NewsAccidents/Incidents
Los Angeles Pilots Report Man In Jetpack Near Airport Approach
Pilots approaching Los Angeles International were in for a shock on Sunday evening. Multiple aircraft crews reporting flying past what has been described as a man using a jetpack on the approach to the airport. The FAA is investigating the occurrence and has alerted law enforcement to the report.
LinkCommercial
Flying-V completes the first real flight test
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines in collaboration with Technische Universiteit (TU) Delft completed the successful first real flight test of Flying-V scale model aircraft.
A team of researchers, engineers and a drone pilot of TU Delft completed tested the energy-efficient aircraft design, called the Flying-V, TU Delft announced in a press release on September 1, 2020.
Link
Pictures show 1st Airbus A321P2F in service-ready livery
The first Qantas freighter-to-be Airbus A321P2F was spotted performing a test flight in its final livery. The aircraft’s tail indicates that Qantas is on its way to become the first airline in the world to operate the A321 as freighter aircraft.
The world's first Airbus A321P2F (passenger-to-freighter aircraft), destined for Qantas Freight, took off for a test flight on August 30, 2020. The aircraft departed from Seletar Airport (XSP) to make several circles, before landing back at the departure airport, as tracked on flightradar24.com.
LinkAirlines
American and Delta Join United in Ending Domestic Change Fees
The four largest U.S. airlines no longer will charge change fees for domestic itineraries, after American Airlines and Delta Air Lines joined United Airlines in ending the $200 charge, a target of consumer ire for decades. Though each airline has a slightly different policy — American’s is most customer-friendly — the trio now roughly matches the standard at Southwest Airlines, which has never charged for changes.
Link
United chairman: U.S. airline industry needs to shrink by half
According to United Airlines executive Chairman Oscar Munoz, if airline industry in the United States wants to survive, it will have to cut its labour costs by half.
Such cuts would mean either layoffs or reductions in worker hours and pay, Mundoz, former CEO of United, explained in an interview to CNN Business.
Link
After announcing new bases, Wizz Air lowers capacity outlook
Wizz Air was one of the few exceptions amidst the current crisis, as the low-cost carrier announced an abundance of new bases throughout Europe. However, reality seemingly hit the airline’s chances to realistically fulfill its capacity outlook, as Wizz Air expects lower growth than previously anticipated.
Link
Aeroflot expects state guarantees in $940 million loan
Aeroflot Group received a $107 million (RUB7.9 billion) government subsidy and expects to obtain the state guarantees for securing two loans worth $940 million (RUB70 billion).
The announcement comes following the airline’s latest financial results issue, which revealed that Aeroflot losses were lower than previously anticipated.
Link
EVA Air’s new Dreamliners lose appeal against cargo and 777Fs
Evergreen Airways (EVA Air), a Taiwan based airline and a member of Star Alliance, has reportedly reached an agreement with Boeing to change seven 787-10 on-order Dreamliners to three 777F cargo and four 787-9 aircraft.
Link
American Airlines Hands Out 1 Million Lbs Of Food To Those In Need
American Airlines has donated one million pounds of food since the start of the global crisis. The airline has partnered with Feeding America and other charity organizations to provide meals to those in need.
Link
GOL Pays Off Its $300 Million Loan Backed By Delta
GOL Linhas Aereas announced today that it paid in full the US$300 million loan, plus accrued interest, it got in 2015. US carrier Delta Air Lines guaranteed the loan. Last week, some financial analysts pointed out that the Brazilian low-cost may not pay it, forcing Delta to do it.
Link
Virgin Atlantic Showcases New COVID-Friendly Food And Drinks
In a press release issued today, Virgin Atlantic has revealed that it is expanding its onboard COVID-friendly food and beverage offerings from September 1. It comes as the airline also announced the addition of more routes to its network over the course of the month.
LinkAirports
Area 51 - The World's Most Secretive Airport ?
Everyone’s heard of Area 51, but what actually happens there? With perhaps the world’s least broadcast and most inaccessible airfield on its grounds, is this the most secretive airport on the planet ?
Link
San Francisco Airport to undertake runway improvement project
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has announced plans to advance a future runway improvement project, originally slated for 2022, to be undertaken in October 2020. The project, which will upgrade an area where multiple runways intersect, is being completed nearly two years ahead of schedule to take advantage of the current reduced flight activity resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
[url]Link[/url]Military
China's New Plane Sure Looks Like an American Hawkeye Knockoff
China’s latest carrier aircraft may not be a fighter, but it will be the most important plane in the fleet. The new KJ-600 airborne early warning and control aircraft, which flew for this first time this weekend, will act as the unblinking eye of the fleet, detecting enemy threats far in advance and allowing a carrier to send its jets where they’re needed the most.
Link
New contract to make Air Force One hypersonic?
The United States Air Force awarded a new contract with Exosonic as a feasibility of Air Force One to become hypersonic in the future. The low-boom supersonic jet could possibly serve as future Air Force One aircraft.
A startup Exosonic has been awarded a U.S Air Force contract to develop a supersonic executive transport aircraft in the mid-2030s.
Link
Aviation Quote
"I wondered how I was ever going to get my work done because I just wanted to stay
glued to the window."
- Richard Searfoss, astronaut, interview in The Guardian newspaper, 30 July 2013.
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Editor's Choice
Trivia
The Buff In Vietnam
1. How many crew members were on a typical bombing flight during missions over Vietnam?
Various
4
6
8
2. How many engines are on a B-52-B?
4
8
6
10
3. How many bombs could a fully loaded B-52-D carry?
112
58
32
108
4. From how many bases did B-52 aircraft fly to drop bombs over Vietnam?
4
1
3
2
5. What B-52 model was the most heavily used during bombing missions over Vietnam?
B-52-D
B-52-G
B-52-A
B-52-F
6. What B-52 model was the most heavily used during bombing missions over Vietnam?
B-52-D
B-52-G
B-52-A
B-52-F
7. How many B-52 aircraft were lost to enemy action during the 'Christmas Bombing' campaign?
15
27
0
6
8. At which U.S. Air Force base were all B-52 crew members trained during the 1960's and 1970's?
Plattsburg AFB New York
Barksdale AFB Louisiana
Castle AFB California
March AFB California
9. In which seat position did the Electronic Warfare Officer sit on a B-52?
Lower deck, left side
Lower deck, right side
Upper deck, right front
Upper deck, left rear
10. What magnetic compass system was the PRIMARY magnetic compass system for the B-52?
J-4 Compass
N-1 Compass
ANG 1 - Astrotracker
NAV 12 Compass system
11. In 1963, just prior to the Vietnam War buildup, the U.S. Air Force had the largest number of B-52 aircraft in its fleet. How many B-52's did the U.S.A.F. possess at that time?
725
1091
650
456
12. The B-52 was produced at two different sites in the U.S. One was at Wichita, Kansas. Where was the other?
Los Angeles
Atlanta
Long Island
Seattle
13. What was the function of the ANALE24 system as it was used on the B-52?
Radio Telecommunications
Bombsite mechanism
Chaff dispenser
Radar navigation set
14. During an actual bomb run, which crew member ( other than the pilot ) sometimes handled steering of the aircraft?
Electronic Warfare Officer
Co-Pilot
Navigator
Radar navigator
15. During the Christmas bombing effort (1972) how many B-52 aircraft were lost to MiG Jet fighters?
0
5
2
7
