Post by Bernard on Sept 18, 2024 15:10:06 GMT
A couple of days I came across of a package named "1937 TWA Sun Racer" including a small and basic scenery of former Camden Central Airport, PA. On the other hand I found this interesting story:
In 1938 W. Wallace Kellett and his well-known test pilot Johnny Miller suggested to Eddie Rickenbacker of Eastern Air Lines that he establish an autogyro mail-carrying service between the rooftop of the Philadelphia 30th Street Post Office and Camden Central Airport. The Post Office building, completed in 1935, had been designed with rotorcraft landings in mind. It had a flat asphalt roof with underfloor heating, take-off ramps at the sides, radio and weather reporting equipment, and fuelling and maintenance facilities. It was only marred by “penthouse structures” at each end which could cause problematic turbulence.
After test flights, some performed by test pilot Lou Leavitt in the prototype Kellett KD-1,operations officially started in July 1939 with a KD-1B, modified with a mail compartment in front of the enclosed single cockpit. There were five return flights per day, six days a week. The service was terminated by the Post Office a year later when the contract, referred to as AM2001, expired. There had been 2,634 flights.
It had been the world's first scheduled rotorcraft mail service. There is colour film of the autogyro operation.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoyWsg6Dxno
Both, scenery and story, here with FS9:
The above mentioned and adapted scenery of Camden Central Airport KCAM
Kellet Autogyro approaching Philadelphia Post Office (historically not really accurate, I agree)...
... parked at rooftop...
... and taking off for flying back to Camden Central Airport.
Bernard