5/21/04

5/10/04

5/06/04

This video, in two parts, of the new Russian Sukhoi SU-35/37.  Don't turn it off when the first part goes black, wait for the second part.  You see the "Cobra" maneuver several times.  Takes several minutes to view.

5/05/04

Dragbike Piston Into Rider's Chest video

(Thanks to Mike Cummins)

Tailpipe Flames

First engine starts of the F124 in the Aermacchi M-346

(Thanks to Marco Johnston)

4/23/04

4/22/04

4/19/04

Lots of Airbus A380 Component Pics

Even MORE!

Crew Resource Management Methodology

"The High and The Mighty"

4/12/04

B7474 Fire-Bomber "SuperTanker" Retardant Drop

4/11/04

Fire Bomber Wing Fold

4/01/04

Iraqi Au

3/28/04

LA Times Site - NASA's test of unmanned sonic combustion ramjet engine makes aviation history

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE -- NASA's tiny, unmanned X-43A test craft topped 4,900 mph Saturday before plunging as planned into the Pacific Ocean.  Dropped from a B-52, the 12-foot-long wingless X-43A tested an ultra-high-speed engine called a "scramjet" in a hoped-for confirmation of work that hypersonic researchers have been doing on the ground.

"We went through all of our segments without a hitch. Everything went beautifully," said Joel Sitz, project manager for the X-43A.

The experimental scramjet -- supersonic combustion ramjet -- is being tested to develop technology for use in space launch vehicles and for high-speed military and civilian aircraft.  A scramjet pulls oxygen for combustion from the atmosphere rather than carrying the extra weight of its own oxygen, as a rocket does.  By not having to carry oxygen, such a spacecraft can save fuel weight and carry more equipment.

The first attempt at flying an X-43, in June 2001, ended with controllers intentionally destroying the craft when the Pegasus booster rocket carrying it went out of control after the rocket's control fins broke off.

Several factors were blamed for the 2001 malfunction, one of them the launching of the booster rocket-mounted X-43 at 23,000-foot altitude, where the atmosphere is much denser than the 40,000-foot level at which Pegasus rockets are launched when they go into space.  The booster's fin actuator system was beefed up for Saturday's test, and the rocket was to be let go at 40,000 feet.

The NASA B-52 carried the booster-mounted X-43A from Edwards Air Force Base over the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division Sea Range off the central California coast.

On release from the converted bomber, the Pegasus booster rocket fired, propelling the X-43 to an altitude of 95,000 feet and a speed of Mach 7, or 4,900 mph.  As the booster engine burned out, the X-43 separated and fired its scramjet engine for ten seconds.  Then it performed a set of preprogrammed maneuvers before crashing into the ocean.

Although the scramjet ran just seconds, the test's data is hoped to validate wind-tunnel tests and other ground research, NASA officials say.  Plans call for flying one other X-43A vehicle which will hit a top speed of 7,000 mph.

Counting the X-43 that was destroyed, NASA is spending $230 million on the research program.  The X-43 is NASA's first test program dedicated to hypersonic research since the last X-15 rocket plane flight at Edwards Air Force Base in 1968.  The X-15's fastest flight was Mach 6.7, or 4,520 mph, with W. J. "Pete" Knight -- Antelope Valley's state senator -- at the controls.

NASA: Profile in Persistence: A Visit With Dryden's X-43 Chief Engineer

3/27/04

NASA Dryden Photos

Boeing site - 5,000 mph jet ready for test flight

CNN site - Ability to fly at seven times speed of sound could boost space flight

SPACE.com has learned that the failure of the NASA X-43A hypersonic aircraft in June 2001 was the result of inaccuracies in computer and wind-tunnel tests that were based on insufficient design information about the vehicle itself

...

The X-43A MIB report underscores the fact that the Hyper-X launch vehicle (NY Times site) contract was developed under the faster, better, cheaper philosophy.

 

The craft will conduct a series of high-speed maneuvers before crashing into the sea.  There are no plans to recover the X-43A because of the expense.

3/22/04

 

A "NEAR-COLLISION" - no more of that NBC/ABC/CBS "near-miss" crap, OK? Kids, don't try this at home!  This one was really close.  BIG post-flight hose-down.  Check out the speed brakes, fully deployed, on the left F-16! Close calls do happen.  Obviously the timing was "off" in this maneuver.  In a crossover, both planes try to cross each other at the same altitude going different directions.  The lead plane flies a constant airspeed, and the second plane adjusts his airspeed to stay as close possible. The second plane was going too fast and pulled his speed brakes (panels sticking out around the exhaust nozzle) and idled his engine.  He also was changing his altitude, based on the aeronautical law that states that "Two planes cannot occupy the same airspace at the same time".   (Note: or should not.)  The altitude change was what saved his butt. This is why people like air shows.  (Or NASCAR!)

A tip of the old face shield to OMAR!

 

 

Two "VF/A-122 Flying Eagle"  F/A-18E "Hornets", carrying 'buddy stores'.  Pretty typical event, tanking one jet from the other ... EXCEPT they are doing this at 250AGL to show it to the crowd!  Pilots are "Dolph" Bestgen (tanker), and "Jobu"Nalewajko in receiver aircraft. They are just unplugging in this photo -- they WERE plugged in passing air show center.

Thanks to Scott Yarbrough, Camera Artist!

 

 

This was a mid-air collision in January that took the life of air show pilot Dave Lazerson.  He was flying his Cessna 180 and descending into Tehachapi; a Baron was climbing out of Tehachapi ... They 'met' seven miles from the airport ... the Baron pilot landed safely at a nearby ranch.
Just in!                        If this Beech Baron had been flying a few inches to the right, we likely wouldn't be wondering how Robert Hollis Gates, of Tehachapi, CA, managed to land the plane safely after a midair with a Cessna 180  Jan. 16.  The Baron lost a section of fuselage, but Gates walked away with cuts and bruises.  The 180 broke up in flight and the pilot, 40-year-old David Lazerson, a civilian test pilot instructor at Edwards Air Force Base and deputy director of the Joint Strike Fighter Integrated Test Force, was killed.  According to the NTSB report, Gates said he was in cruise climb between 5,500 and 6,500 feet near Tehachapi when he saw the right gear leg of the Cessna coming at him from one o' clock.  He ducked, then saw a dirt strip and managed to set the Baron down.
Thanks to Bob Miller (Helos) ... and Paul LaPietra

3/20/04

 

Truck Vs. Concrete Barrier (I know, it's not a 'plane ..  but ... )

 

PBY "Catalina"

3/16/04

 

The B707 Barrel Roll

Boeing executives planned to unveil the Dash-80 at Seattle’s annual Seafair celebration in 1955.  Planning to entertain prospective buyers at the hydroplane boat races on Lake Washington, "Tex"Johnson, a test pilot for Boeing, would simply make a flyover in the new Dash-80 to impress everyone.  Everything was going according to the plan and the local news media turned out to not only cover the races, but to view Boeing’s new airplane.  Tex Johnson began his flyover before thousands of spectators as motion picture cameras rolled to preserve this memorable event.  It was indeed memorable.  As the Dash-80’s flyover concluded, Tex Johnson "barrel rolled"the plane a full 360 degrees.  As he flew the Dash-80 away the spectators were awestruck.  Never before had such an aerial maneuver been attempted in a plane of that size.  Though this act grounded Tex Johnson as a test pilot for the Boeing Company (temporarily, that is) , he demonstrated the integrity and airworthiness of Boeing airplanes.  His maverick action that day sealed the fate of the company and ensured the future of Renton.   Info per: http://www.burgesslegacy.org/rtnhist.htm (The plane is on display at Boeing Field - they say that a LOT of airframe rivets were loose.  They grounded Tex -- for a spell -- but he was a company and local  hero!)

 

 

Air Zimbabwe Boeing 707 past  Charles Prince Airport, Harare, on Sunday, May 9, 1993, during the Mashonaland Flying Club's "Air Day '93"

 

3/01/04

 

This is a Northwest Airlines accident that happened on Jan 19, 2004 (Sunday).  Two mechanics were taxiing the A/C to a gate at New York's LGA airport.  They were held out on the taxiway for a bit.  When finally cleared, the mechanic, "being a little irritated", pulled a bit to much power.  Coming into the gate he now finds he has no brakes.  The left engine was put into reverse, but it was too late.  He hit the tow bar, then the tractor.  The tractor was hit so hard the nose gear collapsed.  This was after he wiped out the Jetway.  The left side by the cockpit was ripped open by the Jetway.  The Jetway was now laying on top of the left wing and left engine.  The left wingtip was also wiped out.  After losing control the left wingtip rammed into the side of a Boeing 757 sitting at the next gate, ripping a hole in the right side.  Remarkably, no one was hurt.  The ground "shook" when the nose came down ... whoopsie!
Thanks to Ed Nemecek

 

 

Thanks to Jerry McMurray

2/27/04

 

Sea Plane

 

 

Stylish Airplane Images

2/26/04

 

Airplane of the local airline, Autral, lost a lateral wheel during takeoff; the wheel crossed the avenue at the end of the runway but, by some miracle, it did not strike anybody. The forced landing did not have incidents.
Thanks to Mariano Nunez, Argentina

 

 

Honda Motor Company's "HondaJet", an experimental compact business jet equipped with Honda-developed HF118 jet engines, successfully completed the initial flight test this month at Piedmont Triad Airport (NC).  The company says, compared with conventional jets, this experimental  aircraft offers superior fuel efficiency and remarkable cabin space. The engines are positioned on the upper surface of the main wing in a unique configuration that reduces drag at high speed and increases cruising efficiency. This layout also eliminates the need for structural engine mounts in the fuselage, creating over 30 percent more cabin space than in a conventional aircraft.  The fuselage is a compact and lightweight unified carbon composite structure, yet, according to Honda, contains the largest six-place cabin in its class.  The main wing, which features aluminum skin panels chiseled from single sheets of aluminum that provide a smoother surface than conventional wing configurations, along with Honda's  proprietary turbulence-reducing laminar airfoil, work together to  significantly improve aerodynamic performance. Additional drag-reducing  technologies include the fuselage nose, which is designed to generate  laminar flow. These features, in combination with Honda's fuel-efficient HF118 Turbofan Engine, provide fuel efficiency over 40% better than conventional aircraft.  http://www.aero-news.net/ This experimental aircraft is also outfitted with a state-of-the-art glass cockpit with an integrated avionics system, as well as an autopilot function, anti-icing equipment, and other systems. The jet is scheduled to undergo 200 hours of flight testing to demonstrate and verify  the operability and performance characteristics of its various systems.  Honda began research into compact business jets in 1986, using engines  provided by other manufacturers. The HF118 Turbofan Engine-equipped HondaJet  experimental compact jet is the first Honda developed aircraft to be outfitted with a Honda engine, a milestone of significance for the company  and the industry.  Honda's proprietary SMH-1 achieves low drag and excellent performance at high speeds despite its relative thickness. The optimal design of the fuselage nose generates a laminar flow that reduces drag on the fuselage. Optimal placement of the engine nacelles over the main wing improves aerodynamic performance at high speeds. The co-cured composite and honeycomb sandwich structure combine to create a new composite structure that enables Honda to develop a lightweight fuselage with more interior space. The use of an integrally stiffened skin produces a smooth wing surface that promotes laminar flow. The aircraft is equipped with a state-of-the-art Garmin G1000 glass cockpit system.  Information is efficiently presented on flat-panel flight displays. Specifications Seating: 6 = 2 crew + 4 passengers or 1 + 5 Engine:  Honda HF118 Turbofan Engine Maximum take-off thrust (kgf (lbf)):  57 (1,670) x 2 Maximum take-off weight (kgf (lbf)): 4,173 (9,200) Length x width x height (m (ft)): 12.5 x 12.2 x 4.1 (41.1 x 39.9 x 13.2) Maximum speed (km/hr (knots)){ 778 (420) Service ceiling (m (ft)): 12,497 (41,000) Range (km (nm)): 2,037 (1,100) Fuel consumption (km/kg (nm/lb)): 3.3 (0.8) Take-off distance (m (ft)): 807 (2,647) Landing distance (m (ft)): 694 (2,277)
Thanks to Andy "Odddog" Wood

 

2/23/04

 

Thanks to Pierre de Rotalier

 

 

Another entry for Human Factors. Lufthansa Boeing 747 Jacking Incident The airplane was getting jacked up, inside the hangar.  When the airplane weight was supported on the jacks, the two center jacks started to descend all the way down, no longer supporting the airplane weight. Only the front and rear jacks stayed up. This has resulted in a wrinkle just forward of the vertical stabilizer.
Thanks to Murad Can

 

 

Boeing 747-300, photographed at  Phoenix-Goodyear Muni Airport (GYR) 2-19-2004

Thanks to Mike Cummins

And a nice place to visit - spent five days on Phuket (Malaysia)!  Beach soccer, Thai boxing, Thai food, $5 beach massages or the $10 Thai massage (NC-17 rating), and transvestite stage shows beats the double-wide pool hall in Otway (OH) any day! ... Peanut Gallery

 

2/20/04

 

Aeroporto de Baía de St. Barth
This ought to be a pretty interesting approach at night, or weather, ... or weather at night!  The runway is 1,970 feet long.  The pucker-factor is probably off-scale.  I can't believe I've never had to do an accident investigation here. Thanks to Mike Cummins  -- the man who made Art Utay famous!

 

2/11/04

 

Paris Air Show / Le Bourget MiG Punch-out!

 

Tony,

 I was there when this happened; the 717 had just taxied away to be next in the air and we were walking over to an area for a better view.  We almost crapped our pants when the MiG went in.  We were just to the right of the camera view on this clip.

 

This happened on Press Day of the Paris Air Show; the next day the Russian ejection seat manufacturer paraded the pilot around as "living proof" that their seats work!  The show director dragged his ass into the briefing room for a "private chat"; all that we could hear were what appeared to be French words for "You fucking dumb ass", then followed by a Russian translation of the same tirade!

 

Later that week, Public Days, the staging area for aircraft was exactly at the final point of impact.  We all dug out bits of the airplane and I still have pieces today in my office.  I wonder what they'd fetch on e-Bay???

 

Cheers

 

Sean

C-130 "Angel" Missile Decoy Deploy
Thanks to Nick Tyler

 

2/9/04

 

	Harrier Firepower
	Harrier Carrier Launch
	Helicopter Landing "Incident"

 

Thanks to Jim Dowling - friend of Paul Rachels!

2/8/04

 

UK F-15 Blow-out

 

 

Satellite photo from 400 miles -- at 4.5 mps -- of the USS Midway being berthed at San Diego's "Naval Pier"

 

 

Crewman ran into a wing's static discharge probe!
Thanks to Tom Schell

2/4/04

 

ROKAF F-16 Eject & Crash Video

 

A6 Incident!
Thanks to U No Who (Omar!)
http://www.gallagher.com/ejection_seat/

 

 

USAirways CF6 HPT Failure

Another CF6 Failure

1/30/04

 

From Airliners.net: "Lockheed C-5B 'Galaxy' TF-39 General Electric engine after being hit by a surface-to-air missile.  The crew did a great job and safely landed the crippled plane, and suffered no casualties in the incident." Good thing that those contraband 1980s-vintage SAMs are POS; the hot end inspection is simplified, however!  "Put that borescope away!" Thanks to Brad Volkmann

 

1/29/04

 

Advanced Hi-Tech Swoopy Airport Security Method

1/27/04

 

Joe Kittinger's 100,000-foot 1960 balloon jump

 

Further "Joe's Jump" Info

 

Joe's Big Step
Thx to that pesky Omar!

1/26/2004

 

PRESS RELEASE

Secretary of the Air Force, Directorate of Public Affairs Release No. 121045 Jan 21, 2004

 

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- Pilot error caused a U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds F-16 aircraft to crash shortly after takeoff at an air show Sept. 14, 2003 at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. The pilot ejected just before the aircraft impacted the ground.

 

According to the accident investigation board report released today, the pilot misinterpreted the altitude required to complete the "Split S" maneuver. He made his calculation based on an incorrect mean-sea-level altitude of the airfield. The pilot incorrectly climbed to 1,670 feet above ground level instead of 2,500 feet before initiating the pull down to the Split S maneuver.

 

When he realized something was wrong, the pilot put maximum back stick pressure and rolled slightly left to ensure the aircraft would impact away from the crowd should he have to eject. He ejected when the aircraft was 140 feet above ground -- just eight-tenths of a second prior to impact.  He sustained only minor injuries from the ejection. There was no other damage to military or civilian property.  (Other than his career!)

 

The aircraft, valued at about $20.4 million, was destroyed.

 

Also, the board determined other factors substantially contributed to creating the opportunity for the error including the requirement for demonstration pilots to convert mean sea level and above ground level altitudes and performing a maneuver with a limited margin of error.

Thanks to the ubiquitous Omar!

 

1/22/04

 

Thunderbird Crash/Eject Films

T-Bird Eject Video

 

Thx to Mark Johnston

 

T-Bird Crash Video

Pretty impressive videos of the crash of solo #6 during an air show at Mountain Home, (ID).   First video (mpg file) is a cockpit view of pilot (no audio) showing him doing the maneuver and then punching out just before impact - talk about close - look how quick the screen goes static after he ejects.  You can sense how fast the ground was coming up to meet him.

Second video (wmv file) shows the maneuver on takeoff and then the crash, including audio of T-Bird radio communications as the accident happens.  "Knock it off" is the radio code to immediately end the air show.

 Pilot of #6 was an F-15 instructor pilot at Tyndall until last year when he joined the T-Birds.  He was roughed up on ejection but OK. 

 Plain and simple, he did incorrect math for the field elevations, so as he pulled over the top and called out the altitude, he and his backup ground guy thought he was OK ... how he lived is still the question.

Thanks to Harry Klaus

 

(The) ejection sequence was started 8-tenths of a second before impact.  Pilot did not climb high enough before initiating the Split-S.   Pilot input a slight aileron roll away from crowd before ejection to keep debris away.

Thanks to Scooby

 

 

DHL Down - more details

 

 

 

How I Lost My Job

 

Interesting NTSB Report

 

Personal pilot account of  "Blackhawk Down"

 

Pictures at the Hotel Armageddon

 

 

Sultan of Brunei's Ultra-swank A340