Warm Weather in Costa Rica

Since Arizona and Florida were colder than normal this winter, the Williams #3741 and Holtsclaws #2738 fled to Costa Rica for some warm weather. Neither couple knew the other was there until John saw Jim coming down the hallway of the hotel with an bucket of ice. What a surprise since the last time they had seen each other was working at ONT TRACON years ago.

Left to Right, Jim, Carol, John, Barbara

"You know me....always ready for an adventure. Here is the next one:

On Saturday, February 13th, (weather permitting, of course) we will be setting a new Aviation World Speed Record from Carlsbad, CA to Phoenix, AZ and return (round trip, non-stop) in a Beechcraft C-45H: aka the "Beech Belle".
Here are some stats:

Year built: 1942 (factory reman 1953)
Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985's (450 hp each)
Fuel 250 Total Gallons
Max Speed 240 kts
Cruise Speed 160 kts
Range @ Cruise 640 miles @ 160 kts

This will be the fastest time on this route in this type of aircraft. Plus it is great fun to fly a classic aircraft!
Jeff Acord Retired FAA

Credits to George Rogers

Marty and Leon Daugherty -----MSP Tower, Mid 70's
Credit to Marty Coddington #3602
 

Left to Right ATCS Ed McKinley, SATCS Marty Coddington, Leon
Daugherty (Past Executive Director)
 

Marty Coddington ---- MSP Tower, Mid 70's
 

Marty Coddington ---- ORD Tower Early 70's/

Don and Linda Cass visiting Jim and Carol
Fort Pierce, Florida

Jim Holtsclaw #2738

Carol Campbell (our Editor) and Linda Cass #3658

Linda and Don Cass #3701

Don, Jim, Carol and Linda

Who said it doesn't, get cold in Florida. We arrived from our house in Virginia on November 30th. I have been cold ever since. Last Saturday, January 2nd, I celebrated my 78th birthday. with friends, at our favorite fish restaurant in Tierra Verde.

God Bless, Al Benson #2290

Ted and Virginia Beckloff #3558 during the Holiday Season

The Russian K-7 Heavy Bomber
Walt Zittle #2910

Built in Russia during the 1930s, it flew eleven times before crashing and killing fifteen people. The designer, Konstantin Kalinin, wanted to build two more planes but the project was scrapped.

Later, Stalin had Kalinin executed. Evidently, it was not good to fail on an expensive project under Stalin. It's got propellers on the back of the wings, too. You can count twelve engines facing front.

The size would be equivalent to the Empire State Building on its side, with cannons. And you think the 747 was big... This plane not only had a bunch of engines, but check out the cannons the thing was carrying. In the 1930s the Russian army was obsessed by the idea of creating huge planes.

At that time they were proposed to have as many propellers as possible to help carry those huge flying fortresses into the air, jet propulsion had not been implemented yet. Not many photos were saved from those times because of the high secrecy levels of such projects and because a lot of time has already passed. Still, on the attached photos you can see one such plane - a heavy bomber K-7.

"A group of old Air Force buddies gathered recently at Red Turner's house in Boulder City, NV to reminisce about the old times. All were at Castle AFB, CA back in 1951/1952 and all but Shimono and Erxleben are ex CAA/FAA'ers". Kneeling L to R: Ray Cullerton and Roland McNulty Standing L to R: Ed Erxleben, Red Turner, George Shimono and Bob Biava.

Credits to Red Turner #3420

I know it is too late for the annual but I thought it might be nice to put these out to see if anyone recognizes anyone. In the picture with all the "Suits", I am in the exact middle. I stand directly behind the middle man in the front row. Yes, I did have hair at one time. This was the ARTCC class which graduated in December of 1958. We were a mixed group from Boston, Washington, New York and Pittsburgh Centers. I don't think there was anyone from Detroit. (RoyD-1)

This one (USAF 59) is the October 1953 graduating class of Radar Operators School in Biloxi, MS.I know a couple of the names in this picture starting in the top row far left is Bob Warren, he and I worked together in Boston. Second row from the top, third one in from the right is Ernie Price. He and I worked together in the NYCIFR Room. Third row from top at far left is yours truly looking like I just climbed over the border. I recognize some faces but just cannot put a name to the face.

Credits to Roy Dal Lago #3592

Charles "Abby" Abshire #126 celebrated his 95th birthday on July 12th
2009 at an Open House at the University Christian Church in Boise Idaho.