In 1936 the German Air Ministry (RLM) put out a requirement for a heavy bomber. Heinkel designed the He 177 to meet RLM specifications. The He 177’s design had four engines in two engine nacelles. Decisions related to this engine design gave it nicknames of “flaming coffins” and “flying fireworks.”
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is a 1966 comedy starring Don Knotts. It is one of a series of movies Don Knotts made for Universal Studios thanks to The Ghost and Mr. Chicken’s success. These movies had different settings, stories, and characters, but the same Don Knotts. The movie received a G rating.
The story is how there came to be Transformers and Decepticons. An in-depth knowledge of the Transformer universe makes the movie more enjoyable. Someone unfamiliar with the Transformer genre may find the plot confusing. A basic knowledge is enough to follow the plot and sympathize with the
A fiction story set in a small German town in late April 1945. A member of the woman's army auxiliary stays in the headquarters building to destroy documents after all the others have left. Story contains some language and actions inappropriate today but common for the setting.
Alien Nation’s premise is a space ship with ¼ of a million aliens crash landed three years earlier and most of the aliens settled in the Los Angeles area. Fox created a television series in 1989. The movie has an R-rating. The series lasted for one season. The show had a small but loyal following.
Boeing delivered its first AH-64A to the U.S. Army in January 1984. As of 2024 over 1,280 AH-64s serve in 16 countries. They have flown over 5 million flight hours, including over 1.3 million combat hours. The U.S. Army expects the Apache to be its primary attack helicopter into the 2060s.
“The Avengers” is a British series that ran from '61-'69. It first aired in America on March 28, 1966. To the American audience the series and main characters had an excellent mixture of traditional and modern Britain. This article contains spoilers
Journey to the Center of the Earth premiered in 1959. The Lost World premiered seven months later. This article will compare these mid-20th century movies. Journey to the Center of the Earth’s success convinced 20th Century Fox to produce The Lost World. This article contains spoilers.
The L-1011 was Lockheed’s entry into the widebody airliner business. Lockheed sold less than half the L-1011s it needed for the TriStar to be a financial success. Lockheed exited the commercial passenger airliner business. The L-1011 was the last Lockheed commercial passenger airliner.
Garfield: The Movie (2004), is a live action film based on the popular “Garfield” comic strip. The Garfield Movie (2024) is an animated film based on the same character.
The Lockheed P-3 is an Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) aircraft based on the Lockheed Electra airliner. The P-3 made its first flight on August 19, 1958. The P-3C and the EP-3 Aires entered service in 1969. Over 700 P-3s have been produced by Lockheed and Kawasaki. P-3s have served in 22 countries.
“Casca: The Eternal Mercenary” is the first in a book series written by Barry Sadler. Casca is ageless and immortal. This review will cover the first book and may contain some spoilers.
The An-2 made its first flight on August 31, 1947. The An-2 operates in over 70 countries and over 11,915 An-2s and their derivatives were produced before production ended in 2002. The An-2 is the aircraft with the most years of continuous production.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. first aired in 1964. It had many elements of the ‘60s James Bond movies. These elements included exotic places, advanced technology, a super powerful criminal organization, antagonist capturing protagonist, and beautiful women.
Junkers envisioned the Ju 290 as a transport and maritime reconnaissance aircraft. Junkers completed the first preproduction Ju 290 in October 1942. Junkers built 65 Ju 290s and delivered 41 to the Luftwaffe. The last Ju 290 misison was in 1956.
Grumman designed the C-2 Greyhound based on the E-2 Hawkeye airframe. It’s a twin-engine turboprop capable of taking off and landing on aircraft carriers. Grumman delivered the first of 25 Greyhounds to the U.S. Navy in 1966. It has a range of 1,650 milesand can carry 10,000 pounds of cargo.
Vincent Turner produced a movie based on one of my screenplays. This article covers the journey from conception to completion. You decide what decisions were right and wrong and how well they were executed.
In the 1970s the USAF was looking for an aerial tanker to supplement its KC-135 fleet. The USAF selected the McDonnell-Douglas KC-10 to fulfill this mission. The USAF received the first of 60 KC-10s on March 17, 1981. The Netherlands purchased two KDC-10s and a DC-10.
I reached the 100,000 hits on HubPages milestone. This article is about what I did to get to this point. Readers can decide what were my right steps and missteps.
Wonka is a musical with dance routines and seven songs, not including Pure Imagination and the obligatory Oompa Loompa. Timothée Chalamet (Willy Wonka) performs almost all the songs as a solo, duet, or with the cast.
The DC-10 was the second wide body jetliner to enter service. It made its first flight on August 23, 1970 and entered service on August 5, 1971. The production run ended in 1989 after 386 DC-10s were built. DC-10s retired from passenger service in 2014.
Frank Capra directed “Arsenic and Old Lace” (1944). This film is based on Joseph Kesselring’s 1941 stage play. The film’s setting is Brooklyn, New York on October 31. This movie was a perennial Halloween classic on TV in the 1960s. This article contains spoilers for the movie and play.
The Boeing 727 has a long career in cargo, government, and other service. Boeing 727s have flown in government service of 18 countries. Some have been privately owned. Some served in other interesting purposes.
In the mid-1950s Boeing recognized the need for a jetliner that could take off and land on runways shorter than 5,000 feet and fly more than one hour away from the nearest useable runway.Boeing developed the Boeing 727, a three-engine jetliner. Boeing sold 1,832 727s.
A story about a multigenerational voyage to build a colony in the TRAPPIST-1 star system.
Quark was a short-lived science fiction comedy show. Richard Benjamin played the title character (Adam Quark). He is a captain with an oddball crew. They are members of the United Galaxy Sanitation Patrol.
The Aérospatiale/Bae Concorde was the west’s first and only supersonic commercial airliner. It entered service in January 1976, a month after its Soviet rival. There were 14 Concordes produced. Air France and British Airways, the only two operators, ended Concorde operations in 2003.
The E-2 Hawkeye was the first aircraft designed specifically for airborne warning and fighter control. The E-2 entered service in the U.S. Navy in 1964. Israel purchased four Hawkeyes in 1976. The U.S. Coast Guard and five other countries have or are operating Hawkeyes.
Westworld, opened in general U.S. release on November 21, 1973. Futureworld was its 1976 sequel. Yul Brynner in black wild west drab gave this movie an iconic image. This article contains spoilers.
Set in the near future. Liam is graduating college. His father believes his choice of major made college a waste of Liam's time and his money. Who is right Liam or his father?
The 2004 movie I, Robot is named after Isaac Asimov’s 1950 collection of stories about robots. The movie is a police drama and action film. The movie is inspired by Isaac Asimov’s stories rather than a retelling.
The Panavia Tornado, It’s a Plane Panavia Aircraft registered as a three-nation consortium to manage the MRCA program in 1969. The Tornado prototype made its first flight on August 14, 1974. . Panavia delivered 984 Tornadoes to five air forces and the German Navy.
The scientific community dismissed stories and conjectures of alien abductions, ancient alien visitors, and the Bermuda Triangle. The science fiction community embraced these claims and ideas. This article lists some movies that include alien abductions, ancient aliens, and/or the Bermuda Triangle.
I made my 300th post on HubPages. Many people on HubPages are more successful by any metric. The purpose of this article is to share what I think I know. Maybe some can spot my mistakes and avoid them.
The FW 200 made its first flight on July 27, 1937. The FW 200 made some record-breaking flights. Lufthansa put it into service. Germany converted the FW 200 for wartime use, primarily as a maritime patrol aircraft. Later in the war they were primarily used as transports.
This 1965 movie is about British intelligence efforts to stop the Germans from using V-weapons. In some cases, this article doesn’t name an actor or character to avoid spoilers.
This movie is based on the Mario Bros. video games. Its U.S. release was April 5, 2023. This movie received a 59% from the critics and a 96% from the audience on Rotten Tomatoes. It is an animated movie with a MPAA PG rating.
Fictional story about a couple who go through changes, as does the mall they visit throughout the years.
In the 1970s the ATB project worked to develop a strategic bomber with a small radar signature. On July 17, 1989 the B-2 made its first flight. The Air Force received the first B-2 on December 17, 1993. The B-2 was a billion dollar aircraft.
Vought designed the F-8 in 1953 to meet the U.S. Navy’s requirement for a supersonic aircraft suitable for carrier operations. The Crusader had a variable incidence wing. It could pivot the wing to create more lift or drag. Vought produced 1,261 F-8. The A-7 remained in service until 2014.
FX took A Christmas Carol much deeper into darkness. This film has two strong women characters. Its U.S. television rating is TV-MA. It has nudity, harsh profanity, gore, and adult content.
SPAD) manufactured military aircraft throughout World War I. Its first successful aircraft was the SPAD S.V in 1915. The S.VII first flew in April 1916 and entered service with the French and British air arms. SPAD and its subcontractors built over 15,000 aircraft during Word War I.
The Star of Africa is a 1957 German biographic about World War II Luftwaffe ace Hauptmann Hans-Joachim Marseille. The film contains interesting departures and omissions from Marseille’s life and times. It had some similarities and departures from other military films. This article contains spoilers.
The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III made is first flight on September 15, 1991. It set 33 world records during its testing phase. It can use runways on over 19,000 airfields. The U.S. Air Forcepurchased 223 of them. Seven other countries fly C-17s and three serve in a European multi-national wing.
A fiction story about a woman who sees the same elderly man throughout much of her life. He would appear for a few seconds. No one else has ever seen him.
Gone with the Wind smashed all box office records. It was critically acclaimed and won the Oscar for best picture in a year with stiff competition. It had rereleases into the 1960s. . It has popularized and perpetuated many of the myths about that era. This article contains spoilers.
The year began with masking indoors in public places and on commercial airliners the norm and Omicron variant spikes. There were protests to COVID restrictions. All numbers given are from the Johns Hopkins University of Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center unless otherwise sourced.
The A-6 Intruder was a carrier-based bomber and reconnaissance aircraft. It made its first flight on April 16, 1960. An electronic warfare version, the EA-6, made its maiden flight on May 25, 1968. The U.S. Navy retired their A-6 fleet in 1997. The USMC retired the EA-6B in 2019.
Jingle All the Way is an Arnold Schwarzenegger comedy about a man’s quest to get the toy his son wants for Christmas. The movie has a strong comedic cast. It got mediocre reviews and had a mediocre box office performance. This article contains spoilers.
The Birth of a Nation pioneered many movie techniques. It was billed as a historical drama. The film says more about America in 1915 than about the Civil War and Reconstruction Era.
The UH-1 Iroquois is a military version of the Bell Model 204 helicopter. The XH-40 made its first flight on October 22, 1956. Iroquois initial designation was the HU-1, this gave it the nickname “Huey”. More Iroquois built than any other post-World War II aircraft. Over 16,000 have been produced.
The Focke-Achgelis Fa 330 was a gyro kite designed to give U-Boat crews the ability to see further than they could from their conning tower. The prototype began operational tests aboard U-523 in August 1942. Weser-Flugzeugbau produced about 200 Fa 330s.
Curtiss revised the P-36 with the new engine. This gave the new fighter, the XP-40, performance similar to the Messerschmitt Bf-109 and Hawker Hurricane. Curtiss produced P-40s until December 1944, after producing over 11,600 aircraft. The Last P-40 retired from active service in 1958.
Dark Fate cost $185 million to make. It was a box office disappointment. It hints at another storyline for the franchise. It also opens the way for limitless possibilities.
This article is based mostly on my personal recollections. The article also includes some recollections of others. The weddings described are of middle-class families in America. The article’s focus is primarily on the receptions.
It's 2020. A sandwich maker and her husband have her aging mother and their adult son living with them.
Sikorsky Aircraft developed the Sikorsky S-55 with its own funds. Dimitry D. Viner piloted the first YH-19 on its maiden flight on November 10, 1949. A total of 1,728 S-55s were built by Sikorsky and three foreign companies. This total far exceeded any previous helicopter type.
In June 1941 the U.S. Navy put in a requirement for a twin-engine fighter for the Midway-class aircraft carriers. The specifications called for the engines to give the craft over 4,000 horsepower. It had to have twice the weight of fire of the F4F. The F7F made its first flight on November 2, 1943.
In 1931 Edmund Schneider designed the Grunau Baby. With the great post-World War I interest in aviation there was a need for an affordable and safe glider with docile handling characteristics. The Grunau Baby met these needs. Over 6,000 Grunau Babies were constructed.
Top Gun Maverick is the sequel to the 1986 hit Top Gun. It requires a lot of suspension of reality. The many Top Gun references enhance the viewing experience, but seeing the original isn’t necessary to enjoy watching Top Gun: Maverick.
High Treason is a British 1929 Science Fiction movie. There is a silent and a sound version. The sound version year is 1940. The silent version is 1950. A movie poster billed this as “The Peace Picture”. This article contains spoilers.
Hawker Siddeley used two modified De Havilland 106 Comet 4C airframes to develop their HS801 prototypes. The first Hawker Siddeley HS801 flight was on May 24, 1967. The first Nimrod entered service on October 2, 1969. Hawker Siddeley and later BAE Systems produced 49 production Nimrods.
Lightyear is an animated movie based on the Toy Story character Buzz Lightyear. It opened in the U.S. on June 17, 2022. It has an MPAA rating of PG in the United States (U.S.) and the United Kingdom (UK) for action/peril.
Some movies are made to make the audience ponder the deep messages these films present. Other movies are zany comedies. Some movies are unintentionally awful. Some movies are campy. These movies are apparently devoid of any serious content. Don’t let these movies fool you. Within the 90 to 120
The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was designed to replace the Douglas SBD Dauntless. The Helldiver’s problems contributed to the decline of Curtiss. Over 7,000 were produced, more than any other allied World War II dive bomber. The SB2C saw service with the U.S. military and five other countries.
Casablanca, Divorce Italian Style, and the original Stepford Wives ended with interesting sequel possibilities. It is interesting to speculate and consider such storylines for original movies. This article contains spoilers for these movies.
Originally designated the Typhoon II, the Tempest made its first flight on September 2, 1942. The Tempest had good performance at all altitudes. Hawker Aircraft Limited produced 1,702 Tempests. Tempests remained in active service until 1953.
Logical fallacies are reasoning based on false logic. False logic weakens an argument. A logical fallacy can cause people to draw false conclusions. The only excuse for using logical fallacies is they work.
Assignment writing services offer to help or write students’ assignments for a fee. Students in many countries use essay writing services. Students use online writing services to meet the additional high school work and expectations of college.
The Night Stalker received the highest Nielsen rating for an original TV movie. This sparked the TV movie sequel The Night Strangler, and a TV series Kolchak: The Night Stalker. This article contains spoilers for the movies and series episodes.
The Avro Vulcan was a long-range medium bomber. The prototype made its first flight on August 30, 1952. The Vulcan became the bomber for Great Britain’s nuclear deterrence. At peak strength the Royal Air Force (RAF) had 70 Vulcans. They served until 1984.
The year 2021 began with a lot of hope the COVID-19 Pandemic would soon end. COVID-19 vaccines were available. The Pfizer and Moderna claimed efficacy rates above 90%. . The incoming U.S. administration promised to make stopping the COVID-19 Pandemic a top priority. What did 2021 bring?
In 1918 Pfalz Flugzeuwerke of Speyer built the Pfalz D.XII to address the German Air Service need for a fighter comparable to the latest enemy fighter aircraft. The German Air Service received almost 800 D.XIIs before the war ended. Less than 200 of these were in service by October 1918.
Scrooged uses a unique setting and format. The format and having Bill Murray playing the character of the person who gets the Ebenezer Scrooge treatment sets Scrooged apart from the other Christmas Carol adaptations. There is foul language and some gore. This article contains spoilers.
The Ju 87 made its first flight in 1935. It had a dive angle of 80⁰ and had an accuracy of less than 30 yards (27 meters). Accuracy came at a cost in speed, especially when pulling out of a dive. Despite being obsolescent for most of World War II Ju 87s flew sorties until the end of the war,
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a 1949 Disney cartoon. Sleepy Hollow is directed by Tim Burton. For many of a certain age The Legend of Sleepy Hollow was their introduction to the Washington Irving tale. Sleepy Hollow falls in tthe inspired by category. Thie article contains spoilers.
Aaron Jones is a convict. His sentence is to fly a round trip to another star system as the lone crew member. On the return trip he has to take an unscheduled passenger.
There are many James Bond spoofs. One spoof was the Matt Helm franchise. The Matt Helm movie franchise spoofed spy movies and Dean Martin’s persona. Much of the humor is dated and some jokes are now inappropriate. This article contains spoilers.
Fieseler Flugzeugbau began developing the Fieseler Fi 156 Storch (Stork) in 1935. The Fi 156 made its first flight on May 24, 1936. The saying went the Storch went wherever the Wehrmacht went. The Fi 156 was used by at least 23 countries.
The Bü 181 prototype made it first flight in February 1939. Production began in 1940. It was the Luftwaffe’s primary trainer. Egypt’s Heliopolis Aircraft Works also produced Bü 181’s, named Gomhouria 181 Mk 6, after the war. Bü 181’s remained in active service into the 21st century.
“The Monolith Monsters”, “The Giant Claw”, and “Reptilicus” are three giant monster movies that are ruined primarily because of the depiction of the giant monsters. This article contains spoilers.
The Mitsubishi A6M Zero-sen, a carrier-based aircraft, had performance comparable to the top land-based fighters. This was an accomplishment in itself in 1940. The A6M excelled in range and had superior low-speed maneuverability. Mitsubishi built about 10,500 A6Ms.
Die Another Day is the 20th official Bond movie. This movie has references to each of the previous 19 Bond movies. During its run It was the highest grossing James Bond film with a worldwide gross of almost $432 million. This article contains spoilers.
The F-100 was the first U.S. aircraft that could go supersonic, and sustain it, in level flight. . It served as the USAF Tactical Air Command's primary interceptor in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. F-100s also served in the air forces of Denmark, France, Taiwan, and Turkey.
In the 90’s Pierce Brosnan was James Bond and Judi Dench was M. Judy Dench’s M had a more hands-on approach to Bond’s missions. Bond and M were more serious at pointing out each other’s perceived shortcomings than in previous Bond films. This article contains spoilers.
North American developed the T-2 in 1958 as a primary jet trainer for the U.S. Navy. The U.S. Navy retired the Buckeye in 2008. T-2s trained over 11,000 pilots.
The T-28 made its first flight on September 26, 1949. The USAF ordered the T-28A Trojan. The USN ordered an upgraded version, the T-28B, and later a carrier capable version, the T-28C. . North American produced over 3,000 T-28s. They served in at least 23 countries.
The Nakajima J1N, designed by engineer Katsuji Nakamura, made its first test flight on May 2, 1941. The J1N had the range and takeoff distance necessary, but fell short in the other performance characteristics. Nakajima produced 486 J1N1s. Only one remains.
The 1980s was a time of big social and political changes. The Bond movies reflected these changes, at least once by accident. This article contains spoilers and digressions.
In 1937 the Japanese Army decided they needed a such a long-range fighter to escort their bombers. Takeo Doi was the chief project engineer and work started on the design in January 1938. The result was the Ki-45 Toryu (Dragon Slayer). The total production was 1,701.
This writing is in January 2021. Much has been said and written about COVID-19. What do the numbers tell us? These numbers give a snapshot on how things were, not a projection of what 2021 and the future will hold.
The Luftwaffe began development of a flying bomb in 1939. The resulting aircraft was the Fieseler Fi 103. The Fi 103, and its variants, were the only production aircraft powered by a pulse jet engine. The Germans designated it the V-1, Vergeltungswaffe 1 (Reprisal Weapon 1).
Boeing made 257 P-26s. They were obsolescent by the time the U.S. entered World War II. They remained in service in Panama and Guatemala into the 1950s.It was the last fighter designed and mass produced by Boeing.
In the 1970s the James Bond franchise went through some changes. The most obvious one was the face of James Bond changed from Sean Connery to Roger Moore. There was more action and special effects. The Bond women were still gorgeous but different. This article contains spoilers and digressions.
The Fairchild Republic F-105 Thunderchief was designed as a strategic strike-fighter. Its bomb bay could accommodate a nuclear weapon. It could carry a bomb load greater than many World War II era heavy bombers. It was used exclusively by the USAF.
The first James Bond movie was released to theaters in 1962. It started a decades long franchise. It also spawned many imitations. The '60s were the formative years for the franchise and the genre. This article contains spoilers and digressions..
In June 1938 the British Purchasing Commission put in an order for 200 long-range reconnaissance aircraft. Lockheed responded by developing the Hudson from the Model 14 Super Electra airliner. The first Hudson flew on December 10, 1938. Lockheed produced 2,000 for the British.
Recently there have been reboots, remakes, and sequels of action movies and TV shows with female characters taking leading roles. Often times these movies get harsh criticism from fans. Some of the makers of these movies and shows have called these fans sexist. This article contains some spoilers.
The Terminator came out in 1984. There have been 5 other Terminator movies and one TV series, and many video games, in the Terminator franchise. Now for copyright reasons it’s unlikely there will be another Terminator movie or TV show. Some believe Terminator should have never become a franchise
The Albatross made its first flight on October 24, 1947. The first Albatrosses entered active service in July 1949. Grumman built 569 Albatross aircraft. They served in the U.S. Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and 18 other countries.
The Mini-series “V” first aired on May 1 and 2, 1983. It was a successful mini-series which spawned a 1984 TV series. There was a 2009 attempt to reboot the series. The mini series’ premise is aliens come to Earth and claim it’s in peace. This article contains spoilers.
On October 3, 2020 The Vatican released Pope Francis’ encyclical “Fraternity and Social Friendship”. This article has some of the Encyclical's highlights along with some observations.
The Consolidated PBY Catalina made its first flight on March 23, 1935. This twin-engine flying boat was built in the United States and under license in Canada and The Soviet Union. It was the most widely produced flying boat in history.
Irwin Allen created the television series, The Time Tunnel. It is a science fiction action series where much of the action involved stock footage. The show’s premise is two men are trapped in time. The series ran for one season, 1966-67. This article contains spoilers.
The USN was looking for a torpedo bomber to replace the TBD Devastator. The USN ordered two XTBF-1S prototypes in April 1940. The XTBF-1S had a bomb bay large enough to contain the largest torpedo then in the USN’s inventory. Production ended in June 1945 after Grumman built 9,836 Avengers.
Northrop build the XBT-1. This all metal aircraft made its first flight in July 1935. By the spring of 1941 the SBD-3 Dauntless was in service. Douglas built 584 SBD-3s. The U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC) also purchased almost 900 of these aircraft, designated the A-24 Banshee.
I watched a USAF Basic Military Training graduation ceremony on September 3, 2020. I finished basic training in October 1972. Watching the ceremony live stream on Facebook punctuated how much has changed.
The XF3D-1 made its first flight on March 23, 1948. Douglas test pilot Russell Thaw piloted the prototype. The USN ordered 28 F3D-1 Skyknights.
The Skyray was the first and last delta wing carrier aircraft for the U.S. Navy. It was also the last Douglas fighter accepted by the military. Douglas built 420 Skyrays.
The Skyraider entered service in 1946. Unlike many piston engine aircraft developed during World War II and not ready for service during the war the Skyraider had a long postwar career. When production ended in 1957, Douglas had built 3,180 Skyraiders. There were 8 major models and 37 versions.
The F-102 Delta Dagger was the first supersonic all-weather interceptor. The Convair F-106 Delta Dart was initially designated the F-102B. The F-106 has an airframe similar to the F-102. The F-106A made its first flight on December 24, 1956. The F-106 was the last U.S. purpose built interceptor.
Babylon 5 is a science fiction series that ran from 1993-1998. This series is set in the same century as the original Star Trek series. Babylon 5 shows a darker view of the future and human development. The dark view of the latter is probably due to a lack of human development. Contains spoilers.
The Cessna T-37 first flew on October 12, 1954. The T-37 was the primary jet trainer for the USAF from 1957 until 2009. The USAF began taking delivery of the T-37 in June 1956. The USAF retired the last of its T-37s in July 2009. Columbia, Ecuador, and Pakistan still have T-37s in service.
In 1954 Toho Studios released Gojira. The American version, released in 1956, is Godzilla: King of the Monsters!. Gojira had mixed reviews in Japan. Crowther Bosley of the New York times gave it a scathing review. It was Godzilla that started the Kaiju genre. This article contains spoilers.
Sikorsky built the CH-54 helicopter to meet the U.S. Army’s need for a heavy lift helicopter. The S-64 Skycrane first flew on May 9, 1962. The U.S. Army designated the helicopter the CH-54 Tarhe. The CH-54 served almost until the end of the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.
In 1961 the USAF wanted a large jet transport. Lockheed produced the C-141 on time and under budget. This brought military airlift into the jet age. The USAF purchased 284 C-141s. The Starlifter served the USAF from 1965 to 2006.
This cemetery is the final resting place for 400,000 active duty service members, veterans, and their families. The cemetery’s monuments tell the story of the United States from the Civil War to today.
Douglas developed the DC-4E to meet a United Airlines requirement for a long-range airliner. With the war the development the aircraft turned into a military transport. The C-54 Skymaster made its first flight on February 14, 1942. The USAAF and USN bought 1,162 of these aircraft.
Ford’s Theatre is where John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Abraham Lincoln. The theatre is restored to appear as it looked the night of President Lincoln’s assassination. Ford’s Theatre is an active theater that has live performances.
The U.S. Military gave two aircraft the designation B-26. The USAAC designated an aircraft, built by Martin, the B-26 Marauder. The USAF designated an aircraft, built by Douglas, the B-26 Invader. . The Marauder and the Invader served in World War II and the Invader served in other conflicts.
Luray Caverns is the largest caverns in the eastern United States. The Caverns is normally open every day. Luray Caverns is about 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of Washington, DC. Luray Caverns a pleasant day tip from the Washington DC metropolitan area.
In an unusual step the USAAC named an aircraft after a person, Major General William “Billy” Mitchell. The B-25 made its first flight in January 1939. The B-25 served in the USAAF and the USMC. British, Australian, Dutch, Chinese, and Russian units also flew the B-25.
A fictional story. A “B” movie actress gets conned into getting others to invest in a movie. The con artist has disappeared and the actress does what she normally does in a crisis. She goes to her cousin, whose husband is also a fan, for help. The husband comes up with a crazy solution.
A science fiction story about the world's first interstellar mission. It covers what the crew finds when it returns to Earth.
In 1978 (ABC attempted to cash in on the “Star Wars” popularity with the science fiction action series “Battlestar Galactica”. It was a big budget series with sophisticated special effects. In 2004 the Sci Fi network launched a reboot of “Battlestar Galactica”. This article contains spoilers.
There’s an old aviation saying: “If an airplane doesn’t look right, it won’t fly right.” That doesn’t stop aircraft designers, often with government support, from developing aircraft that don’t look right. Often times it causes many to ask, why?
There are at least three movies based on the Richard Matheson 1954 novel, “I Am Legend”. Each movie reflects its time. Each is set a couple of years after its release. They all used A list actors in the lead role. This article contains spoilers.
The C-5 Galaxy is the largest cargo plane in America’s military arsenal. Development began in 1965. The requirement was for a transport that coul carry all the components of a U.S. Army division.
The National Museum of Asian Art is located on the Mall in Washington, DC. The museum has art and artifacts from Asia’s long history. The sections include Japan, the Islamic World, the Indian Subcontinent, China, Korea, Japan, South Asia, and South East Asia. Admission is free.
A Science Fiction story about a U.S. Space Force spaceship that finds evidence of someone alive over 10 light years from where anyone should be.
The F-104 had superior performance at the expense of equipment and other trade-offs. The Starfighter could fly over twice the speed of sound and had a service ceiling of 58,000 feet Its sleek lines gave it the look of the fighter. The F-104 was based on what USAF fighter pilots said was needed.
The series premise was a family is sent into outer space and crash lands on an uncharted planet. Despite its many detractors the series ran for three years. The series spawned a movie in 1998 and a reboot series in 2018. This article has spoilers for some of the episodes.
Brooks AFB was named after Sidney Johnson Brooks, Jr. , a cadet who died in a flying accident. . Cadet Brooks may have blacked out from the inoculations he received before his fatal flight. This would be an ironic connection to the future Brooks AFB.
I posted 200 articles on HubPages. I joined HubPages over 5 years ago. The purpose of this article is to share what I think I know not to praise myself or complain about HubPages’ perceived shortcomings. There are many writers who are far more successful by any metric.
The USS Iowa (BB.61) was launched on August 27, 1942. It was the first of 4 Iowa Class battleships constructed. These were the last battleships to enter the U.S. fleet. Their combination of speed, maneuverability, and state-of-the-art fire control systems probably made them the best battleships.
The Bf 108A prototype, D-ILIT, first flew in June 1934. It was the first all-metal aircraft Messerschmitt built. Its advanced features included an enclosed cabin and an outward retracting landing gear. It had a speed range spectrum from 38 to 181 mph.
In the 1970s The Alamo was arguably more well-known than San Antonio. In the 1970s a visit to the Alamo reinforced some myths and exploded some misconceptions. The iconic view of the Alamo’s façade was a symbol of Texas independence and American “no surrender” tradition.
The Soviet Union began deploying the S-75 missile in 1958 and exported it to China within the year. The S-75 proved flying over airspace under its protection was dangerous. After 60 years it is still an active surface to air missile system.
“The Rise of Skywalker” is Episode IX in the Star Wars saga. This is supposed to be the last Star Wars episode. That appeared to be the case for Episodes III and VI. This article contains some spoilers for previous Star Wars episodes.
“Die Hard” premiered on July 12, 1988. “Die Hard” spawned 4 sequels. This movie's success inspired many movies with a similar plot line. This article contains spoilers for “Die Hard” and related movies.
The New York World’s Fair opened in New York in 1964. To young New Yorkers this was a wonderous place. To older New Yorkers it wasn’t as good as the 1939 World’s Fair. This article will give some passing mentions to a few other World’s Fairs and some related events.
The MiG-15 was the Soviet Union’s first “true” jet aircraft. Previous Soviet jets were made by fitting jet engines to existing piston engine airframes.
This 2004 animated Christmas movie was an instant classic. Tom Hank’s voice was used for six of the characters. It was the first all-digital capture film. It’s an understatement to state the animation was high quality.
“Star Trek” first aired on September 8, 1966. Its last first run episode aired on June 3, 1969. In many ways “Star Trek” took viewers where they had not gone before. I’ll put in some of my thoughts and feelings at the time in this article. This article contains spoilers.
The move “Midway” opened in theaters on November 8, 2019.In 1976 Universal Pictures and The Mirisch Corporation released “Midway”, a movie with an all-star cast. These movies depicted the 1942 battle of Midway. These movies cover the battle of Midway, and the events leading up to the battle.
“Blade Runner” opened in theaters in 1982. It opened to mixed reviews. Today the film is a Science Fiction classic. “Blade Runner” started the Sci Fi Noir and Cyber Punk genres. November 2019 is much different than what was predicted in “Blade Runner”. Flying cars aside that’s all for the good.
The F-80 shooting star was the U.S. military’s first operational jet aircraft. The first XP-80 made its first flight on January 9, 1944. The flight broke an American speed record. It reached a speed of 502 mph becoming the first American plane to exceed 500 mph.
Hershey, Pennsylvania, bills itself as “The Sweetest Place on Earth.” This article is based on my personal experiences, including missteps, during visits to the Hershey area. The visits span from 2002 to 2014.
“Inherit the Wind” was a 1960 based on the play. There were remakes but the original movie is the most memorable. This article will cover the movie and the actual events surrounding the trial of The State of Tennessee vs. John Thomas Scopes, in July 1925. There are spoilers.
The Yokosuka MXY7 Ohka was the only purpose-built suicide aircraft ever deployed. The MXY7 was rocket powered. A bomber would drop the Ohka and the Ohka pilot would start the rocket engine and attempt to crash the Ohka into an allied ship. U.S. Navy sailors nicknamed the aircraft “Baka”.
In 1991 I got to see it more as a native than a visitor. Many things were the same as they were when I left Korea in 1986. Some things had subtle differences. Some things may have been the same but I hadn’t seen or noticed them before.
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator served in many roles, including strategic bombing. It often flew missions alongside the B-17.
This 1994 action/comedy starring Arnold Schwarzenegger had a $115 million budget. Its cumulative worldwide gross was almost $379 million. In some quarters it was billed as a show with good family values. Others found that assessment odd because of the violence and strong language.
Fort McHenry is a National Park, National Monument, and a Historic Shrine. The Battle of Fort McHenry inspired a poem that became the United States of America's national anthem. The Fort is in Baltimore, Maryland.
“Paths of Glory”, “Town Without Pity”, and “Breaker Morant” are movies that involve soldiers being court martialed for capitol offenses. The movies involve soldiers of three different militaries from three different eras. They involve three different capital offenses.
The B-17 Flying Fortress symbolized American airpower in World War II during the war and ever since. General Henry “Hap” Arnold said, “The B-17 was airpower.” As with all legends there is myth and fact.
In 1985 the only thing many Americans knew about Korea was what Korean War veterans told them or what they saw on the popular television show M*A*S*H. This article is from the perspective of someone who had never been outside North America.
“The Angry Birds Movie 2” is another movie based on the video game, Angry Birds. The short “Hair Love” also plays with “The Angry Birds Movie 2” screenings.
Excalibur is the saga of King Arthur from his conception to his death. It has a talented cast; many went on to become household names. It has beautiful scenery, impressive sets, a fantastic score, and credible looking fights.
The Space Shuttle program began in 1972. The program ended on with the last flight on July 21, 2011. The program had triumphs and tragedies. Some of what the Space Shuttle achieved has not been replicated since the program ended.
The National Museum of the Marine Corps is adjacent to the Marine Corps Base Quantico. From 1978 to 2002 there was the Marine Corps Air-Ground Museum inside Marine Base Quantico. This article will cover the current museum and its predecessor.
Disney released a live action version of The Lion King in 2019. Live action seems a loose term since much of the action is CGI. The movie is available in 3D. One capsule will have spoilers for the live action and the animated movie.
An Air Force sergeant is murdered on an Army base in 1976. Two CID Agents investigate her murder.
July 4, 1976 was the 200th anniversary of the signing of The Declaration of Independence. Large and small Bicentennial celebrations were planned throughout the United States. New York celebrated the U.S. Bicentennial with Operation Sail.
Mount Vernon, George Washington’s home, is located along the Potomac River and about a ½ hour drive from Washington, DC. It is a historical and picturesque place to visit.
The F8F Bearcat is not normally on lists of the greatest airplanes. The Bearcat had good performance figures and unlike many other aircraft its actual performance often exceeded its brochure statistics. Despite its impressive statistics how it would have fared against, and with, World War II era ai
On September 18, 1965 the spy spoof, “Get Smart”, premiered. “Get Smart” was lambasted by the critics but became an iconic television series. . The show would be a prelude to some of the classic comedy movies of the 1970s. This article contains spoilers for some of the episodes.
The Lockheed Constellation started as a military transport. The Super Constellation had a range of 4,600 miles with an endurance of 20 hours. It could carry 20 tons of cargo. This made the C-121 a good candidate for some new military missions.
The Shenandoah Caverns are located in Quicksburg, Virginia. It is about 2 ½ hours driving time from Washington, DC, depending on traffic. It is the only cavern in Virginia that has an elevator. Besides the caverns there are other curiosities to see.
Aladdin (2019) is a live action version of the 1992 animated movie. Aladdin runs for 128 minutes. Its MPAA rating is PG. In most respects it isn’t as dark as the G rated original.
Great Falls Park is 15 miles (24 km) from Washington, DC. The park is 800 acres (325 hectares). Great Falls is a good place for a family outing.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story gives the Rebel Alliance much more depth than the original Star Wars. Rogue One makes some amazing technical achievements. These achievements bring up ethical and legal questions. It also brings up the old question of “it can be done but should it be done”?
Lockheed Corporation wanted to build a transport aircraft that, according to Lockheed’s chief research engineer Kelly Johnson, “would carry more people farther and faster than ever before, and economically enough to broaden the acceptance of flying as an alternative to train, ship, and automobile.”
The Smithsonian’s Zoo in Washington, DC has 1,800 animals representing 300 species in 13 exhibits. The zoo spans 163 acres. It has large open areas for most of its large animals. This makes it good for the animals and good for viewing. This article is largely based on my personal experience.
Walt Disney released its live action version of Dumbo in March 2019. Tim Burton directed this version. Tim Burton’s reputation for remakes is to have many twists in the plot and in the scenery. Tim Burton did this in Dumbo. Time will tell if this version will have the original's staying power.
The P-36 was an all metal aircraft with a closed cockpit and retractable landing gear. In May 1937 a P-36 entered a fighter competition at Wright Field and won a contract for 210 aircraft. Deliveries began in April 1938. Other countries also purchased the P-36.
Many movies have plot lines similar to stories from antiquity. . How close movies follow ancient plot lines vary. This article contains spoilers for the ancient stores and the movies mentioned.
The F-117 was the first U.S. stealth aircraft. While previous aircraft had stealth features the F-117 was the first aircraft specifically designed to be invisible for all practical purposes. The F-117 was named the Nighthawk but the pilots gave it the nickname “The Black Jet”.
Williamsburg is the home of “Colonial Williamsburg” and there are many other nearby places to visit. There are many hotels and prices vary from bargain basement to high priced. It is a good place for a day trip, if you’re close enough, or a long stay.
The SR-71 Blackbird was the fastest production aircraft of all time. Its speed far outstripped any aircraft in any military inventory. The Air Force decided against using it as a fighter but ordered 33 of them as reconnaissance aircraft.
The Fifth Element shows the 23rd Century as a zany place. This makes it a fun movie action/adventure movie. This begs the question of how our time would look to the early 19th century?
Busch Gardens Williamsburg—also known as Busch Gardens, The Old Country—is close to the city of Williamsburg, Virginia. No matter the season, it is a fun place to visit, but it's especially magical during the holidays.
Northrop, in conjunction with McDonnell-Douglas, modified the YF-17 to make it a suitable fighter for the U.S. Navy. In June, 1975 the U.S. Navy (USN) announced its decision to acquire the aircraft and designated it the F-18. After modifications the Navy designated it the F/A-18.
The F-16 started as a concept to see if was possible to build a credible fighter plane that was significantly lighter and less expensive than the F-15, which was under development. The result was a multi-role fighter aircraft that is the workhorse of many air forces.
I've visited Virginia Beach a few times. Virginia Beach seems it would be similar to many other tourist cities along the U.S. Atlantic seaboard. Hopefully readers will find some parts amusing, some parts instructional, and some parts a time capsule.
The story revolves around three veterans and three New Year's Eve celebrations that span 100 years.
An anecdote about a social faux pas on Valentine's Day.
This is a look at some of the places and memories in New York City over the years. This article is mostly from personal experience. As with New York City in general some things have changed and some things remain constant.
There have been three films of note based on the 1957 Dr. Seuss book, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”. The movies are faithful to the book’s story arc. They all add to what is in the Dr. Seuss book. This article contains spoilers.
The National Cryptologic Museum, located in Annapolis Junction, is in the shadow of the National Security Agency building. It houses the cryptologic history, which spans the history of the United States. This museum adds another dimension to the history of the United States.
On January 22, 1968 few people ever heard of the ship. By sunset of January 23 almost everyone in the United States knew of the USS Pueblo.
Top Gun and Armageddon were movies that had manly men doing manly things. These movies had women in them but it was the men who were doing the real work. While women can enjoy these movies they are, either by accident or design, geared towards showing men at their best.
On November 22, 1963 I lived in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn, New York. What would have been a forgettable day turned into a day everyone who lived it would never forget. The way things were on that day changed dramatically in a few short years.
The USS Liberty was built during World War II. In 1967 the USS Liberty (GTR-5) was listed in “Jane’s Fighting Ships” as a research vessel. It was an open secret the USS Liberty was a spy ship. Mistakes by others spelled catastrophe for the USS Liberty.
Grumman developed the F-14 Tomcat. The Tomcat’s development and U.S. Navy retirement were controversial. The F-14 made its mark on military and film history.
"Kelly’s Heroes", "Play Dirty", and "The Battle of the Bulge" are three World War II movies that are not among the most well-known. Each of these movies have at least one scene that is so memorable that by describing the scene people would immediately know if they’d seen the movie.
Matthew & Rachael Kristiansen start a normal day. Matthew drives to work and Rachael stays home. They are oblivious to the horrific events that were in progress.
Versions of the Boeing 747 have been used in the USAF and NASA beginning in 1974. The 747’s size made it a natural choice for certain missions. The 747 history of government service shows the aircraft’s capability, says something about our history, and current capabilities.
The Boeing 747 first flew on February 9, 1969. It was the reigning “Queen of the Skies” for the rest of the 20th century. Boeing sold 1,546 747s. It was the first of the wide body jetliners.
Ghostbusters was released in 1984. It has become a classic. In 2016 a Ghostbusters reboot was released. The reboot recast the Ghostbusters as women. The reboot received much harsh criticism.