MIDWEEK UPDATE 16 JULY 2014

THIS WEEK IN MIDWEEK UPDATE


1 Plan your weekend
2 Forthcoming events
3 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2014
4 Mi-8/17s demonstrate unique capabilities in operation in Russia's Far North
5 Most F-35 engines inspected
6 SubSonex JSX-2 Makes First Flights
7 Boeing, Emirates Finalize Order for 150 777Xs
8 Aircraft participation reaches new highs for Farnborough International Airshow
9 The A350 XWB flight test campaign marks key milestones
10 Rate Card


1

PLAN YOUR WEEKEND

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


2

2014 FORTHCOMING EVENTS

26 July: Botswana International Airshow. Contact: E-mail: gknipe@work.co.bw +267 71300646

26 July: Breakfast Fly-In. 29 Zandfontein in Brits, North West. Contact admin@atsheli.co.za for co-ordinates

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



8 - 9 August: EAA Convention at Wings Air Park East London. E-mail Mike Wright AA East London. E-mail
mjswright@me.com




17 August: Grand Rand airshow. Contact Stuart Coetzee 011 827 8884 E-mail:
Carolyn@randairport.co.za


23 August: Klerksdorp Airshow. Contact Cliff Lotter E-mail: exodus@telkomsa.net or 082 855 5550


12 -14 September: EAA Chapter 322 Sun 'n Fun at Brits airfield. E-mail
karlpix@icon.co.za or phone Karl at 082 331 4652


13 - 14 September: SAC Gauteng regionals and Judges Trophy - Vereeniging. Contact Annie Boon E-mail: change@mweb.co.za


17 -21 September: Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD2014) AFB Waterkloof South Africa. E-mail: info@aadexpo.co.za


25 - 28 September: Cirrus Migration to Namibia CDC Aviation. Contact Deon Wentzel 011 701 3835 or E-mail: sales@cdcaviation.co.za


27 September: PASASA TMG fly-in Parys airfield. Contact Marietjie van Niekerk Cell: 082 765 66


4 October: Petit Pilots Post Classic Aircraft Fly In. Contact Ivan 082 375 9180 or John 079 192 5866


3


EDDIE MCCALLUM FLEW TO OSHKOSH ALL THE WAY FROM ENGLAND OVER THE PAST MONTH



July 11, 2014 - Edward "Eddie" McCallum, EAA 1134927, of Longframlington, England, touched down in Oshkosh at about 10:00 Friday morning after flying his Flight Design CT-SW microlight here all the way from England. Photo credit: Ric Reynolds

Eddie departed Wick, Scotland, on June 11, and proceeded past the Faroe Islands to Iceland, then Greenland and over to Canada-where he met up with his wife and spent a couple of weeks before proceeding to the United States. His total flight time was about 55 hours, with the longest leg over water between Scotland and Iceland measuring 540 nautical miles.

He decided to make the trip to Oshkosh because he had flown to virtually every other European country in his 20 years and 2,600 flight hours as a pilot. "I've been everywhere-Greece, Portugal, Gibraltar," he said. Eddie originally looked forward to attending AirVenture, but circumstances forced him to depart about three weeks earlier than planned. A Robinson R-44 helicopter and a Piper PA-46 departed at the same time.

"The R-44 turned back at Iceland," he said, while the much faster Piper flew on ahead. Eddie made the flight essentially by himself. The airplane has a 7 to 8 hour range at 102 knots. He flew the Rotax 912S-powered CT-SW on premium auto fuel.

Following a fuel stop in Western Iceland, he flew to Greenland, but was forced to deviate south from his original course after ice accumulated on the wing and wind screen. He landed in Nuuk, Greenland, and later departed the country from Sisimiut headed for Canada.

While in Greenland, Eddie was able to catch England's June 14 World Cup opening soccer game against Italy, and there just happened to be an Italian watching as well. They made a bet that the loser would have to jump into the frigid waters of a nearby fiord. When Italy defeated England, 2-1, Eddie took the plunge.

Luckily, that was his only brush with water-although he was prepared with survival gear including a full wet suit. Eddie was very surprised at how wide Lake Michigan is, which he flew over on Friday morning before landing in Oshkosh.

Eddie, who operates a construction company, owns a 600-yard grass strip. He plans to begin his flight home in a couple of days, and although he won't be able to be a part of AirVenture, he'll follow the convention through EAA.org.

EAA's Tom Charpentier, government advocacy specialist, helped Eddie obtain a permit to fly into the U.S. by writing a support letter and following up with the international office in New York and the Milwaukee Flight Standards District Office.

SKYCRAFT PREPARES FOR FINAL CERTIFICATION, PRODUCTION RAMP-UP



The SkyCraft SD-1 Minisport S-LSA will be on display at AirVenture Oshkosh 2014. Photo by SkyCraft Airplanes

Pending FAA certification, SkyCraft Airplanes is gearing up to begin production of its new SD-1 Minisport single-place, special light-sport aircraft at a newly purchased manufacturing facility in Provo, Utah. SkyCraft, which has scheduled an FAA audit of the aircraft in two months, declared compliance with ASTM consensus standards for light-sport aircraft and completed flight-testing in May this year.

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2014 attendees can see the airplane up close at Exhibit 11 in the Main Aircraft Display.

Among the airplane's recent upgrades and refinements, the mechanical brakes on the SD-1 were replaced with a stronger, smoother, hydraulic brake system, shortening landing distance and improving taxi operations. Even with the improvements, SkyCraft has maintained its $54,850 price tag, which was announced at Oshkosh 2013. The company also claims a 1.8 gph fuel consumption rate and $12/hour operating costs for the fuel-injected Hirth F-23-powered aircraft, which runs on both premium auto fuel and 100LL avgas.

SkyCraft's new factory and hangar on Provo Municipal Airport, Utah, will triple current production space in anticipation of a 100-aircraft-per-year production rate.

For go to: www.skycraftairplanes.com.



4

MI-8/17S DEMONSTRATE UNIQUE CAPABILITIES IN OPERATION IN RUSSIA'S FAR NORTH


Russian-built Mi-8/17 helicopters received plaudits from experts during a round table on local and regional aviation in the Russian Far North in early July. The event was attended by the head of the Nenets Autonomous Region, Igor Koshin, as well as national aviation experts and representatives of equipment producers, operators and clients for aviation equipment.

"We have operated the Mi-8MTV since 1990, and since then have clocked up more than 40,000 flight-hours," said Valery Ostapchuk, CEO of Naryan-Mar United Air Detachment. "There have been no engine failures and no gearbox breakdowns. It is a wonderful helicopter and extremely reliable."

Naryan-Mar United Air Detachment is one of the largest helicopter operators in North-West Russia, and runs flights between settlements in the Nenets Autonomous Region along a 1,200 km stretch of the Arctic Ocean. The company runs passenger and cargo services, and operates search-and-rescue and medevac missions as well as providing medical care to local people. It also operates flights to ships at sea and offshore drilling platforms, and provides aerial photography and pipeline monitoring services. To develop its fleet, Naryan-Mar United Air Detachment plans to acquire four new Mi-8MTV-1 helicopters produced by Russian Helicopters, a subsidiary of Oboronprom, part of State Corporation Rostec.



The legendary Mi-8/17 series is renowned around the world and is in constant demand

The Mi-8/17 series is associated with many of the achievements and outstanding chapters in the history of Naryan-Mar United Air Detachment. In October 1994, for example, it was only thanks to an Mi-8MTV1 that it was possible to rescue everyone on board the Yakhroma after the vessel foundered in a storm in the Barents Sea. The pilot and rescue crew were awarded state honours for their roles in the mission.

The legendary Mi-8/17 series is renowned around the world and is in constant demand. These helicopters are used for medical purposes and search-and-rescue missions, to transport cargo and passengers, and in forest and aqua-conservation efforts. The capabilities of Mi-8/17 series helicopters are constantly expanding thanks to upgrades and the use of the latest equipment, which makes these reliable and economically efficient machines able to cope with even the most complex missions. More than 12,000 Mi-8/17 helicopters have been produced to date and delivered to a hundred countries around the world.


5


MOST F-35 ENGINES INSPECTED

Most of the 97 Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) F-35 fighter jets grounded last week have been inspected, and officials hope to wrap up the remaining inspections on Monday, which could pave the way for the resumption of flights of the Pentagon's newest warplane, U.S. military officials said.

Senior officials with the U.S. Navy, Air Force and F-35 program office, as well as from Britain and the Netherlands, will review the results of inspections of the jets' Pratt & Whitney engines to determine whether and under what circumstances to resume flights.

The U.S. military last week ordered a fleetwide grounding of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter after the engine on an Air Force F-35 A-model jet broke apart and caught fire as a pilot was preparing to take off from Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The incident threatens what was to be the F-35's international debut at two air shows in Britain that kick off on Friday and next week. No decision has yet been made on whether to allow F-35 jets to fly to Britain, an official with the Pentagon's F-35 program office said.



The U.S. military last week ordered a fleetwide grounding of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Photo © Reuters

Officials investigating the fire have determined what happened to the F135 engine built by Pratt, a unit of United Technologies Corp (UTX.N), but are still trying to understand why it happened, said one source familiar with the program.


Four Marine Corps F-35B jets are parked at an air base in southern Maryland, ready to travel to Britain. A fifth jet, a British F-35B, remains at Eglin. If officials allow flights to resume, the British jet could fly to Maryland on Tuesday, and the group of F-35Bs could depart for England on Wednesday, according to two sources. The aircraft must leave by Wednesday to be ready for flights at the Royal International Air Tattoo on Friday. But the jets could still make it to Britain for the big Farnborough show next week, officials said.

The incident has put on hold U.S. contract negotiations for the next batches of fighter jets and engines, which officials had hoped to conclude before the air shows, according to the Pentagon's F-35 program office and industry officials.

"There is some hesitation to conclude the contract negotiations until the scope of the issue is fully understood," said an official with the program office.

Lockheed's previous contracts with the Pentagon call for a 50-50 split of costs with the government, but the government is still trying to hammer out a similar arrangement with Pratt.


6

SUBSONEX JSX-2 MAKES FIRST FLIGHTS



Sonex aircraft is extremely pleased to announce that SubSonex Personal Jet model JSX-2 achieved first flight on Thursday, July 10th, completing a very successful series of initial test flights on Thursday and Friday.

SubSonex primary test pilot Bob Carlton is extremely pleased with the aircraft's performance and handling, with manoeuvres including light aerobatics by the end of the day's flying on Thursday



The SubSonex design team will be working to collect and analyse flight data in-order to finalize published performance numbers for the new jet -- the last step remaining before SubSonex Kit Reservation Deposit holders are given their opportunity to place firm orders for 2014 kit production!


7


BOEING, EMIRATES FINALIZE ORDER FOR 150 777XS

Boeing and Emirates Airline have finalized an order for 150 777Xs, valued at $56 billion at list prices. First announced as a commitment at the 2013 Dubai Airshow, the order by the world's largest 777 operator was part of the largest product launch in commercial jetliner history.

The order - a combination of 115 777-9Xs and 35 777-8Xs - also includes purchase rights for an additional 50 airplanes that, if exercised, could increase value to approximately $75 billion at list prices.

"With the order for 150 777Xs, Emirates now has 208 Boeing 777s pending delivery, creating and securing jobs across the supply chain," said Emirates president Sir Tim Clark. "Today Emirates operates more than one in every 10 Boeing 777s aircraft built. We fly 138 of these efficient planes across the globe spanning the USA and Latin America in the west, to New Zealand and Japan in the East. The 777X will offer us operational flexibility in terms of range, more passenger capacity and fuel efficiency, and we look forward to inducting them into our fleet from 2020."



The 777-9X will be 12 percent more fuel efficient than any competing aircraft. Photo © Boeing

"We are extremely proud to have Emirates, the world's largest 777 operator, continue its long-standing partnership with Boeing by becoming the largest launch customer for the 777X," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Ray Conner. "Being a customer-driven product, I'm confident the 777X - with its new engines and all-new composite wing design - will bring superior value in terms of performance, efficiency and reliability to Emirates and our other launch customers."

The 777X will introduce the latest technologies including the most advanced commercial engine ever - the GE9X by GE Aviation - and an all-new high efficiency composite wing that has a longer span than today's 777. The 777X family includes the 777-8X and the 777-9X, both designed to respond to market needs and customer preferences.

The 777-9X will be 12 percent more fuel efficient than any competing airplane, necessary in today's competitive environment. The 777-8X is 5 percent more efficient than its competitor at all ranges while providing for new network opportunities.

Design of the 777X is underway and production is set to begin in 2017, with first delivery targeted for 2020. To date, the 777X has accumulated 300 orders and commitments from six customers worldwide.



8


AIRCRAFT PARTICIPATION REACHES NEW HIGHS FOR FARNBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW

Airshow Organisers, Farnborough International Ltd today confirmed a record number of requests to exhibit aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow in both the static aircraft park and the flying display including more large bodied aircraft than in recent years. To date over 70 aircraft are confirmed as part of the static line-up and a further 23 for the flying display.

The show will also feature a number of Farnborough firsts this year across the seven days including the F-35 Lightning and Textron Airland Scorpion through to classics such as the ME262 and Spanish Navy's Sea Harrier which will be flying here for the first time.

The theme for the public airshow this year is 100 years of aviation and will feature aircraft from every decade of the past century. The public weekend will also commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of the first world war with a display by the Great War Display team.

In line with the Company's strategy to advance the public weekend, FIL has secured more flying and static display aircraft than ever before appearing for the public. A highlight of the new look public area this year will be a 'training zone' with military training aircraft on show from the past century.

Another new feature of the static display will be the vintage aircraft collection tent, where we will have examples of aircraft from the dawn of aviation up to and including the first world war such as the Sopwith Camel, Wright Flyer and Bleriot XI.

For Futures Day a highlight will be a flying display from 2 aircraft completed as part of the Boeing-Royal Aeronautical Society Schools Build a Plane programme.

9

THE A350 XWB FLIGHT TEST CAMPAIGN MARKS KEY MILESTONES



Among the key recent achievements of the programme are crosswind tests with MSN001 in Keflavik, Iceland Photo © Airbus

Airbus' flight test department is moving at full-speed with all five A350-900 developmental aircraft now flying - a fleet that has accumulated more than 2,100 total hours in over 500 flights. Among the key recent achievements of the programme are crosswind tests with MSN001 in Keflavik, Iceland; MSN003's hot-weather test campaign in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates; the first flight of MSN005 and two Early Long Flights (ELFs) performed by MSN002. Remaining certification tests include route-proving and "maximum energy" rejected takeoff evaluations, which will help pave the way for the A350 XWB's planned certification in the third quarter of 2014 and the subsequent delivery of the first customer aircraft to Qatar Airways before year-end.


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Midweek Update








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