July 16th, 2008
In 1982 Peter Vacher was travelling in India, searching for his next restoration project - an old Rolls Royce motor car. Instead he discovered the remnants of a Mark 1 Hurricane, which had flown in the Battle of Britain! Nothing more than a photograph in an album, it was not until 1995 that he decided to act - some six years later he finally obtained permission to purchase and restore this unique aircraft.
This programme covers the fascinating story of Peter’s dedicated restoration of R4118 and will show you all aspects of the rebuilding of a rare WWII aircraft. Hear from the experts just what is needed to turn a wreck in to an aircraft in near-original flying condition.
You will learn not just about R4118, but the pilots who flew her and their own remarkable stories of courage and determination. A mixture of historic footage of Battle of Britain flights and present-day interviews with pilots such as Wg Cdr Christopher ‘Bunny’ Currant DSO, DFC and Wg Cdr Bob Foster DFC, AE bring Britain’s finest hour to life like never before. Five years after her arrival back on British shores, R4118 took flight again. This poignant moment is captured both on the ground and in the air. Plus you’ll get a unique walk-round of the aircraft, its controls and instruments and see her in flight from both inside and outside the cockpit! Presented and produced to broadcast quality, this is a truly remarkable programme that documents every detail from discovery to flight of a true slice of history.
Buy your copy at http://www.itvv.com/product/R4118 (no affliliate link)
By Mr. Plane -- 0 comments
July 16th, 2008
Hong Kong International Airport has been voted the world’s best airport for the seventh year in an annual survey of passengers, it was announced today.
The annual survey, conducted by UK consultancy Skytrax, judges airports on more than 40 categories.
The airports are ranked according to answers collected from 8.2m questionnaires completed by passengers over a 10-month time period from 2007 to 2008.
(Image (c)Newscom)
Airports were judged on factors like shopping, dining, staff courtesy, baggage delivery and wait-times at security.
Overall airports on the Asian continent fared the best. Singapore’s Changi Airport and Seoul’s Incheon Airport in South Korea were second and third respectively.
Munich in Germany was voted the top European airport, ranked fifth in the world, while Copenhagen in Denmark, Zurich, Switzerland, and Helsinki, Finland (me, proud) also made the top ten.
Cape Town International Airport in South Africa came in at Number 10.
News from http://www.airport-technology.com/news/news5729.html
By Mr. Plane -- 3 comments
July 15th, 2008
By Liz Moscrop, AVweb Contributor
Britain’s Formula 1 hero and brand ambassador for Bombardier Lewis Hamilton took on the Canadian airframer’s iconic Learjet 60 in a special one off head-to-head challenge at the Farnborough International Airshow Monday. Hamilton tore his McLaren Mercedes around the runway at 175mph, competing against the Learjet some 200ft above him and “winning” the race.Hamilton enjoyed the race and said: “This event really illustrates my role as the Learjet brand ambassador and brings home the message that speed is everything.” Bombardier’s Business Aircraft president Steven Ridolfi added: “Like Lewis, the Learjet brand is leading the way in the arena of corporate aviation, making the two a perfect pair.”
Story is from http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/F1BeatsLear60_198305-1.html
By Mr. Plane -- 1 comment
July 15th, 2008
EVERETT, Wash., July 14, 2008 — The first Boeing [NYSE: BA] 777 Freighter, the world’s most capable twin-engine cargo airplane, today successfully took to the sky for the first time and completed an initial series of tests during a flight lasting more than three-and-a-half hours. The airplane performed well.
“The 777 Freighter completed the scheduled three-hour inaugural flight with no airplane performance-related issues,” said Dennis O’Donoghue, vice president of Flight Operations, Test & Validation. “The only issue was a data-communication problem between the airplane and the telemetry room at Boeing Field.”
Boeing will identify and fix the problem to resume the flight test program as soon as possible. Due to the data-transmission issue, the 777 Freighter was unable to complete all of the first-flight tests and was returned to Paine Field in Everett, Wash. per Federal Aviation Administration procedure. The original first-flight plan called for a landing at Boeing Field.
(Image: (C) Boeing)
The newest member of the 777 airplane family took off at 10 a.m. (PDT) from Paine Field in Everett, Wash. It landed at 1:38 p.m. at Paine Field.
During today’s flight, 777 Chief Pilot Suzanna Darcy-Hennemann and 777 Deputy Chief Pilot Van Chaney took the airplane to an altitude of 18,000 feet (5,486 meters) and an air speed of 270 knots, or about 311 miles (500 kilometers) per hour, customary on a first flight. Typically, the 777s cruise altitude is 35,000 (10,668 meters), and its cruise speed is Mach 0.84, about 484 miles (779 kilometers) per hour.
“This is the moment that thousands of Boeing employees have worked towards in the design, build and test of the 777 Freighter. The airplane handled perfectly,” said Darcy-Hennemann after the flight ended. “Being at the controls of a commercial airplane on its maiden flight is a rare and unique opportunity and it was a great day.”
The 777 Freighter, the sixth member of the 777 airplane family, will be capable of flying 4,885 nautical miles (9,047 km) with a full payload, making it the world’s longest-range twin-engine freighter. The airplane’s range capability will translate into significant savings for cargo operators: fewer stops and associated landing feeds, less congestion at transfer hubs, lower cargo handling costs and shorter cargo delivery times.
“I’m very proud of our 777 team and what they’ve accomplished with this airplane,” said Larry Loftis, vice president 777 program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “By working together with our customers and suppliers we have built the best possible new cargo airplane. I couldn’t be more pleased.”
The flight-test program will involve the airplane flown today and a second one. The two aircraft will prove the airplane’s safety, reliability and service-ready condition during approximately 270 flight hours and more than 450 ground test hours.
Boeing’s plan is to earn certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and Europe’s Joint Aviation Authority during the fourth quarter and deliver to launch customer Air France shortly thereafter.
To date, Boeing has secured 78 firm orders from 11 customers for the 777 Freighter.
News release from: http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2008/q3/080714c_nr.html
By Mr. Plane -- 1 comment
July 14th, 2008
July 13, 2008 — Initiative Targets Improved Fuel Efficiency Up to 16 Percent
FARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW —
GE Aviation has launched a new engine core program, called “eCore”, as the technology cornerstone for a new generation of jet engines for narrow-body, regional, and business jets.
The program is designed to outpace competitive engine designs by offering aircraft operators up to 16 percent better fuel efficiency over GE’s best engines in operation today.
GE already produces some of the world’s most fuel-efficient jet engines. For example, Boeing 777s powered by the GE90-115B are the most fuel-efficient, long-range aircraft in production. The GEnx-powered Boeing 787 will achieve even greater levels.
(Image: Newscom)
Building on this experience, “eCore” raises the bar further for all future aircraft with 200 passengers and fewer. The fuel-efficiency targets for eCore exceed competitive engine offers being announced for new-generation commercial aircraft.
“eCore is also the foundation for new regional and business jet engines now being designed by thousands of GE engineers,” said David Joyce, president and CEO of GE Aviation. “Using eCore as the basis, GE is developing and maturing technologies for new regional and business jets for a time frame of 2015 and beyond.”
Maximizing Efficiency at the Heart of the Engine
The engine “core” - comprised of the compressor, combustor, and high-pressure turbine - is the heart of any jet engine. It’s where air is compressed and mixed with fuel to drive turbines, and create thrust. To this core, the fan system is attached to complete a jet engine.
Leveraging GEnx technologies, the eCore program features advanced materials (such as ceramic matrix composites), unique cooling technologies, next generation TAPS (Twin-Annular, Premixed, Swirler) combustor for efficient and cleaner fuel combustion, and new 3-D aerodynamic design airfoils.
The first eCore will run in 2009 for GE’s joint technology efforts with Snecma (SAFRAN Group) on the next-generation CFM engine for narrow-body aircraft. CFM International, a 50/50 joint company of Snecma and GE, is the world’s most successful commercial jet engine program.
The eCore name is derived from the greater fuel EFFICIENCY to be achieved, lower EMISSIONS, and the decades of EXPERTISE that GE brings to engine core design.
The eCore program is grounded in GE’s unprecedented engine development activity in the past decade. In fact, GE has run advanced engine cores in its laboratories nearly every day for the past 20 years.
For several years, GE Aviation has invested more than $1 billion annually in research and development, leading to an array of highly-popular new engines, including the GE90-115B, GP7200, GEnx, CF34 regional jet family, and GE Honda HF120. These engines include technologies unique in aviation to GE, such as composite fan blades on the GE90 and GEnx, and a composite fan case and TAPS combustor on the GEnx.
GE’s aggressive development programs continue to pay dividends, as more than 17,000 CFM and more than 6,000 GE engines now power commercial aircraft in service.
GE Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of commercial and military jet engines and components as well as integrated digital, electric power, and mechanical systems for aircraft. GE Aviation also has a global service network to support these offerings.
source: http://www.geaviation.com/aboutgeae/presscenter/other/other_20080713.html
By Mr. Plane -- 1 comment
July 14th, 2008
ALBUQUERQUE, NM — June 25, 2008 — Eclipse Aviation, manufacturer of the world’s first very light jet (VLJ), today announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted Flight Into Known Icing (FIKI) certification for the Eclipse 500. With this certification, the Eclipse 500 can now operate in conditions in which ice is known to be present.
“This certification process is one of the most difficult things to put a new model of aircraft through,” said Vern Raburn, president and CEO of Eclipse Aviation. “We’ve worked through this process for some time, flying the Eclipse 500 in the precise natural icing conditions that the FAA requires. We tested the aircraft in some of the most severe weather conditions we could find, wherever we could find it. By receiving the FAA certification, we proved that the aircraft can withstand known icing conditions in a real-world operating environment with no structural changes required of the airframe,” said Raburn.
(Image: Newscom) 
Eclipse conducted its first test flight with an artificial ice shape in August of 2007. Since that time, more than 300 flight hours on three test aircraft have been recorded, including more than 60 hours conducted in natural icing conditions in many locations in the United States and Canada.
Eclipse also performed extensive tests with the Eclipse 500 in normal operation and ice protection system failure conditions in icing tunnels and with artificial ice shapes to simulate ice build up attached to the aircraft’s airfoils. The de-icing system on the Eclipse 500 includes pneumatic de-ice boots on the wings and horizontal stabilizer leading edges, electrically heated windshield and air data probes, and bleed air heated anti-ice engine inlets.
About Eclipse
Eclipse Aviation is the world’s leading very light jet (VLJ) manufacturer, producing innovative, affordable jets that are revolutionizing air transportation. The company created the VLJ category with the design, certification and delivery of the Eclipse 500® - the industry’s first VLJ. Eclipse applies advances in technology, manufacturing processes and business practices to create high-performance aircraft that provide the lowest cost of jet ownership ever achieved. By changing the value proposition for private jet travel, Eclipse is allowing more pilots to enter the world of jet-powered aviation and enabling a new generation of entrepreneurs to help business travelers move between cities on a quick, affordable and convenient basis. Contact Eclipse at http://www.eclipseaviation.com
By Mr. Plane -- 1 comment
July 13th, 2008
Bombardier today announced that its Board of Directors has granted approval for the launch of the CSeries family of aircraft, a new game-changing five abreast commercial airliner family, with the economics, performance, environmental and passenger-oriented improvements demanded by airline customers for the next quarter century. Entry into service is scheduled for 2013.
Launch customer, Lufthansa, a leading German airline, has signed a letter of interest (LOI) for up to 60 aircraft, including 30 options. The approximate list price of each aircraft is $46.7 million US. Additionally, discussions with a number of established airlines worldwide are progressing well.
(Image: Newscom)
“Today is a great day for Bombardier, our customers, our employees, our shareholders and our suppliers. I am proud to say that we have met our business plan objectives: a technologically advanced aircraft family, a strong pipeline of orders and repayable investments with governments and agreements with key suppliers. With the latest in system technologies and aerodynamics, the CSeries family of aircraft will revolutionize the economics and network strategies for airline operations in the 100- to 149-seat commercial market. It is another example of our commitment to designing and manufacturing innovative aircraft that will ensure our continued industry leadership,” said Pierre Beaudoin, President and Chief Executive Officer, Bombardier Inc.
Whole story here at http://www.bombardier.com/en/aerospace/media-centre/press-releases/details?docID=0901260d800326db
By Mr. Plane -- 0 comments
July 13th, 2008
FSWidgets has released a new edition of the GMap for FSX freeware moving map.
All of the functionality of the previously released EFB Edition of GMap for FSX has been replicated using standard windows controls inside a normal resizable window. This new version of GMap - the Browser Edition - has its own resizable built-in web browser and is particularly handy for those running multiple monitors, the window can be maximized to fill the entire second screen.
By Mr. Plane -- 0 comments
July 13th, 2008
A Boeing 737 on a PAR (Precision Approach Radar) runway 24 at Enschede (Belgium) beeing perfectly ‘talked down’ by ATC.
By Mr. Plane -- 0 comments
July 12th, 2008
Recommended by Computer Pilot Magazine (reviewed Feb 2008) and awarded PC Pilot Magazine Classic Product Award.
FSFlyingSchool Features
This unique graphic display examines over 70 different aspects of the pilot’s performance during landings, circuits and flying in general. Each pilot in the FSFlyingSchool pilot roster can be examined separately, with options to examine flights in specific aircraft, or all aircraft together. Use the Career Analyzer to find areas of your performance which need attention and concentrate on getting them just right. Areas such as Landing Vertical Speed and Rough Turns are good places to start.
* Highest scores come from good airmanship, often in challenging weather, with the least automation, but you can fly at whatever level is comfortable.
* From a Cessna 172 landing in a thunderstorm to an FMC controlled flight in a Boeing 747, FSFlyingSchool can handle them all.
* Instant tests of your airmanship: ask the instructor to immediately test your skills.
* File a flight plan - follow it carefully to score more points.
* Large selection of options allow you to configure FSFlyingSchool your way.
* FSFlyingSchool immerses you in the simulation using immediate voice feedback from your chosen instructor.
* Fly anywhere you like and have your performance verbally evaluated and added to your custom log book.
* Instructor tells you what you are doing wrong, when you do it.
* Instructor detects subtle things you don’t normally know about: G forces; trimming technique; taxiing in wind and lots more.
* Performance immediately evaluated while you are still out flying: do not need to quit or even switch applications. No need to park or turn engine off to get a score.
* Fly the pattern (circuits) around your favorite airports and have them evaluated in detail.
* Always gives you detailed scoring of your performance; not a simple summary.
* Failures system keeps you on your toes and your instructor can help you spot them. Over a dozen basic systems can fail, and in addition, so can multiple switches, gear, flaps, spoilers. Fuel can leak too…
* Fly smoothly or you may damage your aircraft.
* Multiple instructors to choose from with different personalities, genders and nationalities.
* Advises you of crosswind strength and relative direction at your intended landing site.
* Instructor will advise you of your height, use of gear, flaps and more as you approach the runway.
* Improves your flying skills; makes your flying more realistic and attentive to detail.
* Finds bad flying habits you may have.
Get your own copy here
By Mr. Plane -- 0 comments
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