Shiloh

Agreed Widow. I had to follow my plane down and hit pause at just the precise moment to get that shot.

It could be the opening shot to a Twilight Zone episode. Lt. Charles Lawton took of for a patrol on a rainy April day in 1917 - a day just like any other over France or so it seemed. He got separated from his flight in heavy fog and was forced to land in a muddy field. This was no ordinary field however - he had in fact landed in the Twilight Zone.

On a quick combat mission I had a nice head-on collision with a Nieuport 17. Check out my Alb.D.III at the moment of ground-impact.

I want to take a moment to recognize all the dads out here and wish them a very Happy Father's Day! Enjoy your families and take a moment to reflect on what's really important in your lives. And if you want to fly OFF go for it - this is your day and nobody can tell you what to do!

A wise decision my friend - it was not a pretty site. That sounds like a most perfect day Lou. Other than the fishhook I went for a scenic drive with my wife and kids in the mountains, watched U.S. Open golf, read a few chapters of "The Friendless Sky", took a nap, flew 2 missions and drank a few cups of hot tea in the "I Love Daddy" mug my kids got for me, then a few brews and a relaxing night on the couch. I wish every day could be that way.

I was inspired by the black on your Albatros Olham and when my Jasta 37 pilot upgraded to the Alb III early, I picked him out a nice all-black skin with just a touch of white on the nose and the standard white/black cross. It looks mean!

My prayers go out to the people in these devastated areas...be safe.

RIP Clarence. You're music will live on long after you are gone.

I had a great Father's Day Widow thank you and you'll be out there casting before you know it! It's funny you mentioned fishing as part of my Father's Day festivities was pulling a fishhook out of my neighbors' hand with a set of needle-nose pliers.

My Jasta 35 pilot had a bad collision a few flights back and I never saw it coming. I'm not even sure who hit me but based on the fact I got a claim for a kill it must have been the enemy aircraft. Although this would be a very tough way to lose a pilot, I find it a very realistic hazard and if it happens, so be it. Look at Oswald Boelcke and Erwin Bohme, two men who will forever be linked together because of a slight collision that cost Boelcke his life. Nice skin by the way Olham!

Here's a photo...very sad. I can't say I've thought much about this type of thing but my initial reaction is to let them fly. I agree that 1-2 of them should be museum pieces to lessen the chance that they are ever destroyed but there could just as easily be a fire in a museum that destroys them as well.

Good luck Lou with that MG - she looks like a beaut! My dad had a 1972 Rambler when I was growing up that was red with a white top and I'll always remember back with fondness the drives my family had in that car with the top down and not a care in the world. I have a 1994 Jeep Cherokee with 200,000 miles on it that's my primary vehicle. It's not that old in the big scheme of things but by today's standards of getting a new car every 3-4 years or so it is. It has a very old feel to it with the large steering wheel, rough motor, imperfect handling, a few things that don't work, etc. But she's my girl and I know how to treat her and I'll drive her until she gives out. It's not as nice as an MG or other cars mentioned but its the way it makes me feel - nostalgic perhaps - that won't allow me to part ways.

Fantastic! As always great work gentleman and thanks for the snippets of info. to keep us all salivating like Polovski's dogs...or was that Pavlov's?

That's really nice Olham. Is Hans Auer his pilot or were you thinking of my man spending the war in captivity?

Raising our kids Widow is the most important thing we will ever do - not our jobs, or anything else. And the way I figure it, If I raise them to be good responsible adults, they will surely change my diaper when I'm 90 when no one else would. It comes full circle after all.

I play an RTS game called Medieval Total War with the Teutonic Knighs and I love their uniforms/armor/helmets...they just look tough.

I prefer the Germans as I think the planes are cooler-looking (paint jobs & lines) and I do love to fly the Albatros D.II with its twin Spandaus. There's also a lot of colorful history with the Jastas and overall I've always been intrigued by WWI and WWII German military for some reason. I do like their strategy of defense rather than aggressor as I think that fits in best with my personality and the way I might strategize. There's also something about that Iron Cross that strikes fear into enemies and I like the psychological aspect of that symbol.

It's something how people's lives can be so similar if only for a short time Widow. I feel like the luckiest guy in the world getting to spend so much time with my kids. OFF gives me a release from parenting/work that I don't get with anything else - it's freeing in a way. I thought about when my son gets older and I'm trying to figure out whether I'll need to get him a gaming PC so we can play together. I let my 4 year-old daughter take the controls from time-to-time and she likes doing loops and stuff. Here's to family - drink up my friend.

I fly whenever time permits - usually 3-4 times per week. I did have a stretch where I didn't fly at all for 3 weeks as I was busy but usually I can find the time. I'm a full-time dad during the day to two young kids who need a lot of attention so it's as time permits. I work at night for 3-4 hours so that's not really the best time. Lately, when I put my son down for a nap in the afternoon and put on a Dora the Explorer video for my daughter I can get an hour of flight time in. I also have the benefit of learning toddler-level Spanish while flying. It's all about balance as others have said. I will never put this before my family or other responsibilities but it does have a place as it's one of my only forms of recreation and I deserve this bit of fun in my busy life. P.S. I did change a poopy diaper and help my son build a house of blocks during the writing of this post.

Actually really good stuff Olham. I studied this in Composition & Literature in college and remember it well.

However, on their wedding night, Brünhild suspects something is amiss with her situation, particularly suspecting Siegfried a potential cause. Gunther attempts to sleep with her and, with her great strength, she easily ties Gunther up and leaves him that way all night. After telling Siegfried of this, Siegfried again offers his help. Siegfried proposes that he slip into their chamber at night with his invisibility cloak and silently beat Brünhild into submission. Gunther agrees but says that Siegfried must not sleep with Brünhild. Siegfried slips into the room according to plan and after a difficult and violent struggle, an invisible Siegfried defeats Brünhild. Siegfried then takes her ring and belt, which are symbols of defloration. Here it is implied that Siegfried sleeps with Brünhild despite Gunther's request. Afterwards, Brünhild no longer possesses her once-great strength and says she will no longer refuse Gunther.

Just curious, how come you can see the body of the pilot on some planes (ie; Strutter) but not on others (ie; Albatros D.II)?

That looks really great graphics-wise although you can never really tell until release how it plays. I can't say I like the name - it's kind of cheesy - almost like that movie Iron Eagle. Edit: What's the latest on Cliffs of Dover?

I would start at the manufacturer website for your JS and see if you find anything there.