Indy Transponder 08-OCT-2011 1630z

Fleet Week: Celebrating 30 Years in the Air [PHOTOS] - International Business Times | Fleet Week, the annual event celebrating military sea services, roars through San Francisco Friday, beginning with a Blue Angels air show at 1 pm Celebrations are likely to be spectacular. The Week not only celebrates three decades ...

Photos: Jim McIntyre Flies With The US Air Force Thunderbirds by Erin Fox  WDOK Radio | Today our own Jim McIntyre had the once in a lifetime experience of flying in an F-16 plane with Captain Kristin Hubbard of the US Air Force Thunderbirds.

Performers showcase planes during AIRSHO - Odessa American | MIDLAND Partly cloudy skies and windy conditions might have stalled the start of the AIRSHO's opening performance Friday but it didn't stop pilots from giving spectators a good, heart-stopping show. The Commemorative Air Force began ...

C-130J transport aircraft, woman sky divers at IAF show - The Hindu | Missing in action was the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team, which has been grounded for the time being to provide training to IAF's rookie pilots in absence of basic trainer aircraft. Making its debut, the six-member woman sky-diving team jumped from an ...

Surya Kirans to fly again with Hawk aircraft: ACM Browne - IBNLive.com | Hindon (Ghaziabad), Oct 8 (PTI) The disbanded nine aircraft Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) of the Indian Air Force will once again take to the skies in another three years with British Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers (AJTs). ...

EAA'S B-17 ALUMINUM OVERCAST LANDS IN LAS VEGAS OCTOBER 11-12 - EAA News | EAA's B-17 TourEAA continues to offer historic flight experiences in its beautifully restored B-17G Flying Fortress Aluminum Overcast with a tour stop in Las Vegas, Nevada, October 11-12 at North Las Vegas Airport (VGT), hosted by EAA Chapter 163. Pre-book a flight aboard this iconic World War II bomber and relive the experience those brave young men had more than 60 years ago. Once airborne, passengers have the opportunity to walk around and explore the B-17's various sections, including the bomb bay, radio room, tail, and waist gunner. Self-guided ground tours are also available daily from 2-5 p.m. and cost $5 per adult, $15 per family. Active military or veterans receive free ground tour admission. While you save money when you pre-book a flight, walk-ups are always welcome. For more information, or to pre-book a flight,....

Old-fashioned air race charts a course over multiple nearby counties - Your Houston News | The Cleveland Air Race Revival is set for Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, from 8 am to noon at the Cleveland Municipal Airport. The 150-mile race will officially start at Lake Water Wheel in Shepherd with six turn points over Liberty, Hardin, Jasper, Tyler, ...

Cleveland Air Race in Texas (Houston) on 10-15-11 from VAF Forums by Bob Axsom | On October 15, 2011 the race in the Houston, Texas area of the US will be flown over the following course:...

From AAFO: More photos from Reno 2011, A Small Reno Pics Offering, LAST SPORT RACE 2011, HEAD TO HEAD FINISH!

Gene Littlefield, Longtime Air Show Star, Passes Away - EAA News | Gene Littlefield, who flew a wing-walking act with his wife for nearly 20 years at Oshkosh and was also a stalwart for air show performer safety, died on Saturday, October 1, at his home in Wilmington, Illinois. He was 81.  Littlefield (EAA 61641) was an EAA and IAC member since 1975. He was best known for the Gene Littlefield Air Shows performances in his Stearman 450 biplane, which included wing-walking by his wife, Cheryl. He began flying in the air shows at Oshkosh in the early 1980s and continued impressing air show fans at the EAA fly-in through the mid-1990s. ...

TIMELESS VOICES: SCALEVENTURE WWII VETERANS PANEL - EAA | On Saturday October 1, 2011, the EAA AirVenture Museum hosted a special moderated panel discussion featuring seven WWII veterans. Held in conjunction with the inaugural ScaleVenture model contest at the museum, the panel allowed modelers to interact with some of the veterans who flew in the very machines their scale models depicted. Participating in the panel were: Vic Bast, a P-47 pilot assigned to the 61st Fighter Squadron of the 56th Fighter Group; Bill Hartshorn, a second P-47 pilot who also flew with the 61st Fighter Squadron; John Roseberg, a B-24 tailgunner assigned to the 526th Bomb Squadron of the 392nd Bomb Group; Bill Meier, who was a B-17 bombardier with the 413th Bomb Squadron of the 96th Bomb Group; Chet Gardeski, a B-17 flight engineer assigned to the 422nd Bomb Squadron of the 305th Bomb Group; Bill Bergner, who served as a B-17 radar operator with the 327th Bomb Squadron of the 92nd Bomb Group; and John Gibbons, who was a B-17 pilot with the 350th Bomb Squadron of the 100th Bomb Group. All seven men flew their missions out of England while serving in the Eighth Air Force. They shared some of their childhood aviation memories with the audience, as well as stories of combat while overseas. Watch the video

 Shooting Star: Book focuses new attention on Flint school teacher who disappeared during historic flight - Flint Journal The Flint Journal | The story of a former Flint school teacher who became the first woman to attempt to reach Hawaii by air is getting new exposure in a book written by her nephew. "Shooting Star," the story of Mildred Doran, is available at amazon.com and from author Richard DuRose of Hendersonville, N.C. It details the life of Doran, one of...

His past was diverse, but he looks forward - Reading Eagle | ... He was a member of the Black Hawk B-17 crew, mentioned many times in the book "The Cold Blue Sky," written by fellow crew member and gunner Jack Novey. Eisenhower was on the second B-17 plane to finish 25 missions at a time when an average crew lasted only seven missions, he said. ...

Model Beginning: ScaleVenture Holds First Oshkosh Event - EAA News | EAA’s first “ScaleVenture” exhibit and competition was held last weekend, drawing 64 competitors and 283 model entries at the Founders’ Wing inside the EAA AirVenture Museum. The inaugural event featured a room full of models and attendees as hundreds of people came out to see the detailed replications of aircraft, automobiles, ships, and armored vehicles. Winners were named in 30 categories, plus 20 other special awards were presented, including Joe Simon for Best of Show for his “IJN Kongo Battleship” model....

Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II from I n f o r m a t i o n 2 S h a r e | The A-10 was designed around the GAU-8 Avenger, a heavy rotary cannon which forms the aircraft’s primary armament (and is, to date, the heaviest rotary cannon ever mounted on an aircraft). The aircraft’s hull incorporates over 1,200 pounds (540 kg) of armor and was designed with survivability as a priority, with protective measures in place which enable the aircraft to continue flying even after taking significant damage.  The A-10′s official name comes from...

Look: Giant Spy Blimp Dwarfs an 18-Wheeler from Wired: Danger Room | That teeny-weeny, toy-looking thing to the left? An 18-wheeler truck. The giant egg to the right? The biggest spy drone anyone has ever made.  The optionally manned airship — known by the cumbersome code name of “Blue Devil Block 2” — was first inflated with air in early September. Last week, at a hangar in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, the blimp was filled with helium, and began to float.  By the middle of next year, the Air Force hopes, the airship will be...

Indy Transponder 29-SEP-2011 0145z

Your high-flying guide to the air show - SignOnSanDiego.com | Thanks to its super-loud jets, daredevil pilots and no-cost admission, the MCAS Miramar Air Show has long been a favorite San Diego event, drawing more than 700000 people over three days. And this year, Miramar returns the love, honoring San Diego with ...

MCAS Miramar AirShow - Official Website

188th Fighter Wing ready for Fort Smith Air Show - Houston Chronicle | The Fort Smith Air Show is set for this weekend, with the Air Force's Thunderbirds as the top attraction. The show will be at Fort Smith Regional Airport on Saturday and Sunday. Gates open at 8:30 am The show starts at 9 am ...

Corkey Fornof at Silver Wings Fraternity Convention (Alabama) - LadiesLoveTaildraggers | Silver Wings Fraternity is a fraternal and charitable membership organization founded in 1958 by aviation pioneers. Its membership consists of pilots who soloed more than 25 years ago, younger pilots, and others with a genuine interest in aviation, who endeavor to provide educational opportunities in aviation to young people, and who seek  ...

106th Rescue Wing Airmen Participate in South African Air Show - ReadMedia | Thirty Air National Guard members from the 106th Rescue Wing here are in South Africa this week to represent the United States at the Airshow and Life Style Expo at Air Force Base ...

Air show could draw 50000 to Rome - Rome News Tribune | A former US Air Force Thunderbirds pilot and native Roman is one of the partners planning to bring an air show to Floyd County next fall. Rob Skelton told the Floyd County Commission on Tuesday that JLC Airshow Management ...

Sion airshow: warbirds, aerobatic display teams and the usual MMRCA contenders by David Cenciotti | The Eurofighter Typhoon and the Dassault Rafale combat planes haven’t missed a chance to display their capabilities during the last year. Aero India 2011, Le Bourget, Royal International Air Tattoo, Operation Odyssey Dawn/Unified Protector are only some of the public events or operations that saw the two fighter planes virtually dogfighting in a marketing campaign marked by a series of breathtaking air displays and many interesting press releases and war stories.  In fact, as almost everybody know by now, the French Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon were shortlisted  ...

Top global companies to attend airshow - Gulf Daily News | HIS Majesty's Personal Representative and chairman of the supreme committee organising Bahrain International Airshow 2012 Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa headed a meeting at Al Sakhir Airbase to discuss preparations for the event from January 10 to ...

Cody Stark: Taking a ride in a flying museum - Huntsville Item | The Texas Raiders, a B-17 World War II bomber, made a stop at the Bruce Brothers Regional Airport. Tabbed as a “Flying Fortress,” Texas Raiders is truly a historical treasure. I had the privilege to join three World War II veterans and several other ...

F7F Tigercat “La Patrona” from Moose Peterson Aviation Photography | Looking factory fresh, it is quite stunning! When I first heard that Rod Lewis was painting his F7F Tigercat silver, I have to be honest, I scratched my head wondering if I’d like it. All the Tigercats you see out there (only 6 are airworthy) and  ...

British Air Racing Championship decided at Alderney Air Races - International Finance Centre | The British Air Racing Champion for 2011 was decided on the 24th and 25th September, when the last in a series of eight races staged around Britain, took place in Alderney. The event, sponsored by Aurigny Air Services and the States of Alderney ...

Trailblazer, Activist Wins Prestigious Aviation Award - Marketwire | Named after aviation pioneer Elsie MacGill, the award was established in 2009 to recognize and honour outstanding Canadian women in aviation and aerospace. Past award recipients include the Transportation Safety Board of Canada's Kathy Fox, ...

The Future of Flight Foundation presents: 'It's All About the Future ... - Mukilteo Beacon | The first topic will be “Women in Aviation” held on Wednesday, Oct. 12, at the Future of Flight Aviation Center, 8415 Paine Field Blvd. in Mukilteo. The speaker selected to discuss “Women in Aviation” is Captain Heather Ross, 787 ZA004 Chief Pilot for ...

Scale model show and WWII veterans panel at the AirVenture ... by ZackBaughman | Just a reminder, the inaugural "EAA ScaleVenture" model contest and show is this weekend, Saturday October 1 at the EAA AirVenture Museum! This is your opportunity to ...

The Flightline from Winging It by Tom | If you can get The Flightline TV show in your area, I highly recommend watching it. Hosts Mark DeJoy and Paul Jackson do a great job of presenting a wide variety of aviation stories. The show is based in Minnesota and has a heavy midwest emphasis but will still appeal to aviation enthusiasts everywhere.

Greg Hildebrandt's "Russian Ta Get Ya" nose cone pinup painting - part 2 of 2 - YouTube | In March 2011, Greg Hildebrandt began painting this fabulous PINUP on a real 1944 B25 bomber. This commission was a real joy for Greg. He loves painting on WWII planes. Russian Ta Get Ya is Greg's third WWII war bird. She is #63 in his American Beauties series. The finished painting on the nose cone of the B25 bomber took about a week to paint. ...

Stearman Biplane PT-17 “Kaydet” from I Love Planes by Rafael | I love the juxtaposition of this old WWII Stearman biplane trainer and the pilot on his cell phone. There’s  ...

Video: todaysdocument: Around the World by Airplane At 1:28 p.m. on... from Planeshots | ... At 1:28 p.m. on September 28, 1924, two planes landing in Seattle made history. The ...

Green Flight Challenge – Day One from CAFE Foundation Blog | Sunday, September 25 marked the kickoff of the Green Flight Challenge sponsored by Google, a NASA Centennial Challenge managed by the CAFE Foundation, with a thorough technical inspection for each entrant, followed by a weigh-in.  Held at the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport, the event is an event of international importance, despite the small turnout. ...

Republic XF-12 Rainbow with posed with some friends for scale from Planeshots

Green Flight Challenge Down To Three Teams from AVwebFlash Current Issue | By Wednesday, only three of the original 13 contenders were still in the running for the $1.65 million NASA prize purse in the Green Flight Challenge. The event, which is ongoing in Santa Rosa, Calif., through the weekend, has eliminated all the contenders except PhoEnix, Pipistrel-USA and e-Genius. All three met a ...

JSSI® “Fly a P-51” Sweepstakes Winner to be Announced at NBAA 2011 - AMTOnline.com | Launched in July at EAA's AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the sweepstakes allows qualified participants to submit an entry each day until the sweepstakes closes. The grand prize winner will be announced at the JSSI booth (C8920) at 3:30 PDT on ...

UP CLOSE: Young Eagles take flight - Morris Daily Herald | Dozens of young flyers took to the sky Saturday during the Young Eagles Mission. Eight pilots were on hand to provide rides to the kids. The rides ran 8 to 10 minutes long. The Young Eagles Mission is to provide a meaningful flight experience – free of ...

Indy Transponder 17-MAY-2011 0230z

   
Lynchburg gears up for Blue Angels - WSLS | The Blue Angels are headed to town this weekend and to get excited for the show we thought we'd drop by the Lynchburg Airport Port and talk with organizers about the big event. They have plenty of private jets here, but we jumped on the ...

USN Blue Angels 2011 Schedule

Snowbirds set to Grace the Skies over Kingston for RMC Graduation - Kingston This Week | If you miss this presentation, The Snowbirds will say goodbye to Kingston with a noon hour fly by the next day, Friday May 20. 114 jets. The Snowbirds have been performing for over forty years and have entertained opening ceremonies for the Olympic ...

Allard inducted into state Aviation Hall of Fame - Park Rapids Enterprise | Allard has written two books on Minnesota aviation history. He spent nearly 20 years doing research, he said. He wrote a biography of Speed Holman and a book that chronicles Minnesota aviation history from 1857-1945. He interviewed hundreds of pioneers ...

The Liberty Foundation – Warbird Radio LIVE! – Tuesday from WarbirdRadio.com | TUESDAY – The Liberty Foundation’s own Ray Fowler joins us on Warbird Radio LIVE!  Hear the details on their new P-40 and how you can go for a ride.  The Liberty Foundation operates several aircraft including the B-17 “Liberty Belle” and the P-40 seen in the picture above.  Tune in this Tuesday morning at 10am [...]

B-25 Honors Doolittle Raider With Fly-Over At Arlington National Cemetery from WarbirdRadio.com | WARBIRD RADIO – The last living Command Pilot of the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders, Colonel William Bower, was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on May 16th 2011.  B-25 owner / operator Larry Kelley piloted “Panchito” over the ceremony as tribute to Col. Bower and all the Doolittle Raiders.  The video above shows his approach to the [...]

Rockford AirFest 2011 to feature record number of static aircraft - Aledo Times Record | Rockford AirFest 2011 is scheduled to feature 15 military and civilian performers, headlined by the US Navy Blue Angels and including a special performance by the US Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon. Rockford AirFest 2011 is one of only 32 events in ...

Air show soars in Jacksonville - Bizjournals.com | Spectators shake hands with Marines who participated in an air to ground assault demonstration during the air show. Parachutists open the festivities by bringing in Old Glory while a Marine Corps band on the ground plays the National Anthem. ...
    
New River Air Show Closed Early - WCTI12.com | ONSLOW COUNTY -- The New River Sounds of Freedom Air Show was cut short Sunday. The threat of dangerous lightning closed the show 2 hours early to keep the public safe. Still, 5000 to 10000 people visited the show Sunday. ...
   
B-17 grounded in Napa due to poor weather - Record-Searchlight | A fully restored World War II B-17 that was to arrive in Redding today has been delayed due to poor weather. But it's not known when the airplane, which is grounded in Napa, will arrive here. It's arrival is now dependent on ...

NATO Tiger Meet 2011: a real exercise with some interesting “hardware” rather than a gathering of friends from David Cenciotti's weblog | Taking place between May 9 and 20 at Cambrai airbase, in northern France, NATO Tiger Meet (NTM11) has been attended by about 60 planes and helicopters belonging to the Austrian, Czech Republic, German, Hellenic, French, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Turkish, Swiss and Slovak air forces. From a simple meeting of flying units sharing a Tiger (or feline) emblem, the NTM has become a multi-national mid-size exercise offering a two-week program that includes all types of air-to-air and air-to-ground and a wide variety of  ...



Historic WWII planes to visit Hollister - Hollister Free Lance |  A little more than a week before the second Hollister Airshow kicks off, the Hollister Municipal Airport will be the home for three rare World War II airplanes as part of the Collings Foundation Wings of Freedom Tour. ...

Video: Solar Airplane’s Maiden European Flight from Autopia | It took almost 13 hours, but an airplane powered only by the sun has completed the first international flight ever made by solar power, opening a new chapter in electric aviation.  André Borschberg, the CEO and co-founder of Solar Impulse, left Payerne aerodrome in western Switzerland at 8:40 a.m. local time. He touched down in Brussels 12 hours and 59 minutes later. ...

Ocala Palms community donates $7676 for Ocala Honor Flight - Ocala | Lanzara was in the Marines and served as a B-25 gunner in WWII. He said the trip “would be great.” Larsen, also a Marine, joined during WWII at age 17 and said going on the upcoming trip will be a “privilege.” Stewart, an Army Ranger assigned to a ...

Duxford’s New Air Show App Goes Live Today by Flightline UK | Imperial War Museum Duxford has today launched an innovative and exciting Smartphone Application for the 2011 air show season.  The Duxford Air Shows 2011 App is now available for download from the Apple store and Android marketplace.  The App provides a dynamic on-the-day flying schedule for each of the Museum’s famous air shows, which ...

Awesome Aviation Geek Groupon, 51% off EAA Airventure Museum! - The Aspiring Pilot | I'll be hopping in on this deal. Hopefully, along with a visit to 2011 Airventure, I can make two trips out there with the family.  I'll even aim at making the groupon purchased trip via airplane as a daytrip with the kids! (excerpt from my Chicago General Aviation Examiner column (see full article for details on the museumas well))  Are you interested in aviation and looking for a quick day-trip or mini vacation within a few hours drive of Chicago? ...

 The History of Glacier Girl: Part 1 from InFlightUSA | Owned by Rod Lewis this flight of the P-38 Glacier Girl flown by Steve Hinton, and the two F7F Tigercats flown by Stewart Dawson and Rod Lewis, were photographed from the ramp of an Alaska ANG C-130 over Pyramid Lake, Nevada during the Reno National Championship Air Races last September. (Jim Dunn)Editor’s Note: In Flight USA will run the story of Glacier Girl in three parts. This first part is the history of Glacier Girl. In the June issue of In Flight USA, Part 2 will cover The Recovery of Glacier Girl, and finally in the July issue we will cover the Restoration of Glacier Girl. This story leads us to AirVenture, July 25-31, where Glacier Girl will be on display. ...

ENGLAND -- MAY 5th TO 11TH , 2011 from WINGS AND WASP | ENGLAND  --  MAY 5th TO  11TH , 2011 Special edition report by WASP Bee Haydu Our Hosts, THE GREATEST GENERATIONS FOUNDATION,  President Timothy Davis, Alicia Harms, Vice President of Communication and Jon Bunyak, Chief Financial Officer. WASP on the trip, Elaine Harmon, Shirley Kruse, Bee Haydu. From London our first stop was Duxford Air Museum, Cambridgeshire County,  about one hour north ...

'Spy from PEI' Cliff Stewart dies - Charlottetown Guardian | Cliff Stewart poses with a Lysander during an airshow in 2010. Stewart died Saturday in his Sherwood home at age 91. Clifton Elmer Stewart, better known as Cliff, a Canadian spy recruited by the British during the Second World War, died over the ...

Sharjah Museums organises photo exhibition - AME Info | As part of International Museum Day celebrations Al Mahatta Museum chronicles region's aviation history and development. The exhibition, which will run until Saturday 21 May 2011, side-by-side with a variety of related activities, including workshops ...

Book about the Vulcan released ahead of Shoreham Airshow - Shoreham Today | The AVRO Vulcan XH558 is set to return to the 22nd annual Shoreham Airshow on August 21 and 22 this year. All proceeds will go towards helping the last flying Vulcan reach the 2011 display season. A total of £350000 by the end of May is needed to keep ...

By the Dawn's Early Light wins the The Captain Duane Whitney Martin, USAF Award at the 2011 ASAA International Aerospace Art Exhibition from Pete Wenman Aviation Art | I'm delighted and extremely proud to to announce  that "By the Dawn's Early Light" won the Captain Duane Whitney Martin, USAF Award at the 2011 American Society of Aviation Artists International Aerospace Exhibition. The exhibition is currently hanging at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Fl through until 31/08/2011. ...

1959 Martin-Bell Dyna Soar Inboard Profile from The Unwanted Blog | Note that the cockpit of this little spaceplane was designed to be ejected in the event of an emergency. At this stage in the Dyna Soar program, the vehicle had lost its role as a bomber, and had been reduced to an R&D vehicle, thus the “cargo bay” stuffed full of equipment. Boeing’s final Dyna Soar design also had the ...

Martin Wezel Lost in Crash of Green Flight Challenge Aircraft from CAFE Foundation Blog | This weekend, Rec.aviation.soaring reported, “Martin Wezel, well known aerospace engineer who created Flugzeugtechnik Wezel, the German company that builds gliders and microlights under the brands of Apis2, TL, and Viva, died on May 9th,after the crash of his airplane in China.” ...

"A 12 Step Program" UCAP #235 from Uncontrolled Airspace: General Aviation Podcast | Every week the UCAP gang gathers in the virtual hangar to talk about all things GA.

Father, son and daughter deploy to Iraq as Apache pilots from Warplanes Online Community | Having an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter pilot for your dad is pretty cool. Even cooler is being an Apache pilot and having two of your children follow in your footsteps to become pilots, too.  Capt. Dennis McNamara decided to rejoin his former unit, the 8-229 Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, as an Apache pilot when both his son and daughter were deploying to Iraq with the unit.  “Without a doubt, I’m the proudest man on earth,” said Capt. Dennis McNamara, an AH-64 Apache Longbow attack helicopter pilot for the 8th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 229th Aviation Regiment, an Army Reserve unit based out of Fort Knox, Ky. ...

Video:  F15 lands with one wing from Wright Squawks 

More F-35s go into flight testing from Sky Talk | Another milestone for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter was reached Monday with the departure of aircraft CF-2, the second flight test version of the Navy F-35C carrier-based fighter jet. The plane left Fort worth bound for the naval flight test center at Patuxent River, Md. ...

Young Eagles To Soar - Southern Pines Pilot | Young Eagles have to learn to fly, and that's the intent of an event at the Moore County Airport this Saturday, April 21. Any student from age 8-17 can experience the freedom of flight by coming to the airport May 21st from 9:00 am to ...

Kansas Aviation to host “Learn to Fly” day - Wichita Eagle Blogs | Kansas Aviation, a division of Yingling Aviation, will host a “Learn to Fly” day on Saturday for those interested in flight training.  Pilots, flight instructors and aircraft owners will be available to discuss training possibilities, careers and employment in aviation, organizers said.  The event is free and open to the public. It will run from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at 2010 Airport Road at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport. ...

Young Pilots Take Off On Record-breaking Expedition - BERNAMA | KOTA BAHARU, May 15 (Bernama) -- The Young Pilots' Association of Malaysia took off on a record-breaking flight expedition around the country in three fixed wing aircraft from here today. ...

STS-134: Endeavour safely in orbit for packed mission from NASASpaceFlight.com | The 25th and final mission of Endeavour is underway following a visually stunning mid-morning liftoff from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. Endeavour and her six-man international crew are for an orbital mission filled with firsts and unique and inspiring challenges. ...

Two Air Force officers inducted into U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame from AF.mil Photos | Retired Col. Karol Bobko (left) and Lt. Gen. Susan Helms (right) sit among fellow members of the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame May 14, 2011, at Kennedy Space Center, Fla. General Helms is the 14th Air Force commander.

Student Balloon Photographs Shuttle Endeavour's Launch Into Orbit - Space.com

Centennial of Air Mail service salute will honor early aviation pioneers at EAA AirVenture 2011

Aircraft already confirmed include EAA’s 1911 Bleriot XI replica, restored Curtis JN-4 ‘Jenny’

       EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wis. — (Dec. 22, 2010) — Vintage aircraft and attractions, along with special programming, will honor early aviation pioneers through a commemoration of centennial of air mail service during EAA AirVenture 2011. The 59th annual edition of “The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration” will be held July 25-31 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.

       The 100th anniversary commemoration of air mail service will focus on the aircraft and people of the pre-World War II era when air mail pioneers laid many important foundations for modern aviation, including aircraft, routes, and navigation aids.

       At heart of this centennial celebration will be the display located in the Vintage aircraft area. Already confirmed aircraft include EAA’s airworthy Bleriot XI replica, painted to represent Earle Ovington’s airplane that made the first official air mail flights in 1911, as well as a Hisso-powered Curtis JN-4 “Jenny” owned by Ron Alexander (EAA #137890). This new restoration will be painted to represent the airplane that completed the first regularly scheduled air mail service beginning in May 1918 on a route between Washington, D.C., and New York City, with an intermediate stop in Philadelphia.

       Additionally, EAA will have several aircraft from its AirVenture Museum collection on display, including a Pitcairn Mailwing, Swallow, Ford Tri-Motor, Pitcairn Autogiro, and Fairchild FC-2. Alexander has also indicated his Stearman C3B will be present as well. Owners of antique aircraft having a direct link to air mail operations who wish to take part in the festivities can email their interest to vintageaircraft@eaa.org. 

       “One of the earliest practical uses for powered flight in its fledgling years was air mail service,” said Tom Poberezny, EAA and AirVenture chairman. “Air mail service played an integral role in advancing aviation, and this commemoration will recognize the legacy left by those pioneers and the brave souls who were lost along the way.”

       Other activities and features planned around the air mail centennial include an air mail station where children and adults can write letters and have them mailed via vintage biplane, re-enactors dressed as historic air mail pilots, Theater in the Woods programming, movies, museum exhibits, and much more.

       Several top-level attractions and events will also commemorate the Centennial of Naval Aviation  at AirVenture 2011, which has been classified a Tier 1 event by the U.S. Navy for its year-long celebration. Special themed days include “Tribute to Bob Hoover” Day on Tuesday, July 26, Navy Day on Wednesday, July 27, and “Tribute to Burt Rutan” Day on Thursday, July 28.

       Additionally, returning for 2011 will be the Opening Day Concert presented by the Ford Motor Company on Monday, July 25, the widely popular Night Air Show and Fireworks on Saturday, July 30, and the World Symposium on Electric Aircraft, featuring influential industry leaders discussing the emerging era of electric flight, on Friday, July 29.

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

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

Indy Transponder 22-DEC-2010 1130z

Sabreliner Corporation Perryville, MO Facility Rolls Out 3 Centennial of U.S. Naval Aviation Aircraft from The Aero Experience by Carmelo Turdo | Sabreliner Corporation's Perryville, MO facility rolled out three aircraft in special Centennial of U.S. Naval Aviation celebration paint schemes Monday.  The Aero Experience was privileged to attend the presentation of aircraft to Navy Captain (Commodore) John R. Rodriguez, TAW-6 commander, NAS Pensacola, Florida.  We wish to convey our deepest appreciation to the management and staff of Sabreliner Perryville for their gracious accommodation and professionalism during our visit.  We look forward to reporting on future Centennial of U.S. Naval Aviation projects in the near future…

First International Sport Pilot Fly-In from General Aviation News by Dan Johnson | "Too much fun!" was a common exclamation of my Alaska ultralight friend Mike Jacober. His signature phrase ran through my head as 18 airplanes, mostly LSA, arrived at the Freeport, Bahamas, airport for the first International Sport Pilot Fly-in over Dec. 10-12…

Harrison Ford receives aviation's highest award from Aviation Blogs by Av8tor | Aviation bestowed its highest award, the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy, on pilot, actor, humanitarian, and AOPA member Harrison Ford on Dec. 17, exactly 107 years after the Ohio brothers changed history on the sand dunes of North Carolina when their Wright Flyer took off on the world's first ever powered, controlled flight. The trophy is awarded annually to a "living American for significant public service of enduring value to aviation in the United States."…

Sneak peak of "Kids Days" at the EAA AirVenture Museum from eaavideo.org | The EAA AirVenture Museum is hosting Kids Days - a special event for families over the holidays from Dec. 27-31. Activities include everything from making space vehicles to scavenger hunts and more. It's hands-on fun for the entire family!

Future of Allentown's Queen City Airport in question - The Express Times - LehighValleyLive.com
View full sizeExpress-Times File PhotoIn this 2003 file photo, crowds gather for an air show at Queen City Airport in ...

Aircraft No. 13 in the Doolittle raid from Pilots of America Message Board by Let'sgoflying! | For you historians, this is an interesting account of the Doolittle raid on the mainland of Japan in early WW ll. Enjoy! This is a really excellent firsthand account by the pilot of aircraft #13 on the Doolittle Raid off the Hornet in 1942. Take the time and enjoy a bit of history. ~ My name is Edgar McElroy. My friends call me "Mac". I was born and raised in Ennis , Texas the youngest of five children, son of Harry and Jennie McElroy. Folks say that I was the quiet one. We lived at 609 North Dallas Street and attended the Presbyterian Church…

A380 engine explosion cost Qantas $70 Million says AON Insurance from Plane Nation by Braniff | The Qantas Airbus A380 engine explosion that required a Sydney-bound jet to return to Singapore shortly after takeoff on Nov. 4 caused at least $70 million in plane damage, according to a report from insurance company Aon…

Aircraft carriers with no aircraft….. by David Cenciotti | RAF: Harrier Retirement Won't Hurt F-35C Skills | By ANDREW CHUTER | Published: 17 Dec 2010 - One of Britain's senior Royal Air Force commanders has rebutted suggestions that retiring the Harrier GR9 will damage the ability to regenerate skills to operate the new F-35C variant of the Joint Strike Fighter off a new aircraft carrier when it enters service around 2020. "Anybody who thinks that operating a Harrier today was somehow going to link you with the F-35C on the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier is [wrong]. It is just not true," said Air Officer Commanding No. 1 Group Air Vice Marshal Greg Bagwell…

ISS Expedition 26 Holiday Message from Spaceports by jack@jackkennedy.net (JackKennedy) Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! The Expedition 26 crew sends holiday greetings to Earth from the International Space Station…

A rather splendid Moth by shortfinals | At first sight, this might seem to be another of those excellent creatures, a DH 82A Tiger Moth. However, close examination shows that G-ABZB is, in fact, another rara avis, a DH 60G III Moth Major, although the original name issued in the British Civil Aircraft Register was 'D.H. Mark Three Gipsy Moth (Wood)'. Built in 1932, at a time when De Havilland products were dominating the light civil aircraft market, the wooden framework fuselage sheathed in plywood had become a company trademark…