[Motorcycle.com]

What is the connection between motorcycles and airplanes? Growing up with a father who was fascinated by both, my youth was spent scouring the countryside for dusty barn finds, spinning a greasy wrench and flying, in the air and on the ground, wind in my face. It seemed that most of my dad's friends were pilots and motorcycle riders too. Apparently lots of famous aviators are motorcyclists and vice versa. Charles Lindbergh rode an Excelsior Super X. Steve McQueen collected and flew airplanes (his favorite was a Boeing Stearman), along with his better known motorcycle obsession. Former racers Mat Mladin and Bob "Hurricane" Hannah are flying buddies. It's no coincidence that the world's top selling motorcycle company, Honda, uses a wing as its logo. Wings are also featured on the emblem of Moto Guzzi, a company formed by two Italian World War I fighter pilots. The Italians call a person mounted on a motorcycle the "pilota," a pilot, who is a skilled operator in complete control of his craft...

More: The Wings Tour 2014: Leg One on Motorcycle.com

 

[Ortega]

great read, loved the pictures

 

[Tooth Tiger]

Very cool write up. Never though too hard about the connection between motorcycles and aviation but it makes total sense. That time was all about transportation innovation. Didn't BMW also start out making planes? Their symbol is supposed to be a rotor, right?

 

[Ortega]

even cars have some connection to aviation, i think rolls royce was one of them.

 

[Lokis Tyro]

Saab was another. I think some air-cooled Volkswagen engines are still used today in some types of aircraft.

 

[Lokis Tyro]

Just remembered Spyker. The interiors in their cars are amazing.

 

[Ortega]

they sure are, they remind me of the type of interior you would find in some high end vehicle like a veyron

 

[Lokis Tyro]

The Spyker cars are nicer than the Pagani Zondas and Huiyras in the interior department IMO. I'm not very familiar with the Bugatti interior. I can't feign interest for that car.

 

[Ortega]

basically it's up to par with the best from how I see it
now i wish more car makers did more to their interiors.

 

[Lokis Tyro]

Right. People really have to settle for their interiors when buying cars today, especially considering that's where you spend most of your time when commuting/traveling/etc. I guess flat plastics are safer...

 

[Ortega]

at least over time car makers overall have improved, i know american car makers have improved a lot, it was bad enough that they had the worst design.

 

[Jkilla71]

My old man was a pilot, aircraft mechanic/restorer, on the ground he rode triumphs, BSAs and drove jaguars. I grew up with airplanes in my garage along with bikes and cars. He actually rode a 1948 speedtwin from Pa to Ca to go to aircraft mechanic school when he was a teenager. My old man has always been into the RC stuff too but his eyes aren't what they use to be so he just builds and doesn't fly them. However, he is 80+ years old and he still rides my 1970 cb350ss with the sidecar. I hope I am still riding in 40 years.