Airdrop

Flight Journal, Feb 2000

Editors' note: we received this letter from The Old Flying Machine Co. concerning Mark Hanna, who died as a result of injuries sustained when his Spanish-built 109 crashed on September 26. In our December 1999 issue, we published Mark's article on flying the G-10 model of the 109.

Mark Hanna

Mark was buried at a private funeral at Parham in Suffolk, England on Wednesday, October 6, 1999. The Hannas wish to extend their most sincere thanks to the many individuals who sent messages of sympathy and support. A celebration of Mark's life took place on Tuesday, November 16, at St. Clement Danes in London.

The family invite donations to the Guinea Pig Trust, attention of Mr. J.A. Sandeman-Allen DSM, Dingley Dell, Rydon Acres, Stoke Gabriel, England TQ9 6QJ; 011-44-01803-782405.

The Guinea Pig Trust funds the Blond-- McIndoe Centre, where research on nerve regeneration and wound-healing techniques for burn victims is researched. It's associated with the Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, Sussex-known for its pioneering work with bum victims during WW II (and hence its association with the Guinea Pig Club).

The Old Flying Machine Co.

IWM Duxford, Cambridgeshire

England

Doctor Sliderule

In your December 1999 issue, the dissertation by Dr. Sliderule on the state of the aerospace industry is a painfully accurate description of the XYZ [name deleted] Co. I am a retiree from the "kite factory" with 40-plus years in the business and have watched this company throw away employees who have a cumulative experience of thousands of years.

Despite my 20 years of experience, I was laid off in the '70s and came back only to see the same thing happen repeatedly to other highly experienced workers. They aren't coming back anymore, and the company is stuck with a steady flow of young new hires who don't know squat about the design and construction of a large jet airplane. In 1994, XYZ dumped thousands of highly skilled and experienced engineers and shop people, and the resultant skills dilution caused the terrible problems that surfaced in 1997.

Name withheld by request

Washington State

Dr. Sliderule's editorial "The Demise of Aerospace" hit the nail on the head. I recently did some consulting for a company very similar to the one he mentioned. After a while, they told me I was too expensive and said they could hire a recent graduate for half what I was being paid. They were absolutely right! Several trips back to correct the mistakes made by the inexperienced young engineer later, the management still didn't get it.

As far as morale goes, what do you expect from an industry that refers to professional engineers as "assets."

I despair for the industry. [email]

Richard L. Newman

San Marcos, TX

Vigi request

Do not take it amiss that I do not immediately read Flight journal when it arrives at my house. I fly big iron across oceans and spend a lot of time in hotel rooms, so I often save an issue for my next trip. This was the case with your December issue. The exciting shot of the Messerschmitt Gustav on the cover tantalized and teased me from my desk, but I held firm.

As superb as the Messerschmitt photography is, a better shot was farther in. I gasped out loud when I turned to the echelon of North American aircraft. I am niggling when I say that one of the finest aviation photos ever is not perfect.

North American built airplanes that were not only performers but were also aesthetically the most beautiful in history. The formation proves it. However, the most beautiful of them all is missing. After the F-100, NAA built the RA5C Vigilante.

Gull gray and white, a Vigi would have been the icing on the cake. Alas, none left are flyable.

R.R. "Boom" Powell

ex-Vigilante pilot

Virginia Beach, VA

Toby jug

To acquire the limited-edition Toby jug mentioned in the December '99 "Videos of Note," call (800) 580-3250; quantities are limited.