Flight International's Straight & Level page at the back of the book has been a fixture for decades and has gone through many guises since the days of Roger Bacon, a character invented by Flight's then editor Mike Ramsden and continued under several editors, including yours truly, when the column used to be penned by one of our US-based journalists. It's still going, although Roger Bacon, sadly, has mostly hung up his quill pen, only to come out of retirement to challenge would-be Total Aviation Persons in our festive quiz.
If you don't get a chance to read the magazine - in print or tablet - here's a taste of what you're missing from 18 September.
Over the sea and far, far away
One has to worry about the USA's international perspective when the nation's Customs & Border Protection agency informs us its Global Entry Program has "officially expanded to the other side of the world... at... locations in Shannon and Dublin, Ireland".
The other side of the world? Maybe to Columbus. How do they describe Mumbai? Out of this world? Australia? Another galaxy, far, far away?
It be 50 too
While the UK's last cold war bomber, the Avro Vulcan, was wowing the crowds at Farnborough this summer, its US counterpart, the B-52 Stratofortress, remains fully operational half a century after its maiden flight from Seattle.
To mark the 50th anniversary, renowned military author Martin Bowman has compiled a fascinating account (£16.99/$34.95 Pen & Sword) of the "BUFF" (big ugly fat fella) that charts its conception, testing and development and extensive in-theatre action, which extends from Vietnam, through the Balkans and both Gulf Wars to Afghanistan and the recent Libyan crisis.
With the Stratofortress expected to remain in action for at least another three decades, no other US bomber has been called upon to remain operational as long.
Bowman's words are accompanied by a selection of photos and useful appendices listing units, losses and preserved airframes. A detailed index and colour drawings top off a worthy tribute to this eight-engined wonder.
Zep pilgrimage
Monarch is running another Aviation Enthusiasts' Day on 12 October, this time to Friedrichshafen. Guests will fly from London Gatwick to the home of the Zeppelin on board an Airbus A320 - rather than one of the town's famous airships. Monarch launches a new route to the southern German resort in December.
Places, at £159.98 per person, are limited and can be booked by calling Monarch reservations on + 44 (0) 843 2271312. For more details, visit: flightglobal.com/monarch
The cruel C
Airbus is keen that we refer to its current narrowbody family as the A320ceo to distinguish it from the new engine option A320neo. Aviation blogger Vero Venia has taken to calling the A320ceo the "clunker engine option". How ungracious. We hope it won't stick.
Ascent of Man
Brian Johnson, ex-director of civil aviation for the Isle of Man, writes to tell us that he will be showing our Straight & Level picture story from the 4-10 September issue about the island's lunar ambitions to friends on a trip to the USA, while handing them "our one pound paper note to remind them of progress so far".
He adds: "With our steam trains, horse-drawn trams and Victorian electric tramway, the Moon is the obvious next step for the island's aviation sector."
Getting into bed
This rather worrying piece of information arrives in our inbox via the ever reliable Google Translator:
"...Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia and China are studying the possibility of manufacturing large cargo helicopters and wide-body aircraft sex."
Leave a comment