Another example: There is apparently no "Airmail Museum" in America.
Anyone who knows the amazing history of the airmail pilots and planes must
surely be astounded by this gaping hole in our aviation history, and I've
often wondered at how this travesty has been allowed to happen.

Perhaps it's because aviation is still so new, but in 500 years people
will be surely be cursing us for so casually discarding much of the early
legacy of flight.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

I was fortunate to spend an afternoon with Hal Ruschenberg about 20 years
ago. He was one of the 10 original Northwest pilots. They flew the mail and
wore full leathers and a Colt 45. His airplane was a Rearwin Special and of
the 10 pilots he was the only man to survive. He had a picture of the 10
pilots and pointed to each and told of their demise.

Hal was a close friend of Benny Howard, who built the Howard DGA airplanes.
He had several fantastic stories about the early days and of flight testing
the Howard airplanes. Hal retired out of Boeing Stratocruisers and lived in
Hamilton Montana. He had the flight manual to a Stratocruiser, it had less
information in it than you'sd see in a Cherokee's manual. Hal didn't see any
need to stop at stop signs while driving out to the Hamilton Airport to see
his gorgeous DGA-11. He died a couple of months later.

One never knows what history is lurking behind some old man sitting around
the airport.

Karl