AeroKnow Home
AeroKnow Home
This page was most recently modified Saturday, July 12, 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.
Calling all Artists -- Newly launched here at AeroKnow is Arts
Round Table, dedicated to telling the world about art and artists in Springfield,
Illinois. If the site were a Wittman Taillwind, I would say that the rudder jig has been
built, but that's all, and I'm a long long way from a complete airplane. If you're into
music, literature and visual art, please visiit what's up so far by clicking here
STATUS REPORT: Springfield
Aviation by Job Conger
Arcadia
Publishing asked me to write Springfield Aviation, a book about
Springfield, Illinois aviation history. The manuscript and photos are now in the
publisher's hands. The Arcadia web site has announced pending publication and included
September 15 as the likely official publication date, though it is not "a
definite" at this time. Springfield's Chapter Illinois Pilots Association has
expressed interest in hosting a book signing when copies can be generated to my hands. If
your organization or business would like to host a book signing, please drop me a note.
jobconger@eosinc.com
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
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.
| MENU Abe Lincoln's Air Force Air Combat Museum Aircraft Data Index Aviation History News Avuatuin Book Reviews Books Surplus History Book Reviews - coming soon Historair Files Jim LeRoy Remembered Magazine Index Magazines Surplus Modelair Museum Model Catalogs Surplus Model Kits Surplus Photo Galleries Postcards for Trade Recommended Links Research in Progress Slides for Trade Springfield High - Aerial Views of Springfield, Illinois U.S.A.F. Museum Site Map |
This Week in Aviation History July 13, 1929 -- The mamoth Dornier Do-X 12-engine flying boat flew for
the first time. July 16, 1969 - Apollo 11, crewed by Neil Armstrong,
Edward Aldrin and Michael Collins, was launched toward the first successful landing of
human beings on the moon. They would return after a successful missioon July 24. |
NEW at AeroKnow
July 12 -- A link to the NotPlaneJane Collection web site, covering propellers
produced from 1926 -- 1948 has been added to the Recommended Historical Links page. Visit
the page with a link to it and other great sites by clicking here
July 11 -- Front cover photographs and indexes to the Summer 2008 issue of Journal
American Aviation Historical Society and July 2008 issue of World Airshow News are
posted here
June 13 -- The June World Airshow News is photoged & indexed at the Magazine Index Page
June 6 -- HELP SAVE EWA FIELD, former US Marine base. The news release is posted at
the new Aviation History News page which you may read by clicking here
June 2 -- I've added a new page -- Aviation History News -- for sharing news releases
from aviation museums, restoration shops, publishers, etc. The first posting is a fine
release from a group in Mt. Comfort, Indiana seeking assistance with a Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon.
May 15 -- The May 2008 World Airshow News has been indexed at the Magazine
Index page. View the front cover and contents inded by clicking here
May 11 -- FlyPast magazines donated by Tom Fey have been indexed and posted at the
MIF. ALSO the April Skyways, The Journal of the Airplane 1920 - 1940 has
been indexed; front cover picture and contents posted here
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.
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August 30 & 31, 9 am to 5 pm Boeing B-17G "Sentimental Journey" of the Arizona Wing, Commemorative Air force will visit Springfield, Illinois The crew will offer walk through tours for $5 and flights for $425. For more information www.arizonawingcaf.com |
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This B-17 is an excellent representation of a late-World War II B-17. Note the
NATURAL METAL finish; not light grey paint displayed on at least one other restoration.
The appearance is coordinated by the Springfield Chapter Illinois Pilots Association
and sponsored by Holiday Inn Express of Lincoln. Tjemilald Laketown Automotive, Sports
Radio 1450 and 1st Class Air where it will be based during its visit.
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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Place your business or organization's
card
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If you live on Springfield's northeast side and need printing done fast and well by a nice fellow, visit Chuck and tell him AeroKnow sent you. Chuck will support AeroKnow with a ream of paper every time someone visits and orders significant printing and mentions AeroKnow. After he introduces you to Noel, you will likely visit often just to say hello to his joyous Pomeranian! |
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.
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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.
