MIDWEEK UPDATE 16 SEPTEMBER 2015By the Pilot's Post teamPlan your weekend Forthcoming events This week in aviation history Worldwide incidents and accidents Aviation News Advertising rate card  18-20 September: Pyramid Air Park Aviators Weekend Barberton. Contact Peter Lea peter@irricon.co.za or 0825534908 17-20 September: Botswana Air Race at Matsieng, It is going to be the best ever race with sponsored fuel, tents and lots more. Contact admin@airrace.co.bw   26 - 27 September: Groblersdal Fly & Braai. If you want to stay over - bring your tent or stay at a B&B in Town. Contact Fanie: 0834498638 or Oom Piet: 0741601429. 3 October: SAAF Museum flying training and open days. Contact Capt. Kobus Kapp 012 351 2342 or E-mail: webmaster@saafmuseum.org 3 October: SAPFA Fun Rally Grand Central. Contact Jonty Esser e-mail: jontye@x7online.co.za Cell: 076 302 0451 3 October: Extreme & Fun Sports Day - Uitenhage Airfield, Eastern Cape. Skydiving,Paragliding, Powerparagliding, Gliding, Flying, Extreme 4x4 Challenge, Vw Beatle Parade, Stalls and live music. Contact Lourens Kruger 082 320 2615. 10 October: Spring 2015 TMG Fly in at Bundu Inn Flying Estate. Contact Marietjie van Niekerk on 0827656670 or marietjievn@gmail.com 11 October: Rag and Tube Day at Baragwanath  24 - 25 October: Sports Aerobatic Club KZN regionals - Ladysmith. Contact Annie Boon chunge@mweb.co.za 31 October: Bethlehem Aero Club fly-in and hangar dance. Contact Izak Venter e-mail: izak@motsu.co.za or Francois Marais e-mail: info@stanfra.co.za 7 November: SAAF Museum flying training and open days. Contact Capt. Kobus Kapp 012 351 2342 or E-mail: webmaster@saafmuseum.org  13 - 15 November: The EAA of SA Sun 'n Fun Fly-in to Brits will include the following: Peter Hengst Memorial Breakfast Fly-in on 14 November, Neil Bowden Oshkosh Pilgrims Reunion, Mass Airplane Factory Sling Fly-in and SAPFA organised 'Poker Run'. Camping on the airfield, numerous B&B accommodation in town. Braai on Friday evening at the BFC Clubhouse, sit-down dinner on Saturday - come and experience bushveld hospitality and EAA camaraderie with the famous delicious catering of BFC. All aircraft and pilots welcome. Further info rsvp@eaa.org.za 083 259 7691 13 to 15 November: Mafikeng annual fly-in and hangar dance. Contact Connie Conradie 082 449 1546 e-mail: info@mafikeng-flyingclub.co.za 21 November: SAPFA Fun Rally Brits. "Peter Hengst Memorial Fun Rally Contact Jonty Esser jonty@aircraftoc.co.za for Rally information and entries and Trixiie Heron editor@afskies.co.za for EAA" 5 - 6 December: SAC ACE of Base - Baragwaneth airfield (Syferfontein) Contact Annie Boon chunge@mweb.co.za 5 December: SAAF Museum flying training and open days. Contact Capt. Kobus Kapp 012 351 2342 or E-mail: webmaster@saafmuseum.org 7 December: ICAD (International Civil Aviation Day) Contact Mark Swarts e-mail: SwartsM@caa.co.za Cell: 082 878 0875 4th & 5th March 2016: Uitenhage Wings and Wheels Fesitval Incorporating the Doug Davidson Memorial Airshow - Uitenhage Airfield, Eastern Cape. Stalls, Entertainment, Beer Garden, Plane and Stock Car race, Parades, Vintage and New Car exhibits, Bike Raffle and more…. Contact Lourens Kruger 082 320 2615.  September 16 1910 - Bessica Raiche makes the first solo airplane flight by a woman in the United States to be accredited at the time by the Aeronautical Society of America. September 17 1947 - The United States Army Air Forces are separated from the United States Army and become an independent armed service, the United States Air Force. September 17 1935 - First flight of the Junkers Ju 87 September 18 1928 - The first flight of the Zeppelin LZ-127 Graf Zeppelin is made. It is the most successful rigid airship ever built, flown commercially on a regular basis from Europe to South America. It flies over a million miles and carries some 13,100 passengers before its demise 1940. September 18 1919 - Roland Rohlfs, a Curtiss test pilot, was the first person to reach 35,000 feet in an open cockpit Curtiss 18 T triplane over Curtiss Field, Long Island. Oxygen was provided in a bottle connected to a tube that Rohls sucked on at altitude. September 19 1783, The Montgolfiers launch a sheep, duck, and rooster in a hot-air balloon in a demonstration for King Louis XVI of France. The balloon rises some 500 m (1,700 ft) and returns the animals unharmed to the ground. September 20 1874 - Du Temple builds a steam-powered monoplane which achieves a short hop after gaining speed by rolling down a ramp. It carries a human passenger whose identity is no longer known. September 21 1913 - The first aerobatic maneuver, a sustained inverted flight, is performed in France. September 21 1802 - Frenchman Andre-Jacques Garnerin makes the first parachute descent in England, jumping from a balloon over London. September 22 1943 - 22-24 - Ernst Jachmann flies his single-seat glider 55 hrs and 51 min in a thermal.  Taiwan, Taipei: A TransAsia Airways ATR 72-500 with 26 people on board landed with only one of its two engines operational after the pilot had found that one engine was leaking lubricant oil. The engine was shut down in accordance with standard operation procedures. The incident came after the Taiwanese airline suffered two deadly crashes in the past 15 months that killed a total of 91 people. Norway, Vasser: Norwegian investigators have revealed that a light aircraft collided with an unmanned air vehicle just days before the country's air navigation service cautioned about their proliferation. The pilot encountered what is believed to be a drone at a height of around 2,500ft and, a moment later, heard a bang. The flight continued without any technical problems and an inspection after landing revealed no evidence of damage. The pilot assumes the drone struck the aircraft's left-hand landing-gear. Norway's civil aviation authority says that drones should not be flown at a height exceeding 125m (410ft). USA, Silverton: Four people were killed after a twin engine Cessna 310 crashed at an altitude of around 11,500 feet at the San Juan Mountains near Silverton. The pilots were flying Visual Flight Rules. Two of the people aboard the plane were pilots. Both were licensed to fly single engine planes, but not the multi-engine Cessna 310. USA, Norfolk: A F-16 pilot killed when he crashed into the Gulf of Mexico during training did not go through the proper training to begin flying the jets again after a nearly 20-year hiatus. Matthew J. LaCourse became disoriented while attempting to intercept another jet that was playing the role of an approaching drone. Of the nearly 102 hours LaCourse had spent flying an F-16 in his career, 82 of those came before 1994. He spent less than nine hours flying the F-16 during seven different flights in the 90 days prior to the crash, the report says. USA, Mcallen: Federal authorities have seized a Beech King Air E90 full of illegal immigrants. The aircraft was being used in an attempt to smuggle seven illegal immigrants from the Texas border into the interior U.S. to avoid immigration checkpoints. The airplane's pilot, a United States citizen, was released as the investigation continues.   Photos © Basil Read History was made on St Helena at 13.50hrs GMT today, Tuesday 15 September 2015, as a Beechcraft King Air 200 aircraft arrived from Angola and touched down at St Helena's new Airport, prior to conducting a series of calibration flights. Stepping out of the aircraft, Captain Grant Brighton said: “It feels fantastic and we're privileged to have flown the first plane to land on St Helena and to be part of your wonderful project. The trip over was good. It was interesting landing here, a bit windy on the threshold but a terrific runway, surface, Airport and facility.”  Watching the landing - together with numerous residents at various vantage points - Councillor Lawson Henry commented: “First of all this is quite emotional - we've waited so long for this moment and it has finally happened. This is history in the making and we're a part of it.” Basil Read Island Director Deon de Jager added: “It's brilliant - all the hard work has paid off. I'm very proud of what we've achieved - we've actually done it.” Airport Project Director Janet Lawrence said of the day: “I honestly can't describe today. Years of planning and thousands of man hours have gone into this moment and to actually see it happen is an immense feeling. There are so many people we should be thanking, including people who can't be here with us today. It's not over yet - there's still a great deal more to be done - but this event clearly shows that we're going in the right direction.”  The calibration tests will now commence. Several flights each day - weather permitting - will be undertaken. Greeting the crew on the Airport Apron, Governor Mark Capes remarked: “Today we witnessed an event that will feature prominently in the history of this Island. For the Airport project another important piece of the jigsaw has slotted firmly into place. There are a few more vital pieces to be added before the picture is complete, but we are nearly there and I warmly congratulate everyone who has played a part in this extraordinary project. “When we launched this work almost four years ago, such were the many obstacles to overcome that there were those who doubted that it would succeed and yet, behold, a plane has landed at St Helena Airport.” 6TH FAI WORLD SAILPLANE GRAND PRIX CHAMPIONSHIP   Photo © Maurizio Pucci  A series of qualifying events is run in different countries over a period of approximately a year and as the finale features the top two from each qualifier, it is truly a test of champions. Entries are usually limited to 20 participants, since everyone starts at the same time and may fly round and arrive very close together and very fast. The pilots are competing in a place full of gliding history and tradition: Calcinate Del Pesce Airport is in fact one of most important gliding centres in the world. It owes a lot to the famous pilot Adele Orsi Mazzucchelli and her family who not only founded it, but also relentlessly strove to develop the gliding culture in the Alps and worldwide. Day 7 Friday 11 Sept. Fridays race was cancelled leaving Maximilian Seis in his JS-1 with only Saturday's leg left still the overall leader followed by Christophe Ruch also in a JS-1 in second place. Day 8 Saturday 12 Sept. The overall winners were announced and Maximilian Seis with 26 points in his Jonkers JS 1 finished in first with Christophe Ruch with 33 points also in a Jonkers JS 1in second and Sebastian Kawa with 29 points in a ASG 29 in third. Laurens J. Goudriaan on 8 points in a Jokers JS 1 evo took 10th placed whilst Petr Panek with 6 points was placed 11th.  The Tiger HAD, H225M, and H145M are showcased at MSPO, which runs 1-4 September in Kielce, Poland. Here's a selection of photos from the event.     . Complementing the two helicopters, a mock-up H145M is also on display, allowing visitors to learn more about this versatile military helicopter that is the reference for law enforcement organizations and military services. BOEING DELIVERS SEVEN AUSTRALIAN CHINOOKS ON BUDGET, AHEAD OF SCHEDULE  Boeing Service Engineering teams prepped and loaded the CH-47F into a C-5 Galaxy transport at Dover Air Force Base, Del., for delivery to Townsville, Queensland Australia. Photos © Boeing Boeing [NYSE: BA] delivered the seventh CH-47F Chinook to the Australian Army on budget and three weeks ahead of schedule, supporting modernization of Australia's cargo helicopter fleet and eventually replacing the Commonwealth's six older CH-47D Chinooks. The seven advanced Chinooks were ordered as part of a U.S. Government Foreign Military Sales agreement with Australia in 2012. Australia has one of the most advanced and highly capable Chinook fleets in the world. Major developments on the CH-47F include a digital cockpit, an advanced communications system and new avionics. Those allow the Australian Army to operate more effectively with U.S. and international forces through the easy exchange of digital maps that facilitate coordinated responses for military and humanitarian missions. The Australian Chinook configuration also includes a new rotor brake that enables shipboard operations by actively stopping the rotor blades rather than allowing the blades to naturally 'spin down' once the engine is turned off after landing.  The Australian Army's 5th Aviation Regiment, 16th Aviation Brigade, operates the Chinooks from their home base in northern Queensland, Australia. Boeing Defence Australia will provide on-site operational maintenance support for the CH-47F aircraft, having supported the CH-47D since 2010. Australia's partnership with Boeing began nearly 90 years ago. Today, the country is building one of the world's newest and most technologically-advanced armed forces with a range of Boeing platforms and services including the Chinook, EA-18G Growler, P-8A Maritime Surveillance Aircraft, F/A-18 Super Hornet, E-7 Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control System, C-17 Globemaster III and training and logistics solutions. Eurofighter welcomes the agreement between Italy and Kuwait for the supply of 28 Eurofighter Typhoon This new international success follows an order from the Sultanate of Oman for 12 aircraft in December 2012 and it is a further evidence of growing interest in the Eurofighter Typhoon across the globe and in the Gulf Region in particular with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman who have already ordered this combat aircraft.  With Kuwait, the Eurofighter Typhoon confirms its role as Europe's largest military collaborative programme with a total of 599 aircraft committed. It provides leading-edge technologies and strengthens Europe's defence industry in international competition. More than 100,000 jobs in 400 supplier companies are involved in this four-nation programme and deliver significant contributions. Since entry into service of the first Eurofighter Typhoon at the end of 2003, 444 aircraft have been delivered to six nations: Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Austria and Saudi Arabia. In December 2012, Oman became the seventh customer and ordered a total of twelve aircraft. Eurofighter Typhoon is currently in service at 22 operational units and up to now, the whole fleet has completed more than 300,000 flying hours worldwide. JETEXPO 2015, THE WORLD OF LUXURY JET BECOMES MORE ACCESSIBLE International BizAv Show Jet Expo 2015 is held for the tenth time, and has already become the most significant forum for the Russian business aviation community. Jet Expo has also received international acknowledgement and continues to see growing international exhibitor support as a successful B2B event in this sector. This major media event brings together business leaders, government officials, manufacturers, corporate aviation department personnel and all manner of people involved in nearly all aspects of business aviation.    In early September for a few days, Moscow again will become a world capital of business aviation. During three days in the largest business airport of Russia - "Vnukovo-3" annual exhibition Jet Expo 2014 will be held, where the leading manufacturers of luxury private jets will demonstrate to Russian customers the latest developments, which often exceed the cost of commercial aviation liners. The passengers will have a real opportunity to plunge into the world of luxury interiors and amazing aircraft, and most importantly to visit them personally. After all, the static display "Vnukovo-3" will feature more than 30 modern business jets, from small turboprop aircraft to luxury transatlantic liners.  Embraer announced that it has signed a firm order with SkyWest, Inc. for 18 E175 jets. The order, which will be included in Embraer's 2015 third-quarter backlog, has an estimated value of USD 800 million, based on the current list price. The aircraft will be operated by SkyWest Airlines, under an amendment to an existing Capacity Purchase Agreement (CPA) with United Airlines. With this new 18 aircraft purchase, the total number of SkyWest E175 firm orders reached 73 units of this model. Delivery of the first aircraft is expected in 2016. The E175s are configured in a dual class 76-seat layout, equipped with 12 First Class seats, 16 Economy Plus seats, and 48 Economy seats, and will operate under the United Express brand. The E175s feature a new wingtip that, among other technical enhancements, improves aerodynamic performance. Fuel consumption on a typical flight is 6.4% lower than first-generation E175s. In North America, the E175 is the preferred aircraft of carriers operating 76-seat jets. In the last two years, the E175 has captured over 80% of orders among aircraft in its class from airlines in the United States. Embraer is the only manufacturer to develop a modern family of four airplanes specifically targeted for the 70- to 130-seat segment. Since the formal launch of the program in 1999, the E-Jets have redefined the traditional concept of regional aircraft by operating across a range of business applications. The first E-Jet entered revenue service in 2004.   |
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