Just time for our occasional series: "Ladies in Bikinis Holding Model Aircraft!"
I will be testing you on the aircraft...
Who filed the first patent for a 'flying machine with a boat hull'?
- Alphonse Pénaud
- Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin
- Orville Wright
When built the first single engine monocoque aircraft?
- Dornier-Zeppelin
- Oswald Short
- LFG Roland
You buy a model aircraft whose controls use the 72 MHz frequency band. Which country are you NOT permitted to legally fly it in?
- Canada
- Singapore
- the Vatican city state
Which of these light jets is the fastest?
- the Cirrus Vision SF50
- the Dassault Falcon 10
- the Bombardier Learjet 25D
Which of these nations did not purchase the F4 Phantom?
- Spain
- Turkey
- Japan
Which of the following is NOT used to control a multi-pitch RC helicopter?
- the cyclic
- the collective
- the throttle
Which aircraft is depicted below?
- a Martin AM Mauler
- a Douglas A-1 Skyraider
- an NAA T28 Trojan
Well how did you do? I'm not going to tell you because I don't believe you were looking at the aircraft, but if you think you did well then well done!
More ladies in bikinis holding model aircraft another time...
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Today in pulp I look back at the publishing phenomenon of gamebooks: novels in which YOU are the hero!
A pencil and dice may be required for this thread...
Gamebooks are a simple but addictive concept: you control the narrative. At the end of each section of the story you are offered a choice of outcomes, and based on that you turn to the page indicated to see what happens next.
Gamebook plots are in fact complicated decision tree maps: one or more branches end in success, but many more end in failure! It's down to you to decide which path to tread.
"OK Gloria, this is an international spy novel so try and look suspenseful. And provocative. And continental. Maybe with a hint of frisson. Just keep it classy."
"OK Deborah, this is a really tense scene in the novel so try and look imperiled. And intriguing. And beguiling. Maybe with a hint of chagrin. Now light me."
"OK Agatha, you're an international hitwoman so try and look dangerous. And possibly Spanish. And equestrian. Give me Spanish horses in your eyes. Be a danger jockey, but a bit teasing. Maybe undo a button."