the Corsair front-page news during World War II. Stories abound about its ruggedness and […]
“Shellightning” update
Re: More to the story than meets the eye: Sam Lyons’ ‘Shellightning’ hides a fascinating tale in the Dec. 24 issue: I took this picture in 1967 at the old Movieland of the Air. The plane was in a sorry state of condition. I wonder what happened to it. As I remember, the collection was […]
The rest of the story
I just received the Dec. 24 issue and was surprised and pleased to see your story on the Lockheed Orion “Shellightning.” Your mention of my book “Revolution in the Sky” was additionally generous and heartwarming. You might like to know that “Shellightning” is still in existence. l don’t have all the details, but I understand […]
Say again
I enjoyed reading Meg Godlewski’s article about Rob Drake and his instructor, Christy Helgeson (Say Again Rob: Deaf student pilot takes to the skies over Seattle, Dec. 24, 2004, issue). I’m deaf myself, but I have the benefit of a cochlear implant. When I got my third class medical in 2001, I was profoundly deaf […]
An inspiration
I wanted to thank you for Meg Godlewski’s article about Rob Drake and Christy Helgeson, which ran in the Christmas Eve issue. Thanks for showcasing the diversity of our aviation community. At the risk of sounding clichéd, it is an inspiration to read about Rob’s passion for flight, and how his circumstances aren’t getting in […]
Planes and parks can share space
n the Dec. 10, 2004, issue, Meg Godlewski noted that the city of Chicago’s director of planning and development had stated that “There are no parks where airstrips are a compatible use” (Can planes and parks share space?) In fact, an excellent example of such peaceful coexistence is the relationship between the city of Palo […]
Growing the next generation
I read the articles on youth in aviation in your Dec. 10 edition with interest. I especially enjoyed the five tips on being an ambassador from Mr. Larkins and his point that the education needs to be ongoing. In the 20 years I have been instructing I have flown with many young people on “intro […]