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The opinions against him was that he didn't have an engine, yet there is photos if him holding a two cylinder engine weighing 80lbs under one arm. In addition, newspsper reports indicate coverage of flight events, including a crash into the second floor of a building. He was a native of Austria, immigrating in 1895, and descendants of his in Austria have flown R/C models of his designs. I'm pulling this up from memory, so those of you interested may want to look for yourselves. Apparently, he left Austria for the freedom in the US to conduct his flight experiments. Whether this all happened as indicated, I can't say as I wasn't there and news reporters being much as they are now, who knows. They do like to report failures. The model 21 is the one in which he is said to have flown. He numbered every project, whether man carrying or not. It is interesting reading.

I was about to go to the garage and find my books to refresh my memory, when I suddenly remembered this new thing, the internet, so a brief journey there gave much more info. Don't forget, the Smithsonian refused to recognize the Wright's accomplishments until 1941. They had always claimed their own Langley had flown first. so the first Wright flyer was sent to Britain for museum exhibit and only sent and accepted at the Smithsonian because of possible destruction in the bombings. That's why the contract that no other first flight could be accepted, to exclude Langley.

TF-104G s/n 63-8467 c/n 583D-5777 one of 17 made for W. German AF, used at Luke AFB in USAF mkgs-later sold to Taiwan--photo by Weathers 13 JUL 1974 at NAS NOLA




VC-140B-LM s/n 61-2489 c/n 1329 Jetstar 6, now on display Pima Museum--photo by Campbell on visit by VP Spiro Agnew 1971



F-100F-10-NA s/n 56-3840 c/n 243-116 conv to QF-100F - photo by Weathers at NAS NOLA



Not sharp focus F-102 and T-33A-1-LO from 159th Fla ANG 12 OCT 1972 at NAS NOLA -- Tbird now on display at Jacksonville IAP, Fla
photo by Weathers



AFRes C-130's parked at ANG ramp Joint Reserve Base (JRB) NewOrleans when it was still NAS NOLA 12 OCT 1972 - photo by Weathers


Two Albatross on their way to Chile - photo by Campbell


A surplus Mohawk with lots of radar used by Dept Interior, Geological survey-- Photo by Campbell

Source: ed's collection

This series of photos (by Landry) may not seem much today, and especially on this forum with it's international participation, but in Oct 1968 this was a rare chance for a couple of aviation nuts to see and photograph Soviet iron. The USSR had invaded Czechoslovakia and US /Soviet relations were strained. Therefore, when we learned an Mi-8 and then an Mi-10 were in Houma, Louisiana, pictures were required. The May 1968 issue of Flight International let the news out and since each of us went to Houma on business (different companies at different times) it shouldn't be difficult as we checked various airports for photo opportunities as we traveled. The problem we had, was no one had heard of these two choppers. In fact, people we knew at the airport who would know, and knew us well, still claimed ignorance. The purchase of the two copters, we much later learned cost $2 million and had to go through a Dutch dealer. It turns out this Mi-10 is the only one ever exported. Back in 1968 we guessed the USSR must have supplied tech people for training and that was the reason for secrecy. Landry did learn the two aircraft would soon go to Bolivia. The Mi-8 was done with a long lens and the Mi-10 was done with a crap camera in case of confiscation.

















All photos by Landry

Source: ed's collection

Good shots!

A-4L's of VC-13 at NAS NOLA 31 MAR 1974 they began as A4D-2N then A-4C now A-4L - no. 355 may be a painter's as there is no A-4 with that number.
Bu/No 145122 was on display at Savannah State College,GA, on loan from Pensacola.


A-4L Bu/No 147825 was sent to Santa Maria Museum of Flight from Pensacola Nov 2010. 355 really does look like fresh paint with the number before the three and on the nose
partially stripped for correction.


T-34B


F-4J-35-MC B/N 155834 C/N 3166 later conv to QF-4S Sent to storage 24 FEB 2003


Hawker-Siddeley AV-8A Bu/No 158700 c/n 712097 one of the first 17 Mk.50 acft purchased for USMC later conv to AV-8C then to storage 26 SEP 1986
Please excuse the crap stuck to neg.

photos by Weathers
source: ed's collection

This B-26 showed up for 2 days in June of 1960, a rare treat.


This one also showed up in June 1960, an even rarer treat. It may be an On-Mark conversion


This is here only because it has to be someplace. - The reasonably rare HFB-320. It's claim to fame is it's swept forward wings.

Photos by Landry

source: ed's collection

A few shots for those who like beavers -- airplanes-



De Havilland D.H.C. 2 Mk 1, TU-6A (L-20A) s/n 51-16478, c/n 227/1045 Note tropical air filter - photos by Landry July 1971


U-6A (L-20A) s/n 53-8169 c/n 677/1410 now lives in Canada C-GYOK - photo by Landry July 1971 - note tropical air filter


C-54G-5-DO s/n 45-0551 c/n 36004 - photo by Landry July 1971

Source: ed's collection

Nice shots!

These next series of photos will take you to the Keesler AFB open house/airshow 12 JUN 1971. In those days, there was very little restriction around the aircraft. An Airman first class or an Airman 2nd was assigned to each aircraft to control the feather merchants.







AC-47D, originally C-47A-15-DK, s/n 42-92916 c/n 12770






A-37B , originally T-37A-CE, s/n 58-7934 c/n 40359 - this photo shows a young fighter jock in flight suit hoping for a ride to the O-club


photos by Landry
source: ed's collection

special ed said:

The model 21 is the one in which he is said to have flown. He numbered every project, whether man carrying or not. It is interesting reading.

Click to expand...

Yeah. I've read those reports and done a bit of investigating into him and Preston Watson, Richard Pearse as well as other claimants to powered flight before the Wrights and there is no evidence of it happening. No photos, no other recollections other than those newspaper articles, which are a work of fiction, nothing. Just because a story sounds convincing doesn't mean it's true. Why do you think the Wright's are recognised as the first to fly successfully? Because any pilot who learns to fly puts into practise what the Wrights discovered and incorporated into their aircraft. Did Whitehead do this? Nope.

Again, explain how he controlled his aeroplane in flight and what type of control surfaces it has, explain what process he used to choose an airfoil design that enabled his machine to produce lift, explain his process of learning to fly... You can't because it didn't happen. Whitehead's claim is all fiction.

Loving the photos. That Invader is premium!

special ed said:

They had always claimed their own Langley had flown first. so the first Wright flyer was sent to Britain for museum exhibit and only sent and accepted at the Smithsonian because of possible destruction in the bombings.

Click to expand...

Yup, they got that wrong, because Langley was one of their own and it all happened round the time Curtiss was being sued by the Wrights for patent infringement. The Wright Flyer was sent to the UK in 1912 and was stored by the Science Museum and held there until 1948. After WW2 it was reconstructed by de Havilland apprentices and the first drawings of it were produced, as well as the first accurate reproduction based on those drawings. The display was supervised by Charles Gibbs-Smith, prominent early aviation author and curator emeritus at the Victoria and Albert Museum, next to the Science Museum in South Kensington. Wilbur made the journey to the UK to witness the unveiling of the Flyer at the Science Museum.

This is the first accurate full scale reproduction of the Wright's first powered aircraft on display at the Science Museum.

Wright Flyer repro

While people in the USA were denying the Wrights flew, in Europe their efforts were well received, notably in Britain and they both went there in 1909 to meet with members of the Royal Aero Club, where at their clubhouse on the Isle of Sheppey, near the airfield made there by members, the Wrights laid down the ground work for the first Wright aeroplanes to be built under licence. These were built by the Short Brothers and were the first of any aeroplane to be built under licence by a foreign firm.

The Wrights and members of the Royal Aero Club including the Short Brothers and Charlie Rolls.

2107 Isle of Sheppey Eastchurch Founding Fathers

The same place over 100 years later.

2107 Isle of Sheppey Muswell Manor door

The site of the airfield where the first Wright aeroplanes were built by the Short Brothers. The sheds are long gone.

2107 Isle of Sheppey Shellbeach landing ground

The Wrights' history in the UK is largely unexplored, but is ample evidence of their achievements. Did Whitehead have as much influence. No, he didn't. This is the most glaring evidence of the Wrights' success in the field; no other pioneer of the time got as far. Between the end of 1903 and the end of 1905, the Wrights had flown over 109 flying hours in three different aeroplanes. A full year before the first recognised successful powered flight in Europe.

Sorry man. Whitehead, Pearse, Watson, Mozhaissky, Ader, all those guys don't have a patch on what the Wrights achieved.

More from Keesler AFB open house 12 JUN 1971


Kaman HH-43B s/n 64-17557 c/n 217


The first Hughes OH-6A Cayuse s/n 67-16000 c/n0385 ( model 369) Last seen with Pomona P.D. 2003 as N77000


OH-58A s/n 68-16722 c/n 40036 last at Victoria sheriff's dept. Victoria, Texas as N255BP



UH-1B-BF s/n 62-12529 c/n 680 last used as N9687R

photos by Landry

source: ed's collection

The last from Keesler AFB open house 12 JUN 1971


VT-29D s/n 53-3537 c/n 52-83 mfg 1955


VT-29D s/n 533539 c/n 52-85



T-29C s/n 52-1094 c/n 333


T-39A-1-NA s/n 61-0678 c/n 265-81


two views of VC-140B-LM s/n 61-2490 c/n 1329-5024 , a sister to another earlier in this thread. Note the 4 stars in the window which may account for the Colonel's concern.
It is after all, an airshow.


N2S-5 note the same look from the airman.


T-28A



C-124C s/n 52-0939 c/n 43848 this would be the last show for this old girl as she went to salvage 24 FEB 1972

photos by Landry

Source: ed's collection

Vultee Aircraft Inc. Model P-48X c/n 142 mfg 1939 Certified 1 SEP 1939 A coincidental day NX21755


Vultee P-66 NX2300 Model 48C ordered by Sweden, embargoed by USAAF for France (too late) Then to UK for RCAF, refused, then to USAAF. where
129 went to China where they were most likely as dangerous as the Japanese if the fate of the 14 or 15 kept by USAAF was any example. Due to crashes , the survivors were soon
taken off active duty, the last by 25 -JUN 1942 although we needed planes.



Painted as number 510 for Sweden



Painted as BW 209 for RAF/RCAF eventually USAAF s/n 42-6833 then on to China

Photos from National Archives

Source: ed's collection

Vultee P-66 Vanguard s/n 42-6955 sent to China

Photos from National Archives

Source: ed's collection

This series of photos are at random having little to do with any thing except hanging around the airport.


De Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo


T-28B BuNo 140047 c/n 319-46 ( now N5443U) seen in 1971


DC-3A c/n 11672 mfg 1945, photoed because of right side entrance door only on former American Airlines or TWA Passenger liners


Bell GAM-63 Rascal found in a parking lot in California around 1971

Source: ed's collection - photos by Landry