This is how we broke the world record, flying a Carbon Cub UL to 37,609 ft. above the Pacific Ocean, more than 7 miles high. Departing on an IFR flight plan from KSBP (San Luis Obispo) in California, and climbing for 62 minutes in super low-freezing temperatures to where the air is so thin the pilot would pass out in 30 seconds without supplemental oxygen.
This is a fascinating project, successfully achieved by careful and knowledgeable planning – on the first try!. Immediately below in blue typeface is an ad by the producer of this experience for those who might want to consider becoming a pilot.
👉🛩️Thinking about becoming a pilot or unsure of your next step? Take our quick 2-minute quiz to get a personalized path that can help you save time and money as you work toward your aviation goals. Use this link: https://fly8ma.com – – – Video Length = 34:21
How One Engineer’s “Stupid” Propeller Trick Made the P-47 a 470 MPH Monster
Early in WWII, German pilots mocked the RepublicP-47 Thunderbolt as a “flying milk bottle”—deadly in a dive but sluggish in climbs. When the U.S. Army Air Forces demanded better performance in 1943, the Hamilton Standard Propeller Company’s engineering teams developed revolutionary 13-foot “paddle-blade” propellers that could finally harness the full power of the P-47’s massive R-2800 engine.
The result was shocking: climb rates jumped 400 feet per minute and top speeds reached 470 mph, transforming the ridiculed heavyweight into one of the most feared fighters by the Axis powers over Europe by D-Day 1944.
Frank W. Caldwell
The Engineer who developed the new propeller design was Frank Caldwell (at left), a long-time employee of Hamilton Standard Propeller Co. in Connecticut. The massive Pratt & Whitney engine powering the P-47 was the P&W Double Wasp R-2800. Caldwell’s life was exceptional, having won many awards, including the highly coveted Collier Trophy and also a Presidential citation during WWII. He is also widely known as the inventor of the CONSTANT SPEED PROPELLER.
Disclaimer: This video is a dramatized retelling of World War II stories, created for educational reflection and entertainment purposes. Elements of the narrative have been artistically interpreted, and creative tools, including AI, were used to enhance the storytelling experience. The video below is 39 minutes and 59 secondslong.The best viewing experience is when the video is opened to full width and seen right here in the FASF page.
This Euro-designed, sleek airplane is not yet licensed for sale in the U.S. but is licensed in Europe. The one in this video is hangared in the state of FL and is legal because the owner has registered is under the EXPERIMENTAL class. Its official name is the “PANTHERA” (From the genus of the large cats (panthers, lions, tigers, etc.). The short video is produced and displayed here thanks to the “Explore GA and Dwayne’s Aviation.”
So, how did Pipistrel build an airplane that can lift full fuel, carry four adults, and still fly a thousand nautical miles, without sacrificing speed or safety? In this deep dive, we break down the engineering brilliance behind the Pipistrel Panthera, the touring aircraft redefining efficiency in general aviation. We’ll walk through the real mission math, explore the aerodynamic design that slashes drag, and compare the Panthera against rivals like the Cirrus SR22, Bonanza G36, Diamond DA50, Van’s RV-10, and SOCATA TB-20. You’ll see why “190 knots on just 11 gallons per hour” isn’t marketing hype—it’s aerodynamic discipline turned into performance. From its titanium retractable landing gear and laminar composite shaping to its 90-gallon fuel tanks and safety-cell cabin with a ballistic parachute, the Panthera isn’t just fast, it’s smartly fast. Backed by Textron eAviation, its evolution marks a shift toward the next era of efficient, high-performance touring aircraft. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when design precision meets practical range, this is the story: How Pipistrel made the best touring airplane.
What You’ll Learn: How the Pipistrel Panthera achieves 1,000-NM range with four adults. Real cruise fuel burn vs brochure numbers. Aerodynamic design and titanium gear explained Comparison vs Cirrus SR22, Bonanza, DA50, RV-10 The future of Textron eAviation and Panthera certification. The video below is only 16:40 long. For the best viewing experience, watch the video right here and go to full screen and make sure your audio is turned on.
This post is thanks to “Untold War Archives.” [Webmaster’s NOTE:This was NOT a “mechanic’s crazy” idea, but rather a young Pratt & Whitney Chemical Engineer’s scheme.]
During WWII, Pratt & Whitney (P&W) engineers developed a novel innovation designed to push fighter plane engines beyond their normal limits: injecting a water-alcohol mixture directly into Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial engines to safely prevent catastrophic engine detonation or “knock” – and sure failure – at extreme power levels.
The initial theory was that this anti-detonation injection system would cool the combustion process just enough to allow pilots to safely crank up and boost their engine manifold pressure for short bursts, delivering critical extra horsepower when it mattered most.
However, the early combat flight trials over Europe were disastrous, actually destroying the massive radial P&W R-2800 engines. The alcohol-water mixture initially used was Isopropyl alcohol.*
The Army Air Force’s top “experts” convened in an emergency session at Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio to determine what action to take. The group quickly decided that the entire concept had to be shelved, and the entire water-alcohol injection system needed to be immediately removed from all Army aircraft.
Among all the attending “experts” was a young junior P&W chemical engineer, Frank Walker. Determined to solve this crisis, Walker immediately set to work and came up with a solution, he claimed, but incorporating the young, inexperienced engineer’s changes was considered foolish and quickly turned down. But, acting clandestinely, against the ‘experts’ unified conclusion, his simple solution of changing the type of alcohol (From Isopropyl to Methanol) was taken to Europe – – – where it saved the day.
The final result showed that the U.S. P-47 and P-51 fighters could suddenly climb faster and sprint harder in combat—seemingly defying what should have been physically possible for their engines. The astounding success of Walker’s simple solution was actually attempted in Col. Gabreski’sP-47.
Walker’s unapproved initiative could have easily resulted in a court-martial for all of his fellow conspirators.
Instead, this brash and literally insubordinate gamble made Walker a first-class hero, whose persistence against the overly conservative bureaucracy and its assemblage of top “experts” resulted in the entire reversal of the Air War over the continent, and the saving of untold thousands of American and Allied lives.
Disclaimer:
This video is a dramatized retelling of a true World War II event, created for educational reflection purposes. Elements of the narrative have been artistically interpreted, and creative tools, including AI, were used to enhance the storytelling experience. The video is 37 min 32 sec. in length. Viewing it right here in your FASF website may eliminate some of the advertisements. Use Full-Screen.
Frank Walker’schemistry had created technological superiority that German manufacturing could not overcome. Walkerhimself returned to the Pratt and Whitney Laboratory in Connecticut after the unproductive Wright AFB emergency meeting, where he continued developing combustion chemistry that would soon power the next generation of American aircraft. His wartime breakthrough became the foundation for turbine engine development, rocket propulsion research, and ultimately the chemical systems that would power spacecraft to the moon. His methanol-water injection that saved American fighters in 1944 evolved into the cryogenic fuel systems that defined the space age.
The final irony was discovered after the war’s end, in German technical documents that showed Luftwaffe engineers had understood the theoretical basis for alcohol injection years before the Americans’ implementation, but their own hyper-conservative approach differed little from that of the Wright-Patterson assembly, of top American “experts.” Consequently, the Nazis’ own Intransigence led to their failure to implement an engine feature that could really have changed the war’s outcome.
The laws of physics had not been defied. They had been revealed by a junior chemical engineer whose laboratory work transformed the fundamental equation of aerial warfare.
*
The above CHART shows the 3 basic Types of Alcohol and their differences.
In this episode, Emma Crawford, of YouTube’s AeroVerse Channel learns the ins and outs of our early era U.S. air show life at the famous New York Old Rinebeck Aerodrome.
Emma gets up close and personal with the 1917 Hispano-Suiza-powered version of the First Aero’s Curtiss Jenny, the Navy’s higher-horsepowered model (which had 180 HP) and was designated the JN-4H model. This Navy V-8 water-cooled Spanish and Swiss-manufactured engine has double the horsepower of the inveterate Jenny’s Curtiss OX-5 V-8 engine (which had only 90 HP). The added horsepower helped make the Navy Jenny both easier – and safer – to pilot.
L to R above: Here’s a short (10-second) video clip, our introduction to Stephanie Goetz and young Kinsey R. Wolanski, both professional aviators and highly active YouTubers, both prominent female aviation influencers.
The video below is from an episode of “Kinsey’s” YouTube Channel. Here’s the bio for this multi-qualified fixed-wing – and rotary-wing (helicopter) – rated Commercial Pilot.
Kinsey Wolanski. Her full name is Kinsey Rae Wolanski, and she is well known for her extensive online presence, which includes being a social media creator, a sports host, and a dual-rated pilot who flies both planes and helicopters.
Early Life and Background
Kinsey Rae Wolanski was born in Sacramento, California, on August 30, 1996. She is now only 29 years old. She began her modeling career at 15, leading to her appearances in magazines such as Maxim, Sports Illustrated, and FHM.
Modeling and Acting Career
Wolanski’s portfolio includes features in publications like Maxim, Sports Illustrated, FHM, and The Boulevard Magazine. In 2017, she participated in the Maxim, Sports Illustrated, FHM competition and placed eighth. Her acting debut was in the 2019 horror film “Slasher Party,” where she played the character “Brittany.”
Social Media Influence and Entrepreneurship
As her public persona’s level increased, Wolanski expanded her presence on platforms such as Instagram, posting content related to modeling, travel, and lifestyle. She founded an athleisure brand called “Kinsey Fit,” which produces fitness apparel for women.
Personal Interests and Skills
Apart from her work in modeling and acting, Wolanski holds licenses as a skydiver and helicopter pilot. She has traveled to various countries, including Morocco, Jordan, Austria, the Maldives, Egypt, Iceland, Turkey, France, Greece, and Israel.
Personal Life
Wolanski was previously in a relationship with Russian-American YouTuber Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, known for his prank videos. She now has another boyfriend, but no long-term plans.
Legacy and Impact
Kinsey Wolanski’s public actions and subsequent career developments have established her as a figure in both modeling and social media. Her bold approach to managing media exposure has helped contribute to her activities in personal branding and exceptional entrepreneurship.
Here, below, thanks to the AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) is the bio for the older of the two aviatrixes. As you can see, Stephanie Goetz, also has a colorful and uniquely fascinating background:
Stephanie “Boss” Goetz is one of the “Aerial Angels” who fly an L–39 Albatros painted a bright pink to raise awareness for breast cancer.
Above photograph by Audrey Lee
“The Pink Jet is a symbol of strength, hope, compassion, and resilience for survivors and those affected by breast cancer. It is also a beacon of light that helps girls know they can do anything, that women can do everything they want to do—there is space of all of us,” Goetz said.
Goetz is a former news and sports anchor for network television who was introduced to aviation on a story. “This 80-year-old flight instructor called me and said, ‘You should do a story on aviation.’ So, I said OK, and as any good flight instructor knows, you throw the newbie in the left seat. And when I pulled back on that yoke and had that feeling of leaving the ground, I thought where has this been all my life?”
She quickly went through her training and earned ratings. “Boss,” now flies a Bombardier Global 6000 for a private company. She and her husband Endre Holen own their own L–39 (it’s blue), and she joined Aerial Angels to empower survivors like her mother. “Breast cancer is scary and tough to go through. I watched it firsthand.” Goetz is one of The Pink Jet’s all-female crew that includes founders Vicky Benzing and Heather “Lucky” Penney. Goetz got her call sign “Boss” from a Marine Corps Harrier pilot who said things are “‘better with you in charge,’ so I guess that’s why I am a boss,” Goetz said.
How did you get started in aviation? It was never on my radar to become a pilot. No one in my family is a pilot. This is a third career for me. I was a news and sports anchor and reporter at NBC, CBS, and ABC affiliates in the U.S., and then I started an executive coaching business.
Logbook
WHO: Stephanie Goetz, The Pink Jet pilot
RATINGS: AV–L39, CE–500, CE–525, CE–680, and BBD–700 (Bombardier Global 6000)
AIRCRAFT: L–39 Albatros (military jet), Cessna Citation V business jet, Piper Twin Comanche, and a Van’s RV–4.
EXTRA: “I went from zero hours to private pilot certificate, instrument rating, single and multiengine commercial ratings, CFI, MEI, and a jet type rating (CE–500) in a year and a half. I truly love my career so much. I get to fly to all kinds of different airports in the world, from the largest airports to remote locations many haven’t heard of. No two days are the same, and no flight is the same.”
What were your biggest challenges? Thankfully, there weren’t any significant obstacles. But like any flight student will tell you, the feeling of drinking through the fire hose for more than a year and a half when I was going through my initial flight ratings was plenty challenging. But the reward of getting to pursue a jet type rating at the end of all the training pushed me to get through my ratings quickly and made the mundane or challenging days worth it.
Favorite aircraft? My favorite fun airplane to fly is the L–39. I do aerobatics and formation flying in that so it’s constantly honing my skills as a pilot, which I love. My favorite long-range mission aircraft to fly is the Bombardier Global 6000.
Favorite aviation-related activity? Aerobatics, formation flying, and fly-ins!
Advice for students? Don’t give up. Training can be daunting and exhausting. It’s that way for all of us. Keep your head up and get through the training as best you can. Make sure to have great people around you, who are ideally more successful than you, who can cheer you on and support you in your training. We all went through the same thing and can lend valuable insight to those going through it for the first time. Be grateful! Less than one percent of people in the United States have their pilot’s license. We are in a special group of spectacular people.
Now, for the recent episode from Kinsey’s Channel, “Showing You How to Fly a Military Jet! Inverted Flight, Rolls, and Overhead “Breaks!” Video length: 25:55. You can enjoy this video right here on the FASF site. No need to switch to YouTube’s platform. Go to full-screen, too.
Here’s an insight into some useful explorations of sleek new, fast, and efficient 2-place general aviation aircraft. The first is the longest video (27:26 min – you can watch the videos right here:
And, thanks to Flying Doodles, here’s another video on a similar topic, but not limited to just 2-place, just single-engine models (5:46 long):
And, here are another producer’s opinions of the Best, Cheapest, and safest Genav aircraft (8:34 min long)
This past weekend, 3 long-time FASF Members (who are also Daedalians) attended Holloman AFB’s314th Fighter Squadron’s Graduation of Class 24-CBH.
All three of these FASF members are active members of the El Paso, TX Daedalian Flight 24. They fulfilled a long-standing tradition when they awarded their Flight’s Top Leadership Trophy to the student who was selected, by both the faculty and the student body, to be the Squadron’s top leader.
This time, the Leadership Award went to Major Kolton “MELT” Warren, who, before entering the USAF Flight Training Program, was an active JAG Officer, which means the USAF now has a new F-16 Viper Fighter Pilot – – – who is also a lawyer. This was a first for the Leadership Awardee group.
Pictured below, thanks to Colonel Alan Fisher, are the three FASF members and Major Warren. In the second photo below, you can also see Colonel Miles “Cowboy” Crowell, who awarded the coveted Red River Rat award to another graduating student. “Cowboy” is both a FASF member and a Daedalian, but lives in Alamogordo, NM, and works at Holloman AFB as a Civilian Contractor.
L to R: Ric Lambart, Col. Alan Fisher (USAF Ret.), Major Warren (Leadership Award Winner), and Daedalian Flight Captain, Col. Mario Campos (USAF Ret.). Col. Campos is holding the Leadership Award Plaque.
L to R: Major Warren, Col. Campos, Ric Lambart, and “Cowboy” Crowell(Checking his cell phone). Cowboywas a fighter pilot in the Vietnam Conflict, flew in the infamous Red River Valley, which is why he most often presents the River Rat Award. [The “River Rat” award is bestowed upon the student with whom his fellow student fighter pilots would most want to have flying on their wing in combat. The river in the title is the “Red River” and the North Vietnamese Valley through which it flows. The pilots who flew in that theater during Vietnam were affectionately called the “River Rats.”]
The above photos are courtesy of Col. Alan Fisher.
This gentleman, Colonel Joe Petersburs, recalls his service experiences during an interview at the EAA’s Famed Air Venture 2025 in Oshkosh, WI. An exceptional Senior Citizen, the Colonel actually fought in 3 separate wars and even survived WWII as a POW. Little more to say in the description of this 41:25-length video, because Col. Petersburs says it all right below.
Rob Holland’s(Left) rise to the top started as a young airshow fan in his native New England. Earning his pilot’s license while still a teenager, Rob began flying aerobatics almost immediately, all while building valuable flight time and experience as a corporate pilot, commuter pilot, banner tower, flight instructor, ferry pilot, and operating his own aerobatic flight school.
Now with more than two decades as a full-time airshow pilot, Robhas distinguished himself by blazing a trail of innovation, developing maneuvers never before seen at airshows.
“One of my goals is to take aerobatics to the next level,” Rob explains. “I want to push the limits of what can be done.” But while his impact and influence on the airshow community is undeniable, his remarkable skills at the controls of his MXS-RH are matched with a humble and approachable demeanor that has forged a unique connection with countless fans all over the world.
Below is Broncolirio’s YouTube account of the accident (13:52 min. in length): Open and watch the video right here to avoid the ads. Make sure your sound is turned on and up.
Below is airshow superfan, “Air Flo’s” short (3:28) video interview of Rob at a recent airshow:
Below is a short (5:53) video of Rob explaining why Rob flies the MXS ship in his exhibitions . . .
Below is a video (15:53 long) of Rob’s incredible routine seen at the Blue Angels Homecoming:
