Posted by
on 31 January 2018 - 06:46 PM
Salute all! I've been working on an unofficial promo video for Rise of Flight since last September. Today, it is finally done. Thanks to all who helped make it possible. I hope that your passion shines through in this effort. Enjoy! 
Posted by
on 13 March 2017 - 05:07 AM
During the last minutes of Saturday's Flanders in Flames mission, a train needed to be destroyed. It seemed like any other mission...until a horde of enemy planes showed up to guard it! Who can save us? Perhaps this is a job for the Phantom Bomber!
Enjoy! 
Posted by
on 01 February 2018 - 08:15 PM
Thanks guys! I am glad you enjoyed it!
Actually, Jason Williams personally commented on the ROF Facebook group. O_O Here’s what he said:
“Cole Austin - excellent video! The team thanks you for your effort. Flying Circus will be even better. Salute!”
I couldn’t believe it! I think he was impressed by the dedication and vitality the community still shows, even 9 years after ROF’s release. You guys are the reason for that. Salute!
S! The problem is.... half of the forums are people just bitching with no constructive comments. HotLead has shown that the real RoF community is positive and engaged. He not only demonstrated the visual beauty of the game but the vast variety of personal and community aspects as appreciated by the players.
The developers could not ask for a more fitting tribute to a marvelous sim.
Posted by
on 09 January 2018 - 04:29 AM
It was a number of years ago the I flew Flanders in Flames and Bloody April with you all as part of the Wingwalker's Squad. Some of you may remember that I started a sketchbook journal during the Bloody April tournament that I published after each mission. I used real events from the flying ( like stealing Adler's Pup by accident) and worked them into the story line. All the artwork was done on an Ipad.
This experience led to a much more refined World War I project that I have worked on over the last few years. "Rupp's Skizzenbuch" is a simulation of a German Unteroffizier's journal and sketchbook from World War I. The characters and story are based on the novel "The Blue Max" written by Jack D. Hunter in 1964. Primary sources including photos, postcards and news headlines are interspersed in the fictional work to tie the story to real-world events during the Great War.
The journal is being published online every couple weeks from now until Armistice Day in November. You can read the first two chapters here
PROLOGUE
http://www.thebluema...t.org/prologue/
An aging German immigrant passes away in St. Augustine, Florida. Among her personal effects a soldier's journal and sketchbook from World War I is discovered. The sketchbook is sent on to the Smithsonian's Special Collections Archivist for further study.
CHAPTER ONE - INTRODUCTIONS
http://www.thebluema...-introductions/
Unteroffizier Rupp Gerhardt introduces himself and explains what brought this “old campaigner” to the town of Beauvin and what services he provides to his squadmates at Jasta 77.
CHAPTER THREE – THE VILLAGE
http://www.thebluema...h3-the-village/
Rupp’s squad mate takes him for a wild ride in a DFW and ruins his aerial photo shoot of the Aerodrome requested by the Hauptmann. Angry with all of them he settles into some late night sketching and writes about the Aerodrome, the village of Beauvin and his lucrative side businesses.
CHAPTER FOUR - THE PEOPLE
http://www.thebluema...ch4-the-people/
Rupp’s goal was to survive the war, not to win it and he was willing to do just about anything to make sure he survived. In this chapter, he shares his insights into the strengths and weaknesses of his fellow squad mates and explains how he uses that information to his best advantage.
CHAPTER FIVE – NEW ARRIVALS
http://www.thebluema...5-new-arrivals/
Bruno Stachel arrives at Jasta 77 and meets Rupp for the first time. Their not so friendly introduction is interrupted by an attack on the base by a group of Sopwith Camels.
CHAPTER SIX – A MAN TO WATCH
http://www.thebluema...a-man-to-watch/
Luetnant Bruno Stachel has an immediate impact on Jasta 77 and not in a good way. Hauptmann Heidemann is trying to get to know his newest pilot and Rupp is sure he will either be the next Ace in the squad or dead within three weeks. It could go either way.
CHAPTER SEVEN –FIRST KILL
http://www.thebluema.../ch7-firstkill/
Leutnant Stachel, frustrated by his unconfirmed kill a few weeks earlier, makes a point when he drops an RE8 right on the Hauptmann’s front porch. Bold, skilled and cruel, Stachel’s begins to make a reputation for himself.
CHAPTER EIGHT – THE BIG PUSH
http://www.thebluema...the-big-push-1/
The Big Push begins and Jasta 77 is in the thick of the fight. German pilots like their chances of winning, especially when they hear the new Fokker DVII’s will be delivered soon. Rupp can’t figure out why the Hauptmann is giving Stachel special treatment, but he knows he better figure it out soon.
CHAPTER NINE – THE CIRCUS COMES TO TOWN
http://www.thebluema...-comes-to-town/
It has been quite a week for Bruno Stachel. He shot down two more enemy aircraft, had a job offer from the Red Baron and got a nice write up in the Berlin papers. Hauptmann Heidemann seems to be putting Stachel on the fast track.
The next chapter will be April 27th.
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Posted by
on 21 May 2017 - 06:09 PM
I worked the Airshow Saturday. Morning was beautiful. Blue sky, gentile breeze and the day was shaping up to be perfect for an airshow. A few planes made test flights.
At 12:15 we started to move the guests back to the spectator line in preparation for flight operations. Then a sea fog blew in from the north, the wind picked up and the ceiling dropped.
No flying.
In order to provide some entertainment for our guest, many of the aircraft were started up and taxied along the spectator line so everyone could get a good look at each airplane and at least hear the engines running. Not the same as flying, but the best we could do in the circumstances.
I didn’t work Sunday, but it was overcast with a 1500 ft ceiling, and I understand they did fly.
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Douglas SBD Dauntless
Kate from Tora-Tora-Tora (Modified AT-6 Texan)
Douglas SBD Dauntless
FG-1D Corsair
AD-4 Skyraider
FM-2 Wildcat
Junkers Ju-52
CurtissP-40E
De Havilland Mosquito
P-51D Mustang
Bell P-63 King Cobra
Goxhill Tower
AT-6 Texan (front) P-64 (back)
Flak 37 88mm Gun
B-25
Posted by
on 30 December 2016 - 09:19 PM
Posted by
on 01 February 2018 - 02:45 PM
Actually, Jason Williams personally commented on the ROF Facebook group. O_O Here’s what he said:S! Hotlead,
Great job... you should show this to 777!
Cheers,
Gen
Posted by
on 28 December 2017 - 03:46 AM
Posted by
on 12 November 2017 - 10:31 AM
I was looking for a photo of Reinhard for my profile, and ran across this one on the warnepieces blogspot site:
http://1.bp.blogspot...olders 1918.jpg
I don’t know the credentials of this guy as a historian, but I enjoyed his site, and I’m pretty sure the men in the photo are correctly identified:
Left to right: Kurt Wüsthoff, Wilhelm Reinhard, Manfred von Richthofen, Erich Löwenhardt, and Lothar von Richthofen.
You’ll notice that the image of Wüsthoff is okay, but the photo becomes more distorted and skewed as you scan from left to right. All the other copies I’ve seen of this photo are the same. If any of you have skill with photoshop or paintshop and want to fix this, it would be a boon to all who like to keep a gallery of WWI aviation heroes .
A few things induced me to post this:
The pose: linked arms. Truly, brothers in arms.
Their youth: Wüsthoff was only 20 when he earned the Pour le Mérite he is wearing.
This American holiday: Veterans’ Day.
This sentence at the end of the photo caption on the warnepieces blog: “Their combined victory total was 221.”
If you’ve ever flown a light plane with a light wing-loading on a windy day or when there are cumulous clouds in the sky, add the wind of an open cockpit, the cold and lack of oxygen at altitude...you wonder how they ever did it. It’s just incredible. I know you know all this, but really... Right??
I meant to get this posted yesterday, but it’s never a bad time to say “Thank you for your service!”, and “Salut!” to all brave patriots who have served their country.
Wilhelm
Posted by
on 15 September 2017 - 05:05 AM
This was my 5th online race and the 3rd on this weekly series on Assetto Corsa which is different than iRacing because it is FREE.... no charge is good ! Any of you interested in getting back in a race car and don't want to have t buy the store each week, this is a great way to go. The racing is getting better FAST... and I think it will rival iRacing very soon. That group has more drivers because it has been around longer, but the number of people signing up on AC... and the fact that you get pick up a race almost any time at no charge is tough to beat.
Shaun Cole of SIMPIT is hosting a weekly race series that is using the Porsche Carrera RSR 3.0 and this is week 3. Jake (aka Snaggle) and I have been racing this one and we thought we would put up a video here for you so see the quality of the graphics and racing. Shaun is the host and he will try for about 10 laps to catch a yellow #17 Porsche in front of him while talking and answering questions during the race... he gets quiet when it gets close... Guess who is driving the Yellow #17 car??? yeah... that would be me. I ended up 7th and he took 8th.
Have a look, hope you enjoy it.... LOTS of fun... and you can't beat the price.
https://youtu.be/OBgHcYzkBkU?t=984
Posted by
on 29 April 2017 - 06:59 PM
Posted by
on 21 November 2016 - 11:18 PM
Posted by
on 03 October 2016 - 01:18 AM
Here are some pictures I took at the Military Aviation Musuem’s Biplanes and Triplanes 2016 Airshow. Some were taken on Friday’s practice day and the rest at Saturday’s full event.
We were lucky the weather cooperated on both days.
S!
Lee
Fokker Dr.1
Flight line on Friday
From left to right: Strutter, Fokker C.I, Halberstadt CL.IV, Fokker D.VII
Albatros D.Va
Nieuport 17
Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter
Fokker D.VIII
From left to right: Strutter and Fokker D.VI
Fokker D.VI
Ford Model T chassis Ambulance
Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter. This is the replica used in the movie "Flyboys"
1911 Curtiss-Ely Pusher replica. Built to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Naval Aviation.
Ford model T chassis with Huck Starter.
Flight Line Saturday show day.
Flight Line Saturday show day.
Rotary Engine Demonstrator
More birds on the Flight Line
From left to right: Fokker E.III and Fokker D.VIII
Looking East
Fokker E.III (did not fly)
Blériot XI
Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter
From left to right: Fokker D.VII and Albatros D.Va
Albatros D.Va
Albatros D.Va
Halberstadt CL.IV
Fokker D.VII with printed fabric lozenge camouflage and Hall Scott engine.
Fokker D.VII
From left to right: Fokker D.VII, Halberstadt CL.IV and Fokker C.I
From left to right: Fokker C.I, Fokker D.VII, Halberstadt CL.IV and Fokker D.VII
From left to right: Fokker D.VIII, Fokker Dr.1 and Fokker D.VI
Fokker C.I
Fokker D.VI
Fokker D.VIII
From left to right: Fokker D.VI, Fokker D.VIII and Fokker D.VII
From left to right: Fokker D.VI, Fokker D.VIII and Fokker D.VII
From left to right: Fokker D.VI, Fokker D.VII and Fokker D.VIII
Posted by
on 30 August 2016 - 11:14 PM
My 1 day trip to the Brome County Historical Society in the Eastern Townships...
After Mause told me to go and see at Knowlton one of three Fokker D VII in the world with its original fabric (not a replica), another in Munich and one at Bourget (France).
It's my pleasure to show some of the pictures I took today of this great WW1 plane.
This Fokker D VII (FOK D VII (ALB) 6810/18) was shipped from Camp Borgen, Angus Ontario on May 27, 1920 to Knowlton at a cost of $112.50.
It was said that this plane was sent in 1918 to the Jagdgeschwader 1 (JG 1)!
But was not confirm by anyone at the BCHS.
Cheers,
Gen 
Posted by
on 04 April 2018 - 05:13 AM
Posted by
on 27 December 2017 - 07:06 AM
Posted by
on 24 May 2017 - 03:09 AM
Posted by
on 09 March 2017 - 07:21 AM
Posted by
on 22 November 2016 - 03:26 PM
That was a great movie, it really shows what teamwork in RoF on TS looks like. If I were to show someone what am I doing with my evenigs, I would probably choose this movie now. Or show someone how to fly a Spad in knifefight.
(And I must make sure Marx, Drookasi and Mr Tree - trio of my Kameraden who starred as villains in 10th minute - watch it as well.)
Salute!
Posted by
on 13 June 2016 - 01:00 AM
Here are a few shots from the Military Aviation Museum’s 2016 “Flying Prom.”
Music provided by Virginia Beach’s symphony orchestra, Symphonicity. Aircraft are from the museum’s collection. I only took still photos, so no music. You really had to be there.
Program includes music with appropriate aircraft flying. For example, the de Havilland Mosquito flew to the “633 Squadron” theme. The Fokker Dr.1s, D.VII and Albatros D.Va flew to the suite from “The Red Baron.” The Wildcat and Aichi “Val” flew to the “War & Tennessee” Suite from “Pearl Harbor.” And of course the Hurricane, Spitfire and Bf 109 flew to the suit from “Battle of Britain.”
The flying program ended at intermission, but then much more music was played. “Stars & Stripes Forever” was the last piece kicking off the fireworks display.
S!
