Good Design

Last week we went to the Evergreen Aviation Museum to see the Spruce Goose. There was something for everyone. Rose was enthralled with the name, "Spruce Goose? Spruce Goose? That rhymes! We have blue spruce trees, is the plane blue? Or is it white like a goose?" (It's gray, by the way). Then she wanted to know if any of the other planes had interesting names, especially the planes with faces. . . .

St. George was interested in the stories and read most of the signs. He was interested in the displays of the fire jumpers and concerned that the rescue helicopter's seating capacity might not be adequete in an emergency.

Edison was captivated by the design. He, being a builder himself, has experience with structures and mechanics. He commented on the designs for planes that never flew with the wisdom of a seven year old aviation engineer, "That's silly. It wastes energy." His daddy beamed approvingly. The two walked hand-in-hand throughout the museum, stopping for extended periods of quiet contemplation and then, discussion.

They stopped at a Sopwith Camel where Edison commented, "Well, that's not going to work, the pilot would shoot the propeller off with the guns behind the propeller like that!" Daddy told him that this plane did fly and did shoot without shooting its propeller off, and then watched as Edison's brain sorted through the information.

"Well, then there must have been a way for the propeller engine to know when the guns were firing." So began an explanation of synchronization.

I watched and listened to these three very different little explorers. I wondered at the mechanics of each one. I also appreciate a Good Design.