MIDWEEK UPDATE 25 MAY 2016THIS WEEK IN MIDWEEK UPDATE AvClicks Photo Competition……Plan Your Weekend……..Forthcoming Events Notice Board……..Aviation News………. Worldwide Incidents and Accidents This Week in Aviation History………Advertising Rate Card  Pilot's Post is proud to launch its "AVclick 2016" aviation related photo competition. By entering your favourite photos, you will not only share your aviation photography passion with thousands of others, you will also stand a chance to win exciting prizes this year. Our prizes for this competition were carefully chosen to suit everyone's aviation interest and that is why we are offering the winner a choice between three different options. For more information go to: www.pilotspost.com/arn0000956 To vote for your favourite photo click on "Vote for"   Vote for 4.1…………………….Vote for 4,2   Vote for 4.3……………………Vote for 4.4    21-22: SAC Free State regionals, Bloemfontein - New Tempe. Contact Annie Boon e-mail: chunge@mweb.co.za  25-28: SAPFA President's Trophy Air Race hosted by the Bethlehem Aero Club. Website: www.sapfa.org.za e-mail: Race@sapfa.org.za Contact Robbie Myburgh e-mail: roblena@mweb.co.za Cell: 083 377 0925 or Robin Spencer-Scarr 083 310 2850 e-mail: robin@stylegroup.com.au  28: Sky Grand Prix. Greyville Racecourse, Durban. Contact Paul Godwin Tel: 031 201 2169 Cell: 082 499 5222 e-mail: mw.nerve@mweb.co.za  28: Botswana airshow at the Matsieng Flying Club. Contact Guillaume Knipe e-mail: gknipe@work.co.bw or Hentie de Wet e-mail: hentie@dewetdrilling.co.bw  4: SAAF Museum flying training and open days. Contact 012 351 2342 or E-mail: webmaster@saafmuseum.org  4: Vintage Wings and Wheels and Magaliesburg Steam Express meet at FAKR Krugersdorp. Contact cwatson@stithian.com 4: Newcastle airshow. Contact Johan Pieters e-mail: info@champ.co.za 4: Kroon Airfield annual Fly-in. Our landing strip is 750m, excellent grass strip. Just to the South of the N4 highway to Rustenburg. RW 11/29 (RW29 now have NO overhead power lines.) The circuit is always to the North of the Runway, Lefthand for 11 and Righthand for 29. Freq: 124.8 (although we are South of the N4 Highway, our Circuit is to the North). Circuit Alt: 4700ft for Trikes and 4900 for fix wings. Airfield Alt: 4330ft. Lats: 25°39'33.90"S. Longs: 27°59'53.37"E 7- 9 June: Aero Club Safety Campaign, Kwa Zulu Natal: Tuesday 7 June Margate Flying Club evening, Wednesday 8 June Pietermaritzburg Aero Club evening, Thursday 9 June Virginia Airport Durban evening. 8: Aero Club's 75th AGM 14th of April 2016 at 18:30 in the EAA Auditorium at Rand Airport adjacent to the Aero Club offices,Germiston. RSVP Sandra Strydom on e-mail to office@aeroclub.org.za. 9-11: Provisional date ZimNavex Zimbabwe . Contact Mel Cooper e-mail: zmelzim@gmail.com  10-12: Wonderboom Wings and Wheels airshow. Contact Chris Briers chris@airteam.co.za Cell: 082 568 7988. Wonderboom Airport and is gearing up to be one of the biggest civilian airshows of 2016. The event is to be part of Wonderboom Airport's 80th birthday celebrations and in partnership with the City of Tshwane, Airlink and the tenants of Wonderboom airport, some of whom have been operating at the since its early days, the organisers would like to see the airport flourish again. They have decided to take it upon themselves to put on the 'Adrenaline Show', which will be a combination of Hot Rod cars, Muscle cars, Superbikes and an air show featuring the best of the South African displays. Considered to be a first for South African air shows, will be the 4,1Km race track and a 950 metre drag race strip, which will give attendees a unique mix of aviation and motorsport over the two days, with the 10 June marked as the career day. Another first for an air show will be the hosting of the Street Rod and Muscle Car Nationals. 17-19: Memorial fly in and airshow Mafeking. Contact Connie Conradie e-mail: info@mmafikeng-flyingclub.co.za 18: Whisper Carnarvon fly in. For information go to www.facebook/whisperaircraft 28 -29: Aviation Festival Africa Sandton Convention Centre Johannesburg. Contact Bianca Wiener e-mail: bianca.wiener@terrapinn.com   To buy a ticket, payment can be done either by EFT (details below) or cash, and is limited to 300 tickets sold, so buy soon to avoid disappointment. Email proof of payment to rob@aerosud.co.za with your name, email address and cell number (important to provide as winning ticket could be a cell phone number away) You will receive an email /sms with your ticket number once payment confirmation is received. The winner will be announced at the prize Giving ceremony of the President's Air race on Saturday the 28th May 2016 by means of a lucky draw.  NKET AUDITS SONEX & WAIEX B-MODELS AND XENOS QUICK BUILD KIT  Photos © Sonex  Builders use these checklists to simplify the airworthiness inspection process for their completed aircraft. NKET checklists are especially important for kit sales in many foreign markets, where U.S. Experimental Amateur Built rules are often used as boilerplate definitions of their own regulations. The NKET is once again using Sonex Aircraft to train new team members during this audit. Sonex hosted the very first organization and training exercises for the NKET in 2009, and participated in the ARC committee tasked with evaluating the EAB regulations, ultimately resulting in the NKET's formation. In hosting this latest batch of NKET trainees, Sonex is proud to continue its leadership role in the future of the kit aircraft industry. NKET audits involve a very positive and collaborative process between kit manufacturers and NKET officials that ensure adherence to the Experimental Amateur Built aircraft rules while maximizing the manufacturers' ability to provide a very complete kit. NKET officials work with kit manufacturers on-site to evaluate kits, and to conceptualize and evaluate kit packing list and and production part modifications when checklist item percentages exceed allowable limits. Sonex Aircraft once again congratulates the FAA and NKET members for the formation and administration of such a high-quality kit evaluation process. PAC NEWS FROM AFRICA Photo© PAC  Roger will work alongside long term PAL African business partner Air Team www.airteam.co.za to assist existing customers and help introduce the P-750 XSTOL to a wider audience. P-750's have been operating in Africa for a number of years and have proven to be an ideal multi-role utility aircraft for the African environment. LET AIRCRAFT-CELEBRATING 80 YEARS OF AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION  Photos © LET   First flight of the most important company product the all-metal high-wing L 410 aircraft with two turboprop engines happened on April 16, 1969, since then the L 410 have gone through several development phases. The last, substantial modernisation took place in 2013. The aircraft was equipped with new power unit, the GE H80-200 engine, and AV-725 propeller which commonly offer higher thermodynamic performance, especially in terms of higher atmospheric temperatures and higher altitudes. New power unit led to shorter take-off distance; higher maximum cruising speed; reduced fuel consumption and extended maximum range. The company continues to modernize the aircraft and currently is intensively working on completion of the certification of L 410 NG. The whose first flight was conducted on July 29, 2015. This modernised turboprop commuter is inheriting the best of L 410 aircraft series and also offers improved flight parameters and operational characteristics, modern technologies and advanced avionics. The main advantages of this model include a new wing construction with integral fuel tank, which offers larger volume, and thus allows for a significantly longer range and endurance. Maximum take-off weight and payload were increased and therefore the L 410 NG allows transporting 400 kg cargo more. The luggage compartment was enlarged twice, which is related to the extension of aircraft nose part. For new operators this innovative model also offers powerful power unit, which consists of GE H85-200 BC04 engines and AV-725 propellers. By means of the "Damage Tolerance" philosophy will also substantially increased service life of the airplane. The complete "Glass Cockpit" significantly contributes to flight safety. Modernized passenger cabin will create environment which passengers know from higher category of aircraft. Aircraft Industries has sold more than 1,200 aircraft in the L 410 series. The company intends for the next period to complete the L 410 NG certification and to prepare its serial production. Aircraft Industries, a.s. firmly believes that the improved L 410 NG aircraft has a long and promising future and due to improved flight and operational characteristics will be even more desired by customers than the current model. ST HELENA AIRPORT THIRD AIRPORT READINESS TRIAL AND OPEN DAY  Volunteers and Primary schoolchildren experienced at first hand of what to expect when St Helena Airport is fully operational and handling regular commercial flights. Head of Operations at St Helena Airport, Gwyneth Howell, commented: "These trials have been a great success and a genuine achievement for all who volunteered to play a role on each day. I thank all of our volunteers. The challenge here is to take the feedback and improve one's service delivery to all stakeholders. For me personally, it was great to see the Saints' expressions of 'Wow' and the curiosity and excitement the trials and Open Day created." For the Open Day, hundreds of St Helena residents visited the Airport, some for the first time. Staff were on hand throughout the day to answer questions and guide members of the public through the Terminal Building, Combined Building, Control Tower and the Fire Fighting & Rescue facility. Residents also had the unique opportunity to travel the full length of the illuminated Runway by bus. FIRST PRODUCTION VISION JET MAKES INAUGURAL FLIGHT  Photo © Cirrus P1 had a large and captive audience for its big moment. Test pilot Terry LeSage reported just what we hoped to hear: "Pilot feedback on P1 is simple; the aircraft handled just great. It was unnoticeably different from C2 (the third of our conforming test-article jets), with handling qualities matching those of its predecessors and all systems working as intended." Cirrus first welcomed the cabin of P1 to Duluth last April, fresh off the truck from our Grand Forks facility, and have since seen it trimmed, drilled, assembled, bonded, receive hardware and systems installation, transition through wing and stabilizer hang, engine installation, flight controls and accessories mounted, and finally the first coat of primer applied. The pace of completing this first production aircraft has been deliberate and steady by design. It was built in tandem with the certification test process and proven at each station along the way. The structural components led the way, enduring a long and rigorous testing process before P1's structures could be built out. Next, the plane moved into testing of the lamination and bonding processes, then systems testing with subsequent installation and addition of components within that area. The first flight of P1 signifies a shift of focus from engineering and production over to flight testing. Cirrus will be able to fly the aircraft in an experimental state until FAA certification is achieved, and will be logging many flight hours during P1's main mission of proving out the Vision SF50 training program and achieving approval from the Flight Safety Board. The aircraft is currently fulfilling approximately 10 days of flying before heading into the paint booth. After that it will return to flight test for another week before its final interior and exterior detailing is completed. It will then be ready to send to Rob Haig, Executive Director of Flight Operations, for continued training program development and Vision Instructor Pilot training. Cirrus celebrates this monumental first flight and congratulates the Cirrus engineering, production, and flight test teams who have worked to make it all happen so successfully.  Photo © Solar Impulse Solar Impulse 2 (Si2) landed at Dayton International Airport, Ohio, with André Borschberg at the controls, on 21 May at 9:56pm local time (UTC-4) after taking off from Tulsa International Airport, Oklahoma, the same morning at 4:22am local time (UTC-5). The flight, that took 16 hours 34 minutes and 692 miles (1'113 km) at an average speed of 41,76 mph (67.20 km/h) and maximum altitude of 21'000 feet (6'401 m), is part of the attempt to achieve the first ever Round-The-World Solar Flight, the goal of which is to demonstrate how modern clean technologies can achieve the impossible. As soon as possible, weather permitting, Bertrand Piccard will pilot Si2 to the next stop-over and continue the crossing of the United States.  Photo © Boeing "We are delighted to celebrate 100 years of Boeing by working together with Boeing to accomplish the first co-branded livery 777-300ER," said Steve Chang, Vice President of Corporate Planning, China Airlines. "This is our 10th 777 from Boeing and since our first 777 entered into service in 2014, we have been exceedingly satisfied with its outstanding performance which was further affirmed by our happy passengers." In 2004, China Airlines became the first airline in the world to use Boeing's co-branded livery on its latest 747-400. That airplane was nicknamed the 'Blue Whale' by the airline and was the first co-branded twin-aisle airplane in the world. "The Boeing Company is truly honoured to celebrate yet another milestone delivery with China Airlines," said Ray Conner, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "It is fitting that the first co-branded 777 is delivered to China Airlines, especially as Boeing celebrates its centennial this year. The airplane is the perfect symbol our enduring 50+ years of partnership." With this delivery, China Airlines now operates a fleet of 10 777-300ERs and continues to bolster its long-haul routes to the North American and European markets. Taiwan's flag carrier also introduced a new, state-of-the-art cabin interior on-board its 777-300ERs designed by award-winning Taiwanese architect Ray Chen. Each of the airline's 10 777-300ERs is configured to seat 358 passengers in a three-class layout highlighted by the new 'Family Couch' seats in economy class. China Airlines is the only airline in North Asia to feature the Family Couch seats, where three economy seats convert into a flat surface to provide passengers with added rest and relaxation.  USA, Portland: An Alaska Airlines flight bound for Seattle from Sacramento was diverted to Portland on 14 March 1after a passenger threatened violence if he didn't get a beer and locked himself in the bathroom and forced the flight bound for Seattle to divert to Portland. Luke Thomas Watts who is charged with interference with flight crew members and attendants pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court in Portland. United Arab Emirates, Dubai: A United Arab Emirates military aircraft crashed Sunday during a training flight, killing a pilot and an instructor. Since 2010, twelve military and Air Force pilots and crew have been killed in either training missions or accidents. Another two were killed during combat operations in Yemen in March this year. Since 2011, three Dassault Mirage 2000-9s have been lost, one in combat in March, one during a training mission in 2011 and the third in 2012 due to a crew member accident. In April 2011 during a base transfer operation in Italy an F-16 Block 60 crash-landed and was destroyed. The pilot ejected safely. Germany, Dusseldorf: A Germanwings flight with 142 passengers and five crew was forced into an emergency landing after smoke appeared in the cockpit. The flight had just taken off when they noticed the smoke, They reacted immediately were able to land. Everyone was able to disembark safely. Meanwhile a second Germanwings flight from Düsseldorf to Faro in Portugal had to make an emergency landing in Bordeaux on Tuesday morning last week after an elderly passenger suffered heart problems. France, Charles de Gaulle Airport: Two Air France aircraft have been involved in a taxiing collision at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, after the wing of a Boeing 777 struck and tore the tail of an Airbus A320. "Air France confirmed that the tail fin of the Airbus A320 operating flight AF1084 leaving for Tunis was struck by the wing tip of a Boeing 777 at Paris Charles de Gaulle. The Boeing 777 was carrying no passengers and was being moved to a parking stand. Afghanistan, Dwyer: The two Ukrainian crew members survived and one died when the AN-12 cargo aircraft crashed in Afghanistan. The AN-12 operated by the Azerbaijani airline Silk Way crashed after take-off from the airport Dwyer in Afghanistan on Wednesday last week. There were nine people On board USA, Guam: A B-52H Stratofortress bomber has been destroyed in a fiery crash shortly after take-off at a US air force base in Guam. The Stratofortress have been taking off on a routine training mission. All seven crew members survived and got away safely from the wreckage. A B-52 crashed off Guam in 2008, killing all six crew members on board. China, Wenzhou: The crew of a China Eastern Airlines Airbus A320-200 had prepared for an ILS/DME runway 03 approach to Wenzhou based on ATIS broadcast. Upon initial contact with Wenzhou approach the crew was told however those winds had changed and runway 21. The crew was reminded by tower that their minimum descent altitude (MDA) was 120 meters/394 feet (116 meters/381 feet AGL). At the 50 feet call by GPWS both crew were able to see the ground but did not see the runway, the first officer called go-around twice, the captain disengaged the autopilot and initiated a go-around at around. The airplane climbed out, positioned for another approach and landed safely. A post flight inspection found scratch marks on the right main landing gear, slats and flaps of right main wing and the inlet of the right hand engine (CFM-56). An inspection of the right hand engine revealed damage (dents sized up to 0.2 mm) to all 36 fan blades, scratch marks (13cm in length) at and twigs embedded in the oil discharge.  27 MAY 1924 Adrienne Bolland wins the women's record for looping from Laura Bromwell, performing the feat 212 times in 1 h, 1 min in her Caudron 127 in Paris  Born into a large family outside Paris, she became a pilot in her twenties to pay off gambling debts. Bolland went to Caudron's headquarters at Le Crotoy, on the English Channel in northern France, and signed up for flying lessons. A typographical error added the second "l" to her name, which she kept for the rest of her life. She earned her pilot's license in two months. While her instructors saw great potential as a pilot, on the ground she continued to be difficult to get along with, sometimes physically attacking those she disagreed with. She was often grounded for disciplinary reasons. "I became a different person in an airplane. I felt small, humble," she said later. Caudron then asked her to go to Argentina to do demonstration flights. After she arrived she began planning her Andes flight. The G3s that had been sent along to Argentina with her had been designed for use as military observation aircraft during World War I. Fragile and powered by Le Rhône 80 hp engines it was not ideal for the trip. With only 40 hours of flight time and neither maps nor any knowledge of the area she took off from Mendoza on 1 April 1921.  Caudron seaplane, being hoisted onboard La Foudre in April 1914. Photo commons.wikimedia.org  The Andes in the area of Bolland's flight, seen from a commercial flight in 2008. Photo Jorge Morales Piderit commons.wikimedia.org  Caudron. Photo L. G Trapp / Airspace Museum / commons.wikimedia.org Bolland's accomplishment went largely unnoticed in her homeland at the time. In 1924, she was created a Knight of the Legion of Honour in belated recognition of her Andes flight. She continued to fly, setting a women's record of 212 loops . In addition to the awards she received throughout her lifetime, she has been recognized more recently. A street and lycée have been named for her in Poissy, another Paris suburb. In 2005 La Poste, the French postal service, issued a stamp honouring her. The new Paris Tramway have named nine of the 26 stops after notable women, and on the boulevard Mortier in the 20th arrondissement there is one named in her honour. She died in Paris in 1975.  For a free no obligations quote email info@pilotspost.com  |
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