Category: Whatever

05/13/13

Darkness Falls – A Short Story by Henry Vogel

Henry Vogel, 13 May 2013

Pulp adventure from master storyteller Henry Vogel

Working the biplane’s controls with the practiced ease only possible from a former flying ace, Cliff Hanger pointed to the hilltop farm ahead.

“Cote? Are you sure that’s the place?” Cliff yelled over the roar of the aeroplane’s engine.

Cliff’s younger brother struggled to keep the map open against the buffeting wind and yelled back, “If the little bit Beth managed to say over the telephone before she was cut off is correct, then that’s the place!”

Giving Cote a thumbs up signal, Cliff was about to turn back toward the hill when he saw the other aircraft. Swooping down out of the sun and the clouds came half a dozen black-painted aeroplanes. Minions of the evil Doctor Darkness!

As he went into a barrel roll, Cliff hollered, “Doctor Darkness has sent us an unwelcoming party. Hang on, little brother!”
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05/6/13

Flight Sims – Just How Realistic Are They?

Author: Commander Mike “Toonces” Loomis

Introduction

Rare would be the man who, as a child, saw a fighter jet fly overhead and didn’t think to himself, “I want to do that when I grow up!”  Unfortunately, most of us don’t become fighter pilots.  However, we have the opportunity through computer flight simulation to understand a bit of what goes on in that cockpit, flying 600 knots and pulling 6 Gs.

The enthusiast flies his first simulator, buys more and more hardware, controllers, accessories, and more computer power to run ever more complex software.  At some point the inevitable question surfaces- how realistic are home flight simulators, anyway?  This article seeks to address this question from an aviator’s perspective.

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05/5/13

Cinco de Mayo

This article was originally published on May 5, 2012. It has been slightly altered and (hopefully) improved to better celebrate Cinco de Mayo.

Author: Jim Zabek

dos-chicas
Dos chicas de interneto.

 

What Day?

“On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Mexico on the 201st anniversary of your independence…. We join you in celebrating Mexico’s rich history and culture and to honor the many accomplishments of the Mexican people…. As you gather with family, friends, and loved ones to hear the Grito de Dolores and the bells of independence ringing out in plazas from Baja California to Quintana Roo, know that the United States stands with you as a friend and partner. ¡Viva México! and best wishes for a year of peace and prosperity.” – Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State

Stirring and encouraging words from the United States to its neighbor, Mexico, in recognition of the celebration of Mexico’s independence from Spain. That’s well and good, but didn’t take place on Cinco de Mayo.

Huh?
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05/3/13

May-viation Mystery Plane – Farman, or Not to Farman?

Farman, or Not to Farman?

Author: Lloyd Sabin

Farman_Siberia

I am not an aviation aficionado by any means but I know what I like. And I like early, exotic aviation. From lighter than air barrage balloons to zeppelins to early fixed-wing aircraft, I eat that stuff up. And I’ve found that the more obscure and weird they are, the more I like them.
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