Free Flight, Free Speech

One of two of videos I made with real weather on, in the upper Rhine Valley

Waah, that looks cold!

the take-off video..

Yup With real weather and it being about 28 degrees, they had heavy snow showers off and on all day yesterday.

I don't mind the weather as long as I have a well heated cabin around me ...

Poor Aviaturs Francais during Winter....

All types of cold-weather gear were available to service pilots flying in cold and high altitudes, The Fe2b forward obs/gun crews soon got electrically heated suits because of their being out in front in a poorly shielded cockpit.

But still, service with any WWI pilot or crew was harsh during winter. During the really harsh winter of 1916-17 one of the new pilots of the Lafayette Escadrille flew his own Nieuport 17 from the supply aerodrome in Etampes to Esc. 124 at Chacy in Nord de Pas. He did so that he could get a good sketch of the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris from his cockpit, along the way. Because the day sky color and light were perfect. He circled around the church for a good half of an hour, alternately flying and drawing. Everyone at the aerodrome was huddled around the woodstove trying to keep from freezing and they heard the approach and then couping of a LeRhone as he prepared to land.


I don't envy the high altitude Rumpler C.IV crews which had to carry oxygen generators in addition to electrically heated winter gear.

another link of interest...

http://aerosociety.com/Assets/Docs/Publications/The%20Journal%20of%20Aeronautical%20History/2014-01_Rood_Aircrew_clothing.pdf

new the 'Bloody Paralyzer'

What is it, and where can I get it?

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