Model Airplanes

Owners of nearly 20 Travel Air airplanes will mark the 90th anniversary of the former Wichita company with a national fly-in and reunion this week.

The Travel Air Restorers Association will base its activities at Stearman Field in Benton, about 22 miles northeast of Wichita.

Jerry Impellezzeri, president of the California-based group with national membership, said he expects about a half-dozen Travel Air aircraft to participate in the four-day event, which began Thursday. He was expecting about double that, but bad weather in other parts of the country prevented several owners and their aircraft from flying to Wichita, Impellezzeri said Thursday afternoon.

He is expecting attendance of 25 to 30 people.

He said members of the group plan to bring their Travel Air airplanes to Wichita for a free public viewing. That event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Jabara Airport, 3512 N. Webb, in northeast Wichita. He said the Jabara event will take place as scheduled unless there are thunderstorms or rain on Saturday.

The group typically holds an annual gathering in California, Oregon or Washington, Impellezzeri said. It chose the Wichita area this year because of Travel Air’s roots here.

Travel Air Airplane Manufacturing Co. comprised aviation legends Walter Beech, Clyde Cessna and Lloyd Stearman. They would go on to start Beech Aircraft, Cessna Aircraft and Stearman Aircraft (later acquired by the Boeing Co.), respectively.

They made airplanes from 1926 to 1932, some of which set world records. Travel Air’s “Mystery Ship” racer was the winner of the 1929 National

Article source: http://www.kansas.com/news/business/aviation/article35574780.html

Airbus Group SE on Monday will inaugurate its first jetliner production facility in the U.S., as the European rival to Boeing Co. seeks greater market share and lower production costs.

Airbus has invested around $600 million to build the facility in Mobile, Ala., which will employ about 1,000 workers. Building jetliners in Boeing’s backyard is…

Article source: http://www.wsj.com/articles/airbus-set-to-open-jetliner-production-plant-in-the-u-s-1442170981

The slowed manufacturing rate for Boeing’s fading 747 jumbo jet has prompted a major supplier to cut its losses and exit the program.

Boeing said Thursday it has agreed to take over the work of building 747-8 fuselage panels from supplier Triumph Group.

Beginning in 2018, the huge aluminum-panel assemblies — the largest being 18 feet wide by 55 feet long — will be built at Boeing’s facility in Macon, Ga. That means the panels for the next Air Force One presidential plane may be made there.

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Boeing will now transition Macon to become part of

Article source: http://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/boeing-to-make-747-fuselage-parts-in-georgia-as-supplier-pulls-out/

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Article source: http://www.kansas.com/news/business/article35624400.html

Extraterrestrials, Christian Science, and ventriloquist’s dummies are all welcome in the realm of DAVID LIEBE HART

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To say that speaking with David Liebe Hart is a unique experience would be an incredible understatement. His website describes him as an “actor/musician/painter/alien abductee.” Those credentials aside, following Hart’s career, and inspirations, can be an odd albeit enjoyable ride.

Originally appearing in bit parts on ’70s sitcoms (such as Good Times and Chico and the Man), Hart eventually produced the Los Angeles public access show, The Junior Christian Science Bible Lesson Program. For 14 years, Hart and his ventriloquist’s dummies sang hymns, welcomed guests to the show, and delivered the gospel to kids. Inevitably, the program garnered a cult following; watching segments of the show on YouTube, it’s easy to see why. Sermonizing puppets, unpredictable, old-school video effects, and a soundtrack of jarring musical interludes that seem almost randomly thrown together are also hypnotically watchable.

Eventually, Hart became a regular on the brilliantly subversive comedy program, Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! which introduced Hart to a greater (and possibly his target) audience. During this same era, Hart also made the rounds on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Performed as a duet with one of

Article source: http://folioweekly.com/THE-COSMIC-PUPPETS,13604