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GYROCOPTERS: 15 MINUTES In Flight USA Celebrating 30 Years
“N
By Shanon Kern
either snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds” - US Postal Service Creed On April 15, Doug Hughes, a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier, flew his gyrocopter from Gettysburg, Penn. to Washington, D.C. He flew through the
restricted airspace surrounding the nations capital and landed on the west lawn of the capital. The purpose of his flight was to deliver letters addressed to all 535 members of Congress calling for campaign finance reform, and to place a spotlight on corruption in Washington, D.C. Luckily for the general aviation community, the spotlight was on for more than just campaign finance reform and corruption. Within hours after his
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OF
FAME
May 2015
flight, Google searches for gyrocopters went up 2,000 percent from the previous five years of searches. The “Aviation experts” from the network news agencies explained to viewers what gyrocopters are and how they fly. For three days, as the searches continued, the country seemed to be completely enamored with gyrocopters and ultra-light aircraft. The fallout from Hughes act of civil disobedience has resulted in newly discovered flaws in radar monitoring and
security surrounding our nation’s capital. Hughes’ gyrocopter was able to fly through the SFRA (special flight rules area) undetected by surveillance and radar. After landing on the U.S. Capital’s west lawn, Hughes was arrested within minutes by Secret Service and Capital Police. According to a statement on Hughes’ website, “He was just delivering the mail.”
Dynamic Aviation of Bridgewater, Va. has decided to proceed with the purchase of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's presidential aircraft, Columbine II. The 1948 Lockheed C121A Constellation was the first presidential airplane to be called Air Force One. Karl. D. Stoltzfus Sr., founder of Dynamic Aviation and the drive behind the restoration project, says, “After
extensive inspection and repairs on the aircraft we are ready to accept it, and to proceed with closing in June. Many challenges remain before we can fly it to Virginia, but we are now confident that it is feasible.” Stoltzfus' interest lies in his desire to preserve Columbine II as a symbol of America's integrity and that of our lead-
GOOD NEWS
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COLUMBINE II
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Faster Than a Speeding Bullet
Continued from Page 19 had her portrait and name painted on his bomber, which was recently on display in the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio.
Test Pilot
A graduate of the Air Force Test Pilot Academy at Edwards Air Force Base, along with Chuck Yeager, the Colonel was called on to flight test new plane prototypes, such as the P-80 in 1945, the first combat ready jet. He also tested the P-82. In 1972, he flew the first experimental solar-powered 32-foot aircraft built by Lockheed. In more recent years, he has contracted out to private industry aeronautical engineers and the military to build highly accurate one-sixth scale models of military airplanes for use in testing facilities, many with real turbine engines that allow the models to travel upwards of 150 miles per hour. He has been building airplane models since he was eight years old. His very first model was a “twin pusher” that actually flew. In addition, the Colonel has found time to compete in national model building and flying contests. As for flying in full sized planes, he occasionally goes up with pilot friends, and he still loves it. Colonel Robert E. Thacker retired from the Air Force in 1970. He holds the distinction of being one of only a few officers that flew two combat tours, one
in Japan and one in Europe, during World War II. Born in 1918, he is one of a handful of pilots to have flown in every theater in WWII, with many of his missions still classified as “top secret.” He holds a number of aviation records that have still not been surpassed. One of the most amazing is the flight of a P-82 with the Colonel at the controls in 1947. He still holds the record for the fastest, longest non-stop fighter flight with maximum takeoff weight from Hawaii to New York of a prop plane. Of course, he tells people that he had to wait in Hawaii three weeks for the 20-knot tail wind he thought he’d need. At 95 years old, the Colonel hasn’t slowed down much. He still builds models and flies them sometimes as much as once or twice a week. His workshop is a veritable museum of models he has created, flown, and experimented with over the years. If he is not working on one of them, he is probably on his way down to the beach for his daily walk or playing with his friends’ pair of Portuguese Water Spaniels. His zest for living is evident. He threw himself a recent birthday party. His friends wanted to help, but he told them that when he celebrated his 100th birthday, they could pay for it. “There were 155 people there. Everybody I invited came. If I had known more people, I would have invited them!” And undoubtedly they would have all come too.