NEWS
USA gives green light to Viking Twin Otter Series 400
Viking Air has clinched US certification for the De Havilland DHC-6 Series 400 Twin Otter, adding to the list of nine countries already recognising the type since the program was launched in 2007.
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Bombardier confident on CSeries sales
Mike Arcamone, president Bombardier commercial aircraft, has reiterated his confidence in the CSeries program, both in terms of the aircraft development and its sales effort.
Unveiling a conditional order for 15 aircraft on 8 July, taking its backlog to 153, Arcamone said that the airframer was still on track to achieve its target of 20-30 customers with 300 orders by the time the CS100 enters service in 2013.
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Undisclosed customer signs deal for 15 CSeries aircraft
Bombardier has announced during the Farnborough air show today that a twelfth customer has signed a conditional order for 15 of its CSeries aircraft. The order for five CS100 and 10 CS300 aircraft is from a customer that the Canadian manufacturer says does not currently wish to be identified.
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Sikorsky weighs new product options as S-76D nears certification
Sikorsky has started to analyse the market to look for new product opportunities as two key program move from the development phase into production. The armed S-70i Black Hawk entered operational service with Saudi Arabia nearly a year ago. Meanwhile, the S-76D medium twin is expected to be delivered soon after its long-delayed certification process is complete, which is now scheduled in October. Sikorsky continues development of the CH-53K heavy lift program for the US Marine Corps and the S-97 Raider high-speed helicopter for a possible US Army requirement.
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First A320neo parts tested as detailed design phase begins
Airbus intends to start cutting metal for major structures on the A320neo shortly, having frozen the conceptual design of the twinjet and moved into the detailed design phase. However, it has already started manufacturing and testing some components for the re-engined aircraft family.
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Airbus stress-tests A320neo assembly line
Airbus intends to pressure-test the assembly line for the A320neo with several preliminary airframes to ensure it can support production ramp-up demand. Customers have ordered 1,425 A320neos - a total which does not include the American Airlines deal for 130 - and the airframer is keen to capitalise on a two-year window before the rival Boeing 737 Max arrives. The pre-series aircraft, built after the eight test airframes, will enable Airbus to examine any possible weak points in the component supply chain and assembly line.
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US Navy fits Raytheon MALD-J onto Super Hornet
The US Navy is integrating the Raytheon-built Miniature Air Launched Decoy-Jammer (MALD-J) onto the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighter.
"MALD will save sailors' lives because it saturates enemy integrated air defense systems, causing them to attack the wrong target instead of attacking our aircraft," says Harry Schulte, vice president of air warfare systems at Raytheon.
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Hawker Beechcraft touts UK capabilities
Hawker Beechcraft reports rising interest in the Blackhawk engine upgrade it is offering for King Air 200 series aircraft from its UK facility in Chester - where it has also developed certificated air ambulance interiors for Hawker 700s, 800s and 900s. Via the engine upgrade customers received two factory-new PT6A-61 powerplants under Pratt & Whitney warranty. Hawker Beechcraft says these engines "run cooler and more efficiently, providing increased power at altitude". More than 200 Blackhawk upgrades have been completed worldwide.
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Lockheed ready to deliver UK's first F-35
Lockheed Martin will deliver its first F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to an international customer on 19 July, with the UK to formally accept short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) test aircraft BK-1.
The milestone will take place at Lockheed's Fort Worth site in Texas, where F-35B BK-1 flew for the first time on 13 April. Following its acceptance, the aircraft will be flown to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where it will join a US-led initial operational test and evaluation program for the F-35.
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A400M reborn as 'Atlas'
Airbus Military's A400M transport has been formally named the Atlas by its European customer nations, during a rain-affected ceremony at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT).
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Other News
Boeing will open a third production line at its Renton, Wash. factory, adding to the two main lines in operation, for its MAX production. “We’re going to introduce a third line when we bring on the MAX from a final assembly standpoint so that as we’re coming down the learning curve on those initial units we’ll be able to really focus and isolate the other two lines from the changes that will come on the MAX and then we will fairly quickly integrate those into the two main lines,” 737 VP and GM Beverly Wyse told reporters during a pre-Farnborough briefing in June.
Air India (AI) pilots called off their 58-day strike last week after the Delhi High court called for reconciliation. But key differences between the management and the pilots are unresolved indicating that the dispute is still far from over. The two parties are barely on talking terms and tensions continue to simmer.
Boeing will add seven inches of space to its 737NG with an improvement unveiled in 2014, it told journalists at a pre-Farnborough briefing in Seattle, Wash. The improvement adds a new slimline lavatory, featuring an “s-wall” in the cabin, allowing airlines to either reconfigure their interiors for improved comfort, or for extra seats. “Some airlines are reconfiguring their interiors and gaining three additional seats,” 737 VP and GM Beverly Wyse said. The improvement will be basic on the 737 MAX.
AVIATION QUOTE
Don’t be a show-off. Never be too proud to turn back. There are old pilots and bold pilots, but no old, bold pilots.
— E. Hamilton Lee, 'Ham' Lee began his long and distinguished career as an instructor pilot during World War I. After leaving the Army Air Corps, he flew the airmail for United Air Services, later United Airlines. The “old pilots, bold pilots” statement was made on his retirement from United Air Lines in 1949. 'Ham' Lee did indeed become an old pilot. On his 100th birthday he fly a restored United Airlines DC-3.
ON THIS DATE
---In 1910... Walter Brookins attains an altitude of 6,175 feet in a Wright biplane, becoming the first to fly a mile high and wins a prize of $5,000 for his feat.
---In 1924... The first recorded flight of a live bull takes place when champion breeder Nico V is flown from Rotterdam, Holland to Paris, France. The bull is carried by KLM in a Fokker F.III transport aircraft.
---In 1933... Flying their Lockheed Sirius built in 1929 and used for the 1931 survey flight of Alaska, the North Pacific and China, Charles Lindbergh and his wife begin a major route-proving tour of the North and South Atlantic. They complete their survey on December 6.
---In 1956…The NACA makes another announcement about the great research work being conducted with the U-2. It informs the public of the need to conduct these types of research flights overseas. This just another cover story to explain the presence of U-2 in Germany and other locations. Through out 1957, 1958 and 1959 the U-2 regularly over flew the Soviet Union at a rate of about once per month. The Soviets tried in vain to intercept the U-2 flights. However, they continued to get closer with each attempt. The United States knew that it was only a mater of time before a U-2 would be lost over the Soviet Union. (Q)
---In 1960… Sabena begins airlifting Belgian nationals out of Congo. Over the next three weeks, 25,711 will fly home.
---In 1964…Pilot Bill Park took A-12 (939) to a record altitude of 96,250 feet. The A-12 crashed on landing at Groom Lake due to an outboard aileron servo valve that was stuck. Pilot Bill Parks ejected safely. (Q)
---In 1982…Pan American Airways flight 759 a Boeing 727-235, N4737 Clipper Defiance, was a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Miami to Las Vegas, with an en route stop at New Orleans. On July 9, 1982 at 4:07:57 PM central daylight time, Flight 759, with seven crew members, one non-revenue passenger in the cockpit jumpseat, and 137 passengers (a total of 145 people on board) crashes after encountering a micro-burst. There were 153 fatalities, eight of them on the ground.
DAILY VIDEO
EDITOR’S CHOICE
HUMOR
Revised Aviation Dictionary
• ALTERNATE AIRPORT: The area directly beyond the active runway when the engine quits on take off
• ALTIMETER SETTING: The place where the altimeter sets. Usually hidden by the control column during a near-minimums instrument approach.
• BANK: The folks who hold the mortgage on your aircraft.
• BI-PLANE: What you'll say to your bird if flying costs keep going up
• CARBURETOR ICE: Phrase used by pilots when explaining accident caused by fuel exhaustion.
• "CLEAR": Warning shouted two seconds after hitting the starter button.
• CONTROL TOWER: A small shack on stilts inhabited by government pensioners who can't hear. When they become blind, they are sent to centres.
• CRITICAL ALTITUDE: Minus six feet.
• CRITICAL ENGINE: That part of your airplane which used to be under the cowl, but is now in intensive care at the maintenance shop.
• DEAD RECKONING: You reckon correctly, or you are.
• DE-ICER: A device designed to operate under all weather conditions, except icing.
• ENGINE FAILURE: A condition which occurs when all fuel tanks become filled with air.
• FIREWALL: Section of aircraft especially designed to allow all engine heat and smoke to fill the cockpit.
• GLIDING DISTANCE: Half the distance from your present position to the nearest decent landing area at the time of complete power failure.
• GROSS WEIGHT: Maximum permissible take off weight, plus an extra suitcase, a case of bourbon, rifle, ammo, golf bag, bowling ball, and diving weights.
• HOLDING PATTERN: The term applied to the dogfight in progress over any radio facility serving a terminal airport.
• RANGE: Five miles beyond the point where all fuel tanks have become filled with air.
• WALKAROUND: What you do when waiting for weather to clear.
• LANDING FLAP: A 4000' roll out on a 3000' runway.
TRIVIA
SOVIET MILITARY AIRCRAFT
1. What Soviet bomber was a "bolt for bolt" clone of the American B-29 Superfortress?
Tu-22
Tu-4
An-12
Il-14
2. What is the only turboprop powered *strategic* bomber ever put into military service?
Tu-4
Tu-95
Tu-22
An-124
3. What BEST describes the original Tu-16 Badger?
Intermediate range bomber
Command and Control
Intercontinental range bomber
Airborne early warning
4. The Tu-22M Backfire is a modification of the Tu-22 Blinder.
True
False
5. What is the American counterpart to the Russian Su-25 Frogfoot?
A-7 Corsair II
A-10 Thunderbolt II
F/A-18 Hornet
A-1 Skyraider
6. What is the world's largest "swing wing" aircraft?
B-1B Lancer
T-160 Blackjack
Tu-95 Bear
Tu-22M Backfire
7. What is the Soviet equivalent of the USAF's C-5 Galaxy?
An-12 Cub
Il-76 Candid
An-124 Condor
An-24 Coke
8. What is the NATO code name for the Mi-24?
Hip
Helix
Havoc
Hind
9. What aircraft would be be found embarked on a Soviet Navy ship?
Mi-28 Hip
Mi-28 Havoc
Ka-25 Hormone
Ka-50 Hokum
10. Which is NOT true about the Ka-50 Hokum A?
It can perform loops
It is single seat helicopter.
It has been produced in large numbers.
It has coaxial rotors.
onto "False".miamiair wrote:---In 1982…Pan American Airways flight 759 a Boeing 727-235, N4737 Clipper Defiance, was a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Miami to Las Vegas, with an en route stop at New Orleans. On July 9, 1982 at 4:07:57 PM central daylight time, Flight 759, with seven crew members, one non-revenue passenger in the cockpit jumpseat, and 137 passengers (a total of 145 people on board) crashes after encountering a micro-burst. There were 153 fatalities, eight of them on the ground.
