MIDWEEK UPDATE 21 FEBRUARY 2018Plan Your Weekend……..Forthcoming Events…….Aviation News Worldwide Incidents and Accidents……This Week in Aviation History    3 & 4: SAC Western Cape Regionals and annual fly-in Swellendam airfield. Contact Annie Boon E-mail: chunge@mweb.co.za or contact Pieter Venter E-mail: pventer@vgv.co.za 3: SAAF Museum AFB Zwartkop open practise day. Officer Commanding - Museum oc@saafmuseum.org.za 012 351 2290 3: Durban Wings Club Fun Rally. Virginia Airport, Airport Street, Durban North, 4051, South Africa (map). Contact: Mary de Klerk maryd@expandingbranding.co.za 8: EAA Chapter 322 meeting. Dicky Fritz Moth Hall Edenvale. Contact: editor@afskies.co.za   9 to 11:Aero Club of South Africa air week at Middleburg airfield. Contact Alan Evan-Hanes E-mail: alan@aeroclub.co.za . Kindly follow this link and complete the RSVP form, to indicate your intentions to attend the Airweek from 9 to 11 March 2018 at Middelburg. https://goo.gl/forms/lgvAlo1sUSu2ugjt2  3rd Saturday of every month. Microland. Bring and braai. Fires and bykos provided. Fires start from 09h30. Contact person: Nick Swardt 082 441 8011 or Alan Hussey 072 82 2341 25: Piet "Vlieg" Smit Memorial Fly In. Aviators Paradise . 31: Rand Airport Adventure Fun Rally. E-mail: rob@aerosud.co.za cell: 082 804 7032  4: EAA Chapter 322 meeting. Dicky Fritz Moth Hall Edenvale. Contact: editor@afskies.co.za  7: Ermelo Airshow Contact Andre van Rooyen E-mail: tolderia@gmail.com Cell: 082 417 0174 8: SAAF Museum AFB Zwartkop open practise day. Officer Commanding Museum oc@saafmuseum.org.za 012 351 2290 7 to 8: Sport Aerobatics Western Cape Regionals Swellendam. Contact Annie Boon E-mail: chunge@mweb.co.za  21 & 22: SAC KNZ regionals - Ladysmith airfield. Contact Annie Boon E-mail: chunge@mweb.co.za 3rd Saturday of every month. Microland. Bring and braai. Fires and bykos provided. Fires start from 09h30. Contact person: Nick Swardt 082 441 8011 or Alan Hussey 072 82 2341 28 - 28: Uitenhage Wings & Wheels Festival Lourens Kruger lmk@telkomsa.net 082 320 2615 27 April to 1 May: South African Canopy Piloting National Championship 2018 will be hosted by the CP Committee at Pretoria Skydiving Club in Gauteng from. 27 April - 1 May 2018 NAC Fly Away; the 10th Fly Away to be staged by NAC Contact Deneys Potgieter deneys.potgieter@nac.co.za or Mobile 082 891 4354 27-29: EAA Convention, Vryheid Airfield. rsvp@eaa.org.za or go to www.eaa.org.za 28: EAA Convention Adventure Rally. Contact Rob Jonkers e-mail: rob@aerosud.co.za  2: EAA Chapter 322 meeting. Dicky Fritz Moth Hall Edenvale. Contact: editor@afskies.co.za 05: Swartkops Airshow Contact Officer Commanding - Museum oc@saafmuseum.org.za 012 351 2290 12: Sheila Taylor Fun Rally - Krugersdorp Airfield. Contact Frank Eckard e-mail: frank.eckard@mweb.co.za cell: 083 269 1516 11 to 13: Battlefields Country Lodge Annual fly-in. Website: www.battlefieldslodge.co.za Contact Dave O'Halloran Tel 079 496 5286 E-mail: gm@battlefieldslodge.co.za 12 : Lowveld Kishuga Airshow Willemien Hodgkinson willemien.hodgkinson@kishuga.com 079 499 5733 or monica.fourie@kishugu.com Cell: 083 619 3597  19: Swellengrebel Flying Club 60th birthday fly-in. Contact Pieter Venter E-mail: pventer@vgv.co.za 19 & 20: SAC Free State Regionals Tempe airport Bloemfontein. Contact Annie Boon E-mail: chunge@mweb.co.za 3rd Saturday of every month. Microland. Bring and braai. Fires and bykos provided. Fires start from 09h30. Contact person: Nick Swardt 082 441 8011 or Alan Hussey 072 82 2341 24 - 26: SAPFA President's Air Race. Website: www.sapfa.org.za E-mail: Race@sapfa.org.za. Race director Robin Spencer-Scarr: E-mail: robin@stylegroup.com.au. Contact Robbie Myburgh E-mail: roblena@mweb.co.za Cell: 083 377 0925 or 26: Matsieng Airshow. Contact Riaan van Vuuren E-mail: riaan@gir.co.bw Tel: +26 771 66 1201 RADIO SHOW The Aviation Radio Show; get all your questions answered in one place. To listen to a recording of the live broadcast click on the link: www.debela.co.za/aviation-radio-show  ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE SOUTH EASTERN SECTION MODERNIZES FLEET WITH NEW BEECHCRAFT KING AIR 350 TURBOPROPS  Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company announced at the 2018 Singapore Airshow that it has received an order from the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia (RFDS) South Eastern Section for two modified Beechcraft King Air 350 cargo heavyweight aircraft scheduled to begin delivery in the third quarter of this year. Photo © Textron. The new turboprops will replace King Air B200 aircraft in order to modernize the organization's patient transfer and air ambulance fleet. The RFDS organization currently operates more than 35 Textron Aviation aircraft, including the South Eastern Section's fleet of 18 King Air turboprops. The two new King Air 350 turboprops are scheduled to be delivered with an 11-pax, high-density seating configuration. This configuration empowers the RFDS to transport passengers from rural and remote communities to their regional health care facilities. The organization plans to take advantage of the flexibility of the King Air 350 by converting it from its high density seating to air ambulance configurations and back as needed for each mission. Other modifications include an added cargo door for easier patient loading and offloading as well as heavyweight landing gear that support a higher maximum take-off weight for increased payload capabilities. The King Air 350 configured with heavyweight landing gear is an uncompromising aircraft with the ability to operate with full fuel as well as a max payload of more than 1,100 kg that can be carried more than 2,500 km. Using the latest in aviation, medical and communications technology, the Royal Flying Doctor Service works to provide emergency medical and primary health care services to anyone who lives, works or travels in rural and remote Australia. The RFDS provides 24-hour aeromedical emergency services that can reach anywhere, no matter how remote, within hours. Combined with telehealth consultations, fly-in fly-out GP and Nurse clinics, mobile dental services, patient transfers, and a myriad of other health services, the RFDS is constantly working to see that those living in rural and remote areas can enjoy the same health outcomes as those living in city areas. STRENGTH IN NUMBERS: LOCKHEED MARTIN DELIVERS 400TH C-130J SUPER HERCULES AIRCRAFT  Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) reached a major milestone with the delivery of its 400th C-130J Super Hercules aircraft on 9 Feb. Photo © Lockheed Martin. The C-130J Super Hercules is the current production model of the legendary C-130 Hercules aircraft, with operators in 17 nations. To date, the global fleet of C-130Js has surpassed more than 1.7 million flight hours supporting almost any mission requirement - any time, any place. "We celebrate this accomplishment with our employees, industry partners and the Super Hercules operator community that spans 17 countries," said George Shultz, vice president and general manager, Air Mobility & Maritime Missions at Lockheed Martin. "These first 400 C-130Js meet a global demand for the proven performance and unmatched versatility found only in a Super Hercules. Its durability, relevancy and capability will continue to set the C-130J apart as the world's choice in tactical airlift for decades to come." The C-130J is defined by its versatility. To date, the C-130J supports 17 different mission configurations to include transport (military and commercial), firefighting, search and rescue, Special Operations, weather reconnaissance, and aerial refuelling. This aircraft has another distinction in addition to being the 400th C-130J delivered: it is the 13th MC-130J to be converted into an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship. It will be assigned to the 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida. The AC-130J is a highly modified C-130J that provides close-air support, air interdiction and armed reconnaissance. The U.S. government operates the largest C-130J Super Hercules fleet in the world. This delivery represents the U.S. government's continued transition to the C-130J as the common platform across Air Mobility Command, AFSOC, Air Combat Command, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Marine Corps. The Air National Guard and Reserve still operate a mixed fleet of C-130J and legacy aircraft.   Kyle, who is based in Alberta, Canada, grew up watching his father, Ken, performs and has been performing himself for three years. When Kyle decided it was time to get into air show performing himself, he knew he needed to catch attention somehow. Performing in a Rutan Long-EZ, known more as a sleek homebuilt commuter aircraft than as an aerobatic one, certainly did the trick. "Starting out I was a rookie pilot, I needed to be unique," he said. "I couldn't just buy a Pitts. I looked around and found the Long-EZ. It's such a unique airplane. I started doing air shows with it. I obviously rode my dad's coattails a little bit."  "The industry is so inundated with Pitts, etc. and this allows us an opportunity to bring in young talent," Dennis said. "Also, it's pretty cool that his airplane is one so many of our members can relate to." Although a Long-EZ can't perform some of the aerobatic manoeuvres that spectators may be used to, Kyle still expects to put on an entertaining show that will be different from the normal aerobatics performance. "The airplane wasn't built for aerobatics, it was designed as a long-distance commuter, but it's still more than capable of doing the aerobatics we want to do," Kyle explained. "It's similar to a high-energy glider routine." Interestingly enough, while Kyle has a bit of experience in the air show world - participating in the Canadian Arctic Aviation Tour in 2017 - he's never been to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, even as a spectator. While he's not exactly concerned about performing before thousands of people, he knows Oshkosh will be different than anything he's experienced previously. "The pressure of flying into Oshkosh is going to be interesting," he said. "Michael Goulian has been kind enough to take me under his wing and mentor me a bit. I've got a great mentor to help me out with my first time at Oshkosh. I couldn't ask for a better mentor. He's going to show me the ropes of Oshkosh. It's exciting, it's intimidating but I don't have any concerns." Despite not having the experience of other air show performers, Dennis is confident in Kyle and knows he's a level-headed performer. "We don't typically bring a three-year experienced performer into Oshkosh," Dennis said. "He's been raised in this industry. He's got a great head on his shoulders. He doesn't feel the need to do a circus routine. Those were the factors that made us bring in this new person to the event." TWILIGHT FLIGHT FEST EXPANDS AT AIRVENTURE 2018  February 6, 2018 - After a successful debut at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2017, the Twilight Flight Fest at the Fun Fly Zone will return for AirVenture 2018 with some exciting additions to the line-up of activities. Photo © AirVenture  As in the past EAA's STOL Invitational will kick off the evening festivities, with a number of highly-modified bush aircraft showing off their impressive capabilities. The evening program will also include the powered paragliding Paradigm Aerobatic Team, the Patriot Parachute Team, and Red Bull Air Force skydivers. If last year was any indication, onlookers will be thrilled at these unique and accessible ways to enjoy aviation. VOOM JOINS AIRBUS HELICOPTERS  Marignane, Voom, the world's premier on-demand helicopter booking platform, is now joining Airbus Helicopters as part of the company's strategy to provide new urban mobility solutions for commuters. Photo © Airbus. Initially incubated in A^3, Airbus' Silicon Valley outpost, Voom launched commercial operations in April 2017 in Sao Paulo, flying thousands of passengers over the last ten months, and plans to expand its presence this year. "Urban transportation on and below ground is reaching its limits, and naturally Airbus is looking to the skies to redefine a third axis for public transportation solutions," said Matthieu Louvot, Airbus Helicopters Executive Vice-President Customer Support and Services. "Voom will allow us to grow the usage of existing helicopters for the benefit of urban citizens and operators. With Voom we will also explore and develop new business models in order to support our innovation roadmap." Voom is building the future of urban air mobility today by making helicopter transportation accessible and affordable to urban commuters. The platform connects travellers with trusted and licensed helicopter operator partners, providing a new escape to urban congestion by taking to the skies. Voom air taxi flights can be booked on their website in as little as 60 minutes in advance. As part of its bold vision for the future of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) systems, Airbus is exploring a range of breakthrough urban mobility solutions. This includes on-demand helicopter rides for events; the four passenger, self-piloted CityAirbus eVTOL demonstrator; the single passenger, self-piloted Vahana eVTOL aircraft by A^3; the Altiscope project by A^3 helping to shape future regulations and air traffic control requirements to safely integrate eVTOL aircraft in urban skies; autonomous urban parcel delivery by drones through the Skyways project; and finally the Racer high-speed demonstrator, which aims to connect the heart of distant cities. Airbus is determined to shape the future of urban air mobility to help people travel smarter, work more efficiently, and live better.  Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today the delivery of two Bell 505 Jet Ranger X helicopters to Asian Aviation Resources Pte. Ltd. in Cambodia. Photo © Bell. "We are proud to play a role in the US DPAA's noble mission to reunite missing United States military personnel with their families and to give an account to the nation. Once again, our thoughts and gratitude go out to all the families who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom we as Americans enjoy today," said Sameer A. Rehman, managing director of Bell Helicopter Asia Pacific. "We look forward to working with the DPAA and Helicopters Cambodia to ensure the success of both the DPAA and Helicopters Cambodia's missions throughout Southeast Asia and beyond." The reliability, speed, performance, and manoeuvrability of the Bell 505 is integrated with a flat floor, open cabin that is configurable for a wide variety of missions and payloads. The spacious cabin can be configured to carry up to four passengers or configured for internal cargo missions by removing quick disconnect rear cabin seats and/or co-pilot seat. The Bell 505's flat floor cabin design and large rectangular baggage compartment lets the Bell 505 adapt to the ever-changing mission needs. These features combined with a proven and reliable drivetrain and rotor system make the Bell 505 a true multi-mission aircraft in the short light single-engine market. LOCKHEED MARTIN RECEIVES $524 MILLION CONTRACT FOR PAC-3 MISSILES Lockheed Martin's PAC-3 MSE interceptor obliterates incoming threats by striking them directly at extremely high velocity. Photo © Lockheed.  The contract modifications include PAC-3 and PAC-3 MSE missile deliveries, launcher modification kits, associated equipment and spares. "PAC-3 and PAC-3 MSE give our customers unmatched, combat-proven hit-to-kill technology to address growing and evolving threats," said Jay Pitman, vice president of PAC-3 programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "PAC-3 and MSE are proven, trusted and reliable interceptors that employ hit-to-kill accuracy, lethality and enhanced safety to address dangers around the world." The PAC-3 is a high-velocity interceptor that defends against incoming threats, including tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and aircraft. PAC-3 currently provides missile defence capabilities for 11 nations - the U.S., Germany, Kuwait, Japan, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, the Netherlands, United Arab Emirates and Romania. Building on the combat-proven PAC-3, the PAC-3 MSE uses a two-pulse solid rocket motor that increases altitude and range to defend against evolving threats. RUSSIAN HELICOPTERS COMPLETED FLIGHT TESTS OF THE MI-171?2 HELICOPTER  Russian Helicopters (part of Rostec State Corporation) has successfully completed tests of Mi-171E2, a new multipurpose helicopter with a new power unit and rotor system. The Mi-171E2 was developed by the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and will be produced in lots at the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant (UUAP). Mi-171?2 designed for air transportation by foreign government agencies is a new step in the work upon creation of a new generation of Mi-17/171 helicopters. The tests of Mi-171?2 have confirmed the improvement of all the performance characteristics. Test engineers have noted the increase in its operating efficiency at high altitudes, as well as in carrying capacity, maximum and cruising speed, climbing ability, directional control reserve, and the reduction of noise level caused by main and tail rotors. Moreover, the engineers have managed to achieve the noticeable increase in the main rotor thrust, the considerable improvement in controllability and manoeuvrability, and the significant power reserve in various flight modes, which became especially apparent at high altitudes. "Due to its improved performance characteristics, Mi-171?2 may be interesting for government agencies using helicopters. While creating the new helicopter, we made allowance for the specific character of operation of earlier delivered UUAP helicopters in high-altitude countries such as China, Pakistan, Iran, as well as Latin American states. New engines and a rotor system of Mi-171?2 offer improved opportunities for using the helicopter at high altitudes with high air temperature, and therefore I'm sure that it will be widely used in high-mountain and hot-climate conditions," said Andrey Boginsky, the Chief Executive Officer of Russian Helicopters. The tests of Mi-171?2 were conducted at the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant and included flying and non-flying stages. Altogether, there were 45 test flights with the total duration of 50 hours. The tests were conducted and supported by more than 100 designers, engineers, members of flight and maintenance personnel from the developer and the manufacturer. The key feature of Mi-171?2 is a new power unit and rotor system. It has "high-altitude" engines VK-2500PS-03 with the increased power and the FADEC digital control system, as well as a new main rotor made of polymeric composite materials with the improved profile and an ?-shaped tail rotor similar to the one used on Mi-171?2. At the same time, Mi-171?2 has an upgraded body, modified tail and keel beams and a larger stabilizer. Mi-171?2 will be exported under the name "Mi-171?", which is already used now.  USA, Grand Canyon: A Papillion Airways Eurocopter Airbus EC130 with seven on board touring through the Grand Canyon crashed killing three people and injuring another four. Due to high winds, darkness and hard terrain helicopters were to be used to evacuate the injured. According to Papillion Airway's website, the carrier flies roughly 600,000 per year. India, Bpopal: A Vistara Airways aircraft-from Delhi, carrying 152 passengers, was just 100 feet away from an Air India AI 631 flight for Bhopal which had 109 passengers on board. The collision was averted after an automatic warning alerted the pilots of the two planes of being in close proximity to each other, an official said. The commander of the Air India flight acted swiftly on the instrument warning and steered the aircraft to a safer distance, a senior official of the airline said. The Air India aircraft was going as per the ATC instructions. There was no confusion. But it seems that something had gone wrong between the Vistara pilot and the ATC as the Vistara aircraft kept descending while the ATC was giving different instructions. The two pilots of the Vistara flight have been grounded, pending investigation, while the Air India pilots have been cleared for flying by the AAIB for not being at fault. Brazil, Sao Paulo: A Lufthansa Boeing 747-800 performing a flight from Frankfurt/Main (Germany) to Sao Paulo Guarulhos's (Brazil), landed on Sao Paulo's runway 09R when the inboard aft right hand body gear tyre lost its tread, tyre debris punctured the bottom of the fuselage. The aircraft rolled out without further incident and taxied to the apron. Russia, Ramenskoye District: The heating of the three pitot tubes, on the Saratov Airlines Antonov An-148, was apparently not turned on prior to departure. The aircraft took off from runway 14R at Moscow's Domodedovo Airport at 14:21 hours local time (11:21 UTC). Temperature was -5°C, overcast cloud deck at 2600 feet AGL. The aircraft was destroyed after impacting terrain near Stepanovskoye. All 65 passengers and 6 crew members were killed. Turkey, Ankara: A Turkey military SF-260D light trainer plane crashed some 3 kilometres north of the AFB at Cigli killing its two pilots. Last month, a Turkish Air Force cargo plane similarly crashed during a training flight in southwestern Turkey, killing two pilots and a technician on board. India, New Delhi: Two Indian Air Force pilots were killed after their Pipistrel Virus SW80 crashed soon taking off for a routine sortie from Johrat airbase in Assam state. An air force official said the pilots attempted an emergency landing but the plane crashed and burst into flames. More than 170 air force pilots have lost their lives in accidents in the past three decades, with crashes blamed on its ageing fleet. Most of the accidents involve Soviet-era MIGs unflatteringly dubbed "flying coffins". Last May two air force pilots were killed in Assam after their Russian-made fighter jet crashed near the border with China.   22 FEBRUARY 1900 Birth of Paul Kollsman, German-American inventor who invented barometers and instruments for instrument flight in airplanes.  Mr. Kollsman had hundreds of patents to his credit, but the altimeter, which measures and registers the altitude of an aircraft and enables a pilot to fly ''blind,'' was considered his outstanding contribution to aviation science. In the view of some authorities, it was one of the milestones in the advance of piloted aircraft after the Wright Brothers' flight in 1903. The Kollsman altimeter, which translated barometric pressure into feet, made its official debut at Mitchel Field, L.I., on 24 September 1929, when Lieut. Gen. James H. Doolittle, then an Army lieutenant, made a 15-mile flight guided only by instruments. His instruments were later used in the NASA Apollo program. The altimeter setting window of the sensitive aircraft altimeter is named the "Kollsman window" after him. A re-enactment of the flight, with both General Doolittle and Mr. Kollsman at the scene, was carried out on 24 September 1979, at a small grassy airstrip near Boonton, N.J. By that time, ''blind'' flying was routine. In 1939, Kollsman, who was then residing in Greenwich, Connecticut, sold his company for more than $4,000,000. Kollsman died on 29 September 1982 in Los Angeles after a brief illness. He was 82 years old. |
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