| Pancho Barnes’ Steak Knife Set | |
|---|---|
|
Origin |
Pancho Barnes |
|
Type |
Steak Knives |
|
Effects |
Flights exceed the sound limit |
|
Downsides |
Encroaches eminent domain on one's property |
|
Activation |
Eating a meal and entering aircraft |
|
Collected by |
Warehouse 13 |
|
Section |
|
|
Date of Collection |
June 25, 1976 |
| [Source] | |
Origin[]
Florence Lowe "Pancho" Barnes (July 22, 1901 – March 30, 1975) was a pioneer aviator and a founder of the first movie stunt pilots' union. In 1930, she broke Amelia Earhart's air speed record. Barnes raced in the Women's Air Derby and was a member of the Ninety-Nines. In later years, she was known as the owner of the Happy Bottom Riding Club, a bar and restaurant in the Mojave Desert, Southern California, catering to the legendary test pilots and aviators who worked nearby. Barnes became very close friends with many of the early test pilots, including Chuck Yeager, Robert Anderson "Bob" Hoover, Walt Williams, Jack Ridley, General Jimmy Doolittle, Buzz Aldrin, North American Aviation flight test mechanic Bob Cadick, and flight test supervisor Roy Ferren. Barnes' ranch became famous for the parties and high-flying lifestyle of all the guests. After successful flight trials, the Muroc and Edwards test pilots often enjoyed some good times at the Happy Bottom Riding Club. As proprietor, Barnes would offer them a customary free steak dinner for breaking the sound barrier.
A change of command in 1952, however, contributed to Barnes getting into a conflict with the United States Air Force (USAF). The USAF was planning for the future of aviation, and decided it needed to build a new, super-long runway to accommodate new aircraft that were being planned to run on atomic power. That new runway would run directly across her ranch. The USAF originally offered her a price for her ranch, land, and facilities that was very close to the cost of undeveloped desert land. During the height of an intense court battle, in 1953, her ranch burned in a fire of mysterious origin. After the fire, the value of her ranch and business further plummeted to a level more closely reflecting the original buy-out offer from the USAF.
Effects[]
Makes any passenger have their flight accelerate beyond the sound limit, causing a sonic boom to the sorties on the ground below. Will only occur once per meal, usually when the aircraft has reached its highest standard speed. The vehicle never has any damages from the sudden boost, although all aboard will be a tad jolted with ruptured eardrums upon landing.
Makes one suffer attempts to buyout their property for as cheap as dirt. Real estate sharks and unscrupulous corporations, even federal agencies will attempt to bribe or employ eminent domain to snatch their land out from under them.