Sunday, July 29, 2007
Boeing Dream Lifter Receives FAA Certification
Boeing 747 Dreamlifter Achieves FAA CertificationEVERETT, Wash., June 4, 2007 The Boeing Dreamlifter, the specially modified 747-400 used to transport the major assemblies of the all-new Boeing 787 Dreamliner, was granted type certification on Saturday, June 2, from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The certification recognizes that the Dreamlifter has successfully passed all of the stringent testing and safety requirements required by the FAA. The Dreamlifter does not need to be certified by other regulatory agencies. This certification reflects not only the safety and reliability of the Dreamlifter but also its remarkable performance, said Scott Strode, 787 vice president of Airplane Definition and Production. As part of the flight test program, FAA officials flew on board the Dreamlifter as it delivered major sections of the Dreamliner from partner sites around the world to the Boeing factory in Everett, Wash., for final assembly. The flights allowed the FAA to validate the overall delivery process and tools. The Dreamlifter is not certified to carry passengers beyond essential crew. The Dreamlifter completed 437 flight-test hours and 639 hours of ground testing since its first flight on Sept. 9, 2006. With certification achieved, operation of the Dreamlifter fleet will soon be assumed by Evergreen International Airlines (EIA) of McMinnville, Ore. EIA must first complete the required New Airplane Process Document process proving it is ready to operate the aircraft. Boeing expects the transition to EIA to occur in June.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Some Cool Photos...
Caption:Tight Formation!! at the Blue Grass Jet Jam....My jet is the ViperJet leading the way..O'neal Galbreth's jet quickly bringing up the rear...At 200 MPH!!!
Caption:Runway crash at Byron's Aviation Expo.Photos by Kevin Greene
Fairchild XC-120
Here's another strange looking bird that never went into production. It featured a removable cargo pod.Learn more about the XC-120 [here]
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Friday, July 20, 2007
TAMs Brazil Crash Final Moments Caught on Tape
From what I've read, it looks like one of the thrust reversers (Right side) wasn't working. That is why the plane seems to turn to the left. The left thruster was working making the plane veer to the left and depart the runway. When the pilot realized he wasn't going to make it, he attempted to take off again, but it was too late. He managed to jump over the busy road before hitting the building though. Read story below.
Read full story [here]
See photos of the accident. [Here]
Read full story [here]
See photos of the accident. [Here]
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Swedish Helicopter Crash
That's what happens when a not too smart pilot refuses to cancel a take off and keeps pushing the limit trying to make the flight when he OBVIOUSLY shouldn't.
Boeing Airborne Laser
A MODIFIED Boeing 747 designed to be part of an emerging US antimissile shield has successfully completed an important flight test, the Pentagon's Missile Defence Agency and Boeing said today.
Read Full Article [Here]
Monday, July 16, 2007
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Airplane Crash in Sanford Florida
What a horrible accident. The news media keeps saying "jet fuel". The Cessna 310 like the one below runs on AVGAS.
Read story [here]
Photos from crash site [here]
Off duty neighbor firefighter hero's account [here]
Experts rate Cessna 310s as reliable but 'unforgiving' aircraft
Giant R/C C-130 Breaks Wing
Cool video set to Boston soundtrack. Hard landing at the end breaks the left wing.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Boeing 787 Dreamliner Rollout
I'm two days late and a buck short, but here it is N787BA...It looks awesome. Checkout the jagged edge- looking things on the engine's exhaust. Below is up-close footage of the rollout.
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Bird aviation museum flying high
Photo by DAVID KEYESPatty Wagstaff slices through the grand opening ribbon at the Bird Airfield Saturday morning with the tail of her inverted airplane.
Crowds pack grand opening
SANDPOINT -- Flying upside-down and 20 feet above ground, Patty Wagstaff sliced a ribbon into red confetti at the grand opening of the Bird Aviation Museum and Invention Center.
Holding the ribbon up in the air across the runway of the Bird Airport Saturday morning were Drs. Forrest and Pam Riddle Bird.
But before Wagstaff, a three-time U.S. National Aerobatics champion, chopped the ribbon to bits with the tail of her Cirrus Access Extra 300S plane, she put on a surprise show for Forrest Bird at his wife's request.
He had no idea she was flying the red, orange and yellow-trimmed black plane until her voice came over loudspeakers at the runway.
Wagstaff gave the audience a play-by-play as she stalled the plane, letting it drop through the blue sky in an inverted spin and flying it inverted with Lake Pend Oreille in the background.
READ FULL ARTICLE [HERE]
Shuttle Atlantis Ferry Flight
How does a space shuttle that landed in California get back to Florida for its next launch? The answer is by ferry. NASA operates two commercial Boeing 747 airplanes modified to carry a space shuttle on their backs. Designated officially as Shuttle Carrier Aircraft or SCA, the 747s were made for commercial flights but bolstered by NASA with several struts, stabilizers, and electronic monitors. Spanning about 70 meters in length, the two aircraft's combined mass is nearly 150,000 kilograms. Pictured above, the space shuttle Atlantis is shown being ferried back to NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida in September 1998.
Bagger Bill and Future Mini Bagger Checkout the F-14
We visited the Wings Over Miami Museum Yesterday. The star of the Museum was the Tomcatters VF-31 F-14 Tomcat #100. The last flying Tomcat. Same aircraft pictured below.
Last Flight To The Museum
Last Air Show Demo. Not the same airplane but awesome video.
Friday, July 06, 2007
10 Things That Could Save Your Life When Flying.
Did you know that what you wear aboard an airliner could make the difference between life and death in a crash? Or that turbulence could smash you on the ceiling out of a clear blue sky? What about blood clots? Here are ten things to consider to make your flight more pleasant and much safer.
1. Always wear your seat belt when sitting. Wind shears can unexpectedly throw passengers out of their seats. sixteen people were hurt, two of them seriously, when a KLM passenger jet hit turbulence soon after take-off from a western Japan airport on May 31st. These incidents are not so rare. Sometimes, there is no warning and the pilot won't have tie to turn the buckle-up sign on. People tend to forget that they are in an aluminum tube at 40,000ft. close to the speed of sound.
2. Do not wear highly combustible synthetic clothing. Many airplane accidents happen on the ground. Either the plane overshoots the runway, or hits an obstacle like a vehicle or another plane. On October 31, 2000, a Boeing 747-400, attempted to take off from the wrong runway at Chiang Kai-Shek International Airport. Due to poor visibility, the flight crew did not see that construction equipment had been parked on the runway. The aircraft collided with the machinery and broke up into pieces. A massive fire followed. 79 of 159 passengers and 4 of 20 crew members died in the accident. Many modern fabrics will burst in flames in seconds. Wear jeans and cotton, and avoid the synthetics. It may buy you the few seconds you need to get out.
3. Choose your seats. There is no evidence I know of, pointing to where the safest seats are in an airliner. Airplane design varies, and circumstances are always different. It is interesting to note however that the black boxes are almost always located in the tail section of the airplane. Being seated close to an emergency exit might be the best option. Read your safety card and pay attention to the safety briefing given by the attendant. Make sure you know where the exits are, and how many rows of seats are between you and the doors.
4. Choose your airline. American and European airlines are pretty safe. Asia and Africa however is another story. The E.U. recently banned all airlines from Indonesia. Other bans are in effect for African and some Eastern European airlines. Make sure you pick the right company. You may pay a few dollars more, but the safety and peace of mind is well worth it. I once bought a ticket to Sydney from Paris through Philippines Airlines. My impression was that we had one stop in Bangkok, then Manila, then Sydney. We landed in Rome, Karachi, Bangkok, Manila, Melbourne, and finally Sydney. In Bangkok, the pilot slammed on the brakes, aborting the takeoff. Luggage flew out of the overhead bins, people screamed. We taxied back, and a guy with a ladder opened an engine cowling and started banging on something with a hammer.. We taxied back to the runway and took-off. I pretty much held my breath until we reached cruising altitude. (Comment by Pete: Yikes!!!)
5. Walk around if you can. Flights lasting more than four hours about double a traveler's risk of life-threatening blood clots, World Health Organization studies found. This condition can be fatal. The solution is to move around as much as you can, without upsetting everyone of course. Move your legs, tense and relax your muscles while maintaining good breathing. Taking a baby aspirin before the flight might be a good idea. Talk to your physician about medication or injections. My parents, when they come to the U.S. from France always get an injection before leaving, and they have a couple ready for their way back.
6. If the worst happen, have the will to live. I remember a TV show about the flight 006 tragedy mentioned above. A female survivor was being interviewed. She felt very bad because while the plane was on fire, and people actually tried to get their luggage over-head, she crawled over rows of seats and even other people to get out. She made it; those who were trying to get their bags did not. It's not over until it's over. A man named Alan Magee, a B-17 ball turret gunner, had no choice but to jump out of a disabled, spinning out of control bomber from about 22,000 feet, without a parachute. Miraculously, he lived! His story was featured in a 1981 Smithsonian Magazine on the 10 most amazing survivals during World War II. I believe MythBusters also had a show featuring his story.
7. Carry what you might need. New travel restrictions do not allow you to carry much of anything with you. Think of what you might need if the plane has to land anywhere between your departure and destination. That includes crash landings far from any airport or town. It also could be things you may need if you land at a smaller airport without any amenities. Most likely, your luggage will not be taken off the plane for a while. Is it cold? Do you need a jacket? Do you have cash? A phone? Everyone remembers the Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, in 1972. A plane carrying 45 people crashed in the Andes. Of the 27 who survived the first 24hrs, 16 made it alive after 72 grueling days. See the book by Piers Paul. Alive: Sixteen Men, Seventy-two Days, and Insurmountable Odds -- The Classic Adventure of Survival in the Andes. I bet there are a few things they wished they had taken along, had they known.
8. Look for suspicious behavior. Unfortunately, since 9/11, we have to be vigilant. I wouldn't suggest being too jumpy. Like last December, when an American Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing after a passenger lit a match to disguise the scent of flatulence! However, if the guy in front of you starts connecting wires to something, or tries to get something on fire, don't wait too long.. If the plane is hijacked, if you are young and strong, keep in mind that a sharp pencil or pen makes a wonderful weapon (remember #7). If the Sh%t hits the fan, revert to #6.
9. Have ear plugs. If any of the above happens, you can always isolate yourself with good earplugs! Or most likely, to dampen nearby cries from an unhappy toddler, or the roar of the engines right on your left. I use those yellow small foam plugs I always buy when going shooting. Since they work pretty well to protect my ears when firing a 9mm, I figure that anything less would be fine. If you have enough money, Bose has noise canceling headphones that work. Silence is bliss. It can be the difference between a few hours of sleep or a hellish noisy flight.
10. Relax. It might be easy to say, but you're on a ride you have no control over. There is nothing for you to worry about since there isn't much you can do about it. Be nice to other passengers and attendants, it will make your flight so much better. I used to take a Xanax before a flight, it made it easier to sleep in those cramped seats (I.m 6'2''). Talk to your physician, don't buy stuff off the internet. And of course, at the moment of impact, your body will take much more of a beating without failing if you're relaxed! That I learned in my Systema martial art class.. Too much stress, you might get a blood clot!
Fly safe!
Gil.
1. Always wear your seat belt when sitting. Wind shears can unexpectedly throw passengers out of their seats. sixteen people were hurt, two of them seriously, when a KLM passenger jet hit turbulence soon after take-off from a western Japan airport on May 31st. These incidents are not so rare. Sometimes, there is no warning and the pilot won't have tie to turn the buckle-up sign on. People tend to forget that they are in an aluminum tube at 40,000ft. close to the speed of sound.
2. Do not wear highly combustible synthetic clothing. Many airplane accidents happen on the ground. Either the plane overshoots the runway, or hits an obstacle like a vehicle or another plane. On October 31, 2000, a Boeing 747-400, attempted to take off from the wrong runway at Chiang Kai-Shek International Airport. Due to poor visibility, the flight crew did not see that construction equipment had been parked on the runway. The aircraft collided with the machinery and broke up into pieces. A massive fire followed. 79 of 159 passengers and 4 of 20 crew members died in the accident. Many modern fabrics will burst in flames in seconds. Wear jeans and cotton, and avoid the synthetics. It may buy you the few seconds you need to get out.
3. Choose your seats. There is no evidence I know of, pointing to where the safest seats are in an airliner. Airplane design varies, and circumstances are always different. It is interesting to note however that the black boxes are almost always located in the tail section of the airplane. Being seated close to an emergency exit might be the best option. Read your safety card and pay attention to the safety briefing given by the attendant. Make sure you know where the exits are, and how many rows of seats are between you and the doors.
4. Choose your airline. American and European airlines are pretty safe. Asia and Africa however is another story. The E.U. recently banned all airlines from Indonesia. Other bans are in effect for African and some Eastern European airlines. Make sure you pick the right company. You may pay a few dollars more, but the safety and peace of mind is well worth it. I once bought a ticket to Sydney from Paris through Philippines Airlines. My impression was that we had one stop in Bangkok, then Manila, then Sydney. We landed in Rome, Karachi, Bangkok, Manila, Melbourne, and finally Sydney. In Bangkok, the pilot slammed on the brakes, aborting the takeoff. Luggage flew out of the overhead bins, people screamed. We taxied back, and a guy with a ladder opened an engine cowling and started banging on something with a hammer.. We taxied back to the runway and took-off. I pretty much held my breath until we reached cruising altitude. (Comment by Pete: Yikes!!!)
5. Walk around if you can. Flights lasting more than four hours about double a traveler's risk of life-threatening blood clots, World Health Organization studies found. This condition can be fatal. The solution is to move around as much as you can, without upsetting everyone of course. Move your legs, tense and relax your muscles while maintaining good breathing. Taking a baby aspirin before the flight might be a good idea. Talk to your physician about medication or injections. My parents, when they come to the U.S. from France always get an injection before leaving, and they have a couple ready for their way back.
6. If the worst happen, have the will to live. I remember a TV show about the flight 006 tragedy mentioned above. A female survivor was being interviewed. She felt very bad because while the plane was on fire, and people actually tried to get their luggage over-head, she crawled over rows of seats and even other people to get out. She made it; those who were trying to get their bags did not. It's not over until it's over. A man named Alan Magee, a B-17 ball turret gunner, had no choice but to jump out of a disabled, spinning out of control bomber from about 22,000 feet, without a parachute. Miraculously, he lived! His story was featured in a 1981 Smithsonian Magazine on the 10 most amazing survivals during World War II. I believe MythBusters also had a show featuring his story.
7. Carry what you might need. New travel restrictions do not allow you to carry much of anything with you. Think of what you might need if the plane has to land anywhere between your departure and destination. That includes crash landings far from any airport or town. It also could be things you may need if you land at a smaller airport without any amenities. Most likely, your luggage will not be taken off the plane for a while. Is it cold? Do you need a jacket? Do you have cash? A phone? Everyone remembers the Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, in 1972. A plane carrying 45 people crashed in the Andes. Of the 27 who survived the first 24hrs, 16 made it alive after 72 grueling days. See the book by Piers Paul. Alive: Sixteen Men, Seventy-two Days, and Insurmountable Odds -- The Classic Adventure of Survival in the Andes. I bet there are a few things they wished they had taken along, had they known.
8. Look for suspicious behavior. Unfortunately, since 9/11, we have to be vigilant. I wouldn't suggest being too jumpy. Like last December, when an American Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing after a passenger lit a match to disguise the scent of flatulence! However, if the guy in front of you starts connecting wires to something, or tries to get something on fire, don't wait too long.. If the plane is hijacked, if you are young and strong, keep in mind that a sharp pencil or pen makes a wonderful weapon (remember #7). If the Sh%t hits the fan, revert to #6.
9. Have ear plugs. If any of the above happens, you can always isolate yourself with good earplugs! Or most likely, to dampen nearby cries from an unhappy toddler, or the roar of the engines right on your left. I use those yellow small foam plugs I always buy when going shooting. Since they work pretty well to protect my ears when firing a 9mm, I figure that anything less would be fine. If you have enough money, Bose has noise canceling headphones that work. Silence is bliss. It can be the difference between a few hours of sleep or a hellish noisy flight.
10. Relax. It might be easy to say, but you're on a ride you have no control over. There is nothing for you to worry about since there isn't much you can do about it. Be nice to other passengers and attendants, it will make your flight so much better. I used to take a Xanax before a flight, it made it easier to sleep in those cramped seats (I.m 6'2''). Talk to your physician, don't buy stuff off the internet. And of course, at the moment of impact, your body will take much more of a beating without failing if you're relaxed! That I learned in my Systema martial art class.. Too much stress, you might get a blood clot!
Fly safe!
Gil.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Gotta Love It...
This 1988 photo provided by Dale Snodgrass shows Snodgrass as a Navy Capt. performing a 'flyby'' next to the USS America. The F-14 flyover was shot by a crewman aboard the USS America, during a Dependent's Day cruise in 1998, during which families of the crew members are brought on the ship for a day at sea. At the time Snodgrass was Executive Officer of the VF-33 fighter squadron (The Starfighters) out of Oceana Naval Base in Virginia deployed aboard the USS America. (AP Photo/Courtesy Dale Snodgrass)
First Fully Assembled Boeing 787 Dreamliner Rolls Out
EVERETT, Wash. -- Photographer and aviation enthusiast Charles Conklin managed to get a few pictures of the first nearly-finished Boeing 787 as it rolled out of an assembly hangar early Tuesday morning.Read full story [here]
Sunday, July 01, 2007
The Blades
The Blades air display team entertain the crowds at the Salthill International Airshow in Galway, Ireland, on Sunday June 24, 2007.
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