Here are some flying stories you may have missed this week.

The smaller side of aviation.
This is an article from West Virginia about a few friends who got together and formed a club for flying their radio-controlled model airplanes. The club has grown from the original 5 members to more than 50.

And while we’re on the subject of RC Modelers…
This is an article from SeaCoastOnline. It sounds like another instance of the ‘Law of Unintended Consequences’ which seems to come into effect whenever the government tries to write a new rule. An NPRM is due out this year – it will be interesting to see how they try to ‘make us safer.’

Flying from Madrid to Manila in 1926 – part 1
Flying from Madrid to Manila in 1926 – part 2
These articles are from the Philippines Free Press. A 1927 book written by a couple of early Spanish flyers was recently translated. These articles describe the event covered in the book – a flight from Madrid to Manila in 1926. Three aircraft (French Breguet XIX biplanes) departed Madrid on the journey, each one manned by a pilot and a mechanic. One plane arrived in Manila 39 days later, manned by two pilots. It sounds like the book would make a really interesting read. The title is Madrid-Manila Flight, presumably authored by Eduardo Gallarza and Joaquin Loriga since it is a first-person account of the flight. I found several references to the book, but no sources for purchase.

Ever wonder where those static wicks come from?
This is a good article from the Oregonian and posted on OregonLive.com. It describes the development of static wicks for aircraft – used to reduce radio electrical ‘noise’ generated from static electricity forming on the skin of the aircraft. It all started in Portland in 1937….