MIDWEEK UPDATE 7 SEPTEMBER 2016


THIS WEEK IN MIDWEEK UPDATE


AvClicks Photo Competition……Plan Your Weekend……..Forthcoming Events


Aviation News………. Worldwide Incidents and Accidents


This Week in Aviation History………Advertising Rate Card




Pilot's Post is proud to launch its "AVclick 2016" aviation related photo competition. By entering your favourite photos, you will not only share your aviation photography passion with thousands of others, you will also stand a chance to win exciting prizes this year. Our prizes for this competition were carefully chosen to suit everyone's aviation interest and that is why we are offering the winner a choice between three different options.

For more information go to:
www.pilotspost.com/arn0000956


This Week's Four Finalist

To vote for your favourite photo click on "Vote for"




Vote for 19-1…………………………Vote for 19-2




Vote for 19-3………………………….Vote for 19-4



Go to www.pilotspost.com/arn0001049 to vote for the August finalist














7: EAA Chapter 322 monthly meeting, Dickie Fritz Moth Hall Edenvale. Contact editor@afskies.co.za

10: The East Rand Flying Club invites aviators to a free fly-in breakfast. Breakfast will be served from 08:00 till 10:30 in the marquee to the North of runway 14/32. Parking will be along the taxiway in front of the hangars to the North of 14/32. FASI frequency is 122.4. Call crossing N12 to North & N17 to the South. Join overhead @ 6800' for light aircraft & 6300' for microlights. Runway 03/21 is tar. Runway 04/22 grass is now a taxiway. NOTE: Runway 14/32 will be closed. All circuits to the NORTH for 32. Takeoff from 14/32 NOT PERMITTED. All circuits to the WEST for 03/21.

10: Rustenburg Rustenburg will be hosting a breakfast fly-in. Contact Mauritz Muller, mauritzmuller1@gmail.com. Rustenburg Airfield INFO: Elevation: 3700 feet Runway: 16 and 34, 1200 meters long, asphalt. Frequency: 122.4 Coordinates 25<38O39S 027<16O16E. Rustenburg is an unmanned airfield, you must ensure communication with other aircraft, join overhead at 5200 feet and then follow the normal joining procedure for runway 16 or 34 depending on the weather. Also see this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rustenburg_Airfield

10-11: SAC Gauteng regionals & Judges Trophy Vereeniging. Contact Annie Boon e-mail: chunge@mweb.co.za





SEPTEMBER

15: EAA Talk Show, Venue EAA Auditorium adjacent to TAC and Holding point of Runway 29, Rand Airport. Guest: James "Horse" Sweeney is a genuinely "unsung hero" having seen action in three or more theatres of war, WWII, Korea War, and the Rhodesian War. At the age of 92 Horse is still as sharp as a pin and an old friend of General Dennis Earp, who will also be at the show. During his career he has flown many historic types of aircraft including Spirfires, P51 Mustangs, DH85s, hawker Harts, Miles Masters, Avro Ansons, Harvards, P36 Mohawks, Tomahawks, Kittykawks, Vampires, DC 3s, DC 7s, C185s and Boeing 720s. Time 18h30-19h30 Time to order your drinks and boere or steak roll. Cost: R50.00 each (R30.00 for card carrying EAA members). RSVP As seats are limited, please book follows: sms your details to 0832597691 or email us at auditorium@eaa.org.za (note that email eaa.talkshow@icon.co.za will not be in operation for this event).

14-18: Africa Aerospace and Defence expo AFB Waterkloof. Contact Leona Redelinghuys e-mail:
expodir@aadexpo.co.za


17-18: 2016 Airfest at Wings Park. All welcome. Family fun combined with fly in and great laughs. Come over and have an awesome weekend. Vintage aircraft and even a jet or two. Go to www.airfest.co.za


24: Gaborone International Air Show. Gaborone, Botswana.
https://web.facebook.com/events/1191554624241034/



22-26: The 2016 Africa Cup . Hotel Numbi, Hazyview.




OCTOBER


1: Secunda Flying Club Navigation Rally on the 1st of October 2016. Trophies and prizes for the Winning club and Winners. After the race there will also be a spot landing competition. It will be hosted in conjunction with the Secunda Spring Festival which will form part of a big event for the town itself. Scully Levin with the Harvards will also do some displays and there will be helicopter rides on the day as well. Go to www.secundaflyingclub.co.za. Contact Jonty Esser e-mail: jonty@promptroofing.co.za Cell: 076 302 0451

1: SAAF Museum flying training and open days. webmaster@saafmuseum.org

1: SAPFA Grand Central fun rally & open precisions. Contact Rob Jonkers e-mail: rob@aerosud.co.za Cell: 082 804 7032

4 - 9: South African Hot Air Balloon Championships , New Castle. Contact Hanke Fourie Cell: 082 553 0210 E-mail: accounts@aeroclub.org.za

5: EAA Chapter 322 monthly meeting, Dickie Fritz Moth Hall Edenvale. Contact editor@afskies.co.za

15: Oct. Sheila Taylor Nav Rally - Krugersdorp . Up for grabs: the Sheila Taylor Navigational Skills Shield. This annual event was postponed due to weather and now rescheduled for the 15th October. Breakfast will be served in the clubhouse and there will be a prize giving after the event. The 26 SOUTH Clubhouse will be open for lunch as usual. Please support your club, invite friends and family and lets all have an enjoyable day. You may also enter directly on the SAPFA website at: http://www.sapfa.co.za/index.php/component/competition/?view=pilot


22-23: SAC KZN regionals Ladysmith. Contact Annie Boon e-mail: chunge@mweb.co.za

23 - 24: Karoo Gariep Fly-in. Contact PC Ferreira Cell: 082 567 9211 website: www.karoogariep.co.za

29: Port Elizabeth airshow. Contact Crystal Watson e-mail: cwatson@mweb.co.za Cell: 083 459 7758







PLACO RE-ESTABLISHES ITSELF WITHIN
AFRICAN AVIATION AND BECOMES AN OFFICIAL
PACIFIC AEROSPACE LIMITED REPRESENTATIVE



Above - As official Pacific Aerospace representative, Placo will be selling the P-750XSTOL across Africa.


PLACO was established in 1937, and through continued quality service has grown over the years to become a major player in the local aviation industry. On 1 April 2016, Chris Boshoff took over ownership of Placo (Pty) Ltd, becoming the CEO and sole owner of the company.

It is Boshoff's vision for Placo to again reach the levels of excellence and to surpass those levels which Placo was known for in the golden years of African general aviation. To achieve these goals requires a degree of strategizing and foresight to stimulate further growth.

The Parts division was re-opened on 1 July, and will continue to focus on and supply a large inventory of parts. Placo has always had a strong parts business and moving ahead various decisions have been made to strengthen Placo's parts business.

Customers can be assured that Placo has their best interests at heart and will do their best to provide their customers with a pleasant purchasing experience.

Their maintenance division will continue to operate as a highly regarded SACAA approved Piper, Cessna, Cessna Caravan and Beechcraft Piston Engine Service Centre. Placo is also in the process of obtaining its licencing for P-750XSTOL maintenance work.

The biggest news right now for Placo is that they are very proud to announce that they have become an official representative for Pacific Aerospace Limited (PAL), selling new P-750XSTOL aircraft across Africa.

The decision was made by Boshoff to align Placo's aircraft sales strategy with those strategies of a reputable OEM whose products are a true African fit. Finance offers will be available for suitable customers and they will be done on a case-by-case basis. Placo will be focussing on establishing a one stop shop for its new and existing P-750XSTOL clients, by providing maintenance as well as parts sales for the P-750XSTOL aircraft.

Together with the new aircraft sales strategy, Placo will also be focussing on the pre-owned aircraft market. Placo is therefore also very excited to have Gert Mouton joining its family as its Aircraft Sales Manager. Gert Mouton has been in aviation for 40 years and his knowledge of general aviation is surpassed by none and this will make him a great asset to Placo.

There is no doubt that in 80-odd years in business, Placo has built a depth and breadth of aviation expertise, underpinned by reliability, maintainability, endurance and state-of-the-art technology. Placo will use this expertise to grow as it focuses on the aircraft sales market within Africa.

Placo's head office is at Rand Airport.
For more information, contact Placo on:
Tel: +27(0)11 827 9303 / +27 (0) 11 827 9302
Fax: +27(0)11 824 3661
Email: chris@placo.co.za
Website. www.placo.co.za




AAD 2016 CONFIRMED AIRCRAFT



Photo Xu Zheng / commons.wikimedia.org
Confirmed for AAD 2016 is the Zambian Air Force Hongdu L-15 Falcon supersonic training and light attack aircraft.


Photo Sergey Ryabtsev / Air Pakistan / commons.wikimedia.org.
The Pakistan Air Force will be flying and displaying its locally developed Super Mushak training aircraft.


Photo commons.wikimedia.org
The Russian made, Sukhoi Superjet 100, will be making its first South African appearance at AAD 2016



EAA CHAPTER 322 SATURDAY BREAKFAST AT RAND


Photos by kind permission African Pilot





About 50 Chapter 322 members arrived at the EAA Auditorium at Rand Airport on Saturday morning to enjoy a hearty complimentary breakfast and enjoy some 'hangar talk' with friends. Several pilots flew in to the function that was an incredible gesture by Dr Mike Brown (chairman) and his splendid committee.



FLARIS JET ENGINE STARTED




Photo © Flaris

Flaris is proud to announce that they have just finished adapting the fuselage of the Flaris Jet with the new Williams FJ33-5A engine. The new power unit has been started in assistance with specialists from Williams Int. The engine works incredibly well.

It's a milestone for the whole private aviation sector. FLARIS is the world's smallest single-engine jet which is able to take-off even from short, grass runways. Its conception, technical parameters and state-of-the-art technology surpass all the jets that have been produced so far. Such an ambitious project required an exceptional and unmatched new generation engine, which FJ33-5A engine undoubtedly is. It was developed at Walled Lake based Williams International Company (USA). It's the most effective turbofan engine in the world. With 8,5 kN of thrust, it is incredibly efficient considering its 130 kg of dry weight.

Last month, William's CEO - Gregg Williams, has informed about their great success in finalizing the certification process in USA. The engine was approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Meanwhile, in Poland a similar process is taking place - where flight tests are being arranged with the Polish Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). It also involves selecting an airport and agreeing a schedule of the test flights.



ANTONOV COMPANY SIGNED COOPERATION AGREEMENT ON THE AN-225 PROGRAMME WITH AICC



Photo © Antonov

The Antonov Company,Ukroboronprom SC and Aerospace Industry Corporation of China (AICC) signed a cooperation agreement on the AN-225 programme. The parties expressed their intensions for long-term cooperation. The first stage of this interaction consists in construction of the second modernized AN-225 Mriya at Antonov Company and delivery of this aircraft to AICC. The second stage will be the organization of the joint series production of the AN-225 in China under licence of ANTONOV Company.

The AN-225 is currently the biggest aircraft in the world, with a take-off mass amounting to 640 tons and a working load of 250 tons. It was developed in the former Soviet Union in the 1980s and was initially designed as a carrier for the Soviet Buran (Snowstorm) space shuttle.

The only existing AN-225 aircraft took its first flight in 1988 and is now operated by Antonov Airlines, which is a part of the Antonov Company.



BELL 429 TURKISH NATIONAL POLICE AND TURKISH GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF FORESTRY FLEETS REACH 95% OPERATIONAL AVAILABILITY RATE



Photo © Bell Helicopters

Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, is delighted to announce that the Bell 429 fleets of the Turkish National Police and Turkish General Directorate of Forestry have reached a 95% operational Availability Rate and that the aircraft is continuing to be successful in country supporting public safety, assisting to prevent fires and preserve Turkish Forests.

"I am proud that the Turkish National Police have achieved such excellence. They are superior aviators, and the Bell 429 is a fantastic helicopter, "said Clay Bridges, Bell Helicopter, Regional Manager, Turkey. "In operating these 15 Bell 429s while performing such difficult police missions, they have saved lives and helped make Turkey safer in challenging times."

Turkey has been a very successful market with Bell garnering over 50% of the total market for the last five years. There are 26 Bell 429s in the country used in parapublic, EMS, and corporate missions in the skies over Turkey every day.

The Bell 429 is not just successful in Turkey; it continues to gain customers for supporting public missions around the world. Bell Helicopter has recently delivered seven Bell 429s to the Swedish National Police, four Bell 429s to the New York Police Department, and the first of two Bell 429s to the Slovakian Police. The multi-mission Bell 429 delivers exceptional speed, range, hover performance and enhanced safety margins.

"The aviation department of the Directorate General of Forestry has been truly amazing. Even though the 429 is a superior helicopter, the performance and professionalism of the Forestry pilots and technicians make it easy to achieve results like this," said Bridges. "We, at Bell Helicopter, are honored to be able to support the Directorate General of Forestry to preserve the resources of Turkey."

The state-of-the-art technology in the Bell 429 includes a fully integrated glass cockpit, advanced drive system, best-in-class WAAS navigation and IFR capability. The Bell 429 has more cabin space than any other light twin helicopter, with flat flooring and seating for seven passengers and one flight crew. When time is of the essence, the Bell 429's 60-inch wide side doors and optional rear clam-shell doors provide quick and easy access.



ATR-AIR CONNECTIVITY IS THE KEY TO REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT ALL OVER THE WORLD



Photo © ATR

ATR, the world's leading regional aircraft manufacturer, unveiled its brand new 20 year Market Forecast at the 50th Farnborough International Airshow. Populations, living standards and therefore connectivity needs are growing and regional dynamics are changing in both mature and emerging markets. Turboprops have a key role to play in that expansion, promoting community development with links between secondary and tertiary airports as well as regional access into/out of the main hubs. Over the coming 20 years, ATR anticipates an average growth rate in annual regional traffic of around 3.9%, which means 2,800 turboprop aircraft will be needed worldwide.

Among those 2,800 aircraft, ATR predicts that 1,000 turboprops (35%) will be replacing older aircraft, keeping the flying fleets up to and beyond required safety and environmental standards. The other 65% will come from fleet growth. Half of the fleet growth will come from route creation as growing numbers of cities and regions connect directly - 3,000 new routes are forecast. The other half will come from the growth in existing regional markets and increasing rates of conversion to turboprop technology.

Regional connectivity is becoming more and more of a priority all over the world. Key markets such as China and India but also Iran, Japan and the USA, all need to develop new routes or re-open regional routes. Thanks to its new forecasting methodology, ATR has been able to evaluate route creation potential in each world region. 3.2% per year of this forecast growth can be attributed to the 3,000 or more new routes that are expected to open: 1,400 routes in Asia-Pacific including China, 800 across the Americas and 800 between Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Regardless of variations in the market, ATR's key characteristics are constant: the aircraft are simple, robust and reliable and continuous improvement means performance increases constantly in existing aircraft without the need for new acquisitions. From an environmental point of view, the increased use of turboprops on regional routes helps reduce regional aviation CO2 emissions; from a financial point of view, the low operating costs of ATR turboprops represent a hedge against market volatility. It is the accumulation of these strengths that ensures success for ATR, even in these times of economic uncertainty.






Switzerland, Zurich: The Swiss military has launched a search for a pilot and F/A -18C fighter aircraft belonging to the country's air force went missing during a training exercise last Monday. The suspected accident site in the mountainous Alpine region was difficult to access, with bad weather and darkness hampering the search efforts. The incident is the third time the Swiss Air Force has lost one of its F/A 18 jets in the last three years. A pilot was injured when an aircraft crashed in October 2015 in southeast France, while another F/A 18 crashed in 2013.

USA, Minneapolis: A Seattle-bound Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 made an emergency landing at the Minneapolis St Paul Airport on Monday morning after a passenger tried to open a door in mid-flight. Crew tried to calm down the unruly passenger during the flight that diverted to Minneapolis where the passenger was arrested.

USA, Alaska: Two small planes carrying a total of five passengers collided in mid-air in Alaska. The aircraft involved were a Hageland Aviation Cessna 208 Caravan with three individuals on board and a Renfro's Alaska Adventures Piper PA-18 Super Cub with two individuals on board. All five people died. The crash happened about 60 miles north of the city of Bethel, Alaska.

USA, Van Nuys: A man claimed to be the owner of a Los Angeles-area airport last Thursday walked in through a vehicle entrance, and then entered a Gulfstream G4 jet parked in a hangar for maintenance. A airport official notified the airport police who found the man smoking in the aircraft. He put the cigarette out in a bandanna when he was confronted. The bandanna smouldered, causing an estimated $5,000 in damage. The man, identified by the Los Angeles Daily News as 25-year-old Chris Tolbert, was arrested on suspicion of trespassing and vandalism.







9 SEPTEMBER 1913

Pyotr Nikolayevich Nesterov in a Nieuport IV became the first pilot to fly a loop


Pyotr Nikolayevich Nesterov (27 February 1887 - 26 August 1914) was a famous Russian pilot who is considered the founder of aerobatics. It was Nesterov who performed the so-called "dead loop" for the first time.

Nesterov was born on 15 February 1887 in Nizhny Novgorod. His father was an army officer. He was enrolled in a military school from which he graduated in August 1904 and then enrolled in the Mikhailov artillery academy in St Petersburg. He graduated and as second lieutenant and was posted to the 9th East Siberian Artillery Brigade in Vladivostok.

Nesterov's career in aviation started in 1909 when he was posted to a balloon observation regiment as an observer. In 1911 he built his first glider and learned to fly it. Now thoroughly hooked he started flight training at the St. Petersburg aviation school earning his wings on 11 October 1912 and a short time later he also passed the examination to be a military pilot. In May 1913 he was appointed a squadron leader in the Russian Air Corps.

Nesterov's Loop Nesterov always believed that with the right planning and practise that an aircraft could be made to fly a loop. His peers thought such a manoeuvre impossible. Despite their doubts Nesterov carried on experimenting and practising his theory and on 9 September 1913 he took to the sky in a Nieuport IV monoplane over Syretzk Aerodrome near Kiev and observed by a large crowd became the first pilot to fly a loop. However, the authorities were not impressed and he promptly arrested for risking government property.

It was only after Frenchmen, Adolphe Pégoud, repeated the feat that Nesterov's achievement was acknowledged in his home country. He became famous overnight and was promoted to staff captain and later awarded a medal.


Nieuport IV. Photo © British Gov. Archives / commons.wikimedia.org

Monument in Nizhny Novgorod of the Nieuport IVG in which Nesterov performed the first loop. Photo © Bestalex / commons.wikimedia.org.The Nieuport IV was a development of the single-seat Nieuport II and two seat Nieuport III.A. It was initially designed as a two-seat sporting and racing monoplane, but was also bought by the air forces of several countries. It was initially powered by a 50 hp (37 kW) Gnome Omega rotary engine, which was later replaced by more powerful rotaries. The IV.G was one of the principal aircraft used by the Imperial Russian Air Service during its formative years, with roughly 300 being produced locally by the Russo-Baltic Wagon Works and Shchetinin in St. Petersburg, and the Dux Factory in Moscow.





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