For this issue, we turn the spotlight on “Blake”, a custom-made North American F-86 Sabre, ordered by a customer who grew up in a military family. He writes, “Your crew did a fantastic job! I really love it and I’m sure my 86-year-old dad who used to fly it will love it also. It is terrific, thank you so much for such a nice job.” No problem, sir. Here at TMC Pacific Modelworks, we’re more than happy to oblige our customers’ requests. Do you have a made-to-order replica that you’d like to share as well? Please let us know! You might see your custom model in this spot next time.

The Bell X-1, originally designated XS-1, was the result of a cooperative program initiated in 1944 by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) and the United States Army Air Forces (later the US Air Force). On March 16, 1945, Bell Aircraft Corporation was awarded a contract to develop three transonic and supersonic research aircraft, and the company built three rocket-powered XS-1s. The XS-1 was the first high-speed aircraft built purely for aviation research purposes and was never intended for production. It was also the first of the X-planes, a series of experimental US aircraft used for testing of new technologies and usually kept highly secret during development. But the X-1 is best known for being the first aircraft to exceed the speed of sound in controlled, level flight.

Many important structural and aerodynamic advances were first employed in the X-1, including extremely thin yet strong wing sections and a horizontal stabilizer or tailplane that could be adjusted to improve control, especially at transonic speeds. The stabilizer was a success and became a standard design for all subsequent transonic military aircraft. The X-1’s shape closely resembles that of a Browning .50 caliber machine gun bullet.

On October 14, 1947, the first manned supersonic flight took place. General (then Captain) Charles Elwood “Chuck” Yeager flew X-1 aircraft #46-062, christened “Glamorous Glennis” after his wife, past the speed of sound. The plane was launched from the belly of a specially modified Boeing B-29 Superfortress and reached a speed of 700 miles per hour, Mach 1.06, at an altitude of 13,000 meters. Consequently, the National Aeronautic Association awarded the prestigious Collier Trophy for the year 1947 to the three main participants in the program. Lawrence Dale “Larry” Bell of Bell Aircraft, John Stack of NACA and General Yeager were honored by President Harry S. Truman at the White House. General Yeager also received the MacKay and Harmon International Trophies in 1947 and 1954, respectively

Currently, the historic X-1 aircraft flown by General Yeager is on display at the Milestones of Flight gallery of the National Air and Space Museum, located at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. While the aircraft is for viewing only, you can bring home a Bell X-1 scale model, made from the finest quality of mahogany. All parts are hand-carved by master craftsmen before undergoing several phases of priming and sanding. Details are carefully duplicated by skilled artists, then sealed in with clear lacquer. The replica is a faithful reproduction of the original X-1. Even better, it is personally signed by none other than General Chuck Yeager.

The official aircraft of the 11th annual Air Force Marathon is the C-5 Galaxy. The gigantic airlifter will be seen flying over the course of the race on September 15 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. Events include the marathon, wheelchair marathon, 4-person relay and half marathon.

In addition, a 5K race will be held on September 14 at the EJ Nutter Center at Wright State University. The Sports & Fitness Exposition is scheduled for September 13 and 14 at the same venue. All events are open to the public.

The USAF Marathon commemorates the founding of the Air Force as a separate military service on September 18, 1947, and is always held in the month of September.

The C-5 is the largest transport aircraft in the American military and one of the largest in the world. It was designed to carry outsize and oversize cargo, providing strategic heavy airlift over intercontinental distances. It is capable of carrying nearly all of the Army’s combat equipment, including the 74-ton armored vehicle launched bridge, from the United States to any location in the world. The first aircraft rolled out of the manufacturing plant on March 2, 1968, and its maiden flight was on June 30 of the same year.

Some fun facts about the Galaxy:

• The C-5 can carry 25,844,746 ping pong balls, 328,301,674 aspirin tablets or 3,222,857 tortillas.
• The interior and exterior paint on the aircraft weighs 2,600 pounds.
• The distance of the Wright brothers’ first flight is less than the length of the C-5 cargo floor.
• The C-5’s fuel capacity is equal to the volume of a five-room house.

To know more about the marathon, go to www.usafmarathon.com.

Since the organization’s establishment in 1958, Project HOPE (Health Opportunities for People Everywhere) has been working to make health care available to people around the world. Recently, medical volunteers and Navy personnel hopped on Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH-20) to embark on a four-month mission to the Carribean and Central and South America. The team had already visited countries such as Panama, Belize, Guatemala, Peru, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Ecuador and Colombia.

During Comfort’s stop in Buenaventura, Colombia, a young patient received a special gift from one of the ship’s crew. On August 27, Equipment Operator 1st Class (SCW) Manuel Gradillas, a Seabee assigned to Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 202, presented a specially designed wheelchair to 12-year-old Buenaventura native Ana Renteria, whose arms and legs have been paralyzed since she was six.

Equipment Operator 1st Class Manuel Gradillas presents a specially
decorated wheelchair to Ana Renteria while her caregiver Maria Renterialooks on.
USNS Comfort is on a four-month deployment to provide medicalrelief
to patients in the Carribean and Latin America. US Navy photo by
Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kelly E. Barnes.

Commander Rebecca Kiser and Lieutenant Commander Josie Brenner were the ones who came up with the idea to design Ana’s wheelchair. They approached the Seabees to look for an artist, and Gradillas, who had become friends with Ana the instant they met, volunteered. Despite having to wake up early the next day, he worked hard on his gift until the wee hours of the morning.

Ana’s appreciation was evident in her smile as she was given her new wheelchair. It was painted with flowers, birds, butterflies, and Ana’s name in yellow, her favorite color. Gradillas couldn’t help but get misty-eyed. “This is what I’m supposed to do,” he said. “It’s the reason I’m here.”

Despite diversity, it is still possible to form bonds, proving that friendship transcends age, nationality and borders. Kudos to the Project HOPE volunteers and Navy personnel for their generosity and tireless work.

For more information on Project HOPE, visit www.projhope.org.