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echo: aviation
to: JIM SANDERS
from: RAY MARSH
date: 1998-02-06 11:37:00
subject: News-007

Greetings...
 -=> Quoting Jim Sanders to All on News-007 <=-
 JS> I often wonder why the news media continues to use the archaic
 JS> term "tarmac" when writing of airfield locations or areas. All areas
 JS> seem to be the "tarmac".  Tarmac is an abbreviation of the English
 JS> paving referred to a tar MacAdam. It went out with the last issue of
 JS> WW I pulp fiction "Flying Aces." Asphalt paving as we call tarmac is
 JS> generally replaced by concrete due to the corrosive action of jet
 JS> engine blast on asphalt.
I think it must be a leftover from Britain.  All aircraft at airports
were considered to be "on the tarmac".
It was a very common word in East Africa when I was there.  Most of the
roads were just dirt, but those that weren't were called tarmac roads.
...from Brisbane, Australia.          raymarsh@hotmail.com
... Omnia mutantur et nos mutamur in illis.
___ Blue Wave/386 v2.30 [NR]
--- Maximus 2.02
---------------
* Origin: Brisbug MIS Brisbane Qld (3:640/829)

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