Planenews Aviation News

Women Pilots of World War II Inspired Generations.

gil — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:27:27 +0000

WASHINGTON (AFNS): Under a clear blue sky, beneath the spires of the U.S. Air Force Memorial here, military aviators gathered March 9 here to pay homage to the achievements of the first women to fly military aircraft during World War II.

Oldest Known Flying Car Up For Auction.

gil — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:43:24 +0000

It doesn’t look like a car, and it doesn’t look like it would fly, but what is believed to be the world’s oldest “roadable aircraft” is for sale. The antique was built in 1934 by Frank Skroback and at the very minimum provides proof that people have long dreamed of cars that can be flown like airplanes.

Digging Deeper on Homebuilt Safety.

gil — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:40:27 +0000

Extracting accurate statistics for amateur-built accidents can be an exhausting exercise in numbers, especially since the FAA and NTSB often use different statistics to report the homebuilt aircraft fleet size and the accidents that occur each year.

Boeing 787 Begins First Flight-Test Operations Outside of Washington.

gil — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:34:39 +0000

VICTORVILLE, Calif. (PRNewswire-FirstCall) The second Boeing (NYSE: (BA)) 787 Dreamliner, ZA002, landed at 10:53 a.m. local time today in Victorville, Calif. This marks the beginning of the first flight-test operations outside of Washington state for the program.

Boeing Receives Phase 1 of Contract for US Air Force QF-16 Drone.

gil — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:28:37 +0000

ST. LOUIS: Boeing [NYSE: (BA)] has been awarded a U.S. Air Force contract worth approximately $69.7 million for the initial engineering, manufacturing and development of QF-16 Full Scale Aerial Targets to replace the QF-4 fleet. Under the terms of the remainder of the contract, expected to be awarded in coming years, up to 126 QF-16 drones will deliver beginning in 2014.

NASA space shuttle gearing up for big phase out

coondoggie — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:44:56 +0000

While politicians banter about NASA’s budget and the future of manned space flight, the space agency is prepping the critical technology its remaining four space shuttle missions will deliver to complete the International Space Station. www.networkworld.com/news/2010/030910-layer8-nasa-space-shuttle-retirement.html?hpg1=bn [...]

Obama to Nominate Retired Army General to Head TSA.

gil — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:31:17 +0000

The White House will nominate Robert A. Harding, a retired major general with 33 years of Army experience, as head of the Transportation Security Administration, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced March 8.

Flying a B–24.

gil — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:27:20 +0000

In 1957 Lloyd Nolen, a former World War II Army Air Corps flight instructor, and four friends purchased a war-surplus P–51 Mustang, Red Nose. They paid $1,500, which included whatever fuel was in the tanks. A few years later the group decided to obtain other World War II aircraft but was dismayed to learn that although America had produced almost 300,000 airplanes for the war effort, most were gone—stripped of armament and instruments, and then either abandoned or demolished. Only a few remained airworthy. What started as a hobby evolved into an urgent mission to preserve history.

Air Force Medics Deploy to Support Chilean Medical Efforts.

gil — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:23:46 +0000

LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS): An Air Force Expeditionary Medical Support team composed of more than 80 Airmen deployed to Chile March 8 from here to aid local medics in their response to victims of the 8.8 magnitude earthquake Feb. 27 in Chile.

Northrop Grumman Expands Composites Manufacturing Training for Major Turkish F-35 Supplier.

gil — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:14:30 +0000

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.: Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) is adding momentum to Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc.'s (TAI) readiness to build complete center fuselages for the F-35 Lightning II aircraft by teaching its engineers how to build the complex composite structures used in the jet.

Skydiver Survives Plummeting 3,000 Feet.

gil — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:08:44 +0000

A skydiver miraculously survived after plummeting 3,000 feet to the ground when her parachute became tangled, The Sun reported Tuesday. Lareece Butler escaped with bruises, a broken leg and concussion after slamming into the ground in South Africa. The mum-of-one leaped from a plane with a parachute which opened automatically but suffered problems within seconds of exiting the aircraft.

Aer Lingus to Axe 670 Jobs.

gil — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:05:04 +0000

Aer Lingus is to lay off 670 staff as it aims to save about 97 million euro in a radical restructuring plan, the airline confirmed.

Airbus A380 Woes Continue To Cripple EADS Earnings.

gil — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:02:45 +0000

EADS CFO’s comments about “2-to-3 years” before any progress emerges on the A380 further highlights the disaster the airplane become – it remains a blot on aerospace development with a future about as bright as a black hole. Part of the problem with the A380 stem from chronic design challenges in addressing how to take weight out of the airplane to meet performance guarantees - while Airbus conveniently blames airline cabin customization as the reason for delivery delays.

EU Warns US Against Protectionism in Pentagon Deal.

gil — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:55:38 +0000

BRUSSELS: The EU on Tuesday warned the United States against protectionism after a European-led consortium pulled out of the bidding for an Air Force contract, saying the terms had been altered to favor a U.S. company.

U.S. Air Force Outlines Future Spending, Aircraft Needs.

gil — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:51:12 +0000

The demand for F-35 is still there, but the USAF also has other aircraft it is interested in Congress has mandated the U.S. Air Force draft the "Aircraft Investment Plan" that outlines aircraft purchase goals from 2021 to 2040.

NASA: Space Shuttles Could Fly Longer With Extra Funds.

gil — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:48:13 +0000

WASHINGTON: The chief of NASA's space shuttle program said Tuesday that the agency could technically continue to fly its three aging orbiters beyond their planned 2010 retirement if ordered to do so by President Barack Obama and lawmakers. All it would take would be the extra funding needed to pay for it.

Airbus to Increase A320 Family Production Rate.

gil — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:44:57 +0000

Airbus will increase the monthly production rate for its single-aisle A320 Family from the current rate of 34 to 36, starting December 2010. The production rate for the long-range A330/A340 Family will be maintained at the current level of eight per month.

Hawaiian Orders One More A330-200 for Long-Haul Operation.

gil — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:41:35 +0000

Hawaiian Airlines, which becomes a new Airbus operator this spring, has placed a firm order for an additional A330-200 aircraft. The purchase joins an existing Hawaiian order for six A330-200s and six A350 XWB-800s from Airbus, as well as three leased A330s that will be operated by the airline.

Virgin Galactic Applauds Legal Protection Against Space Tourist Lawsuits.

gil — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:38:30 +0000

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: The president of the most prominent company developing a space tourism business on March 3 applauded legislation signed into law in New Mexico that reduces the risk that space tourism operators will face crippling lawsuits brought by surviving family members of a participant injured or killed during flight.

U.S. Air Force Set To Begin X-51 Hypersonic Flight Tests.

gil — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:34:02 +0000

WASHINGTON: The U.S. Air Force is gearing up for the first of four planned test flights of a hypersonic aircraft designed to operate for much longer durations and cover far greater distances than previous platforms of its type.