Archives for April, 2006
Advanced China fighter aircraft makes test flight
Friday, April 28th, 2006
An advanced version of the China-developed new-generation fighter plane, the Xiaolong/FC-4, succeeded in its first flight on Friday in southwest China’s Sichuan Province. Based on previous models, the Xiaolong/FC-1 and FC-3, the FC-4 is equipped with advanced electronics and weapons systems, which improve its combat capabilities, say experts. The success of the 16-minute test flight marks a significant step in China’s aviation industry, and makes mass production possible.
Preliminary NTSB report of Crossfield crash
Thursday, April 27th, 2006
On April 19, 2006 at approximately 11:10 am EDT, a Cessna 210A, N6579X, rapidly descended into remote mountainous terrain near Ludville, Georgia, after entering an area of thunderstorms. The pilot, well-known test pilot A. Scott Crossfield, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed at the time of the accident.
A700 AdamJet Achieves Flight of 41,000 feet at 340 Knots
Thursday, April 27th, 2006
Adam Aircraft announced that the A700 AdamJet flew to 41,000 feet and achieved a true airspeed of 340 knots. The aircraft was crewed by Senior Turbine Test Pilot Ken Sasine and co-pilot Dan Brand. The aircraft departed Centennial Airport on April 20, 2006, on a test flight to verify the planned maximum operating altitude, and the aircraft performed a direct climb to 41,000 feet. Passing through 39,000 feet, the climb rate was still in excess of 1,000 feet-per-minute. The aircraft flew level at 41,000 feet for approximately five minutes, reaching a maximum true airspeed of 340 knots.
Lockheed Martin delivers 4,300th F-16 Fighting Falcon
Saturday, April 22nd, 2006
Lockheed Martin announced it has achieved a significant production milestone with the delivery of its 4,300th F-16 aircraft. F-16 number 4,300 will be in service for Oman, which has purchased 12 Advanced Block 50 F-16s in the Peace A’sama A’safiyah (Clear Skies) Program. Clear Skies is a U.S. Government Foreign Military Sales program. The Omani F- 16s are just one of six F-16 aircraft programs currently in production at the Fort Worth facility. Lockheed Martin is currently producing F-16 aircraft for Chile, Israel, Oman, Poland and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Greece has also recently placed an order for 30 F-16 aircraft planned for delivery in 2009.
Scott Crossfield killed in crash
Thursday, April 20th, 2006
We are saddened to hear that Scott Crossfield, test pilot and aircraft designer that became the first man to fly twice the speed of sound, has been confirmed to have been killed in the crash of his Cessna 210A near Atlanta during bad weather. He was 84 years old.
Armstrong honored with Moon rock
Thursday, April 20th, 2006
NASA is presenting the award to the 38 astronauts and key individuals who participated in the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space programs for realizing America’s vision of space exploration from 1961 to 1972. For this and everything else he did for America’s space program, Neil Armstrong received NASA’s Ambassador of Exploration Award on April 18, 2006 in the Reakirt Auditorium at the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal. Former Sen. John Glenn, who became the first American in orbit as a Mercury astronaut and later flew on the shuttle, spoke at the ceremony. Glenn said that, given the opportunities he’d had, he didn’t envy many people. “But for Neil,” he said, “I make a big exception.”
First Flight: Diamond D-Jet
Wednesday, April 19th, 2006
After a series of high speed taxi and rotation tests, Diamond’s D-JET S/N 001, lifted off at 17:08 on Tuesday April 18th, 2006. The test was conducted from the London International Airport, home of Diamond’s North American operation. The 1 hour 6 minute test flight was conducted according to test plan with the evaluation of 19 distinct test points.