Roll Call To All/ Researching for 2003

[AchimEngels]

Well, just to throw my piece in that can, too.

I will focus on researching the structure of early Fokker built Fokker D.VII´s and will work on two full size replica aircraft (one is Wulffo´s the other one is our´s) turning the findings into reality to recreate that German aircraft. We also have to calculate the statics for the machine for the traffic certificate of one of these. Of course the aerodynamics also have to be calculated for this propose. For this we will use the model wind tunnel test results the French did after the war.

The whole thing is not that easy especially since the aircraft - as any other production aircraft - went through several changes which can not be tracked down that easily ( and I do not only speak of different access panel and cooling louvres arrangements). The idea is to recreate a full set of construction drawings for what can be judged as being the the early stage of development in serial production of this aircraft at Fokker.

Many documents have been collected over the past years, including Fokker factory drawings of early D.VII´s, and other Fokker drawings showing later versions. Tons of other material (documents and photographs) also needs to be sighted and evaluated. The major problem is to seperate Albatros, O.A.W. and Fokker versions. The next problem is to go against all those believes of what was because of the amount of information available at present that created an acumulation of all the manufacturers details. We do not want to end up with another "Albatros + O.A.W. + Fokker + self design" version of that aircraft *

I do of course also have to put more focus on the development of our online archive of historic documents which I did *neglect a little bit. I hope to at least catalogue all those historic D.VII documents and make them available.

Next on the list is the development of our CD-Rom book series "Aviation - In Detail". My good friend Michael Aten is working on our next book in this series which will be about the San Diego Spad VII. Another one he is working on is on the Ryan Spirit of St. Louis. I am personally focusing on the English translations of my German books in the series "Deutsche Flugzeugtechnik 1900-1920" (German Aircraft Technology 1900 - 1920). The first to come out soon is a basic introduction into the way they calculated any planes aerodynamics in Germany in 1917. This one is explained at the example of the Foker Dr.I triplane.

Another book project we are working on, but which we might not finish this year is "The Complete Fokker Dr.I" which will focus on the structural design of this aircraft and its development and problems in service. This one will make extensive use of 3D renderings and animations, too.

Volker´s CD will also be published this year *;D

My "streaky factory finish experiment" will be continued as well...

There is a lot more that is planed for this year, but just to keep this brief....we are busy here! *

A Happy new year to most of you! *

Achim

[Barrett]

1) Finishing "The Alpha Male's Guide to the USAF" (honest.)
2) Beginning research on an army Medal of Honor book. Dang, those first citations are short. Not much ink used in the War of Northern Aggression.
3) Writing a chapter for reissue of a Clancy nonfiction volume.
4) Rounding out my collection of Victoria's Secret catalogs, once my wife finishes with 'em.
Not necessarily in the above order.

[jc]

AchimEngels,
By the looks of this you'll be a busy one this year!
Whats up with the last line though? A Happy New Year to MOST????
jc

Well, just to throw my piece in that can, too.

I will focus on researching the structure of early Fokker built Fokker D.VII´s and will work on two full size replica aircraft (one is Wulffo´s the other one is our´s) turning the findings into reality to recreate that German aircraft. We also have to calculate the statics for the machine for the traffic certificate of one of these. Of course the aerodynamics also have to be calculated for this propose. For this we will use the model wind tunnel test results the French did after the war.

The whole thing is not that easy especially since the aircraft - as any other production aircraft - went through several changes which can not be tracked down that easily ( and I do not only speak of different access panel and cooling louvres arrangements). The idea is to recreate a full set of construction drawings for what can be judged as being the the early stage of development in serial production of this aircraft at Fokker.

Many documents have been collected over the past years, including Fokker factory drawings of early D.VII´s, and other Fokker drawings showing later versions. Tons of other material (documents and photographs) also needs to be sighted and evaluated. The major problem is to seperate Albatros, O.A.W. and Fokker versions. The next problem is to go against all those believes of what was because of the amount of information available at present that created an acumulation of all the manufacturers details. We do not want to end up with another "Albatros + O.A.W. + Fokker + self design" version of that aircraft *

I do of course also have to put more focus on the development of our online archive of historic documents which I did *neglect a little bit. I hope to at least catalogue all those historic D.VII documents and make them available.

Next on the list is the development of our CD-Rom book series "Aviation - In Detail". My good friend Michael Aten is working on our next book in this series which will be about the San Diego Spad VII. Another one he is working on is on the Ryan Spirit of St. Louis. I am personally focusing on the English translations of my German books in the series "Deutsche Flugzeugtechnik 1900-1920" (German Aircraft Technology 1900 - 1920). The first to come out soon is a basic introduction into the way they calculated any planes aerodynamics in Germany in 1917. This one is explained at the example of the Foker Dr.I triplane.

Another book project we are working on, but which we might not finish this year is "The Complete Fokker Dr.I" which will focus on the structural design of this aircraft and its development and problems in service. This one will make extensive use of 3D renderings and animations, too.

Volker´s CD will also be published this year *;D

My "streaky factory finish experiment" will be continued as well...

There is a lot more that is planed for this year, but just to keep this brief....we are busy here! *

A Happy new year to most of you! *

Achim

[jc]

Stephen,
I know you wouldn't forget. Were working on a meeting date in Feb. I'll stay in touch.
Hosting Cart: Where is this going to be held & when? Yes, thats to neat! The closest I have been to what you do was Wisconsin, Eagle River Snowmobile Derby. Writing for a magazine. I have that craze for speed when it comes to Snowmobile racing! Snowmobiles & Aeroplanes what a match.
JC

1) I haven't forgotten. I'll be there if I can.

2) Thanks. Believe it or not, even though I hosted the show I never set foot at the Corvette show. That was all done with remote cameras and on-site reporters, while I was in the studio the whole time *;D Ah, the magic of television.

PS - JC, the press releases haven't even gone out on this yet... I was asked last Sat to host the international broadcast for the CART Champ Car World Series.

Way cool, eh?

[stephen]

Hosting Cart: Where is this going to be held & when? *Yes, thats to neat! *The closest I have been to what you do was Wisconsin, Eagle River Snowmobile Derby. *Writing for a magazine. I have that craze for speed when it comes to Snowmobile racing! *Snowmobiles & Aeroplanes what a match.
JC

The CART Champ Car World Series races all over the world, but I never have to leave the warmth of my Indianapolis studio We'll literally call it off of a couple of TV monitors and send it via satellite all over the globe. Hee hee.

Didn't know you liked snomobiles. I got a call from a Chicago production company about hosting a snomobile show starting around March. My plate's getting pretty full so I don't know if I can do it. I'll keep ya posted.

[jc]

Stephen,
Thats nice that you don't have to jet out all the time to do a shoot BUT then again the travel is great too!
Yes, I have been a serious snowmobiler since 1985. Try to put a patent (turn signals) project out their but very expensive to do. I belonged to a lot of clubs local, state & out of state. Wrote articles for state magazine. Had to give it up to build new home & Weir Cook Project but still enjoy watching on TV. You should give it a try!!! Speed is the name of the game when it comes to racing. It's exciting to try to hang on going fast over those mogles.
Did you catch the date of the Mt. Comfort Airshow for this year? Sept. 12-14 03. The Blue Angels will be there. I'm going to try & get a media pass to write a story for the museum. This way I can get close to the subject; planes. I wish I could of done it last year when the good old boys of WW2 was there.
jc

My big passion remains modeling and researching Polish pilots flying with different nations during the Great War. Two years ago it was the Austro Hungarian Empire, this year it is The Imperial Russian Air Service..I am modeling several Nieuports of pilots such as Grochowalski nad Makeeonk, but would like to find out about all of them.
I am also a very big fan of the Boshevik war of 1919-1920 and plan to build several Spad 7's from that conflict.
My unfullfilled ambiton remains to find out about Sylwester Garsztka's marking on his Fokker when he flew with the Germans, as he was the only "German-Polish Ace" Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[MilesC]

I continue to write biographies of Canadian pilots who have distinguished themselves in some form of aerial combat (WWI, WWII, Korea). I seem to be slowing down, but I have just finished one on a chap who flew in WWII and will have to come back to WWI. Perhaps McKeever.

[AOK4]

I hope to complete my book about Bisseghem (in which the Flugplatz will have a central part) this year, so it can be published somewhere next year.

Jan

[Billy9]

Are there any reserachers out there who are interested in trying to match Allied Balloon claims against the German Balloon losses?