Model These?
THE SIGN on the side of the pretty airplane in 2 in. block letters, says "Experimental." But exactly what does it mean? Is it there because the airplane is the brainchild of some mad genius with a basement full of bubbling test tubes? Or is it simply the end result of some bureaucrat's red-tape machine? The airplane-whether it be an absolutely standard type of home-built which can be seen in greater numbers than some factory-built planes, or a truly original design which encompasses a bunch of radical ideas-must be decorated with "Experimental" in order to meet the rules of the Federal bureaucracy. To the Government, it's either a fully tested and certified production craft, or it's Experimental. And if it's the latter, there has to be a sign warning anyone who might enter.
Gustave Whitehead: Was He First?
"IF ANYONE DOUBTS that Gustave Whitehead has been able to fly a limited distance, at least, with his aeroplane, such doubts can be dispelled by viewing the photographs of his flight in the south window of Lyon & Grumman's hardware store on Main Street. "There are two pictures in the window showing Whitehead in his aeroplane about 20 feet from the ground and sailing along. Of course he has not perfected his invention, but says that he has frequently flown over half a mile."
The Airplane: Laser 200
This is the airplane that has consistently beaten the Pitts, Zlins, and Yaks in full-scale aerobatics. Leo Laudenslager, as this issue was being finalized, was competing in the 1982 World Championships in a try for a second victory.
Bell XP-77
"400-HP, 4,000 LB., 400 MPH." That was General "Hap" Arnold's cute little formula for a lightweight fighter plane. As top man of the U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II, he commanded a lot of attention. Moreover, the idea of a very light, simple fighter had broad appeal at the time, and it still does. The only problem is that there doesn't seem to be any way to do it. Sure, a lot of fighters start out to be lightweights. But when the realities of combat are faced, the weight goes up, and then the size has to go up to handle the weight. Pretty soon, the clever little airplane has become just another big complicated machine.
Cap-21: The Plane
THE FRENCH sure can be stubborn! They flatly refuse to do things like other people. Take competitive aerobatics, for example, Most countries have bowed to the superiority of a few basic types of airplanes-Pitts Specials, Yaks, Zlins-and simply plunk down the cash and fly away. It's easy and it's safe, but of course it isn't very creative.
