MIDWEEK UPDATE 21 AUGUST 2019Plan Your Weekend……...Forthcoming Events……..Aviation News Worldwide Incidents and Accidents……This Week in Aviation History Notice Board     24: Bethlehem Airshow. Contact Stephan Fourie e-mail: fouriesj1491@gmail.com 26-31: SAPFA World Precision Flying Championships - Castellon Spain. Contact Hans Schwebel cell: 082 656 3005 e-mail: hans.s@britsgranite.co.za    6-7: Heidelberg Varkfees Fly-In. For more information go to www.varkfees.co.za 7: SAAF Museum Airshow AFB Zwartkop. For more information Mark Kelbrick Cell 082 413 7577 or E-mail: markkelbrick@yahoo.com  14: Vans Fly in to Kitty Hawk. Contact Frank van Heerden e-mail: frankvh@sandown.co.za. website: www.fakt.co.za 8-13: World ANR Championships - Santa Cruz Portugal - Contact Hans Schwebel e-mail: hans.s@britsgranite.co.za cell: 082 656 3005 21-22: PMS South Africa is proud to present the South African Nationals 2019 for plastic build models hosted by IPMS Cape Peninsula. This is the premier event on the South African scale modelling calendar and promises to attract the cream of the crop in scale plastic modelling. 24: Puma Energy Rhino Park Fly-in. Contact Juan at juan.thessner@pumaenergy.com 28: Wings & Wheels Matjhabeng Welkom airport. For more information contact Ian Buchanan 083 388 1678 or Dirk Smit 082 558 3914    19: SA Landing Championships - Brits Airfield - Contact Ron Stirk e-mail: melron@mweb.co.za cell:082 445 0373 26: SAPFA Baragwanath Fun Rally - Baragwanath Airfield. Contact Frank Eckard cell: 083 269 1516 e-mail: frank.eckard@mweb.co.za    As if featuring the world's fastest motorsport wasn't enough the 2019 STIHL National Championship Air Races will feature a jam-packed performance schedule filled with new additions and some returning event staples. Photo © Reno Air Races The core of the event is the six racing classes - Unlimited, Jet, Sport, T-6, Formula One and Biplane - competing head-to-head at speeds exceeding 500 mph. With some incredible racing planned, event veterans will also see the return of the National Aviation Heritage Invitational and GRADD-NVBAA STEM Education Discovery Zone. The performance line-up has been finalised: STOL Drag Racing Demonstration - September 12-15 The world's largest backcountry fly-in is making its way to Reno. The STOL Drag Racing Demonstration gives a new spin to traditional competition top fuel drag racing style. STOL stands for short take-off and landing. The rules are simple, pilots fly a 3/4 mile straightaway down and back side by side, land on a marker and must come to a complete stop prior to turning around. The first pilot that comes to a complete stop wins. F-18 Legacy Flight - September 12-15 F-18 Legacy Flight will be performed by the VFA-122 Demonstration Team with two FA-18E/F Super Hornet aircrafts. The Strike Fighter Squadron 122 (VFA-122) also known as the "Flying Eagles" are a United States Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F/A-18 Hornet Fleet Replacement Squadron. The F-18 will be joined by a historical Navy aircraft.  Michael Wiskus and the Lucas Oil Airshow - September 12-15 See world-class aerobatics with Michael Wiskus in the Lucas Oil Airshows Pitts Biplane as he performs double hammerhead rolls to slowing the airplane down to zero airspeed. Michael has owned the Lucas Oil Pitts S-1-11B since 2000 and, with the help of Tom Kerns, rebuilt it after purchasing it on Ebay as a wreck. The Lucas Oil Pitts has been extremely modified from its original build, adding full span ailerons for a 400º per second roll rate, 60% larger rudder and elevator for more authority, and a longer gear allowing Michael to stand the aircraft up in place without hitting the propeller. Commemorative Air Force - September 12-15 Watch an aerial demonstration of World War II aircraft including a F8F Bearcat, a F6F Hellcat, a PBJ Mitchell, and a A6M by the Commemorative Air Force (CAF). The mission of CAF is to restore and preserve aircraft in flying condition from World War II and other military conflicts for the education and enjoyment of Americans. CAF is now one of the largest air forces in the world with 13,000 members and a fleet of more than 175 aircraft.  Rob Holland - September 12-15 World-renowned aerobatic pilot and Airshow performer Rob Holland will in Reno for the first time to performing his "Ultimate Airshow" at the STIHL National Championship Air Races. Holland is an eight-time U.S. National Aerobatic Champion, four-time world freestyle champion and 24-time international media holder. Currently Holland's aircraft is a MXS-RH designed and built by MX Aircraft to bring an impressive Airshow of innovated manoeuvres to spectators.  U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds - September 14 & 15 The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds are an official air demonstration squadron proudly serving our country and providing air shows across the world. The American Airmen have an hour-long demonstration showcasing excellence and celebrating American patriotism. Attendees on Friday, Sept. 13 will also be treated to their practice show. The U.S. Airforce Thunderbirds started in 1953 at the Luke Air Force Base located outside of Phoenix, AZ and are now currently located at Nellis Airforce Base outside of Las Vegas, NV. The 2019 STIHL National Championship Air Races returns Sept. 11-15, 2019, just 20 minutes north of Reno. Tickets are now on sale. For more information, visit AirRace.org.  STOL DRAG RACING TO MAKE DEBUT IN RENO  Combine heart pounding head-to-head racing with major horsepower and a little dirt and you've got the STOL Drag Racing Demonstration. Set to make its debut at the STIHL National Championship Air Races Sept. 11-15 in Reno, Nev., organizers hope this year's demonstration becomes a brand-new racing class in the future. Photo © Reno Air Races "It's like car drag racing meets aviation and it's going to bring a whole new energy to the races in September," said Kevin Quinn, president and founder of STOL Drag. Quinn is no stranger to this type of racing. Quinn has been hosting a fly-in event in the Nevada desert called the High Sierra Fly In since 2008. Since its conception, the High Sierra Fly In has garnered a dedicated following with nearly 450 airplanes and 2,000 spectators participating last year, catching the attention of the Reno Air Racing Association. "This is an exciting new idea, something that we've never seen before, and we knew we had to find a way to get it to the races," said Fred Telling, chief executive officer of the Reno Air Racing Association. The STOL group attended the annual Pylon Racing Seminar, a required safety training, in June of this year and received FAA sign-off for a demonstration at the 2019 STIHL National Championship Air Races. "We see this as a huge opportunity for STOL Drag Racing," said Quinn. "We've got two planes racing head-to-head, 20 feet off the ground, doing 100 mph, 50 feet apart - it's going to blow everyone's minds. We really hope it will continue to grow and we can compete as our own class in the future." The STOL (short take-off and landing) Drag Racing Demonstration rules are simple. Racers take off down the 2,000-foot course, accelerating enough but not too much in order to land at the line at the designated halfway point, come to a complete stop, pivot 180 degrees and take off again towards the original start line. The clock starts as soon as the wheels start spinning and ends when the plane is at a full stop. If a plane lands short of the halfway line or the finish line, there is a two second penalty - total of four possible. If the plane does not come to a complete stop on heading at the designated halfway or the finish line they will be disqualified and if a plane slips into a competitor's lane they are instantly disqualified. If all goes well this September, the Reno Air Racing Association may be announcing the first new racing class at the National Championship Air Races in more than 20 years.  PC-24 LANDS ON GRASS RUNWAY IN GOODWOOD FOR THE FESTIVAL OF SPEED A first in England at the legendary Festival of Speed: the Pilatus PC-24 Super Versatile Jet landed on the grass runway at Goodwood Aerodrome and was on display for the general public to admire throughout the Festival of Speed from 4 to 7 July 2019. The PC-24 is the first ever business jet to land at this field. Goodwood Aerodrome (EGHR/QUG) is located northeast of Chichester in the south of England. The airfield is an all-grass operating environment with two runways. The PC-24 landed on grass runway 06/24, which is only 2,621 feet long (799 metres). The PC-24 is the world's first ever business jet to be able to land on very short and unpaved runways. This capability means the PC-24 offers access to almost twice as many airports compared to other jets currently available on the market. It also means the PC-24 can fly closer to the final destination, thereby avoiding the administrative expense usually associated with the larger airports and reducing transfers on the ground to an absolute minimum. Developed and certified for unpaved runways The PC-24 has obtained initial certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for use on dirt and gravel runways. Further certification for other surface types, including grass, is currently in the pipeline and should be complete by the end of this year. The PC-24 has also been certified for steep approaches, as required for the approach into London City Airport, for example.   The Airbus A400M new generation airlifter continues to achieve milestones towards full capability after the successful deployment of 50 paratroopers from a side door on a single pass. The photo shows a part of these tests performed recently at the Ger Azet drop zone in southern France. Photo © DGA. Flight test campaign to deliver 58 paratroopers from one side door will continue towards final qualification with simultaneous dispatch in 2020 and full capability in 2021  FIRST ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE C295 MAKES MAIDEN FLIGHT .jpg) The first Airbus C295, purchased by the Government of Canada for the Royal Canadian Air Force's (RCAF) Fixed Wing Search and Rescue Aircraft Replacement (FWSAR) program, has completed its maiden flight, marking a key milestone towards delivery by the end of 2019 to begin operational testing by the RCAF. The aircraft, designated CC-295 for the Canadian customer, took off from Seville, Spain, on 4 July at 20:20 local time (GMT+1) and landed back on site one hour and 27 minutes later. Photo © Airbus.   Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, announced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the Bell 407GXi. The certification is a requirement for the Navy Advanced Helicopter Training System competition, enabling the Bell 407GXi to replace the Bell TH-57 Sea Ranger as the US Navy's training helicopter. Photo © Bell Helicopters. "The team did a great job ensuring the Bell 407GXi achieved the FAA's IFR certification necessary to meet all of the Navy's requirements," said Mitch Snyder, president and CEO. "Bell is an instrumental part of the Navy's training program and has been for more than 50 years, and we look forward to continuing the tradition for the next generation of Naval Aviators." A Bell to Bell transition offers low-risk to the Navy by streamlining instructor pilot and maintainer transition training as well as using common support equipment and infrastructure. The 407 airframe has already proven capabilities as the platform for the MQ-8C Fire Scout for the US Navy. Bell's industry-leading customer service and support has established capability with cost-efficient and effective helicopter training solutions. Bell proves its mature production and sustainment support capability every day by supporting more than 1,600 Bell 407s globally. These aircraft have nearly 6 million flight hours across the fleet and are actively performing flight training as well as military and para-public missions helicopter mission-set. The 407GXi's Garmin G1000H™ NXi Flight Deck enhances situational awareness and reduces pilot workload by delivering easy-to-read information at a glance. The Bell 407GXi's new IFR capability will allow all-weather operations while continuing to provide multimission capability safely, reliably, and effectively. The Bell 407GXi offers the lowest direct operating costs of any IFR-capable helicopter produced today. Combined with its proven performance, reliability, and ease of transition, the Bell 407GXi is the best value aircraft for US Navy helicopter training.   The Portuguese Government announced today a firm order of five multi-mission airlifters Embraer KC-390 as part of the process to modernize Portuguese Air Force capacities to support national Armed Forces operations and increase readiness in missions of public interest. Deliveries are scheduled to start in 2023. Photo © Embraer. The KC-390 is designed to set new standards for efficiency and productivity in its category while presenting the lowest life-cycle cost of the market. The aircraft can perform different types of military and civilian missions including humanitarian support, medical evacuation, search and rescue and firefighting, while fully meeting the requirements of the Portuguese Air Force, adding new superior cargo and troops transport, aerial delivery and aerial refuelling capabilities. "Today is a historic day for the KC-390 Program and I want to thank those who have contributed to the project. This is a very important step to consolidate the aircraft which we believe will become another success for Embraer. The Portuguese KC-390 will meet new interoperability requirements, in the areas of secure navigation, data and voice transmission that will allow the KC-390 to integrate joint operations in multinational alliances in which Portugal is integrated. These requirements, developed in partnership with the Portuguese Air Force, will enable the KC-390 to meet the needs of many other nations around the world." said Jackson Schneider, President and CEO of Embraer Defence & Security. "The industrial partnership between Portugal and Embraer contributes to the development of engineering and the Portuguese aeronautics industry, representing more than 300 million euros in exports each year and thousands of highly skilled jobs." Portugal is the largest international partner of the KC-390 Program and its participation in the development and production of the aircraft is recognized as having had a positive economic impact in the generation of jobs, new investments, increased exports and technological advances. The KC-390 has received its Civil Certification from the Brazilian National Aviation Agency (ANAC) in 2018 and is now in full serial production. Entry into service is expected to occur in the 3rd quarter of 2019 with the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), with follow on deliveries to occur throughout the year.   Russia, near Zhukovsky International Airport: An Airbus A321-211 operated by Ural Airlines on a flight from from Moscow Zhukovsky (Russia) to Simferopol (Ukraine) with 226 passengers and 7 crew , was substantially damaged when it force landed to a cornfield shortly after take-off due to a dual bird strike and engine failure. Ten passengers from the 234 occupants were injured. The aircraft was in the initial climb through 750 feet out of Zkukovsky's when it flew through a flock of birds and ingested birds into both engines. Both engines failed, one emitting noises as if the engine spools up and down, forcing the crew to stop the climb at 750 feet and land the aircraft in a corn field about 2-3nm past the runway with gear retracted. The occupants of the aircraft evacuated via slides, there were 10 injuries (including three children). USA, Elizabethton Municipal Airport: A Cessna 680A Citation Latitude with five on board and operated by JRM Air LLC was destroyed by fire when it suffered a runway overrun and crossed an airport fence after landing at Elizabethton Municipal Airport Tennessee, USA. There have been no reported injuries. NASCAR Racer Dale Earnhardt Jr, his wife and daughter were onboard. Norway, Sola Airport in Stavanger: An Icelandic man in his sixties was arrested after attempting to force his way into the cockpit of an aircraft on its way from Hungary to Iceland with 200 passengers on board. The aircraft, from Wizz Air, had to make an emergency landing at Sola Airport in Stavanger, Norway. The man is believed to have been intoxicated. The plane landed after passengers succeeded in overpowering the man.   27 AUGUST 1950 P-51 Mustangs of No. 2 Squadron SAAF are sent to Korea as part of South Africa's contribution to the war.  The squadron was South Africa's contribution to the United Nations war effort during the Korean War from November 1950 to December 1953. 2 Squadron was attached to the 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing U.S. Air Force for the duration of the war. Initially flying the P-51 Mustang, the squadron re-equipped with the F-86 Sabre in February 1953. During the war the squadron flew a total of 12,067 sorties, most being dangerous ground attack missions. 74 of the 94 Mustangs and 4 out of the 22 Sabres were lost, along with 34 pilots.  For its actions, the squadron received the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, United States Presidential Unit Citation, and numerous other awards and decorations.  Memorial plaque, Union Buildings "In memory of our gallant South African comrades, it is hereby established, as a new policy that at all Retreat Ceremonies held by this Wing, the playing of our National Anthem shall be preceded by playing the introductory bars of the South African National Anthem, 'Die Stem van Suid-Afrika'. All personnel of this Wing will render the same honours to this Anthem as our own." Eleven Korean War SAAF casualties are buried at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery, Busan, South Korea.  |
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