Frank Van Haste
@vanhaste.com
PP-ASEL IR Busily retired. Ashburn, VA. I'm a docent at a large aerospace museum located in DC.
Ahoy, @radiofreetom.bsky.social, I thought I'd differentiate myself by actually reading something of yours. My esteemed county librarian got this out of the stacks for me. Will likely check back in a couple days with a reaction.
November 3, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Ahoy, @radiofreetom.bsky.social, I thought I'd differentiate myself by actually reading something of yours. My esteemed county librarian got this out of the stacks for me. Will likely check back in a couple days with a reaction.
Here's the Camel in question (photo by me):
October 27, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Here's the Camel in question (photo by me):
Outside my son & d-i-l's window in Shelburne, VT this afternoon.
October 26, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Outside my son & d-i-l's window in Shelburne, VT this afternoon.
Only 97 years old, a 31st(!) impression from 1928 of Lindbergh's "We" published the year before by Putnam.
October 13, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Only 97 years old, a 31st(!) impression from 1928 of Lindbergh's "We" published the year before by Putnam.
The airplane is displayed in the Pioneers of Flight gallery at NASMs museum on th Mall in DC. It is shown on floats in its Schneider Trophy race config (later in 10/25 J. Doolttle would win the Schneider in the same plane.) 1/2
October 12, 2025 at 3:32 PM
The airplane is displayed in the Pioneers of Flight gallery at NASMs museum on th Mall in DC. It is shown on floats in its Schneider Trophy race config (later in 10/25 J. Doolttle would win the Schneider in the same plane.) 1/2
There seem to be multiple Moonliners about. I took this pic on 21 Aug while visiting KC, MO. I believe the building was once TWAs downtown KC HQ, but I could have that wrong.
October 5, 2025 at 5:13 PM
There seem to be multiple Moonliners about. I took this pic on 21 Aug while visiting KC, MO. I believe the building was once TWAs downtown KC HQ, but I could have that wrong.
And here is the Bell XP-59 that made that 1st jet-powered flight in the Americas on 10/01/1942, as displayed in the Milestones of Flight gallery at NASMs museum on th mall in DC. (X-15 #1 in foreground)
October 1, 2025 at 2:25 PM
And here is the Bell XP-59 that made that 1st jet-powered flight in the Americas on 10/01/1942, as displayed in the Milestones of Flight gallery at NASMs museum on th mall in DC. (X-15 #1 in foreground)
Based on the visible partial s/n that's a Curtiss P-1, not sure which of 8 possible airframes. Bettis would win the Pulitzer race in October in a different a/c, the Curtiss R3C-1 now on display in NASMs Pioneers of Flight gallery on the Mall in DC (pic, on floats in Schneider race config) 1/2
September 29, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Based on the visible partial s/n that's a Curtiss P-1, not sure which of 8 possible airframes. Bettis would win the Pulitzer race in October in a different a/c, the Curtiss R3C-1 now on display in NASMs Pioneers of Flight gallery on the Mall in DC (pic, on floats in Schneider race config) 1/2
Ahoy @annaleen.bsky.social check out this photo, taken yesterday, of a featured-books table at Barnes & Noble in Tysons Corner, VA. Nice!
September 29, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Ahoy @annaleen.bsky.social check out this photo, taken yesterday, of a featured-books table at Barnes & Noble in Tysons Corner, VA. Nice!
Irv said he was the 2nd best pilot in the family. I met Irv in '04, not long after Irene went West, when I picked up a 182 I'd bought there. He had a lovely PT-19 hangared (pic) that he still flew. The town had changed the airport name to Lindner Field. Irv passed in '12(?) at age 95. 2/2
September 29, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Irv said he was the 2nd best pilot in the family. I met Irv in '04, not long after Irene went West, when I picked up a 182 I'd bought there. He had a lovely PT-19 hangared (pic) that he still flew. The town had changed the airport name to Lindner Field. Irv passed in '12(?) at age 95. 2/2
...the Navigator/Radio operator was the lamentably under-sung Reeder G. Nichols (whom all y'all ought look up). Pic below shows the humble-brag painted on the aft fuselage regarding the outcome of the MacR. race. (The airplane had a long ensuing career, notable in more than a few ways.) 2/2
September 26, 2025 at 11:58 PM
...the Navigator/Radio operator was the lamentably under-sung Reeder G. Nichols (whom all y'all ought look up). Pic below shows the humble-brag painted on the aft fuselage regarding the outcome of the MacR. race. (The airplane had a long ensuing career, notable in more than a few ways.) 2/2
Here's NASMs lovely Boeing 247D as displayed in the America by Air gallery at the museum on the Mall in DC. Notably, this airplane took 3rd place overall (2nd transport) in the 1934 MacRobertson race from London to Melbourne. It was piloted by Roscoe Turner; Edgar Pangborn was co-pilot and ... 1/2
September 26, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Here's NASMs lovely Boeing 247D as displayed in the America by Air gallery at the museum on the Mall in DC. Notably, this airplane took 3rd place overall (2nd transport) in the 1934 MacRobertson race from London to Melbourne. It was piloted by Roscoe Turner; Edgar Pangborn was co-pilot and ... 1/2
Grumman bought Loening's firm and based their JF series Duck utility amphibians on his odd-looking(?) but quite successful designs. 2/2
September 22, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Grumman bought Loening's firm and based their JF series Duck utility amphibians on his odd-looking(?) but quite successful designs. 2/2
Grover Loening was a really interesting and creative engineer. He designed the OA-1A (see below) that went on the Army's very successful 1926-27 goodwill flight. The pictured airplane is displayed at the Udvar-Hazy Ctr. 1/2
September 22, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Grover Loening was a really interesting and creative engineer. He designed the OA-1A (see below) that went on the Army's very successful 1926-27 goodwill flight. The pictured airplane is displayed at the Udvar-Hazy Ctr. 1/2
Thanos, for a DETAILED account of RB/EB-66 ops in S.E. Asia, look for "Glory Days" by Col. Wolf Samuel.
September 19, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Thanos, for a DETAILED account of RB/EB-66 ops in S.E. Asia, look for "Glory Days" by Col. Wolf Samuel.
Ahoy, @spitfirefilly.bsky.social, look what my excellent county librarian has acquired at my behest. I shall dig into it and react back in a couple of days...this is going to be fun!
September 17, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Ahoy, @spitfirefilly.bsky.social, look what my excellent county librarian has acquired at my behest. I shall dig into it and react back in a couple of days...this is going to be fun!
I think it's interesting that in the case of that BUFF that lost its vert stab in a rotor cloud encounter in the Rockies, the failure does not appear to have occurred at the hinge line. Kudos due to the "hingeneer"!
September 17, 2025 at 2:20 PM
I think it's interesting that in the case of that BUFF that lost its vert stab in a rotor cloud encounter in the Rockies, the failure does not appear to have occurred at the hinge line. Kudos due to the "hingeneer"!
And the Stringfellow 1868 steam engine is displayed in the Early Flight gallery at the Air and Space Museum on the Mall in DC. Bought by S.P. Langley in 1889, it is an artifact of amazingly gorgeous workmanship. The brass-work of the alcohol burner and steam collector stuns. Come see it!
September 16, 2025 at 7:24 PM
And the Stringfellow 1868 steam engine is displayed in the Early Flight gallery at the Air and Space Museum on the Mall in DC. Bought by S.P. Langley in 1889, it is an artifact of amazingly gorgeous workmanship. The brass-work of the alcohol burner and steam collector stuns. Come see it!
Perhaps a few photos of AE's Little Red Bus would go well here, as presently displayed in the Pioneers of Flight gallery at Air and Space on the Mall in DC.
September 15, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Perhaps a few photos of AE's Little Red Bus would go well here, as presently displayed in the Pioneers of Flight gallery at Air and Space on the Mall in DC.
I believe the race referenced would've been for the Pulitzer Cup. It would be won by Cy Bettis flying a Curtiss R3C. A couple weeks later Jimmy Doolittle would take the Schneider Trophy race in the same airplane on floats. That R3C is at NASM Air and Space Museum on the Mall in DC.
September 14, 2025 at 2:11 PM
I believe the race referenced would've been for the Pulitzer Cup. It would be won by Cy Bettis flying a Curtiss R3C. A couple weeks later Jimmy Doolittle would take the Schneider Trophy race in the same airplane on floats. That R3C is at NASM Air and Space Museum on the Mall in DC.
That Curtiss R3C is displayed in the Pioneers of Flight gallery in NASMs museum on the DC Mall. From the deck angle in the pic this was taken when the plane was still on wheels, before float installation.
September 8, 2025 at 12:54 PM
That Curtiss R3C is displayed in the Pioneers of Flight gallery in NASMs museum on the DC Mall. From the deck angle in the pic this was taken when the plane was still on wheels, before float installation.
Ahoy, @lauriestories.bsky.social, my esteemed county librarian has just lent this to me. The queue is pretty active (3 copies in circulation, 14 folks waiting.) I'll get into it tonight & check back in a few days.
September 5, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Ahoy, @lauriestories.bsky.social, my esteemed county librarian has just lent this to me. The queue is pretty active (3 copies in circulation, 14 folks waiting.) I'll get into it tonight & check back in a few days.