Aero-Linx!

Scouring the information super airways can sometimes be a tough, if educational, task for the Aero-News staff... but it also allows us to check out some truly neat and exciting sites, so it's not that bad a gig. On any given day, we may check dozens (and often hundreds) of different sources for story ideas, and facts confirmation. And, as is the nature of our business, much of this is done on the Internet.

The ANN gang decided we probably shouldn't keep some of the neat sites, info resources, and organizations we've discovered to ourselves... so we decided to bring you Aero-Linx. These are the sites that WE check out -- when we need added perspective, a new spin on a day's topic... or just want to escape into cyber-aero-space for awhile.

Look for some of our favorite sites, coming each day to ANN via Aero-Linx. Suggestions for future Aero-Linx segments are always welcome, as well.

Aero-Linx: Bensen X-25A "Gyrocopter"

Note: This aircraft is located in the Research & Development Gallery on a secure part of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Two X-25 aircraft were procured by the USAF in 1968 to test a method for improving the chances of rescuing crewmen forced to bail out from their aircraft over enemy territory. If the flyer had a means of controlling his descent after parachuting and could select a landing site, his chances of avoiding capture would be greatly increased.

FMI: www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=636