Elections are this month so please make an effort to attend and make your wishes known.

The EAA has announced that they got their millionth Young Eagle on Nov 13th.

The December Popular Science has an article illustrated with 52 representative aviation covers from the more than 250 used over the last 100 years. Some I remember. Over at Popular Mechanics, they have an article on A Century of Flight. They commissioned Keith Ferris to do some illustrations. Looking at them, they appear like pictures, yet better. Somehow they convey the romance and adventure of flight.

If you missed the NOVA program on the Wright Flyers on PBS last week, I think that it will be shown on NJN the Wednesday after our meeting at 8 PM. When Ken Hyde wrecked his Model B it shows how people who should and do know better break all the rules and screw up big time. He lived; many others don't.

Most of us don't realize it but our airplane trusses originated way back in the 19th century as construction trusses for covered bridges. Warren patented his truss in 1838, Pratt in 1844. Several square trusses with X bracing

such as the Long (1830) were devised and what today we would call geodetic or lattice was patented as the Town truss in 1820.

All of the covered bridges in Bucks County, Pa are Town trusses. The oldest surviving Town truss bridge in the United States is the Uhlerstown bridge, built in 1830. It is also the only remaining bridge built over a canal. There is a lock and towpath as well. If you drive to van Sant airport, cross the river at Frenchtown and instead of turning left toward Erwinna, go straight toward the hill where you'll find the bridge. Then go back to the river, turn south to the airport sign and turn west to Erwinna. If you ignore the airport sign on the left fork and go straight you will find the Erwinna bridge. Then go back and follow the signs to van Sant but instead of turning into their lane, continue across the end of their runway and down into the valley where you will find the Frankenfield bridge, the nicest one that I have ever seen. Or fly up the valley and look down. On the way home, check out the only NJ covered brodge NW of Sargentsville.