1941
In late 1941, when I was learning to fly, the airport had an "Airport Day." There were huge crowds, chances (tickets) to win flying lessons, free airplane rides, etc. etc. Anyway, there was a guy who did all of the stuff shown on the attached URL. Interestingly, it was also done in a Piper Cub. Also interesting, my first lesson was in a Piper Cub and I would have sworn some of those scenes were of me on that flight...Except the plane I flew was bright yellow (kind'a like Fords, they were practically all one color, black for Ford, cadmium yellow for Pipers).
My avitar shows my dad and me (age 4) after my first airplane ride. He was the pilot. I still have the goggles and the manual for the airplane. The manual for the entire airplane was much smaller than a manual for an altimiter today. The manual covered how to service, repair, etc. the engine...how to recover the airframe with fabric...and included flying lessons (In some parts of the USA that's how you learned to fly in those good ole days).
The airplane was an Eaglerock; the year 1929. An Eaglerock was a bi-plane (2 wings like WWI fighter planes some of you have seen in the movies). Oh yes, the location was San Bernardino, Calif (a hundred years before zip codes). To say the least, I had an interesting father and an interesting life. Before my time my dad raced motorcycles, cars and boats. Mom made him stop when my sister came into the world...I wonder why?
Time to shut up again Bradley.
Enjoy,
Jim