The History of Capitol Air

Patricia R. Alpert

Hinged by US airline deregulation, Capitol Air was one of several carriers catapulted to temporary success after transitioning from charter to scheduled operations. Founded on June 11, 1946 as Capitol Airways by Jesse F. Stallings, Richmond McGinnes, and Francis Roach, Army Air Corps pilots, it was incorporated in Delaware, but […]

An Introduction to Plane Spotting

Patricia R. Alpert

What is plane spotting? Plane (or aircraft) spotting is an observation hobby. Enthusiasts note details about the aircraft they observe, such as the type of craft, its registration number (also known as it’s tail or “N-number” in the United States), and any distinctive markings. The information collected is recorded via […]

The Hawker Siddeley HS121 Trident

Patricia R. Alpert

DESIGN ORIGINS When airlines crossed the decade line between the 1950s and 1960s, an increasing number of their long-range, high-capacity aircraft were powered by pure-jet engines, whose speed, comfort, and high-altitude characteristics resulted in overwhelming passenger acceptance. This soon prompted the question of whether this powerplant type would only serve […]

The History of Mattituck Airport

Patricia R. Alpert

Located in the Town of Southold on Long Island’s North Fork, Mattituck Air Base (21N) is the area’s only privately owned, public-use airfield, occupying 18 acres and offering a single 2,200- by 60-foot asphalt runway-in this case, 1/19. Approaches to the first of the two magnetic headings are conducted over […]

The Aerospatiale SN601 Corvette

Patricia R. Alpert

As one of the first generation of regional jets that flew some two decades before those produced by Canadair, Embraer, and Dornier in the 1990s, the Aerospatiale SN.601 Corvette straddled the line between the business and regional markets and was consequently the smallest to have served commercially. Its seed was […]