AIR: Builder of Big Ships

AIR Builder of Big Ships

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The big Consolidated boat was at 18,000 feet over the Atlantic and the oxygen was sobbing comfortably in the crew's masks. Then it happened. Somehow the automatic pilot jammed. With its right aileron all the way down, the 15-ton Catalina went into a violent left turn, headed for the sea. In the dizzy spiral dive the aileron carried away, took part of the tip of the wing with it. Then the left aileron ripped off. An operator in the United Kingdom heard the frenetic chirp from the...

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