Air & Space Magazine: May 2009

Articles

The Man Who’s Flown Everything

Robert “Hoot” Gibson’s priorities: (1) Fly. (2) Fly some more.
By Robin White

Is It Safe?

The first company with a plan—and a rocket—to send humans to orbit answers the existential question.
By Michael Milstein

Zoom Shot

One day in L.A., a helicopter changed television news forever.
By Stephen Joiner

Restoration: Beech Staggerwing

A true story with an O.Henry ending.
By Mark Huber

Legends of Vietnam: Shoulder to Shoulder

The Grumman A-6 was ugly, but it sure could cook.
By Rafael Lima

Fireball!

Nothing gets your attention quite like a meteor screaming in at 40 miles a second.
By Tony Reichhardt

The War Between the Wars

In the skies over Spain, pilots and airplanes rehearsed for World War II.
By Carl Posey

Hit Me With Your Best Shot

Our photo editor offers 12 tips to make your airshow album a work of art.
By Caroline Sheen

Viewport: A Battle for Hearts and Minds

From the desk of the Director of the National Air & Space Museum
By J. R. Dailey

In the Museum: The Bodyguard

By George C. Larson

Above and Beyond: My Enemy, My Friend

Dan Cherry and Hong My met in the skies over North Vietnam in 1972, then again 36 years later.
By Dan Cherry

Flights & Fancy: Homage

By Peter M. Cleland

Then & Now: Under Stress

By Paul Hoversten

Moments & Milestones: The Hungry City

By George C. Larson, member, NAA

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Snapshot

Helo Halo

It's called the Kopp-Etchells Effect.

Reader Scrapbook

Send In Your Photos

Check out our scrapbook of readers' aviation and space pictures. Then add your own.

Need to Know

Are aft-facing airplane seats safer?

They may well be. But don't look for them anytime soon.