Wyoming Air National Guard C130s taking off at Natrona County International Airport

Wyoming Air National Guard C130Hs arriving at Natrona County International Airport (automatic focus, i.e, out of focus)

C130Hs at Natrona County International Airport (poorly focused).

 

C-130Hs of the 153d Airlift Wing, Wyoming Air National Guard. Natrona County International Air Port

 

Lex Anteinternet: February 21, 1941. Frederick Banting killed in accident.

Lex Anteinternet: February 21, 1941. Frederick Banting killed in ac...: 

February 21, 1941. Frederick Banting killed in accident.

On this day in 1941 Nobel laurate and medical scientist, the Canadian Frederick Banting, died in an airplane crash.  He was the co discoverer of insulin.

He was, in a way, a victim of the Second World War in that he was serving in the Canadian Army at the time, and was a passenger on a Lockheed Hudson that developed mechanical trouble. The bomber was being ferried to the UK but went down in Newfoundland.

It was the last day of the Swansea Blitz, that event in which the Germans bombarded that city for three nights.

It was strategically ineffective. Swansea had significant military targets, including oil facilities, but they were not damages in the three day raid.

More on both of these events can be read about here:

Today in World War II History—February 21, 1941

The British disembarked 1300 men on Malta.

21 February 1941: Reinforcements for Malta – 1300 Troops Disembark

Lex Anteinternet: February 18, 1921. Œhmichen helicopter no 1,

Lex Anteinternet: February 18, 1921. Œhmichen helicopter no 1, ship...: 

February 18, 1921. Œhmichen helicopter no 1, ships, Egyptian self rule, and Argentine arms.

The early history of the helicopter is complicated, and therefore capable of dispute.  Most early flights weren't that, but hops.  

This is the first "lift" of an Œhmichen helicopter. The gas bags were for stabilization.  Obviously, this would have been a completely useless design but it was pioneering, and the inventor went on to some significant developments in helicopter features.  Etienne Œhmichen was a biologist by training and employment.

 

Air Force Goes Low And Slow With XCub (Corrected)

British Petition: Treat recreation flying as a form of allowable exercise during the lockdown.

Interesting petition related to the Coronavirus Pandemic measures form the UK.  I'm not opining on it, merely noting it.

PetitionTreat recreation flying as a form of allowable exercise during the lockdown.

The 2020 Wyoming Department of Transportation Aviation Economic Impact Study.

 Well, worth reading in its many subparts.

2020 Aviation Economic Impact Study

Lex Anteinternet: February 10, 1941. Threats from the sky.

Lex Anteinternet: February 10, 1941. Threats from the sky.: 

February 10, 1941. Threats from the sky.

Short Stirlings, bombed Rotterdam, their first combat use. The four engine bomber first flew in 1939.

The British, on this day, engaged in their first airborne commando type raid, dropping paratroopers in Calabria, Italy, to destroy on aqueduct.  I learned that here:

Today in World War II History—February 10, 1941

All 35 paratroopers were captured.

The operation was called Operation Colossus.

The men of the unit had all been drawn from No. 2 Commando of the Special Air Service and were in fact commandos, so they were not a conventional paratrooper unit.

More on the raid:

First British Airborne Raid

The RAF raided Rotterdam.  The Luftwaffe raided Iceland.

Green Aviation

Boeing announced that it's aircraft will be 100% capable of flying on biofuel by the end of the decade. For reasons that I don't grasp, biofuel would reduce aviation's carbon emissions.

This follows Airbus announcing some months ago that it intends to be 100% emission free by 2035, with hydrogen as the eyed fuel.