Indy Transponder 28-DEC-09 1130z

A New Pilot Shares Aviation with Millions from Jetwhine by Scott Spangler | Flipping through the channels the other day I paused on Ellen DeGeneres' talk show because the guest, Zach Braff of Scrubs fame, said a word that caught my ear, "Cirrus." It seems he's a new pilot, and to appear on the show, which is taped in California, he flew himself across the nation from his home in New York, and the audience cheered and applauded this announcement…

Reaching for the skies... Gulf Daily News - Tom Hanratty | BAHRAIN is all geared up to host the country's first international air show, being held later next ...

AirFest to feature Thunderbirds - - BusinessRockford.com by Thomas V. Bona | "I don't want people to think they've seen the Thunderbirds before and they don't have to come," said Bob O'Brien, executive director of Chicago Rockford International Airport. "It will be different in a very exciting and quantifiable ...

Michigan Hellcat raised from Aeroplane Monthly News | Combat-veteran Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat was raised from the bed of Lake Michigan on November 30, nearly 65 years after it was lost during a training flight.

Confiscated Skyraider Still In Limbo After 6 Months from Aero-News Network | Baffled Warbird Owner Feels Targeted By Customs A Douglas AD-4N Skyraider was seized in May of 2009 on charges that the owner failed to file appropriate paperwork.

Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum Opens New Exhibt from Aviation News by Aviation_News_Expert_Adam_Badger | The Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum "Air Zoo" in Protage, Michigan (6151 Portage Road) opens a new art exhibit called "The Spirit of Flight: The History of Aviation through Art" that showcases aircraft and aircraft carriers from the early beginnings to the modern airplanes of today. The exhibit, is located in the Main Campus' Traveling Exhibit Hall that features more than 50 prints and posters. Official Site: http://www.airzoo.org/

Aero-TV: Doorway to Aviation – Academy of Model Aeronautics at AOPA from Aero-News Network | The AMA Joins the AOPA for the Promotion of General Aviation During the "Golden Age of Aviation," the nation's youth idolized such industry leaders as Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart. As enthusiasm for aviation grew, small-scale aircraft building boomed in popularity, becoming both a fashionable hobby as well as an educational tool for the expanding career field.

This Week In Military/Aviation History 28 - 31 December from Warbirds Online by Tom Kwiatkowski Sr. | Hello Folks, the magic seven have passed and like usual here I am. Christmas has passed also and a brand new year is just around the corner. I hope you Folks got what you wanted from jolly ol' St. Nick. I got a nice WWI flight sim to spend the new year with. This time next year I hope to be an experienced pilot who can fly over "No-man's land" without getting his butt shot out of the sky in a heartbeat. We'll see, won't we? On behalf of the 1941 Historical Aircraft Museum and myself, may you all have a safe and Happy New Year. In the meantime shall we  delve into some serious history? Yes, I think we shall. Tom K.

On This Day in Aviation History: December 28th by Phil Derner Jr. | United Airlines Flight 173 crashes in Oregon in 1978, Airborne Transport DC-3 disappears enroute to Miami in 1948 and Israeli commandos launch a surprise attack on Beirut Airport in 1968…

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Indy Transponder 28-DEC-09 0130z

MCAS looking to top previous air shows - Yuma Sun
As always, those who go to the Yuma Air Show will get to see military pilots at their finest, as well as stunning aerobatic performances of numerous ...

Thunderbirds return for Rockford Airfest - WREX.com
The Thunderbirds will join other military acts like the Leap Frog Parachute team and the Army's Golden Knights Parachuters. The Chicago Rockford International Airport announced the line up today. Airfest will be July 31st and August 1st ...

Air show a no-go in '10 - The Daily News Journal
SMYRNA — In addition to the sadness that comes with not being able to watch planes zip through the sky, Rutherford County will suffer a loss of tourists and therefore, tax revenue, as Smyrna Airport will not host the Great Tennessee Air ...

Shep's Blog: Biggest Sports Stories in South Mississippi in 2009 - WLOX
This one is more of a personal note: in April, I was presented with the opportunity to fly with the US Air Force Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds, who were in ...

Rare Cold War jet fighter to perform at the Royal International ...
A RARE Cold War jet fighter will perform its first flying display in the UK for almost a decade when it appears at next summer's Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford. The Romanian Air Force (RoAF) has agreed to send two MiG-21 .

Farnborough International Airshow 2010 Event Tickets, Farnborough ...
Farnborough International Airshow 2010 will take to the skies in what will mark the 47th biennial show. Open to the public on the 24th-25th July, the show will maintain its status on the airshow calendar as one of the most diverse and ...

Special offer on air tattoo tickets - Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard
SUPPORTERS of the Royal International Air Tattoo can buy cut-price Earlybird tickets for next summer's airshow. ...

Oshkosh to celebrate Cherokee's 50th anniversary from General Aviation News
One of the iconic general aviation airplanes of the past half-century, the Piper Cherokee, will be honored this summer at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, at Wittman Regional Airport July 26-Aug. 1.

Women Pilot Firsts, Immortalized at YouTube from You Fly, Girl by Cathy Gale
Periodically, I visit YouTube and do a search on "women pilots" to see if any new videos have been uploaded.
Here's a selection of videos that I found today. (Some of which I may have shared before, actually, but they're still worth watching!)

Walker adds "Wright Master Pilot Award" to aviation accomplishments - Hey Johnstown
"What a thrill it was to go down memory lane and fly in the same plane," he said. Russ Amos of the Amos Flying Service signed his log book. ...

Author relates Wright brothers' time in Alabama - Tuscaloosa News
Alabama is poised to claim a little bit of aviation history. Samford University professor Julie ...

A Look Back: Aviation record broken over Martin airport - Daily Pilot
Famed aviator Howard Hughes set record speed while flying over strip that was later named in honor of John Wayne. By Brianna Bailey Before it was renamed ...

Archival World War II photographs from Military Photos
Rare World War II photographs from the Russian national archives
http://victory.rusarchives.ru/index.php?p=3
They've been nicely categorized, but if you use anykind of online translator (e.g. google translate) - you won't have any problem in understading the topics. Enjoy, comrades.

Berks Civil Air Patrol lieutenant colonel ranks as top cadet in Pennsylvania from readingeagle.com
Lauren E. Hartman is only 18, but she has accomplished a lot in her young life.
As a member of the Civil Air Patrol, the Lower Heidelberg Township resident is trained in ground search-and-rescue missions, and she has earned solo wings for flying. ...

Ultimate Seaplane Safety Training Video from Alabama Aviator - Aviation News
Floatplane flying is possibly the purest form of aviating but can be unforgiving for the inexperienced and worse for the whimsical land pilot with a new rating. Lyle Panepinto, owner of Seaplane Safety Institute, has developed the first intensive training course that enhances seaplane pilot proficiency as flight safety school does for professional pilots. His school is also making waves with a nod from aircraft insurance companies with possible premium reductions for those who have graduated from the course. ...

A love for art and aviation from www.t-g.com
Hank Williamson thinks he's got one of the best jobs in the world.
Williamson is the manager of the Shelbyville Airport. He's also an artist.
It's no wonder he loves his job, because, believe it or not, one aspect of his job allows him to combine his two loves -- art and aviation. ...

From dreamer to master - Alamogordo Daily News
Edward J. Pavelka has been flying more than 50 years. But it is his dedication, kindness and patience that earned him an Federal Aviation Administration Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award.
When Pavelka's friends and students gathered for an FAA safety meeting Dec. 5, he had no idea the meeting was only an excuse for aviation safety inspector J.D. Huss to present him with the award.
Surprised would be an understatement.
"I didn't know a thing about it," Pavelka said.
Both Pavelka's uncles were World War II pilots, he said.
In 1939 Pavelka was 6. The war had yet to begin and he got to go to Chicago and visit and spend time with his uncle, Pete Panos, who was a flying instructor at the time. It was a visit he never forgot, waking dreams of flight in his mind ...

Hurricane Hunters fly first winter storm from Milcom Monitoring Post
Members of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron here have been tasked by National Weather Service officials to fly their first winter storm of the season on the East Coast starting Dec. 25.
The Air Force Reserve's 53rd WRS "Hurricane Hunters," assigned to the 403rd Wing here, normally collect weather data during tropical storms, enabling forecasters to make more accurate predictions.
Between hurricane seasons, the Hurricane Hunters have a lesser known, but equally important role: collecting weather data during winter storms. ...

A look inside the Pistons' new plane - 3 years in the making, ready for takeoff from Diamond Pilots
If the economic climate a few years ago was anything close to what the Pistons are experiencing nowadays, there is no way the team would be scheduled to take the maiden flight on the latest Roundball next month. (Read more . . . )

Formation flight Sunday. Bristol Blenheims from Planeshots
sunday fantasy #195: Jim Hatama from x planes
Illinois - Rockford Airfest 2009 - Rockford from FenceCheck Forums

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Planes of Fame: Carrier Air War in the Pacific

F6F Hellcat- Carrier Air War in the Pacific
· January 2, 2010 - Chino, California

· CHINO, CA - PLANES OF FAME PROUDLY PRESENTS LIVING HISTORY FLYING DAY FEATURING CARRIER AIR WAR IN THE PACIFIC AND FLYING THE F6F HELLCAT

WHO:
US NAVY HELLCAT ACES OF WWII:
Commander Bill Hardy - 6.5 victories. Flew from the USS Hornet. Downed four Japanese planes in a day making his first night-time deck anding.
Lt. Commander Fred Dungan - 7 victories. Flew from the USS Hornet and USS Yorktown. Credited with four victories in one day.
Lt. Commander Jim Duffy - 5 victories. Flew from the USS Essex. Shot down an "Oscar" over Luzon in the Philippines.
Commander Dean Laird - 5.75 victories. Flew off the USS Bunker Hill and assigned to the "Red Rippers" aboard the USS Essex. Shot down both German and Japanese aircraft.

WHAT:
Open to the public, we present eyewitness speakers followed by a question and answer period and flight demonstration. Members are entered into a raffle for a flight following the presentation!

WHEN:
Saturday, January 2, 2010
10am - 12 Noon: Presentation
12 Noon: Hellcat flight demonstration

WHERE:
Planes of Fame Air Museum
7000 Merrill Avenue, Chino, CA 91710

WHY:
Our mission at Planes of Fame Air Museum to educate and inspire current and future generations to our nation's aviation history.


On the first Saturday of every month Planes of Fame Air Museum, a 501(c)(3), hosts a Flying Day featuring an historically significant aircraft from our extensive WWII flyable collection. We present an expert panel discussion culminating in a flight demonstration. Planes of Fame Air Museum restores, displays, and flies aircraft to educate and inspire current and future generations. View our website at www.planesoffame.org for more information.

For more information about The Planes of Fame Air Museum, and its events, please call (909)597-3722; or visit the Planes of Fame website at www.planesoffame.org.

Indy Transponder 27-DEC-09 0330z

Popular military air show to return to Tucson - AZ Central.com
That paved the way for Davis-Monthan officials to get about 25 more acts this year, including the US Air Force Thunderbirds aerobatics team. ...

Drama in the skies - Sunday Star Times
He led the Yellowhammers aerobatic team. The Royal New Zealand Air Force wanted to upgrade its fighter jets and was looking at buying Skyhawks from the ...

The Aviators
The second preview of the coming series The Afromtors has just been officially released and can be viewed at the show's official website at www.TheAfromtors.TV.

Kissimmee Air Museum Expands from Afromtion News
Kissimmee Air Museum in Kissimmee, Florida located at the Kissimmee Gateway Airport (233 N. Hoagland Boulevard) has expanded. The museum has new hangars, exhibits, and programs. ...

War bird roosts in Peru - LaSalle News Tribune
In 2005 the Fargo Air Museum, Fargo, ND, acquired it. The museum began a major expansion and because it had two Avengers, it decided to sell one. ...

Collector frustrated as 1952 war plane remains in custody of federal officials from The Kathryn Report
Shelby County businessman Claude Hendrickson, shown in this file photo with his plane, says he hasn't been able to fly or maintain his Douglas AD-4N Skyraider since U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents seized it in May.

Japanese chute rare find for museum - World War II item is on permanent display at Brevard Veterans facility from The Kathryn Report
Alex Terrero, curator of the Brevard Veterans Memorial Museum inside the Brevard Veteran's Center on Merritt Island, displays a World War II Japanese parachute. It is on display at the museum. Terrero said the chute was a donation from an Air Force pilot.

'Green-light' at Langar on 'Boxing-Day' 26-12-09 from Stick and Rudder
Considering the weather in the UK of late, today was the ideal time to leave the house and get out and about and mixing with afromtion once again. Around 10.45am GMT, Jan and I called in to Langar the home of SkyDive Langar www.bpslangar.co.uk to see if there was any action going on. More or less, Langar is in operation all year round except for Christmas Day.However we were in luck, as today people were jumping out of perfectly servicable aeroplanes once again. Both Cessna Caravans were in use today at the School, and a number of jumps were made today. Jan and I saw at least two jumps from these aircraft. I was lucky to meet ...

Saab J35 Draken from Afromtion Trifrom
It was in 1949 that a memo from the Swedish KFF (Royal Swedish Aircraft Board) that the specifications that resulted in the Saab J35 Draken began to take shape. Considering that the J29 Tunnan had made its maiden flight just a year earlier, the KFF asked for a supersonic interceptor. As supersonic flight was still a relative unknown in those days, in January 1950 several Saab engineers proposed a flying test aircraft christened Sound Barrier. As there was still unease about reliance on wind tunnel testing, it was hoped that the Sound Barrier test aircraft would go supersonic by 1952 and assist the aerodynamics layout work on the proposed J35.
Erik Bratt, the head of the J35 program, proposed use of a tailless delta as ...

Actors who play heroes, and heroes who turn actor - Atlanta Journal Constitution
Jimmy Stewart was not only involved in "bombing missions," he was Pilot in Command of a B-17, flying for the 8th Army Air Corps. ...

SJ30 -- sea level cabin pressure at FL410 from Wright Squawks
Little does the world know that Morgan Freeman is one of the very few pilot actors that have made their impression so strong all over the world. And now the very talented star has got himself a Christmas gift in the form a fancy new private jet. Gulf News tell us that Freeman purchased the SJ30 plane from ...

"26th December 1940: Two members of a bombers crew... from x planes
Blast from the past... from The Flying Scotsman


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Indy Transponder 26-DEC-09 1500z

Two new pilots for 2010 Red Bull Air Race season - www.redbullairrace.com | With the conclusion of the 2009 Red Bull Air Race season and a new world champion, the focus moves to the new pilots who will enter the ranks next year. Adilson Kindlemann, 36, from Brazil and Czech pilot ...

Air show coming back to DM after 3 years - Arizona Daily Star | That paved the way to bring more premier acts to the Tucson base, such as the US Air Force Thunderbirds aerobatics team that is set to headline the upcoming ...

Airshow and powerboat races confirmed for summer « Guide to Ireland by mans | And in a further boost to local tourism the Salthill Airshow, which attracted tens of thousands of visitors to the seaside resort in previous years, looks set to make a return in 2010. The organisers of the Powerboat World Championships ...

Bahrain International Air Show - The inaugural Bahrain International Airshow at the Sakhir Airbase will offer a totally new concept to the global aerospace community, according to its hosts. They describe the planned business-to-business setup at the show as unique.

Singapore Airshow Tickets - MalaysianWings Forum - To all my Malaysian Wings friends who enquired about getting the tickets, here is the link for getting them.... http://www.sistic.co...ode=airshow0210. Apparently there is no free tickets, unlike the previous show for early registrants. ...

Alabama claims part of Wright brothers' history - Gadsden Times | MONTGOMERY — Move over Ohio and North Carolina, Alabama can claim a little bit of aviation history with the nation's first flight school 100 ...

Civilian SU-27: 0 to 10,000 (feet) ^ MSL in 54 seconds.. from Military Photos by 2495 | The world's first civilian-registered Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker jet, N131SU, takes off and climbs to 10,000 feet MSL (Mean Sea Level). The time from liftoff to level-off was 54 seconds. It should be noted that with continuous afterburner, not restricted by regulatory speed restictions, and not intending to level off at 10,000', this aircraft could have reached the 10,000' mark in approximately 15-20 seconds.

Blue Angels Fat Albert Airline on board camera cockpit crew raw ...
by Cargo GSA | I shot this on the Panosonic HVX200AP 720P30PN. This raw video is of the nine minute performance over Barksdale Airforce Base. Airshow in Bossier City.

Can This P-38 Be Saved? from Air & Space Magazine

Students receive firsthand history lesson from World War II veteran - Adrian Daily Telegram | Trained to fly on the larger B-24 Liberators, Thompson found himself assigned to a smaller, faster B-17 Flying Fortress once he got to England. ...

Detroit Science Center To Be The New Home Of Motorsports Hall Of ...
- powerboats, truck racing, drag racing, motorcycles, air racing, and even racing snowmobiles. It also showcases exhibits and photographs of the personalities, manufacturers and machines of all kind of racing and their rich legacy. ...

Lasham Airfield from Let Let Let - Warplanes by Robert | Second World War Aircraft Preservation Society is in the north-east area of Lasham Airfield, Alton, Hampshire. Collection include wartime buildings, material recovered from the crash sites as well outdoor displayed airplanes. On the same airfield is also stationed gliding club. Some of the aircrafts from the museum display are obtained from the other air forces and also include airplanes not operated by UK operators.

Season's Greetings to everyone -- no exceptions... from UCAP Fodder by Dave Higdon | Wichita -- Nothing like the sharp edge of powder snow powered by 40-knots plus to put a pilot in a holiday mood on Christmas Eve...the winds wiped clean paved surfaces exposed to its power, driving the white crystalline precipitation downwind to pile up on upright, upwind surfaces -- or to scream over an obstruction only to pile waist deep in the wind shadow behind the object…

F-104 Starfighters from FenceCheck Forums - Grazzanise, one day later... March 23rd, 2004. Weather didn't really cooperate.

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Indy Transponder 24-DEC-09 1900z

Merry Christmas to all of our readers!

The Kathryn Report: Blue Angels announce plans for Cape Girardeau ... by Diamond Pilots
Cape Girardeau will revive its air show in 2010 with a big name -- the U.S. Navy Blue Angels precision flying team. The once-annual air show was canceled for 2009 when sponsorships dried up in the economic recession and the Blue Angels ...

Show Preview - Singapore Airshow 2010
With more than 800 exhibiting companies expected to gather from over 40 countries, Singapore Airshow - Asia's largest and one of the world's top three aerospace and defense exhibitions - is set to scale new heights in 2010.

'Ejector seat failed to launch' - Independent Online
Investigators were able to piece together the likely cause of the crash, in part through photographs that spectators took during the airshow. ...

Tournament of Roses Float Honors Tuskegee Airmen - Black Voice News
"The unique role of the airmen and airwomen who broke race barriers in military afromtion history and other areas of flight in later years, ...

Bowie Civil Air Patrol earns state, national awards - Squadron honored for event management, boosting youth recruitment from The Kathryn Report
Bowie's squadron of the Civil Air Patrol earned national and state level distinctions this year for assisting in the management of a major air show and achieving a high level of training for its cadets and adult members.
The Maryland Civil Air Patrol chose the Bowie squadron from among 25 units in the state as its Squadron of the Year, and squadron commander Capt. Jeffrey Welch as Squadron Commander of the Year.(Read more... )

Eye on Santa: NORAD tracking his sleigh from Air Force Times
A tradition continues this year, as NORAD has started tracking Santa's journey around the world.NORAD can't pinpoint Mr. Claus' exact route — only he knows exactly when he'll stop at each house. But the Santa tracker is pretty spot on.NORAD has been on the job since 1955, tracking the man's every move.Click the link below to see exactly where Santa is at this minute.FOLLOW SANTA

NORAD Santa Tracker Tells You Where the Big Guy Is on the Big Night [Holidays] from Lifehacker
Somebody needs to keep track of Santa Claus as he makes his way around the globe Christmas Eve, and, once again, NORAD has stepped up to the plate. This year they're providing radar coverage and up-to-the-minute info on his every move.
Volunteer military personnel work into the wee hours of the night tracking St. Nick on special equipment that pinpoints his location on Google Maps and Google Earth. "Santa Cams" catch him in action as he criss-crosses the Earth in his sleigh and, if you watch closely, you'll even get to see Santa do a flyby of the International Space Station.
Santa trackers issue regular reports on the web site as the Big Guy stops at various countries on his way to the United States; the trackers also remind kids about the importance of going to bed so he doesn't have to skip the homes of boys and girls that are still wide awake. (How convenient!) The trackers also keep busy answering live phone calls and emails from kids around the country who call or write in with questions. You can also track Santa in Google Earth, visit m.noradsanta.org on your mobile device, or just search for "Santa" on Google Maps on your phone.
NORAD's holiday web site is already up and running with games and activities, but the real fun begins at 12:00 a.m. MST on December 24th. That's when the Santa Cams flip on and viewers can watch Santa and his elves get the sleigh and reindeer ready to go out for the night.
Be sure to check out the video compilation of scenes from last year's cams to see some of the places NORAD caught Santa last year. If you've never visited the NORAD Santa Tracker on Christmas, you really must do so. It's so cool that you'll want to make it a holiday tradition.
Official NORAD Santa Tracker

Grissom, NORAD help youngsters track Santa from Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind.
Your friends at Grissom ARB and the North American Aerospace Defense Command are making it easy for youngsters to view Santa as he and his elves prepare for Christmas.
On the Grissom Internet Web Site, there is a link for "NORAD Tracks Santa" which takes youngsters to a special site that allows them to count down the days until Christmas, play interactive games, and even track the man in red when he begins his Christmas eve journey.
To "Track Santa," simply visit the Grissom ARB Internet web site at http://www.grissom.afrc.af.mil/ and local the special "Santa Track" link located on the bottom right of the page.
more...

Schoolboy Jack is flying high - The Bolton News
HE is not old enough to drive a car — but 16-year-old Jack Shaw was not scared when he took to the skies flying an aeroplane all by himself. ...

Tenn. center posts video of tests on jets, rockets - WRCB-TV
The testing center at Arnold Air Force Base is posting videos online of their tests on F-35 and F-22 fighter jets and other NASA equipment in wind tunnels ...

Video tour of Spaceport America from Personal Spaceflight
KRQE-TV of Albuquerque published this week a three-minute video tour of Spaceport America from a recent tour of the spaceport, part of a new bus tour program being offered to allow the public to see the spaceport under construction. The video includes a number of aerial shots that shows the current progress on the spaceport's long runway as construction crews lay down layers of concrete and asphalt.

Christmas-Eve Message from the Moon from Spaceports
Forty-one years ago Apollo 8 astronauts were the first human beings to circle the Moon caputuring the attention of billions of peoples on the Earth. Now humans have found water and other significant minerals and are in a global contemplation of new robotic probes and a return to the Moon by human beings. It is time to seriously think about, what Bill Gates years ago called, "The Road Ahead."

Astronauts Get Two Christmases in Space - Space.com
Later, on Russia's Space Station Mir, NASA astronauts John Blaha and David Wolf celebrated American Christmas in 1996 and 1997, respectively. ...

The Pilot's 'Twas The Night Before Christmas from All Things Afromton
'Twas the night before Christmas, and out on the ramp, Not an airplane was stirring, not even a Champ. The aircraft were fastened to tiedowns with care In hopes that come morning, they all would be there. Click on image to enlarge The fuel trucks were nestled, all snug in their spots, While peak gusts from three two zero reached 39 [...]

Uncontrolled Airspace #165 "Of Autopilots, Pilots and Dogs"
Hacked UAVs... when even GA can't make the trip faster... an octo-student-pilot... and lots of OFLOTWs. All this and more on Uncontrolled Airspace #165 "Of Autopilots, Pilots and Dogs"