Are you a member of the AOPA and the EAA?
With the exception of the AOPA and the EAA there has been an effort here at BeechBums.net not to include links to services or products that charge a fee for their product. However, there is a great need for advocacy in General Aviation in this day and age to help protect our ability to enjoy the freedoms that were established and passed down by previous generations. This translates to maintaining memberships in the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association as well as the Experimental Aircraft Association. As the watchdogs of our hobby, or our lifelines depending on the role that aviation plays for you this is our shameless plug to ask you to please join if you are not currently a member of these fine organizations.
A Tale Of Two Americas
A very moving story about returning veterans from the Gulf and pilots that volunteer their time, money and aircraft to fly them and their families so that they can be together. This story will touch you. (Story)
The Real Survivor
Sherri and I have been fans of the TV show Survivor since the first season, and rarely do we miss an episode.. Watching the toll that the game takes on the players as they progress thru the 39? days of starvation and sleeping out in the elements is an eye opening experience. Years ago my father told me of a man that he knew that could be considered the "True" ultimate survivor. Louis Zamperini was a former USC star and Olympic athlete whose B24 went down over the Pacific Ocean in WWll and survived on a life raft while drifting on the open ocean for 47 days and covering a distance of 2,000 miles. Ironically his rescue also made him a POW of the Japanese. This has been included here because this mans story is just simply amazing and is unknown for the most part today.
Favorite Planes
There are several airplanes that leave me in awe when I see them, or even a photograph of them. Probably the most impressive and awe inspiring aircraft of all time would have to be the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird. It would be lost on me to think that any person could stand next to one of these flying machines and not feel extremely small. This plane represents the best of what people can do when there is a common goal and a need to press the envelope of available technology in order to succeed in their goal. This plane cruised in normal flight faster than a .30-06 rifles bullet travels at muzzle velocity, or the speed at which it departs the gun. Of all the things that can said about the airplane just pondering this has never ceased to amaze me.
Here is a picture of the actual SR-71 that pilot Brian Schul flew over Libya. His overflights became legendary when the SR-71 was fired on by missiles. This was not unique however, the plane was actually fired at thousands of times during its service life, but nobody was ever able to knock one down. This plane now sits on display at the Former Castle AFB museum in the California Central Valley.
The Hughes H-1 Racer is one of the most elegant flying machines ever created. It was built in 1934 and first flew in 1935. The original is on display today at the Air & Space Museum. These photos are of a replica that was built by Jim Wright and flown up until it crashed and Jim perished at Yellowstone National Park on his way home from Airventure Oshkosh. I've included these photos instead of the original airplane because if there is anything that could make the airplane easier on the eyes than the one owned by Howard Hughes it is the obvious love that Jim had for this plane. I saw this airplane at the Reno Air Races one time and when the sun reflected off of the polished skins it was breathtaking.
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