Video captures North American T-6G landing on highway
July 24th, 2007
A World War II-era plane made an emergency landing on a Wisconsin highway on Sunday. Engine problems caused the 1946 North American T-6G plane to touchdown on U.S. Highway 41 near Fond du Lac Airport, the Associated Press reported. Continue reading this entry »
New High-Wing SLSA To Preview At AirVenture 2007
July 22nd, 2007
SportairUSA will preview a cabin model of the TL 3000 Sirius at EAA AirVenture 2007. The Sirius, a high-wing SLSA manufactured by TL-Ultralight in the Czech Republic, will be constructed of the same carbon fiber composite materials as the StingSport and powered by the Rotax 912 engine series. With its generous, 48” cabin, clean lines and room for golf clubs in the back, the Sirius made a very favorable impression in Europe when it was shown at AERO Friedrichshafen earlier this year.
The high-wing Sirius will be the perfect complement to the low-wing StingSport. Flight testing is expected to be completed in the fall, with aircraft ready for USA delivery next year.
For more information: http://www.sportair.aero/sirius.htm
Cessna introduces SkyCatcher Light Sport Aircraft
July 22nd, 2007
Cessna Aircraft Company released the name and look for their newest addition to the Cessna family, The Cessna 162 Skycatcher. This marks the beginning of many great things for the general aviation community.
The new Skycatcher is scheduled to be equipped with a Garmin G300 avionics glass package, sleek carbon fiber seating and cup holders, vertical-opening doors, dual joystick controls, and skylights for improved visibility.
Cessna has yet to determine an exact asking price for the Skycatcher. Reports still claim this aircraft will fall in the $100,000 range. Orders are being taken now with a $5,000 deposit.
For more information: http://www.cessnaskycatcher.com
Epic’s New Victory Jet Flies!
July 14th, 2007
A mere six and a half months (202 days, 28 weeks) after design work began on a clean sheet of paper, the Epic Victory Jet made its maiden flight today from Redmond, Oregon. The milestone keeps the Victory on track for its world debut at AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin later this month.
“In our research, we did not find ANY other company out there that can demonstrate this kind of focus and commitment to bring an aircraft from the proverbial drawing boards to reality in this length of time,” commented Epic CEO Rick Schrameck. “I’ve always said that Epic has the best engineers and manufacturing talent in the world, and I think this clearly proves it!”
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“Quick response from the Seattle MIDO and Portland FSDO allowed us to get this jet flying on our schedule,” added Schrameck. “And we are grateful for their efforts.”
This all carbon-composite Victory Jet uses a single Williams International FJ-33-4A to climb to FL280 in just 10 minutes. Even with full fuel, the Victory offers more than 900 lbs of payload, easily accommodating 4 – 5 passengers and their luggage. The max cruise for this Very Light Jet is greater than 320 KTAS, and the Victory features an all Garmin- glass cockpit.
Epic promises to deliver at least six of the new jets to customers before the end of 2007, each with a price tag of less than one million dollars.
“This VLJ has been brought to market with a price tag of less than a million dollars,” added Schrameck. “And this is not a promotional price or a price in 2002 dollars like we’ve seen with other jets. This is the Victory price today.”
In line with Epic’s business model, the new Victory VLJ will first be available as an owner- built aircraft via the company’s Customer Build Center in Bend, Oregon.
The single-engine Victory and the twin-engine Elite jets are scheduled to fly into Oshkosh’s Whitman Field to give the international press a first look at the two newest members of the growing Epic family of aircraft on Monday, July 23rd, 2007; a press conference will be held at 10:30AM in AeroShell Square.
For more information on the Epic Victory jet, visit the company’s website, www.EpicAircraft.com, or call 888-FLY-EPIC.
A-10 Thunderbolts Get Digital Makeover
July 10th, 2007
Air Force officials are making significant changes to A-10 Thunderbolt IIs as part of the “Precision Engagement” upgrade, which changes the aircraft designation from the A-10A to the A-10C.
“It’s the largest upgrade the A-10 has ever had by far,” said Maj. Drew English, the program manager for A-10C Precision Engagement.
“The gist of it is to bring the A-10 from being an analog jet to a digital jet,” he said.
The most significant change to the A-10C is the addition of the Situational Awareness Data Link, or SADL. With SADL, the A-10C joins a massive “Internet-like” network of land, air and sea systems. Each individual member “uploads” information for other platforms to see and use, and “downloads” information it can use to better perform its mission.
For the A-10C pilots at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, this means they digitally access the most current information from command and control systems instead of annotating friendly and enemy locations in grease pencil on paper maps. SADL automatically updates the digital battlefield information on the integrated moving map in the aircraft.
With SADL, participants gain situational awareness by exchanging digital data over a common communications link continuously updated in real time.
“With SADL you can see everything that a friendly user puts on the link,” said Lt. Col. Michael Millen, a 357th Fighter Squadron operations officer. “Everyone with a piece of the puzzle can put it on the net, which collectively creates an electronic representation of the battlefield. SADL automatically downloads the pertinent information and displays it on a screen in the cockpit.”
SADL is a military intercomputer data exchange format, similar in many ways to the more prolific format Link 16 (used by F-15 Eagles, some F-16 Fighting Falcons, and many command and control platforms), and supports the exchange of tactical information in real time. SADL is used primarily by U.S. land forces, the A-10C and the F-16C in the tactical arena. Link 16 and SADL share information via gateways, which are land-based or airborne portals that permit the transfer of information between different formats.
A command and control platform — such as the 12th Air Force Air Operations Center here — can send digital communication via SADL to the A-10C for a variety of purposes. Tasking messages, targeting information, threat warnings, and friendly locations can all be sent and received by the A-10C. Additionally, the A-10C is the only platform with the ability to task other fighter platforms to attack targets.
The airframe becomes even more lethal when an advanced targeting pod is combined with SADL. This allows A-10C pilots to quickly find targets while remaining clear of surface to air threats, and then digitally assign other fighters to attack the targets.
“In this aircraft I can find a target in my targeting pod, assign it to another fighter, clear him to attack it, watch his bombs hit, and provide a bomb damage assessment to the AOC with little or no verbal communication. And it takes about half the time,” Colonel Millen said. “It’s a phenomenal improvement.”
This responsiveness is critical to coalition ground forces whom, when ambushed and outnumbered, may need immediate firepower (in a matter of minutes) to survive and accomplish the mission.
Boeing Celebrates Rollout of 787 Dreamliner
July 8th, 2007
Boeing unveiled the 787 Dreamliner during a one-hour ceremony at its Everett, Wash., final assembly facility, attended by nearly 15,000 employees, airline customers, supplier partners and government officials. Broadcast live via satellite worldwide and webcast, the event potentially reached 100 million or more viewers. The Boeing 787 is an all-new, technologically advanced and environmentally progressive airplane, scheduled to enter passenger service in May 2008 with Japan’s All Nippon Airways.  The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the world’s first mostly composite commercial airplane, will use 20 percent less fuel per passenger than similarly sized airplanes, produce fewer carbon emissions, and will have quieter takeoffs and landings.”Our journey began some six years ago when we knew we were on the cusp of delivering valuable technologies that would make an economic difference to our airline customers. In our business, that happens every 15 or so years, so we have to get it right,” said Mike Bair, Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president/general manager of the 787 program.”I am so proud of the men and women of Boeing and of our partner employees in the 70 companies that have brought this airplane to the passengers of the world.”Following the premiere, the first 787 Dreamliner will be completed in the Everett factory - including the installation of final systems elements, interiors and flight test equipment. First flight of the airplane is expected in late August or September.A total of six airplanes will be included in the flight test program, which will conclude in May 2008 with the certification of the airplane followed shortly by the first delivery of a 787 to ANA.To date, 47 customers worldwide have ordered 677 airplanes worth more than $110 billion at current list prices, making the Dreamliner the most successful commercial airplane launch in history. The first 787 is scheduled to enter passenger service in May 2008.
Cirrus debuts new light-jet design
June 28th, 2007
Today, Cirrus released photos of its upcoming light-jet aircraft. For more information, visit the Cirrus web site: http://www.cirrusdesign.com
Barrington Irving Completes World Flight Adventure
June 27th, 2007
Barrington Irving, a 23-year old senior majoring in aerospace at Florida Memorial University, traded his cap and gown for a brown flight suit, climbed into a single-engine plane he calls “Inspiration,” and embarked on a round the world flight that made him the first person of African descent and the youngest person ever to fly solo around the globe.
Born in Kingston, Jamaica and raised in inner-city Miami, Barrington hopes his 5-week historic flight will inspire other young people to resist the negative influences of the streets and work toward their dreams. As a teenager, Barrington and his friends shared a sense of hopelessness about their futures, as there was little incentive or opportunity for minority youth in the inner city to pursue professional careers. He earned good grades in high school but saw a football scholarship as his only route to college. Then one afternoon, working in his parents’ Christian bookstore, Barrington began talking with a customer, a Jamaican airline pilot, Captain Gary Robinson, who invited him to the airport the next day to see the cockpit of the Boeing 777 jet he flew for United Airlines. That day changed the young man’s life forever.Barrington was just 15 but had found his passion. He started spending afternoons and weekends at the airport, washing planes for private aircraft owners in exchange for half-hour flights or money he could use for flying lessons. Every evening he practiced flying on his own using $40 Microsoft Flight Simulator software. Focused on the dream of becoming a pilot, he turned down college football scholarships and enrolled in a community college where his tuition was partly covered by a Florida Bright Future Scholarship based on his high marks in high school.
Barrington spent every free moment thinking about aviation, doing odd jobs to pay for flight lessons and speaking to church, school, and community groups, such as “5000 Role Models,” about career opportunities for youth in the aviation field. Before long, his volunteer efforts were noticed by community leaders in Miami, who awarded him a joint Air Force/Florida Memorial University Flight Awareness Scholarship that would cover college tuition and flying lessons.
In 2003, Barrington enrolled in Florida Memorial University where he excelled in both academic and flight training courses. Over the next few years, he continued his volunteer work as he earned his Private, Commercial Pilot, and Flight Instructor licenses as well as his Instrument Rating.In 2005, the young pilot founded a nonprofit organization, Experience Aviation, Inc., to address the significant shortage of youth pursuing careers in aviation and aerospace. Supported by a $10,000 grant from Miami Dade Empowerment Trust, a federally funded economic development group, he offered information and guidance programs to young people in South Florida that included touring planes at the airport and learning how to use a flight simulator. Given the success of that program, the Empowerment Trust increased its commitment to $75,000 to reach more youth in the community. Barrington used those funds to set up the first Experience Aviation Learning Center, using donated computers and Microsoft Flight Simulator software, at Miami’s Opa-locka Airport.The Columbia 400 aircraft that will carry Barrington on his World Flight Adventure has its own story. In 2003, Barrington began calling aircraft manufacturers with the unlikely request to borrow, lease, or donate a plane he could use to make aviation history. When no one said yes, he decided to ask manufacturers of the various components to donate just one of their individual products to him; he also asked Columbia, an aircraft manufacturer, whether they’d agree to assemble the plane if he could produce the parts.
During the next year, with support and guidance from Miami Executive Aviation, he visited aviation trade shows throughout the country and secured more than $300,000 in donated components—the engine, tires, cockpit systems, seats, and so forth—and Columbia built him the world’s fastest single-engine piston airplane, ready to be modified with extended fuel tanks a few weeks before the global flight. In addition, he received fuel support from Chevron that enabled him to train for the global flight and visit schools throughout the country.
Barrington also approached Microsoft, who offered to host a flight blog during the trip and donate free Flight Simulator software to students taking part in Experience Aviation programs. Two satellite communications companies have also donated a tracking system that will enable students to join Barrington’s flight, in real time, through a download from the Internet. In addition, a software development company has created a lifelike simulation of Barrington in the cockpit of his plane.Barrington is an inspiring role model for children and adults alike. Though he started his aviation career with few financial resources, he has continued to pursue his goals with the self-confidence of an entrepreneur who sees no limits to what he can achieve. Having left the city streets for a future in the sky, he hopes his World Flight Adventure will encourage other young people to leave their fears behind and reach for the stars.
More information about Barrington’s flight at his web site:Â http://www.experienceaviation.org/