MIDWEEK UPDATE 16 MARCH 2017
Plan Your Weekend……..Forthcoming Events
Aviation News………. Worldwide Incidents and Accidents
This Week in Aviation History………Advertising Rate Card
The topic this week is female vs male pilots. To listen to a recording of the live broadcast click on the link
www.debela.co.za/aviation-radio-show
17-19 March SA Navy Festival, Simonstown.
MARCH
3rd Saturday of every month. Microland. Bring and braai. Fires and bykos provided. Fires start from 09h30. Contact person: Nick Swardt 082 441 8011 or Alan Hussey 072 82 2341
30-9 April: Entry for the 2017 Stars of Sandstone Festival is available from Leigh Sanders who can be contacted on +27 79 327 7649 or e-mail leighs@sandstone.co.za - or see details at www.sandstone-estates.com
30-1 April: National Rally Flying Championships. Brits Air Field. Contact Frank Eckard e-mail: frank.eckard@mweb.co.za cell: 083 269 1516
31-1 April: Wings and Wheels Festival. Utenhage Airfield. Contact Lourens Kruger E-mail: imk@telkomsa.net Cell 082 320 2615
1: EAA Chapter 322 meeting. Dicky Fritz Moth Hall Edenvale. Contact Contact editor@afskies.co.za
1-2: SAC North West regionals Klerksdorp. Contact Annie Boon e-mail: chunge@mweb.co.za
4: SAAF Museum AFB Zwartkop open practise day
6: Aero Club of South Africa Annual General meeting. Contact office@aeroclub.org.za
7: TMG, LSA and Glider fly in Brits Airfield. Contact mandy@airplay.co.ca or daniel.ralefeta@gmail.com
20 -23: AERO Friedrichshafen - Germany Website: www.aero-expo.com
3rd Saturday of every month. Microland. Bring and braai. Fires and bykos provided. Fires start from 09h30. Contact person: Nick Swardt 082 441 8011 or Alan Hussey 072 82 2341
27 -30 May: EAA National Convention - Bethlehem Airport EAA Chapter 1500 Contact Francois Marais E-mail: info@stanfra.co.za Cell 082 726 8550
28- 30: Thaba Nchu Airshow. Christiaan Moriaana. 012 543 1736
28-30: Jabiru Jaunt. Airspan Airfield, North West Province
26 - May 1: SA National Sky Diving Championships. Rustenburg Skydiving Club
MAY
4: SAAF Museum AFB Zwartkop open practise day
5-6: Battlefields' Sports Resorts' annual fly in. Dundee KZN. Contact Dave O' Halloran e-mail gm@battlefieldslodge.co.za
6: SAAF Museum Airshow AFB Zwartkop. Contact Tel: 012 351 2290
12 - 13: Lowveld airshow. Nelspruit Airfield. Tel: 013 741 6412 Contact Willemien Hodgkinson e-mail: willemien.hodgkinson@kishugu.com
20-21: SAC KZN regionals. Ladysmith. Contact Annie Boon e-mail: chunge@mweb.co.za
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26-28: SAPFA President's Trophy Air Race. Springs Aero Club. Website: www.sapfa.org.za E-mail: Race@sapfa.org.za. Race director Robin Spencer-Scarr: robin@stylegroup.com.au ot Contact Robbie Myburgh e-mail: roblena@mweb.co.za Cell: 083 377 0925
27-28: Wings Park Annual Airfest Fly in. All aircraft welcome. Great fun filled weekend with some of the coolest planes and pilots around. Avgas and Mogas available. Jet A1 on request. Safe parking with kilometer long grass runway. Contact Rob Williamson Cell: 082 574 9034 E-mail: rwhw@iafrica.com
27: Botswana International airshow. Matsieng Airfield (FBMA). Contact Guillaume Knipe E-mail: Gknipe@work.co.bw Cell +267 71300646
CELEBRATING THE CHRISTEN EAGLE'S 40TH AT AIRVENTURE
The International Aerobatic Club (IAC) will highlight the history and the development of the Eagle in its pavilion on the AirVenture grounds. Six exhibit panels will tell the story of this iconic aerobatic and sport aircraft and the pilots who flew it. A forum on the Eagle will be held at the IAC pavilion on Tuesday, July 25, from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. Speakers will be Mark Ciagla and Lynn Ojala, owners and pilots of Eagle aircraft. Both will bring their Eagles to AirVenture this year with Lynn's being displayed at the Aviat exhibit.
THE MERLIN LSA: AN UPDATE
Photo © Glassair
Much has happened since we announced the first flight of Glasair Aviation's Merlin light sport aircraft (LSA), which took place back on April 7, 2015. For nearly a year afterward, refinements and testing, testing, testing were the name of our game as we prepared our newest model plane - named for the smallest raptor, not the wizard - for ASTM certification and the OK for production sales.
Production of Merlins continues apace as we continue our hard work to make the Merlin as strong, safe, light and enjoyable as can be. In our minds, it is the perfect light sport aircraft for rusty pilots rediscovering the joy of easy weekend hops across the state. New pilots will enjoy its stable, easy handling and forgiving landing gear. Pilot and passenger alike will appreciate its roomy 47 inch wide cockpit and sweeping views outside. Skylights make it that much easier to track traffic around busy destinations. All in all, a great plane for sport pilots and flight schools alike.
Some of the most popular fly-bys each year during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh will be returning in 2017, as the U.S. Air Force's Lockheed F-35 Lightning II and Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II will be flying heritage flights with vintage warbirds during the afternoon air shows at Oshkosh.
These fly-bys, featuring two to four aircraft from different eras, show the different technologies of the various aviation eras and well as saluting the people and aircraft of military air power. Among the vintage warbird aircraft participating in past heritage flights are the P-51 Mustang, P-47 Thunderbolt, P-38 Lightning, and F-86 Sabre.
The heritage flights are part of the U.S. Air Force 70th anniversary commemoration at AirVenture 2017. Exact dates of the flights will be announced as they are confirmed.
THE BREITLING DC-3 KICKS OFF ITS GREAT WORLD TOUR
In 2017, Breitling has decided to launch its DC-3 on a great world tour in stages punctuated with various events and participations in airshows. The "Breitling DC-3 World Tour" officially kicked off at a dedicated press conference held in Geneva on March 9th. Francisco Agullo presented the project along with the program. Jean-Paul Girardin, Vice-President of Breitling, mentioned the role of the brand in this great adventure and unveiled the 500-piece limited edition Navitimer Breitling DC-3 that was taken aboard the airplane to accompany it on its world tour - and which will be put on sale in the fall with a certificate signed by the captain. The pilots will also wear examples of this specially engraved chronograph throughout the journey. Participants in the press conference later gathered on the tarmac at Geneva airport to visit the plane, prior to leaving the team to put the final touches to preparations for takeoff.
After the Balkans, the Breitling DC-3 will head for the Middle East and India, followed by South East Asia, China and Japan, where it has received a special invitation to take part in the Iwakuni "Friendship Day Air Show". It will then cross the ocean to begin a grand tour of the United States, prior to returning to Europe via Greenland and Iceland and completing its journey in September at the Breitling Sion Airshow 2017 in Switzerland. At 77 years old, the Breitling DC-3 is the oldest airplane to undertake a round the world tour and this new claim to fame will be one more to add to the already long list of its achievements.
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, unveiled its vision for the future of rotorcraft - the FCX-001. This is Bell Helicopter's first concept aircraft and presents a 3-D roadmap for delivering safer, smarter and more efficient rotorcraft solutions.
Bell Helicopter formed a core group of engineers and a team of graphic designers that proved to be a highly collaborative team of problem solvers. It was through this process that the FCX-001, a concept aircraft, came to light to physically demonstrate a new way of thinking. The concept aircraft was built to address the evolving demands of our customers and demonstrate key technologies that revolutionize the pilot and passenger experience, including:
An airframe that is made from advanced sustainable materials to provide structural performance and offer configurations that our customers desire. In order to provide enhanced situational awareness, visibility and room, we are exploring the right combination of material and geometry. The airframe is also our front line for energy management where we harvest, store, attenuate and distribute external energy or system energy not already employed for useful work on the air vehicle.
A landing gear with non-traditional geometries that facilitate function when combined with advanced materials and actuation. Morphing rotor blades that allow aircraft to optimize performance in different flight regimes. A single pilot seat and an entirely new flight deck experience with the pilot controlling the aircraft through augmented reality and an artificial intelligence computer assistance system. A highly modular passenger cabin enhanced with the same augmented reality technology for individualized infotainment to catch up on world news, hold a video conference call, share documents with other passengers or simply watch a movie or play music to relax.
The Pennsylvania-based critical care transport team has placed orders with Airbus Helicopters Inc. for three new H135s to replace older aircraft in its fleet, with delivery scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2017.
The Airbus developed Helionix system, an advanced avionics suite that increases mission flexibility and enhances flight safety, will be standard equipment on new production H135s.
Comprised of two computers and a one-of-a-kind cockpit layout, Helionix includes up to four electronic displays designed to improve pilots' situational awareness. The system provides a four-axis autopilot to reduce pilot workload and a Traffic Advisory System that improves safety by assisting pilots in detecting and avoiding other aircraft.
BOEING WINS FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT TO SUSTAIN REPUBLIC OF KOREA F-15K FLEET
"This approach guarantees materials and technical support required for aircraft maintenance over many years while managing costs," said Tim Buerk, director, F-15 sustainment in the Far East region and United States. "It also provides opportunities for us to utilize local industry to help maintain and manufacture F-15K components, cutting down on cycle times."
Boeing has been sustaining the ROKAF's F-15K fleet since 2012.
Hyundai Glovis, a Seoul-based supplier, will partner with Boeing on logistics handling and supply chain distribution in country.
Japan, New Chitose Airport: A UPS Boeing B767-300F freighter on a flight from Anchorage, USA to Osaka/Kansai, Japan, suffered in-flight failure of No.2 engine The flight diverted to New Chitose Airport Japan where it performed a emergency landing. No personal injuries were reported.
17 MARCH 1997
Linda Finch, pilot, aviation historian, and San Antonio, Texas businesswoman, flying a restored and specially equipped 62-year-old Lockheed Electra 10E, recreates the 1937 Amelia Earhart flight to circumnavigate the globe solo.
Whenever she could afford it she purchased flying and training lessons finally obtaining her pilot's license in 1972. In her 30s, she bought a North American T-6 Texan which she completely restored, modified and raced, primarily to prepare her to fly the Corsair.
Finch joined the Confederate Air Force (now Commemorative Air Force) Association to acquire the flying skills necessary to handle warbirds, including the T-6 and Corsair.
Finch was the head coordinator and primary sponsor of the Commemorative Air Force Republic P-47D Thunderbolt "Tarheel Hal". She is a major fundraiser for the restoration and marketing of this rare aircraft and is also type rated on the P-47D.
P-47 Thunderbolt. Photo commons.wikimedia.org
Finch has logged more than 8,000 flying hours with approximately 5,900 of these flying hours in vintage multi-engine aircraft, warbirds and tail draggers. She has flown in numerous air shows around the world for more than 20 years.
Emelia Earharts Electra 10E. Photo commons.wikimedia.org
The uniqueness of Finch's flight is that it was done in a rare 1935 Electra 10E, restored to the specifications of Earhart's plane. Finch came up with the idea of recreating Earhart's flight in 1994 when she found the remains of one of only two flight-worthy Electra 10Es in existence. She spent nearly every penny she had (a total of $330,000) to purchase the hulk and haul it back to her hometown in Texas where she set about restoring it with the help of a $4.5 million donation from aircraft engine manufacturer, Pratt & Whitney. Using original drawings and old vintage photographs, the 1935 aircraft was accurately restored right down to its rivets.
The only exception to the original is that Finch's Electra was equipped with modern navigation and communication equipment. Finch's aircraft was outfitted with a Global Positioning System for world navigation and tracking electronics as she hopped across the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean between the islands. The Electra's cabin is not pressurized and it does not carry oxygen and, like Earhart, Finch had to fly below 10,000 ft for much of the flight.
Retracing the flight path of Amelia Earhart, Finch closely followed the same route that Earhart flew, stopping at 36 way-points in 18 countries. She was unable to secure permission to overfly Libya and made more stops while crossing the Pacific than were planned by Earhart. The additional 1,000 miles were flown to allow Finch to drop a single wreath over Howland Island from her aircraft in honour of the pioneering aviator. Finch's last leg on May 28 was an estimated 18-hour flight between Hawaii. She finished the trip two and a half months (a total of 73 days) landing back at the Oakland Airport on May 28. At the time of this historic flight in 1997, Finch was 46 years old, five years older than Earhart's age on her final flight.
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