Misc. Helicopters (Jun, 1945)

Contra-rotating main rotors were a feature of the HH-43B in service with the Air Force from the 1950’s to the 70’s

Misc Helicopters

Co-Axial Rotors. as on the Hiller-copter illustrated in the December Mechanix Illustrated, eliminate noise and vibration on this new helicopter designed by Vincent Bendix. The inventor claims it will be easier to operate and safer than an automobile. Two levers control the machine’s flight, and continuous autorotation makes it possible to fly it with safety at altitudes of only 100 to 200 feet.

Navy Flyer Invents Tandem Airplane for Heavy Loads (Dec, 1929)

Harold H. “Kiddy” Karr was a pioneering naval aviator (Enlisted Naval Aviation Pilot Certificate #1).  He passed away in 1978.

Navy Flyer Invents Tandem Airplane for Heavy Loads
A TANDEM airplane called the KarrAvan has been invented by Harold H. Karr, a naval aviation pilot at North Island, San Diego, California. The ship which is 130 feet long and has a wing spread of 96 feet is able to lift 85,000 pounds. The unique flying machine will be powered by five 420 h.p. engines and will have a top speed of 135 miles an hour. The ship will carry 80 passengers and their baggage more than 4,000 miles without a halt.

Landing On An Automobile! (Dec, 1941)

Why is the writing on the plane upside down?

Landing On An Automobile!

ONE of the most unusual aerobatic stunts ever achieved was photographed recently at an air show, where Dannie Fowlie, stunt flier, successfully took off in his plane from the top of an automobile, and then managed a landing on the car top.


How a Metal “Man” Pilots Plane



Airplane Flies Without a Tail (Jan, 1932)

Airplane Flies Without a Tail

Revolution in the design of aircraft is expected from the “all-wing” plane illustrated here, a new German experimental model. As may he seen, it has a rudder at the end of each wing; while elevators as well as ailerons are placed on either side of the single pusher propeller. The span of the wings (which are set backward at a considerable angle for better balance) is 12 meters (39 feet 4 in.); the plane carries a load of 1150 pounds, at a speed of 88 miles an hour. It is designed for special economy in construction and maintenance, having a 28-horsepower Bristol-Cherub motor. Its designer, Alexander Lippiseh, is well known in the field of gliders, as well as motored planes.

Jet Plane with a Propeller (Jun, 1946)

The pieces of an XP-81 are currently in storage at the National Museum of the Air Force.

Latest Jet Plane is this new Consolidated Vultee XP-81, the first plane ever to fly with a gas turbine engine designed for propeller drive. Powered by a gas turbine engine in the nose and a jet engine in the tail, the sleek fighter will fly at a speed of more than 500 mph. At the right is a cutaway sketch showing the placement of the turbine and jet engine.

Science in Pictures (Sep, 1947)

Science in Pictures



NEW in the AIR (Jan, 1954)

NEW in the AIR

AVRO VULCAN delta-wing bomber is powered by lour Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire let engines, each of which gives 8.300 pounds of thrust, a power equivalent of our World War II Superforts.

MOTHER WAITS while modified F-84 jet fighter returns to bomb bay retrieving mechanism of giant B-36 bomber for in-flight landing during Air Force demonstration of its new air-borne carrier.

Rescue Glider-Boat (Sep, 1947)

This seems like a pretty weird way to rescue people…


UNVEILING THE X-15 (Feb, 1959)

And yes, both the Air Force and NASA say it went into space.


Model: North American X-15, a manned, hypersonic research aircraft. Length: 50 it. Height: 13 ft.

Wing area: 200 sq. ft. in a 25° sweep-back. Weight at launching: 31,275 lbs. Cargo: Pilot plus 1,300 lbs. of instruments. Fabrication: Inconel-X, titanium and stainless steel to withstand temperatures in excess of 1,000°F.