The “Cornfield Bomber” Landed Itself Without A Pilot (Cool Weird Awesome 708)

Today in 1970, an Air Force pilot had to eject from his fighter jet during a training exercise. So the plane just sort of got itself back onto the ground, mostly successfully.

By |2024-02-02T09:26:45-05:00February 2, 2022|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , |

The First Skywriting Was, No Surprise, For Advertising (Cool Weird Awesome 668)

On or around this day in 1922, a pilot wrote the first skywriting message in the United States. It was a way to demonstrate an advertising technique that would be a big part of business for the next few decades.

By |2023-10-04T10:47:35-04:00December 1, 2021|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , |

Incubus, The Esperanto-Language Movie Starring William Shatner (Cool Weird Awesome 642)

Today in 1966, the official release of "Incubus," the only Esperanto-language movie starring a pre-Star Trek William Shatner. The movie had such bad fortune some people actually thought it was cursed. Plus: a guy buys an airplane, and though he's never flown before, he taxis it down the runway, takes off and has to figure out how to land. 

By |2024-03-22T08:46:43-04:00October 26, 2021|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , |

Boeing Once Used Potatoes To Test In-Flight WiFi (Cool Weird Awesome 594)

It’s National Aviation Day and National Potato Day, and amazingly, there's a story that brings them both together. Boeing used sacks of potatoes in place of humans when it began testing in-flight WiFi. Plus: in 1994, American Airlines released an 18 page book of its in-flight recipes, for anyone looking to recreate airline food at home. 

By |2023-11-29T09:12:14-05:00August 19, 2021|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , |

Before There Was CGI, There Was Special Effects Master Ray Harryhausen (Cool Weird Awesome 562)

Today was the birthday of Ray Harryhausen, a pioneer of special effects in movies in the days before computers. And while special effects are more high tech now than in his day, his influence is still all over the world of movies in our time. Plus: a veteran flier from World War II gets to take another flight, some 75 years later. 

By |2021-06-29T09:32:51-04:00June 29, 2021|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , |

Turning Plastic Into Jet Fuel, In About An Hour (Cool Weird Awesome 538)

Researchers at Washington State University have found a way to convert plastic waste into jet fuel that takes only an hour. And it's also less energy-intensive, which could make recycling plastic more cost-effective and more common. Plus: today in 2017, a high school in Virginia made sure to include a beloved service dog in its yearbook photos! 

By |2021-05-18T08:12:11-04:00May 18, 2021|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , , |

Harriet Quimby, The Pilot Who Became “Queen of the Channel Crossing” (Cool Weird Awesome 533)

Today in 1875, aviation pioneer Harriet Quimby was born. She isn't as well known as Amelia Earhart or Bessie Coleman but, as the first woman to fly across the English Channel, she definitely made an impact. Plus: on Minnesota's birthday, a look at a fact you might not know about its famous state fair. 

How A Pedal-Powered Airplane Crossed The English Channel (Cool Weird Awesome 319)

Today's the anniversary of a pretty unusual moment in the history of human flight: on this day in 1979, an airplane flew over the English Channel that was entirely powered by its pilot. Plus: watching the heaviest airplane ever built take off is a sight to see.

By |2020-06-12T06:56:12-04:00June 12, 2020|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , |

Does A Book With 1,250 Endings Ever Really End? (Cool Weird Awesome 262)

I grew up reading Choose Your Own Adventure books, some of which had dozens of possible endings. But a new book from a celebrated Sri Lankan children's author had a world record 1,250 endings!

The Life And Flights Of Jerrie Cobb (Cool Weird Awesome 252)

Today is the birthday of Jerrie Cobb, who could have been the first woman in space but ended up flying to great heights nonetheless.

By |2024-03-05T07:53:50-05:00March 5, 2020|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , , |
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