Rube Goldberg

They would be $3,000 a month mortgage and I was concerned that layoffs would come. I visited the plant, the people, but their research area was limited. They had a ridged rotor counter rotating design with an integral pusher prop. And a Rube Goldberg X-wing transmission-less design that blew exhaust gas over the rotors to make them turn like a helicopter. After achieving forward flight, the pilot would stop the rotor in mid-flight and direct the air over the blades to create lift. That was…

HQDA detailers received complaints from commanders concerning placements, quality for Training and Combat Development Directorates at Fort Rucker. They wanted CGSC graduates. I found it interesting that they chose a passed-over Major to solve that problem. And DA told me this was my only promotion opportunity, but by now, I realized that what they said was not what they meant. But the options were scarce, and I was within three years of retirement. Enterprise, Alabama was a low-cost area,…