MIDWEEK UPDATE 1 FEBRUARY 2017
Plan Your Weekend……..Forthcoming Events
Aviation News………. Worldwide Incidents and Accidents
This Week in Aviation History………Advertising Rate Card
Grant Naude, Manager- Legal Services South Africa joins Des and Belinda today on the Aviation Radio Show. Find out more about who Grant Naude is, what type of matters is he involved in. Learn about Aspects of Aviation Law, what makes it so complex, how does one achieve registration of aircraft and operation thereof on a charter basis?
www.debela.co.za/aviation-radio-show
4: SAAF Museum AFB Zwartkop open practise day
4: RAASA annual seminar for all officials regarding Special Air Events. It is critically important for flight display directors, flight display safety officers, event organisers, display authorisation examiners and display pilots to attend, in preparation of the 2017 event season. E-mail: tania@raasa.co.za
11: Rand Airport Challenge. Please remember to book online at http://www.sapfa.co.za/index.php/component/competition/?view=pilot in order for us to adequately cater for the numbers. Contact: Contact Frank Eckard email: frank.eckard@mweb.co.za cell: 083 269 1516.
11 - 12:Swellengrebel Flying Club Fly in. Contact Pieter Venter E-mail: pventer@vgv.co.za
11-12: W/Cape regionals in Swellendam Annie Boon e-mail: chunge@mweb.co.za
15-21: SADF Armed Forces Day - Durban.
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: EAA Chapter 322 meeting. Dicky Fritz Moth Hall Edenvale. Contact Contact editor@afskies.co.za
4: SAAF Museum AFB Zwartkop open practise day
4: Durban Wings Club Fun Rally. Virginia Airport. Contact: Mary de Klerk maryd@expandingbranding.co.za
10 - 12: The Aero Club Air Week Parys. Website: www.aeroclub.org.za Contact Sandra Strydom Tel: 011 082 1100 E-mail: office@aeroclub.org.za
11-12: Ficksburg RC Club Fly and Braai. Contact Johan 0835785321or johan.vangreunen@dcs.gov.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
30-9 April: Entry for the 2017 Stars of Sandstone Festival is available from Leigh Sanders who can be contacted on +27 79 327 7649 or e-mail leighs@sandstone.co.za - or see details at www.sandstone-estates.com
30-1 April: National Rally Flying Championships. Brits Air Field. Contact Frank Eckard e-mail: frank.eckard@mweb.co.za cell: 083 269 1516
31-1 April: Wings and Wheels Festival. Utenhage Airfield. Contact Lourens Kruger E-mail: imk@trlkomsa.net Cell 082 320 2615
1: EAA Chapter 322 meeting. Dicky Fritz Moth Hall Edenvale. Contact Contact editor@afskies.co.za
4: SAAF Museum AFB Zwartkop open practise day
1-2: SAC North West regionals Klerksdorp. Contact Annie Boon e-mail: chunge@mweb.co.za
6: Aero Club of South Africa Annual General meeting.
20 to 23 April AERO Friedrichshafen - Germany Website: www.aero-expo.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
28- 30: Thaba Nchu Airshow. Christiaan Moriaana. 012 543 1736
DENEL TO HIGHLIGHT ITS CAPABILITIES AT TOP MIDDLE EASTERN DEFENCE SHOW
Photos © Denel
Zwelakhe Ntshepe, the Acting Chief Executive of Denel says the company will have a strong presence at IDEX 2017 hosted in Abu Dhabi from 19 to 23 February. “This is a region that is very familiar with the quality of Denel's products especially in the fields of artillery, armoured vehicles and munition and we want to build on this reputation by exhibiting our capabilities.”
A-Darter air-to-air missile
A report released by international consultancy company, Deloitte, earlier this month projected a growth of more than 3% in global defence spending in 2017 after years of declining budgets. This growth will be particularly strong in the Middle East and North Africa where a number of countries are starting to acquire next generation military equipment.
Top defence decision-makers and industry leaders from Gulf countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia will attend the biennial show that takes place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
The Middle East is a vital region for Denel as a company which earns almost 60% of revenue from exports. Denel Vehicle Systems recently started with the delivery of its RG31 Mk5 mine-resistant vehicles to a client in the United Arab Emirates following on a similar contract to supply the 4x4 N35 armoured vehicles.
“Our reputation in the region is well-established based on the quality of landward defence products such as artillery systems, armoured vehicles and mine-resistant vehicles,” says Ntshepe. “IDEX 2017 is a great opportunity for Denel to cement our reputation and create interest for other products in our portfolio.”
Mokopa surface target missile
The iNkunzi PAW20 is a 20x42mm semi-automatic weapon, both the weapon and the ammunition is manufactured by Denel PMP. The weapon is carried by a single soldier and is highly effective in modern urban warfare conditions at distance up to 800 metres.
Denel Land Systems will display its wide range of 60mm mortar systems, variants of the DMG-5 machine gun and its NTW 20 anti-materiel rifle that can be deployed against radar installations, bunkers and high value targets at range of more than 1 500 metres.
Ntshepe says scale models of the Rooivalk combat helicopter and the Oryx medium-sized utility helicopter will also be shown at the Denel stand to highlight the company's capabilities in aviation design, manufacturing, maintenance and repairs.
KENYAN AIR FORCE ORDERS FOURTEEN AIR TRACTOR MILITARISED AIRCRAFT
Photo © Air Tractor
The Air Tractor® AT-802U that was introduced in 2009 is a single engine turboprop aircraft designed for surveillance, precision strike, and rugged dirt strip utility missions. Protected by cockpit and engine armour, self-sealing fuel tanks and armoured glass windscreens and windows the AT-802U combines an 8,000-lb. (3,629 kg) payload and 10-hour ISR mission capability with the flexibility and responsiveness of a manned weapon system. Armaments are carried on external hard points and may include GAU-19 Gatling guns, Mk 82 bombs, M260 rocket launchers and Hellfire missiles.
The Kenyan order is worth about $418 million will includes training and technical support. The acquisition of the AT-802U will strengthen and provide the Kenyan Air Force with a much capability in its ongoing efforts to counter al-Shabaab.
TECNAM'S 11 SEAT P2012 TRAVELLER TO MAKE PUBLIC DEBUT AT AERO '17, FRIEDRICHSHAFEN
Photo © Tecnam
The Tecnam P2012 prototype is currently engaged in a challenging test flight programme and a number of key tests have already been successfully completed. The aircraft is equipped with latest avionics from Garmin, the new G1000 Nxi and is powered by two 375 HP Lycoming piston engines. TECNAM is very happy with the progress to date and the programme is now well on its way to completing flight certification, scheduled for around the end of 2018.
TECNAM Global Sales & Marketing Director, Walter Da Costa, commented: “The opportunity to present our latest design is very exciting. The P2012 Traveller is the largest aircraft Tecnam has built to date. AERO'17 is also a great opportunity for us to showcase this very versatile aircraft to our many all our friends in the General Aviation community”
AERO '17 Show Director Roland Bosch commented: “We are very happy to have again one of the world's top aircraft manufacturers at AERO'17. Our partnership with Tecnam ensures AERO remains on the key events in the aerospace calendar.”
Photos © Sebring LSA Expo
Visitors and exhibitors raved about the new layout and entrance through the Sebring Airport Terminal. Said Bill Shannon, attendee from Palm Beach County, “Been coming the last four years…best layout seen ever this year …Loved the entrance through the (airport) terminal.”
Wes Chumley of Stemme had this to say about the event, “I spoke to 200 or 300 people every day. Way busier than last year. And, Beverly made it really easy to get in here with my plane which has a very huge wingspan.”
Andy Wall, CEO of AutoGyro exclaimed, “We have three contracts from the show and a new dealership on board as a result of being at Sebring's Aviation Expo.”
Zenith Aircraft's daily rudder workshop was completely filled and attendees were thrilled to have the opportunity to build their own rudder.
Over 700 students from area schools came to hear famous aviators who defied the odds, and built remarkable aviation-related careers: Shaesta Waiz, Patty Wagstaff, Jamail Larkins, La'Shanda Holmes and Melissa Mathiasen.
Hobbico held a special Vusion Spec Race in partnership with Multi GP on Saturday. The DroneZone was the place to be to watch the drone racing live during the four-day event. The winner of the $3,500 Vusion Spec Race was Ivan Rodriguez “EnvyAstro”, and the winner of the DroneZone $10,000 grand prize was Cain “Mad-Air” Madere.
Photo © Textron
“This milestone marking 45 years of industry leadership is really a celebration of the thousands of people through the years - customers and employees - who have made the Citation line of business jets the world leader,” said Kriya Shortt, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing. “In terms of customer satisfaction, aircraft value and performance, precision design, production quality and lifecycle customer support, nothing comes close to what the Cessna Citation family offers the global marketplace.”
Citation jets are renowned for their ability to combine reliability, efficiency and comfort with advanced technology and class-leading performance. This unique combination of features has resulted in a level of unparalleled quality Citation operators around the globe have come to know and value. The Citation series of business jets has evolved to offer an unmatched range of capabilities, systems and options that allows customers to expand their business reach.
Each Citation model is designed to strike an enviable balance between high performance, comfort and cost-efficient operation. No other family of business jets offers such a seamless progression of aircraft with extraordinary capabilities for customers. There are currently eight Citation models in production including the Citation Mustang, Citation M2, Citation CJ3+, Citation CJ4, Citation XLS+, Citation Latitude, Citation Sovereign+ and Citation X+. The company's latest Citations in development include the super-midsize Citation Longitude and the Citation Hemisphere, Textron Aviation's entry into the large-cabin market
Photo © Boeing
Boeing plans to build 179 of the 767-based refuelling aircraft for the Air Force to replace its legacy tanker fleet. Tanker deliveries will begin later this year.
“This award is great news for the joint Boeing-Air Force team and reinforces the need for this highly efficient and capable tanker aircraft,” said Mike Gibbons, Boeing KC-46A tanker vice president and program manager. “Our Boeing industry team is hard at work building and testing KC-46 aircraft, and we look forward to first delivery.”
"Placing an order for another 15 aircraft is another important milestone for the KC-46 program," said Col. John Newberry, Air Force KC-46 System program manager. "I know the warfighter is excited about bringing this next generation capability into the inventory."
Boeing received an initial contract in 2011 to design and develop the Air Force's next-generation tanker aircraft. As part of that contract, Boeing built four test aircraft - two configured as 767-2Cs and two as KC-46A tankers. Those test aircraft, along with the first production plane, have completed nearly 1,500 flight hours to date.
The KC-46A is a multirole tanker that can refuel all allied and coalition military aircraft compatible with international aerial refuelling procedures and can carry passengers, cargo and patients.
Yemen, Dijbouti: A US Air Force (USAF) Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey (believed to be based at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti) suffered a hard landing while on a Special Operations Force raid to combat Al'Qaeda in Yemen. One fatality is reported though this may be from the subsequent military operation. The downed airframe was later destroyed by an air-strike by an F-16.
USA, Los Angeles: Smoke detected in cabin of an American Airlines flight with 80 people on board from Los Angeles forced the crew to return to San Francisco. The aircraft landed safely and was met by firefighters on the northern-most runway of Los Angeles International Airport. No injuries were reported and the cargo hold was to be inspected by firefighters following its touchdown.
USA, Tucson: Two people were killed Monday when the Beechcraft 300 Super they were flying in crashed at the Tucson International Airport. The plane was taking off from the airport and was headed to Mexico when it skidded of the runway, crashed close to the car rental agency where it caught fire.
Colombia, Leticia: An AerCaribe Boeing 737-400 on a freight flight from Bogota to Leticia (Colombia) with four crew landed on Leticia's runway but overran the end of the runway and came to a stop on soft ground past the end of the paved surface of the runway end safety area. There were no injuries, the aircraft received substantial damage.
1 FEBRUARY 1949
Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) revives, offering women a full professional career in the air force for the first time
WAAF barage balloon and radio operators. Photos RAF/ commons.wikimedia.org
Ops room RAF Fighter Command. Photo Imperial War Museums/commons.wikimedia.org
At its peak strength, in 1943, WAAF numbers exceeded 180,000, with over 2,000 women enlisting per week. By the end of World War II, WAAF enrolment had declined and the effect of demobilisation was to take thousands out of the service. The remainder, now only several hundred strong, was renamed the Women's Royal Air Force on 1 February 1949.
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