History – Page 20 – Paul's Thing

Air-Minded: Move Your Tail

Posted on August 15, 2014January 31, 2023 by Paul Woodford

When the Eagle got up to around Mach 0.95 you’d begin to feel resistance, as if the air was getting thicker and pushing back against your airplane. As you slipped past the shockwave and through the Mach the resistance went away and the airplane felt normal. The second you retarded the throttles, though, it was as though you’d run into an invisible Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man in the air. You and your jet and everything in it slowed down in a hurry, forcing you forward against the shoulder straps and seat belt. Once you were back below Mach 0.95, Mr. Stay-Puft went away and things felt normal again. Oh, and half your fuel was gone.

Air-Minded: Women & Military Aviation

Posted on August 4, 2014January 31, 2023 by Paul Woodford

When I tell visitors about the Pima Air & Space Museum’s F-14 Tomcat, I always work in a few words about women in military aviation. The Tomcat seems like the right place to introduce the topic: first because the US Navy, along with the US Army, led the way in training woman aviators in 1974, a full two years before […]

But, But … They’re ILLEGAL!

Posted on July 8, 2014July 8, 2014 by Paul Woodford

President Eisenhower mobilized hundreds of troops to enforce federal law and prevent rule by lynch mob in Little Rock. Yes, Virginia, there once was a time when presidents were courageous.

Air-Minded: Moving Day at the Museum

Posted on June 5, 2014January 31, 2023 by Paul Woodford

During most of the years I flew fighters and trainers for the USAF, I never paid much thought to the disposition of aircraft on the ramp. We parked them when we were through with them; if maintenance needed to move them around on the ground afterward that was their problem. I was of course aware of […]

Air-Minded: PASM Photoblog II

Posted on May 29, 2014January 31, 2023 by Paul Woodford

In lieu of solving the nation’s problems and revealing brilliant new insights on life, I’ll share a few photos I took today while wandering around the outdoor exhibits at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona, where I work as a volunteer docent. I’d heard the restoration team would be moving several aircraft […]

Air-Minded: PASM Photoblog I

Posted on April 18, 2014January 31, 2023 by Paul Woodford

It’s time I posted more photos from the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona. As a volunteer tour guide, I’m sometimes able to visit parts of the museum visitors don’t get to see. There’s always something interesting hidden away. These two Japanese Kamikaze planes, for example. Until recently only the fuselages have been visible, […]

Air-Minded: a Shooting Star Photoblog

Posted on March 21, 2014February 1, 2023 by Paul Woodford

The American military’s T-Birds are all long retired, but many countries around the world still fly them. They may not be glamorous or fast, but they played an important role in the early jet age, and I write this post in tribute.

Local Color: Catalina Honor Camp

Posted on February 20, 2014February 20, 2014 by Paul Woodford

“Remember the couple from England who were here last month? I took them on a hike to the ruins of the Japanese internment camp on Mount Lemmon.” “There was a Japanese internment camp on Mount Lemmon?” That’s how the conversation went, me being the dummy who didn’t know about the camp. I’ve lived at the […]

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