Indy Transponder 31-DEC-2010 2345z

My flight with the Blue Angels - 13WHAM-TV 
With the announcement that the Blue Angels will becoming to the ESL Airshow July 16 and 17, 2011 I am remembering my flight with them on a F-18 in 2004. ...

Keep it shiny from AF.mil Photos
Staff Sgt. Sang Lee wipes down a display helmet in the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron 'Thunderbirds' flight equipment room at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Dec. 17, 2010. Sergeant Lee is an aircrew flight equipment specialist with the Thunderbirds. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Larry E. Reid Jr.)

Aero-TV: Honoring Pioneers: International Women’s Air & Space Musuem from Aero-News Network
Museum President Details Exhibits Featuring Women's Aviation Accomplishments On November 2nd, 1929, 117 American female pilots gathered at Curtiss Field in Valley Stream, Long Island, New York; their goal was simple: to create an organization dedicated to the advancement of aviation. Three years later, Amelia Earhart became the first president of the "Ninety-Nines, Inc.," named for the 99 charter members of the first organization composed entirely of licensed female pilots. Today, the Ninety-Nines has over 5,500 members throughout the world. ...
   
Temporary Closure of the Canada Aviation and Space Museum - Aviation.ca 
Ottawa — The Canada Aviation and Space Museum will be temporarily closed to the general public from January 4 to February 4, 2011. ...

New wing to help museum take flight - Ottawa Citizen
'What we want is to become a hub for aviation in Canada,' says Canada Aviation and Space Museum director ...

Flying Wild Alaska Discovery Channel premiere - Flying Wild Alaska TV show premiere - Flying Wild Al - Source: www.poptower.com
Premiering Wednesday, January 5, the new reality docu-series follows a family-run airline in one of the most remote and extreme regions of America. ...

Video: Pitts S-1T pilot view GREAT VIDEO from TAKEOFF TUBE

Wing-walking, modern times from AF.mil Photos
Tech. Sgt. Shawn Merchant, a crew chief with the 4th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, removes foreign object inspection mats from an F-15E Strike Eagle Dec. 15, 2010, at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. The aircraft is assigned to the 4th Fighter Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Tony R. Tolley)

Amanda Sargent from Flight To Success 
Fabulous she is... she's funny and brilliant too! She sent me her bio last night at 10 p.m. while I was busy being a sleep camel--- storing up on my sleep for the next round of exhaustion, and she made this easy.
"I was born in Bolivar, Missouri at a very young age... the youngest and cutest of three, and the only girl. I'm sure my mom was ecstatic to put girly things on me but that was very short lived. When I was about two years old, my dad bought a Piper Tri-Pacer and I was strapped (willingly) into it. There are no pictures, and I have no way to prove (or disprove), but rumor has it that I was perched high on my booster seat holding onto my dolly as my dad did whooptie-dos and barrel rolls. I had a smile on my face the entire time! It was probably in those first flights which defined what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. ...

Polikarpov I-16 from You Fly, Girl 
January 3 in my Golden Age of Flight Desk Calendar, by Walter J. Boyne. (Probably still available at your local Barnes & Noble or calendar store for half price)
Designed by Nikolai Polikarpov in 1932, the I-16 "Ishak" (or "Rata" as it was known in Spain) made its first flight in December 1933. It was the first cantilever monoplane fighter with retractable landing gear to reach squadron service. "Despite its tricky handling, it did well against the Japanese in Manchuria." ...

Who Invented Walking? The Indoor Air Show, Empire Air Day, 1938 from Ptak Science Books 
... This thought comes to mind looking at this great photo of the Empire Air Day, being celebrated in England in May 1938.  All of these folks walking around this enormous dirigible hangar (a form of flight that had left the RAF field of interest just a few years before, mostly forever) looking at the best of what was in the air.  The ...

By the Dawn's Early Light from Pete Wenman Aviation Art 
... Three Phantom F-4B’s from VF-151 on an early morning mission over North Vietnam. NF 213 is piloted by John Chesire, with RIO George Healey in the rear.
NF 210 has Ted Triebel in the front seat and Dave Everett in the rear. Dave and Ted were shot down on August 27, 1972, on a photo escort mission over North Vietnam while flying 210, and spent the rest of the war as POW’s in the infamous Hanoi Hilton. ...

December 31 from Cut and Paste Aviation 

Today In Aviation History – December 31
from Calgary Recreational and Ultralight Flying Club 
In 1908… Wilbur Wright at Auvours, France, makes the first flight over 2 hours. He flies for 2 hours and 20 minutes, covers 77 miles, and wins the Michelin Cup for 1908. ...

Lockheed Sneaks Another F-35 Under the Wire from Ares 
On the eve of the New Year, Lockheed Martin got another F-35 test aircraft flying, with AF-4 - a CTOL F-35A - making the program's 410th and last flight on 2010 on Dec. 30. That means nine development-test aircraft are flying, but leaves three still to get airborne. ...

"What would Elon do?" Fix and fly of course from Spaceports 
Kennedy Space Center technicians have uncovered even more cracks on Discovery's external tank, NASA disclosed earlier today. The cracks leave the planned Thursday, February 3, 2011 lift-off date uncertain.
Discovery, on the STS-133 mission, first went to the launch pad in early November when leaks and weather pushed the launch date into December and again to February 2011. The ongoing cracks found in the ...

Episode 50: Farewell 2010 from Plane Crazy Down Under 
As the final hours of 2010 pass by and the year draws to a close, we release our 50th episode with a mix of annual review, Christmas greetings and a new experiment. In conjunction with a live video stream of the proceedings, we gathered Steve, Grant, Anthony and Ben in the recording studio to attempt the unthinkable: capturing a whole show in a single take. ...

Indy Transponder 31-DEC-2010 0430z

One hundred years of women in aviation: Longtime Grand County pilot leaves her ... - Sky Hi Daily News
... Paul Poberezny, Cliff Robertson, Burt Rutan, Dick Rutan, Carroll Shelby, John Travolta, Sean Tucker, Patty Wagstaff, Kermit Weeks, and fellow Coloradan, ...

Air Force draws up plans for Diamond Jubilee - Daily Mirror
Air Force Commanders and aerobatic teams from several countries are all set to participate in the celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of ...

Airplanes of the Eighth - Air & Space Where to see B-17s and Mustangs for yourself.
   
Expanded Canadian Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa seeks bigger role in ... - Ottawa Citizen
The Canada Aviation and Space Museum hosted a Hard-Hat media tour of the new wing that is ?on time ...

Berlin Airlift from Air Force Link Top Stories 
On Dec. 31, 1948,  Allied aircraft logged the 100,000th flight of the Berlin airlift.  The airlift began after World War II when Germany was occupied territory and Berlin was surrounded by the Soviet zone. The city itself was divided into four sectors controlled by Britain, France, the United States, and the Soviet Union.
The Soviets tried to dissuade a West German government in the city by gradually escalating harassment of  Western traffic to and from Berlin, which culminated in the Berlin blockade, imposed June 24, 1948. ...

Staff Sgt. Archibald Mathies from AF.mil Photos
Staff Sgt. Archibald Mathies was one of four enlisted people to receive the nation's highest military honor during World War II.After a bombing mission, he attempted to land a disabled aircraft with the navigator to save a badly wounded pilot who could not bail out; they all died on the third unsuccessful try. His unselfish actions and ultimate sacrifice earned him the Medal of Honor posthumously. (U.S. Air Force illustration)

Video: Warbird Gathering in Gatlinburg from PARADISE AIRSHOWS 

Spotted For Sale: Vietnam Era Lockheed YO-3A Quiet Star by AirPigz
The pic above is one of several I found posted at this BuyPlanesForSale.com listing of a 1969 Lockheed YO-3A Quiet Star being offered for sale for $84,950. I don't know if it's still available, but it's a pretty interesting little warbird restoration project for someone looking for an unusual flying machine. I'm guessing it would attract a fair amount of attention at the airshows and fly-ins! ...

Restored de Havilland D.H. 89A "Dominie" from You Fly, Girl by Cathy Gale
My Golden Age of Flight desktop calendar has, for January 1/2, 2011, a photo of a Restored de Havilland D.H. 89A "Dominie". ...

BQM-145 Peregrine - History Wars Weapons
The BQM-145 Peregrine was an unmanned aerial vehicle which was developed and manufactured by the US firm Teledyne Ryan for the US Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force. It first flew in 1992. The BQM-145 was designed to relay real time ...
   
CIA spy plane doing it for the kids - Warrnambool Standard
... the rare Beech 18 will be taking children and their families on 20-minute flights as part of a special event organised by the Warrnambool Aero Club. ...

New Aviation-Focused Children's DVD Series to Premiere July 23 at ... by Eli
Andy's Airplanes will also host a number of fun, family-friendly activities at AirVenture's Kid Venture center. For more information, please visit www.andysairplanes.com or www.airventure.org for AirVenture Oshkosh details. ...

It snows in the East from AF.mil Photos
Members of the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron snow removal team clear fresh snow from the taxiways at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Dec. 29, 2010, ensuring safe ground passage for the F-16 Fighting Falcon fleet. The snow removal team uses a variety of specialized equipment to sweep, blow and scrape snow from pavements. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Phillip Butterfield)

It snows in the West from AF.mil Photos
Snow removal crews with the 786th Civil Engineer Squadron clear the runway Dec. 28, 2010, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The 786th CES works with airfield management to help keep the runways clear for mission readiness throughout the winter months. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Caleb Pierce)

-Subscribe for daily automatic e-mail delivery directly to your Inbox!
-Also join us on -Facebook  -Twitter
-Send Notices > Releases > Updates > Be a Contributor > Contact: IndyTransponder@gmail.com

Indy Transponder 30-DEC-2010 2200z

Rare Twin Mustangs preparing for flight from Aviation Blogs 
Put EAA AirVenture 2013 on your calendar. That’s the year two North American Twin Mustangs are expected to be returned to flying condition by their owners, and go on display in ...
   
World-Famous Team Viper To Hit New Heights At Al Ain Aerobatic Show - Middle East Events 
Team Viper, the world's only Hawker Hunter fighter jet display squadron, has joined the impressive list of international aerobatic and display teams that ...

Bob Hoover in his Aero Commander Shrike - YouTube
Bob Hoover is a pilot who served in World War II, later becoming involved in aerobatics. He is credited for flying next to Chuck Yeager, who was flying the Bell X1 on the mission to break the sound barrier. This video here is very famous and widely distributed.
While doing research this week on some of the finest pilots ever behind a stick, The Tuskegee Airmen, I ran across some wonderful videos of an aviation legend, and personal friend, that was so inspiring that I just had to smile and share. I can hardly manage to think that humanity will ever know a more skilled aviator than the incomparable Bob A. Hoover! Amazing--Watch Bob do his touchdown, roll, touchdown, all done 

Classic Aero-TV: Best Seat in The House -- 'Inside' The AeroShell Aerobatic Team from Aero-News Network
Yeah.... This IS A Really Cool Job When ANN's Nathan Cremisino took over the lead of our Aero-TV teams, he knew he was in for some extra work and a lot of extra responsibility. Still... with all that, there ARE times when its good to be the top guy.... like when our friends at Aspen Avionics call over and ask if we want to put one of our Aero-TV videographers aboard a formation aerobatic flight with the world famous Aero-Shell Aerobatic Team. At such times, its good to be in a position to say... "Hey, I want to go..." and go. ...

Classic Aero-TV: Tsunami Air Racing -- Rebuilding A Legacy from Aero-News Network
A Tragic Loss May Someday Be Returned To Flight Status It was one of the most aggressive efforts to energize American air racing... an one of its greatest tragedies... Tsunami, the first original homebuilt unlimited racer built since 1939, was designed for speed record attempts and air racing until its loss on September 25th, 1991. Tsunami crashed while on final approach to Pierre Municipal Airport in Pierre, South Dakota killing pilot John R. Sandberg, due to a mechanical control failure that resulted in an irrecoverable flight condition. ...

2011 starts BIG for Airplanista with best issue yet from Av8rdan's World of Flying
As our fourth issue hits the streets, I find this wonderful project on a serious roll. Readership is exploding, interest is high, and great content is coming in all over the place.
Let's take a quick tour of the January issue, which can be viewed here on Saturday, 01.01.11: ...

Dick Audet from www.acesofww2.com
Dec. 29, 1944 - Audet gets 5 kills in under 5 minutes (an RCAF record), then, 3 weeks later, becomes the only RCAF pilot of the War to destroy 2 jet fighters ...

Pilot Officer John G. Magee Jr. from Air Force Link Top Stories 
"High Flight" has become an aviator's anthem, and an epitaph. Its author, Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee Jr., was an American serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Battle of Britain in 1941, when he reached out "and touched the face of God."
Magee was born in Shanghai, China, in 1922, the son of missionary parents. His father was an American and his mother was originally a British citizen. He came to the United States in 1939 and earned a scholarship to Yale, but in September 1940 he enlisted in the RCAF. He was only 18. He entered flight training and within a year was sent to England and posted to the newly formed No. 412 Fighter Squadron, RCAF at Digby, England. He was qualified on and flew the Supermarine Spitfire Mk1 fighter. ...

Lansing's 'Rosie' dies at age 86 - LSJ
Her face became the symbol of women's empowerment, and her death is the end of an era.
Geraldine Hoff Doyle of Lansing, the woman behind an iconic image of a bandana-clad, muscle-flexing Rosie the Riveter during WWII, has died, according to her family. ...

“Rosie The Riveter” 1941-1945 - pophistorydig.com
“Rosie the Riveter” is the name of a fictional character  who came to symbolize the millions of real women who  filled America’s factories, munitions plants, and shipyards during World War II.  In later years, Rosie also became an iconic American image in the fight to broaden women’s civil rights.
After the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor ...

A Promise Kept: The Eastern DC-7B Story - Source: nycaviation.com
In a world when a person’s word can be broken and a handshake is no longer binding, there are people you can still count on. Carlos Gomez and Marc Wolff, by keeping Joe Kocour’s dream alive, are examples of such people. Joe is not with us today, but his beloved Eastern DC-7B is once again flying abo
What a sight this will be at any air shows it might attend!!! Who could have ever known the treasure these things would become. ...

F-86 Sabre from FenceCheck Forums

Covering The Albatros DVa - The Vintage Aviator
"Applying the fabric to the Albatros DVa was a painstaking task, but it had to be done using authentic methods and authentic components."

Museum gains accreditation - Wapakoneta Daily News
The family traveled to the museum from Bluffton, Ind. Staff photo/ Jennifer Tangeman By WILLIAM LANEY The Armstrong Air & Space Museum, along with five ...

Deutsches Technik Museum Berlin. By Dietrich Bojko from Pixdaus: Popular Today Pics

These Are the 11 Prototypes of the Doomed Concorde [Imagecache] from Jalopnik
Here, decades ago, the Concorde stood in prototype form. The plane, even as a small model, was a a symbol of future travel—the way we'd all luxurious fly supersonic someday. Half a century later, that dream's dead forever. ...

December 30 - This Day In Aviation History - Planes, Flying and ...
December 30, 1905 - The Wright brothers sign a contract for one million francs with Frenchman Arnold Fordyce for the sale of a powered flying machine capable of flying a nonstop distance of 31 mi. ...

FREE Film! Flyabout - Chicago Area Aviation Meetup Group (Bensenville, IL) - Meetup
January 15th and 16th at 1pm Aviation World and the Village of Bensenville will present 2 FREE screenings of the documentary film Flyabout at the Bensenville Theater (9 South Center Street). Monika Petrillo, the filmmaker will be on hand to introduce the film and ...

Let’s Make 2011 an Exciting Year for Flying from John and Martha King
As you move through the first quarter of 2011, you are likely considering what you want to accomplish in aviation this year, and how you will keep your skills sharp. One proven and fun way to both advance your skills and stay current is to work on your next rating or certificate. ...

Ross Airfield and the Arcadia Balloon School
This exhibit delves into the period nearing the end of the Great War (World War I); 1918 in Arcadia. Our City was the home of Ross Airfield and the Arcadia Balloon School on the site of today’s Arcadia County Park. What did Arcadia look like in 1918? Who was at the balloon school? What was the purpose of these giant balloons that hung in our skies? Is there any trace left of the school and its brave men? Find the answers at the Museum. The ...

Boeing 747-8 undergoes extreme testing - Boeing   
It's been dragged, dropped, soaked, and forced to hover, shudder and flutter. VERY interesting video on the new Boeing 747 Freighter.

Roundup of 2010 Roundups; 2011 Predictions from Space Prizes 

11 Things Americans Will Be Doing in Space in 2011 from SPACE.com
From private spaceflights, to NASA missions to the moon, Mars and beyond, here's a preview of coming attractions in U.S. spaceflight for 2011. ...

.

Fantasy of Flight January 2011 E-news

January 2011   Fantasy of Flight New Year's Resolution    A Healthful 2011   Every staff member at Fantasy of Flight received a year-end "Health Bonus" as a farewell to 2010 and a commitment to wellness and prosperity in the year ahead.   All of us challenge you--our extended family of Fantasy of Flight fans--to join us in adopting "a healthier lifestyle going into the New Year," as the boss blazes the trail by dropping 30-plus pounds and 12% body fat. Not to mention lowering blood pressure and increasing vitality.   Kermit Weeks demonstrates StayHealthy kiosk in Fantasy of Flight breakroom. However, we do have a secret weapon sitting in our break room, a StayHealthy kiosk that assesses our health levels and tracks our progress toward personal health goals. And it works!   Soon the kiosk will move out to the lobby for everyone to use. And if a little inspiration is all you need, check out Kermit's story on his blog!      Return of nightFlight Phase 2 Devoted followers of the paranormal: if you couldn't attend the sold-out investigations last October, grab your EMF detector and get ready for the winter season of nightFlight.   And if you did attend, you may just want to return!   Phase 2 of our popular paranormal investigations continues as we dig deeper into the mysterious female spirit "M" in the Officers Club; the new approach in the Carrier Deck with the cluster of Naval carrier-based aircraft; the expansion of the investigation into new areas, especially the Restoration Shop; and the EVP experience within the PBY Catalina.   Reservations are now open for the Jan. 29, Feb. 26, and March 5 nightFlight investigations. Click here to register or to learn more!     What's New on the Website: Kermit's Article about Seaplanes The recent 2010 International Seaplane Fly In program featured a fun reflection on water-based airplanes penned by Fantasy of Flight founder and owner Kermit Weeks. In the article, he tells terrific stories about seaplane adventure while highlighting excellent examples of amphibious aircraft and flying boats within the collection, including the mammoth Short Sunderland, the adventurous Sikorsky S-39, and the glorious Grumman Duck.  To read the article in its entirety, click here.   In this Issue: New nightFlight dates announced   Seaplane Article on Fantasy of Flight website   Tuskegee Airmen Student Essay Contest   Toys for Tots a Great Success     Connect with Us       Student Essay Contest Deadline Approaches: January 15   In celebration of Black History Month and in salute to the legendary heroism of the Tuskegee Airmen, Fantasy of Flight is offering grade 4-12 students an opportunity to reflect on important values and win cash prizes.   The story of these courageous American heroes represents the core values of Leadership, Excellence, Advocacy, and Determination--which provide an outstanding platform for learning.   Click here to learn more about the essay contest and to download an entry form.   The winning students will be celebrated at the Legends & Legacies symposium program "They Dared to Fly" in February.     Toys for Tots Drive a Merry Success      Many thanks for all the great support of Fantasy of Flight friends who helped bring smiles to a  bunch of youngsters during the holidays.   Clearly, visitiors were motivated by more than the discount to lend a hand. In addition to six bicycles (!!!), plenty of dollies, cars, and other cool toys brightened the holidays for some needy kids.     Connect with  Fantasy of Flight

 

Indy Transponder 30-DEC-2010 1030z

Aviation Nation 2010 presents the USAF Thunderbirds from Warplanes Online Community by Jobelle | The Thunderbirds are the air demonstration squadron of the U.S. Air Force (USAF), based at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, Nevada. The squadron tours the United States and much of the world, performing aerobatic formation and solo flying in specially-marked USAF jet aircraft. Early aircraft…

2010: A review of the year's airshows around the world from Flight International by Will Horton | 2010 saw the Flightglobal team cover airshows across three continents. Here's a review of this year's airshows. …The year's largest airshow featured the international premiere of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. See here for photos of the aircraft's Spitfire-accompanied flypast on departure (video of the departure here)…

Top 5 stories of the year, No. 2: Air show wows crowds - St. Cloud Times | The show took place June 26-27 and featured the US Navy's Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron, the F-22 Raptor and other aerobatic acts. ...

2010 In Review from PPRuNe Forums by Earl of Rochester … Sky Shuttle ditches in Victoria Harbour Hong Kong 3rd July 2010:

No. 4 Events boost St. Joseph tourism - News-Press Now | With the Sound of Speed Airshow, the Pony Express Sesquicentennial, the NCAA's Elite Eight basketball and softball tournaments as well as a tennis ...

2011 Is Not Wiseman's First Celebration Date - Petaluma Argus Courier | In addition, his airplane is preserved in the Smithsonian Institution, National Air Museum, Washington, DC As readers of this blog have learned, ...

Beer-themed charity events help 2 Houston-area philanthropists fund their ... - Houston Chronicle | The two became neighbors after Frederickson moved to Houston in 2000 to teach aviation history at Rice University. They remained close after Frederickson ...

Hundreds farewell renowned aviator - Lismore Northern Star | Northern Rivers Aero Club chief flight instructor Bill Keenan flew a classic Cessna 337 flanked by two Pitts Special aerobatic biplanes flown by champion ...

BASE jumper/Inventor/Pilot Calvin19 and Annibal: A Family Affair ... - What does a man who loves flying; adventure and exploring the possibilities take time to stop and watch outside his realm of activities? "I enjoy viewing The Red Bull Air races a lot. I do not have the money or skill to participate. ...

Lovely Grass Takeoff on a Summer's Afternoon from Antique Airfield News | Here's a break from all the snow and rain (in my part of the country): A brief reminder of takeoffs at Blakesburg, courtesy of Bob Punch…

Eight-Engine AWACS from The Unwanted Blog | An early diagram for the Boeing 707-derived AWACS.  The USAF originally specced an aircraft capable of greater loiter than the 707/KC-135 was capable of, so Boeing designed a version with 8 more efficient engines. When the USAF backed off on the loiter requirement, the existing engine arrangement was workable, and Boeing went with that…

Video: High Performance Sailplane And Spectacular 'Cloud Flying' by Martt | I was blessed to solo in a glider on my 14th birthday (way back in 1975!), and even got some high performance time in a 15 meter wing Schweizer 1-35 while still just 14. Unfortunately, as I grew older my opportunities to soar were greatly diminished. However, I know that I'm seriously gonna look into getting current in a sailplane as soon as my finances allow - maybe this next summer…

Flight Attendant Up in the Air for 53 Years - CBS Evening News - CBS News - CBS Evening News: Flight Attendant Up in the Air for 53 Years - At 74, Norma Heape Is Continental Airlines' Most Senior Flight Attendant, Logging More Than 63,000 In-Flight Hours    You go Girl!!!!!....:-)   

Shuttlenauts from Air & Space Magazine

Today In Aviation History – December 30 from Calgary Recreational and Ultralight Flying Club by bikeal

December 30 - This Day In Aviation History from Aviation Earth

Indy Transponder 30-DEC-2010 0100z

2010: The year in review: Air Shows - Flightglobal
We unveiled our interactive daily edition at the Singapore Air Show in February. You can read and interact with the editions here: Day One, Day Two, ...

Press Release: 5th International Exhibition of General Aviation from You Fly, Girl 
Cannes, December 29, 2010 - For the 5th edition of the Cannes AirShow, that will take place from June 9 to 11th, 2011 at the Cannes LFMD airport, the AOPA France renews its partnership with the International Exhibition of General Aviation of Cannes, France. ...

Distinguished Flying Cross for WWII veteran from Air Force Times - News
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — It’s been more than 66 years since Robert Giles saved the life of a fellow soldier during World War II, and now he’s being honored with the Distinguished Flying Cross.

NM WWII vet honored with Flying Cross - KASAALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Second Lieutenant Robert L. Giles, a B-17 bomber pilot in World War II, received the Distinguished Flying Cross on Wednesday  ...
   
Local general, community activist has died - Walton Sun
Peterson began his military career as a B-17 pilot in 1944 and ended it in 1979 in Oslo, Norway. He spent several years in the 1970s as the commander of the ...

News Happening Right Now - KRQE
As of 10:52 am - Second Lieutenant Robert L. Giles, a B-17 bomber pilot in World War II, received the Distinguished Flying Cross on Wednesday -- more than ...

de Havilland Mosquito Aircraft from www.fighterfactory.com
The Fighter Factory’s de Havilland Mosquito FB Mk 26 aircraft is being rebuilt in New Zealand by Avspecs Limited, a vintage aircraft restoration facility. The difficult mould and bulkhead woodwork is being done by Mosquito Aircraft Restoration.
    • Restoration progress at Avspecs Limited
The de Havilland Mosquito, was a lightweight, fast British combat aircraft made mainly of wood using advanced construction methods. The fundamental considerations in the design was that the aircraft be as clean ...

WWII plane early present to self - Marlborough Express
Graham Orphan's Christmas present came early this year – a Boeing Stearman biplane arrived at Classic Wings, behind Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, ...

Big Bird Rising: Antanov 124 / Orgiyan Stefanov from Planeshots

The "Hanging Eye" Video - Air & Space Magazine
STORY LINE: Army Air Service successfully demonstrates the practicality of an observation car dropped on a cable from a blimp hidden in the clouds. Army Lieutenants Paul and McCracken, in trials, are lowered in tiny car attached by cable to blimp and telephone to craft above, in one of the most stirring tests in aviation history. ...

HH-60G Pave Hawk from Aviation Blogs 
Mission:  The primary mission of the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter is to conduct day or night personnel recovery operations into hostile environments to recover isolated personnel during war. The HH-60G is also tasked to perform military operations other than war, including civil search and rescue, medical evacuation, disaster response, humanitarian assistance, security cooperation/aviation advisory, NASA space flight support, and rescue command and control. ...

Meet the XB-70 Valkyrie, Almost the World’s First Nuclear Aircraft from Danger Room 
The Valkyrie was a plane decades ahead of its time, pushing the aeronautical engineering of the early 1960s well beyond what had been thought possible. It was even slated to become the world’s first nuclear-powered bomber. ...

from AIRBOYD.TV 

• Legends Of Aerospace
• B-52 Takeoff And Landing – Cockpit View

-Subscribe for daily automatic e-mail delivery directly to your Inbox!
-Also join us on -Facebook  -Twitter
-Send Notices > Releases > Updates > Be a Contributor > Contact: IndyTransponder@gmail.com

. 

Indy Transponder 29-DEC-2010 2000z

Aviation buffs to rebuild RAF plane - Belfast Telegraph
An old RAF reconnaissance plane is being rebuilt on the site of a former top security jail in Northern Ireland where it was once called in to help check for IRA escape tunnels.
Volunteers from the Ulster Aviation Society are reassembling the aircraft at the former Maze Prison at Long Kesh, near Lisburn, Co Antrim.
After nearly 50 years ...

Centennial of Air Mail service salute will honor early aviation pioneers at EAA AirVenture 2011
Vintage aircraft and attractions, along with special programming, will honor early aviation pioneers through a commemoration of centennial of air mail service during EAA AirVenture 2011. The 59th annual edition of “The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration” will be held July 25-31 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh. ...

Watching Your New Best Friends Having the Time of Their Lives from Let's Go Flying 
... I’m having a great time re-living some of those experiences as I edit footage from Acro Camp, a movie that I and some friends in the general aviation community shot in May.  We brought in four pilots from around the country.  Two men and two women.  Each had between 300 hours and 12,000 hours total time.  But none ...

This Jet-Powered Outhouse Makes Poop Fly [Video] from Jalopnik  | An Indianapolis-based company with too much time on its hands attached a 750-pound Boeing jet engine to a portable toilet, making it capable of reaching speeds up to 70 miles per hour. ...

DH Hornet & Sea Hornet from Let Let Let - Warplanes 
The De Havilland DH.103 Hornet was a Spec. F.12/43 long-range day  fighter capable of reaching a top speed of at least 480 mph (772.5 km/h). Although it arrived too late to participate in the Second World War, it was ordered both by the RAF and by the Royal Navy. For the Royal Navy it was intended to operate from aircraft carriers, fitted with an arrester hook and foldable wings. Royal Navy also used a two-seat version  as ...
   
Images of 2010: News - Hickory Daily Record
87, served on as navigator on board a Boeing B-17 G. Parker flew on 30 missions over the European Theater. ....

The year 2010 in pictures (500th blog post) by David Cenciotti
As of tradition, the annual debrief can’t be introduced with different words from those I used last year: “It’s only when you get to the end of the year that you get the full picture of what has happened in the previous 12 months. Images collected during worlwide travels, flights and base visits, used to illustrate the most different stories dealing with the World of Aviation, provide a means to get a snapshop on the most important topics discussed on this site [...]“. So, once again after 2008 and 2009 editions, pictures taken by me and by the site’s official photographer Giovanni Maduli during the last year will guide us along some of the most important things we have happened in the world of Aviation. ...

Top Ten PICTURE stories of 2010 - Flight Global
Top ten VIDEO stories 2010 - Flight Global

ZWRRWWWBRZR from Air & Space Magazine
That's the sound of the prop-driven XF-84H, and it brought grown men to their knees. It didn't fly all that great either. ...

Zephyr solar-powered UAV breaks three more world records from Engadget 
The Zephyr is a winning machine. Last we reported, QinetiQ's solar-powered drone had just completed 7-days in the air, and counting. Now, the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) has confirmed that Zephyr completed that record-breaking flight with a solid 2-weeks in the air (336 hours). If that wasn't enough to put other drones to shame, FAI found that Zephyr also destroyed records for flight duration for a UAV of its ...

December 29 from Cut and Paste Aviation 

The World's Smallest Airport - Flagpole Magazine
... recognition in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum was the innovative and outrageous 1940s air show known as The Thrasher Brothers' Aerial Circus. ...

New Chengdu J-20 photos from Black Horizon 
More photos of the Chinese J-20 stealth fighter are popping up on the internet.
It remains to be seen if the West will view it as a threat. Althiough there are indications it hasn't flown yet, the J-20 is already being compared to the F-22.  ...
   
First human-like robot to fly in space - SiliconValley.com
3 aboard the space shuttle Discovery on a flight to its permanent home on the International Space Station, will be the first humanoidlike robot to fly in ...

"The Big A's" UCAP #219 from Uncontrolled Airspace: General Aviation Podcast
Happy New Year to all from the entire UCAP Gang.

.

KEY AIRCRAFT FROM MASSIVE WWII TRAINING PROGRAM SLATED TO APPEAR AT EAA AIRVENTURE 2011

Vintage Wings of Canada project honors the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan

        EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wis. — (Dec. 29, 2010) — Aircraft that played a key role in one of the greatest military and industrial achievements during World War II will be showcased at EAA AirVenture 2011 thanks to the support of Vintage Wings of Canada. The 59th annual edition of “The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration” will be held July 25-31 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.

       Vintage Wings of Canada, an aviation museum based in Quebec that acquires, restores, maintains and flies classic aircraft significant to the early history of powered flight, will bring four aircraft from its Yellow Wings Tour honoring the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) – North American Harvard IV, Fleet Finch II, Fairchild Cornell MK II, and de Havilland Tiger Moth, all painted in the distinctive yellow scheme for training aircraft. Additionally, Fairey Swordfish Mk III and Westland Lysander IIIA will also appear courtesy of Vintage Wings of Canada.

       BCATP was a massive exercise in planning, construction and community involvement that trained hundreds of thousands of airmen from Canada, the British Commonwealth and the United States between 1939 and 1945. It remains the single largest aviation training program in history and was responsible for training nearly half the pilots, navigators, bombardiers, air gunners, wireless operators and flight engineers who served in their respective air forces.

       “It’s quite an honor for Vintage Wings to bring the stories of the BCATP to Canadians and Americans as we commemorate an extraordinary period in both our nation’s rich aviation history,” said Rob Fleck, President of Vintage Wings of Canada. “BCATP was a massive wartime undertaking that brought great importance to the free world that inspired U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt to refer Canada as the Aerodrome of Democracy.

       “The Yellows Wings Tour is made possible by many enthusiastic supporters who share in the goal of preserving aviation recreation, culture and history. Among those supporters are the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA), Canada Aviation and Space Museum, Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, and EAA.”

       EAA will be hosting a free webinar on the history of the British Commonwealth Aircraft Training Plan on Monday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. CST. For more information and to register, visit https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/338907347. 

        “We thank Vintage Wings of Canada for its commitment to preserving aviation history and for bringing its Yellow Wings project and the valued collection of warbirds to Oshkosh,” said Tom Poberezny, EAA and AirVenture chairman. “World War II warbirds are always a one of the more popular attractions at AirVenture because they give attendees a historical perspective of aviation’s formative years.”

       The Fairey Swordfish MK III biplane was considered one of the finest naval aircraft of World War II and was the only Allied aircraft in continuous production from before the start of hostilities through the end of the war. The Westland Lysander IIIA equipped six RAF squadrons in France for artillery spotting, reconnaissance, and other communications tasks during the first year of the war, and went on to become a significant multi-role aircraft after the fall of France.

      Owners of Canadian WWII training aircraft are invited to participate in festivities at AirVenture 2011 by contacting Bill Fischer, Warbirds of America executive director, at bfischer@eaa.org. For more information on Vintage Wings of Canada and its Yellow Wings Tour, visit www.vintagewings.ca and www.yellowwings.ca. 

       AirVenture 2011 has been classified a Tier 1 event by the U.S. Navy as it celebrates the Centennial of Naval Aviation throughout next year. Several top-level attractions will commemorate this notable anniversary as well as 100th anniversary of air mail service. Special themed days planned are “Tribute to Bob Hoover” Day on Tuesday, July 26, Navy Day on Wednesday, July 27, and “Tribute to Burt Rutan” Day on Thursday, July 28.

       Advance purchase admission tickets and camping for AirVenture 2011 are now available at a discounted rate at www.airventure.org/tickets. 

      EAA AIRVENTURE OSHKOSH is The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration and EAA’s yearly membership convention. Additional EAA AirVenture information, including advance ticket and camping purchase, is available online at www.airventure.org. EAA members receive lowest prices on admission rates. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 1-800-JOIN-EAA (1-800-564-6322) or visit www.eaa.org. Immediate news is available at www.twitter.com/EAAupdate.