Retro Thing

Superman On The Radio Takes On Real-Life Klan

75 years ago, Superman started his humble pulpy life. Something about his story quickly outgrew the funny papers and he became an icon of "the American way" (to use his own words). Here in this anniversary year, there's yet another big-budget film that re-tells his origins. At this point, is there anyone left who doesn't know this modern fable? Escaping the fate of his doomed home planet Krypton, baby Superman ("Kal-El" to his friends) gained super-human strength when he was bitten by a radioactive spider. Everyone knows THAT story.

Superman isn't just a hero to comic book shop owners and movie studio impresarios. Superman is a 75 year old media giant that has made enough green to make Kryptonite jealous. There are still plenty of untold tales of how the Man Of Steel conquered the world outside of comic books. All this week, Retro Thing will unearth a few of Supe's lesser known media adventures - no X-ray vision required.

After Superman was a hit in comic books in 1938, the next move was to the funny papers where Superman's creators fleshed out the character's otherwordly origins. In 1940, Superman hit the airwaves in a daily 15 minute serialized show called The Adventures Of Superman. The radio show cemented even more elements of the Superman mythos; the hero's weakness to Kryptonite, and his co-workers Perry White and Jimmy Olsen. The show ran in various forms (mostly with the same cast) for more than 10 years and over 2000 episodes. Bud Collyer (a name familiar to game show fans) was the voice of both Superman & Clark Kent, and the narrator was Jackson Beck who later provided the voice of Bluto in the Famous Studios Popeye cartoons.

I happen to love "old time radio", though contemporary audiences will often criticize the pace of the shows - especially serialized adventure show for children. Those radio shows have an aesthetic of their own, and yes... we may have to slow down our internal clocks a little, but these adventures are enjoyable in their own right (especially on long car drives or cleaning the garage). You can find lots of episodes online, including the origin story. What will surprise you is that even in those early episodes, Superman comes off (and I usually don't talk this way on RT) as an exasperated dick. That alone might be worth the price of admission.

Turning away from Superman's fictional powers, the radio show flexed some genuine muscle when it took on a serious issue in the real world; racism. Stetson Kennedy was a noted human rights activist who infiltrated the KKK and other terrorist hate groups. Kennedy feared that the Klan might have people in positions of influence to act against him when he went public with his findings, so he attacked the group another way. He approached producers of the Superman radio show, and proposed a storyline where Superman battles against the Klan. Since the radio show was in constant search of new enemies (radio Superman often battled rather prosaic bad guys rather than later fantastical super villains), the producers agreed.

"The Clan Of The Fiery Cross" was a string of 16 episodes that took on the issue of racism head-on. For years, the story has been that Kennedy provided details of the real-world Klan's rituals and codewords, which found their way into the radio show. In reality there are no such secrets spilled, but that doesn't blunt the impact of this important story.

The hope was that by trivializing and demystifying Klan goings-on, there would be some impact on the hate group's recruitment and membership. Klan leaders reportedly denounced the show and called for a boycott of sponsor Kellogg's "Pep" cereal. As it turned out, the story returned spectacular ratings, and Kellogg's stood behind the producers of the show.

We've linked to MP3s of "The Clan Of The Feiry Cross" so that you can also enjoy this unique moment in radio history. Certainly there are those hokey plot contrivances that come with the territory in any serialized show that needs a cliffhanger ending every 15 minutes, but in this case there's much more than that at play. Superman ultimately saves the day, but the show gives its intended young listeners the tools to understand what's wrong with racial stereotypes and fear-mongering. It's amazing to hear how this decades-old radio show battles an important issue that still plagues us; a battle that still can make heroes out of regular people every day.

link:

Download all 16 chapters of "The Clan of the Feiry Cross"
More fun MP3s of Superman

Classic Buck Rogers Rocket Sculptures

In the early days of Retro Thing, we wrote about Cool Rockets, model maker Jeff Brewer's series of superlative rocket powered sculptures. Originally inspired by the 50s, Jeff has gone back further in the past to bring us farther into the future. His newest models are from the world of Buck Rogers, that wild 1920s comic strip that helped give birth to science fiction.

I got to see the Buck Rogers battle cruiser and the Asterite craft recently, and they continue the tradition of high quality coming from Brewer's spacedock. Hand-finished and poised for liftoff, each ship is fueled up and ready to go on those post-depression adventures of the funny pages. While his prior Cool Rockets were imbued with a spark of attitude (several of the designs looked ready to flex and spring into action), the Buck Rogers ships play it straight, serving as a tribute to those designs that launched so many imaginations so long ago.These Buck Rogers rocket sculptures are limited to a thousand pieces, so they won't be in our orbit for long. You can click below to find one on Amazon, and you'll be helping out Retro Thing along the way.

Add Buck Rogers' Battle Cruiser to your fleet

A $60,000 Personal Jet

Sonex Aircraft, LLC is the brainchild of businessman and kit designer John Monnett and Mechanical Engineer Pete Buck. Monnett's industry credentials are legendary -- he was inducted into the Experimental Aircraft Association's Homebuilders Hall of Fame in 2001. Buck, on the other hand, draws up the plans for Sonex designs "in his spare time." Scared yet? Don't be. Buck is a lead Engineer at Lockheed Martin's famed Skunkworks. He worked on the F-117 Stealth Fighter and X-33, among others.

Since 1998, they have introduced a range or piston driven light aircraft that have proven popular with kit enthusiasts -- the two-place Sonex, Y-tail Waiex and the Onex single-seater.

Now they've unveiled the jet-powered SubSonex.

The "pre-prototype" SubSonex JSX-1 has been flying since August, 2011. It looks like its piston relatives, except that instead of a propeller, a surprisingly compact PBS TJ-100 turbojet engine is mounted on the top rear of the fuselage, directly in front of the distinctive Waiex Y tail.

The TJ-100 puts out only 247 pounds of thrust, but that's enough to propel this tiny 400 lb aircraft through the air with decent performance. Upon takeoff, the JSX-1 is capable of climbing 2,000 ft/min at 140 mph. Its cruise speed is 170 mph, while its Vne is 197 mph - the same as its piston-powered siblings.

Quadrotor Helicopters Perform The Theme From "James Bond"

Just this week, model helicopters have come up twice in my life. My cinematographer buddies all want to mount DSLR cameras onto remote-controlled model helicopters to get fantastic aerial shots on the cheap. The thing is that I happen to know just how expensive a real model chopper is, and that in the R/C world I think there is nothing more difficult to control than a helicopter (especially with an unevenly weighted multi-thousand dollar DSLR payload).

In the last few years, toy makers have introduced very lightweight helicopters with dual blades. They don't look as realistic, but the counter-rotation helps steady the little beasties. Another recent development are these multi-rotor platforms that don't try to look like a helicopter at all. They're used for aerial games, and yes for carrying cameras. I've just got to get my hands on one.

Not that long ago, one of these quadrotor choppers would have been the province of a James Bond movie. So in way of tribute, here is a squadron of these models performing a unique rendition of 007's theme.

Quadrotor Helicopters Perform The Theme From "James Bond"

Just this week, model helicopters have come up twice in my life. My cinematographer buddies all want to

mount DSLR cameras onto remote-controlled model helicopters to get fantastic aerial shots on the cheap.

Thing is that I happen to know just how expensive a real model chopper is, and that in the R/C world I think

there is nothing more difficult to control than a helicopter (especially with an unevenly weighed multi-thousand

dollar DSLR payload).

In the last few years, toymakers have introduced very lightweight helicopters with dual blades. They don't

look as realistic, but the counter-rotation helps steady the little beasties. Another recent development are these

multi-roto platforms that don't try to look like a helicopter at all. They're used for aerial games, and yes for

carrying cameras. I've just got to get my hands on one.

Not that long ago, one of these quadrotor choppers would have been the province of a James Bond movie.

So in way of tribute, here is a squadron of these models performing a unique rendition of 007's theme. 

Missing The de Havilland Mosquito

Despite the promise of imminent flight lurking in this old snapshot, there are no flying de Havilland DH-98 Mosquitoes left. The last airworthy model crashed at an airshow back in 1996.

When it entered service in April 1941, the wood-framed Mosquito was one of the fastest production aircraft in the world, capable of almost 400 mph. Astonishingly, this little fighter-bomber bested the Hawker Hurricane and matched the speed of the Supermarine Spitfire.

The fuselage of the Mosquito was made of balsa wood sandwiched between layers of cedar plywood, while the rest of the airframe was constructed of plywood covered spruce. It was an unusual construction technique, but the incorporation of wood instead of scarce metal ensured that the unorthodox design reached production.

The result was one of the most useful aircraft of WWII -- a multi-role design that excelled at photo reconnaissance, precision bombing and even as a night fighter. Perhaps most importantly, DH-98s were loaded with state-of-the-art radio navigation equipment and used as pathfinder aircraft to mark targets for waves of slow and cumbersome RAF bombers. Thanks to its high performance and well trained crews, the Mosquito saw the lowest losses of any Allied aircraft during WWII.

Sadly, the wooden frame wasn't built to last and the concrete molds required to shape the plywood are long gone, almost guaranteeing that the Mosquito will remain a memory.

For history, stories and technical details, visit The Mosquito Page.

Sonex Unveils a $20,000 Sport Plane

This is the Onex, a surprisingly affordable single-seat kitplane that was unveiled at this summer's EAA AirVenture show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It's the sort of affordable yet desirable design that could reverse the flagging fortunes of general aviation.

Fly Your Own Spitfire For $239

The AirField RC Spitfire is about as close as I'm ever going to get to flying a classic warbird. It features a respectable 55 inch wingspan, with a 2.4 GHz 5-channel digital proportional radio control system and a brushless electric motor.

The pachage includes everything you need to get flying except a LiPo battery charger, which costs an extra $35 to $99.

The EPO foam kit includes the motor, 14.8V 2200 mAh battery, five servos and an electric retractable landing gear system. You can save $20 by opting for fixed landing gear, but the aircraft won't look nearly as sleek in the air.

The only problem I can see is that it won't be long before someone shows up at the airfield with a matching Messerschmitt Bf-109, eventually leading to a horrific mid-air crash.

5-Channel RC Spitfire Kit

A Personal Hovercraft For The Masses

Thirty years ago, I was a science-crazed kid. Fast-forward three decades and I'm still disappointed that we don't have the flying cars promised in the glossy pages of Popular Science. Sure, we have tiny supercomputers that fit in our back pockets, but actually taking them anywhere usually requires the use of a lumbering 4-wheeler that's at the mercy of traffic lights and an army of diligent law enforcement officials.

A Hoverjet GT might just be the solution. Its 60 hp two-cycle Rotax engine is capable of propelling the machine up to 70 mph on smooth ice or 40 mph on calm water. The GT is capable of endless dizzying 360 degree turns on land, ice or water, while carrying a pair of freedom-loving passengers in open air luxury (hearing protection optional but recommended).

The vehicle includes modern amenities such as electric start, a four rudder steering system, Hypalon^® coated skirts and stainless steel skirt anchors, a 16" windshield and replaceable hardened aluminum skid rails. The only things that might make this machine more appealing are cup holders and a gun rack. The price? A mere $13,995.

Hovertechnics Hoverjet GT

Commemorating The 75th Anniversary Of The B-17 Flying Fortress

The 75th anniversary of the first Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress flight takes place during the Experimental Aircraft Association's massive AirVenture fly-in in Oshkosh, Wisconsin this July. Over 12,700 of these fearsome machines were manufactured, but there are only 15 remaining airworthy examples worldwide. The EAA operates one, dubbed Aluminum Overcast, which was sold as surplus for $750 in the mid-1940s.

To commemorate the event, the EAA has scheduled a series of flyovers and ground events on Wednesday, July 28, 2010 -- 75 years to the day after the initial test flight. It's anticipated that at least four flying B-17s will participate. 

The EAA says, "The B-17 went from its design as the Model 299 prototype to flight testing in less than 12 months. The B-17 was a low-wing monoplane that combined aerodynamic features of the XB-15 bomber and the Model 247 transport. The B-17 was the first Boeing military aircraft with a flight deck instead of an open cockpit, and was armed with bombs and five .30-caliber machine guns mounted in clear 'blisters.'

The first B-17s saw combat in 1941, when the British Royal Air Force took delivery of several B-17s for high-altitude missions. The B-17E, the first mass-produced model Flying Fortress, carried nine machine guns and a 4,000-pound bomb load. It was several tons heavier than the prototypes and bristled with armament. It was the first Boeing airplane with the distinctive tail for improved control and stability during high-altitude bombing. Each subsequent version was more heavily armed."

B-17 ‘Flying Fortress' 75th Anniversary [EAA]

NASA Unveils Free E-Book Series

NASA recently debuted the first in a planned series of free e-books. "X-15: Extending the Frontiers of Flight," by Dennis R. Jenkins is available now in a variety of e-reader formats (the Scott Crossfield Foundation offers a nicely formatted pdf version [direct link] for those wishing to read on computer).

From NASA: "The X-15 was the ultimate 'X' vehicle. Built in the 1950s, she became the fastest and highest-flying winged aircraft of its time. During 199 flights from 1959 through 1968, she collected data about hypersonic flight that was invaluable to aeronautics and to developers of the space shuttle. This book describes the genesis of the program, the design and construction of the aircraft, years of research flights and the experiments that flew aboard them."

A second title, Mark D. Bowles' Apollo of Aeronautics: NASA's Aircraft Energy Efficiency Program, 1973-1987, is slated for release soon.

NASA Aeronautics E-Books

RotorWay Unveils "Affordable" New Turbine Helicopter

RotorWay has been manufacturing recreational kit-built helicopters for almost 50 years. The company has produced several thousand kits over the years. The only problem is that it takes a minimum of 350 to 400 hours to build a kit, not including the time required to properly balance the blades, get it FAA certified and perform flight testing. 

Enter the RotorWay Eagle 300T, the company's first certified (ready to fly) production helicopter. It incorporates a Rolls Royce RR300 turbine engine designed for low-cost operation and high reliability (the turbine also doesn't require 100 LL fuel, which is becoming increasingly rare outside the USA).

Eagle 300T Preliminary Specs

Powerplant	RR300-B1
Seats	2
MAUW	2050lbs (930 kg)
Empty Weight	950 lbs. (431 kg)
Cargo Sling Max	500 lbs. (226 kg)
Useful Load	1100 lbs. (499 kg)
Fuel	80 US gal. (302 L)
Duration	2hrs +30 min res
Cruise	110kts/127mph
Service Ceiling	13000ft (3962 m)

The company is currently accepting deposits for the new craft, although the final price is still to be decided. All they're saying for now is that it'll cost more than a Robinson R22, which retails for $243,000.

RotorWay Eagle 300T Helicopter

Online: National Air and Space Museum Poster Collection

Six interns and a couple of volunteers at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum spent the summer scanning over 1,300 vintage aviation posters.

Intern Amelia Brakeman Kile explains, "This marks the first time the poster collection, which includes graphic art published from as early as 1827 up to the twenty-first century, has been accessible to the public as an archive, since the majority of it has remained in storage in Suitland, Maryland. The collection provides a wealth of information related to balloons, early flight, military and commercial aviation, and space flight, documenting aerospace history and technology while providing a window into popular culture."

Online: The National Air and Space Museum’s Poster Collection [via Boing Boing]

MS 760 Paris Jet: The ultimate way to fly, 1950s style

Doesn't this image paint a distinguished picture of personal jet flight in the Space Age? The MS 760 jet first flew on July 29, 1954. It was initially designed as a 4-seat communications and training aircraft. In all, 165 aircraft were built for the French Air Force, as well as Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. Alas, it never caught on as a weekend civilian "getaway" vehicle because of its price and steep learning curve.

The French military retired the aircraft in 1997, but more than two dozen of these machines have been restored for private use in the USA - someone quickly figured out that these aircraft are fast and relatively inexpensive to fly and maintain. The Paris Jet has a maximum speed of about 432 mph (695 km/h) and a very respectable maximum ceiling altitude of just over 39,000 feet. It offers a maximum range of approximately 1300 statute miles (2,092 km) and an initial climb rate of just under 2500 ft/min. This definitely isn't an old Cessna 172.

A restored MS760 will cost a six or seven hundred thousand dollars, but JetSet offers fractional ownership for $60,000, which includes 25 hours of flight time per year. There's also a $1,100 monthly maintenance fee and additional flight hours will run $1,100 each. 

[October 2009 update: JetSet has reached an agreement with SOCATA for the purchase and transfer of the type certificate and associated rights for the world’s first Very Light Jet (VLJ), the MS760 Paris Jet. And, led by Captain Dale “Snort” Snodgrass, retired from the United States Navy, a new two-ship, aerobatic-formation jet air show team has been formed to showcase the MS760 for the 2010 air show season. - thanks, Natalie!]

Paris Jet design history (photos)
JetSet - Fractional Paris Jet ownership

Me 262 Project: Resurrecting The First Jet Fighter

The German Messerschmitt 262 was the first combat jet fighter. It first flew against the Allies in August of 1944, eventually racking up 509 claimed kills. The project actually pre-dates the outbreak of WWII, with the original plans drawn up in April 1939. Unfortunately for the Luftwaffe, the aircraft was delayed by problems its state-of-the-art jet engines and material shortages.

Only about 10 of these historical machines still exist in aviation museums. None are airworthy, nor would it be wise to risk attempting to restore and fly such a rare machine. For many years, it seemed that the world would never again see a flying Me 262.

Luckily, a group of American aviation fanatics had other plans. The Me 262 project was founded in 1993 with the aim of building a new series limited to five Me 262 aircraft. So far, the team has completed and flown two aircraft and a third is nearing completion at their Paine Field headquarters in Washington State.

The new Me 262 was designed to be as faithful as possible to the original. The most significant change was the substitution of twin General Electric J-85 engines (as used in the T-38 Talon) in place of the failure-prone Junkers Jumo 004 powerplants, which had an engine life of only 10 to 25 hours. To make the plane appear as authentic as possible, the J-85s are built into castings of original Jumos. This helps to maintain appropriate weight and balance in the engine nacelles.

Theoretically, the modern engines should allow the Me 262 to fly faster than any previous generation of the aircraft, but the airframe simply wasn't designed for such high speeds. As a result, the design team placed a placarded airspeed limitation of 500 mph on the aircraft. The J-85 is also 40% more efficient than the original engine, giving the new Me 262 a range of approximately 1,100 miles.

One other relatively small change was made to the landing gear, since it was in everyone's best interest to make it as reliable as possible. Apart from that, these machines are as close as you'll ever get to seeing the real thing take flight, right down to the four fearsome nose-mounted Mk 108 cannons. One aircraft is currently operational in the USA, with a second registered in Germany.

STORMBIRDS presents the Me 262 Project

Boeing Unveils Budget Stealth Fighter

Times are tough everywhere these days. If you're having trouble balancing the nation's air defense budget, check out Boeing's shiny new F-15 Silent Eagle -- ideal for emerging and near-bankrupt nations (Iceland, I'm looking at you).

The F-15 Eagle first took to the skies in July, 1972. Since then, over 1200 of these versatile tactical fighters have served with a half-dozen air forces around the world. Its aggressive styling ensures your neighbors will be green with envy when you park a squadron or two in front of the presidential palace.

From Boeing's press release: "The F-15 Silent Eagle is designed to meet our international customers' anticipated need for cost-effective stealth technologies, as well as for large and diverse weapons payloads," said Mark Bass, F-15 Program vice president for Boeing. "The innovative Silent Eagle is a balanced, affordable approach designed to meet future survivability needs."

Boeing has completed a conceptual prototype of the CFT internal-carriage concept, and plans to flight-test a prototype by the first quarter of 2010, including a live missile launch.

Boeing F-15 Stealth Eagle [via Gizmodo]