Thursday, January 31, 2013

Indy Transponder 31-JAN-2013 2300z

Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame announces Class of 2013 from General Aviation News by Janice Wood | KALAMAZOO, Mich. — The Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2013 enshrinees: Capt. Robert D. Gibb, Fighter Pilot and World War II Ace (1922-1953): Gibb was born in Detroit and grew up in Lansing. He joined the U.S. Army Air Forces in January 1942, and was commissioned and awarded his wings in October 1942. He was an original member of the 342nd Fighter Squadron, 348th Fighter Group—the only P-47 squadron in the 5th Air Force, Southwest Pacific Theater. He flew 135 combat missions and shot down five Japanese aircraft. Gibb was discharged in October 1945, having been awarded three Distinguished Flying Crosses and three Air Medals....

Plane crazy: Meet the all-female wing walking team - Yahoo! News UK | She said: "I've always loved dancing and wing walking is like dancing in the sky, but it wasn't until I was 24 that I first joined." Now a wing walker for seven years, she lives with her pilot boyfriend Richard, 35 in Cirencester. Sarah explained how...

Brantford air show set to return - Brantford Expositor | The Canadian Forces Skyhawks parachute team opened the 2010 Brantford Rotary Air Show. Problems with the airport apron have grounded the show since then, but recent repairs indicate the show will be revived in 2013. - CHRISTOPHER SMITH, The ...

FIFI Fixed, Flying Again from EAA - The Experimental Aircraft Association | FIFI, the Commemorative Air Force's (CAF) Boeing B-29 Superfortress, flew for the first time in three months on January 13 following extensive repairs to its No. 2 engine.

FedEx Express Donates Boeing 727 to SUN 'n FUN to Support Polk County Aviation Education Programs - Sun n Fun |  SUN ’n FUN CAMPUS, LAKELAND, FL. – On Friday, February 1, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. a, Boeing 727-200F aircraft operated byFedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) will complete its final flight as it lands at the Lakeland Linder Airport. With the FedEx logo strikingly displayed on the airplane, it will taxi to the SUN 'n FUN campus where it will begin its use as an interactive aviation classroom for all students in Polk County. SUN 'n FUN CEO and President, John R. "Lites" Leenhouts, accepting the gift, commented that, "It is truly an honor for SUN ’n FUN to be recognized by the aviation industry giant FedEx as a credible air and space education center promoting the growth of aviation careers around the world. Their...

Timeless Voices - Leland Shanle from eaavideo.org - most recent | Leland Shanle joined the U.S. Navy in 1981 and served as a Naval Aviator from 1984 to 1998. He flew the EA-6B Prowler aboard the USS Midway, USS America and USS Lincoln, including 80 missions over Bosnia, Somalia, and Iraq.

Restoration project on remote national park brings together military, community from Air Force Link Top Stories | Air Force reservists both active and retired from the 482nd Civil Engineer Squadron
here gathered at Dry Tortugas National Park in Fort Jefferson Jan. 15, to participate in a maintenance project for the National Park Service.

Boeing B-47 + 1914 Curtiss Pusher… that’s gotta be... from You like airplanes, too? by marvinsmith

Another stunning video of a B-1 bomber night launch from Nellis Air Force Base during Red Flag from David Cenciotti's weblog | Here’s another impressive video of a B-1 Lancer’s night departure during Red Flag 13-2 currently underway at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Taken from a different point of observation...

Fallen pilot's family issues statement from Air Force Link Top Stories | The following statement is released on behalf of the Gruenther family with their permission: "It is with great sadness that we announce that the body Capt. Lucas Gruenther was found in the Adriatic Sea this afternoon. A compassionate husband, a loving son, and a devoted brother; Luc leaves behind a family who loves him dearly and a legacy of achievement. We will never fully recover from our loss, but take heart in the knowledge that during his all-too-short time in this world, he made a significant difference in the lives of all whom he met....

Indy Transponder 31-JAN-2013 1445z

Golden Knights First Demonstration of the Year from US Army Golden Knights by Brian Karst | During the annual training in Homestead Florida the new team members learn what it means to become a professional demonstrator and the work that goes into it. Over the weekend both the Black and Gold Demonstration Teams showed where all that hard work goes by jumping into the Homestead Rodeo. Since the Golden Knights have been coming to Florida for their training they have also been jumping into the rodeo in support of the local community and to give the new members their first look at how to put on a performance....

Congressional Budget Inaction May Kill 'Angels' - U.S. News & World Report | The U.S. Navy Blue Angels aerobatic team flies over the United States Naval Academy Graduation and Commissioning Ceremony in Annapolis, Md., May 22, 2009. Bad news, air show fans: If sequestration goes through, no more Blue Angels in the second...

Congress might shoot down Seafair's Navy Blue Angels - MyNorthwest.com | ... Lewis-McChord in Tacoma and we need your help. BlueAngels.jpg. The Blue Angels have more than 30 events scheduled for the latter half of 2013, including Seafair in Seattle the first weekend in August. Congressional budget inaction could ground them....

Cable Air Show a Wonderful Tribute to Aviation - Inland Valley News | The show kicked off the air show season in California with a robust display of vintage aircraft and flight demonstrations before a capacity crowd. Wilbur Owens was among the air bird enthusiasts who attended this year's show. “It took about 15 or 20 ...

Fairhope Festival of Flight Air Show Returns from Alabama Aviator - Aviation News | FAIRHOPE AL - The Festival of Flight will return to H.L. "Sonny" Callahan Airport this year with the support of the Fairhope City Council.  Monday night the council unanimously approved a resolution that says if the Fairhope Airport Authority is unable to raise enough funds to hold the event through grants, sponsorships or fundraisers then the city will provide in-kind support of up to $50,000, according to reports....

AIRSHOW NEWS: ‘Jupiter’ Enters Air Tattoo orbit from Flightline UK - UK Airshow News by Flightline UK | By Jove! Organisers of the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in the Cotswolds have just been told how the Colombian Air Force intends to trump its historic and colourful participation at last summer’s airshow.  The South American country says it is planning to send one of its latest – and largest – military aircraft, a KC-767 ‘Jupiter’ tanker/transporter, to the Air Tattoo on July 20-21. The aircraft will come from 811 Transport Squadron based in the country’s capital, Bogota....

2013 B-roll from Disabled American Veterans Airshow Outreach B-25 Flight Team | We are almost ready to announce our 2013 schedule! In the mean time, please take a look at our new 2013 B-roll:  Special thanks to Sleeping Dog Productions, Inc. for creating this amazing video for us!

Our veterans should be remembered every day - Highline Times | The B-24 with its counterpart warhorse of the air the B-17 made history known as The Flying Fortress. Thoughts of the pending dangerous reality hit Allen the night before his first mission. “I didn't sleep well thinking about the safety of our crew ...

Incidents duringWWII proof of aircrew loyalty - St. George Daily Spectrum | The four-engine B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators that carried America's World War II offensive against Nazi-occupied Europe and the enemy homeland itself from 1942 to war's end in 1945 ordinarily carried crews of 9 or 10 men. These volunteers...

WWII veteran collects, restores, and sells artifacts - ABC7Chicago.com | Now he collects to buy, fix up, and sell. "It comes out of garages, old plants that used to manufacture parts for airplanes, the junkyards out west in Arizona," Lau said. The most unusual item at On Final Approach is a B-17 Flying Fortress mint ...

1944 Dornier Do 335: A Really Big Push/Pull Speedster From WWII (+ Video) from AirPigz by Martt | The recent AirPigz National Air and Space Museum MeetUp was more than just a great time with historic aircraft and great avgeek friends, it was also a good time for me to develop a new obsession: the World War II German Dornier Do 335. This rather large (about 20,000 pound max takeoff weight) and very fast single seat aircraft is one that I honestly knew pretty much nothing about. It has slipped thru the cracks of my avgeek upbringing somehow, but now it has found its very own room in my mind and I am quite happy about that....

In the hot seat of a MiG-15 from AOPA Pilot Blog: Reporting Points by Alyssa Miller | Built in the 1940s, the Russian UTI MiG-15 trainer is a stick-and-rudder turbojet designed to train pilots for combat. This week, I’m learning the peculiarities of the way this early fighter flies with Larry Salganek, Jet Warbird Training Center owner and instructor, and FAA designated examiner based at Santa Fe Municipal Airport in New Mexico....

Air museum worth visit - Saukvalley | Claude Crenshaw, is "the belle of the ball" at the newly revived Chanute Air Museum in Rantoul, said curator Mark Hanson. The elegant and deadly 1945 model's restoration will be finished soon after years of work. Some minor paint work will have to wait ...

Fleet and Waco INF at the Juranich Hangar from Antique Airfield News | Numerous things are happening at Bob and Bill Juranich's hangar at the Auburn, WA airport. The Fleet is being lettered with the Kinner Airplanes & Engines logo as the Fleet was used as a test ship by the Kinner factory early in its life....

F-111 Photos from Articles | The F-111 was a medium-range interdiction and tactical strike aircraft that also filled the roles of strategic bomber, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare in...

“Mythbusters’” Duct Tape BeLite Rewind… from UCAP Blog by Dave Higdon | ...“Many of you missed seeing James and the Belite perform in the MythBusters Duct Tape plane — now’s your chance to catch the rewind!...

Aviano launches several F-16s to join search operation as parachute is recovered in the Adriatic Sea from David Cenciotti's weblog | In order to provide further assistance to the rescue operation that is already underway in the Adriatic Sea, the 31st Fighter Wing has tasked and launched several of its F-16 aircraft in the last couple of days to find the pilot missing since Jan. 28....

With F-35 Delays, Air Force Turns to Older Jet Planes from Warplanes Online Community by yna | The production of F-35 Lightning II has encountered another setback. The fuel tank of the JSF was found to be problematic, casting another gloom to the most controversial and expensive defense program of Pentagon....

Air Museum goes to moon with NASA exhibit - Hometownlife.com | The Yankee Air Museum, known for its collection of artifacts dating back to World War I, is going to the moon without leaving the earth. For the first time ever, the museum is hosting a traveling exhibit of space artifacts, kicking it off with a NASA ...

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Indy Transponder 30-JAN-2013 1745z

Planes of Fame to host flying event Saturday - Inland Valley Daily Bulletin | CHINO - The Planes of Fame Air Museum will host its monthly Living History Flying Day on Saturday. The topic is "Jets of the Korean War," featuring the North American F-86 Sabre. The featured speaker is retired Navy Capt. Royce Williams, an F9F Panther...

Planes of Fame - Jets of the Korean War

Planes to howl at Cromwell - Southland Times | Southern Lakes Learn to Fly owner and operator Ivan Krippner, twice our national aerobatic champion and six-time national title holder, said the day would be a chance to talk with pilots, see them in action and those wanting to test their stomachs ...

Aviation Day 2013 from Airplanes Channel: Aircraft, Pilots, Heritage, Photos, Video, Events, News by Editor | Chapter 99 of the Experimental Aircraft Association, based in Vero Beach, Florida, invites aviation enthusiasts to join them on Saturday March 2, 2013, for a bit of ‘Airplane Time’. This family-oriented community event will...

Valkaria Air Fest 2013 from Airplanes Channel: Aircraft, Pilots, Heritage, Photos, Video, Events, News by Editor | With general admission starting at 8am the Valkaria Air Fest has a program jam-packed with action on April 20, 2013. In addition to viewing two air shows, visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy rides on a variety of aircraft...

Tour, ride Wings of Freedom WWII planes at Boca airport - Sun-Sentinel | The planes are a Consolidated B-24 Liberator, a North American P-51 Mustang and Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. Stovroff, a bombardier captured by the Nazis and held as a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft for 13 months, expects at least another 25 fliers to ...

Events Bring Aviation History To Life from AVwebFlash Current Issue | It's a busy time of year for aviation enthusiasts -- coming up in the next few weeks are the debut of a new 3-D version of the 1986 film Top Gun in Imax theaters around the country, a tour of classic Confederate Air Force warbirds in the Southwest, a symposium at Fantasy of Flight in Florida featuring five of the original Tuskegee Airmen, and a...

'Senior Wish' sends veteran to WW II Museum - Sun-Sentinel | Shamis grins when asked about his deployment, especially his experiences flying the B-17. As he clenches his National WW II Museum Charter Member dog tags, Shamis talks with excitement about the museum, which is located in New Orleans; just a few...

Kenyon W. Park - SalemNews.net | A U.S. Air Force veteran, Mr. Park was stationed in Mississippi and Texas Air Bases where he served during World War II as an engineer on a B-29 Bomber and the Korean War as a captain and pilot of B-17 and B-24's and retired from the Air Force Reserve.

Joseph 'Oly Joe' Yakawich, 88 - Montana Standard | In 1942, he became a U.S. Marine, serving with distinction throughout most of the war as a gunner and radioman on B-25 Mitchell bombers in the Pacific Theater. Joseph met and married his wonderful wife, Jeanne, in Butte in 1947, where they would spend ...

Memphis Belle Gets a Facelift - Flying Magazine | A new look has been bestowed upon the Memphis Belle (The Movie), the B-17 Flying Fortress used as the platform for the 1990 movie Memphis Belle, a fictionalized depiction of the airplane's final mission. The B-17 is still in service and is operated by...

Afternoon walkaround with the other Pogo — Lockheed’s XFV-1 from Travel for Aircraft by joseph_may | Lockheed’s attempt at VTOL flight with an interceptor or fighter aircraft was the XFV-1, a contemporary of the Convair Pogo. Unlike the Pogo the XFV-1 did not land or take off vertically though transitions from level flight to hover were accomplished. Flying [...]

Dream of making World War II era plane fly in Oklahoma unites aviation fans - NewsOK.com | The World War II era A-26 was acquired by the Sierra Hotel Group of the Commemorative Air Force in Arkansas in 1999. It was brought to Wiley Post for a few years before being moved to the Guthrie airport. The vintage aircraft has become a magnet of ...

Is the Mysterious B-25 Still in the Monongahela River? - Patch.com | In the 57 years since a B-25 Mitchell bomber ditched in the Monongahela River near Homestead, its fate has been a tale filled with mystery, suspicion and intrigue.

TV crews heading to film French airman programme at Yorkshire Air Museum - The Press, York | TV CREWS will be at the Yorkshire Air Museum near York this week to film the north of England version of a programme looking at the life of French airman Rene Mouchotte. Former BBC newsreader Jan Leeming will join the museum's director Ian Reed for ...

Dream Chaser seeks to become reality from Spaceports | Sierra Nevada's Dream Chaser is one of three programs seeded by NASA for commercial crew transport to Space Station. Now in early testing...

Museum to pay tribute to Columbia's Husband - Amarillo.com | The Texas Air & Space Museum in Amarillo on Friday will commemorate the life of space shuttle Columbia Commander Rick Husband, who died alongside his astronaut crew Feb. 1, 2003. The museum at 10001 America Drive will highlight a shuttle training ...


Indy Transponder 29-JAN-2013 2345z

2013 Luke Open House Air Show - Fighter Country Partnership | USAF Thunderbirds. Join us on March 16 & 17, 2013 for “Storm on the Horizon,” Luke's biennial Open House and Air Show hosted by Luke Air Force Base and the 56th Fighter Wing. The event is open to the public and admission is free! Headlining Luke's ...

Idaho Aviation Expo set for May from General Aviation News by Janice Wood | The Idaho Aviation Expo, formerly known as Trade Show Aviation Idaho, will be held May 17-18, 2013 at Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA). In its third year, the expo will feature new and vintage aircraft, maintenance and avionics, clubs and associations, workshops and speakers, and all other things aviation related in Aero Mark’s 30,000-square-f00t hangar...

CoolPix: 1970's Reno Biplane Racer Sorceress At The Udvar-Hazy Center from AirPigz by Martt | I returned from the AirPigz NASM MeetUp about noon today after driving back from the Washington DC area... what a fabulous adventure it was meeting up with 15 other avgeeks at the National Air and Space Museum facilities!...

Air show contract under review - Wetaskiwin Times Advertiser | “(The motion) strictly deals with them advising the air show society that we'd like to review the agreement, but I would like to have a meeting with council, so that we can sit down and have any discussion around our concerns about the agreement, if...

Stunt pilot in viral video not authorized to perform aerobatics, could have ... - The Republic | DALLAS — A North Texas stunt pilot shown steering his biplane perilously close to people on the ground was not authorized to perform the maneuver and could have his license revoked, the Federal Aviation Administration says. Video of the incident...

Commemorative Air Force Announces CAF AirPower History Tour - DigitalJournal.com | Historic aircraft from the Commemorative Air Force joining FIFI at different tour stops include the B-17 Flying Fortress Sentimental Journey, B-25 Mitchell Maid in the Shade, P-51 Mustang Man O War, C-45 Expeditor Bucket of Bolts in addition to other ...

Secret World War II Air Route Rediscovered - Virtual-Strategy Magazine | Joining Geer on the 2013 and 2014 flights will be Alan Anders, Director of Maintenance and Operations at the Heritage Flight Museum, Bellingham, Wash. “I've chosen Alan to lead our flight operations during these two missions due to his extensive...

Learn about African American history at National Museum of the U.S. Air Force from National Museum of the USAF Top Stories | As Black History Month approaches, visitors to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force can view exhibits and check out online resources to learn more about African Americans who served in the Air Force and its predecessor organizations....

NORAD jets ready to protect Super Bowl skies from Air Force Link Top Stories | Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region fighter jets, along with interagency partners, have been busy well before Super Bowl Sunday preparing to protect the skies around the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans....

The Harrier - the UK's glorious heritage, only in America from Flight Image of the Day by Dominic Perry | Spotted this little gem on the US Marine Corps photo site. It shows a...

Antonov An-225: The World’s Largest Airplane from Airplanes Channel: Aircraft, Pilots, Heritage, Photos, Video, Events, News by Editor | As lightweight composite materials and advanced aviation technology enable larger aircraft to take to the skies, it’s interesting to note that the largest airplane in the history of aviation, measured by maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) is Ukraine’s Antonov An-225 Mriya. Designed in the 1980s by...

Fear of Flying from Flight To Success by Karlene Petitt | ...We all fear the unknown....

Grumman F-14 Tomcat’s first flight (and first crash) video from David Cenciotti's weblog | Several years since it was eventually retired from the U.S. Navy, the Grumman F-14 Tomcat remains one of the most loved planes by aviation enthusiasts. Any article about the iconic fighter plane, still operating with the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, its story, capabilities, records and surrounding anecdotes, always become a much debated and commented post on The Aviationist...

Dubai Airport Nearly Refused To Hang This Photo Of Female Co-Pilots from You Fly, Girl by Cathy Gale | ...Famous Berlin-based photographer Kiki Kausch has installed her triptych, titled "A380 Female Cockpit," at the JFK Business Class lounge.  The three images capture two normal Lufthansa pilots, Fleur and Karin, at work in their office, which just happens to be the cockpit of one of the airline's A380 superjumbos en route from Frankfurt to Singapore (LH 778). The ...

Purdue team selected as semi-finalists for sUAS design competition sponsored by DHS from sUAS News by Press | Congratulations to Dr. John Sullivan and the fall 2012 AAE 590 Design Build Test class. The team of twenty undergraduate students designed and proposed a Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) to the BORDERS SUAS design competition. The team’s proposal has...

Iran Reportedly Launches Monkey Into Space from Aero-News Network | Animal Reportedly Recovered Alive Following Sub-Orbital Flight The Islamic Republic of Iran says it has taken another step towards becoming a space-faring nation by launching a monkey into space and recovering the animal alive after a sub-orbital flight...

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Indy Transponder 29-JAN-2013 0245z

SUN ’n FUN begins gearing up for this year’s show from General Aviation News by Janice Wood | The SUN ‘n FUN Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers are deep in the planning stages for the 39th Annual SUN ‘n FUN International Fly-In & Expo being held April 9-14.  As an anticipated 200,000 visitors convene throughout the week on 2,200 acres dedicated to the event, the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport will become the busiest airport in the world. The SUN ‘n FUN Fly-In is Florida’s largest convention and independent studies have recently identified it as having a $64 million economic impact on the area...

Buckeye Air Fair slated for Feb. 23 from General Aviation News by Janice Wood | The Buckeye Air Fair 2013 is slated for Feb. 23 at Buckeye Municipal Airport (BXK) in Arizona. Admission and parking is free for the show, which runs from 9 am to 3 pm.  More than 70 vendors will be at the show. There also will be vintage and modern aircraft on display, a classic car and motorcycle show, flying displays and rides for kids of all ages. There will also be science and technology exhibits with educational presentations and career discussions by colleges, universities and aviation professionals....

Granville woman to be inducted into aviation hall of fame - Glens Falls Post-Star | Silitch, 77, will be traveling to the 24th annual conference of Women In Aviation, International and will be inducted into the WAI's International Pioneer Hall of Fame. Her husband, Nicholas, will travel with her to the conference, scheduled for March...

A B-29 flies again after donors back 'Fifi' - AOPA Pilot | The last flying B-29 Superfortress is back in the air, thanks to a six-figure response to an urgent plea for donations from the Commemorative Air Force in November, after Fifi blew an engine in October. The CAF announced Jan. 24 that Fifi is back in...

From Pima Air and Space Museum - FB Page, please visit and "like"

From Antique Airfield News

Area residents invited to French sister city celebration - Crestview News Bulletin | CRESTVIEW — Europe's last operational B-17 "Flying Fortress" will roar over the beaches of Noirmoutier, Crestview's sister city, as the island community pays homage to a similar bomber's crew members who crash-landed there in July 1943. A contingent...

F-35 durability testing overview from The DEW Line by Dave Majumdar | This brief produced by Lockheed Martin and the F-35 Joint Program Office highlights the trial and error process of the jet's durability testing. A lot of the problems identified are particular to the US Marine Corps' F-35B, which is perhaps not unexpected. But the other versions have some issues too...

“Give me the wings, magician. So their tune Mix with the... from x planes

Even Lindbergh Got Lost - Air & Space | In the 1920’s, only one man held the key to aerial navigation. | In the year following his historic transatlantic flight to Paris, Charles Lindbergh, flying again in the Spirit of St. Louis, lost his way somewhere between Havana, Cuba, and the southwest coast of Florida. It happened in the middle of the night, and it alarmed Lindbergh enough that years later he recalled the incident in his memoir...

Monday, January 28, 2013

Indy Transponder 28-JAN-2013 1645z

Top aerial display teams for Lima - Malay Mail | The organisers have also invited the Red Arrows from the Royal Air Force and the Blue Angles from the United States Navy. In the line-up at the static display at the Mashuri International Exhibition Centre will be a total of 75 aircraft, including ...

Ilopango Air Show 2013 from Aviation News - Airplane-Pictures.net

Airshow names board president, director - The Salinas Californian | The California International Airshow has announced Steve Naslund as incoming Board President and Ken Smith as Director of Ground Operations. Naslund has been a volunteer at the Airshow since 1985 and was named Director of Ground Operations in ...

A Veteran's Story: Mock learned to fly B25 in World War II - Mansfield News Journal | Then, without any preparation, he was sent to learn how to fly the Army's newest bomber, the B-25. “I was in the first class of men training to fly that bomber. When I first went on board I was overwhelmed by all the instruments,” he remembered. “But ...

WHS Alumni from WWII: Where were they in '45? - Woburn Daily Times | William Irwin was a radio gunner on a B-25 in the Army Air Corps. James H. White was in the Navy in the Construction Battallion, stationed in Rhode Island. There were many other Wilmington alumni who served in the war. The list presented information ...

“US Freedom Pavilion” opens at WWII Museum - Post South | A highlight of the Pavilion is a B-17, largest of several aircraft hanging from the ceiling, which was donated by the Boeing Company along with $1 million dollars. Total cost of the Pavilion was $35 million dollars all of which was donated by citizens ...

MiG 21 UFM walkaround from Travel for Aircraft by joseph_may | Built by Mikoyan-Gurevich for Poland’s Air Force in 1976 this MiG 21 UFM now sits as a prime exhibit for the Armed Forces Military Museum in Largo FL. This major league museum (use its name in the search window to find other posts, including the[...]

Connie from Apron 6 | As promised a last couple of pictures for the Constellation album. Again focussing on the people rather than the plane. I will upload the entire album on aviationphotography.be soon. I had popped the question on a previous blogpost if I should keep that website. On facebook I got some reactions that I should definitely keep[...]

The Only Amphibious Gyroplane In The U.S. from Aero-News Network  | It Might Look A Bit Odd, But Builder Says It's A Good Flying Machine The gyroplane community here in the United States is mostly familiar with the float flying that Sport Copter depicts in their information video. Few have ever seen a gyroplane on floats in real life. In fact, if you research float flying with gyroplanes, you’ll be advised not to do it due to fears about HTL PPO, yaw-roll coupling, landing flare issues, to name just a few.

Learn to Fly Day Attracts Future Aviators and Aerospace Industry Workers from The Aero Experience - Celebrating Midwest Aviation by Carmelo Turdo | Day two of the Midwest Aviation Conference and Trade Show was "Learn to Fly Day," sponsored by the Greater St. Louis Flight Instructors Association. The event is designed to attract the next generation of aviators and aerospace industry workers, and judging by the attendance today, it was a great success. Families and students...

NASA Long-Duration Antarctic Balloon Breaks Flight-Time Record from Aero-News Network | Longest Flight For A Balloon Its Size Flying high over Antarctica, a NASA long duration balloon has broken the record for longest flight by a balloon of its size. The record-breaking balloon, carrying the Super Trans-Iron Galactic Element Recorder (Super-TIGER) experiment, has been afloat for 46 days and is on its third orbit around the South Pole.

Indy Transponder 28-JAN-2013 0100z

Sky's the limit at Air Show - 3News NZ | Kiwi stuntman Chuck Berry was back at the New Zealand International Air Show today after a bit of a rough landing yesterday. Despite his dare devil jumps, he insists safety is paramount. Not content with a regular parachute, Berry has developed a stunt ...

Auckland Anniversary Day gift to the people of Auckland - Scoop.co.nz | ... including the world-renowned Yves “Jetman” Rossy, daredevil duo Rex and Melissa Pemberton, the skydive superstar Squirrel Wingsuit Team, Kiwi stuntman Chuck Berry, as well as high-octane air racing and an appearance from the RNZAF Red Checkers ...

Jetman thrills at International Airshow - MSN NZ News | The New Zealand International Air Show has been thrilling Kiwis showcasing world class flight displays at North Shore Airfield this Anniversary Weekend. The famous "Jetman” Yves Rossy, making his first visit to New Zealand, was the star attraction...

2013 Ilopango Air Show kicks off in El Salvador - Global Times | US pilot Bill Leaf performs during the "2013 Ilopango Air Show", at the Ilopango air base in the city of San Salvador, capital of El Salvador, on Jan. 26, 2013. The show was held to raise funds for the National Children's Hospital Benjamin Bloom ...

Travolta hosts Living Legends of Aviation ceremony - Ocala | Ford presented the Harrison Ford Aviation Legacy Award to Greg Anderson, founder of the Young Eagles program and CEO of Wings Over the Rockies. James Albaugh was inducted into the Living Legends of Aviation and received the Lifetime Aviation...

AirPigz NASM MeetUp Day 2! (Downtown Washington DC - 5 Pix) from AirPigz by Martt | Day two of the AirPigz National Air and Space Museum MeetUp was absolutely fabulous! We car-pooled to a METRO train station and then rode into downtown DC to experience the incredible collection of historic aircraft. Everyone had a great time... from the youngest at 9 years of age to the oldest at 78. It was a perfect day of great airplanes and great people!...

Air Zoo to offer Open Cockpits in February from General Aviation News by Janice Wood | KALAMAZOO, Mich. — ‘Look but don’t touch’ is usually the mantra of museums, but not at the Air Zoo. During the whole month of February, visitors will be able to experience aircraft from a different point of view—the cockpit....

When ya gotta go... from Vintage Wings of Canada by Dave | ...From take-off to landing, at times for as long as ten hours, the tail gunner was constantly rotating the turret, scanning the surrounding blackness, quarter by quarter, for the grey shadow that could instantly become an attacking enemy night fighter. The rear gunner stowed his parachute in the fuselage behind his turret. Any...

Midwest Aviation Conference & Trade Show Features Experts, Exhibitors from The Aero Experience - Celebrating Midwest Aviation by Carmelo Turdo | The Midwest Aviation Conference &Trade Show (MACTS) opened today at the Maryland Heights Centre in St. Louis County. The Super Safety Seminar, held concurrently with the Flight Instructor Revalidation Clinic, featured the FAA's Al Gorthy, aviation safety expert Cathe Fish, pilot/Missouri Congressman Sam Graves and Sara Newton from the FAA Medical Division. During breaks between presentations, many of the the several hundred attendees visited...

[Video] Nellis Air Force Base’s Red Flag: B-1 Lancers’ night departure from David Cenciotti's weblog | Currently deployed at Nellis Air Force Base to take part in Red Flag 13-2 are five B-1B Lancer bombers, belonging to the 28th Bomb Squadron of the 7th Bomb Wing, from Dyess AFB, Texas.

Day 53 - January 26, 2012 from TeenFlight! by TeenFlight Crew | After six hours of work on the landing gear service bulletin for the TeenFlight 1 airplane, we got the gear back on and all the bolts torqued down.

Burt Rutan: The Race for Space from Spaceports | Aerospace entrepreneur, Virgin Galactic spacecraft designer, and founder of aerospace research firm Scaled Composites, Burt Rutan is a bold visionary with a passion for the advancement of technology....

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Indy Transponder 27-JAN-2013 0030z

World-class coach takes to skies with Blue Angels - Imperial Valley Press | Starrett, a world-renowned athlete and coach, took to the skies with Blue Angels No. 7 pilot Lt. Ryan Chamberlain as part of the Blue Angels Key Influencer rider program. The program allows a flight to select individuals because of their presence and ...

This Husky is a Thunderbird - Pueblo Chieftain | Riley, 31, is a captain with the U.S. Air Force who just completed a two year stint flying at air shows with the Thunderbirds, that prestigious group of pilots who perform gravity-defying stunts the world over. His love of flying was born in his native...

Auckland air show off to flying start - 3News NZ | Auckland has a new anniversary weekend event, with the first New Zealand International Air Show being held over three days at the North Shore Aerodrome. Stunt couple Melissa and Rex Pemberton opened the show with a small-scale version of their wing ...

Stuntman allows parachute fail for ultimate display - New Zealand Herald | Berry is back up today, along with Swiss "Jetman" Yves Rossy, vintage and model aircraft displays, and aerobatic performers including 28-year-old blonde bombshell Melissa Pemberton, who flies with her husband Rex. The day ends with competitive air ...

Diversity on display this Australia Day - The Australian | Free events were being held across the city at Federation Square, Docklands, the Sidney Myer Music Bowl and the Kings Domain Gardens, where the Royal Australian Air Force Roulettes performed an aerobatic display. Melbourne will cap off its Australia ...

WWII vet to fly one more time - Cape Coral Daily Breeze | The B-24J Liberator, along with the vintage Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, which served as heavy bombers, and a North American P-51 Mustang, which flew escort on their missions, will be part of a unique display at Page Field from Monday to Wednesday of ...

The Goodyear Trophy, 1947 - IPMS | The years between 1929 and 1939 were hailed as ”The Golden Age of Air Racing” - an era of invention and adventure, when innovative individuals could build an airplane and compete in air races all around the US. However, already towards the end of the 1930s it was realized that air racing had become too expensive and too technically advanced for most home-builders. In 1940 the US Professional Racing Pilots’ Association (PRPA) took an...

Flying is a family thing - Kansas City Star | He would take to the skies easily, and became part of the air racing circuit — the NASCAR of his day. On one cross-country dash, the wheel of his plane broke when it hit a gopher hole in a field in Utah. He jury-rigged a replacement out of found...

Spitfire nursed back to life after 11 year restoration (With Video) from The Kathryn Report | An expert team of technicians from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight restored the rare 'low back' MkXVI Spitfire to flying order at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire....

Alouette III auctioned at Artcurial from Passion for aviation by Xavier Cotton | I have previously announced auction aeronautical will be held Sunday February 17 11H and 14H in Artucurial (exposure - 7 roundabout Champs Elysées 75008 Paris) On this occasion an Alouette III (lot 470) of the Irish Air Corps is exposed in the courtyard Marcel Dassault for Friday, January 18. Here is the complete catalog of sale (527 lots)...

[Video] China’s brand new military airlifter makes first flight from David Cenciotti's weblog | Coded 20001, China’s large military transport aircraft designed Y-20 made its first flight from Yanliang flight test center on Jan. 26....

January 2013 Young Eagles Report - EAA Chapter 242 | Fog was threatening on January 12th but cleared in time for distant pilots to make it in and we had a productive morning. Twenty three kids and several adult (Eagles) had a wonderful airport and flight experience. Thanks to the everyone who helped us at this event to launch 2013 Young Eagles....

de Havilland DH.95 Flamingo from Planeshots

Man VS Machine from Apron 6 | Another two pictures from the Connie. Two pictures in which man and machine blend in each other. During the two days I really wanted to photograph the people who worked on the Connie as it’s not often you get the opportunity to photograph an iconic plane with the mechanics working on it. And after all, [...]

Pilot Hit By New Year's Gunfire from AVwebFlash Current Issue | A Florida pilot has uploaded a YouTube video detailing how he was hit by a bullet while flying with his girlfriend over Jacksonville on New Year's Eve. Graham hill was apparently grazed by what may have been celebratory gunfire as he flew a rented Cessna 172 over the city to view the midnight fireworks display. "I heard a loud pop," he said. He didn't immediately realize he'd been hit. After checking to make sure his girlfriend was OK, he said he scanned the cockpit for anything that had been shattered and just as he noticed the hole in the pilot side window he felt blood running down his neck...

SkyCar going into production in 2014 from Spaceports | Moller International is now apparently $80 million closer to putting the SkyCar into production with the financial backing of Athena Technologies, LLC of Harbor City California. The goal of the newly formed JV is to establish co-production for its aircraft in the US and the People's Republic of China....

CoolPix: Space Shuttle Discovery Up Close At The Udvar-Hazy Center from AirPigz by Martt | The first day of the AirPigz National Air and Space Museum MeetUp was agreat success! 13 people in all
gathered today at the Udvar-Hazy Center to enjoy a fabulous collection of great aircraft. It was a great start to three days of avgeekery and friendship that should see several more people join the event as we move into Washington DC to tour the legacy NASM facility on the National Mall tomorrow. It's sure to be another fantastic day!...

Russia Advancing 2015 Moon Lander, China to Land Moon Surface Rover in Late 2013 from Spaceports | Russia's Federal Space Agency Roscosmos plans to launch automatic interplanetary station "Luna-Glob" in 2015 from the new Vostochny spaceport. According to the head of the Federal Space Agency, Vladimir Popovkin, "Luna-Glob" will become the first spacecraft to be launched from the spaceport in the Amur region of eastern Russia. The station will also become Russia's first lunar probe of the 21st century....

10 Billion Miles From Home - Air & Space |  More than 35 years into their mission, our farthest-flung spacecraft are not finished yet.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Indy Transponder 26-JAN-2013 0200z

Remembering aviation great Fred Cabanas - By Alyssa J. Miller | ...A phenomenal pilot with a proven safety record, Cabanas performed airshows internationally in the Pitts Special S-2C; Hawker Sea Fury; North American T-28, T-6, and P-51 Mustang; Waco; and J-3 Cub. He also competed in the Reno Air Races multiple years, winning Rookie of the Year in 2005. His ability as an accomplished pilot in different types of aircraft preceded him on the airshow circuit....

B-29 Flies Again but Big Questions Remains - Flying Magazine | Despite the roughly $100,000 price tag of the repair, the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) was able to raise the money for the job. On Saturday Fifi returned to the skies above its home in Midland, Texas, where it made a successful maintenance hop ...

Tazewell Air Show returning in 2013 - WVVA TV | CHARLESTON (WVVA) - One of the area's favorite local events is back on after being canceled in 2012. Plans are now underway for the 2013 Tazewell County Air Show. The event is scheduled for Aug. 17 at the Tazewell County Airport...

60 Years of EAA: What Lies Ahead? (2013 and Beyond) from EAA - The Experimental Aircraft Association | The creation and growth of EAA is a true success story in many dimensions, from its humble beginnings, to the annual event in Oshkosh that is its crown jewel, to the worldwide influence the association has had in aviation.

Aeroflot Ilyushin Il-76 from Flight Image of the Day by Dominic Perry | Another from the fine pages of our AirSpace gallery, this picture of an Aeroflot Ilyushin Il-76 comes from the camera of regular contributor flyvertosset.

The Doolittle Raiders Celebrate 71st Anniversary Reunion - Equities.com | The Doolittle Raiders return to Fort Walton Beach, Florida April 17th-20th to celebrate their 71st Anniversary Reunion and homecoming to Eglin Air Force Base (AFB), where the planning for the bombing of Japan first began. Of the original 80 Raiders...

Col. George "Bud" Day featured on magazine cover - KTIV | And now he's on the cover of a magazine! Check out the March issue of Smithsonian Air & Space. That's the legendary Col. George "Bud" Day standing in front of an F-100, the Vietnam-era fighter jet that used to be flown by Sioux City's Air National ...

Classic video of Bob Hoover flying the F-86 Sabre from A mile of runway will take you anywhere. by Steve | If you know anything about aviation, you know about Bob Hoover. He's the ultimate aviator, to say the least. You'd be hard-pressed to find a smoother performance in an F-86 than this one from 1961 at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. This was posted years ago but I just ran across it today and thought I should share.

From Antique Airfield:

Seattle Pilot To Speak At Santa Monica Museum Of Flying Saturday - Santa Monica Mirror | The “Chicago” is housed at the National Air & Space Museum in Washington, D.C., the “New Orleans” is stored in the Museum of Flying hangar on the north side of the airport awaiting conservation. Dempster will tell the story of the first world flight ...

Above and Beyond: Nuke the Pilot from Air & Space Magazine | During the five months that I spent in Operation Redwing, which tested second-generation thermonuclear bombs over the Pacific proving grounds, I flew a Republic F-84F into seven nuclear explosions to measure the effects of the heat and the shock wave on aircraft. My flight into the Mohawk explosion on July 3 was nearly my last....

Air Force Week in Photos from Air Force Link Top Stories | This week's photos feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.  View the slideshow.

Reserve F-22 pilot flies son's letter to fallen Soldier father - DVIDS | Lt. Col. Brian Baldwin, a Reserve F-22 pilot assigned to the 302nd Fighter Squadron, takes off from Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson Alaska, Jan. 24. Tucked into his flight suit is a letter written by 9-year old MacAidan “Mac” Gallegos to his father Sgt ...

Photographer captures six F-22 Raptor fighter jets trailing three tankers over the Mediterranean Sea from David Cenciotti's weblog | They might be invisible to radars but they can do nothing against human eye. This is what the following images prove.  Taken by Gian Luca Onnis, a (lucky) photographer and aviation enthusiast, on Jan. 25, they show a flight of six F-22 Raptors trailing two KC-135 and a KC-10 tankers overflying Sardinia island, Italy, on their way back to the U.S....

Friday, January 25, 2013

LiveAirShowTV Profiles Matt Chapman

PFLUGERVILLE, TX JANUARY 25, 2013 – Who’s that guy flying the bright yellow plane that looks like it’s got paint splotches all over it? Well it’s Matt Chapman, flying the Embry-Riddle Eagle 580. We spent some time with Matt at the El Paso Amigo Airsho and he talks about what inspired him to get into aerobatics and the path he took to become a full-time air show pilot. “I had spoken with Matt a few times before at air shows, but this was the first time we had a chance to interview him on camera to get his full story”, said Jeff Lee LiveAirShowTV President. “Matt not only takes pride in honoring those who came before him, but is always looking for ways to inspire the next generation of aviators.”

Matt is sponsored by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University which is proudly displayed on the side of his airplane. He was a member of the U.S. Aerobatic Team and has placed as high as 3rd at the World Aerobatic Championships. He left the competition world behind and has focused on entertaining crowds with his aerobatic routines.

Matt is also part of a new formation team called “The 4ce” along with Bill Stein, Rob Holland and Jack Knutson. Watch for them during the 2013 season.

Watch the Matt Chapman video HERE.

LiveAirShowTV continues to bring more stories and air show performances to the fans during the air show off-season in North America. In production now are stories on U.S. Aerobatic Champion Rob Holland, the U.S. Coast Guard’s MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from last year’s Baltimore 1812 event, the National Aviation Heritage Invitational winner Duncan Cameron’s OY-1, and much more. Like us on our Facebook page, and follow us on Twitter. We have postings there daily as we continue to bring you the Inside Story on air shows and aviation!

Indy Transponder 24-JAN-2013 1315z

It's all go for airshow - Auckland stuff.co.nz | RACE ON: New Zealand aerobatic pilots Wayne Ormrod, left, and Grant Benns will take on Australians and an American in a head to head aerobatic race at the New Zealand International Air Show this weekend.

What's New at Sebring 2013 from EAA - The Experimental Aircraft Association | The ninth annual Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring, Florida, that ended January 20 was a bit like paradise to northern aviators escaping zero and sub-zero temperatures back home.

Red Arrows to move to Cranwell during runway maintenance at Scampton - This is Lincolnshire | The Red Arrows are to temporarily relocate to RAF College Cranwell to enable essential maintenance work on the runway at RAF Scampton. They arrive at Cranwell on Tuesday, January 29, with training flying starting on Thursday, January 31. Most of the ...

Wayne Boggs Stars in Own TV Series- AIR BOSS from Alabama Aviator - Aviation News | Recently awarded the International Council of Air Shows' prestigious Sword of Excellence, Wayne Boggs prepares for his 2013 air show season ready to star in his own TV series.   'Air Boss' will not only tell the stories of air show performers in a way only the producers of The Aviators can, but Wayne will help viewers unlock the secrets of this exclusive world so we can present air shows like you've never seen them before....

Organizers prep for Doolittle Raiders reunion The Northwest Florida Daily News | There will be a flyover April 19 on Okaloosa Island that organizers hope will include a B-25, the plane the Raiders flew, as well as other aircraft from fleets at Hurlburt Field and Eglin, Corcoran said. Gen. Mark Anthony Welsh III, chief of staff of ...

Hangar 3, Fleming Field from CAF Red Tail Squadron's Blog | On a recent frigid Wednesday afternoon (well, OK - two days ago...), Mike and I dropped in at the CAF Minnesota Wing's wonderful 1940's era Quonset-style hangar at Fleming Field in South St. Paul, Minnesota. I had a wonderful time taking pictures of the work going on and Mike enjoyed getting acquainted with the airplanes and meeting some of the people who give their time to keeping the Wing's wonderful group of vintage airplanes flying.

CoolPix: Hughes H-1 Racer (AirPigz NASM MeetUp Starts Tomorrow!) from AirPigz by Martt | The third AirPigz MeetUp starts tomorrow, Friday January 25, and this year we’re meeting up at the
National Air and Space Museum! The first two MeetUp’s took place in late January (2011 and 2012) at the Air Force Museum in Dayton Ohio, but I’m currently en route via car to the Washington DC area so I can gather with 15 or more avgeeks on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the two NASM facilities....

Mr. Arango’s Aeroplanes - Air & Space | A World War I aircraft enthusiast’s collection tracks the evolution of the species.

GoPro HD Movie: Timika Bush Flying by Matt Dearden | It took me nearly a week to upload this video from here in Timika, Papua thanks to numerous power-cuts and internet blackouts but finally here's the first of what I hope will be many videos showing the flying we do out here in the mountains of Papua:

Podcast: A Confederate Helicopter from AVWeb Podcast - Podcast | As part of its commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War, the National Air and Space Museum has posted drawings from its collection of a Civil War-era helicopter design. AVweb's Mary Grady talks with museum technician Tom Paone for more about the story.

Video: Pardo's Push - McDonnell F4 Phantom from AVwebFlash Current Issue | "Pardo's push" of March 10, 1967 was preceded by a similar event. In 1952, fighter ace Robbie Risner pushed fellow flyer Joe Logan 60 miles. The two men were flying F-86 Sabre jets and successfully cleared hostile territory, but Logan bailed out over water, was tangled in his canopy lines, and drowned. Risner was deemed a hero, but by Pardo's account, pilots were not encouraged to partake in similar activities.

RAF Typhoon FGR4s arrive to train with 1st FW F-22 Raptors from The DEW Line by Dave Majumdar | A squadron of British Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4s has arrived at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, in preparation for their participation in Exercise Western Zephyr. Before the exercise begins, the Royal Air Force's XI Squadron will work on integrating with the 1st Fighter Wing's (FW) Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptors, based locally at Langley....

Fleming’s model Hustler from Travel for Aircraft by joseph_may | Fleming’s model Hustler Ft. Worth Meacham International Airport has two cases on display of aircraft models made by master Charles Fleming — and presented in this post are images of his Convair B-58 Hustler.


WAI Atlantic Aviators Chapter Closing in on its Goal from WAI Connect Blog by Amy Laboda | The nonprofit Atlantic Aviators — the Southeastern Massachusetts Chapter of Women in Aviation, International — is determined to make an aviation-themed playground at the New Bedford Regional Airport a reality.

Captain Luis Adelshon from Flight To Success | Friday's Fabulous Flyer

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Nick Spark / Jessica Cox RIGHTFOOTED Documentary Important Update!

                            
                                           A DOCUMENTARY FILM ABOUT JESSICA COX
Our project is fiscally sponsored by the International
Documentary Association (IDA)
Donations made in
support of the film
are tax deductible
On February 11th, we'll be launching a new fundraising campaign on the website Indiegogo.  Indiegogo is a partner of the IDA.
we'll
We'll be sending a reminder on February 11th about the new campaign, and hope that you'll share it and our exciting new video trailer with your family and friends.
2012 RECAP & EXCITING NEW OPPORTUNITIES IN 2013
Posted 01/22/13
Greetings from Nick Spark, director and producer of "Rightfooted".  For those of you who don't know about my new project, it's a documentary about a truly amazing and inspirational woman named Jessica Cox who, although born without arms, earned her pilot's license.  She now works around the world to educate, motivate, and change things for the alternately-abled.
 
Thanks to all of those who helped us in 2012 -- without your support this film simply would not be possible that's for sure.
 
2012 was an incredibly eventful and surprising year for Jessica and our production.  But before I recap that, I want to let you know that the first few months of 2013 will be critical for us!  Breaking news, Jessica has had an amazing opportunity drop into her lap.  In April, she's been invited to travel to Ethiopia under the auspices of Handicap International -- an affiliate of the Nobel Prize winning NGO.  Jessica will be working with alternately-abled children and trying to help re-shape perceptions in the society-at-large — a society where disabled children have few prospects and rarely receive an education.  This trip represents a new new level of action for Jessica, and could be the heart of our film.  In order to make the trip possible and to film it, we'll be launching a fundraising campaign on crowdsourcing site Indiegogo starting February 11th.  The link (not active until Feb. 11th) will be:
 
 
Please make a note of it on your calendars and share with friends when it goes live.  Part of the campaign includes a wonderful new video about Jessica that we know you'll want to share with friends.
 
 
Now, 2012 was a busy and rewarding time for our filmmaking team, and a wonderful year for Jessica.  Not only did she tie the knot with fiancĂ© Patrick in May, but in November she received a Susan G. Komen Inspiration Award.  Wow!
 
 
 
Inspiring Journeys in 2012
Posted 01/18/13
Keeping up with Jessica Cox isn’t easy!  Not only did she tie the knot with fiancĂ© Patrick in May, but in November she received a Susan G. Komen Inspiration Award (see photo above).  Detailing these events I'll leave for the film.  What I do want to share with you, as an example of what we documented this year, is a trip we took to America's heartland.
 
It was in fact a trip to Iowa.  In a small rural town, we filmed Jessica’s visit with a family whose 4-year-old daughter Grace was born (like Jessica) without arms.  For Grace, who had been watching videos of Jessica on Youtube since she was two, Jessica’s appearance in her house was nothing short of a miracle.  The two bonded quickly as you can imagine, and Gracie proudly showed off her new friend to her assembled brothers, sisters and cousin.  But while Jessica’s visit was clearly important to Grace, it was her quiet, confident counseling of parents Greg and Patricia that really made the trip worthwhile.  “What I am seeing is that Gracie is fine,” Jessica told us.  “But her parents needed to see and hear directly from me that despite having no arms, she can do anything she wants and she really doesn’t have many limits compared to any other four-year-old.  She has a bright future and I think they just need to be reassured about that.”    As part of the visit Jessica visited Grace's school, where she gave a presentation to the entire student body.   It was obvious from the reception -- the students gave Jessica their undivided attention which for elementary students is a real achievement -- that she made an impression.  I imagine the visit will pay dividends in their future lives, and certainly affect their treatment of fellow student Gracie.
 
Photos: Jessica first meets Gracie (l), and spends some personal time with her (r).
 
We coordinated our visit to Iowa with a special event in nearby Kansas City called “Challenge Air”.  Founded by former fighter pilot Rick Amber, who lost the use of his legs in an aviation accident on the USS Hancock, Challenge Air’s mission is to allow children with physical and other challenges and to see the world from a different perspective – from above.  Jessica joined a fantastic group of volunteer pilots who took dozens of children flying.  One of them was Grace, who had the distinction of going up in a twin-engine airplane piloted by Austen Plain with Jessica in the co-pilot’s seat.   We had no idea how Grace would react to going up in an airplane for the first time.  Would all the noise and the sight of the ground dropping away frighten her, or heaven forbid would she panic or get airsick?  As it turned out, none of the above:  Grace seemed to love her time in the air, and once back down on terra firma headed off to the computer flight simulator table.  Following Jessica’s lead, she took the stick in her feet and started flying.
 

This is just a short preview of one part of our film, but I think it gives insight into the project’s purpose and course.  Jessica is making a difference all the time, sometimes with just one individual, sometimes with groups of people, and we’re grateful to be there documenting her efforts.  In the coming weeks we’re going to make an important announcement about a major opportunity both for Jessica and the film, and I hope you’ll be able to help spread the word and make it possible for us to continue what so far, has been a wonderful journey. 
 
Thanks again for all your encouragement, support, and for helping spread the word.  — Nick Spark

Nick Spark Productions LLC | 8911 Gibson Street | Los Angeles, CA 90034