Life
The Dzus fastener changed aviation
This little fastener changed aviation. Ukrainian-born toolmaker and inventor William Dzus (pronounced “Zeus”) witnessed all sorts of unusual…
Life
Imperfections important for accurate replica
Accurately replicating a warbird’s paint scheme sometimes means adding in the imperfections. A close look at the tail…
Life
Fan lets fighter stay sleek, but practical
What’s the story with that funny 12-bladed fan behind the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-5’s propeller? Fitting a big…
Life
N-3C reflector gunsight helped pilot navigate attacks
Last week, we talked about the forward-firing blister packs affixed to the fuselage of the B-25. Now let’s…
Life
Blister packs affixed to B-25 fuselage
In the Pacific, the Army wanted more punch from their B-25s. A quartet of forward-firing guns was added…
Life
FHC mechanics begin annual inspections
There are two basic seasons at the Flying Heritage Collection — Fly Days and “annuals.” Now that the…
Life
FHC Fly Day features rare aircraft
The Flying Heritage Collection’s final free Fly Day of the year on Sept. 21 will be “Air War…
Life
Venturi tubes power gyroscope
The FHC’s Polikarpov Po-2 is equipped with a pair of Venturi tubes, one on either side of the…
Life
Skid used for tail support, to stop
The FHC’s Curtiss JN-4D Jenny still has a tailskid; a tough, durable wooden protrusion fitted with a metal…
Life
Warcraft’s symbols prevented deadly confusion
If you carelessly mixed the two substances used to power the Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet, it was most…
Life
How to read the ID on the Mitsubishi Zero
The Flying Heritage Collection’s Mitsubishi Zero has a three-line designation or identification block stenciled on the rear left…
Life
Markings kept pilots from firing
Two of the three German aircraft slated to fly on Luftwaffe Day, Aug. 17, served in Russia during…
Life
FHC planes get dirty in Seafair fun
After about five hours in the air over Seafair weekend, the FHC’s F6F Hellcat and the other planes…
Life
Plane used wings to store hidden bombs
The Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik has four compact bomb bay cells hidden in the wing between its main gear…
Life
Merlin engines powered local tradition
Those of you that grew up in Seattle in the 1950s know about Slo-mo-shun V and the epic…
Life
Steering tabs, vanes maintain direction in flight
The V-2 rocket maintained its direction in flight with steering tabs on its fins and graphite steering vanes.…
Life
Ejector stacks increase horsepower
When you come from a company known for building racing planes, you learn to steal any advantage you…
Life
What’s that arty looking thing at the FHC?
Some who have visited the FHC in the last few months may have seen an unusual art piece…
Life
Odd engine uses
The FHC’s M4A1 Sherman tank is powered by a 400-horsepower radial airplane engine. In more conventional uses, the…
Life
How the frozen tundra affected Soviet planes
This image tells us a little about the history FHC’s own P-40 Tomahawk. The plane was built in…