-Those Fantastic Flying Machines-


NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Man must rise above the Earth—to the top of the atmosphere and beyond—for only thus will he fully understand the world in which he lives.— Socrates



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Saturday, December 26, 2009

Airliners Of The Future

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

American Airlines Flight Crashes at Jamaica Airport

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

BREAKING NEWS — An American Airlines plane carrying 152 people skidded off the runway and broke in two Tuesday night after landing in Kingston, Jamaica, injuring at least 40 people, according to local news reports.
Airline spokesman Charley Wilson said in a short statement there were no immediate reports of fatalities in the crash that occured about 10:22 p.m. local time Tuesday.
The plane was carrying 145 passengers and 7 crew members, an operations coordinator at Norman Manley International Airport said.
Additional details were not available, but passengers at the airport told local media that Flight 331 had just arrived from Miami in heavy rain when the crash occurred.
The flight was reported to have originated in Washington, D.C.
An airport official said the plane overshot the runway and persons were being evacuated, with some sent to hospital.
"The plane crashed and broke almost in front of me," said passenger Naomi Palmer to the Jamaica Observer. Palmer said she was in some pain.



ABC News-National - More Headlines
Flight Misses Jamaica Runway; No Injuries Reported
Wed Dec 23, 2009 12:50 AM EST

UK-BBC-World - More Headlines
Plane 'overshoots Jamaica runway'
Wed Dec 23, 2009 12:40 AM EST

UK-BBC-World - More Headlines
US aeroplane 'crashes' in Jamaica
Wed Dec 23, 2009 12:30 AM EST


Workers sift through debris surrounding the fuselage of American Airlines flight AA331 which crash landed overnight on a flight from Miami to Jamaica, just beyond the runway of Norman Manley International Airport, in Kingston Jamaica, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009. More than 40 people were injured, at least 4 seriously, and there were no fatalities, according to officials, after the plane overshot the runway in Jamaica when it landed in heavy rain. (AP Photo/Lloyd Robinson) JAMAICA OUT
Source: AP - Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The remains of American Airlines Flight AA 331 which crashed ...
Reuters
Wed Dec 23, 12:16 PM ET
8 of 26
The remains of American Airlines Flight AA 331 which crashed on landing at Kingston's Norman Manley International Airport late on the night of December 22, 2009. The American Airlines Boeing 737 carrying 154 passengers and crew overshot the runway while landing in driving rain in Jamaica late on Tuesday, cracking its fuselage and halting just short of the Caribbean sea, authorities and eyewitnesses said. Picture taken December 22, 2009. REUTERS/Andrew P.
Smith (JAMAICA - Tags: SOCIETY DISASTER TRANSPORT)
Workers and officials sift through debris surrounding the fuselage ...
AP
Wed Dec 23, 11:01 AM ET
10 of 26
Workers and officials sift through debris surrounding the fuselage of American Airlines flight AA331 which crash landed overnight on a flight from Miami to Jamaica, just beyond the runway of Norman Manley International Airport, in Kingston Jamaica, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009. More than 40 people were injured, at least 4 seriously, and there were no fatalities, according to officials, after the plane overshot the runway in Jamaica when it landed in heavy rain.
(AP Photo/Lloyd Robinson) JAMAICA OUT
          

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Take-off

Landing

Monday, December 14, 2009

Boeing 787 first flight a key milestone, not end of road

Seattle Post Intelligencer (blog) - ‎1 hour ago‎
(Boeing photo by Ken DeJarlais) Click for a photo gallery of 787 development Boeing released the first artist's conception of what it then called the 7E7 on ...
Boeing's 787 could fly Tuesday morning Dallas Morning News (blog)
Looking ahead USA Today

Lockheed Martin Hyperswift

Charles Ostman Image VIII

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Boeing 787 Dreamliner prepares for maiden flight


ABC News
Boeing 787 Dreamliner prepares for maiden flight‎ - 3 hours ago
By Julie Johnsson Tribune reporter The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is expected to reach skyward for the first time this week, achieving an important milestone for ...
Chicago Tribune - 665 related articles »

Airbus A400 Makes First Flight

The new military Airbus A400M transport plane takes off during its exhibition flight at Seville, Spain, Friday, Dec. 11, 2009. The A400M military transport plane that has been causing Airbus and European defense ministers budgetary and logistical headaches finally took to the skies for its inaugural flight. The A400M program was launched six years ago with an order for 180 planes from seven governments:Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain and Turkey, but the project is running at least three years behind schedule. (AP Photo/Miguel Angel Morenatti)

[SEE VIDEO]


Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Stealth Drone

The US Air Force confirmed for the first time that it is flying a stealth unmanned aircraft known as the "Beast of Kandahar."

Tuesday, December 08, 2009

McDonnell Douglas MD-83 (DC-9-83) Cockpit


2009 Top Ten Aerospace Stories...


  The Year's Top Ten 



Top 10 news stories clicked by SmartBrief readers in the past year.










  • Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers. Due to the time span, some links may be broken.

The Year's Top Ten Airline News...


 The Year's Top Ten 



Top 10 news stories clicked by SmartBrief readers in the past year.










  • Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers. Due to the time span, some links may be broken.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

FAA releases recordings of wayward jet

November 27, 2009 3:31 p.m. EST

On a recording, Flight 188 ensures controllers that the jet's cockpit "is secure, we got distracted."
On a recording, Flight 188 ensures controllers that the jet's cockpit "is secure, we got distracted."
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Pilot on flight says "cockpit distraction" may have caused loss of radio contact
  • In recordings released Friday, Northwest Flight 188 pilots don't further explain loss of contact
  • In October, plane flew 150 miles past destination in Minnesota
  • Flight eventually landed safely; FAA has revoked licenses of both pilots, who have appealed
(CNN) -- One of the two Northwest Airlines pilots who overshot the Minneapolis, Minnesota, airport last month told air traffic control that they had dropped from radio contact because of "cockpit distraction."
According to recordings released Friday by the Federal Aviation Administration, air traffic controllers finally established contact with the pilots of Northwest Flight 188 over Eau Claire, Wisconsin, after the pilots had been out of radio contact for more than an hour.
"Ah, roger, we got distracted and we've flown over, ah, Minneapolis, we are overhead Eau Claire and would like to do a 180 and do arrival from Eau Claire," the cockpit said.
Later, air traffic controllers from Minneapolis asked, "Do you have time to give a brief explanation on what happened?"
"[Ah we're just dealing with some company issues] and that's all I can tell you right now at this time," the cockpit responded.
The FAA says that the brackets note where the recording is not entirely clear and that the words inside them represent "the best interpretation" under the circumstances.
Read transcripts of how air traffic controllers tried to reach the pilots (PDF)

[READ MORE]

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

The Future of Air Travel

Think flying economy is bad now? New aircraft design puts passengers face-to-face in rows for budget travel

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 4:04 PM on 21st September 2009

Air travel is being overhauled with a new aircraft design which plans to seat passengers facing each other in rows.
The controversial design is intended to save space and money and could see 50 per cent more passengers packed on to each plane.
Howard Guy, director of the UK company Design Q, acknowledges that some people will not be happy with the plan, but says they will be able to pay less for any inconvenience.
Design Q aircraft
The future of air travel: The new design could see more passengers on each plane and ticket prices lowered
'Having passengers face each other is not an ideal situation,' he said. 'But this will see increased revenue for the operator and more economical tickets for the passenger - so by keeping both happy, this concept makes an attractive alternative.
'Sure the passenger can choose a flight facing forward in a traditional seating position, but he or she will have to pay more for the luxury.'
Mr Guy predicts that the design could see a 50 per cent increase in the number of passengers on board and a 30 per cent reduced cost per seat.
However, he did concede that the seats would not be comfortable for passengers on flights of more than two hours.
Military personnel are used to travelling in rows facing each other
Military personnel are used to travelling in rows facing each other
'Our thoughts are really to do with short-haul journeys - anything from 30 minutes to 80 minutes. As the seats will be designed for less occupancy time, passenger comfort will be reduced on longer trips,' he said.
Another downside to the seating design is that food carts would not be able to pass down the plane as the aisles are too narrow, so food distribution would be difficult.
Although the idea has caused a negative reaction among many travellers, others have voiced their opinions in support of the idea.
Mr Guy said: 'Military personnel are used to travelling in that way and have had a positive reaction to the idea.
Vertical seating
Flying high: Earlier this year Ryanair looked into vertical seating options
'Many other forms of transport use this layout to maximise space, even VIP's private jets, so why not use something similar for short plane journeys?'
The lighter seating would mean that planes use less fuel and more passengers could travel on each flight which could significantly lower the price of fares.
Design Q is not the only company looking at alternative ways to transport passengers in planes.
Ryanair recently claimed it was looking into having standing areas and bar stools located at the back of some of its flights so passengers could travel on flights of less than an hour and a half for free.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1215081/Packed-like-sardines-New-aircraft-design-plans-seat-passengers-face-face.html#ixzz0Ro4YNaTR

Friday, September 18, 2009

Plane overruns runway



Comments:
Beginner...land down wind!
Then you have an up hill runway ! When flying into this airport this is very common sight. RWY 10 descent gradient is way too steep for an aircraft with out a stol kit and reverse pitch capabilities.its tight even in Twin Otter on Rwy 10.
Approach over the water is far safer as you can touch down right at the end and roll UP Hill 2100 feet!


USARMz

Reply
he should have gone around. he was wayy to far down the runway to hope to land safely
docsxm


True to a point: Air speed on approach to fast, Approach to high, flared too late. Did n't go Full power, lift out flaps to 20 degrees, trim for take off , get positive airspeed and then climb out with left crosswind departure,
docsxm

Landing in the wind is worst in this case. Your approach pattern is left traffic and then you must descent close to the mountain. Ending in only less than two mile short final, with little room for a right crosswind go around. We always take the beach option with the tail wind.

How to recycle a Boeing 747

The Tail Cone Goes On

Discovery landed at Edwards Sept. 11, ending its STS-128 mission to the International Space Station.
Technicians wheel the aerodynamic tailcone into place so they can attch it over Discovery's main and orbital maneuevering system engines. The covering reduces drag while the shuttle is carried back to NASA's Kennedy Space Center on top of a modified 747 airliner. Photo credit: NASA/Tony Landis

Thursday, September 17, 2009

The Return of Buzz Light Year

Airbus aware of sensor woes since '02

PARIS — Airbus has known since at least 2002 about problems with the type of speed sensor that malfunctioned on an Air France jetliner that went down in June over the Atlantic Ocean, The Associated Press has learned. But air-safety authorities did not order their replacement until after the crash, which killed all 228 people aboard.

The sensors — known as Pitots — are vulnerable to blockage from water and icing. Experts have suggested that Flight 447's sensors, made by French company Thales SA, may have iced over and sent false speed information to the computers as the plane ran into a thunderstorm at about 35,000 feet while en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris.

Murder By Computer: The Hidden Perils of Air Travel

HAL -- The Cockpit Serial Killer


As I watched the Ground Zero bell toll during Friday's 9/11 ceremonies, I thought of Flight 11's Captain John Ogonowski, whom I'd handed the plane's "keys" to many times in Boston. I thought about my copilot who never recovered from coming face-to-face with Mohammed Atta that horrid morning. My stomach churned as I thought of my flight attendant friend, Jeff Collman, who brewed herb teas to help me stay awake during our San Francisco-Boston all-nighters. I mourn the loss of all 2,992 souls.

Then I watched former terrorism czar Richard Clarke tell Bill Maher that we should consider terrorism a problem, but only one of many we face.

Then I thought about the serial killer cockpit computers I call HAL, after the maniacal 2001: A Space Odyssey (I'm afraid I can't let you do that, Dave) computer. Since 1993, HAL has murdered more than died on 9/11 and endangered thousands more. Killed a couple hundred here, another couple hundred there. No one kept score; no bell tolled for them.

Then Air France 447 fell out of the sky.

Read more [link me dude]

B-2 Crash

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Armadillo Aerospace Attempts to win X Prize with Lunar Lander Model


Lunar lander rising again

Rocketeers have been working to win a million dollars of NASA's money with their lunar lander prototype.
— MSNBC

Monday, September 07, 2009

Eurofighter at Ospreys R/C Club in Miami

R/C C-130 Electric

Bay of Pigs B-26 Monument - Tamiami Airport

This B-26 flew in the Bay of Pigs Invasion and is on display as a monument at the Kendall Tamiami Airport in Miami, FL. Photo: Pete Alvarez The Bay of Pigs Invasion (known as La Batalla de Girón, or Playa Girón in Cuba), was an unsuccessful attempt by a U.S.-trained force of Cuban exiles to invade southern Cuba with support from U.S. government armed forces, to overthrow the Cuban government of Fidel Castro.

The plan was launched in April 1961, less than three months after John F. Kennedy assumed the presidency in the United States. The Cuban armed forces, trained and equipped by Eastern Bloc nations, defeated the exile combatants in three days. Bad Cuban-American relations were made worse by the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

The invasion is named after the Bay of Pigs, which is just one possible translation of the Spanish Bahía de Cochinos. The main landing at the Bay of Pigs specifically took place at the beach named Playa Girón. [READ MORE]

Ultralight over Biscayne Bay Florida

Ultralight over Biscayne Bay - Miami, FL 9/06/2009. Photo: Pete Alvarez

Cessna 172 - N84114

Cessna 172 - N84114 Over Biscayne Bay - Miami, FL 9/06/2009. Photo: Pete Alvarez

Friday, September 04, 2009

NASA's New Ares 1-X Rocket is now fully stacked


Even though the rocket is now stacked and sitting on the mobile launch platform in Kennedy Space Center's VAB, there is still a lot of testing and prep work to be done before it's ready to roll out to the pad. Over the weekend (Aug. 29-30) the rocket underwent two days of modal testing to make sure it's ready to stand up to the environments it's about to find itself in. [From the Ares 1-X Blog]

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Air France Flight 447 crash inquiry could take more than year

Air France Flight 447 crash inquiry could take more than year
eTurboNews
Just before Air France 447 went down, it transmitted a four-minute data reporting 5 failures and 19 warnings via its radios (ACARS). ...

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Sunday, August 09, 2009

RAC BA-125 N192SJ @ Palm Beach

RAC BA-125 N192SJ @ Palm Beach International 12/19/06. Photo: Pete Alvarez.

Cessna 182 Skylane N8210K

Cessna 182 Skylane N8210K Palm Beach International Airport. 12/19/2006. Photo: Pete Alvarez

Amazing Laser Powered Spacecraft...

9 believed dead after NYC aircraft collision

Investigators search for clues in NYC air crash...
9 DEAD; 5 Italian tourists...
NO SURVIVORS...
'I heard a boom'...
PHOTOS...





9 believed dead after NYC aircraft collision

CTV.ca - ‎8 hours ago‎
Dive teams will be back in the Hudson River Sunday morning, searching for bodies and wreckage from a mid-air collision between a helicopter and a small ...
Newsday - Daily Telegraph