Model Airplanes

CHRISTIANSBURG — Beginning today, some of the most creative scientific minds in the state will be on display in the first-ever Virginia Science Festival.

Some of those minds will be the very same ones working each day at the desks of Christiansburg Elementary School.

For the past two weeks, more than 110 of the school’s third- through fifth-grade students designed and built transportation-themed projects out of recyclable material as part of the festival’s Cardboard World Challenge.

On Friday, the school’s multipurpose room was packed with a variety of homemade planes, trains, automobiles and even spaceships. Some were the size of a model car, while others were large enough to fit students inside. Many had working parts.

“It’s beautiful because it’s their idea, their creation, their work, and it’s what they’re learning. This is how you learn,” Principal Kelly Roark said.

Four judges were tasked with selecting about 25 of the projects to fill the school’s designated space at Virginia Tech’s Moss Art Center today.

Organized by the Science Museum of Western Virginia in collaboration with Virginia Tech, today marks the official start of the event, which is expected to bring hundreds of similar science-related exhibitions to the Roanoke and New River valleys. The festival will run

Article source: http://www.roanoke.com/nrv/features/creativity-takes-flight-at-christiansburg-school-in-cardboard-challenge/article_abec805b-aa05-5c61-bb65-f39a4327a74c.html

By OLIVER GOOD

Staff writer

Navy veteran and longtime model builder Chester Brown absolutely adores all things aircraft.

He loves researching intricacies of different designs, but simply reading about and looking at pictures was never enough. Brown was compelled to tinker with and realize aircraft designs using scale models.

Brown’s fascination with aircraft started when he was 10 and his father was working for Boeing in Wichita.

Now 71, Brown is a seasoned model maker who has built a large variety of aircraft models, anything from small stationary showpieces made from pop and beer cans to 6-feet-long flyable jet kits.

Much to the affectionate chagrin of his wife, Donna, he has airplane models hanging from the wall in their den, where he often puts together models on a cardboard-covered coffee table using materials stored by his easy chair.

More model kits are tucked away and stacked in the corner of their computer room, and in a workshop at the back of their house, there are model wings, propellers, and many model aircraft in various states of completion.

“These days, model kits just come ready out of the box,” Brown said. “They’re pre-cut, pre-painted, and have all the decals on. There is no room to modify.”

Brown finds solace in the process.

What he really seems to take the most pride in is building “stick planes.”

Brown said a “stick plane” is a model that employs a balsawood skeleton covered with a lightweight silk-span skin

Article source: http://marionrecord.com/direct/former_engineer_builds_models_from_scratch+4602models+466f726d657220656e67696e656572206275696c6473206d6f64656c732066726f6d2073637261746368

This week offers lots of blingy things for everyone, from vintage cufflinks and costume jewelry, to vintage stereo components.

North Austin Baby Boomer USAF Pilot’s Estate
Wallace A. Kulczyk (Retired Lt. Col. USAF) and his wife Nancy L. Kulczyk were stationed in Okinawa, Japan from 1962-1966, then in England in Upper Heyford outside of London, and Germany, so there is a mix of items ranging from militaria, to mid-century modern and interesting items from all over the world. Ethan Allen Baumritter, Formica and Traditional Classics, Old Boston rocker, Whitney maple dressers and full size bed, occasional and nesting tables, toleware and lamps. Danish Modern teak sideboard and hutch. Audio equipment and electronics Dual 1219 turntable with Pickering XV cartridge and Kenwood KT-10 receiver, Kenwood 50 A speakers, assorted vintage microphones, Teac R-1000 reel to reel. Militaria: uniforms, flight suits, insignia, patches, aviation related F-111, F-84, Fighting 67th pilot and Army and air force related. Collectible toys and dolls, girl and boy scout, costume jewelry, lighters. Signed block prints by Japanese artist Kauro Kawano (1916-1968), Batiks framed and unframed. Vintage T-shirts, toddler clothing, records, LP’s and 45’s. Collectibles: Hermes script typewriter, Royal Doulton Toby Mugs, Hummells. Garage: Craftsman gas chainsaw, a circular saw, two power drills, lots of soldering irons, several heaters a great shop light, various hardware; plumbing, military trunk, boots, knee board, flight bags. Workshop tables, plastic storage

Article source: http://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/design/2014-10-03/estate-sale-roundup-october-3-5/

Boeing has spent more than 50 years perfecting the art of the stretched derivative and honing a strategy that along the way produced the 777-300ER, one of the most successful long-haul designs in commercial airliner history.

However, as it looks to the development of the next-generation derivatives, the 777X and double-stretch 787-10, the company can ill afford a repeat of the missteps made in the building and testing of the original 787. The manufacturer faces aggressive competition from Airbus with the A350-1000, as well as pressure from an expectant market that has already placed firm orders for a combined tally of 425 777X/787-10s. There is little room for error in two such vital programs, which call for deliveries starting in 2018 for the 787-10 and 2020 for the first 777X variant, the 777-9X.

Both the 787-10 and 777-9X will be extremely long, stretched versions of the original models. Measuring 224 ft. overall, the 787-10 will be 38 ft. longer than the baseline 787-8, while the 777-9X will be the longest twinjet yet made, with a length of just under 251 ft., or around 42 ft. greater than the first 777-200s. Stretching the fuselage can directly change the longitudinal and lateral stability characteristics of an aircraft, resulting in follow-on effects on the flight control system and handling qualities. To help it avoid potentially costly redesigns and

Article source: http://aviationweek.com/commercial-aviation/787-9-test-lessons-aid-787-10-and-777x

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An upstart automaker from Michigan is hoping to hit it big with a tiny three-wheeled car geared toward the solo commuter.

Privately held Elio Motors has designed its namesake vehicle to achieve 84 mile-per-gallon fuel economy on the highway with a standard gasoline engine and no hybrid-electric wizardry.

Elio car

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