Sunday, July 31, 2011

Air Show Pilot Escapes After Wing Breaks Off Plane



A pilot with the RANS Air Brigade has saved his own life in miraculous fashion after his plane fell out of the sky during a flying display in Santa Fe, Argentina.

The accident happened at El Trebol aviation club, where Dino Moline was performing aerobatics, when a wing suddenly broke off and the plane plunged towards the ground.

The 3,000 spectators who had been enjoying the show thought that it was part of the display when Moline managed to activate the ballistic parachute system which is fitted to protect the whole aircraft.

The plane fell about 500 metres to the west of the public area and caught fire, three fire crews were on the scene but the pilot got out of the cockpit unaided and unharmed.

The announcer at the "Show Aereo 2010" reassured the crowd that the pilot was fine. Three of the aircraft had been prepared to display at the event.

On a website, Moline described his shock at the moment the wing fell off like "an explosion".

"I don't know what happened to me, I believe that it was metal fatigue and I felt an explosion. I saw a shadow passing to the side of me and it was the wing. So I listened to Cesar (Faristocco) who yelled at me over the radio to deploy the parachute, which I did.

"I didn't think of anything, I saw fire inside the plane and I despaired a little. My foot got burned but I'm fine," said Moline on the website.

The AirplaneNut

Boeing 777-300ER Cockpit Take Off



Air France 653 Boeing 777 taking off from Martinique to Paris Orly.

Caribbean Airlines 737 Runs Off Runway

The 737 split in half.

Emergency crews at the scene after the accident.


A Caribbean Airlines Ltd. Boeing 737-800 aircraft carrying 157 passengers and crew crashed upon landing in Guyana early yesterday. No one was killed, though some people on the plane were injured, the airline said.
Passengers are receiving medical attention, the airline said in a statement posted on its website. The plane, operating as Flight No. 523 from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to Georgetown, Guyana, crashed at 1:32 a.m. local time, the statement said. Calls placed to the airline for further comment weren’t immediately returned.
The Associated Press reported that the aircraft overshot the 7,400-foot (2,200-meter) runway at Cheddi Jagan International Airport in Georgetown in rainy weather. AP said the Boeing 737 broke in two, and missed going into a 200-foot ravine.
According to the airline, the flight had stopped in Port of Spain, Trinidad, en route and was completing its journey to Georgetown when the incident occurred.
Guyanese President Bharrat Jagdeo is seeking help from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board to aid in the accident investigation.
A message with Guyana’s Government Information Agency seeking comment wasn’t immediately returned.
Caribbean Airlines is based in Trinidad, with flights from Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Miami; New York; Philadelphia and Toronto. The carrier travels to the Caribbean islands of Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, as well as Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela in South America.

Source: Bloomberg

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EgyptAir Boeing 777 suffers cockpit fire at Cairo Airport

After the flames were put out, a noticeable hole was seen in the fuselage near the nose of the 777.






The officials say an electrical short in the cockpit caused the fire early Friday as the plane was scheduled to fly to Jiddah, Saudi Arabia. All 300 passengers onboard were rushed off the plane to a transit hall as firefighters put out the flames. Two firefighters that were present at the scene were taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. The flight was waiting to take off from Cairo airport in Egypt to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. EgyptAir aircraft flight MS667 Nefertiti B777-200. The fire didn’t affect general air traffic and another plane was prepared for the passengers traveling to Jiddah.

The AirplaneNut

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Cessna Citation 10



Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. company, announced at the 63rd NBAA Annual Meeting and Convention the launch of the Citation Ten, a larger, advanced version of the world's fastest certified business jet, the Citation X. It also marks the debut of the Garmin G5000 avionics suite and a Cessna-exclusive advanced cabin management system, and it features more powerful and more efficient Rolls-Royce engines.



The AirplaneNut

Inside Boeing's 787 Dreamliner Prototype at Oshkosh EAA AirVenture 2011



A quick look inside Boeing's 787 prototype at the 2011 Oshkosh EAA AirVenture


The AirplaneNut

Boeing's 747-800F Goes On A Roller Coaster Flight




The "roller coaster" test is required for load/luggage certification to prove that the massive 747-8 will withstand any type of severe pitch or dive maneuver during flight. The Boeing in-flight engineers onboard have to tape and strap everything down, from their lunch to their laptops.

Friday, July 29, 2011

F-16 Fighter Crash At EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2011

The F-16C belonging to the 100th Fighter Squadron of the Alabama Air National Guard was landing at Runway 36 at Wittman regional Airport when it overrun the runway and came to a stop in the grass cracking the fighter's nose; the nose gear appears to have collapse.

This is the only serious incident recorded at 2011 edition of the AirVenture. The pilot was taken to a nearby hospital for precautionary measures. The cause of the incident is not known, EAA says it could either be a mechanical failure or pilot error.

The F-16 overrun



More footage of the F-16 overrun



The AirplaneNut

Boeing 747-8F Performs Ultimate Rejected Take-off



Boeing performs a rejected take-off with their new 747-800F. No thrust reversers were allowed to be used. Firefighters rushed to the aircrafts red hot brakes but couldn't do anything, the only thing they could do was watch.


The AirplaneNut

Two Cars Get Blown Away By 747 Engines-Top Gear- BBC



Source: Top Gear BBC

The AirplaneNut

Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules In Action



The Lockheed Martin C-130J, known for its its military transport capabilities and aerial refueling.

The AirplaneNut

Thursday, July 28, 2011

How to Buy a $25 Million Private Jet



What it is like to live the jet-set lifestyle and why spending $25 million can make good business sense. WSJ's Kaveri Niththyananthan reports from the air in a Challenger 300 private jet.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

The AirplaneNut

Le Bourget 2011 - The A380 soars high above Le Bourget (HD)



During the 2011 Paris Air Show's first public day, Airbus' 21st century flagship A380 took to the skies above Le Bourget Airport for a high-profile flight demonstration. Reflecting Airbus' new "Love A380" campaign, the aircraft includes a specially-created graphic with a heart-shaped "3" in A380 designation and the "Love at first flight" tagline.

Source: Airbus

The AirplaneNut

Eighty Percent Of Student's Who Start Pilot Training Never Make It Through



Source: AOPA

The AirplaneNut

Alaska Airline's 737 Pilots use iPads in Cockpit

Sikorsky X2 Technology™ Demonstrator Receives 2011 Collier Award

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

The Newac Turbofan Jet Engine Design




NEWAC brought together 40 organisations, including the major European engine manufacturers, small and medium-sized enterprises, universities and research centres, who investigated four new, highly technical and highly innovative core engine configurations. The project is aimed at closing the gap between current emissions levels and emission reduction targets.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Mike Goulian's Extra 330SC, to be flown this weekend at the Oshkosh AirVenture



The Whelen Aviator Extra 330SC is the world’s newest custom-built premiere aerobatic aircraft. The aircraft is flown by aerobatic pilot Mike Goulian. Michael can tell you that “this is the best airplane I have ever owned”.

Produced by Extra Aircraft of Europe, the 330SC is lighter, faster and more maneuverable than any other aircraft of this type. The main difference between the 330SC and Michael’s former air show aircraft, the 300SHP, is its wing design. The new wing and increased maneuverability gives Michael’s aircraft an even faster roll rate and gives Michael the ability to take his air show performance to an even higher level of extreme aerobatics. The Extra tumbles and rotates at awe inspiring rates in almost any attitude, which gives world class pilot Michael Goulian the freedom to use his imagination to create a show to leave the fans wanting more!

Michael’s new Extra comes with a new Hartzell composite propeller. Nicknamed the “Claw”, due to its pulling power, the Hartzell propeller is the prop of choice for many aerobatic pilots.

SPECIFICATIONS
Empty weight: 1,290 lbs. (585 kg.)
Wingspan: 24.6 feet (7.5 meters)
Engine: 350hp Lycoming Thunderbolt IO-580
Propeller: Hartzell’s “Claw” Composite 3-blade Propeller
Construction: Carbon fiber wings and steel tube fuselage.
Speeds: Top speed, 260 mph – stall speed, 60 mph
Roll rate: 380 degrees per second
G limits: plus and minus 10 G’s

Source: AirVenture

The AirplaneNut

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Friday, July 22, 2011

Fly Next to Oracle Pilot Sean Tucker and The Blue Angels

The Unknown Aircraft Radio Transmit

Unknown Aircraft: "Hello?.."
Easterwood Tower (me): "Please say again."
UA: "What?"
ET: "Who is this?"
UA: "This is Joe"
ET: "This is Easterwood Tower, where are you?"
UA: "I'm in the plane!"
(I looked down the flight line, checking if someone was sitting in a parked plane playing with the radio. I didn't see anything, and the senior controller was becoming more interested in my handling of the situation.)
ET: "Joe, where is the pilot?"
UA: "He got out when the engine quit.."
(I could only imagine a bizarre scenario in which the pilot had jumped from the plane.)
ET: "Joe, what does your airspeed indicator read?"
UA: (Long pause) "Zero?"
(So the plane was now in a stall I thought.)
ET: "Joe, whatever you have in front of you - a stick or a steering wheel - push it forward - you need to get airspeed over your wings!"
UA: "Are you sure?"
ET: "Yes Joe you need to push it forward... (pause)... What does your airspeed indicator read now?"
UA: "It's still zero."
(I thought, oh my god, Joe's plane was in a falling leaf spin. I couldn't help him. Joe was going to die. I did not know what to do. I looked to the senior controller. He said, "Ask him where his plane is.")
ET: "Joe, where is your plane?"
UA: "We are parked down at the end of the runway, the pilot got out when the engine quit and walked back to the hanger.."
ET: "Joe, get off the radio.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Red Bull Glider Stunt Team Blanix, Performs Two Unbelievable Stunts






Austrian Paul Steiner and his glider team Blanix have created flying history. At a height of more than 2000 metres, they performed a breathtaking stunt

Friday, July 15, 2011

Boeing 787 Appearing at Oshkosh EAA AirVenture 2011



The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is scheduled to make a landmark appearance at EAA AirVenture 2011 on Friday, July 29, giving aviation enthusiasts a glimpse into the next generation of commercial airliners.

"We're proud and excited that Boeing recognizes the significance of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in the global aviation community," said Tom Poberezny, EAA AirVenture chairman. "This represents two significant firsts – the first time anywhere that aviation enthusiasts can tour the 787 and the first public showcase of the 787 in North America."

For one day only, attendees can tour the Boeing 787 Dreamliner while it is on static display on ConocoPhillips Plaza and witness it in flight during its arrival and departure. It is scheduled to arrive at 9:30 a.m. on July 29 and depart following that day's afternoon air show, at approximately 6 p.m.

EAA AirVenture 2011, the 59th annual edition of "The World's Greatest Aviation Celebration," is scheduled for July 25-31 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is an all-new airplane featuring a host of technologies that provide exceptional value to airlines and unparalleled levels of comfort to passengers. It is the first mid-size airplane capable of flying long-range routes, enabling airlines to open new, non-stop routes preferred by the traveling public.

Composite materials, more-electric systems, advanced aerodynamics and modern engines combine to make the 787 more fuel efficient and provide lower operating costs. Passengers will appreciate the cleaner cabin air, higher humidity and lower cabin altitude that combine to help them feel more refreshed after flying on the 787. Other innovations include larger windows with electrochromatic shades, bigger onboard luggage bins and reliable LED lighting.

EAA AirVenture annually draws more than 500,000 participants from 70 nations and in excess of 10,000 airplanes, including more than 2,500 showplanes. The event includes 700 exhibitors with the latest aviation innovations; nearly 1,000 forums, workshops and seminars covering the entire world of flight; daily afternoon air shows featuring the world's finest aerobatic performers; up-close sessions with top aviation personalities; and the gathering of aviation enthusiasts from around the globe.

Source: Yahoo

The AirplaneNut

Thursday, July 14, 2011

A behind the scenes tour of the Boeing plant in Seattle

U.S Air Force fleet of F-22 Raptors grounded indefinitely for the last two months


F-22 Raptor, now grounded by the U.S Air Force


The U.S. Air Force fleet of stealth F-22 Raptor fighter jets, which has never seen combat despite costing the U.S. government nearly $80 billion, has now been grounded indefinitely. The order came down from the Air Force's Air Combat Command Tuesday due to "recent reports of potential oxygen system malfunctions. The stand-down provides Air Force officials the opportunity to investigate the reports and ensure crews are able to safely accomplish their missions. The grounding comes just days after a rare video surfaced featuring a flight by one of the F-22s closest potential air rivals, the Chinese J-20 stealth fighter. For U.S. forces in each of America's three current major combat operations, having the F-22s sitting on the sidelines will not make much of a difference -- other than training and patrol operations, that's where they've been since the first of the expensive planes went combat ready in December 2005.




Source: ABC News

The AirplaneNut

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Orbx Simulation Flying with the Lancair IV-P

Pilot lands on a beach, one of the funniest Pilot/Tower conversations ever recorded

Jan Zurikowski, Principal Test Pilot of the Avro Arrow, A True Canadian Aviation Legend

Janusz (Jan) Zurakowski was born of Polish parents in Russia on September 12, 1914. After the revolution, they fled to Poland. As a youth, he took his first ride in a glider and became hooked on aviation. In 1934, Jan joined the Polish Air Force. When Poland fell at the outbreak of World War II, he managed to flee to England in 1940. Jan ended up in the Royal Air Force, and distinguished himself in the Battle of Britain. During this time, he shot down three German aircraft and was, himself, shot down in flames, although he parachuted to safety. In 1942, he was given command of his own Polish squadron and led many combat missions. Throught his flying carrer he perfected two entirely new aerobatic manoeuvres: "The Zurobatic cartwheel" and "The Falling Leaf". After migrating to Canada, he became the principal test Pilot of the Avro Arrow program which was a Jet program designed to patrol Canada's skies and intercept any hostile aircraft, especially Soviet bombers, that might threaten Canada's airspace. Jan Zurikowski, was one of the four test pilots that flew the Avro Arrow.
The Canadian conservative government cancelled the Arrow program on February 20, 1959, throwing 14,000 people out of work, on that day Jan decided that he would never fly again. Weeks after the program got cancelled, Jan Zurikowski was driving down highway 401 near the Malton Airport Avro Arrow plant and seen a flat bed truck driving near him with a section of the Avro Arrow wing sticking out from underneath a cover, the aircraft was being taken away as scrapped metal. Jan pulled over to the shoulder and broke down in tears.
Jan moved on with his life and bought a home with his wife Anna in Barry's Bay, Ontario, they operated a tourist resort known as Kartuzy Lodge and raised a family together, Jan lived until his passing on February 9, 2004.

Story Credit: Bob Teodori