MIDWEEK UPDATE 28 MAY 2014
1 Plan your weekend
2 Forthcoming events
3 South African Airways appoints cap Eric Manentsa as Chief Pilot
4 Textron AirLand's Scorpion to Make International Debut at The Royal International Air Tattoo and Farnborough
5 Celebrating 10 Years of Sport Pilot/Light-Sport Aircraft at Oshkosh
6 History Comes Alive at Warbirds in Review
7 EBACE2014 Organizers Say Show Ranks Among Strongest to Date
8 Aerion unveils larger, three-engine supersonic business jet
9 Russian Helicopters will showcase the multirole Ka-32A11BC, the Mi-38 transport and passenger helicopter and the Ka-52 Alligator
10 Rate Card
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31 May: New Castle Airshow. Contact: E-mail: johan@champ.co.za Marketing, Johan 082 923 0078 or Christo 083 375 5883
1 June: Baragwanath Airfield celebrates its 95th anniversary. The original airfield was created in 1919, with the Johannesburg Light Plane Club being formed in 1926. The club is still in operation today at the 'new' Baragwanath south of Lenasia and we are planning a good old fashioned fly-in to celebrate South Africa's aviation heritage and its future with a wide variety of aircraft present at the airfield on the day (old rubbing shoulders with new) and some great entertainment in the form of live music, vintage cars and motorcycles and period dress competition.
Please RSVP to Courtney Watson with your name, names of your guests, your aircraft type and Registration e-mail: cwatson@stithian.com 083 642-3565. Information will be available on the Johannesburg Light Plane Club website and updates and notices will be sent via E-mail Courtney.
7 June: Pietermaritzburg airshow. Contact: John Neilon e-mail: john@eastcoastsa.net 082 485 5514 or Gerna Fraser 031 563 9165 e-mail: gerna@kznairevents.co.za
7 June: SAAF Museum flying training and open days. Contact: Capt. Kobus Kapp 012 351 2342 E-mail: webmaster@saafmuseum.org
14 June: Margate airshow. Contact: John Neilon e-mail: john@eastcoastsa.net 082 485 5514 or Gerna Fraser 031 563 9165 e-mail: gerna@kznairevents.co.za
21 June: Richards Bay airshow. Contact: John Neilon e-mail: john@eastcoastsa.net 082 485 5514 or Gerna Fraser 031 563 9165 e-mail: gerna@kznairevents.co.za
20 & 21 June: Mafikeng Memorial War Fly-In. Contact Connie: Conradie 018 387 1425 or e-mail: info@mafikeng-flyingclub.co.za
28 June: Mkuze airshow. Contact: John Neilon e-mail: john@eastcoastsa.net 082 485 5514 or Gerna Fraser 031 563 9165
5 July: Ulundi airshow KZN Winter Air Tour. Contact John Neilon 082 485 5514 E-mail: john@eastcoastsa.net or Gerna Fraser 031 563 9165 e-mail: gerna@kznairevents.co.za
5 July: SAAF Museum flying training and open days. Contact Capt. Kobus Kapp 012 351 2342 E-mail: webmaster@saafmuseum.org
17 to 20 July: SAC Nationals - venue TBA. Contact Annie Boon e-mail: chunge@mweb.co.za
18 to 20 July: Taildraggers to Nylstroom fly-in. Contact Richard Nicholson Nylstroom Flying Club 082 490 6227
19 & 20 July: Parys Time Trials and flour bombing competition - Golden Oldies & Microlights. Contact Scully Levin E-mail: flyboys@global.co.za
28 July-3 Aug: EAA's annual AirVenture to be held in Oshkosh USA. Camping on the airfield contact Neil Bowden e-mail: neil1@telkomsa.net
2 August: SAAF Museum flying training and open days. Contact Capt. Kobus Kapp 012 351 2342 E-mail: webmaster@saafmuseum.org
6 -10 August: Race of Champions - Ulundi airfield. Contact Mariska at AirTeam e-mail: Mariska@airteam.co.za
17 August: Grand Rand airshow. Contact Stuart Coetzee 011 827 8884 E-mail: Carolyn@randairport.co.za
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His appointment is effective 1 June 2014.
Capt. Manentsa has been flying for SAA for twenty years, and has been the fleet captain on the A319/A320 fleet for the past six years. As chief pilot he will be responsible for the airline's 800 pilots in terms of their day to day function, ensuring the company remains compliant to local and international regulations and to continue supporting the company in fulfilling its mandate.
Minister Gigaba described his appointment as a proud moment for the airline which will go down in history, as a 'milestone decision' coinciding with the country celebrating 20 years of democracy.
Capt. Manentsa has 30 years of experience in aviation in South Africa, as a pilot and in managerial and leadership roles. His background encompasses the broader industry: commercial, military and the general aviation sector.
To date he has amassed approximately 14 000 flying hours.
He obtained his Commercial License in 1987 and has worked for the Department of Transport in the former Ciskei, the SA Department of Defence and completed Officer Forming and Junior Command staff courses at the South African Air Force College.
He joined SAA in 1994 as an in-flight relief pilot on the Boeing 747 for nine months before flying as a First Officer on the Boeing 737 on the domestic and regional network. He has also flown the Airbus A320s and when these were phased out he flew as Senior First Officer on the Airbus A340s.
In 2005, twelve years after joining SAA he became a captain on the Airbus A319/320. On 1 July 2008 he was appointed as Fleet Captain of the A319/A320.
Capt. Manentsa played a key role in the formation of the original SAA Cadet Pilot Programme, He has also been a key figure in the airlines further efforts towards transforming the flight deck in that he was a member of the committee that was tasked by SAA and SAAPA (the SAA Pilots Association) to address the seniority of those pilots from non-white groups who got their licenses prior to 1994 and subsequently joined SAA after 1994.
This process resulted in producing the airline's first black and female captains. To maintain the integrity of the process, he opted to not have his seniority adjusted, even though he met the criteria for this.
He has also served as an executive member on SAAPA and the Airline Pilot's Association of South Africa.
Other achievements:
He was also involved in designing and developing a recruitment and selection policy for the flight deck crew.
He was appointed as non-executive director in the Board of the Commercial Aviation Association of South Africa.
In 2007 he with others co-founded Mtha Aviation which seeks to further contribute to the skills development agenda in the industry.
He holds a BA (Industrial psychology), and BA Honours degree and is currently busy with a Master's degree in Business Leadership.
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Textron AirLand, LLC, a joint venture between Textron Inc. and AirLand Enterprises, LLC, today announced that the Scorpion will fly from Wichita, Kansas to the United Kingdom, appearing at two of the world's premier defence aviation exhibitions. Scorpion will participate in Royal Air Tattoo from July 11 to 13, immediately followed by Farnborough International Air Show from July 14 to 20.
The flight to Europe comes just six months after Scorpion's first flight in December 2013. Since that time, Scorpion has completed 41 test flights for a total of 77 hours. "We're confident that the Scorpion will excel in its first international flights, travelling about 4,700 nautical miles to the UK this July," said Bill Anderson , president of Textron AirLand. "The aircraft has passed all of its early testing milestones, and now we're excited about demonstrating its long-range performance," he added.
In recent flight tests, Scorpion has proven to be very reliable and agile, reaching a top speed of 0.76 Mach or 455 KTAS. As a high subsonic aircraft, Scorpion will be accompanied by another powerful jet during its flight to Europe. The prototype Cessna Citation Sovereign+ business jet-capable of 460 KTAS-will serve as the chase jet, observing and recording Scorpion's performance and carrying the ground support crew. The Scorpion-Sovereign+ pair will follow a northern route, leaving Kansas in early July and traveling through Canada and Nordic nations before arriving in the UK.
The roundtrip distance of nearly 10,000 nm will be logged as part of Scorpion's rigorous 2014 testing program, expected to reach 300-400 test hours and some 150 flights by year's end. For a closer look at the Scorpion and its mission capabilities, please visit www.ScorpionJet.com. Downloadable images and videos of recent test flights are available in the Scorpion Media Gallery.
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Numerous light-sport aircraft on display at AirVenture 2005's LSA Mall. Photo by Craig VanderKolk
Those two categories, officially announced just before EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2004 and active on September 1, 2004, not only created a new marketplace of aircraft and but also an innovative way of certificating aircraft through consensus standards rather than traditional type certification. The sport pilot and light-sport aircraft standards have influenced numerous other aviation regulations and innovations over the past decade.
"EAA worked for years to get the sport pilot/LSA rule approved by the FAA," said Timm Bogenhagen, EAA's ultralight and lightplane community manager. "After a decade it is still a work in progress, such as our continuing efforts to include training in low-mass, high-drag aircraft, and opening possibilities for electric aircraft. This rule, however, has allowed more than 100 new ready-to-fly aircraft designs to enter the market, representing one of the greatest bursts of aircraft introductions over the past half-century. The sport pilot/LSA approach to aircraft certification is also being used as the model for FAR Part 23 reform."
Bogenhagen added that more than 4,000 people have become new sport pilots and thousands of existing pilots have chosen to fly under the sport pilot rules, which allow use of a valid driver's license for medical certification in lieu of a third-class medical certificate.
"That has been one of the major successes of the rule," he said. "This set the foundation for major reforms in aviation medical certification for private pilots. Sport pilot has provided 10 years of operational data proving that flying without a third-class medical certificate does not jeopardize safety."
EAA will be working with the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association (LAMA) on 10th anniversary activities during AirVenture. Some of those include:
A display of light-sport aircraft that highlights the history and contributions of the sport pilot and light-sport aircraft rules
A forum with major players in the development and growth of the LSA community on Tuesday, July 29.Recognition for Oshkosh light-sport aircraft arrivals and sport pilots Flying demonstrations from the ultralight airstrip
"Although we've seen remarkable things from the first 10 years of sport pilot and light-sport aircraft, this celebration also points us toward the future of these categories as part of the total general aviation community," Bogenhagen stressed. "A decade of progress has given us more opportunities as we seek to grow participation in aviation."
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Experience military aviation history with some of the most storied aircraft ever built told by the heroic veterans who flew them as the EAA Warbirds of America hosts twice-daily (10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Monday through Saturday) Warbirds in Review presentations at EAA AirVenture's Warbird Alley.
These informational sessions explore an aircraft's wartime operation and restoration, while veterans share stories about what it was like to fly the aircraft in combat or support the operation as a ground crew member.
Preceding the daily presentations at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., the Warbirds Living History Group re-enactors will do an educational talk/demonstration regarding the flight gear associated with the upcoming aircraft. Singers will also provide entertainment from the 1940s-1960s just prior to actual Warbirds in Review sessions. All Vietnam veterans in attendance will be recognized before each session, and book signing opportunities will follow in the Warbirds Merchandise Building.
Here's the lineup for this year's Warbirds in Review presentations:
Monday, July 28
10 a.m. - Fairchild PT-19 with owner Richard Smith and Jack Hibbin, World War II PT-19 instructor and author of Take 'er Up Alone, Mister.
1 p.m. - Lockheed P-38 Lightning and Curtis P-40 Warhawk with Ron Fagen of the Fagen Fighters WWII Museum. Also featuring Christina Olds, author of Fighter Pilot: The Memoirs of Legendary Ace Robin Olds, a book about her father's experiences as a World War II ace and Vietnam F-4 pilot.
Tuesday, July 29
10 a.m. - North American T-28 with owner Ken Fardie (veteran TBA), telling the Ravens/Air America story.
1 p.m. - P-51 Old Crow with owners Jim Hagedorn, Jack Roush, and featuring triple-ace Bud Anderson, author of To Fly & Fight: Memoirs of a Triple Ace. Along with Old Crow, this year will highlight Bud's service in Vietnam with a surprise guest and a story you will not want to miss.
Wednesday, July 30
10 a.m. - Bell UH-1 Iroquois "Huey" helicopter owned by the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation, with Maj. Gen Patrick Brady. A Medal of Honor recipient and Huey pilot, Brady is the author of Dead Man Flying.
Note: the AAHF will also bring its Bell AH-1 Cobra.
1 p.m. - Cessna L-19/O-1 Bird Dog and de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou owned by Cavanaugh Flight Museum with "Caribou Bob" Schrader, Bird Dog pilots the "Catkillers," Charlie Finch, and Doc Clement. Finch and Clement are co-authors of A Hundred Feet Over Hell.
Thursday, July 31
10 a.m. - Fairey Gannett with owner Shannan Hendricks, veteran pilot Harry Odone, and crew members Ron Stoner and Kirk Hexum. Including Jack Morrissey, author of Stories From "Uncle Jack"
1 p.m. - North American B-25 Mitchell Bomber owned by Fagen Fighters WWII Museum, with special guest TBA.
Friday, August 1
10 a.m. - Douglas A-4 Skyhawk and A-1 Sky Raider owned by Paul Wood, with pilots Dave Waldrop and Hoot Gibson and veterans TBA. Barb Ganson, author of Texas Takes Wing: A Century of Flight in the Lone Star State.
1 p.m. - North American P-51 with owner Tony Buechler and veteran Jerry Yellin. The pilot who flew on the last mission of World War II, Yellin is the author of Of War & Weddings.
Saturday, August 2
10 a.m. - Beechcraft T-34s with multiple owners, representing all service branches and pilot Bob Hoover, author of Forever Flying.
1 p.m. - Lockheed P-38 Glacier Girl with owner Rod Lewis along with pilots Steve Hinton, Bob Cardin, and featuring author Bee Haydu, Letters Home: 1944-1945.
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EBACE2014 Static Display of AircraftAs the 14th annual European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE2014) concluded its third and final day today, organizers reported that this year, EBACE further enhanced its reputation as Europe's largest and most important business aviation trade show.
EBACE is jointly hosted by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA). The event is held each year at Geneva's Palexpo conference center and at Geneva International Airport. The 2014 show took place from May 20 to 22.
"This year's EBACE will be remembered as one of our strongest shows to date," said EBAA CEO Fabio Gamba. "We are delighted with the level of business done, and with the excitement that characterized the event, not to mention all of the positive feedback we have received from exhibitors and attendees alike. Given the beautiful weather, the new single, contiguous exhibit floor layout and the enthusiasm among show participants, we have had a great EBACE2014."
EBACE2014 Show FloowNBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen agreed, adding: "We are very pleased that all indicators were up this year, and that EBACE continues to demonstrate its value as a premier venue for companies in the industry to give aviation decision-makers a first-hand look at their products and services."
To illustrate Bolen's point, EBACE organizers noted the following:
The number of EBACE2014 exhibitors in Palexpo Halls 4, 5 and 6 increased by 8 percent over last year's exhibitor count.
The number of booth spaces sold for EBACE2014 grew by more than 4 percent over the number for EBACE2013, giving this year's EBACE its largest footprint ever.
This year's aircraft display was once again completely sold out.
The show proved again to be an effective news-making venue for providers of business aviation products and services. On the "Media Day," before EBACE2014 opened, a host of press conferences were held, and several aircraft manufacturers unveiled new aircraft models during the show.
At the time EBACE2014 closed, attendance at the show was up by more than 7 percent over that for EBACE2013.
"We thank the exhibitors and attendees whose strong support for EBACE2014 made it such a success," Gamba concluded. "We look forward to welcoming everyone back to Geneva in 2015."
Next year's EBACE, which will mark the 15th edition of the event, will return to Palexpo and Geneva International Airport from May 19 to 21, 2015.
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Aerion Corporation, the leader in commercial supersonic technology, today introduced a larger configuration for the first in a family of supersonic business jets. The company is growing its technical organization and preparing to enter into industrial collaborations aimed at launching a new era of supersonic flight.
The Aerion AS2 retains a supersonic natural laminar flow wing, the key enabling technology behind practical and efficient supersonic and high-subsonic flight. The aircraft has a larger cabin, with cross-section dimensions roughly equivalent to those of today's long-range business jets. It also has a trijet configuration that confers a number of benefits, especially for runway performance, external noise properties, and maximum range. The new configuration draws heavily on worldwide operator input.
According to Aerion CEO Doug Nichols: "The message from many of today's long-range business jet operators is very clear: They want a supersonic jet sooner rather than later; a cabin comparable in comfort to today's long-range jets; a range of 5,000 nm or better; and they are willing to pay more than $100 million for such an aircraft. That is the supersonic jet we are working to deliver."
A new market survey
In the first quarter of 2014, Aerion completed its third market study in ten years to assess demand for a supersonic business jet, as well as the basic parameters of the most preferable configuration. That study, conducted by Roland Vincent Associates, confirmed a consistent level of demand for more than 600 units over 20 years, although with a desire for a larger cabin and more range.
One difference from the earliest market research study in 2005 was the incorporation of on-line and face-to-face interviews from long-range jet operators based in markets around the world. The initial study surveyed mainly U.S. operators. "In the latest study, we analyzed a number of design trade-offs to determine the optimum aircraft," said Vincent.
"We interviewed more than 130 operators of large cabin jets on-line and conducted 28 face-to-face interviews in the U.S., Europe, Middle East and Asia." "The bottom line," according to Vincent, "is that the desire for supersonic transportation is steady and strong. The buyers are there. Their biggest question is, when can we have one?"
Aerion's answer is that such an aircraft would be available in about five years from a formal program launch with industrial collaborators in the aerospace industry. The company anticipates certification in or about 2021.
A bigger and better supersonic flight experience
The Aerion AS2 is a three-engine jet and is larger than the originally conceived Aerion supersonic business jet. Fuselage length is 160 feet and maximum takeoff weight is 115,000 pounds. Minimum projected range is 4,750 nautical miles with the intention to achieve a range of more than 5,000 nautical miles. The aircraft will have a 30-foot cabin in a two-lounge layout plus galley and both forward and aft lavatories, plus a baggage compartment that is accessible in-flight. Cabin dimensions widen from entryway to the aft seating area where height is six feet, two inches and cabin width is seven feet, three inches.
Balanced field length is 7,500 feet when fully fueled. The company expects that operators will be able to routinely operate at takeoff weights below 100,000 pounds while retaining trans-Atlantic and transcontinental U.S. capability, thus allowing the aircraft to operate from Teterboro as well as other major business aviation hubs with runways in the 5,000- to 6,000-foot range.
As with the smaller, original Aerion SBJ, the new aircraft will have two cruise "sweet spots," where range and efficiency are at a maximum: one at about .95 Mach, for efficient cruise where supersonic flight is prohibited; and one at about Mach 1.4. At both speeds, total operating cost will be comparable to today's largest ultra-long-range business jets. Maximum speed is Mach 1.6.
Aerion is in discussion with all leading engine suppliers to determine the optimum core engine for adaptation to supersonic requirements. The selected engine will be in the 15,000 lb. thrust range. The original Aerion supersonic business jet was to be powered by twin 19, 600 lb. thrust Pratt & Whitney JT8D engines. While a well-proven design, the JT8D originated in the 1960s. It had excellent characteristics for a supersonic jet (for example, its low bypass ratio), however Aerion subsequently determined that the engine was growth-limited.
Moreover, newer, more efficient and more durable engines with lower emissions were preferable for the AS2 and follow-on aircraft.
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Russian Helicopters will showcase the multirole Ka-32A11BC, the Mi-38 transport and passenger helicopter and the Ka-52 Alligator reconnaissance and combat model, offered for sale outside Russia through Rosoboronexport. At ILA 2014 the company will hold meetings and negotiations with leading aerospace companies and participate in briefing sessions and conferences.
Ka-32A11BC
The Ka-32A11BC is well known throughout Europe primarily as a fire-fighting helicopter, and can also fly search-and-rescue missions, provide support for construction work and transport cargo on an external sling. The Ka-32A11BC holds EASA type certification and meets FAR-29 and AP-29 requirements. It is operated in Austria, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Switzerland and other countries.
The new commercial transport and passenger Mi-38 will be showcased in medevac configuration. This helicopter can operate in a wide range of climatic conditions including maritime, tropical and cold climates. Serial production is planned to start in 2015 at Kazan Helicopters, a Russian Helicopters company. Currently the designer, Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, another Russian Helicopters company, is testing three prototypes of the Mi-38, with a fourth and final one due to join in the near future. In late 2013 the third prototype completed a maiden flight with new TV7-117V engines by Klimov. Using Russian-built engines will increase the helicopter's competitiveness among operators of Russian-built helicopters.
Mi-38
The Ka-52 Alligator made its international debut in summer 2013 at the 50th Paris Air Show at Le Bourget. The helicopter's superior qualities make it one of the best military machines on the market today. It includes the latest avionics suite, high-precision weaponry, and advanced defence and crew-protection systems. The Alligator has repeatedly demonstrated its flight abilities in practice, and today is in serial production and in service with the Russian Air Force.
Ka-52 Alligator
Also known as the Berlin Air Show, the ILA is one of Europe's most important industry events and has been held every two years since 1909. The organising body is the German Aerospace Industries Association.
Russian Helicopters, JSC is a subsidiary of UIC Oboronprom, which in turn is a part of State Corporation Rostec. It is one of the global leaders in helicopter production and the only helicopter design and production powerhouse in Russia. Russian Helicopters is headquartered in Moscow. The company comprises five helicopter production facilities, two design bureaus, a spare parts production and repair facility, as well as an aftersale service branch responsible for maintenance and repair in Russia and all over the world. Its helicopters are popular among Russian ministries and state authorities (Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Emergency Control Ministry), operators (Gazpromavia, UTair), major Russian corporations. Over 8000 helicopters of Soviet/Russian make are operated in 110 countries worldwide. Traditionally the demand is highest in the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Russia, and CIS countries. Russian Helicopters was established in 2007. In 20
13 its IFRS revenues increased 10% to RUB 138.3 billion. Deliveries reached 275 helicopters.
UIC Oboronprom, JSC is a multi-profile industrial and investment group established in 2002. It is a part of Russian Technologies State Corporation. Its main tasks include: helicopter engineering (Russian Helicopters, JSC) and engine-building (United Engine Industry Corporation managing company).
Rostekhnologii State Corporation (Rostec) is a Russian corporation established in 2007 in order to facilitate the development, manufacturing and export of high-technology industrial products of military and civil purposes. Today it comprises over 663 companies, which form 8 military-industrial and 5 civil industry holdings. Rostec's subsidiaries are located in 60 regions of Russia and supply their products to over 70 countries worldwide. In 2012 revenues of the Corporation amounted to RUB 931 billion, net profits were RUB 38.5 billion and total taxation exceeded RUB 109 billion.
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