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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!

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Join Abe Lincoln's Air Force and receive a membership card and membership certificate, suitable for framing, by sending your check for $20, renewable annually for $15, payable to AeroKnow to 428 W. Vine St., Springfield, Illinois 62704-2933. For more information about Abe Lincoln's Air Force, click here

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PILOTS PLEASE NOTE
E.A.A. CHapter 770 meets regularly at different locations throughout Springfield.
Slip'N'Skid Fliers Club meets third Wednesdays of the month at The Luxemborg in Springfield.
Sprngfield Chapter, Illinois Pilots Association also meets monthly, 1st Wednesdays of the month at various locations.
    If you want to meet some good pilots and talk flying you should get to know these folks.
Watch for meeting dates, times and locations right here.

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MAGAZINE PUBLISHERS:
    AeroKnow invites you to add this enterprise to your list of comp subscriptions by directing your aviation-related periodicals to
AeroKnow
428 W. Vine St.
Springfield, IL 62704-2933
  In return, we will feature a photo of the front cover of every issue you send in 2007 jplus an index of articles relating to human flight PLUS information about how to order subscriptions and single copies from you or your designated distributor.  To see what your donation does for you, visit the AeroKnow Magazine Index page by clicking here  Enthusiasts all over the world will learn what you have published which THEY want to read. And you will have a source publicly posting index information so you don't have to do it. Please take advantage of this service TODAY.    Questions? E-mail writer@eosinc.com
 
ATTENTION MAGAZINE READERS:
   Don't leave it up to your wife, mother, girlfriend or other professional efficiency consultant to pitch your aviation magazines when you least expect it. DONATE the aviation magazines you've read to the address above. In return, AeroKnow will send you an index of evey issue you donate. You can also find indexes to issues currently on hand at the Magazine Index page, right here

NEW -- RESEARCH IN PROGRESS --

NEWLY POSTED - James Douglas needs pictures, drawings, details of the Naval Aircraft Factory XN5N-1 because he's considering building a replica of that little-known trainer.  He tells me he Googled 20 pages before finding the AeroKnow reference to it. If you can help him, write JDD@8bells.com and tell him AeroKnow sent you.

   Johan Ragay is writing what promises to be the definitive book about the Kaman HH-43 Huskie. AeroKnow is helping. If you have pictures, stories about flying or maintaining the Huskie, tech manuals, anything you feel should be a part of his book, please contact him. He also created and maintains a terrific web site devoted to the early Kaman helicopters. Visit the website, and if you can help with his project, contact him from there. www.h43-huskie.info  Please tell him AeroKnow sent you.

  "FIfty years ago in August, my first power instructor was a Captain in the USAF. His name was Cecil Rhoads (spelling might be a little different) and he was an aircraft commander on a KB-50 J refuelling tanker with the 420th ARS, based at RAF Sculthorpe in Norfolk, England. They were there as part of the 47th Bomb Wing, USAF(E) which was operating, I think, B-45 Tornados. He was killed in a mid-air explosion en-route back to Sculthorpe from, I think, Weisbaden, West Germany in 1960 or 61. All on board were killed. I would like to contact his remaining relatives some 50 years on. He was a fine insttructor on the Tiger Moth.
-- Barry Tempest  barry@tempest.ndo.co.uk  

More research in progrmess is described at the Research In Progress page, which you may visit by clicking here

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

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

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
    State organization's annual meeting is sslated for Jacksonville, IJX, May 17. Visit the state IPA website -- www.illinoispilots.org 
    The Springfield Chapter doesn't have a web site, but they meet first Wednesdays of the month at various Springfield restaurants. They distribute a monthly newsletter Capital Crosswinds (Bob Reynolds, editor)  to members and friends. President this year is Jim Long  523-2604. Attend a dinner meeting of this friendly group. Call Jim for location of the next meeting. Tell him AeroKnow sent you.

Slip 'n' Skid pilots' club
     The informal gathering of pilots, aircraft owners and friends meets 3rd Wednesday of the month at Old Luxemburg Inn, 1900 S. 15th Street, starting about 6:30. "The Old Lux" is a Springfield landmark restaurant, owned by aviation people, and worth a visit anytime. There are no dues to pay in this club. The members are called to be reminded of meetings. It's essentially a social club that also shares news from the grapevine and plans group flights to midwest destinations for $100 hamburgers and more. I'm going to speak at the February meeting about my book project. But come anyway and meet some good people.
   
THANKS TO MIKE GEORGE, Springfield, Illinois for his donation of several hundred issues of the Experimental Aircraft Association's (E.A.A.) Sport Aviation, the EAA Warbird Division's Warbirds and many miscellaneous av mags. These titles are of special historical interest because of their superb documentation of one-of-a-kind and more popular home-built general aviation aircraft, restored civilian types and of course, restored military aircraft. Partly in recognition of Mike's major boost to AeroKnow resources and partly because it needs to be done, and now we can do it, I am initiating a priority focus on indexing not only Mike's donation, but all copies of those publications already in the AeroKnow collection. There are still some holes in the publication run of those titles. If you would like to fill those holes, please e writer@eosinc.com  and I'll send you a list of current inventory of those (or any other) titles. In the meantime, if you want good advice regarding business and home security, look up George Burglar and Fire Alarm Company and give them a call.

AeroKnow now accepts PayPal!
From your PayPal account, you may direct  your support to jobconger@eosinc.com
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Our Mission 

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

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.

Contact Information

AeroKnow's web site is maintained by director Job Conger
   Telephone

217-544-6122

   Postal address

428 W. Vine St.

Springfield, IL 62704-2933

          USA

   Electronic mail

Webmaster/Founder/Chief Cook and Bottle Washer, Job Conger: writer@eosinc.com

When visiting the Abraham Lincoln historic sites in Springfield, Illinois, modelers should be sure to stop by Hammer's Hobbies, 2448 S. 10th Street.  It's easy to find, but if you need directions, call 217-525-0265 and mention you learned about them from AeroKnow.

If you want to produce a web page for your business or passion, I recommend you contact Donna Aschenbrenner, 217-522-5050 or visit http://www:webmarketing.com