Aviation

Bike Ride Across America to Honor 9/11 Flight Crews

A group of airline personnel and friends plan to ride their bicycles from Dockweiler Beach, adjacent to LAX, to Washington, D.C., in tribute to the 33 airline crew members who died that tragic day.

From the Daily Breeze:

Bike ride will honor flight personnel victims of 9-11

[Organizer] Thomas Heidenberger lost his wife, Michele, that day. She was a flight attendant on a plane destined for Los Angeles that crashed instead into the Pentagon.

There were 33 of them killed that morning, 33 flight attendants and pilots who were among the first to confront the terrorist hijackers of Sept. 11.

“It’s not about one person, one individual crew member,” he said from his home in suburban Washington, D.C. “It’s about all 33.

“We don’t know what happened up there. It’s all speculation,” he added. “But they were the first to confront the terrorists. They need to be recognized.”

The five bicyclists will leave April 2 on a route that takes them across 15 states and more than 3,500 miles. They chose to begin near Los Angeles International Airport because that was the destination of three of the four hijacked flights.
A small group of airline workers will set out from Dockweiler Beach early next month on a cross-country bike ride in their honor. The riders have given themselves 33 days to make the trip, one day for each of the crew members killed.

It’s a tribute first, but also a fund-raiser for the official 9-11 memorials and a salute to those who still work in the air. For its organizer, the ride is a chance to remind the nation of the full toll of the attacks.

[ read the rest of the story ]

Fossett Breaks Record

Follow up on Around the World – and then Some:

FOXNews.com – Science News – Fossett Breaks Record for Nonstop Flight

MANSTON, England — Adventurer Steve Fossett completed the longest nonstop flight in aviation history Saturday after journeying around the globe — and then some — in about 80 hours.

Image (from Fox News): Steve Fossett, right, and Richard Branson, left, answer questions after a fuel leak prevented the first attempt at takeoff.

Around the World – And Then Some!

Today, Global Flyer departed Florida for a trip around the world – plus. Once completing the circumnavigation, Steve Fossett will head across the pond for the second time, ultimately landing in the U.K.

Man, I envy this guy for the adventure he will get, but not for the Iron-Man endurance of staying airborne for 80 hours. It only takes a four-hour flight before my butt goes to sleep – maybe less.

This is from New Scientist:

GlobalFlyer takes off in pursuit of longest flight ever

The Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer aircraft took off at 0722 EST on Wednesday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, US, on an attempt to shatter a series of aviation world records.

The first launch attempt on Tuesday was scuppered by a leaking fuel tank, but everything went smoothly second time around for the dawn take-off. The leak was fixed, and the weather produced light headwinds and a temperature of 8°C (46°F). Above 12°C (54°F) and the air would not have been dense enough to support the fuel-laden jet’s take-off from the 3-mile-long runway.

Before take-off, inspectors from the US National Aeronautics Association placed seals on the airplane’s hatch and fuel tank, to ensure that no landing or refuelling takes place during the expected 80-hour flight.

The journey is expected to cover up to 46,000 kilometres (28,600 miles), which would be the longest aircraft flight ever. Pilot and veteran record-breaker Steve Fossett will make do with occasional 5-minute naps and get by on nothing but strawberry-flavoured nutritional drinks.

[more]

The Spirit of Ronald Reagan

LinkedInUSAF has excellent coverage of the christening of the “Spirit of Ronald Reagan” C17 USAF Transport Aircraft: Mrs. Reagan Christens the “Spirit of Ronald Reagan”

Here’s a couple of excerpts from LinkedInUSAF:

Yesterday was a great day for the dedicated Airmen at March AFB. The eighth, and final, delivery of a C-17 Globemaster III was christened by Mrs. Nancy Reagan. I am sure that for her, this was a beautiful, yet poignant ceremony – her best friend Ronnie was not by her side. (those who know, know, she always called him “Ronnie.”

. . .

It is sad that President Reagan was not able to see his vision come to fruition. He died June 5, 2004, at the amazing age of 93. Just two more years and he would have seen “his” C-17, “his” aircraft carrier, and the F-22A become operational.

Iran Blames US for Jet Crashes

From Fox News:Military Jet Crashes in Iran

TEHRAN, Iran — A small military jet crashed in northwestern Iran on Monday, killing the commander of the ground forces of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards and at least 12 other people, state media said.

The plane, which belongs to the Revolutionary Guards, was attempting an emergency landing at Oroumieh, located 560 miles northwest of the capital, Tehran, near the Turkish border, state television reported.

. . .

State television said the plane was a Falcon jet, which is the preferred aircraft of high-ranking military officers in Iran.

Falcon Jets are built in France by Dassault Falcon Jet Corp.

The article goes on to articulate the Iranian complaint and some of its aviation history:

Iran has a history of aircraft accidents involving a heavy loss of life. The government has blamed the U.S. trade embargo which makes it impossible for Iran to buy parts for its old US-built aircraft.

In December, 115 people were killed when a military transport plane crashed into a 10-story apartment building near Tehran’s Mehrabad airport as the pilot was returning to the airport shortly after takeoff to make an emergency landing.

In 2003, a Russian-made Ilyushin-76 carrying members of the Revolutionary Guards crashed in the mountains of southeastern Iran, killing 302 people.

In 2002, a Russian-made Tupolev Tu-154 struck snow-covered mountains in western Iran, killing all 119 people on board.

So, is Iran blaming the US for the Russians not selling them Ilyushin and Tupolev parts? Or are they blaming us because they have to fly French and Russian POS aircraft instead of superior US-built aircraft?

Deluded Iranian and other middle eastern idiots will blame everything on America, regardless of the facts.

The Ultralight Flying Scooter

A local entrepreneur, Don Shaw – a Torrance, California resident, was featured in several news outlets with his latest invention: a flying scooter – really – check it out.

The Ultralight Flying Scooter

The Ultralight Flying Scooter (TUFS) is the world’s first flying and driving motor scooter! The most amazing aspect of TUFS is its combination of a 2006 Honda Ruckus scooter with the most popular, top of the line and up-to-date ultralight paraglider flight equipment. It encompasses the long time dream of a flying and driving machine. This uniquely handcrafted flight kit is revolutionary to the powered paragliding world, pushing the simple joy of flying to the next extreme.

Because TUFS is considered an Ultralight Aircraft in the USA under FAR Part 103 (http://www.ulflyingmag.com/regs.html), a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) (http://www.faa.gov) pilot’s license is not required to operate this single-seat aircraft. TUFS is also Department of Transportation (DOT) (http://www.dot.gov/) approved. This permits the scooter to be driven on highways and streets when the vehicle is configured to road/ground-mode.

The 42 m2 tandem-rated paraglider wing that gives TUFS its flight capability has a comfortable lift capacity of 508 pounds during flight. This weight includes the weight of the pilot, fuel and oil, extra carry-on payload, scooter, and TUFS flight kit. The maximum pilot weight should be under 210 pounds.