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American Innovation
Editor’s Briefing
by Lance Phillips
If I have seen further it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants
– Sir Isaac Newton
This month in America we celebrate our independence as a nation. I often reflect on what I learned in college about the unique contributions the United States has made to aviation across the globe, some of which might not have been possible (or could have been considerably delayed) had some industrious Americans not been in the right positions at the right time.
Obviously, we all know the Wright brothers flew their Flyer in 1903. But what about the industrious aviators who made aviation a tool of commerce, in turn making the U.S. more competitive in the world?
I believe that simple flight at least is pos- sible to man and the experiments and inves- tigations of a large number of independent workers will result in the accumulation of information and knowledge and skill which will finally lead to accomplished flight. I wish to avail myself of all that is already known and then if possible add my mite to help on the future worker who will attain final success. – Wilber Wright
1914 – Scheduled air service begins between Tampa and St. Petersburg, Florida for five dollars.
1918 – Airmail service begins between New York City and Washington, D.C.
1927 – Boeing starts producing the B-40 aircraft after bidding for and winning the Chicago to San Francisco airmail route. It is powered by the Pratt & Whitney Wasp engine. The U.S. government begins installing the first radio navigation system, low- to medium-frequency four- course ranges.
1928 – Jimmy Doolittle is assigned the task of solving the problems inherent with flying solely by instrument reference. Doolittle enlists the help of several disparate engineers and entrepreneurs. First, Elmer Sperry of the
2 • TWIN & TURBINE / June 2023
Sperry Gyroscope Company develops an artificial horizon for attitude reference and a directional gyro. Next, Paul Kollsman develops the sensitive altimeter.
1929 – Jimmy Doolittle makes the first totally blind flight (without reference to the horizon).
1933 – Boeing develops the Model 247, the first passenger aircraft with an autopilot, de-icing boots, constant-speed propeller and retractable landing gear.
1934 – Elrey Jeppesen, an airmail pilot, starts publish- ing airway manuals, providing navigation information, airport elevations, obstruction heights and runway lengths.
Without our American innovators and risk-takers, who knows where we would be now? What if Doolittle hadn’t brought together the inventions of Sperry and Kollsman? What if Elrey Jeppesen hadn’t lost countless friends in the freezing clouds over their airmail routes? And what if he hadn’t measured the field lengths, taken the barometric readings, and listed the waypoints along his routes to start producing his airway manuals that sold for 10 dollars in the 1930s, saving many lives along the way?
It is incredible to think about how far we have come in such a short amount of time thanks to a few Americans who somehow figured out a way to fly in the clouds safely. This month we can celebrate American independence and at the same time raise a glass to those whose shoulders we stand upon.
In this July 2023 issue, we start by deciphering some of the new terminology around RNP AR approaches. You know, those ones with all the requirements and curvy lines. Ed Verville has been instructing RNP approaches for years and brings us up to speed. I think we can be pretty sure that Jimmy Doolittle did not envision the technol- ogy and sophistication involved in creating and operating within our current RNP environment. Or maybe he did.
I am also starting a new column called Industry In- sights about people who are instrumental in keeping our aviation operations going. First off, I talk with Will Cutter, the grandson of William P. Cutter who started the first chartered flights in the American Southwest in the 1930s. Will describes how his business Cutter Aviation