Monthly Archives: July 2009

Anything You Can Build, We Can Build Bigger Messerschmitt Bf.321 Gigant. Lousy Airplane, Great Target

The six-engine Messerschmitt Bf.323 was powered with Jumo engines and could carry troops, trucks and tanks. By:                   Norm Goyer Troop-and equipment-carrying gliders have always seemed like a great idea to military strategists. The US Army Air Force did use many … Continue reading

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Pratt & Whitney, the Engine that Won World War II

The outstanding Chance Vought Corsair used an R-2800 c.i. Double Wasp for power. By:                   Norm Goyer “Yes, I am prejudiced”; as if readers of these columns haven’t already figured out. “If it ain’t round, it ain’t sound,” said the US … Continue reading

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Twin-Beech, Outstanding Light Twin

By:                   Norm Goyer Last week we wrote about the Lockheed Model 10 and Model 12 Electra. Today’s subject is the aircraft that was brought out a few years later, the Beechcraft Model 18. The design was inspired by Walter Beech … Continue reading

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Lockheed Electra Series of Twins

By:                   Norm Goyer The world of aviation knows that Lockheed built some very special aircraft, aircraft that have broken records and traditions. A few are household names; the U-2, SR-71, P-38 Lightning, Triple-tail Constellation and the top secret F-35. Those … Continue reading

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What is your favorite aviation movie and why?

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The Warbird that Couldnt Fight

This photo shows the size of the Junkers Ju-87 in comparison with the size of its ground and flight crew. By:       Norm Goyer The gull-wing, fixed-gear German Junker Ju-87 Stuka is probably one of the most remembered and recognized aircraft … Continue reading

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The WWII Dive Bomber That Couldnt Dive

By Norm Goyer The most well known dive bomber of WWII was, without a doubt, the German Stuka. This fixed-gear, very slow dive-bomber caused more psychological damage than any physical damage. The Germans had attached high-pitched sirens to the landing-gear … Continue reading

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Will General Aviation recover to pre 2007 levels of aircraft sales?

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Nakajima B5N2 the Scourge of Pearl Harbor

Nakajima B5N2, the Scourge of Pearl Harbor The Nakajima B5N2 seated three, carried 1700 pounds of either bombs or a torpedo hung beneath the fuselage. It single-handedly practically destroyed our Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor. By:     Norm Goyer To say … Continue reading

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World War II US Navy Torpedo Bombers

World War II US Navy Torpedo Bombers By:     Norm Goyer The deadly torpedo can be delivered by two means, submarines or aircraft. World War II torpedoes weighed approximately 1700 pounds. When the Japanese Navy struck Pearl Harbor, they used their … Continue reading

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