Thursday, June 30, 2011

The Boeing Bee is on view at the Museum!

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  Boeing BeeThe Boeing Bee has arrived! This morning, our crew moved the B-17 to its summertime home on the Museum's East Lawn. The Bee will be on view for a limited time - don't miss the opportunity to see this historic aircraft!
 
Join us in celebrating the B-17 and the 95th anniversary of the Boeing Company during our
Heroes of the Homefront celebration on Saturday, July 16. The day includes a visit from a WWII reenactment crew,  swing dance lessons, drawings for tours of the Boeing Bee, special presentations and a fly-in with a
B-25 and P-51.
  
From 6 to 10 p.m. on July 16, the Harry James Orchestra, directed by Fred Radke, featuring Gina Funes, will perform for our Hangar Dance party celebrating the B-17... and presale tickets are only $17!
  
Our annual 27 Flags presentation by members of Skyway Post 9430 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars is on Monday, July 4. Celebrate our nation's birthday with a salute to all 27 versions of the flag that have represented our country, starting with the 13-star flag authorized by Congress in 1777. This program is only the beginning of a summer of great activities throughout the Museum. Check out the calendar to see what else is in store!
  
Dream, Discover, Soar!
-The Museum of Flight
  
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New Able Flight Pilots! #Purdue


When you donate to the Able Flight Scholarship Fund...you become more than a donor...you become a partner in its mission.

You, too can wear the AF Champion shirt!

Be an Able Flight Champion and you'll have the chance to win a great prize from one of our sponsors!
Just visit the Champions page to sign up!

WHO DO YOU HELP WHEN YOU DONATE TO ABLE FLIGHT?
People like Brandy Hofstetter. Paralyzed due to a childhood auto accident, Brandy is now a licensed pilot thanks to the supporters of Able Flight.
Donate today to help inspiring people like Brandy become a pilot!

Able Flight thanks AirChart Systems for their generous support  that provides training for our pilots.
_________________
New website showcases the good works of aviation nonprofits...visit Flying For Good to see stories on Able Flight and others who use aviation for the public good.
Kevin Crombie in Sky Arrow
Kevin Crombie, the first of the students training at Purdue to earn his license.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THREE NEW ABLE FLIGHT PILOTS!
 
 Kevin Crombie, Korel Cudmore and Eric Ingram are all newly licensed pilots after completing their training at Purdue University and passing their checkrides. Nearing the completion of his training is SFC Jermaine Strachan.

On May 22, the four Able Flight scholarship recipients arrived at Purdue only to be greeted with a week of  weather that didn't allow them to fly. So they concentrated on ground school, and as soon as the weather cleared they began to make up for lost time.

A little over halfway through their nearly five week training all four students passed their FAA knowledge test on the same day. After that, they worked even harder to get back on their demanding flight training schedule, and with the help of their instructors they were able to complete their training.





 FIRST CAREER  SCHOLARSHIP WINNER EARNS FAA LIGHT SPORT REPAIRMAN CERTIFICATE
Paul Lampasso recently passed his final exam with a 98 to become the first AF Career Training Scholarship recipient to complete training and  become certified as a Light Sport Repairman with Maintenance Rating.

Paul Lampasso with plane

 Paul  is a former NYC firefighter and 9/11 first responder, and trained in May and June at Rainbow Aviation in California. Congratulations to Paul!


Oshkosh 2010 ceremony
In 2010, we honored two new Able Flight pilots at our Wings Ceremony at EAA AirVenture. How many will it be for 2011?
SAVE THE DATE!
You're invited to the 2011 Able Flight Wings Ceremony in Oshkosh as  we celebrate the achievements of our new pilots. 

Tuesday July 26th 
10:30 AM
ConocoPhillips Plaza

91 Oak Leaf Lane | Chapel Hill, NC 27516 US

100th Anniversary of the Turkish Air Force, Izmir, Turkey

The Turkish Air Force (“Turk Hava Kuvvetleri“), one of the oldest military aviation organizations in the world, celebrated their centennial on the first weekend of June.

If one entered the base by the main gate, they saw four gate guard aircraft; Bell UH-1H Iroquois, Lockheed T-33A, North American F-100F Super Sabre, and Beech T-34A Mentor.
The gate guards were positioned on manicured lawns, with several Turkish flags in the background and one statue of an airman.

Heading away from the main gate toward the flight line ramp, between flowers and wonderful palm trees, one could see additional aircraft: McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II, Cessna T-37C Tweety Bird, Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star and a Northrop F-5B Freedom Fighter. The F-5B was positioned on a pedestal to give the impression that it was taking off and climbing towards the sky.

If one entered by the public entrance to the Base, on the ramp leading to the flight line along the way, one could see many different types of aircraft from the Turkish Air Force inventory. Some are rarely seen, such as the SIAI Marchetti SF 260D, Socata TB-20 Trinidad from the Turkish Navy, Northrop T-38A Talon, Cessna T-41D Mescalero or the Bell AH-1P Huey Cobra. The static aircraft from the Turkish Air Force were not roped off. The visitors to the Base had free access to speak with the crewmembers and enter the transports and the helicopters, including the latest Boeing 737-7ES Peace Eagle. This made photographing the static a challenge, as photographers are interested in the aircraft and not necessarily of the crowds. Additional static displays from the Turkish Air Force included: the Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker, Lockheed C-130E Hercules, Transall C-160D, CASA-IPTN 235-100, McDonnell Douglas RF-4E Phantom II, McDonnell Douglas F-4E Terminator 2020, Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter, General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon and the brand new Lockheed Martin F-16D-52 from the Peace Onyx IV program. The Northrop T-38M Talon, which is an upgraded version, and the new training aircraft from the Korea Aerospace, KT-1T Wong Bee. One out of the ten ordered, IAI Heron UAV, was also in the static line up. The helicopter line up consisted of the Eurocopter AS-532 UL Cougar, Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk, Agusta-Bell 412EP and the dinosaur Bell UH-1H Iroquois.


Apart from the Turkish Stars display team present, many countries and their display teams were invited for the 100th anniversary event. One could see the USAF Thunderbirds, Red Arrows from the UK, Italian Frecce Tricolori, the French Patrouille de France, Team Iskry from Poland, Patrulla Aguila (Eagle Patrol) from Spain, Krila Oluje (Wings of Storm) from Croatia. However, the Pakistani display team Sherdils, cancelled a short time before the show.


The foreign static display included the support aircraft for the Wings of Storm from Croatia, an Antonov 32B. Only two of this aircraft are in service by the Croatian Air Force. Bulgaria sent a Mig-29UB, a PC-9M and one Alenia C-27J Spartan. The Antonov was present from Serbia, Slovakia, Romania and Hungary. The Polish Air Force sent an IPTN-CASA C-295M. Several C-130 Hercules were present from Italy, Denmark, Pakistan, Algeria and of course, Turkey. Other aircraft in the static area included two Saab 105 OE from Austria, two Eurofighters from Germany, an AMX, a C-27J Spartan and also one Eurofighter from Italy, two IAR 99 Soim from Romania, and several F-16 from Belgium, Netherlands, Jordan and Pakistan.


On Friday, Airbus Military sent the new Transporter Airbus A-400M “Grizzly,” that departed on Saturday in the evening. By the way, the Turkish Air Force has ordered ten (10) A-400M. The Royal Air Force sent one Tornado GR4 and the Hungarian Air Force had one JAS-39 Gripen.


Three JF-17 Thunder were there from Pakistan; one flew in the display, with one spare, and one as static. For the JF-17 “Thunder” it was only their third appearance at an air show, after Farnborough, UK and Zhuhai, China. The JF-17 was parked next to the German Eurofighters and the Bulgarian Mig-29UB. A very nice contrast.


The eight hour flying display on Saturday and Sunday were similar, accept for the flypast from the Turkish Air Force, which was only on Saturday. The spectacular 31 aircraft flypast included most of the aircraft types used by the Turkish Air Force. The flypast started with three Eurocopter AS 532 Cougars. The Cougars towed two sets of flags; on top were the Turkish and below it the 100 year anniversary ones. The next echelon was made up with three examples each: Cessna T-41D, SF 260D, T-37 Tweety Bird, KT-1T Wong Bee, and T-38 Talon. They were followed by the transport aircraft: one Casa 235, Transall C-160D and Lockheed C-130E Hercules and a KC-135R Stratotanker with the boom down. They were followed by three examples each, F-16s, the F-4E-2020s. The flypast ended with the Northrop F-5A-2000s.


The spectators could see the Turkish Air Force’s 100th year anniversary F-16, in a wonderful black and gold paint scheme. Other F-16s from the Netherlands, Belgium and from Pakistan performed over the skies of Izmir. The best F-16 display was the “Solo Turk” flown by Major Murat KELES from 141 Filo. His display was very dynamic and presented his F-16 perfectly for photographers. The Pakistani JF-17 “Thunder,”had a good display too, showing off the maneuverability of this powerful fighter. The flying display was a good mixture of different jets from several countries including the rarely seen IAR-99 “Soim” from Romania. The other impressive display was from the Italian Air Force’s C-27 “Spartan” and Eurofighter. Interestingly enough, only the Thunderbirds represented the United States as there were no other aircraft from USAF.


Monday, the departure day, was a perfect day to photograph the aircraft leaving the airbase. Several of the aircraft taxied slowly alongside of the photographers to give them ample time to take images as they taxied. A special thank you goes to the Phantom pilots for providing this great opportunity. One of the most interesting aircraft to see after most of the others left the base was the Ilyushin Il-78 (NATO reporting name Midas) a four-engined aerial refueling tanker based on the Il-76, from the Pakistan Air Force, that had just arrived. Additionally the Pakistan Air Force sent four Lockheed C-130 Hercules on Monday to Izmir, who arrived late in the evening.


In summary, the 100th anniversary of the Turkish Air Force was not only a very well organized airshow, but was a huge success. Congratulations goes to General Hasan Aksay, Commander of the Turkish Air Force and Base Commander from Cigli, for their great organization skills.


We would like to thank the Public Affairs Media officer Mr. Hüsamettin Harmanci, from Ankara for his assistance, who listened to our requests/needs and was very helpful to us.


By: The staff of AirShowsReview, we review airshows!

Visit us for other air show repoerts and reviews, including from



  • GREAT LAKES INTERNATIONAL AIR SHOW, St. Thomas


  • Rhode Island National Gurad Open House,


  • and many more!

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Field of Flight ready to kick off – WWMT | The Blue Angels team has arrived in Battle Creek for the upcoming Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival. Gates for the festival will open at 5:00 pm Friday, with a balloon launch scheduled for 6:30. More launches are scheduled for Saturday, ...

Organizers seek improvements for Aug. 13-14 air show - Seacoastonline.com | With less than two months until the air show comes to town Aug. 13-14, organizers are working diligently to make sure this year's event goes off without a hitch. In addition to new access points to and from the tradeport, Kaufman said organizers are ...

Fundraisers prove their pulling power - Fingal Independent | The ORBIS Plane Pull saw more than a dozen teams with no more than the power of their own bodies haul a FedEx Airbus A300 weighing a staggering 85 tonnes for a distance of 12 feet. That does not sound like a huge distance but when you consider we are ...

Thunder Mustangs of Reno Racing from photorecon.net - Yes Folks….Its time to start thinking again about making plans to attend the 2011 Reno Air Races. We had such a great time last year that the excitment is already starting to build. We have sent off our “Media Request” and plan on spending almost the entire week hanging out with the Race fans and [...]
 
Lockheed 12 First Flight Re-creation by Les Whittlesey  from Antique Airfield News | Yesterday we flew up to Burbank and shot a few photos of the Lockheed in front of old “Hangar 2”, one of the original Lockheed buildings at Burbank where they made the 12's. We then proceeded to take off at 75 years to the hour to recreate the first flight of the Lockheed 12 prototype out of Burbank. Call sign was "Lockheed 75". On the trip was myself, Kirk "Captain Kirk" Mc Quown and my dad Neil. We were well received by everyone. Planning for the 100th is starting now. Please forward to any interested Lockheed 12 folks… 

Vintage warplanes headed to Calgary for Stampede - Calgary Herald | On July 9, a charitable organization dedicated to aviation history, Vintage Wings of Canada, will land a P-51D at Springbank Airport and connect the past with the present. "A couple of pilots who used to fly these planes will be there to talk about the ...

Vintage Aircraft Flyover for Canada Day  from Aviation.ca News | The Alberta Aviation Museum/Edmonton Aviation Heritage Society, working with The Canadian Space agency, Discovery Air Hawk One, Edmonton Celebrates, Edmonton Garrison and Vintage Wings of Canada is pleased to announce a special Canada Day Treat for the Greater Edmonton Area...
Royal visit to Canada: itinerary highlights - Telegraph.co.uk | There will be full military honours, a 21-gun salute and a fly past by the Canadian Forces CF-18s and Snowbirds. The stop on Prince Edward Island, which has a population of just 140000, was apparently influenced by the Duchess of Cambridge's childhood ...

Snowbirds dazzle at Sarnia show - Sarnia Observer | Seven pilots with the Snowbirds 431 squadron fly in formation above Lake Huron near Canatara Park. TYLER KULA/ THE OBSERVER/ QMI AGENCY By TYLER KULA, THE OBSERVER Gasping barely overtook the sound of roaring engines at Canatara Park on Wednesday as ...

Video Proof: B-52 Vertical Fin Is Optional Equipment (1964)  by Martt | You may have seen this incredible picture before, but do you know what caused this B-52 to lose almost all of its vertical fin and rudder? Below is the explanation from the Boeing website, and at bottom is video of the occurrence, including the landing approach!...

AIR TATTOO OFFERS ADDED VALUE

Organisers of the Royal International Air Tattoo are guaranteeing visitors will get even more for their money next month – by extending the flying display to eight hours.

            The airshow, which takes place on July 16-17, was due to start its flying display at 10.30am but it will now start half-an-hour earlier to accommodate the large number of aircraft from around the world who want to perform.

A record nine aerobatic display teams will be taking to the skies above RAF Fairford along with fast jets, giant transporters, classic warbirds and military helicopters.

Chief Executive Tim Prince said: “Bringing together the flying display is like completing a massive jigsaw. There are so many factors you need to take into consideration to ensure the day runs smoothly. 

“When we sat down and looked at all the aircraft taking part we realised we needed to extend the length of the flying programme. That so many air forces and civilian operators wish to display at the Air Tattoo is a great reflection on the reputation the airshow has around the world. UK plc should be very proud.”

This summer’s Air Tattoo will be marking its 40th anniversary and hosting a gathering of specially-decorated ‘Tiger’ aircraft from the NATO Tiger Association. ‘Tiger’ aircraft come from NATO squadrons that have a Tiger or Big Cat in their emblem and their association marks its 50th anniversary in 2011. The ‘operational’ spotlight STAR 11 will focus on aircraft and equipment involved in the roles of Strike and Reconnaissance.

Tickets are available by visiting www.airtattoo.com or calling 0800 107 1940. All tickets must be purchased in advance. All accompanied under-16s go free.

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Thunderbirds add Finland performance to storied history from Air Force Link Top Stories | On both sides of every U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds F-16 Fighting Falcon, there's a colorful, square panel that displays the flags of all the countries in the world where the team has performed. The Thunderbirds had the privilege of adding a new flag to the panel June 18.  For the first time in its 58-year history, the Air Force's premier jet demonstration team performed in the country of Finland. The Thunderbirds headlined "Turku Air Show 2011," which also featured Finland's own Midnight Hawks.  ...

Episode 67: Team Pracy: Racing, JetRides & Aircraft Imports from Plane Crazy Down Under | We’re joined by Mark Pracy Sr and Mark Pracy Jr to talk about the many aviation endeavours they’re involved in, including JetRide Australia, Pracy Racing and Aircraft Imports. We also have Bas Scheffers sitting in from Adelaide for the interview as well as a fantastic announcement to make towards the end of the show :)    We start by talking with Mark Sr about his background in aviation including how he grew up in Scone seeing warbirds all the time, was taught aerobatics by Col Pay and then eventually became an aerobatics instructor. He’s also got a low-level aerobatics waiver and is an airshow pilot displaying a number of warbirds at events around the country. ...

Congratulations! from Cirrus Aircraft News | Earlier this month we received news of this fantastic story through our social network. Congratulations Cameron Doody and Hannon Kirk and thanks to Ashley Zeiger for the photo!  In Cameron’s words: Hannon and I knew we were meant for each other from the beginning, but it  ...
   
Changes aim to improve Pease air show experience - Seacoastonline.com | One of the US Air Force Thunderbirds flies over the Pease International Tradeport in Feb. 2011 to visit the site before the elite flying squadron headlines the 2011 Boston-Portsmouth Air Show on Aug. 13-14.Rich Beauchesne file photo By Charles McMahon ...

Snowbirds performing aerial ballet over Sarnia today - Petrolia Topic | The Huron Flight Centre is hosting a free Canadian Snowbirds Aerobatic Show June 29 above Canatara Park's waterfront. The 6:45 pm show features the Snowbirds 431 squadron and is being held to honour the Canadian military. Dinner with the Snowbirds is ...

Aircraft Patrouille de France legend and have an appointment this weekend to Luxeuil - via translator | This weekend, the air base 116 of Luxeuil hosts one of the three meetings of the Air Force after Rochefort and Saint-Dizier. For two days, Saturday and Sunday, the public can attend more than four hours of air show with apotheosis in the famous Patrouille de France. ...

Red Bull Air Power 2011: Former Glories from Aerial Sports Feed | Photo Gallery

November's Dubai Airshow looks to the future - Breaking Travel News | The last day of November's Dubai Airshow is themed 'Futures Day', dedicated to inspiring the UAE's youth to become the next generation of aviation professionals as the country celebrates its 40th anniversary. Running from 13 to 17 November 2011 at the ...

3D Entertainment USA Completes 3D Live-Action Principal Photography for "Air ... - SunHerald.com | "After three years of production that included the filming of the 2009 and 2010 editions of the Reno Air Races, we are very excited to bring this long-awaited action-packed film to aviation enthusiasts and moviegoers around the world," said executive ...
   
Aviation Summer Camp - AVweb | It's kind of a Young Eagles approach, but with a lot more substance and seriousness. Although Young Eagles is a good idea and I participate in it myself, its major flaw is that it isn't always addressed at likely prospects. ...

Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker from I n f o r m a t i o n 2 S h a r e | The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling military aircraft. It and the Boeing 707 airliner were developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype. The KC-135 was the US Air Force’s first jet-powered refueling tanker and replaced the KC-97 Stratotanker. The Stratotanker was initially tasked to refuel strategic bombers, but was used extensively in the Vietnam War and later conflicts such as Desert Storm to extend the range and endurance of Air Force, Navy and Marine tactical fighters and bombers. ...

Air Force searches for missing pilot after Nevada crash from RGJ.com | LAS VEGAS (AP) — Air Force officials searched Tuesday for a missing pilot one day after a fighter jet crashed in the Nevada desert during training exercises.

F-16 crashes in Nellis Range Complex from Black Horizon by Steve Douglass | BY KEITH ROGERS AND ANTONIO PLANAS | LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL  The pilot of a downed F-16C Fighting Falcon remained missing late Tuesday several hours after his jet crashed in a remote area near Caliente during an air-to-air combat exercise, a Nellis Air Force Base official said. ...

Photo Tour of an Airbus A380 at Lufthansa Technik in Frankfurt from Airline Reporter by David Parker Brown | How do you make the Airbus A380, the world’s largest airliner, look small? Put it into the Lufthansa Technik Hangar in Frankfurt Germany that’s how. While in Frankfurt for ...

The Dreams And Reality Of A Future Airliner from Autopia by Jason Paur | At the Paris Air Show last week one of the biggest stories was the future of the smaller airliners. And while the focus was firmly based on the reality of what will be flying next, there was some talk of what could be flying many years in the future. And that discussion included a debate about propellers. ...

Coming Soon to A UAV Above You: Cameras that See Everything (Literally) - Gizmodo | These wide-band imagers are now being adapted for use in UAVs. Essentially, a hyperspectral image is one derived of hundreds of spectral bands, taken simultaneously. These bands extend beyond the paltry "visible spectrum" that humans experience and ....

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Countdown to the Field of Flight: white stripe for Blue Angels - Battle Creek Enquirer | Volunteers from the Kalamazoo Probation Enhancement Program put down the final pieces of a 5000-foot-long, 40-foot-wide plastic strip for the Blue angels on Tuesday at WK kellogg Regional Airport. / Trace Christenson/The Enquirer Some of the plastic ...

Free air show benefits Western Band - Kokomo Perspective | Defy gravity with the professional aerobatic pilots of Kokomo Wings & Wheels on July 2. The annual air and car show will start the day off with a big pancake breakfast, leading into several jets performing impressive aerobatics at the Kokomo Municipal ...

Harrier, B-2 and Osprey Added to St. Louis Airshow Lineup from The Aero Experience | This year's Fair St. Louis Airshow will include local favorites - the AV-8B Harrier, the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber and the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor (made popular recently during Marine Week St. Louis).  Here is the published lineup: ...

"Screamer" rides along with air show performer - Fox Providence | John Klatt who is one of the top air show performers in the country! In fact, Klatt's team even invited The Rhode Show to get an up close and personal preview of their show! When hosts Patrick Little and Danielle North chickened out on the ride of ...

2011 AIR TATTOO THEMES from Royal International Air Tattoo News | Air Tattoo organizers have announced the themes for the Royal International Air Tattoo 2011.

Airpower Zeltweg 2011 from Aviation News - Airplane-Pictures.net | Pictures from Full Member Patricia and dry ...
   
NOSE ART TAKES FLIGHT AT WADDINGTON AIRSHOW - CisionWire | The winners of a competition to design a piece of cockpit nose art will be on display at the Waddington International Airshow on 2nd and 3rd July 2011. Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire launched the Aircraft Nose Art Competition, which was open to young ...

Shows between sky and sea - Friuli | Subsequently, the parade of eight air paramotors introduce the final act of the event, which will conclude with a performance of the Tricolour Arrows aerobatic team. The weekend will end in the Park of Roses: After ...

Expect biggest Singapore Airshow next year - AsiaOne | The Singapore Airshow, touted as Asia's largest and one of the world's top three aerospace and defence events, will stage its largest show in February next year. Experia Events, organiser of the home-grown air show, has returned from the International ...

Death knell for airshow as cash crisis looms? from Clacton and Frinton Gazette | THIS year's Clacton Airshow could be the last, council bosses have warned. 

Aviation history in Hammondsport - TwinTiersLive | In Hammondsport, the Glenn Curtiss Museum this weekend will celebrate its aviation heritage with a flight of the museum’s A-1 Triad.  This is a replica, built several years ago, ...

Take a flight back in time on 'The TIn Goose' - Massillon Independent | The Experimental Aircraft Association flew into the Military Aviation Preservation Society (MAPS) Air Museum on Monday as part of its 2011 Midwest tour, allowing passengers to travel back in time to the birth of commercial aviation. ...

F-106 veterans gather at Selfridge - DVIDS | A retired F-106 is on display in the Selfridge Military Air Museum. The museum was a part of the reunion visit for the veterans, who also had a question and answer session with a current Selfridge pilot who flies the A-10 Thunderbolt II, also known as ...

Patriotic state of red, white & blue - Tampabay.com | Wings Over Miami Air Museum at Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport features an F-14 Tomcat, a cutaway of a F4U-1 Corsair engine and a re-creation of a World War II communications tent among its collections. Wings Over Miami, 14710 SW 128th St., Kendall; ...

Celebrate July 4 At Sturbridge Village - Hartford Courant | From Monday, July 4, through Sunday, July 10, the theme of the week is "Lighter-than Air" at the New England Air Museum. This week's focus is blimps, balloons and airships. The activities run Monday through Friday from 11 am to 4 pm daily; ...

Freedom Wings Canada and the Gatineau Gliding Club Launches 2011 Flying Program from Aviation.ca News | The national launch of Freedom Wings Canada’s Inspirational Flights 2011 season will kick off the Canada Day festivities at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum at 9:00 a.m. Additional ceremonies will take place on Canada Day at the Edmonton...

'Restoring memories' with the AMC Museum - from Air Force Link Top Stories | On the tarmac of the Dover Air Force Base, Del., at the Air Mobility Command Museum, aircraft of a past generation come to their final resting place.  After careers spent soaring across the skies of Europe, Asia and the Pacific, they now spend their days under the observation of museum patrons, while their stories are tirelessly recounted by tour guides and veterans. Accompanied by sounds of the golden age of swing and jazz playing through museum speakers, the fighters, cargo carriers and troop transports are testaments to the military conflicts of yesteryear.  ...

Amazing video about an F-100 pilot and his plane. Quite a... from You like airplanes, too?

Tanker's First Flight Over Top Of The World Marks New Era In Efficiency from Aero-News Network | Flying Over The Pole Saves Over Four Hours And $54,000 A KC-135 Stratotanker flew north until it started flying south June 21 an 22, cutting a new pathway over the Arctic Circle and the North Pole between Fairchild Air Force Base, WA, and the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. ...

Overhead Bin - Turtles on runway delay flights at JFK - MSNBC | Flights were temporarily halted at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport on Wednesday morning after about 150 turtles ambled onto a runway.  JetBlue first tweeted news of the slowdown: "JFK is experiencing delays as the airport clears turtles off the runway."  ...

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Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Sports Travel and Tours and the California Capital Airshow Partner to Offer Explosive Excitement to Fans

Partnership delivers a new option in quality sports entertainment

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – (June 28, 2011) – Sports Travel and Tours, the leader in spectator sports travel, and one of the nation’s premiere Airshows, the California Capital Airshow (CCA), today announced a partnership, which will deliver quality sports entertainment to their ever-expanding fan base.

This is a brand new option for customers providing an all-inclusive travel package to one of the largest and most exciting airshows in the country.  This new offering builds on the popular travel packages that Sports Travel and Tours offers via organizations such as The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and The Pro Football Hall of Fame. Other programs offered include NASCAR, U.S. Open, Stanley Cup, Kentucky Derby and more.

“We are excited to have this unique sporting event to make available to our clientele, as we’ve never offered this type of an event before,” said Teresa Weybrew, Director of Sales for Sports Travel and Tours.  “We have negotiated and designed two different levels of participation with access to areas of the show that the general public is not able to take advantage of.”     

“Sports fans that have never been to an Airshow are in for a rare treat.  The CCA showcases five hours of non-stop thrills, chills and jaw-dropping excitement that will literally have fans on the edge of their seats,” said Darcy Brewer, Executive Director of the California Capital Airshow. “Guests will see the ‘best of the best’ in regards to both military and civilian pilots and aircraft; literally there is so much to see and experience that you can’t see it all in one day.  With over 120 static aircraft and displays on the ground representing over nine decades of aviation history, sports fans will be mesmerized and entertained all weekend long.”   

The 2011 California Capital Airshow thunders into Sacramento on September 10th and 11th at Mather Airport. Packages offered include:
  • The Flight Line Experience: Featuring accommodations for three days and two nights at the elegant Four-Diamond Sacramento Marriott Rancho Cordova.  This package includes two-day admission to the Airshow and special tented Flight Line Club access for viewing of the show, commemorative poster, official souvenir program and more. For additional details visit www.sportstravelandtours.com/cca or call 800-662-4424.
  • The VIP Experience: The VIP weekend features exclusive events not available to the general public such as the Performers Reception and Performers Gala. Once at the Airshow, enjoy access to the exclusive Governors Club, an escorted tour of the "Hot Zone" where you will see the world’s most impressive and highly-secured military aircrafts, like the F-15 Strike Eagle, F-18 Super Hornet, rare and priceless warbirds, and so much more.  In addition, you will have the opportunity to meet some of the world’s most renowned pilots and performers, preferred parking and more.  For additional details visit www.sportstravelandtours.com/cca or call 800-662-4424.
“Having these two major players cooperating at this level will help us continue to meet our fans’ needs and interests.  Customers have been asking for different sporting options to choose from and for the aviation enthusiast this will blow them away,” said Jay Smith, President of Sports Travel and Tours. “We have yet to scratch the surface of what we can offer to fans around the world.”

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Teresa Weybrew at teresa@sportstravelandtours.com or call 800-662-4424. Additional press materials and photos can be found at http://www.sportstravelandtours.com/blog/?tag=press

The California Capital Airshow web site will be updated regularly with news, attraction information and more.  Community members and attendees can also follow the Airshow on Facebook and Twitter (#calcapairshow).

High-resolution photos are available online at http://www.californiacapitalairshow.com/event-features/photo-gallery.  To request press credentials for the event go to http://www.californiacapitalairshow.com/about-cca/media-access.

About California Capital Airshow

Established in 2004, the California Capital Airshow has become one of the largest and highly-respected airshows in the nation.  As part of its community relations, the non-profit organization has awarded over 70 scholarships to deserving students from our region with an interest in science, technology, engineering, math, aviation, aerospace, and aeronautics.  For more information about the California Capital Airshow, please visit www.californiacapitalairshow.com.

About the Sports Travel and Tours

Founded in 1996, Sports Travel and Tours is a national tour operator based in Massachusetts. The company features travel package for groups and individuals for all the major sporting events. Travelers can also create their own trip with the “Any Game…Any Time…Any Place!” program. Through its partnerships with the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Pro Football Hall of Fame, and AAA Clubs throughout the US and Canada, Sports Travel and Tours creates one of a kind, unique trips. For more information, please visit www.sportstravelandtours.com/cca

CELEBRATE THE 4th of JULY WEEKEND WITH THE ONLY FLYING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS

ADDISON, TX— The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) B-29/B-24 Squadron is proud to announce that the world’s only flyable Boeing B-29 Superfortress “FIFI” will be celebrating the 4th of July at Forth Worth’s Meacham Field.  “FIFI” will be conducting flight experiences throughout the weekend, and will be available for tours when not flying.

The CAF B-29/B-24 Squadron will assemble a collection of warbirds and vintage aircraft at Texas Jet (200 Texas Way, Fort Worth) which will be on display from 9am to 5pm on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.  There will be a $5 fee to enter the display area.  Those aircraft that will be open for tours will require an additional donation.

“The ride was really great, from the minute we landed people were asking me was it worth it? heck YES!  I can't say enough good things about the CAF crew their, everyone was very nice to you,” said a recent “FIFI” rider.  Reservations for these ride experiences can be made by visiting the www.rideB29.com.  Prices for flight experiences range from $595 to $1495 dependent upon seat location.

“Commemorative Air Force is unique, we aren’t like other museums,” said CAF President/CEO Stephan Brown. “We start our engines, we fly our airplanes and we get loud, taking history to the public, not waiting for them to come to us. “FIFI”  flying during the 4th of July weekend is an opportunity for the CAF to continue doing what we do best, educating and reminding Americans of the cost of our freedom.”  

The CAF B-29/B-24 Squadron will be hosting the following veterans:
Bob Hilton of Highland Village, TX

Mr. Hilton was assigned to B-29s very early in their development.  Hilton was assigned to the 40th Bomb Group in Pratt, Kansas in 1943, and would serve with the unit until the end of World War II.  The 40th would be the first Bomb Group to be assigned overseas in B-29s.  Hilton served through the deployment of the B-29 from Pratt to India to China to Tinian.  Hilton served as a command pilot in some of the very first missions flown by the B-29 Superfortress.  Today Mr. Hilton is an active member of the Commemorative Air Force’s B-29/B-24 Squadron.

Edgar Vincent of Northern California

Mr. Vincent is coming to Dallas-Fort Worth for the single task of once again flying aboard the B-29.  Vincent flew aboard the B-29 Flak Alley Sally which was based on the island of Tinian.  Vincent flew as Aircraft Commander for 32 missions over Tokyo including an aerial mining mission which lasted nearly twenty hours.  For this mission Vincent (and his crew) was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross.  On another mission Vincent was forced to land his aircraft on Iwo Jima, which was not yet completely in American hands, this was one of the first American aircraft to land on Iwo Jima.

Chester Thomas of Arlington, TX

Mr. Thomas was a bombardier aboard a B-29 mission over the Nippon Oil Refinery on August 15, 1945, the same day that a truce was reached between the United States and the Empire of Japan.  This mission is recognized as the last bombing of World War II.  Today over 60 years later, Thomas will return to his seat during the waning days of World War II.  Thomas was recently assigned to the 331st Bomb Group when the war reached its’ end in August of 1945.  The story of the final mission is chronicled in  Jim Smith and Malcolm McConnell’s The Last Mission: The Secret History of World war II’s Final Battle.
About the CAF’s B-29 Superfortress:

The Boeing B-29 Superfortress is America’s first very heavy bomber entering World War II in 1944 and is best known for missions in August 1945 that led to the end of World War II.  The B-29 would continue on to serve the U.S. Air Force in the Korean Conflict and as a vital part of Strategic Air Command until replaced by jet bombers.  The B-29 was retired from service in the 1960s, many were destroyed.  The CAF begin searching for a B-29 in the 1960s and finally in 1971, located one at the China Lake Navy Proving yard.  After many months of negotiations the CAF was given permission to recover the airframe and fly it to their base in Harlingen, Texas.  There it underwent extensive restoration emerging late in 1974, and christened FIFI and joined the other World War II fighters and bombers to preserve the memories and teach lessons of mankind's greatest war.  For the past 35 years, “FIFI” has toured the nation educating the American public about the sacrifices made by the young men and women who built, serviced, and flew these aircraft during WWII and the Korean Conflict.

About the Commemorative Air Force

Collecting, restoring and flying vintage historical aircraft for more than half a century, the CAF ranks as one of the largest private air forces in the world. The CAF is dedicated to Honoring

American Military Aviation through flight, exhibition and remembrance. A non-profit educational association, the CAF has approximately 8,000 members and a fleet of 156 airplanes distributed throughout the country to 74 units located in 27 states for care and operation. For more information, visit www.commemorativeairforce.org.

Photos via 

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Indy Transponder 29-JUN-2011 1030z

Geneseo Airshow takes off July 8 - The Daily News Online | GENESEO -- There's a reason they call the 1941 Historical Aircraft Group's annual airshow ''The Greatest Show on Turf." Even without a theme this year, the lineup is impressive - from World War I byplanes and rare World War II bombers and fighters to ...

South Shore Air Show set to take off July 15-17  from The Indiana Insider Blog by ammagan | The 12th Annual Gary’s South Shore Air Show will be held July 15-17 at Marquette Park and Beach in Gary, Indiana.  The Friday evening through Sunday event will showcase dozens of military and civilian aircraft in feats of force and finesse flying over Lake Michigan.  Scheduled acts include the US Army Golden Knights, US Navy F-18 Super Hornet, Lima Lima Flight Team, Bill Stein, Team AeroShell, Aerostars, Dave Dacy & Wingwalker Tony Kazian, Viper Airshows, Matt Chapman and headliners, Heavy Metal Jet Team…

F-16C Fighting Falcon crashes during Nevada training  from Latest news updates from RGJ.com | LAS VEGAS (AP) -- A spokesman for Nellis Air Force Base says a military jet fighter has crashed during training near Caliente, Nev…

RAF Waddington hosts emotional decommissioning of one of its oldest planes - This is Lincolnshire | HUNDREDS of people gathered yesterday for the decommission- ing ceremony of a veteran RAF aeroplane, the Nimrod. More than 600 RAF personnel, ex-servicemen and families witnessed the emotional event at RAF Waddington, as the air force said farewell to ...

NASA Sets Launch Date For Final Space Shuttle Mission  from Space Shuttle and International Space Station News  | Space shuttle Atlantis' Commander Chris Ferguson and his three crewmates are scheduled to begin a 12-day mission to the International Space Station with a launch at 11:26 a.m. EDT on July 8, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida…

Countdown: 10 Amazing Space Shuttle Photos  from SPACE.com | NASA's reusable spaceship has had countless photogenic moments over the years…

Arlington Fly-In offers teen scholarship for aspiring pilots – HeraldNet | The deadline for essays to earn an Arlington Fly-In scholarship toward learning to fly are due Friday. By Gale Fiege, Herald Writer ARLINGTON -- The deadline is Friday, but it's not too late to apply for a scholarship to learn how to fly an airplane. ...

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Hundreds gather for Honor Flight reunion - Quad City Times | Honor Flight takes WWII veterans on free one-day journeys to Washington, DC, where they see the memorial dedicated to their service as well as other sights in the nation's capital. Flights are by charter aircraft, departing from and returning to the ...

The P-64 Screams!  from Moose Peterson Aviation Photography | The company that brought us the P-51, North American, made the P-64 as an export fighter. Many think of this as the export fighter version AT-6 Texan. Since North American made them both, it’s easy to understand why with the similarity in the airframes. The history of this plane is somewhat cloudy with 7 reported sold to Peru and a flight headed for Siam but never making it there. Six were delivered to the USAAF but never saw service…

New Bern F-11 jet slated to be set on pedestal - ENC Today | New Bern's F-11 Blue Angels jet goes for its last ride early tomorrow morning, when it is scheduled to be hoisted atop a pedestal in Lawson Creek Park. The jet, which has been a New Bern landmark on Dr. ML King Jr. Boulevard since the 1970s, ...

Naval Air Station Ft. Lauderdale Museum  from Travel for Aircraft | This museum, the NAS Fort Lauderdale Museum, is under renovation but anticipates opening late in the year. I was lucky and invited to visit while the work to have the facility made ready for the public to visit was occurring — it is great to see how things get done, is it not?...

Episode 153 – Sun ‘N Fun Radio  from Airplane Geeks Podcast by thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com (Airplane Geeks)  Dave Shallbetter from Sun ‘N Fun Radio talks to the Geeks about the annual “spring celebration of flight” in Florida. They stream great aviation content year-round at LiveATC.net. You can follow Dave on Twitter as @snfRadioDave….

Halibut SSGN587  from The Unwanted Blog | An illustration showing the innards of the Halibut guided missile launching sub of the 1950′s. It uses both line drawings and photos of  scale models to illustrate the scructure of the sub and the storage systems for the Regulas I and Regulas II cruise missiles. Subs like the Halibut would quickly be rendered obsolete with the successful development of the Polaris sea launched ballistic missile, which required far fewer monkeymotions to launch…
 

Indy Transponder 29-JUN-2011 0300z

Royal Saudi Hawks landed in Zeltweg - Austrian Wings | At the premiere the next one AIRPOWER11 hunts. The first took place already: The Royal Saudi Hawks by the Saudi Arabian air force continued on Monday for the first time on Austrian soil. Austrian Wings will of course also reported extensively from this year Zeltweg. ...

Living the dream: A half a century ago, the Canadair Sabre inspired a ... - Montreal Gazette | Solo performers bracketed the formation aerobatics with breathtaking head-on aerobatics, the first team in he world to do so. Originally created to perform for only one year, the team proved so popular its life was extended for another four seasons. ...

Less than a month… from Leaving Terra Firma | There is now less than a month until Airventure 2011. I just bought my tickets and campsite for a Sunday arrival and I’m officially excited. My unofficial goal this year is to be significantly closer than we were last year. While it was really quiet and there was ...

Fantasy of Flight Announces Florida Resident Buy One/Get One Free Admission - Focus on Travel News | ... "The Great Escape: Heroes Underground," Oct. 14-15. In addition, the 5th Annual Roar n" Soar All American signature two-day extravaganza of the world's finest classic land, sea and air racing machines ever built returns Nov. 12-13.

Win a flight in a P-51 from General Aviation News | In partnership with Stallion 51 Corporation, Angel Flight Southeast is offering one lucky person the experience of a lifetime — a one-hour orientation flight in the World War II fighter, the P-51 Mustang “Crazy Horse.” For $20, entrants can put their name in the hat to win a half-day program at Stallion 51’s headquarters in Kissimmee, Fla. ...
   
Restored B-17 will fly into Lincoln - Lincoln Journal Star | A restored B-17 Flying Fortress bomber will visit Lincoln July 12 and 13 for ground tours and flights. (Courtesy photo) A restored B-17 Flying Fortress bomber will visit Lincoln July 12 and 13 for ground tours and flights. ...

Tuskegee Airmen authors fly in - Lagniappe | The Tuskegee Airmen were perhaps the most famous group of WWII pilots the state ever produced and the only African-American flyers in that war. Their battles on the ground were no match for their record in the sky, reputed to have never ...

The Tuskegee Airmen from Roger-Wilco | By Joseph Caver, Jerome Ennels, Daniel Haulman | Publisher: NewSouth Books | ISBN: 978-1-58838-244-3 | With the passage of time ever new generations of aviation professionals and enthusiast step on the stage and they can be excused if some of the previously well  ...

100 Black Men of America Honors Young Pilot from www.myfoxatlanta.com | Brandon Curlee is a cadet lieutenant colonel, a certified life guard and a pilot. And what makes his accomplishments so amazing is he's just 17 years old and a product of a mentoring program designed to shape the leaders of tomorrow. Brandon Curlee and 100 Black Men of America vice chairman of operations Curley Dossman spoke about the mentoring program.

Royal pilot 'nervous, but very excited'  - Toronto Sun | He's been a flying instructor, a Snowbird pilot, and has a long, distinguished career with the Canadian Armed Forces.

reblog: retro-tech from x planes | ... “An extremely colourful Colonial poster, depicting a British Hurricane fighter flying unfeasibly low and out of proportion to the African street that it is ‘guarding’. ...

Spitfire pulled from Irish peat bog - Yahoo! News | A Second World War RAF Spitfire has been excavated from an Irish peat bog almost 70 years after it crash-landed.  Six machine guns and about 1,000 rounds of ammunition were also discovered by archaeologists searching the Inishowen Peninsula in Co Donegal. ...

Dieselpunk — A great blog for airship enthusiasts from Airships: A Hindenburg and Zeppelin History Site | One of my favorite blogs is Dieselpunk, which celebrates the aesthetics and iconography of the Machine Age.  Dieselpunk often features images of the classic aircraft of the period, including airships and flying boats, and I thought readers of Airships.net might be interested in paying them a visit. ...

Dramatic Night Photos of Warbirds in the Boneyard from AviationChatter.com | After perusing my friend Hunter Luisi’s portfolio, I came across some brilliant aviation photos. You can clearly make out the nose of a B-29 Bomber. There are some fighters that might be F-4′s, but it’s hard to tell. I can’t positively identify the other aircraft. ...

Video: Turkey's First Near Space Balloon Flight from High Power Rocketry | "StratosphereFairEnogh is about launching a weather balloon project.On 3rd of June 2011, i wanted to be ...

Special Presentation By Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield from Aviation.ca News | The Alberta Aviation Museum and Edmonton Aviation Heritage Society working with The Canadian Space Agency, Edmonton Celebrates and CFB Edmonton Garrison are pleased to announce a special presentation being made by Canada's most well known astronaut Chris Hadfield.

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American Students Win Transatlantic Rocket Challenge at The 2011 Paris Air Show from Spaceports | Student rocketeers from France, the United Kingdom and the United States competed last Friday (June 24) in the Fourth Annual Transatlantic Rocketry Challenge held at the 2011 Paris Air Show.