MIDWEEK UPDATE 6 FEBRUARY 2019Plan Your Weekend……..Forthcoming Events…….Aviation News Worldwide Incidents and Accidents……This Week in Aviation History  6: EAA Chapter 322 meeting. Dicky Fritz Moth Hall Edenvale. Contact: kevinmarsden88@gmail.com 9: Rand Model Aeronautical Club Pylon Racing. Corner of Swartkoppies Road & Klipriver Drive, Johannesburg South. Contact allsopp.elaine@gmail.com 9: Rustenburg Breakfast Fly-in. Contact Mauritz Muller, mauritzmuller1@gmail.com    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   1-3: Henley RC Fly In. Meyerton, Gauteng. 2: SAAF Museum AFB Zwartkop open practise day. Officer Commanding Museum oc@saafmuseum.org.za 012 351 2290 4-7: HAI Heli-Expo. Georgia World Congress Centre, Atlanta, Georgia. Contact E-mail: rotor@rotor.org Website: www.rotor.org 6: EAA Chapter 322 meeting. Dicky Fritz Moth Hall Edenvale. Contact: kevinmarsden88@gmail.com 9 & 10: Swellendam Flying Club Sport Aerobatic Club Regional Championships Contact Pieter Venter e-mail: pventer@vgv.co.za   8-11: Aero Club Air Week at Middelburg. Contact Alan Evens Hanes 011 802 1100 E-mail alan@aeroclub.org.za 9: Aero Club Airweek Speed Rally planned Saturday 9th March. Contact Rob Jonkers e-mail: rob@aerosud.co.za cell: 082 804 7032 9: Middelburg Aero Club Airshow. info@middelburgaeroclub.com 12-14 March: Saudi Airshow Thumah Airport, Riyadh. Website: www.saudiairshow.aero 13-15: Ageing Aircraft & Aircraft Corrosion seminar at OR Tambo International Airport. Contact e-mail: lmjaviationbookings@gmail.com 23: FASHKOSK at Stellenbosch airfield. Contact Anton Theart Cell: 079 873 4567 E-mail: gm@stelfly.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 23: SAPFA Virginia Fun Rally - Virginia Airport. Contact Mary de Klerk cell: 084 880 9000 e-mail: maryd@expandingbranding.co.za   4-6: SAPFA Rally Nationals & Fun Rally - Stellenbosch Airfield. Contact Frank Eckard cell: 083 269 1516 e-mail: frank.eckard@mweb.co.za 6: Robertson Annual Breakfast fly in. Contact Alwyn du Plessis cell: 083 270 5888 e-mail: boeredata@breede.co.za 13: Uitenhage Festival. Contact Lourens Kruger e-mail: lmk@telkomsa.net cell: 082 320 2615 4-14: Stars of Sandstone Ficksburg, Eastern Free State. Contact www.starsofsandstone.com 10-13 April: AERO Friedrichshafen, Germany Global show for General Aviation. Contact Stephan E-mail: stephan.fischer@messe-fn.de   26-28: EAA National Convention Vryheid KZN. Contact Marie Reddy 083 259 7691 27: SAPFA EAA Convention Adventure Rally - Vryheid. Contact Rob Jonkers cell: 082 804 7032 e-mail: rob@aerosud.co.za 27 & 28: SAC Judges Trophy venue TBA. Contact Annie Boon e-mail: chunge@mweb.co.za   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   RED BULL AIR RACES 2019- PATRICK DAVIDSON AIMING FOR HIS FIRST RACE WINS  The first Challenger Class pilot from South Africa, Patrick Davidson impressed when he earned two pole positions and two race podiums in his debut season of 2018. Now, he is aiming for his first race wins. Photo © Willie Bodenstein "In 2018 I had a sixth, fifth, fourth, third and second (in no particular order), so I would hate for first to feel left out!" he says with a light-hearted smile but serious intent. Born in 1982, Davidson has aviation in his blood, as his father and grandfather were renowned display pilots. Growing up at airfields with his dad as mentor and trainer, Patrick was eager to get behind the controls himself. He earned his private pilot's licence at age 17, and by 25 he became South Africa's youngest aerobatic champion, securing a spot in his first FAI World Aerobatic Championship. Since then, Davidson has taken additional national aerobatic titles - including the Unlimited championship in 2018 - and his numerous podiums at the World Championships include highlights such as third place overall in individual competition and silver medals with Team RSA. He has clinched wins and podiums at a variety of other prestigious international events as far afield as China and he was twice named Aero Club South Africa's pilot of the year, further earning the organisation's award for most meritorious feat of 2018. Beyond competition, Davidson has a passion for preserving historic aircraft and sharing them with the public in display flights. His personal collection includes biplanes and classic World War II fighters as well as high-performance aerobatic planes and even a jet. Altogether, the South African, who also possesses experience flying as a commercial pilot, has flown over 30 different aircraft. As a newcomer to the Red Bull Air Race last season, Davidson claimed his first Qualifying win and race podium (second place), in only his third race: Kazan, Russia. He subsequently captured another pole and third place at Indianapolis Motor Speedway - all promising results for a first-year competitor. "It's an honour to fly the South African flag, and I have been shocked and gratified by the amount of support I have received from South Africa and South Africans living abroad," Davidson states. "The flying is very different to what I am used to,... but towards the end of the season I started to learn some of the things to look for. I still have a lot to learn."  ASL CHOSE THE SONACA 200 TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF ITS TRAINING CENTRE  As a specialized stakeholder in the management and operation of private jets, ASL operates personal and "charter" flights in Europe. In conjunction with the company JetNetherlands (takeover in 2014), ASL has a fleet of 30 aircraft ranging from 4-seater to 30-seater jets. Photo © Sonaca.  10 YEARS OF CARBON CUB INNOVATION CubCrafters will celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Carbon Cub, the company's most popular airframe series, during 2019. Milestones from the Carbon Cub history will be commemorated throughout the year and will culminate in an open-invitation fly-in & reception in October, dubbed Cubfest 2019, at the company's factory headquarters in Yakima, Washington. From the time of its launch, the Carbon Cub was a lightning rod for controversy. "The industry, the media, and even the FAA told us all that an LSA could produce no more than 100 horsepower and fly at a maximum speed of 120 miles per hour", says Jim Richmond, CubCrafters Founder & CEO. "I didn't see those limitations when I read the rule, and I knew that we could use a much more powerful engine and qualify for LSA". Carbon Cub LSAs were thus equipped with the newly developed CC340 power plant, producing 180 horsepower. That sort of independent thinking has inspired CubCrafters' continued advancement of the Carbon Cub product line, now in its 3rd generation. But the prevalent theme has remained "less weight, more power" since inception. "The rapid development cycle at CubCrafters is ambitious compared to many GA manufacturers", comments Pat Horgan, President & COO of CubCrafters. "The Carbon Cub now has more thrust, carries heavier loads, and gets there more quickly. The newest Experimental Carbon Cubs, equipped with constant speed props and more powerful engines, produce higher thrust-to-weight ratios than any airplane in their class. The aircraft is now offered in six different versions that allow more pilots than ever to build or fly the dream Carbon Cub that perfectly fits their adventure".  At the Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS) 2019 PAL-V will for the first time unveil the distinctive elements of the PAL-V Liberty Pioneer, world's first production model flying car. The 90 pieces limited edition, based on the PAL-V Liberty, will open the next chapter of mobility. During the 5th & 6th March (Press only) and between the 7th and 17th of March (Public days) the pioneer edition will be on display at booth 1220. Inspired by nature, engineered by men and evolved over time, the PAL-V Liberty is a ground-breaking product that inaugurates the age of the flying car. The PAL-V Liberty is a marriage between safety and fun, designed to satisfy the most demanding customers. "The Pioneer Edition is for the people that want to be part of a unique group that writes history with us. They will be at the forefront of a new mobility revolution, where we will no longer have cars that can only drive. They will be the first carflyers in their country, flydriving to any destination" - R. Dingemanse, CEO of PAL-V.   Dutch and American officials celebrated the roll out of the first operational F-35A Lightning II for the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) at Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) in Fort Worth, Texas, commemorating a transformational leap in capability for the future of the Netherlands' national defence. Photo © Lockheed Martin Various distinguished government, military and industry guests joined Luyt in attendance at the ceremony including Lockheed Martin Chairman, President and CEO Marillyn Hewson; State Secretary, the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs Mona Keijzer; and Special Envoy F-35, the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs Maxime Verhagen. Following the ceremony, the aircraft is scheduled to ferry to Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, where F-35A pilot training takes place. The aircraft is the first operational F-35 and the third Netherlands jet delivered to date. The first two Dutch F-35s were delivered in 2013 and are at Edwards AFB, California, supporting operational testing. The RNLAF plans to acquire 37 F-35As. Dutch industry, including 25 suppliers to date, have benefitted from the F-35 program with contracts awarded for high technology work. As estimated by the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs, the F-35 program has already generated more than $1 billion USD in contracts for Netherlands industry, creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs for the Netherlands over the life of the program. To date, more than 360 F-35s have been delivered and are now operating from 16 bases worldwide. Ten nations are flying the F-35, seven countries have F-35s operating from a base on their home soil, five services have declared Initial Operating Capability, and two services have announced their F-35s have been used in combat operations. With stealth technology, supersonic speed, advanced sensors, weapons capacity and increased range, the F-35 is the most advanced, survivable and connected aircraft in the world. More than a fighter jet, the F-35's ability to collect, analyse and share data, is a powerful force multiplier that enhances all airborne, surface and ground-based assets in the battlespace enabling men and women in uniform to execute their mission and return home safely.  REPUBLIC OF KOREA AIR FORCE RECEIVES FIRST AIRBUS A330 MRTT  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has taken delivery of its first Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft. The new-generation A330 MRTT extends the endurance and range of the ROKAF's fighter aircraft, and provides the service with strategic transport capability for passengers and freight. Photo © Airbus. South Korea becomes the seventh member of the worldwide family of A330 MRTT operators and is one of 12 nations to have ordered the aircraft. This latest delivery brings the total in-service fleet to 35. Fernando Alonso, Executive Vice President, Airbus, said: "The A330 MRTT has clearly established itself as the world's premier tanker and strategic transport aircraft, and has been widely praised by the current operators. It will be a critical asset of the ROKAF and leading air forces worldwide for many decades."   The U.S. Navy has awarded Boeing [NYSE: BA] a $2.4 billion production contract for the next 19 P-8A Poseidon aircraft. The contract includes 10 aircraft to add to the current inventory of P-8As in the U.S. Navy fleet, all five jets currently under contract for Norway and the four aircraft remaining for the existing United Kingdom contract, bringing the total United Kingdom acquisition to nine aircraft. Photo © Boeing The P-8 is a long-range multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft capable of broad-area, maritime and littoral operations. A military derivative of the Boeing Commercial Next-Generation 737 airplane, the P-8 combines superior performance and reliability with an advanced mission system that ensures maximum interoperability in the battle space. The P-8 is militarized with maritime weapons, a modern open mission system architecture, and commercial-like support for affordability. The aircraft has been modified to include a bomb bay and pylons for weapons - two weapons stations on each wing - and can carry 129 sonobuoys. The aircraft is also fitted with an in-flight refuelling system. With more than 180,000 flight hours to date, P-8 variants, the P-8A Poseidon and the P-8I, patrol the globe performing anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; humanitarian; and search and rescue missions.   USA, Orange County, Yorba Linda, CA: A Cessna 414A Chancellor impacted residential terrain in Yorba Linda, California. The aircraft burst into flames and nosedived into the ground spreading wreckage over four blocks of the neighbourhood. The airplane was partially consumed by the post-impact fire and the pilot, the sole occupant, received fatal injuries. One residential structure was substantially damaged. There were four fatalities and two significant injuries to occupants of the house that the aircraft crashed into. USA, Alaska: A Beechcraft King Air 200 operated by Guardian Flight with three occupants onboard on a flight from Anchorage-Ted Stevens International Airport to Kake Airport was reported missing west of Kake, Alaska. A UCSG cutter was deployed. Searchers later found aircraft debris. The U.S. Coast Guard however emphasized that it wasn't clear whether the discovery was linked to the missing aircraft. The debris was located in the water approximately 22 miles west of Kake. UK, Edinburgh: A EasyJet flight with 141 passengers, plus six crew members including two pilots and four cabin crew on board on a flight from Manchester Airport to Iceland had to divert to Edinburgh when an apparently drunk male passenger assaulted another passenger. The intoxicated passenger had smashed his phone, resulting in smoke coming from its battery when the other passenger jumped out to stop it setting fire to the plane. The flight was met by police in the Scottish capital and the disruptive passenger was removed. USA, Tuscaloosa Regional Airport: A Boeing 727-200 operated by Kalitta Charters experienced a nose gear collapse after landing at Tuscaloosa Regional Airport (KTCL) in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The aircraft sustained minor damage and there were no reported injuries to the crew onboard. Australia, Gippsland, Victoria: A Sikorsky S-64E Skycrane operated by Erickson Inc helicopter crashed into a reservoir during water uplifts for firefighting operations. The three crew members swam to shore. All other Skycranes in Australia had been grounded awaiting the results of a preliminary investigation into the accident. USA, near Lake Hope State Park: A Bell 407 ambulance helicopter operated by Survival Flight Inc crashed into wooded terrain in southeast Ohio with three persons onboard. The aircraft was en route to pick up a patient. State Highway Patrol found the wreckage. The helicopter was completely destroyed. None of the occupants survived.   3 FEBRUARY 1959 American rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson were killed in the crash of a Beechcraft Bonanza on their way to a show in Moorhead, Minnesota. The plane took off normally from runway 17. A pilot called Dwyer watched the departure from a platform outside the control tower. He was able to see clearly the aircraft's tail light for most of the brief flight, which started with an initial left turn onto a north-westerly heading and a climb to 800 ft. The tail light was then observed gradually descending until it disappeared out of view. Around 1:00 am, when Peterson failed to make the expected radio contact, repeated attempts to establish communication were made, at Dwyer's request, by the radio operator, but they were all unsuccessful.  Photo © Wikipedia/Civil Aeronautics Board Later that morning, Dwyer, having heard no word from Peterson since his departure, took off in another airplane to retrace his planned route. Within minutes, at around 9:35 am, he spotted the wreckage less than 6 mi (9.7 km) northwest of the airport. The sheriff's office, alerted by Dwyer, drove to the crash site.  The Bonanza had impacted terrain at high speed, estimated to have been around 170 mph (270 km/h), banked steeply to the right and in a nose-down attitude. The right wing tip had struck the ground first, sending the aircraft cartwheeling across the frozen field for 540 feet (160 m), before coming to rest against a wire fence. Everyone on board was killed.  |
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