Date:         Mon, 31 Jul 2006 21:56:45 -0500
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject:      [NVC] Dr. Z,Stout Scarabs, Dymaxions, and the Blowfly
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Guys,  --- and Ladies,

I know it's not Frydaye , and this is [NVC]..... but..... I couldn't
resist, given all the discussion going on in the thread about Dr. Z,
mini-vans, Stout Scarabs, Dymaxions, etc.

In 1914 there was a company in England that built a small airplane
called the Gormerly Bulsh Blowfly. Three cylinder engines with  burled
walnut valves, 26 horpower, 100 rpm - It is an interesting tale.

Back in my early flying days hanging around the country airstrip I
remember hearing some of the old timers - Englishmen among them - talk
about the Gormerly and of course when the greenhorns like me were about,
the oldsters would crank out the stories. Hangar Flying, as it were tall
tales of blood, guts, glory, and dering-do!.

It seems the Gormerly got pretty popular for a while, and over time the
Blowfly part kinda got dropped, and so did the Gormerly. But the Bulsh
part stuck.  So when someone announced they were going to the aerodrome
for a little airwork, they were asked what they they were going to fly.
The answer was the Bulsh. In the fullness of time, when asked what one
was going to do out at the aerodrome, the stock answer came to be  they
were going out to Bulsh-it!

For those interested, the whole story of the Gormerly Bulsh Blowfly can
be found at
http://www.acroflyer.com/1914blowflye_aircraft.htm

Enjoy!

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver