Freshly painted jet joins growing list of specially painted United Airlines aircraft
Special liveries have become all the rage at major airlines over the past couple of years. We’ve previously highlighted American Airlines heritage fleet that features paint schemes from airlines that it has acquired throughout its history. Just last month American also painted an Airbus A321 in a special theme to honor those who have struggled with cancer. Last week, Alaska Airlines unveiled a Boeing 757 in a Pixar theme with Toy Story characters too. As avgeeks, we can’t say that there is anything wrong with this trend!
These new special colors honor women artists and the states of California and New York
On Monday, United Airlines officially unveiled their second specially painted aircraft in a series called Her Art Here. United says the effort is meant to encourage women artists and increase the visibility of their artwork.
United Airlines Her Art Here California Livery – Side View
“While 51% of today’s artists are women less than 13% of art on display in museums is by women artists according to The National Museum of Women in the Arts. Having their designs painted on a plane (roughly 3,666 times larger than the typical 18’ x 24’ canvas) provides these women with a traveling canvas that will fly 1.6 million miles a year, or 476 cross-country trips on average.”
The newly painted Boeing 757 features the Golden Gate Bridge highlighting the airline’s connection to San Francisco along with an artist inspired beach scene from Southern California.
United Airlines Her Art Here California Livery with The Golden Gate Bridge
New York -Themed United 757 also Introduced Last Month
The first Her Art Here jet was revealed last month. It featured scenes from New York City. According to United, the one-of-a kind, woman-designed aircraft was painted in Amarillo, Texas. The Boeing 757 took 17 days, 10 colors, 250-plus gallons of paint and approximately 4,100 hours to complete the job from start to finish. New Jersey native Corinne Antonelli designed the special scheme as a tribute to the New York/New Jersey region and the Newark Liberty International Airport hub we serve there. This plane features iconic imagery from the two states, including the Red Mill in New Jersey, the New York City skyline and the Statue of Liberty, as well as a globe to signify our worldwide network.
Her Art Here 757’s join a small sub-fleet of other specially painted United jets
United has less specially painted aircraft than American, Alaska or Southwest Airlines, they do have a number of unique aircraft. On the next page, we’ll highlight our favorites.
Click Next Page below to see United’s other special paint schemes
The EASA and FAA have had a tight relationship but due to the 737 MAX debacle, things may be different going forward.
Background on the European Aviation Safety Association (EASA)
The aviation industry is governed and protected by numerous global powers. There is the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is located in Canada, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has a multitude of major locations, and the European Aviation Safety Association (EASA) is headquartered in Cologne. These organizations along with many others work together to ensure the safety of air traffic, aircraft, and travelers worldwide.
The European Aviation Safety Association (EASA) was formed
in 2002 and reached its height just six years later. It focuses its operations
on civil aviation safety. This association covers all the countries within the
EU, with the addition of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein,
making the total member states rank in at 32. Throughout the major offices
located across the globe, there are more than 800 people employed.
Such as any governing body, the EASA operates by a specific
mission statement, paired with clear tasks. Included in their mission on their website are the following:
Ensure
the highest level of safety protection for citizens of the EU.
Ensure
the highest level of protection for environment.
Work
with outside international aviation regulators and organizations.
Facilitate
the international aviation single market and create a level playing field.
Single
regulators and verification process among Member States.
What does EASA do?
Through their operations they perform numerous tasks including investigations, regulating, certifying, and standardizing different people, groups, and processes within their reach. The European Aviation Safety Association believes it’s under their watch to analyze and continuously educate themselves on updated safety laws and then implement what they learn so long as they believe it’s for the best of the citizens.
The EASA also plays a role in scribing legislation for the
European Union through working hand in hand with the European Commission.
Naturally, safety is the majority of the Association’s focus. Therefore, they
also receive a constant influx of safety data from across the globe to analyze
and use towards new legislation. As the world evolves and the aviation industry
grows, the resulting conclusions formed by EASA analysts is shown through said
legislation.
Another important part to this association’s operations is
approval of organizations which are involved in the manufacturer of
aeronautical products, additional to the maintenance and design of said
products. In conjunction with a major focus on safety, another responsibility
taken on by the European Aviation Safety Association is the coordination and
standardization of all air traffic over the European Union. An example of their
abilities within this realm include the ability to allow airspace blocks so
long as there are more than three parties included.
Specific tasks which the European Aviation Safety
Association conducts, stated on their website, are the following:
Certification
and approval of organizations and products where the EASA has exclusive
competence.
Promotion
of the use of European and global standards.
Drafting
the implementation of rules in all fields pertaining to the mission of the
EASA.
Cooperation
with international bodies in order to reach the highest level of safety for
European Union citizens across the globe.
Provide
support and oversight to Member States in fields where the European Aviation
Safety Association has shared competence.
The EASA and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Were Close Partners
The EASA works closely with the FAA as they are two of the largest aviation governing bodies, with some of the most frequently congested airspace. Daily, travelers cross the skies between the two on business or leisure. In 2013, the two organizations formulated a Rulemaking Cooperation Guideline which required them to create and apply certain procedures which involve regulatory cooperation in civil aviation, as well as throughout environmental testing and approval.
Then, in 2017, the FAA announced the intention to publish a
proposed standardization of safety regulations and guidance for the assessment
of airlines, in conjunction with the EASA’s approach to the same situation.
MAX Crashes Changed The Nature Of the Relationship Quickly
An image of a Lion Air Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircrat. Image: Lion Air
Most recently, in 2019, two horrendous aircraft crashes grounded the B737 MAX across the globe. The same issue in both aircraft killed hundreds of passengers, thus breaking the trust operators had in the machines. Boeing worked for months formulating fixes, and as they believed to be close to the solution, more issues would arise. This caused a massive headache for the FAA as one of the most popular narrowbodies produced in their country had stopped operations.
The Executive Director of the European Aviation Safety Association announced later in 2019 that this situation will have a ripple effect which could potentially change the hierarchy within the relationship of the FAA and EASA as the trust was severed. According to AINonline, This had already caused a sort of “de-alignment” as the EASA trusted the Federal Aviation Association to correctly certify the MAX, to avoid the exact horrors that ultimately occurred.
In the same article, AINonline also reported that there’s a lack of understanding on the European Aviation Safety Association’s part with how the FAA managed to allow Boeing to oversee parts of its own certification process. The Executive Director of EASA Patrick Ky claimed such events would not happen within his realm as they have an incredibly structured system of delegation and methodology which had been agreed upon by the appropriate people.
On March 12th, 2019, the EASA banned the MAX from
their airspace, removing themselves from the potential of a third horrific
event. Once the MAX software issue has been solved, there will then be four
more hoops which it has to jump through for the EASA to allow it back in their
airspace. They are a thorough association which takes safety seriously, and
what may seem like an overabundance of caution, they are sticking with their
beliefs as they are looking at the bigger picture of the larger ramifications
that have breached the surface since the crashes.
The EASA‘s mission is to protect its citizens and ensure the safe operations of aviation across its territory. While the tight relationship between the EASA and FAA once was once taken for granted, it’s now crystal clear how major mistakes such as this can so quickly degrade a vital working relationship. The aviation industry runs on trust and safety. You cannot have one without the other, and when one falls short, it takes many years of perfection to reach normal levels once again.
ATLANTA — A squadron of six World War II aircraft will perform a series of tight formations and a dizzying array of high speed maneuvers during the Atlanta Airshow this weekend.
The GEICO Skytypers Airshow Team carry the torch forward for the Greatest Generation of pilots as they demonstrate their story high above the air show. The Skytypers’ dedication and skill inspires guests to appreciate the history of these aircraft, and the aviators who piloted these silver doves through the smoke blackened skies of war.
The GEICO Skytypers practice above the atlanta airshow’s aerial stadium on friday. (Charles Atkeison)
The team has spent the last few days at Atlanta Motor Speedway preparing for the Atlanta Airshow this weekend. The Skytypers flight leader notes this will be their first demonstration over an open stadium.
“We have opened over a (NASCAR) race, but we have never performed over a stadium before,” Squadron commander Larry Arken said on Friday. “It’s gonna be cool to perform for an audience on one side of the stadium.”
Powered by a 600 horsepower prop engine, each SNJ-2 aircraft is the Navy’s variant of the Army’s T-6 Texan. Built during 1940, these 80 year-old planes helped train the future pilots of World War II.
“We are excited to reveal this season’s 20-maneuver demonstration at the Atlanta Airshow,” Arken added. “Airshow attendees will see first-hand what these ‘warbirds’ are made of.”
The pilots of the GEICO Skytypers enjoy perfroming thier 3 versus 2 maneuver. (Charles Atkeison)
The GEICO Skytypers‘ 18-minute flight demo is only half of their show during their performance. Weather permitting the Skytypers will create a large dot matrix sky-written message above the airfield.
Flying in a tight, line-abreast formation, the planes coordinate in typing messages with environmentally friendly puffs of white smoke. Using an on board computer in Skytyper 1, a custom-programmed tablet sends commands to the other aircraft via radio signals. The messages can be seen from nearly five miles away.
The Skytypers also spend their down time at an air show site visiting education centers and hospitals. Occasionally, the team will host student groups during an air show for a plane side discussion, and a chance to climb aboard the aircraft.
The six pilots who fly these vintage aircraft are lead by Arken in plane 1. Skytyper 2 through 6 pilots include Chris Thomas, Mike Brockey, Chris Orr, Steve Salmirs, Thomas Daly, and Kevin Sinibaldi. Skytyper 7 pilot and air show narrator is Jim Record. Skytypers 8 pilot is Steve Kapur.
(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)
Wayne Newton, Crazy Turbulence, and some pretty funny diversion humor
Bill Curry is a pilot’s pilot, a gentleman, and one damn funny storyteller. Bill knew when he was 8-years of age that he wanted to fly. He soloed at 16, earned a Private, Commercial, Instrument, Multiengine and was an instructor at 21. He was re-assigned to Clark Air Base in the Philippines to run, manage and give flight instruction as his full-time military job. He leveraged that experience to get hired at Airline Midwest in Wichita, flying twin turboprops. He later achieved his dream job flying for Midway Airline on the mighty DC-9, rising to a Captain.
In typical Bill humor…Here are three stories sharing the lighter side of a career in aviation.
Story 1: My Scary Encounter With Clear Air Turbulence
This event happened sometime
in the 1970’s when I flew for Air Midwest.
Airline Midwest Metro II
I was the First Officer on this trip and we had departed Denver Stapleton at night headed southeastward to Lamar, Colorado, located in the southeast corner of Colorado and it was about a 45-minute flight to Lamar. The night was crystal clear, no moon, and it was smooth as glass to the point that you’d never know you were even moving. I’m guessing we were about 50-miles northwest of Lamar and we were cleared to start our descent. We had talked with our people at Lamar and it was clear and there was no wind at all.
During the descent, everything was fine until we got about 35-miles northwest of the airport and out of nowhere we got a sudden but brief very strong jolt of turbulence and went back to smooth. About 40-seconds later ALL HELL broke loose. Until this night, I had NEVER experienced anything even close to what we went through. Like I said, it was crystal clear and the turbulence was so violent that it emptied the seat backs and side pockets and was so violent that we could barely read the instruments plus it was IMPOSSIBLE to even talk to Denver Center.
We were already secured in our shoulder harnesses, but when this hit, I was trying to get my shoulder harness even tighter and I was also pushing up on the cockpit ceiling with my right hand to keep myself in my seat. The Captain shouted, “Get on the throttles, get on the throttles!!” He had both hands on the controls and the airspeed was fluctuating violently from way up around 240 Knots down to as low as 140 Knots. In turbulence like that you fly ATTITUDE not ALTITUDE to prevent overstressing the aircraft. We were trying not to exceed the red line on the airspeed and trying to not stall the airplane either!!! This lasted roughly 2 to 3 ½ minutes and then it stopped instantly!!! You’d honestly have to experience this yourself to believe it, and it was the loosest feeling in the world. A lot of the time the instruments were a blur with all the violence!! If someone had been sitting in their seat without a seatbelt on, they would have either been killed or had broken bones!!!! Just the sound of the props that were changing pitch due to the violent surges in gusts was scary!
Airline Midwest Metro II Cabin (Bill Curry) Avgeekery.com
Denver Center KNEW we had a problem because they kept trying to call us and as soon as it ended, I called Denver Center and told them what happened. I have no memory of what our altitude was when this ended. We also elected to NOT land at Lamar but to continue on eastward to Garden City, Kansas, because if we had gotten back into this turbulence at a lower altitude on the approach into Lamar, we’d be dead!!! This was definitely a case of CAT (Clear Air Turbulence).
Well, Boy’s and girl’s, did this REALLY SCARE the HELL out of Mr. Bill and the Captain?????? Does a bear sh*t in the woods??? HELL YES IT SCARED THE HELL OUT OF US!!!! I never experienced this kind of turbulence ever again.
The DC-9 is credited with being one of the most successful aircraft in aviation history. This winning design for a medium-range passenger aircraft made its debut in 1965. Many of its descendants still fly in various liveries throughout the world.
Like its ancestor, the legendary DC-3, the military services saw the value of this aircraft and adopted it into use as the C-9. The C-47 was the original go-anywhere, do-anything transport. The Douglas C-9 followed in its footsteps like a little (but bigger) brother. In both the Pacific and European theaters of war, the C-47 had a tremendous impact. The C-47 was even fitted with large floats for water landings and takeoffs; it helped save Berlin during the Airlift. The C-9 would emerge as a more than capable jet flying in Vietnam, the Gulf War, throughout the Cold War, and even post-Cold War era well into the 21st century.
The Douglas C-9 emerges as a simple DC-9 conversion
The C-9 is a development of the popular DC9-30 series. Shortly after the DC-9 series launched, the jet established a reputation for dependability, quality, and competitive operational costs.
The C-9 was adopted by the military to replace transport and medivac aircraft, all of them propeller-driven. These included the C-131 Samaritan. The increased speed, improved accommodations, and other benefits provided by the C-9 were a serious improvement in providing the best medical care for personnel. The interior was readily adaptable for the transport of personnel and cargo. The C-9 filled a niche for mid-sized transports. It fulfilled missions for which the larger aircraft, like the C-133 and C-141, were too large or not properly equipped. The speed of a jet and adaptable interior space made the C-9 an excellent choice for many missions where the airfield could not accommodate larger aircraft.
Air Force’s C-9 for DV Transport and Medivac
Image of the Air Force’s Douglas C-9A in a Medivac configuration. The C-9 could carry up to 40 injured troops in the cabin. (US Air Force Photo)
The USAF employed the C-9A Nightingale primarily as a medivac transport, and had a small fleet of VC-9s for DV transport. The C-9A was explicitly designed to accommodate ambulatory and litter-borne patients. Features such as high speed, reduced engine noise, and a rear loading ramp made this an ideal choice for moving personnel in need of specialized hospital care. It had the capacity for 40 litter (stretcher) patients and 40 ambulatory patients, or a combination thereof. The last USAF C-9A was retired in September 2005.
The Air Force’s fleet of VC-9C jets flew senior governmental leaders to various places. The C-9 also served as an executive VIP transport. Three VC-9C served as Air Force II until being replaced by the C-32 (modified Boeing 757). The interior was outfitted for use by First Ladies, Vice Presidents, and other dignitaries with appropriate decor and features for official duties and visits.
The VC-9C was utilized for official visits by Executive Branch members to places where larger aircraft could not be accommodated. It had enhanced communications capabilities and was operated by the 89th Airlift Wing and later the 932nd Airlift Wing at Scott Air Force Base. The VC-9C even occasionally served as Air Force One when the Commander-in-Chief needed to fly to a small field instead of a larger airport. The VC-9Cs were finally retired in 2011, as seen in this video posted by the AMC Museum.
Marine Corps and Navy Loved Their Sky Train II’s
The US Navy and Marine Corps adopted the C-9B as the Sky Train II in honor of the C-47 multi-role transport that served well into the 1970s. The interior was readily adaptable for personnel seating or cargo loads and could operate from smaller airports. The last C-9B was retired by the US Navy in July 2014. The Marine Corps operated 2 C-9Bs for executive transport purposes. They finally retired their jets in 2017. Below is a video of a C-9B from the 2011 NAS Oceana Air Show posted on YouTube by airshowfansh.
While the Douglas C-9 was never a big foreign seller, two were supplied to Kuwait as the C-9K, the last of which was a Douglas jet retired in 2005.
C-9 Replacement
The intended replacement for the C-9 and variants is the Boeing C-40 Clipper. This variant of the proven workhorse 737 series will pick up where the Douglas C-9 left off. The C-40 will fill big shoes and inherit a host of duties where the dependable Boeing 737 airframe will be useful. The C-9 earned a place in the history books as an all-around workhorse that performed well, serving faithfully on the demanding missions it faced with an enviable service, safety, and reliability record.
Although the military has replaced the DC-9 derivative fleet, the original design of the DC-9 lives on. The DC-9 continued to be stretched throughout the 1970s as the -50 model and later the MD-80 and -90 models emerged. After the McDonnell-Douglas merger with Boeing, Boeing continued production of the MD-95 airframe and redesignated it as the Boeing 717. While the 717 was never a runaway commercial hit, production continued until 2006. This ensures that the same basic design that was first delivered to an airline in 1965 will continue to fly over our skies for at least a few more years.
You can still see a Douglas C-9 at museums across the country
While the days of the DOuglas C-9 flying have come to an end, you can still see a few of them at museums across the country. While most are on military bases, they can be seen at museums at Scott AFB, Dover AFB, Lackland AFB, the old Castle AFB museum, Evergreen Museum, and Pensacola, FL, at the Naval Aviation Museum.
HAMPTON, Ga. — North America’s top two Air Force demonstration teams will come together this weekend to perform above the only aerial stadium during the Atlanta Air Show.
The thrust of America’s Air Force Thunderbirds and the Royal Canadian Snowbirds will join top aerobatic aircraft at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Nearly 90,000 guests are expected to attend the third annual Atlanta Air Show on October 12 and 13.
“This will be a really unique experience for spectators watching from the grandstands,” Atlanta Airshow Chairman Bryan Lilley said on Tuesday. “The elevated view will both look and feel like no other air show, as the jets come from behind the grandstands, almost framing each maneuver.”
Canadian Snowbirds advance pilot Capt. Robbie Hindle is ready for the atlanta airshow. (Charles Atkeison)
As the jet teams perform their high speed maneuvers, their thrust will resonate across the cone style layout of the stadium. The vibration will give an added dimension for attendees.
“The afterburner from the jets projecting on the stands will make them vibrate and fans will feel the noise – almost like you’re flying in the back seat with them,” Lilley added.
Top Demonstration Teams to Perform Over an Aerial Stadium
The Thunderbirds six F-16C Fighting Falcons, led by Lt. Col. John Caldwell, will perform a nearly 40-minute demonstration each afternoon. The sleek red, white, and blue jets’ formations and maneuvers will highlight the abilities of the Air Force’s popular aircraft.
“It’s rare to see the Thunderbirds and Snowbirds perform at the same show together anywhere, let alone in a major city where neither of them have been seen in a long time,” added Lilley. “We’re expecting a really big turnout.”
The maintainers of the air force thunderbirds spend long hours preparing the squadrons six f-16 Fighting falcons before each performance. (charles atkeison)
The Canadian Snowbirds seven and nine-plane formations will demonstrate the graceful maneuvers of their CT-114 Tutor jet aircraft. The Warriors of the Air will perform nearly 40 maneuvers — both low level and launching skyward smoke-on.
The GEICO Skytypers Air Show Team, famous for their low level maneuvers and huge sky-typed messages, will add to the two-days of excitement. The Skytypers’s six Navy SNJ-2 aircraft will demonstrate the dog-fight flying styles and maneuvers flown by the “Greatest Generation” nearly 80 years ago.
“It’s a very dynamic demo with a lot of things happening very quickly with some maneuvers a tribute to the era of the generation of these World War II airplanes,” Squadron Leader Larry Arken told AvGeekery. “Other things are done for the spectators view like a heart or a bomb burst, and other maneuvers are tactical maneuvers which the military still uses.”
The six SNJ-2 aircraft of the GEICO skytypers perform a stunning break maneuver. (Charles Atkeison)
The team’s 18-minute flight demo may include some sky writing during the show. If the weather permits, the Skytypers will create a massive dot matrix sky-written message above the airfield — a message to guests which can be seen from five miles away.
Tickets remain available online and will also be sold at the gate each day. The Atlanta Motor Speedway is located 29 miles south of Downtown Atlanta. Follow I-75 south to the Tara Blvd. exit and travel south to Speedway Blvd.
Air show officials state that unlike NASCAR races which are held at the stadium, there will be no tailgating or loitering allowed in the parking lot. The aircraft aerobatic box is the main reason for the rule which will be enforced.
(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)
Women in Aviation International is a global organization which celebrates females in an industry that is predominantly male. Throughout the last few decades as the industry has modernized, an exponential number of women have joined in, bringing all skillsets to the table, thus propelling the industry forward.
One of the largest annual events which Women in Aviation International hosts is Girls in Aviation Day. Focused towards girls 8th grade and younger, we celebrate GIAD on October 5th this year.
Led by Women in Aviation chapters throughout the world,
girls spend their day learning about the industry and participating in
activities directed towards their age group. They are sectioned off into groups
by their grade led by adult members. This day-long event not only encourages
women to join the industry through spreading the “aviation bug”, but it also
celebrates the power of women impacting a male dominated world. A sample of
activities include face painting, paper airplane competitions, and career
booths run by a multitude of companies from the industry such as airlines and
manufacturers.
Throughout history, key women have made such phenomenal impacts on the industry that the world is still reeling from the effects. Greats such as Amelia Earhart, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, and Bessie Coleman are some of the most well-known women in aviation for their talent, drive, and courage, smashing male constructed barriers, showing how much they have to offer. Although these individuals are the first that come to mind, they are a drop in the bucket for female aviation greats.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt in 1933. (Wikipedia)
Eleanor Roosevelt is most known by her last name. Although her husband was president in the 1930s, she was fighting for women’s rights within the aviation industry. While the United States was at war throughout the following decade, she encouraged women to stand up for themselves, to join in the war efforts much past the stereotypical roles. Working in conjunction with the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), she made public statements encouraging women to follow suit, and fight for the freedom of their country. She believed women pilots to be one of the country’s best kept secrets and most powerful forces.
Ada Brown
As airlines crept into the lives of many Americans, stewardesses were a highly romanticized position. Throughout the harsh conditions they were forced to work through, one woman believed they deserved respect and she went to bat for all others in her position. Ada Brown was a stewardess for United Airlines during the ‘40s. She faced the disrespect firsthand and was able to join together nearly 300 women, thus forming the first stewardess union. To this day, 26 carriers across the world have flight attendants represented through the Air Line Stewardess Association (ALSA), now called the Association of Flight Attendants, thanks to Ada Brown.
Sally Ride
Sally Ride in 1984, Photo: NASA
On a larger scale, within the aviation/aerospace industries, women have made strides proving their skills and abilities. Sally Ride was an astronaut and physicist. This brilliant woman was the first female from the United States to travel into space. She was part of the Challenger mission in 1983. Sally continued to travel into space over the remainder of her career with NASA, working with other female pioneers such as Kathryn Sullivan who was the third woman to follow suit, but the first to perform a spacewalk.
Women have always had important roles in the growth of the aviation industry. They’re now more important than ever in the continued advancement. Associations such as Women in Aviation aims to encourage females to join the industry and celebrate their accomplishments. These organizations are successful in doing so through events such as Girls in Aviation Day. Each year, hundreds of young women are reached through this event, crafting a positive outlook for the continued influx of females who want a career in aviation. What other women in aviation inspire you? Share your inspiration with us in the comments below.
If you are looking to participate online in a Girls in Aviation Day event, check out this link. Additional events around the world are also being held today. You can see the full list here.
There are reports that the Collings Foundation B-17G that was on a “Wings of Freedom” tour across the country has crashed at Bradley International Airport this morning. There is no word yet on injuries or casualties.
We can confirm that there was an accident involving a Collings Foundation World War II aircraft this morning at Bradley Airport. We have an active fire and rescue operation underway. The airport is closed. We will issue further updates as information becomes available.
Update 9: Oct 2, 2019, 7:18 PM ET: The Courant and other media sources are now reporting that the death toll is now 7 with 7 injured. There still has not been any official confirmation of fatalities yet. Based on the need to inform next of kin, it is unlikely that any official confirmation of the death toll would occur before tomorrow.
A recent Tweet posted by the NTSB shows the aircraft at rest. With the exception of the tail and part of the left wing, the rest of the B-17G looks unrecognizable. Truly heartbreaking to see.
NTSB board Member Jennifer Homendy and investigator Dan Bower at the scene Wednesday of the crash of a B-17 at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut. pic.twitter.com/uDblzYtiJl
The NTSB has also asked for videos, photos of the aircraft in either the moments before or shortly after the crash. You can e-mail them at witness@ntsb.gov.
HAPPENING NOW… Press conference with National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in regards to the Bradley International Airport plane crash. They are asking anyone that has any information, videos or photos to email witness@ntsb.gov. pic.twitter.com/W3wHG2FnYg
Also posted this afternoon, Tweets from Connecticut’s Senators both convey deep sorrow for the incident with a sincere desire to determine the cause.
Our hearts go out to the loved ones of the victims. They & the public deserve to know the facts & causes of this tragic crash. I’m calling for an immediate National Transportation Safety Board investigation so we can get to the bottom of what happened & prevent future tragedies. https://t.co/SEsFgjq2Nj
Horrible news from Bradley this morning. My heart goes out to everyone impacted by this crash. I’m continuing to get updates on the situation and we are ready to assist with federal resources if needed. https://t.co/F7GL76mIye
Update 8: Oct 2, 2019, 4:08 PM ET:The Courant is now reporting that 5 people have perished with an additional 9 injured. Some injuries were apparently pretty horrific. Additionally, the airport is now open again. Runway 15/33 which is the shorter runway of the two a 6,847 feet is open. Runway 6 remains closed.
Update 7: Oct 2, 2019, 1:13PM ET: Facebook live video from NBC Connecticut discussing the injuries of the victims. NBC Connecticut said a total of 13 people on board including 10 passengers and 3 crew with one person also injured on the ground.
Update 6: Oct 2, 2019, 12:17 PM ET: The Collings Foundation released a statement on the crash. You can read it here.
Additionally, aviation-safety.net is reporting that the B-17 involved in the crash took off at 9:45 AM local this morning. Five minutes later, they made a request to land on Runway 6. According to the site, the airplane crashed as it was landing, coming to a stop near a small de-icing equipment/ maintenance area located 1100 feet east of the numbers on runway 6 and southeast of the Bradley Air National Guard Base ramp.
Update 5: Oct 2, 2019, 11:52 AM ET: The Hartford Courant is now reporting that two people have died. Citing sources, the stated that two perished, with multiple others injured. There is no official confirmation at this time by any authorities.
Update 4: Oct 2, 2019, 11:35 AM ET: EAA Chapter 1310 posted unconfirmed flight aware data showing the aircraft climbed to 800 feet before turning back to the airport.
Flightaware shows N93012 (B-17) took off at 9:48. Got up to about 800’ about 120 kn. Turned back to BDL when over the Connecticut River pic.twitter.com/O4DaUyTN8V
Update 3: Oct 2, 2019, 11:33 AM ET: WWLP.com is reporting that 6 people have been taken to the local hospital. No word on their conditions at this time.
Update 2: Oct 2, 2019, 11:20 AM ET: WWLP.com has a live video camera panning the scene with behind the scenes footage as they prepare for a live television report. At the present time, the fire appears to be out. The tail of the aircraft is clearly visible and unburnt but the fuselage looks heavily damaged if not destroyed. There are many fire and other emergency vehicles surrounding the aircraft making it impossible to see the full extent of the damage. The aircraft looks like a total loss. There is still no information on injuries or casualties on the aircraft.
Update 1: Oct 2, 2019, 11:14 ET:WWLP.com is reporting that Bradley International Airport is expected to be closed until tomorrow. While airports typically close after an incident, that seems a little extreme. Current NOTAMs at the airport show that the airport is closed until 2359 this evening.
!BDL 10/010 (KBDL A3225/19) BDL AD AP CLSD 1910021423-1910022359EST
Original post below…
Video is posted by Twitter user Segun O. who works near where the B-17 crashed.
The aircraft involved in the incident is believed to be the beloved and world-famous “Nine-O-Nine” B-17 bomber. The B-17G, serial number 44-83575 and registered as N93012, is owned by the Collings Foundation based in Stow, Massachusetts. This particular aircraft never did serve in World War II. But it did provide air-sea rescue services as part of the Air/Sea 1st Rescue Squadron with additional service in the Military Air Transport Service. The aircraft later served as a testbed to evaluate the effects of nuclear blasts on aircrafts. It also served as a fire bomber. In 1986, the Collings Foundation acquired the aircraft.
This is a Breaking News Update… We will update this article as new information is made available.
Envoy Air Ground Instructor Jorge Manalang didn’t go to work hoping to be in a viral video. Yet when a beverage service cart began to spin wildly out of control near an Envoy Air Embraer 140, Jorge jumped into action to save his team mates and a jet. His quick thinking avoided a potentially dangerous mishap.
According to Envoy, a beverage service cart was parked near the the aircraft to service the jet before its outbound flight. Unfortunately, a case of water fell on the gas pedal, sending the cart wildly careening into reverse. As the unmanned cart began accelerating, the vehicle began spinning in reverse with each oscillation coming closer and closer to both the aircraft and the ground service team that was trying to disable the vehicle. Quick thinking Manalang grabbed a push tug and intercepted the cart just before it would have hit the Embraer 140 jet.
“I’m incredibly proud of Jorge’s actions – he not only prevented severe damage to the aircraft, but more importantly, he prevented what could have been serious injury to his fellow ramp employees or our customers onboard,” said Ricky Deane, Envoy Vice President in Chicago said in a press release about the incident. “He demonstrated the ‘safety first’ focus that we have here at the hub – it’s the foundation of everything we do.”
The heroic act by Manalag even received praise from President Trump. In a Tweet, President Trump stated “Great job! Just in time.” No word on whether Manalang will receive a bonus for his heroic actions.
“I was just doing my job,” said Jorge. “Safety is our number one priority and I did not want anyone to get hurt, so I used the pushback to stop the cart.” Envoy said that Manalang will receive special recognition for his heroic effort. Well done, Jorge!
UPDATE: Thunderbirds opposing solo Maj. Michelle “Mace” Curran will not perform with the squadron this weekend during the Robins Air Force Base Airshow. “I am dealing with some back pain which has temporarily taken me out of the cockpit,” Mace said who is continuing in rehab. “You better believe I’m doing everything I can to get it sorted out ASAP.”
MACON, Ga. — The tight precision flying of the Air Force Thunderbirds and the dynamic flight of an F-22 Raptor will headline this weekend’s Thunder Over Georgia Airshow at Robins Air Force Base.
The air base’s first airshow in three years will include both military and civilian aircraft performing flight demonstrations. Near the flightline, static aircraft will be on display while several family-friendly events entertain and educate visitors during the two-day event.
“We’ve assembled an incredible array of aerial demonstrations and ground displays focused on providing an understanding of Air Force missions and military capabilities, as well as the skills and professionalism of its people,” Robins AFB Installation Commander Colonel Brian Moore said from the flightline on Tuesday. “The weekend will be chock-full of excitement, family fun, and patriotic activities.”
The F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team will perform during thunder over georgia airshow. (Chales atkeison)
The Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, known as the Thunderbirds, is led by Lt. Col. John Caldwell aboard the Thunderbird 1 jet. The six demonstration pilots also include left wing pilot Maj. Will Graeff aboard Thunderbird 2, Thunderbird 3 right wing Capt. Michael Brewer, slot pilot Maj. Whit Collins in jet 4. Maj. Matt Kimmel will perform high speed dynamic passes as the lead solo.
“As the jets take to the skies and fly only a few feet from wing tip to wing tip, the crowd gets a glimpse of the awesome skills and capabilities that all fighter pilots must possess,” Thunderbird spokesperson Maj. Ray Geoffroy said. “The solo pilots integrate their own loud and proud routine exhibiting some of the maximum capabilities of the F-16 Fighting Falcon.”
Popular civilian pilots scheduled to perform include Clemens Kuhling aboard his ChefPitts bi-plane; aerobatic performer Julie Clark; and Matt Younkin piloting his Twin Beech. and Disabled American Veteran Flight Team and their B-25 Mitchell bomber.
Chef Pitts S1s biplane is one of several civilian aircraft performing at Robins AFB. (Charles Atkeison)
The U.S. Air Force Rapid Strike, a full motion simulator ride free to the public, will make its appearance at Thunder Over Georgia. Visitors can experience an F-22 Raptor flight, a C-17 cargo mission, and then move into a special operations ground strike all from your point-of-view.
The popular Kids Zone will allow youngsters to experience a military-style boot camp obstacle course, or climb the massive rock wall. Gates open at 9:00 a.m. both days and the opening ceremony is scheduled to begin two hours later. General admission and parking are free to the public in most areas.
Robins officials note that on-base parking is not available to non-military card holders. The air show will support several off-base parking lots to accommodate the general public with a shuttle bus running between the airshow and the lots.
Robins officials add, “People arriving from I-75 South may park at Middle Georgia Regional Airport on Airport Drive. Guests arriving from I-75 North should take Exit 149 for Middle Georgia Regional Airport on Avondale Mill Road.”
(Charles Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)
How a Child in the Cockpit of an Aeroflot Flight Just a Few Years After the Fall of the Soviet Union Brought Down an A310
Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 the official State-owned airline Aeroflot began a difficult transition to Western-style competitive business model. Aeroflot had a justifiably earned reputation for poor safety, crew standards, maintenance, and unreliable equipment. The decision to begin a migration to Western aircraft until more modern Russian-designed and manufactured equipment could eventually compete.
Any transition to new technology and procedures are time-consuming, requiring man-hours and experience. When this is not done well, accidents happen. In an emergency situation, especially when there is confusion and distraction, even the most experienced plots can fall back on previous experience and knowledge. This is what occurred on March 23, 1994 aboard Aeroflot Flight 593, an Airbus A310 flying from Moscow to Hong Kong.
Back in 1991, shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union, Aeroflot leased 5 Airbus A310 airliners. Flight 593’s pilot was Andrey Danilov with a total of 950 hours in the Airbus 310; Co-Pilot Igor Piskaryov had significant time and experience as well but less than 500 hours total flying Airbus aircraft.
The Sterile Cockpit Rule
The A310 cockpit, similar to the ill-fated Aeroflot 593 jet. Photo: Alex Beltyukov CC 2.0
It’s a well known fact that after September 11th, access to the cockpit is extremely restricted–typically to only the pilots, aircrew jumpseating, and flight attendants if there is a specific reason to enter. Prior to those events, rules were occasionally more lax. Most western nations banned visitors to the cockpit during flight but occasionally a guest would be permitted to see the cockpit, especially on some lesser regulated carriers. Additionally, most airlines followed a “Sterile Cockpit” Rule that eliminates distractions to the flight crew through conversation or interruptions that are not directly related to piloting the aircraft. While strictly enforced on takeoff and landing phases, it is expected a basic level of crew discipline and decorum is enforced at all times.
At the time, the culture at Aeroflot was much more lax. On March 23, 1994, Relief Pilot Yaroslav Kudrinsky brought his two children, son Eldar and daughter Yana into the cockpit. He invited Eldar to sit in the left hand seat and hold the control column. Eldar was warned not to touch anything else. He did what many kids would do. He didn’t listen to his parents. He inadvertently hit the autopilot switch and disengaged the roll component of the autopilot. The jet immediately began to bank abruptly. Co-pilot Piskaryov tried to correct. Eldar was ordered to get out of the seat, but things went wrong very quickly. Both pilots were used to the audible alarm signals used in Russian-made aircraft, the Airbus instead used warning lights to warn of malfunctions or important alerts. Time wasted in reacting to the unfamiliar alerts allowed the aircraft to go into a series of climbs and then dives, the last one being a fatal one, resulting in a crash with loss of all passengers and crew 75 totals.
Confusion Aboard the ill-fated Aeroflot 593 Flight
In the moments leading up to the crash, the crew worked frantically at deciding what was happening and how to disengage the problem. Their delay caused precious time and lost altitude. Cockpit conversations show that the confusion over what had happened, getting Eldar out of the left hand seat, and figuring out how to correct the oscillations all wasted valuable recovery time.
Flight 593 demonstrated how a lack of following established procedures, and a serious lack of judgement can lead to disaster. Under severe stress, humans fall back on habits and muscle memory. The seconds lost in translating old reactions to newly learned ones are multiplied many times over. When you add in distractions caused by the presence of unfamiliar persons in close proximity to the emergency (such as the two children and violating the most basic safety procedures) and confusion, the situation isn’t likely to end well. It was an accident that could have easily been avoided. A visit by the child when the jet was at the gate could have both avoided an incident and checked the box for a visit to see the cockpit.
Aeroflot Today is not the “Aero-flop” of the 1970’s.
Aeroflot today is a far cry from the airline that flew during the Soviet Union and led to the accident of flight 593. Aeroflot spent much of the 90s refreshing its fleet and adapting to Western standards. The airline’s safety record has improved. Prior to the end of the Soviet Union, the State-owned airline was derided as “Aero-flop”, the inefficient, crude domestically manufactured aircraft and poor safety and maintenance earned the criticism. They were amongst the most dangerous airlines in the world. Over the past 15 years, they underwent a modernization program. Today they fly a mostly-western fleet of Boeing 777, 737NG, and some of the latest Airbus narrow-body and wide-body aircraft. The have modern maintenance procedures and crew training in line with the rest of the world. While the crash landing of the Sukoi Superjet 100 in 2019 was a setback, their operation is regarded as modern. Aeroflot is a member of the SkyTeam world alliance, joining the ranks of Delta, Korean Air, and KLM.
American Airlines, fresh off the retirement of the MD-80 fleet, has unveiled a new look for one of their Airbus A321 aircraft. American already has a small sub-fleet of specially painted heritage livery aircraft celebrating all of the airlines that make up the current airline today. This special scheme is different. It honors those fighting cancer.
In a statement today, American said that the A321 features 22,627 names of cancer survivors, patients and those we have lost to cancer. Names were submitted by the public throughout the month of July, all of whom donated $25 or more to have their loved one’s name added to the plane, resulting in more than $825,000 for cancer research.
Each person fighting cancer has a story. American shared two unique stories. One is Patrick Swayze, a pilot himself, who was added to the plane by his wife of 34 years, Lisa Niemi Swayze. Among the names is also Tug McGraw, added by his son Tim McGraw, who lent his talent to promote the fundraising campaign in this year’s public service announcement.
Inaugural flight carried cancer survivors
To celebrate the flight of the newly painted aircraft, American flew cancer survivors from Los Angeles LAX airport to Orlando, Florida. Before the flight, passengers were greeted by the Los Angeles Rams cheerleaders. Onboard the jet, they were treated to entertainment by Noah Schnacky and comedian Marina Franklin.
The aircraft was crewed by volunteers who themselves all had connections to cancer. According the press release, “one of the pilots will be American Airlines First Officer Brandon Bailey, who appeared in the Stand Up To Cancer PSA alongside Tim McGraw. Bailey Stands Up for his mother, Machelle, who faced cancer while Brandon was deployed to Afghanistan.”
Upon arrival at Orlando, passengers will receive VIP treatment as they enjoy a day at Universal Studios Orlando.
Stand Up To Cancer Plane Labor Of Love by Maintenance Personnel
American’s official Stand Up To Cancer plane was unveiled to American Airlines team members at the company’s Base Maintenance facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma, yesterday. Over three days, Tech Ops – Tulsa team members carefully added 22,627 names to the aircraft exterior.
Once complete, the plane was ferried from Tulsa to LA for the inaugural flight. After the weekend concludes, the American Airlines’ official Stand Up To Cancer aircraft will re-enter American’s fleet.
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