It’s nothing short of a miracle on so many fronts that a huge 1940s flying boat in flyable condition is offered for sale in 2022. And it can be yours — for $5 million.
Of Wings & Things
It takes a crooked tail to fly a straight line
Some airframe designers have built in offset for the vertical fin to help compensate for the phenomena that move an airplane’s direction of flight to the left.
A time capsule of American aviation
A 1924 issue of the magazine “Aviation” is a microcosm of the post-World War I aviation scene in America. The air-minded segment of the population was impatient for aeronautical advancements, yet in some ways those advances were held back by a glut of war surplus Jennies and OX-5 engines that were offered to civilians on the cheap.
On track: Finding the right landing gear for giant bombers
On the way to finding the best landing gear for giant bombers, some looked to using a track mechanism, similar to a tank.
On seven wings and a prayer
The ultimate path was illuminated by the failures, as well as the successes. That’s the year [1916] a patent was filed for the Johns Multiplane, a seven-winged whopper ultimately powered by three Liberty engines.
What engines could the B-17 use?
The melodious Wright Cyclone motors of a stock B-17 confirm their ability to power this classic bomber. But the airframe proved capable of adapting other engines for other purposes.
Airmail history in a tiny town
The tiny town of Medicine Bow, Wyoming, with a population just under 300, is home to a museum that features historic mementoes of the early days of airmail.
Did two Wrights make it wrong?
An eagle-eyed reader caught an error from our resident historian about a photo of the Wright brothers.
Vultee’s first airplane foretold the future
Jerry Vultee’s all-metal single-engine V-1 of 1933 foretold the future, but federal restrictions killed its chance as an airliner and just 27 were built.