AeroKnow Home 
This page was most recently modified Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Welcome to AeroKnow, an aviation
museum,
a not-for-profit aviation data bank, model museum
and educational enterprise, based in Springfield, Illinois, USA.
Telephone number, mail and e-mail information are provided at the bottom of this page.

STATUS REPORT: Springfield
Aviation by Job Conger
Arcadia
Publishing has asked me to write Springfield Aviation, a book about Springfield,
Illinois aviation history. The manuscript and photos are now in the publisher's
hands. I will be proof reading and correcting typos and slight revisions when they
return a proof to me later this spring. It will to to press soon after. If you would like
to reserve your autographed copy, email me. jobconger@eosinc.com
THANK YOU YVONNE BRANDIS for loaning pictures and clippings which will be shared here
at AeroKnow soon.
THANK YOU GARY FLECK for the pictures
from your dad's airports, an almost forgotten part of Springfield's rich aviation history!
It was a pleasure talking about your memories of the days out by the lake and Sunday
flying with your dad and family. The story of his enterprise will receive the long-overdue
cover it merits when my book hits the shops.
THANK YOU Dave Beatty of Beatty Televisual for sharing pictures from the three
Springfield airports you photographed extensively in the 50s through 70s. The two and a
half hours we spent considering just a part of your incredible collection could have gone
on for another eight hours if we hadn't committed the rest of your afternoon elsewhere.
Those pics from the National Air Races at Southwest in 1956 are nothing less than what the
French say as "incroidale!"
THANK YOU Slip N Skid Fliers Club - Brian & Carol Borecky, Etta Bunger, Joyce
Cooper, Bill & Darly Copp, George Covington, Tom & Dorothy Fitzgerald -- for
your support of Springfield Aviation generously expressed at your March meeting.
When you write to AeroKnow, you are writing to founder, director and
webmaster Job Conger. I am not a pilot, even though I wrote a pilot
report about a Piper Aerostar featured in a national aviation magazine. I have flown right
seat and back seat with some terrific people who appreciate what I'm doing with
aviation, and if there's not an affectionate female or an intelligent poet around, there's
no one I'd rather spend time with than aviation people.
If you have news of interest to aviation enthusiasts and historians, and
if you would like to be placed on a mailing list of aviation enthusiasts to be
notified whenever the aviation pages here are updated, e me writer@eosinc.com
Pictured above -- Thanks to Steve Hinton for the terrific
photograph of yours truly!
FRIENDS of Springfield Air
Rendezvous
I recently went through my copies of the Springfield Air Rendezvous air
show Official Souvenir Programs in my collection and discovered I am missing those
publications for 1993 and 1997, I need at least three copies of each of those
programs, up to ten if possible, for the AeroKnow collection and to use in trade for
issues I need. I have some copies of years not listed above for trade. If you can help,
call me -- 217-544-6122 or email me. Thanks.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
The 14th Annual Charlie Wells Memorial Scholarship Fly-in/Drive-in
All-You-Can-Eat Fundraising Breakfast
will be held June 7 & 8, 2008 at the First Class Air FBO facility at AL
Capital Airport (KSPI) starting about 7 am
Visit the organization's web site www.wellsscholarship.com
| MENU Abe Lincoln's Air Force Aircraft Data Index Historair Files Magazine Index Photo Galleries Research in Progress Industry News Modelair Museum U.S.A.F. Museum Air Combat Museum Book Reviews Jim LeRoy Remembered Magazines Surplus Books Surplus Model Catalogs Surplus Model Kits Surplus Postcards for Trade Slides for Trade Recommended Links Springfield High - Aerial Views Site Map |
This Week in Aviation History May 13, 1940 -- Bell's XFL-1 Airbonita flew, accidentally,
for the first time when during high speed taxi tests, a gust of wind caught it, and pilot
Homer Barry made a circuit of the airfield. During the circuit, the flotation air bags in
the wings moened, but the pilot made a successful landing. |
NEW at AeroKnow
April 29 -- I'm catching up with the Magazine Index. Most recent issue front cover
pics and indexes to Air & Space Smithsonian,
Warbird Digest and World Airshow News have been posted
here
February 22 -- The latest news from Boeing is posted here
February 22 -- Index and front cover picture to the January 2008 Skyways have
been posted at our Magazine Index page. View by clicking here.
February 20 -- Progress continues as I write Springfield Aviation for
Arcadia Publishing. More questions are posted,
and some have been deleted at my Book News page. Visit by
clicking here
February 20 -- My review of the new Osprey Combat Aircraft title F-14 Tomcat
Units of Operaturn Enduring Freedom
has been posted at the In Review page. Read it by clicking here
February 12 -- I have posted news of two Springfield organizations of interest to
Springfield, Illinois area pilots
(Slip 'n' Skid and Illinois Pilots Association/Springfield Chapter)
further down on this page. If you live in Springfield,
Illinois, you should get to know these fine folks.
February 12 -- More pictures from Springfi9eld's Air Combat Museum are posted at the
our Air Combat Museum web
pages. View the pictures by clicking here
February 11 -- The latest issues of Journal American Aviation Historical Society, Air
& Space Smithsonian and
World Airshow News have been photographed and indexed at the
Magazine Index page. To view, click here
January 15 - I finally visited Air Combat Museum for the first time in tooooo dang
long, and I'm glad I did! There's a new director at the hangar, the forward fuselage from
Paul Entrekin's MiG-15 and real progress with the PT-22. Catch the latest by clicking our
Air Combat Museum page right here
January 9 -- The latest news from Boeing is posted at the Industry News page. View it
by clicking here
January 9 -- The link to the ADI file for the P-40 has been restored. Visit it by
clicking here
WHEN YOU FIND A LINK that doesn't connect you to the
promised file please email jobconger@eosinc.com
and let me know.
January 8 -- My review of San Francisco Bay Area Aviation by WIlliam T.
Larkins and Ronald T. Reuther has been posted at the Book Reviews page. Read it by
clicking here
September 21, 2007 - A photo gallery of the North American P-51D and BT-13 owned and flown
by Dr. Mark and Joan Foutch has been posted here
September 15, 2007 -- A biography of Springfield, Illinois native son Dr.
Mark R. Foutch -- The Show is on the Podium by Paul R. Foutch -- has been
posted at our Book Reviews page. Read all about it by clicking here
September 6, 2007 -- New at Recommended Links, Historical: Kaman HH-43 Huskie and early
Kaman helicopter fans will enjoy visiting Johan Ragay's fine site. He is based in The
Netherlands, but his writing and understanding of the English language is better than many
of mis amigos de Norte Americano. I highly recommend this site. www.h43-huskie.info
-- A review of The Royal Air Force in Oklahoma by Paula Carmack
Denson has been posted at the In Review page.
See the front cover and read the review by clicking here
![]() If the models of these unique aircraft seems vaguely familiar to you, you may enjoy visiting my USAF Museum web page by clicking here |
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SUPPORT American
Aviation Historical Society
This organization, founded in 1956, publishes a rich, photo-packed,
technically illuminating quarterly Journal and a
professional but much smaller, less formal Newsletter between
Journals. I am privileged to serve as a volunteer on the organization's
editorial committee, but the real work is done by Managing Editor Hayden Hamilton, Journal
Editor Albert Hansen and a group of dedicated historians and contributors all over
the world. NEEDED NOW, besides
new members, are new members and established members who desire to contribute articles
about US aviation history to AAHS. Articles must be US-connected, but may feature
foreign-built aircraft. For example, a recently published article about DeHavilland
Mosquitos evaluated for widespread deployment by USAAF units brought to light aspects of
that versatile aircraft and US pilot capabilities which this historian had never
considered.
There is a TON of fascinating aviation history that remains
unknown to most of us, waiting for new authors to reveal it via their research and
memories. You do not have to be a published author to contribute. Hayden and hardy crew
can take your story and refine it to a finished article that will do you proud and serve
curious present and future generations. To learn more about how you can help, email Hayden
Hamilton whose address is found at the bottom of the AAHS web site home jpage -- www.aahs-online.org
Tell him AeroKnow sent you.
Civil Air Patrol, Central Illinois SEEKS NEW MEMBERS
This organization of teen agers and adults was formed in World
War II and continues today. It conducts 90% of the searches for aircraft lost in the US,
including major involvement with the loss of Steve Fossett. The Springfield-based squadron
is looking for new members to help with the search mission and more. Opportunities to
learn about aviation are many. Senior members work in the fields of emergency services,
youth programs and aerospace education. Young people age 12 and older study aeronautical
science, take orientation flights and develop leadership skills working with the military
and civil sectors. The local squadron meets Wednesday nights, 6:30 p.ml to 98:00 p.m. at
Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport's Illinois Air National GUard Base. Visitors should call
41401441 or 280-0648 to make arrangements. For more information visit www.ilcapspi.org Tell them AeroKnow sent you!
P.S. -- Earnest webmaster is a former Springfield composite squadron member
and I recommend it without reserevation. The leaders and members are focused, sincere,
competent people, and you will be warmly welcomed aboard. And what you learn, including
skills applicable to eventual enlisting in the armed services AND in civilian life will
stay with you for years.
Springfield, Illinois
Area Pilots Should Get to Know
Illinois Pilots Association Springfield Chapter
![]() 1267 W. Wabash Springfield, Illinois 217-787-4747 www.beattytelevisual.com |
audio visual rental, sales electronics repair home theater installation, commercial telephone and voice mail systems, commercial and residential sound systems, television repair, Lionel train repair interactive classroom systems and more |
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AeroKnow was organized by a group of
aviation enthusiasts who believe the best way to learn is to share what we know and reap
from the wealth of feedback contributed by those who appreciate what we do. We intend to
accomplish this mission through Abe Lincoln's Air Force, our support organization, by
offering what we know to aviation enthusiasts all over the world and by developing
subscription services of interest to new and experienced aviation historians.
AeroKnow Honor Roll
Mike George, Springfield, Illinois
-- Richard Strode, Springfield, Illinois -- Peter Bourke, Melbourne,
Australia
Barry Tempest, Kingscliffe, England
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If you have a business or personal web site connected to aviation, or Springfield, Illinois, please add a link to AeroKnow.com to your web site and recommend it to others. Tell us about your aviation-related web site, and if we visit and add a link to it.
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"It is better to break ground and head into the wind than it is to break wind and
head into the ground."
-- Thanks to Malcolm Jefferson
who sent the above to Barry Tempest, and to Barry for forwarding it to AeroKnow.