Triva Time II (an easy one this time)

I think it was when pilots would fly to fields outside towns and give rides and stunt for the crowds. And it was after the pilots got back from WWI, whatever year that was. Sorry I like history, but not great with dates.

Rusty:

Nice try but no cigar.

That's it! I'm looking it up! DQ me if you want.

Duke writes elements of truth but I'd like more please.

Hint:

"The Great War" (WWI -1914-18) has something to do with the answer.

Should I not assume you are talking about planes?

Duke:

If you choise to DQ yourself, please don't "spill" the answers. Keep them "under you hat". please. Gracias

duke.johnson wrote:Should I not assume you are talking about planes?

Though "assume" can have a comedic meaning, in this case your assumption is correct.

Yes, airplanes are basic to the question.

Next?

Does it have something to do with bored ex WWI pilots doing exhibition stunts and flying through barns?

I haven't DQ'ed myself yet, just had anohter thought. PM coming your way.

Ron is ahead so far.

Flesh it out. There's more.

Boredoom wasn't the movation for "barnstorming". What was?

Barnstorming was originally a reference to political shenanigans in rural pastures.

Ian:

Political shenanigans are not related "barnstorming" post WWI..

Is my browser (IE 9) broken again?

Wise arss me has to admit selling barnstorming as trivia is a novel idea... BUT I can't find the link to buy a clue.....grin

Time! Game's over. Thanks to those particapting.

You may now drive in to your references.

GO FOR IT!

We've all been on google Dave (haven't you Ian ) but it doesn't say.
Put us out of our misery.....
I thought it may have been Kraut

Sorry lads, my wife and I have social engagment this evening and I don't want to come home to a load of more answers (guesses).

After looking into this when I arrived home. Their seem to be a couple right answers above.

From the dictionary:
barnstormer n.
1. To travel around the countryside making political speeches, giving lectures, or presenting theatrical performances.
2. To appear at county fairs and carnivals in exhibitions of stunt flying and parachute jumping.


From Wikipedia:
Barnstorming was a popular form of entertainment in the USA in the 1920s, in which stunt pilots would perform tricks with airplanes, either individually or in groups called a flying circus. Barnstorming was the first major form of civil aviation in the history of flight.

The term barnstormer was also applied to pilots who flew throughout the country selling airplane rides, usually operating from a farmer's field for a day or two before moving on. "Barnstorming season" ran from early spring until after the harvest and county fairs in the fall.

The term barnstorming comes from an earlier American tradition of rural political campaigns. Which 'THEY' (whoever they are) the politicians had the term first. Early 1920's.

Yep, it seems the aviation term was adapted from the original political term.

John Goddard wrote:We've all been on google Dave (haven't you Ian ) but it doesn't say.
Put us out of our misery.....
I thought it may have been Kraut

The search engine I use is www.dogpile.co.uk

This today produced

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Where_does_the_term_barnstorming_come_from

all:

In short, WWI ushered in what is commonly known a "The Golden Age of Aviation". In America, aviators like Capttain Eddie Richenbacker (sp) became national icons in a group know as the "Laffette Escadrille" (sp) (a group of American aviators who went "Over There" (France) to repell the German onsloght from the air. (The US had not yet entered the war)

I'll spare you the story of WWI aviation.

Following the war aviation and it's heros became tremdously popular with the public. Though the war had ended the fascination with aviation had not. Returning aviators yearned to fly and the public desired to see them fly.

There were an abundance of aircraft returned from the war that were surplused at bargain prices and the aviators took to them readilly enabling them to exhibit their fly skills with deeds of "daring-do"; there seemed to be no limit to what they would attempt in the exhibitions.

With the paying public in attendance one of the most popular exhibitions was "BARNSTORMIG"; the practice of flying through the opened doors of a large barn not Ron, because the aviators were "bored" but becaue aviators enjoyed the challenge and were paid to do so. (No, not all of them weree successful)

Remember this all happened a sant time from the Wright Brothers historic powered flight at Kill Devil Hill,NC in 1903. (BTW, Kitty Hawk is the region, Kill Devil is the site)In a very short time aviation had risen from a curiosity to a practically.

Later were to come were marathon flights such as Lindburgh's non-stop flight from New York to Paris in 1927. "Lucky Lindy" joined the icons of flight. Tunes like: "Those Daring Young Men in their Flying Machines" were popular on Maroni's new (yes) wireless radio.

I have this information entirely within my head in case you are intested. My spelling may be off but for that I ask your forgiveness.

BTW: The term aviator is period correct.

SuperDave wrote:With the paying public in attendance one of the most popular exhibitions was "BARNSTORMING"; the practice of flying through the opened doors of a large barn not Ron, because the aviators were "bored" but because aviators enjoyed the challenge and were paid to do so. (No, not all of them were successful)

So my guess was more or less right. I got one!
Just not ol' Howard.

Rusty:

I'll concede that your answer was "less" rather than "more" correct

I surely had fun with my post beause it caused members to scrounge for anwers and in the process come across with insights they may not have possessed previously.

I thought it a healthy exercise of the mind in a subject matter of common interest: aviation.

As a high school teacher I was a more of a guide to my students than a fountain of knowledge spewing forth verbage. I bemoan the fact that is no longer acceptable in many schools today.