The Gila Bend Cowboy
The Arizona desert might not be the first place you would think a mummified body would be found. In fact, on several occasions throughout history a carcass was discovered buried or lying on the desert floor in a dried up condition. One such mummy was that of a cowboy found near the town of Gila Bend. It was in 1895 when a couple of rough-riders traveling on their horses across the desert came across an unusual site. It was a body of a man which appeared to have been lying there for a brief period and looked well preserved. The cowboy mummy was given the name, Sylvester, and was thought to have once been a 19th century rancher or perhaps a gambler. Hypothetical stories started circulating about how Sylvester was probably caught cheating, then shot, and bleed to death trying to escape. They go on to say that while fleeing, he fell off his horse, landed on the desert dirt, and was covered with blowing sands. The sands dried his body overnight preserving the corpse resulting in the mummified state he was found in.
Although that story might be a bit far-fetched, another more believable account was being told as well. The claims are he was found shortly after death and preserved in a high level of arsenic. Arsenic was used to stop the physical manifestation of a corpse rotting by killing bacteria and insects that invaded it. This custom of using arsenic was found to be poisonous by the 1900’s and never used again. No one knows who preserved his body in arsenic, but his mummified figure was put on exhibit in a sideshow for all to see. The Wild West outlaw mummy was acquired by the Ye Olde Curiosity Shop in Seattle, Washington in 1955 and put in a glass case for display. This has been Sylvester’s home ever since.
Why does the AC-130 use propellers and not jet engines?
The AC-130, a formidable presence in the sky, is a military aircraft that's been designed with specific missions in mind. Its use of propellers over jet engines is a deliberate choice that enhances its operational capabilities. Propellers are part of what's known as turboprop engines, which combine the reliability and efficiency of traditional propeller aircraft with the power of a turbine engine.
The main reason for choosing propellers is their efficiency at lower speeds and altitudes, which is where the AC-130 often operates. This efficiency translates into better fuel economy and longer flight times, which are crucial for the aircraft's role in providing close air support, air interdiction, and force protection. The propellers also allow for shorter takeoffs and landings, enabling the AC-130 to operate from more rugged and less prepared airstrips, which is often the case in conflict zones.
Turboprop engines, like those on the AC-130, are less susceptible to damage from debris and small objects being sucked into the engine, which is a significant advantage when operating in austere environments. The propellers make the aircraft's engines less likely to ingest foreign objects, reducing the risk of operational problems and maintenance issues.