Indy Transponder 18-JUN-2011 0500z

Thunderbirds opposing solos perfect symmetry (it’s also a matter of observer’s point of view) from David Cenciotti's | The following picture, taken by contributor Giovanni Maduli, were not Photoshopped. They show the Thunderbirds opposing solos F-16s performing their famous mirror passes (belly-to-belly calypso pass and inverted one) at Jesolo Air Extreme 2011. From his very unique point of view, slightly different from ...

Denton Airshow Takes Off - NBC Dallas-Fort Worth | But, the airshow came to town, I fell in love with aviation, and I made it a goal of mine to become a pilot," Dover said. Dover now pilots the F-16 Viper West and is part of the single ship demonstration team that travels the nation. ...

Airshow - Internationale Belpmoostage - IBT'11 (Berne, Switzerland) from Swiss Air Force | There are two big Airshows in Switzerland this Weekend - 75 years of Anti Air Defence in Dubendorf near Zurich and the International Airshow on the Airfield of Berne. ...

'Plane Fun' set to take off June 18-19 - FOX Toledo Online | MILLBURY, Ohio - Interest in aviation will take flight Saturday and Sunday at the Plane Fun Fly-In 2011, to be held at the Toledo Executive Airport. The annual event raises funds for the non-profit Experimental ...

Photo Wing Walkers Peggy Krainz Boeing PT-17 Stearman OE-AWW - PlanePictures.net

Losing Its Sizzle? - DefenseNews.com | French "Patrouille de France" Alpha jets perform their display during the 48th international Paris Air Show on June 20, 2009, at Le Bourget airport, near Paris. The show celebrates its centenary this year with historic planes displays. ...

Air show, road race proposed for Fort Lauderdale beach - Broward Politics | A group of promoters want to resurrect the air show next April. They propose a scaled-down version of the annual event that long drew tens of thousands of people to the beach to watch stunt pilots and view fighter jets and bombers. ...

Air Race Classic Preparations from Life on the Road as a Pilot | As usual, an event you've been looking forward to for months just seems to pop up on the horizon before you know it. I've been burying my head in the stack of books studying for my Certificated Flight Instructor rating and in the meantime the Air Race Classic has crept up when I wasn't looking. ...

Indiana State Team Leaves For Air Race Classic - MyWabashValley | The Air Race Classic, a 4 day, 10 stop race that takes place in the skies of America... ISU student Kay Brown flew in last years race... "Last year was a lot of fun. Really stormy last year as well, we had a lot of weather that we had to deal with but ...

50 women pilots to compete in the 35th Annual Air Race Classic - Patch.com | Prior to the race, there will also be festivities Saturday, including free plane rides for kids, BBQ and dance By Hope Nealson | Email the author | 5:49pm Terry Carbonell touches down Wednesday at the Iowa City Muncipal Airport for the first Air Race ...

Organizers, Pilots Preparing for Reno Air Races - KTVN | This year's Reno Air Races are still about three months away, but this week pilots at the Reno-Stead Airport are earning their wings to participate in them. The pilots are participating in what's called pylon racing seminars to become certified air ...

Wright "B" Flyer's newest airplane flies from AviationDayton | SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – A one-of-a-kind airplane designed to showcase Dayton’s aviation heritage around the ...
   
Group works to restore, preserve historic plane - Community Impact Newspaper | Dale, a US Army veteran, and his father, Alan Dale, flew aboard a World War II-era B-25 bomber May 6 to honor US Marine Cpl. Stanley Dale, who flew in a B-25 for nighttime missions during the war. The Devil Dog aircraft is hangared at the Georgetown ...

Aviation Stories for June 17, 2011 from aroundthepattern.com | ... And one last item – This week is the Pylon Racing School at Reno-Stead Airport. There were 116 pilots and crew members registered for the event this year. There are a lot more jets in the course this year than I have seen in the past. ...

Video: Treetop Flyer – The Classic Low Level Flying Video from AviationChatter.com | A word of caution to would-be daredevils: do not try this at homeThis is one of my favorite flying videos. It has all the elements: low level flying, speed, a great airplane and the perfect soundtrack. The airplane pictured appears to be a Van’s RV-4, a popular and fun ...

Martin B-57 Canberra walkaround (write) from Travel for Aircraft 

Father's Day Treat for WW2 Event - WGME | The New Hampshire based non-profit provides veterans with free travel to Washington so they can visit the monuments and reflect on their service. Carr, age 90, served as an Air Force mechanic during WW2 aboard B-24 bombers. ...
   
Castle Air Museum to celebrate 30 years with swing music - Merced Sun-Star | ATWATER -- Castle Air Museum supporters will be able to jive Saturday when the museum celebrates its 30th anniversary by hosting a free concert for all the museum's patrons. "This concert is to celebrate 30 years of being open to the ...

Intrepid Sea Air and Space Museum Aerial Image from Helikopter Hysterie | ... The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum has five helicopters on the flight deck: ...

Human Test Pilots Still Rule in Age of Drones - TechNewsDaily | All of those in-person observations add up to a certain pilot awareness that is hard to replicate when testing drones, said Ryan Olson, a project engineer for UAV simulation development at the National Test Pilot School. Early drone testing suffered ...

A whole different world - Baldwin County Now | Orange Beach resident and Foley native to take off at Balloon Festival | Ellis Calvert is an active hot air balloon pilot and has been a fanatic of the activity for 20 years. The Orange Beach resident calls it a hobby, one that he started because he was "looking for something different to do."  "I went one time and got hooked ever since," Calvert said.
The 63-year-old is one of 45 pilots participating this weekend in the seventh annual Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival, an event he thinks shows the strengths of the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce. ...

Lucky charms and bullet holes in Afghan helicopter from WTHR | The Army medics had just dropped off a Marine wounded in a bombing when one reached over and handed me a scribbled note inside the noisy U.S. helicopter. ...

V-22 flew Osama’s body to USS Carl Vinson from Warplanes Online Community | ... A V-22 Osprey aircraft ferried Osama bin Laden’s body to the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson after he was killed in a U.S. raid May 2 in Pakistan.Representative Norman Dicks, a Democrat from Washington, talked about the tilt-rotor aircraft’s mission as the House Appropriations Committee was considering the 2012 Pentagon spending bill. ...

NBC Producing Seal Team Six Documentary for Discovery Channel from TVNewser | NBC’s Peacock Productions is producing a documentary about the U.S. Navy’s Seal Team Six for Discovery Channel. “Secrets of Seal Team Six” will premiere Sunday July 10 on the cable network. Among the interviewees is the team’s founder, Dick Marcinko.  “There’s a group that will kick ass and save you,” says Marcinko in the program. ...

A fascination for airports made first female Emirati co-pilot pursue aviation - gulfnews.com | Soon, she realised the responsibility that's been put upon her shoulders; it was when she saw her name in a book titled 100 Greatest Women in Aviation. "I realised I'm not just representing Salma anymore. I'm representing my family, my company and my ...

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Indy Transponder 13-MAY-2011 2330z

Air Force Thunderbirds to fly with biofuel - AOPA Pilot | The US Air Force Thunderbirds will fly their first public performance using an alternative fuel at the Joint Services Open House at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on May 20 through 22. Two of the Thunderbirds' six F-16 fighters ...

Corsicana air show to feature simulated Pearl Harbor attack - Palestine Herald Press | Aviation, veteran and history buffs may be interested in checking out the 2011 Corsicana Air Show on Saturday. The annual event is sponsored by the Coyote Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force. ...

Tiger Meet 2011 from Ares | Some 60 fixed and rotary-wing aircraft are participating in this year's Tiger Meet from Cambrai air base in northern France on 9-20 May.

Eurofighter's air show season begins across Europe - defpro | The 2011 events and exhibitions calendar will be a busy one for Eurofighter who will have a presence in aerospace and defence events across the world. Following successful participation at Aero India in Bangalore ...

B-25 Bomber Out on Display Next Weekend - MyWabashValley | Next Saturday residents who stop by the Terre Haute airshow can get a special tour of the bomber. "A more in depth walk around the aircraft and a 30 minute flight. Once we're up and going you're able to get up and walk around and go to the individual ...

Japan’s own “Blue Impulse” jet demonstration... from You like airplanes, too? | Japan’s own “Blue Impulse” jet demonstration team see here in fine form at the 2009 Misawa Airshow. Photo by Jason Hill.

Maryland student becomes first woman to pilot human-powered helicopter | Mail Online from www.dailymail.co.uk | They eventually did it after a lot of huffing and puffing, but it wasn’t exactly up there with the Wright Brothers' success. University of Maryland engineering students believe they have captured a world record for the first human-powered helicopter flight with a female pilot. ...   Video here

The History of Important Things Pictured by their Shadows: the Wrights, Kill Devil Hills, 1901
from Ptak Science Books | In this history of picturing shadows this might be one of the most significant for early 20th century technology. After all, shadows in images weren't necessarily a desired effect, and certainly it was seldom required, but this one, captured as a result of capturing something else, has survived. ...

Grissom Air Museum Unveils Restored C-47 - Indiana's NewsCenter | PERU, Ind. (Indiana's NewsCenter) - The Grissom Air Museum unveiled their refurbished C-47 World War II aircraft Friday. The event kicked off with a flyover to honor the original pilot and all other veterans. Leuitenant Jim Haus flew a ...

Naval Air Museum to host Discovery Saturday on May 21 - Destin Log and Walton Log | As part of the Centennial of Naval Aviation, the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation will present “Discovery Saturday: Warriors Remembered” at 10 am on Saturday, May 21 at the National Naval Aviation Museum. Join retired Army Colonel Albert Nahas, ...

USAF Museum Series: Part 11 from A mile of runway will take you anywhere. by Steve | Late last month, before we went up and had some fun in the Cub, my friend Rob and I spent the afternoon at the USAF Museum. We had the opportunity to see something new, the Restoration Hangars. They are located on the active base and you have to sign up in advance for the guided tours. ...

Chapter-built Wright Flyer Model B Arrives at EAA Museum - EAA | At EAA headquarters this week, a flying copy of the a 1911 Wright Flyer Model B arrived, donated by EAA Chapter 610, New Carlisle, Ohio, which built the aircraft over a four-year span, beginning in 2001. The aircraft stays true to the original save for some safety improvements in the flight controls, an engine from a Model A Ford, and a larger radiator, which only added 80 pounds to the original design. The aircraft will be on display during ...

MO Aviation Historical Society Will Meet May 25 in Clayton - The Aero Experience |The next meeting of the Missouri Aviation Historical Society will be on Wed, May 25th at 7 PM. We will be watching the final cruise video for VF-31 just prior to switching from thier F-14's to Super Hornets.  Guests Welcome! ...

Smithville airport Fly-In fun finds flapjacks, FAA and Young Eagles by Denis McGinness | This year's event features an opportunity for youngsters ages eight to 17 to participate in the Young Eagles Ground School training session at 10 a.m. Meyerson said the program mentors young people who want to get involved in aviation. ...

Children can fly free Saturday courtesy EAA Young Eagles program - Plainview Daily Herald
Richard Porter/Plainview Daily Herald Lubbock pilot Kyle Riggen (right) goes over a pre-flight checklist as Johnathan Cartmall looks on during Saturday's Young Eagles Flying Rally at the Plainview-Hale County Airport. The event was sponsored by the ...

Indy Transponder 20-APR-2011 2200z

Funds boost airshow event - Bundaberg NewsMail | Wide Bay Australia International Airshow chairman Daryl Corpe and Acting Premier Paul Lucas at the Hinkler Hall of Aviation yesterday. THE Wide Bay Australia International Airshow received a major boost yesterday when Acting Premier Paul Lucas ...

  Whoa....Big fella..... from Airline Pilot Central Forums

Line-up change for Little Gransden 2011 from Classic Aviation Worldwide |Hanger 11 have been forced to change their participation at Little Gransden's 2011 Charity Air & Car Show. Originally planned was the newly refurbished Spitfire Mk.XI, however operational conflicts have meant a replacement, in the form of Hawker Hurricane MkIIb "Hurri-Bomber".

Coming to a Paris Air Show Near You: Su-30, JF-17 And More... from Ares | The Paris Air Show organizers have provided an update on what aircraft are due to be at this year’s extravaganza.  There is now confirmed good news on the military front for those that have been bemoaning the absence of the Russian fighter industry: Sukhoi’s Su-30 will be making an appearance. One Su-30 will be there for both static and flight  display purposes. ...

City awaiting insurance news for air show - St. Thomas Times-Journal | With less than two months before opening, the Great Lakes International Air Show is still looking for insurance. City council was prepared Monday to review reports on the air show, but agreed to wait until more ...

VIDEO: Aerial refueling of F-16 Thunderbirds from CavokBlog | This week the Air Demonstration Squadron, U.S. Air Force, the Thunderbirds, have released two videos of an aerial refueling operation of its aircraft, which can be seen in the first video (above), the view that the pilot
Capt. Kristin Hubbard (Thunderbird # 8) had during the procedure along with a KC-135R, while the squadron moved to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, on April 18, 2011. Then another video. ...

Silver Falcons - Wikipedia | The Silver Falcons is the aerobatic display team of the South African Air Force. Based at Air Force Base Langebaanweg near Cape Town, the Silver Falcons fly the Pilatus PC-7 Mk II Astra, the ab initio trainer of the SA Air Force in a 5-ship routine. The main purpose of the Silver Falcons is to enhance the image of the South African Air Force, encourage recruitment and instill national pride through public display. ...
Silver Falcons - Blyzz Photo 

Smoke oil dangers uncovered after Franklin accident - AOPA / Dave Hirschman | Some of wing-walker Amanda Franklin’s injuries appear to have been caused by smoke oil, and the International Council of Airshows and her husband Kyle Franklin are encouraging airshow performers to modify aircraft smoke oil systems so that they turn off automatically in case of an engine failure or accident.  ...

Honor Flight takes Tybee veteran to Washington - Savannah Now | “A trip of a lifetime” and “A real miracle.”  These are two of phrases that James C. Lynes of Wilmington Island used to describe the Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C., that he took on April 8-10 with his friend and Honor Flight Guardian, Herman Peavy. ...

Books About the Men and the Mission from J Clark | Over the last couple of days of writing about General Doolittle and his raid, many who know me have stopped and talked specifically about the men and the mission. To each, I have recommended a couple of books.  The first is Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo"", (Pocket Star paperback, July 2004, ISBN-13: 978- 0743474337, 304 pp.) written by the pilot of the seventh bomber off the deck, Ted W. Lawson. Lawson’s book was one of the first I ever read as young person.  Lawson, one of the most severely injured of the Doolittle Raiders, wrote the book as a memoir about his participation on the Doolittle Raid. The book was ...

Women in WWII by Keith Summerford | We are currently discussing the role of women and minorities in WWII.  I showed the class a book written by a Tuscaloosa County native who was also in the Women’s Army Corps.  A few seemed interested and it would be a great book for them to read over the summer.  The book is Stateside Soldier by Aileen Kilgore Henderson.  The book chronicles her life from the time just before she joined the WAC’s until she returned home.  She spent a good bit of her time during the war as an airplane engine mechanic in Texas.  The book  does a great job of illustrating what life was like for those here in the states supporting the war effort during the 1940's.  The book is available online, at bookstores, or possibly at the library.

Concorde's only female pilot lived a life of adventure - The Vancouver Sun | Barbara Harmer, who has died aged 57, earned her place in the record books on March 25, 1993, when she flew as first officer on a British Airways Concorde from London's Heathrow to JFK airport in New York.  For 10 years she remained Concorde's only woman pilot to fly regular commercial services, until October 2003 when the world's only Mach 2 civil jet was withdrawn from service by its two operators, British Airways and Air France, in the wake of the catastrophic accident to an Air France Concorde in July 2000. ...

The 1903 Wright Flyer - Air & Space Magazine | Find out why the world's first controllable airplane was a bear to control.

USAF Museum Series: Part 10 by Steve | This has been making its way around the aviation forums and blogs recently. I'm not sure when it went online, but the USAF Museum has a virtual tour of the entire museum on the web. By my own rough count, there are 90 different locations on the museum grounds where you can view, rotate, and zoom in 360 degrees. ...

South St. Paul WWII museum could become history itself - KARE | The Minnesota wing is not just home to World War II memorabilia and six aircraft, it's also a place where history comes alive. "We do also what are called history flights where people have the opportunity to go up and fly in one of these old birds and ...

Maine Air Museum seeks 'plane spotters' - VillageSoup Belfast | Bangor — The Maine Aviation Historical Society Maine Air Museum is looking for World War II “plane spotters” from Waldo County and Eastern Maine. The organization seeks people who served as volunteers in the Ground Observer Corps during World War II. ...

Battle of Britain Weekend from What's On at RAF Museum London | 10 September 2011 - 11 September 2011 The Museum's annual pageant commemorating Veterans of the Battle of Britain inclusive of talks, tours, tableaux and concerts. At this time we are able to confirm that subject to weather conditions a Spitfire Flypast will take place over the Museum on Sunday 11th of September. Timings to be confirmed. As more elements of this weekend are confirmed we will update this notice accordingly. ...

F.A.B ! A Night at the Royal Air Force Museum from RAF Museum London News | Event Date Saturday 14th of May. Calling all children of the 60s & 70s! The Royal Air Force Museum London is inviting you to revisit your childhood on Saturday 14th of May by opening its doors for a special evening event that will take them back to their childhood futures. From 7pm until 11pm, the museum will be opening up its Milestones of Flight, Bomber and Historic Hangars for free to over 18s and giving adult visitors the opportunity to play with giant sized versions of classic children’s games whilst listening to music of the 60s and 70s inspired by ‘futurism’, ‘the white heat of technology’ and Cult TV shows from their childhoods. ...

AREA 51: An Uncensored History of America’s Top Secret Military Base - Spy Museum | Area 51 sits inside one of the largest government-controlled land parcels in the United States, the Nevada Test and Training Range. It is the most famous military installation in the world—and the most secret. Now, Los Angeles Times Magazine journalist Annie Jacobsen, has written the first book to tell what really goes on at this top-secret location in the Nevada desert, AREA 51: An Uncensored History of America's Top Secret Military Base. Join Jacobsen for the launch of her book, which is based on recently declassified documents ...

Today in Aviation History – April 20 - CRUFC

The Next Generation of Dirigibles Takes Flight - Popular Science | A whirring comes across the sky. From 20,000 feet above the Mexican border or Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley, a vehicle as long as the Chrysler building is tall drifts into the stratosphere. It looms like a cloud and stays put for 21 days, scanning for body heat below. These blimps are lighter than air, fuel-efficient and quiet—which is why they could become the military’s go-to vehicles for surveillance and transport. ...

Finalists named in aerospace challenge - Washington Business Journal | Who are the future leaders of the aerospace industry? The Arlington-based Aerospace Industries Association might point to any one of the 100 teams of middle and high school students named Wednesday as finalists in the world's largest rocket contest. ...

X PRIZE Visioneering and The Mother of All Business Plan Competitions from TechCrunch | I’ve participated in dozens of business plan competitions over the years.  I concluded that they are a lot fun, but that they do little more than educating students on the fundamentals of starting a business.  They create a lot of heat and light but hardly any motion.  There are few competitions winners who have made it big. ...

Fourth astronaut added to Space Night activities at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force from National Museum of the USAF | Dr. Thomas D. Jones joins three other astronauts during Space Night at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force on May 5.  Jones joins an all-star cast of astronauts already set to appear, including Astronaut Michael Foreman, Navy Capt. (Ret), and former astronauts Mark Brown, Air Force Col. (Ret), and Dr. Donald Thomas. ...

Endeavour's Final Mission: STS-134 Space Shuttle from How I am Becoming an Astronaut | Endeavour's final space shuttle mission is scheduled for next week, April 29, 2011. The mission will include four-spacewalks, deliver supplies, spare parts and a $2 billion particle physics detector (Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer) to the International Space Station. ...

Indy Transponder 13-FEB-2011 1900z

Centennial of Naval Aviation - ASB.tv | Check out the photos (like the one at right) and commentary 


Photo Gallery: 'Parade of Flight' Navy Aviation 100th Anniversary  - Patch.com | ... boarded the USS Midway on a postcard-perfect Saturday afternoon to look skyward in a showcase of the history of Naval aviation at the Parade of Flight. ...

Navy celebrates centennial in grand style - San Diego Union Tribune | It was possible to see members of the Navy parachute team “Leap Frogs” pull thin lines to guide themselves onto the 4.5-acre deck of the Stennis. ...

Coronado Celebrates 100 Years of Naval Aviation - Patch.com
People from all over San Diego flock to the bay to watch the historical air show commemorating the Centennial of Naval Aviation. ...

Curtiss A-1 Triad Seaplane In Celebration of Centennial of Naval Aviation from Alabama Aviator - Aviation News | -SAN DIEGO- A functional replica of a Curtiss A-1 Triad seaplane skims the water in San Diego Bay in front of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) during a demonstration at Naval Air Station North Island. ...

Aero India 2011: Too much to pay, too little received - Daily News & Analysis | With over 2 lakh visitors expected to attend the concluding day of the air show on Sunday, the organisers have to play catch-up and fast. ...

Aerobatic stunts, flying thrills mark AeroIndia finale - Sify | Bangalore, Feb 13 (IANS) Dazzling displays by fighter planes and daredevil acts by aerobatic teams marked the grand finale of South Asia's biggest air show ...

Aero India Photo Review by noam_eshel

Ratan Tata co-pilots Boeing fighter at air show - Coal Geology | The 73-year-old, who holds a commercial pilot's license, flew the Lockheed Martin F-16 at the 2009 air show as a co-pilot. The Super Hornet and F-16 are the ...

Welshpool Airshow Cancelled  by Flightline UK | Welshpool Air Show has been axed this year because of a lack of cash to bring the Red Arrows display team to the event.  Organisers said that they had failed to find a sponsor to cover all of the show’s costs.  Welshpool Town Council, which organises the event, had hoped the Red Arrows team would perform at the  ...

Pearson Field soaring into the future - The Columbian | What's next: An open house will be 10 am-noon, March 5 at Pearson Air Museum, 1115 E. Fifth St., to discuss new developments at Pearson Field. ...

Model airplane enthusiasts flock to 'Fun Fly' air show - Naples Daily News | Clifford MacMorris, a field trainer with the Collier Model Aeronautics Club, flies a radio controlled airplane for a crowd of onlookers ...

UVU Sponsored Plane Races in Reno - Technology and Computing | For the first time ever, the UVU Aviation Science Department sponsored a plane in the Reno Air Races. The UVU logo was proudly displayed on the McDonald Racer #37 National Air Race Championship Competitor in the T-6 Gold Class. ...

Days Gone By: Daring pilot Claire Vance cheated death many times before his ... - Contra Costa Times | In 1932, Vance entered his plane in the Bendix trophy air race, which would go from Burbank to Cleveland. The prize was $15000. At 2:08 am Aug. ...

Two Wright ‘B’ Flyers to commemorate 100th anniversary of first military flight - General Aviation News | Dayton’s aviation heritage will take center stage in Texas March 2 when two Wright “B” Flyer lookalike aircraft take part in a celebration at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio.  The two airplanes were being prepared to begin their journey Feb. 23 – by road, loaded on tractor-trailers. Thirteen Wright “B” Flyer Inc. volunteers will follow on Feb. 26 to unload, assemble, test and operate the one-of-a-kind flying machines to help San Antonio observe a ...

A Tribute to Chief Anderson & Tuskegee Airmen Traveling Exhibit Video from Alabama Aviator - Aviation News | -BIRMINGAHM AL- A Tribute to Chief Anderson and the Tuskegee Airmen with a Traveling Exhibit Unveiled at Southern Museum of Flight. A historical quilt exhibit honoring the aeronautical excellence and genius of both Chief Anderson and the Tuskegee Airmen was unveiled during a tribute at the Southern Museum of Flight on Saturday.  Ruby Archie, exhibit curator, said, "As the patches of the quilt are woven together so too were the lives of these great men.  Collectively interwoven into WWII, they courageously served as teacher, student, former pilot and fighter pilots on combat missions abroad."  ...

All female pilot group encourages women to take to the sky by Whitney Grunder | Their goal is to provide scholarships to other women pilots. Street-Ely received one for aerobatic training. She participates in the annual air race classic. "That is a four day air race across the country, women only," she explained. ...

Women of Aviation Photo Contest - Women of Aviation Worldwide Community
Send us your best photographs of the Women Of Aviation and you could win a $100 USD gift certificate at www.MyPilotSupplies.com.

Lancasters ! from PPRuNe Forums | My wife found this photo among her father's papers after his death just before Christmas. Nothing written on the back of the photo so other than the obvious fact that it's a Lancaster - and we know Henry 'Harry' Watson was flight engineer and which is him in the photo - that's it. ...

Couple revel in Ormond history - Daytona Beach News-Journal | They have also written children's books and a book about the pioneer aviatrix from Ormond Beach, Ruth Law. The Howells continue to present the history of ...

DVD Reviews by Flightline UK
Sunderland, Cotswold
 
Eyes on the skies for a vintage visit - Ballarat Courier | The Duigan was the first Australian-made aeroplane to fly and was designed and constructed by John Duigan with the assistance of his younger brother ...

Freehold Civil Service Air Patrol flying high - Catskill Daily Mail | They also had a chance to ride in a C-130 cargo plane and next week they are taking a trip to the New England Air museum. For more information about joining ...

Today in Aviation History – February 13 from Calgary Recreational and Ultralight Flying Club

F-16E "Superfalcon" The Road Not Taken - F-16.net | I received some very interesting replies to my previous post on the F-22's demise, and one of these mentioned the F-16 XL. I had wanted to to mention this ...

Tucson, Arizona's Place in Aviation History - DA Barber | Not many people consider the Old West as part of American aviation history. But Tucson - site of the first municipal-owned airport - has made its mark.  ...

Indian flying car channels "Back to the Future" [LOLCars] from Jalopnik | One Indian man has turned a Suzuki Maruti 800 into a flying vehicle that he claims can vertically lift itself and soar over traffic. The only issue? Its flying ability has not yet been tested. ...

Indy Transponder 17-DEC-2010 0930z

First Flight Ceremony Friday, Dec. 17 At WPAFB - WHIO Dayton
Continuing with tradition, Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park superintendent Dean Alexander will read a proclamation on the significance of ...

New Wright “B” Flyer Lookalike Ready to Fly

Fargo AirSho lineup for 2011 announced; includes the Blue Angels - In-Forum
Fargo AirSho organizers are predicting a “big year” for the show as the Blue Angels return and the Navy celebrates the centennial of naval aviation. ...

Blue Angels pay Millville a visit before 2011 airshow - NJ.com
Also assisting in making next year's Wheels and Wings Airshow a reality were numerous sponsors, including Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. ...

Air shows to feature Thunderbirds, Blue Angels at Pease - Seacoastonline.com
PORTSMOUTH — Seacoast residents can expect busy skies both this summer and next as the Boston-Portsmouth Air Show has announced it will ...

Naval Celebration, Tributes to Rutan & Hoover Among Many Top Highlights for EAA AirVenture 2011 from News from EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
Themed days dedicated to a notable centennial as well as aviation legends are shaping up to make each day at EAA AirVenture 2011 a must-see destination for all aviation enthusiasts. The 59th annual edition of "The World's Greatest Aviation Celebration" will be held July 25-31 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh. ...

CAREER OF AVIATION ICON BOB HOOVER TO BE SALUTED DURING EAA AIRVENTURE 2011 #OSH11 - Indy Transponder
Aircraft flown by Hoover to be featured during air show on Tuesday, July 26
EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wis. — (Dec. 16, 2010) — Saluting his iconic aerobatic career along with heroic service in World War II, EAA AirVenture 2011 will honor Robert A. “Bob” Hoover with a special day of recognition on July 26, part of the 59th annual edition of “The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration” on July 25-31 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh. ...

MAJOR GATHERING OF RUTAN-DESIGNED AIRCRAFT EXPECTED FOR BURT RUTAN TRIBUTE AT EAA AIRVENTURE 2011 - Indy Transponder
Afternoon air show on Thursday, July 28 to feature variety of Rutan designs
EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wis. — (Dec. 8, 2010) — Paying tribute to an aviation legend responsible for many unique aircraft designs, EAA AirVenture 2011 will salute Burt Rutan with a special day of recognition along with dedicated programs and attractions. The 59th annual edition of “The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration” will be held July 25-31 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.  ...

17 December 2010 – 75th anniversary of the first flight of the DC-3 from Roger-Wilco
Our industry has a number of icons, aircraft that have turned out so good and have made such an impact that they leave their imprint on the skies forever. The DC-3 is certainly such an aircraft and it has not lost its aura of excellence since its first flight on 17 December 1935. As she flew through the sky of Southern California few if any on board or on the ground realized that it was the first day of a new era in aviation history. The DC-3 went on to become a legend and it is still with us as a faithful workhorse in many parts of the world. ...

Santa Monica Airport to host celebration marking 75th anniversary of DC-3 maiden flight - The Argonaut
The Museum of Flying at the Santa Monica Airport and the American Aviation History Society will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the maiden flight of the Douglas DC-3 from Santa Monica Airport Friday, Dec. 17.
The commemorative event will be held from noon to 3 p.m. at the Santa Monica Airport on the southeast transient tie-down area directly adjacent to the airport administration building.
The celebration is open to the public and will feature DC-3 aircraft on display, along with a formal presentation and dedication of a commemorative plaque marking the 75th anniversary of the first flight....


On the hot seat from AF.mil Photos
A pilot with the 442nd Fighter Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., sits on the ramp in his A-10 Thunderbolt II while crew chiefs perform a hot pit refuel for his aircraft Dec. 8, 2010. Hot pit refueling is a procedure usually performed in a combat situation to rapidly refuel aircraft while engines are running to speed pilots back into the fight. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Kenny Holston)

A Message from the Museum President from San Diego Air & Space Museum Blog 
During this holiday season we are reminded of those we appreciate most. As a friend of the San Diego Air & Space Museum, you’re on the top of that list! We are truly thankful for your support. Thus, as 2010 draws to a close, we’d like you to consider including the Museum in your personal or corporate charitable giving plan and invest in the many exceptional programs we provide to our southwest region, and visitors from all over the world. We are more than just a Museum; we are a center of excellence and we focus on the future as much as we do the past. Your support is critical to the successful development of our high quality exhibits and educational projects which enrich the lives of so many. Let’s take a moment to review some of this past year’s successes and share with you priorities for the coming years.
Of special note, as we look to the future, we know San Diego’s young people must prepare to compete in an ...

New director takes the lead at National Museum of the U.S. Air Force from National Museum of the USAF Top Stories 
Leadership of the Air Force's national museum changed hands during a ceremony on Dec. 16 as Lt. Gen. (Ret.) John "Jack" L. Hudson became director of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.
Hudson took the reins from Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Charles D. Metcalf, who is retiring after serving as museum director for the past 14 years. Lt. Gen. Janet C. Wolfenbarger, vice commander of Air Force Materiel Command, presided over the change of director ceremony. ...

Local woman featured in new Amelia Earhart documentary - Patterson Irrigator
... Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery, a nonprofit group dedicated to aviation history archaeology that is featured prominently in the new film. ...

Operation Christmas Drop from AF.mil Photos
Airmen gauge the distance before pushing a box of humanitarian goods out of a C-130 Hercules call sign “Santa 23” to its drop zone during Operation Christmas Drop Dec. 14, 2010, near Yap Islands, Northern Marianas. Operation Christmas Drop began in 1952 and is the Air Force’s longest-running humanitarian operation. Airmen today continue the tradition delivering supplies to remote islands of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, Yap, Palau, Chuuk and Pohnpei. The Airmen are from the 36th Airlift Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Nichelle Anderson)

Profile 44 - F6F-5 as flown by Lt. Harold Thune from WWII & Korean Conflict Airplane Profiles 
I decided to do Harold's -5 Hellcat, though still waiting for info on the markings.
The cowl is grafted onto my pencil sketch for two reasons - one, I think it looks cool to see the pencil sketch come to life this way.   Two, it shows how spot-on accurate my sketch was.  Yahoo - the blind squirrel found a nut! (laughs).
The dark blue is a wicked color, however.  In real life, it was almost black.  When working with such, there's an ever-present temptation to add excessive "weathering" details like chipped paint because of the difficulty in showing contour and texture. ...

MT Composite Propeller Successfully Tested On Rare Vintage Warbird - AMTOnline.com
Several rare aircraft continue to please airshow and air racing fans sporting MT-Propellers. Flight Resource LLC is an authorized distributor of high ...

Worlds smallest manned helicopter - YouTube

Cactus Starfighter Luke Air Force Base 2010 from PHXspotters
Luke Air Force Base is home of the 56th Fighter Wing, the largest fighter wing in the world and the only active duty Air Force F-16 training wing. Luke has 138 aircraft, 24 squadrons, 4 tenant units and more then 6,000 military and civilian personnel.Luke trains all the F-16 crew chiefs and almost all the F-16 pilots for the US Air Force. More then 16,000 F-16 pilots have graduated from Luke since 1994. Since 1941 more the 56,000 pilots have graduated from Luke. ...

Program of the Lockheed F-35 strikes overall objective of flight testing in 2010 from CavokBlog / Translated
On Thursday, Dec. 9, the staff of the F-35 Lightning II Lockheed Martin reached its 2010 goal of 394 flight test program jointly established by the Joint Strike Fighter, Lockheed Martin. Since the first flight of the F-35 held on December 15, 2006, the program has recorded a total of 531 flights, expanding the performance envelope of the three models of the F-35 and testing the mission system. ...

Sledding Behind a Fighter Jet Seriously Ups the Death Wish Ante [Video] from Gizmodo

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New Wright “B” Flyer Lookalike Ready to Fly

One-of-a-kind airplane made to showcase Dayton’s aviation heritage worldwide

DAYTON, Ohio – A one-of-a-kind airplane designed to showcase Dayton’s aviation heritage around the world has been off the ground and is ready for a formal flight test program to begin next spring, the all-volunteer group that built it announced today.

Since October, volunteer test pilots have put Wright “B” Flyer No. 002 through a series of low- and high-speed taxi tests at Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport, where Wright “B” Flyer Inc. has its hangar and museum.

Pilots also have made 76 brief hops in which the airplane rose several feet into the air but remained above the runway.

Wright “B” Flyer timed the announcement to coincide with the 107th anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ first powered flights in Kitty Hawk, N.C. Dayton brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright invented the airplane in their West Dayton bicycle shop.

Dubbed the “Silver Bird” because of its silver-painted steel frame, the airplane is built to modern standards but resembles the Wrights’ first production flyer, the Model B. It has been in development since 2007, when the organization decided it needed a Model B lookalike that was easy to ship, assemble and fly at international events.

The organization’s flagship Model B, the familiar “Brown Bird,” has been flown at events across the United States and shipped as far as Berlin, Germany, for displays. But tearing it down, shipping it, and making it flyable again is expensive and takes a large crew of skilled volunteers.

In contrast, a few people can load the Silver Bird into a standard cargo container for economical shipment anywhere in the world, then unload it and be ready to fly in a few hours.

“This airplane extends our reach in promoting our aviation heritage and Ohio’s aerospace business. We used to have regional markets. We have a global market today, and there’s no place in the world we can’t take this airplane,” said John Bosch, chairman of Wright “B” Flyer’s board of trustees.

The Brown Bird will continue to fly at local events and make orientation flights for Wright “B” Flyer’s Honorary Aviator members.

The Silver Bird sports a modern engine, modern controls and modern materials, but its drive system is unique – a modern version of the century-old Wright system that used chains and sprockets to turn two propellers with a single engine.

The drive system proved to be one of the most challenging parts of the project, requiring numerous design changes and adjustments before it ran smoothly. The pilots decided to test it thoroughly with scores of low hops prior to a full-fledged flight.

“These runway test flights have provided a high degree of confidence in the drive system and, after a few refinements to the aircraft and a few more tests runs, it should be ready for the first up-and-away official test flight in the spring.” said Don Gum, director of the production project and one of the test pilots.

“This plane is a great marketing tool for the National Aviation Heritage Area as it has the portability to allow people anywhere in the world to experience the accomplishments of the Wright brothers and the airplanes they built here in Dayton,” said Tony Sculimbrene, executive director of the National Aviation Heritage Alliance.

NAHA is the federally chartered management entity for the eight-county Heritage Area surrounding Dayton, and Wright “B” Flyer is a NAHA partner.

Wright “B” Flyer hopes to begin flight-testing in early spring. Gum said it could take as little as two to three months, but the program’s pace depends on technical issues, weather, and the volunteer pilots’ personal schedules.

In the meantime, Ohioans can support Wright “B” Flyer by purchasing “Leader in

Flight" license plates for their cars and trucks from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Fifteen dollars of the $25 fee goes to Wright B Flyer. Organizations and companies can support it with cash and in-kind donations, and the organization always needs volunteers.

Both the Silver Bird and Brown Bird are on display in Wright “B” Flyer’s Hangar and Museum on Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport, 10550 Springboro Pike in Miami Twp.

It’s open from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays excepting holidays.

Admission is free. 

Wright B Flyer’s “Silver Bird,” a modern, easy-to-ship lookalike of the Wright brothers’ first production airplane, becomes airborne during a November test hop at Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport. Photo by Timothy R. Gaffney

(Editors: If you did not receive photos, they are available by e-mailing Tim Gaffney at tgaffney@timothyrgaffney.com, or by calling 937-219-8277.)

 

Silver Bird at a Glance

Crew: pilot & co-pilot or observer

Powerplant: Lycoming HIO 360 piston engine, rated at 205 hp

Propellers: 2 chain-driven, counter-rotating, two-blade pusher propellers

Wingspan: 33 ft 6 in

Height: 7 ft 8 in

Length: 26 ft

Empty weight: 1,876 lbs

Gross weight: 2,650 lbs

Takeoff speed (demonstrated): 55 mph

Cruise speed (expected): 70

Max speed (expected): 75 mph

Range (expected): 200 mi.