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Interesting history relating to the V-2 and early rocketry.
Amazing in the early days how people did not make an issue over everything disintegrating, blowing up, falling apart etc. Given the state of technology, in itself the issues were not surprising, but the acceptance of it all is.
Perhaps the lack of an intrusive sensationalist Press had much to do with this!
And when the technology was ironed out - it then worked so well.
In the 1979 De Havilland Vampires (a plane that first flew in 1943 and went into service in the late 1940's) were still in active service and I had many opportunities to examine these.
For a jet they were really basic - the body was made of plywood, with some aluminium around the engine bay! Still also had valves in part of the plane, as well as some weird wiring using massive gauge wire. But they zoomed around and were used for ground strikes.
I also remember the first landing on the moon. Think of the basic technology then. Terrifying, but it all worked!
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The SD40 is 55 now!
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