19th August: National Aviation Day

National Aviation Day is celebrated on the birthday of Orville Wright, born this day in 1871. Then on the same date in 1940, the new Civil Aeronautics Administration awarded honorary license number 1 to Orville Wright. Aviation has come a long way since Orville's day. Planes are much more complex and often need maintenance by precision engineers. These are 10 of the best engineers' responses to the problems pilots reported to them.

1. Something loose in cockpit. Something tightened in cockpit.
2. Left-inside main tyre (tire) almost needs replacing. Almost replaced left-inside main tyre.
3. Evidence of leak on right main landing gear Evidence removed.
4. Unfamiliar noise coming from No2 engine. Engine run for three hours. Noise now familiar.
5. Mouse in cockpit. Cat installed.
6. Target radar hums. Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.
7. Number three engine missing. [not firing properly presumably] Engine found on starboard [right] wing after brief search.
8. Aircraft handles funny. Aircraft told to straighten up, fly right and be serious.
9. Whining sound heard on engine shutdown. Pilot removed from aircraft.
10. Noise coming from under instrument panel - sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer. Took hammer away from midget.