Archives for September, 2006
DARPA performs first hands-off automated aerial refueling
Tuesday, September 12th, 2006
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), in a joint effort with NASA
Dryden Flight Research Center, performed the first-ever autonomous probe-and-drogue airborne
refueling operation August 30, at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The demonstration was
conducted with a NASA F/A-18 configured to operate as an unmanned test bed.
Boeing 747 Large Cargo Freighter Completes First Flight
Saturday, September 9th, 2006
The Boeing 747-400 Large Cargo Freighter took to the skies for the first time at 10:38 a.m. (UTC/GMT +8 hours) today, initiating the flight test program that will culminate in U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification. The two-hour, four-minute flight was the first of 250 expected flight test hours for the unique freighter, a specially modified 747-400 that will transport major composite structures of the all-new 787 Dreamliner.
P-47D Thunderbolt unveiled during ceremony
Friday, September 8th, 2006
A newly restored Republic P-47D Thunderbolt was placed on exhibit during a special ceremony on Aug. 24 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. The P-47D fighter aircraft, nicknamed the “Jug,” has been marked by the museum’s restoration staff to represent the P-47D-30 flown by Col. Joseph Laughlin, commander of the 362nd Fighter Group, 9th Air Force, during combat operations in Europe in early 1945. Col. Laughlin’s family was present during the ceremony. The exhibit opening was planned in conjunction with the 9th Air Force reunion.
Boeing Next-Generation 737-900ER Takes Flight
Wednesday, September 6th, 2006
The newest member of the Boeing Next-Generation 737 airplane family took to the skies over Washington state Friday on its maiden flight. The first flight marks the beginning of a five-month flight test program to obtain certification of the airplane from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and the European Aviation Safety Agency by early 2007.