Did you know....

[mrvette]

The fan in front of the plane was to keep the pilot cool???




































when it stops you can see the pilot sweating......

[Mike Mercury]

propellers are such old tech...

[StaticCling]

Did you know that many WW1 Front Line Fighter aircraft were rotary engines and utilized a total loss oil system? The crankshaft was actually bolted to the firewall and the entire engine rotated within the cowling...the propeller was just bolted to the front of the engine. Since petroleum production was still in its infancy, and in short supply, they used Castor Oil to lubricate the engines.

Being a total loss oil system, the pilot would wear goggles to not only shield their eyeballs from the wind, but to prevent Castor Oil from getting in their eyes. The scarf was also utilized to wipe the oil spray from their face. There goes your glamorous Red Baron pizza pilot image.

Considering Castor Oil is a laxative, there ARE reports that many WW1 pilots suffered chronic diarrhea.

So, not only would you be shitting your pants because you are in a dogfight, you are shitting your pants because you have literally ingested unhealthy amounts of Castor Oil.

[mrvette]

Originally Posted by chinaski

Did you know that many WW1 Front Line Fighter aircraft were rotary engines and utilized a total loss oil system? The crankshaft was actually bolted to the firewall and the entire engine rotated within the cowling...the propeller was just bolted to the front of the engine. Since petroleum production was still in its infancy, and in short supply, they used Castor Oil to lubricate the engines.

Being a total loss oil system, the pilot would wear goggles to not only shield their eyeballs from the wind, but to prevent Castor Oil from getting in their eyes. The scarf was also utilized to wipe the oil spray from their face. There goes your glamorous Red Baron pizza pilot image.

Considering Castor Oil is a laxative, there ARE reports that many WW1 pilots suffered chronic diarrhea.

So, not only would you be shitting your pants because you are in a dogfight, you are shitting your pants because you have literally ingested unhealthy amounts of Castor Oil.

BUT they had no problem moving furniture around in the race to the head.....