Today's Top News

§  Grounding of F-22s might be due to carbon monoxide, sources say
Carbon monoxide entering the cockpit of the Air Force's F-22 Raptors might be the cause of their prolonged grounding, sources said. The fighters were grounded on May 3 after more than a dozen incidents in which their pilots suffered "hypoxia-like symptoms." "The safety of our aircrews is paramount, and the Air Force continues to carefully study all factors of F-22 flight safety," said Major Chad Steffey, a spokesman for the Air Force. Defense News (7/21)     

§  Boeing says F-35 partner nations seek plan B for fighter

Chris Chadwick, president of the military aircraft division at Boeing, said the nine F-35 partner countries are watching the cost of the program rise and are seeking a plan B. However, the nations will wait until the total cost of the Joint Strike Fighter program is calculated before taking action. "Where is it going to end? Is it going to end?" Chadwick said. "I think that will drive the decisions by the international customers." AOL Defense (7/20)     

Final Shuttle

Man tries to kill mom with kamikaze flight into house

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Alex Sundby

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(Credit: AFP/Getty Images)

"Are you home mum? I'm just about to drop in."

Those words Konrad Schmidt said over the phone to his mother, Rosemary Schmidt, Sunday were possibly the last ones he ever said. He was calling from the cockpit of a twin-engine small airplane, which he flew into the window of her first-floor bedroom, killing himself, the British newspaper The Telegraph reported.

Rosemary Schmidt survived what police characterized as an attack on the house in Oberhallau, Switzerland. Konrad Schmidt, a qualified pilot, had been feuding with his mother for a long time after his parents' marriage ended, which was followed by his father's death from cancer, the police told The Telegraph.

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Konrad Schmidt suffered from depression and also had financial problems, the police said.

The mother's neighbors told the Swiss newspaper Blick that the 47-year-old man flew past the house three times as though he was practicing for his final descent, The Telegraph reported.

Blick quoted one neighbor saying, "It was like seeing a mini rerun of 9/11."

§  American splits jet order between Boeing and Airbus
American Airlines announced plans to split an order for 460 jets between longtime supplier Boeing and European manufacturer Airbus. American ordered 200 737-class jets from Boeing, as well as 260 A320 aircraft from Airbus. "We'll have the youngest fleet among our U.S. peers within five years as a result of this deal," said Tom Horton, the president of American Airlines' parent company. CNNMoney.com (7/20), USA TODAY/The Associated Press (7/20), The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (7/20)     

Inside The Cockpit Of The New 747-8 Intercontinental

Escape Slide-Raft A320 Exchange or Rental

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Cosmonaut: Soviet space shuttle was safer than NASA's - space - 07 July 2011 - New Scientist

Cosmonaut: Soviet space shuttle was safer than NASA's - space - 07 July 2011 - New Scientist

When Airliners Retire Some Get Made into Buildings

By David Parker Brown, on July 12th, 2011 at 8:00 am

McDonald's in Taupo, New Zealand, uses an old DC3 to attract visitors

It is sad when an airliner reaches the end of their life and is scraped. Some lucky ones make it to a museum or are in some way preserved for a bit longer. Rarely a business or individual will take an airplane and make it part of their home and business. The website DarkRoastedBlend.com recently took a look at some of the best airplanes on display in places you wouldn’t expect to find them.

Someday I wouldn’t mind having an airliner sitting in my lawn, but I am not sure what my neighbors might think. Do you know of any other old aircraft that are now used in interesting and creative ways?

Thanks Michael for pointing this out!

Biplanes

A pair of Vintage Fokker Dr I triplanes and a Nieuport biplane fly.

Location:

Geneseo, New York, United States of America.

Photographer:

PETE RYAN/National Geographic Stock

Location:

Geneseo, New York, United States of America.

Photographer:

PETE RYAN/National Geographic Stock

Lufthansa A380 - Miami

Lufthansa's giant A380 cruises over Downtown Miami. July 4th, 2011. (Photo: Pete Alvarez)

Boeing 720

F-16C mishap update

Posted 6/30/2011   Updated 6/30/2011  Email story   Print story 

 

Release Number: 110604

6/30/2011 - NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- U.S. Air Force officials here announced today that search and rescue teams have found conclusive evidence the pilot of an F-16C Fighting Falcon, which crashed approximately 5:30 p.m. June 28, did not survive.

At the time of the accident, the single-seat F-16 based at Nellis Air Force Base, was participating in a combat training mission within military operating airspace managed by The Nevada Test and Training Range. It crashed on Bureau of Land Management property approximately 20 miles west of Caliente, Nev.

"Based on evidence recovered from the crash site, and after extensive aerial and ground search efforts, we know that the pilot did not eject from the aircraft prior to impact," said Brig. Gen. T.J. O'Shaughnessy, 57th Wing commander. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the pilot's immediate family, Air Force family, and friends during this difficult time."

The name and unit of the pilot involved is being withheld pending notification of the next-of-kin.

"We have started an investigation into this mishap; but we are in the very early stages of this investigation," General O'Shaughnessy continued. "For the next several weeks, a trained investigation board will focus their exclusive efforts on collecting and protecting evidence from the scene and gathering and analyzing all relevant data with the specific purpose of determining the cause so we may prevent future mishaps. Nellis Air Force Base is the busiest flying base in Air Combat Command, producing 42,000 sorties each year. As commander of this wing, the safety of the local community and our Airmen is my top priority."

Additional details will be released as they become available. Nellis Air Force Base will not release the name or unit of the pilot involved in the mishap until 24 hours after notification of next-of-kin is complete.

Photos

An F-16 Fighting Falcon Aggressor flies over the Nevada Test and Training Range Oct. 19, 2009. U.S. Air Force officials at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., announced June 30 that search and rescue teams have found conclusive evidence the pilot of an F-16C Fighting Falcon, which crashed approximately 5:30 p.m. June 28, did not survive. The Air Force has started an investigation into this mishap and for the next several weeks, a trained investigation board will focus their exclusive efforts on collecting and protecting evidence from the scene and gathering and analyzing all relevant data with the specific purpose of determining the cause so we may prevent future mishaps. Nellis Air Force Base is the busiest flying base in Air Combat Command, producing 42,000 sorties each year.  Download HiRes

F-18 Supersonic

Boeing 747 Dream Lifter N747BC - Miami Intl. Airport 6/18/2011

Photo: Pete Alvarez (c) 2011

A380 Cockpit

A380 Hard Landing

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A Plane That Flies Entirely on Solar Power

A Plane That Flies Entirely on Solar Power 6/21/2011 4:41:59 PM
The Solar Impulse flew from Brussels to Paris fueled entirely by sun power. It soars through the night and bad weather using stored energy. WSJ's Thomas DiFonzo reports from the Paris Air Show. Photo courtesy Solar Impulse.

PARIS: PICTURE - Hypermach takes wraps off SonicStar SSBJ

PARIS: PICTURE - Hypermach takes wraps off SonicStar SSBJ

An era of unprecedented travel times linking New York to Paris in under 2h and New York to Sydney in 5h could become reality within the next decade, says supersonic business jet developerHyperMach Europe.

At the show this morning the UK-headquartered company unveiled its 20-seat SonicStar concept, which it says is designed to fly at Mach 3.5 with no sonic boom overland.

“We will fly at twice the speed of Concorde, so that the other side of the world feels like it’s just down the road,” said Richard Lugg, Hypermach chief executive and chief scientist.

© Hypermach

Lugg – a military aircraft designer, engineer and self-confessed Concorde enthusiast – said HyperMach is driven by a mission to change air transport. “With an eye to the future, but feet firmly rooted in solid scientific research, the development of SonicStar makes what was previously impossible – reality.”

The SonicStar’s 54,700lb-thrust (245kN) class S-Magjet 4000X propulsion system has been under development for six years. It is at least 30% more fuel efficient than the Rolls-Royce Olympus 593 engine that powered Concorde, said Lugg, and gives a 20% higher thrust-to-weight ratio. “This will be the first hybrid engine to offer a highly efficient, supersonic, variable bypass fan ratio engine design,” he added.

The engine operates electrically by generating large quantities of onboard electric power through its superconducting turbine ring generator technology. Power generation and thrust comes from the five-stage, superconducting axial turbine that allows the SonicStar to reach a height of 62,000ft (18,900m) at M3.5.

The engine will be developed in the UK by sister company SonicBlue, with an unnamed manufacturing partner and with the support of the UK government. HyperMach is also holding discussions with other potential manufacturing and funding partners to help bring the aircraft to market.

First flight of the SonicStar is set for June 2021, but Lugg would not be drawn on a certification timeframe. The market for the $80 million-plus aircraft is “in the thousands”, he added, with demand expected to come from the VVIP travel and cargo sectors.

• All the latest news, images and video from the 2011 Paris air show

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