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Post by MoCat on Jan 21, 2007 14:52:51 GMT -5
Hello All !!!
Hopefully every knows that I am in the process of recreating the 1931 National Air Tour for the Edsel B. Ford Reliability Trophy. I've completed the first five days of the tour i.e., afcad, scenery, and AI. Mr. Windrunner is working on repaints for some of the aircraft involved in the tour.
I contacted Tom about sponsoring a recreation of that tour once all the scenery and afcads are complete. I have tried to recreate each of the airfields and surrounding landmarks as historically accurate as possible.
The competition would work on an honors system and be conducted as follows.
1. Each flyer will have three days to complete the leg i.e., Ford Field, Dearborn, Michigan to Walkerville Airport, Windsor, Ontario to Le Roy, York.
2. The flyer will record his/her time and forward to the administrator.
3. A leader board will be posted by the administrator in the National Air Trophy Forum
4. The flyer will complete the leg in real world weather conditions.
5. Navigation will be map and VFR.
6. All competitors will fly the same freeware aircraft for each leg.
7. A leg will be considered complete when the aircraft is parked in the hangar. In addition, that will be the starting point for the next. leg.
8. The course will cover 4,816 nautical miles over 18 States stopping at 33 custom designed airfields.
9. Prizes will be awarded to First, Second and Third. (Don't ask me yet, I don't know).
10. The flyer will be able to download either the scenery or afcad only. This opens the competition to those who have slower machines.
If there's enough interest, a forum will be dedicated to the Tour.
Please reply below if your interested. If there is not enough interest then, I will complete the scenery and upload for everyone.
Sincerely,
MoCat
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Post by Bookman on Jan 24, 2007 17:00:01 GMT -5
Well, you can count me in! I'm sure by now everyone knows about the 2003 recreation of this series of air tours, but just in case, you can visit the following site in view all sorts of interesting bits of historical information to prepare for the virtual tour: www.nationalairtours.org/
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Post by Bookman on Jan 24, 2007 17:15:06 GMT -5
Ok, So I have both of the following books on my bookshelf and you can purchase them online for a decent price and learn more about the Air Reliability Tours: This is the full history of the Ford Reliability Tour, which was an efficiency contest held every year from 1925 through 1931. Initially called the Commercial Airplane Reliability Tour, they were subsequently promoted as "The Commercial Airplane Reliability Tour for the Edsel B. Ford Trophy", sometimes shortened to the Ford Reliability Tour and later, the National Air Tour. The tour gave airplane builders an opportunity to take their latest models around the country in a well-publicized contest also meant to convince the man on the ground he should take to the air. In the year of 2003, we celebrated the Centennial of Powered Flight as well as the Centennial of the Ford Motor Company. It was 75 years ago that the National Air Tours were at their zenith as well. This heavily illustrated reprint of a 1973 publication also includes maps and results tables. 202 pgs., $19.95 (U.S.). This book was written following the 1929 Ford Air Tour by John H. Livingston, President of Mid-West Airways Corporation. He participated in three different air tours, and wrote this account for the WACO Aircraft Company, whose aircraft won the tour twice. The Ford Reliability Tour was an efficiency contest held every year from 1925 through 1931. Initially called the Commercial Airplane Reliability Tour, they were subsequently promoted as "The Commercial Airplane Reliability Tour for the Edsel B. Ford Trophy", sometimes shortened to the Ford Reliability Tour and later, the National Air Tour. The tour gave airplane builders an opportunity to take their latest models around the country in a well-publicized contest also meant to convince the man on the ground he should take to the air. 32 pgs., $9.95(U.S.) ...but, even better, both books can be viewed and downloaded as PDF files from the following links: Ford Air Tourswww.nationalairtours.org/read_book.htmlOne Twowww.nationalairtours.org/read_book.html#anchor1-2
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Post by MoCat on Jan 24, 2007 17:42:09 GMT -5
Bookman,
I am finishing up Knoxville, McGhee Tyson, this evening, then off to Memphis and the first seven days will be forwarded to Tom for upload. Hopefully by the end of this week, I'll post photos of all the completed air fields. I think you'll like. I even recreated the Walker Whiskey Factory in Windsor, The Jell-O Factory in Le Roy, the carosels in Binghamton, the Taylor Aircraft Factory in Bradford. Just to make it interesting.
I have both books and will post the route and aircraft from Chapter 7.
Windrunner is working on re-paints for the aircraft, I did the Waco, Offical Ship, but......Repaints aren't my speciality.
MoCat.
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Post by MoCat on Jan 24, 2007 17:46:25 GMT -5
P.S. Bookman,
I've used your, 1 January 1936, airfield description to make all the airfields except Walker Airport, Windsor. If it has woods, mine have woods, if it has the name on the field or hangar, mine has the same, if it has telephone poles mine has telephone poles.
Would it be a copyright violation if I were to include those description here in a forum or readme, if I give credit to you and the original author?
Thanks,
MoCat
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Post by Glider Rider on Jan 24, 2007 21:22:34 GMT -5
I just finished reading the Ford Air Tours book and it was fascinating. The virtual air tour is a great idea. Has there been any interest in the competition? I think it would be loads of fun.
Bill
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Post by lifejogger on Jan 24, 2007 23:17:32 GMT -5
Sounds interesting. Need some clarification on the three days? Do you mean three actual days or three virtual days?
jogger
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Post by MoCat on Jan 25, 2007 7:02:12 GMT -5
lifejogger,
First for everyone, there are no set rules, I'm making this up as we go. In an effort to control the length of time it take for us to complete the course, I wanted to give those who have strange schedules a chance to participate. "Each participant will have 3 calendar days to complete the leg and have their time in to the administrator" then the aircraft will be identified for the next leg and a start time will be give to all participants.
an example
-Start (Leg One) - -Start Date: Feb 2, 07 Aircraft: Waco ATO Start Time: 11:00 am on July 4, 1931 (Virtual Time) Location: Ford Field, Dearborn, Mi to Woodward Field, Le Roy New York Weather: Actual (Updated) Information: KFRD - Ford Field, Start Location Small Ramp Spot 2 - Fly from KFRD TO CYQG 23NM @ 082 - Land, refuel, and taxi to hangar. - Fly from CYQG TO KLER 248NM @ 094 - Land, refuel, and taxi to hanar. Record Stop Time Before Feb 6, 2007 - forward time with number of crashes (as applicable) to Administrator
Feb 7, 2007 Start Time: 09:00, July 5, 1931 Concludes with similar instructions.
You can fly either VFR to by Map. I'll trust you not to use GPS and Report Crashes.
Then I'll post the order after each leg by name only, at the end I'll post the complete times. I was only going to do it this way to keep people from thinking "I'm two (2) hours behind I'll never win, so I won't participate any more".
You actually win by getting 33 custom designed air fields, flying overparts of the US you might not see otherwise, discussing the the flights and learning about the airfields as they were and what the crews had to do to complete the 4800nm challenge.
After, this one's done, we can do it again later in the year or next year. There was another competion "London to London" Canada to England, and I was going to work on the airfields for that while everyone flew "The National Air Tour".
Hope this provides more understanding.
MoCat
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Post by MoCat on Jan 25, 2007 7:15:01 GMT -5
Hello All, In an effort to perk some interest, last night I completed McGhee Tyson in Knoxville. Here's a pic of the postcard I used from 1931 and a pic of my Gmax model.
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Post by MoCat on Jan 25, 2007 22:32:18 GMT -5
Here's a pic of the final Knoxville, McGhee Tyson Airfield. Nashville and Memphis should be completed this weekend and that's it for the first Download (Days 1 through 7). Hope you enjoy. Shooting for next weekend. MoCat
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Post by Glider Rider on Jan 26, 2007 13:37:37 GMT -5
MoCat, You have done a wonderful job on those sceneries. It's just like going back into time. In fact, I think just flying to these great airports is reward enough for the competition. I think it's going to be a great time.
Bill
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Post by MoCat on Jan 26, 2007 16:39:07 GMT -5
Hey Mr. Glider Rider and all others,
I think it will be fun, I am not going to participate, I'm going to be the administrator. I fly arround the airfields as I create them and between airfields to test. I've probably flown from Ford Field to Le Roy 20 times.
The worst part of it all is trying to find pics or postcards of the old airfields. I get descriptions from Bookmans Beacon, but that only goes so far.
If you or anyone who reads this has pics, diagrams or postcards of Harbor Sky, Murfreesboro, Tn or Memphis between 1925 and 1935 post them.
Thanks for the comments, first seven days should be ready next weeeeeeek eeeeend.
MoCat
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Post by windrunner on Jan 27, 2007 1:22:14 GMT -5
Good!
(mocat, please check your email inbox...)
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