FROM THE EDITOR
BENCH MARKS L
es Paul passed away recently. Paul was born Lester Wil- liam Polfus on June 9, 1915 in Waukesha, Wisconsin. The
public radio stations here in Wisconsin have had quite a few segments during the past week discussing the contribu- tions Les Paul made to guitar playing and to the history of modern music. Les Paul had an inquisitive and
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR JOE ESCOBAR
jescobar@DOMmagazine.com | 920.747.0195
Few will have the greatness to bend
history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation. — Robert F. Kennedy
bench·mark Pronunciation: \’bench-’märk\ Function: noun. Date: circa 1842
1. Usually bench mark: a mark on a permanent object indicating elevation and serving as a reference in topographic surveys and tidal observations
2. a: a point of reference from which measurements may be made b: something that serves as a standard by which others may be measured or judged c: a standardized problem or test that serves as a basis for evaluation or comparison (as of computer system performance)
creative mind. He built his first crystal radio when he was nine years old (around the same time he started to learn how to play the guitar). Les Paul built the first solid-body electric gui- tar in 1941. He also invented multi- tracking, a method that made record- ing music a lot easier. Gone were the days of recording take after take of the entire band or group playing live until they got it right. Now, musicians were able to record individual tracks of the instruments and vocals and put them together for a finished product. They didn’t even have to be in the same studio to do this. One of the radio programs I was
able to listen to discussed how Les Paul made his first multi-track ma- chine. I was fascinated as the person being interviewed (I can’t remember his name), a friend of Paul’s, described that first machine. Les Paul’s first multi-track machine was basically an acetate lathe made using a Cadillac fly wheel and fan belt. Paul perfected his technology and eventually commis- sioned Ampex Corporation to build the first eight-track tape recorder (then called the Sel-Sync). Les Paul was truly a bench mark in the history of modern music. Listening to how Les Paul used
his creative genius to make that first multi-track machine reminded me of a bench mark in aviation history – Charles E. Taylor. Taylor was the father of aircraft maintenance. In six weeks, he was able to build an engine for the Wright brothers that met their strict weight and horse-
09.10 2009
4
power requirements. Without Taylor, who knows when (or if) the Wright Glider would have become the Wright Flyer — the first self-powered aircraft. A few years ago, I was at the Smith-
sonian Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center covering the dedication of a bust of Charles E. Tay- lor that was donated by Ken MacTi- ernan and AMTA. I was fortunate to meet Giacinta Bradley Koontz at that event. Koontz is an aviation historian and author, and I had an opportunity to speak with her for a few moments about Charles Taylor. It was quickly apparent that Gia is passionate about aviation history. I am proud to announce that Giacinta Bradley Koontz is the new- est addition to the D.O.M. editorial team. Her new column, Bench Marks; Management in Aviation History, will educate readers about aviation manag- ers of the past who influenced history and set bench marks by which others would be measured or judged. While it is informational and edu- cational to learn about the pioneers of aviation past, we must keep in mind that what we do (or don’t do) affects aviation history as future generations will see it. What are we doing to make our own bench marks? While not all of us can be Charles E. Taylors or Les Pauls, we can make every effort to effect change wherever and whenever we can. It could be mentoring that new A&P mechanic in the shop or volunteering as a committee member for a trade association. Don’t think for a moment that
what you perceive as small efforts won’t amount to anything. After all, the worst thing you can do is to do nothing. Here’s to past and future bench
marks! Thanks for reading! — Joe Escobar
DOMmagazine
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72
