Wednesday, March 15, 2023

the Ruggles Orientator was used to demonstrate all the ups and downs, loops, side-loops and other stunts which winged daredevils undergo in the air.

page 28, December 1929 Flying Magazine
I wonder why they put it on wheels?

this Ruggles Orientator at the New York City Aviation Show shows Amelia Earhart

https://photos.com/featured/amelia-earhart-using-ruggles-orientator-bettmann.html

skip to 24:15 to see it in action:

6 comments:

  1. It seems like an early flight simulator. I saw a picture where a hood could be used to simulate flying at night or in low visibility. Here's a picture of Amelia Earhart in one with wheels.

    https://photos.com/featured/amelia-earhart-using-ruggles-orientator-bettmann.html

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  2. Here's a video of the Ruggles Orientator in operation. I can't tell if the person inside is controlling the movement, or someone outside.

    https://www.shutterstock.com/video/clip-1024164140-circa-1920---humorous-footage-1925-device

    There are some other interesting 1920s Army videos to the right, including an ambulance plane, James Doolittle flying a new Pursuit plane in 1925 and winter flight operations in Oscoda, MI.

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    Replies
    1. Wow, I found the you tube version, and at 10:45, it mentions Lt Bettis, who I just posted about earlier this week for the Pulitzer and Mitchel trophies! https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2023/03/the-1924-mitchell-trophy-race-sponsored.html

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    2. Did you see the parachute testing at about 14:00? That man was yanked off the wing by the parachute!

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    3. yes, the video named that manuever, I can't recall what it was... but - when you gotta go, I guess you gotta have that chute fully opened before you let go of the plane? Probably from the low altitude the earliest planes operated at

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