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Air Force Unveils Next Generation Bomber, The B-21

Wendell Barnhouse
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Air Force Unveils Next Generation Bomber, The B-21

b21bomber

Air Force displays rendering of new stealth bomber for the first time.

Dear ISIS and other (potential) enemies of America: You mess with the bull, you get the … B-21.

Friday U.S. Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James revealed an artist’s concept design and the designation of the next generation long-range strike bomber. James was speaking at the Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Fla.

James said the B-21 will let the Air Force launch from the continental U.S. and deliver airstrikes on any location in the world.

“The B-21 has been designed from the beginning based on a set of requirements that allows the use of existing and mature technology,” James said.

The new stealth bomber has a designation but not a name. The LRS-B was tagged B-21 because it will be the first new stealth bomber of the 21st century. James is opening up the naming of the B-21 to U.S. airmen.

“So we have an image, we have a designation, but what we don’t yet have, we don’t yet have a name,” James said, “and this is where I’m challenging and I’m calling on every airman today … to give us your best suggestions for a name for the B-21, America’s newest bomber.”

The contract has been awarded to Northrup Grumman, which also built the B-2. Analysts say the program will be worth around $80 billion in total, providing a boon to Northrop and its key suppliers, but the Air Force has said only that it expects to pay $511 million per plane in 2010 dollars.

The contract to build 100 B-21s was awarded in October but the announcement has been held up as federal auditors reviewed a protest from Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The B-21 program also figures to encounter scrutiny from Congress.

The artist rendering of the B-21 closely resembles the B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber. The plan is for the B-21 to be operational in the middle of the next decade.

So, ISIS, if you’re still around by then … beware.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hot Links: A Roundup Of This Week’s Stories You Might Have Missed – Just Click And Read

Wendell Barnhouse
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Hot Links: A Roundup Of This Week’s Stories You Might Have Missed – Just Click And Read

Avgeekery.com invites you to close out your week and spend some TGIF time getting caught up on some stories of interest that you might have missed over the last few days.

Astronaut Scott Kelly. Credit: NASA/Robert Markowitz
Astronaut Scott Kelly. Credit: NASA/Robert Markowitz

MOST IN SPACE: When Scott Kelly returns to Earth next week, he will come back holding the record for most days in space by a U.S. astronaut. He will have spent nearly a year in the International Space Station. Kelly has been in space four times but this mission has produced some interesting facts and figures.

EMBRAER ROLLOUT: Embraer’s dominance in small to mid-size commercial aircraft received another boost when the Brazilian company rolled out the E190-E2, the first E2 jet. The aircraft is scheduled to make its maiden flight in the second half of this year and be in service in 2018.

EMERGENCY, EMERGENCY: DFW Airport, one of the nation’s busiest, had to handle two emergency landings in a 12-hour period this week.

UNION NEWS (NOT DUES): American Airlines pilots formed their own union over 50 years ago but a former union executive thinks that it’s time for the AA pilots to increase their clout by rejoining the larger Air Line Pilots Association.

WHY AIRFARES ARE HIGH: A writer who knows the airlines and travel industry explains why airfares are high even though commercial carriers are raking in profits and benefiting from lower fuel prices.

HARTSFIELD SEMANTICS: Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International is not a favorite among air travelers. Perhaps that’s because it’s the busiest – more flights equal more delays equal more people equal long lines. The airport’s claim as the world’s “busiest” has now been changed to “most-traveled.” That’s probably not gonna reduce the wait time at Starbucks, though.

NEW TERMINAL IN DUBAI: Concourse D opened at Dubai International Airport this week. It cost $1.2 billion and will increase capacity from 75 million to 90 million passengers per year. (By the way, Atlanta, Dubai claims it has the world’s busiest airport.)

DON’T FENCE ME IN: A few weeks ago Avgeekery.com wrote about tips for drone owners. At the recent Singapore Airshow there was talk of installing GPS chips in drones and then using electronic “fences” to prevent drones from flying where they shouldn’t.

RIP: Capt. Eric “Winkle” Brown, who was England’s version of Chuck Yeager, died this week at the age of 97. He was the most decorated pilot in the Royal Navy and held three world records including flying 487 different types of aircraft.

TEEN DIES OF INJURIES: A 16-year-old who was among the passengers in the helicopter crash in Hawaii has died. The copter crashed in the water near Pearl Harbor and the accident was captured on video.

 

The F-4 Phantom Was A Big, Fast, Heavy and Popular Fighter. Here’s 8 Reasons why it was Awesome!

Wendell Barnhouse
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The F-4 Phantom Was A Big, Fast, Heavy and Popular Fighter. Here’s 8 Reasons why it was Awesome!

For over three decades, McDonnell’s F-4 Phantom was the world’s most popular fighter-bomber. It made its debut in 1960 and served a prominent role in Vietnam. Over 5,000 F-4s were produced.

Not only was the F-4 a staple for the U.S. military, it was operated by the armed forces in 11 other nations. In Israel, Phantoms were key players in several conflicts and Iran used a large contingent of F-4s in the Iran-Iraq War. Seven countries still use Phantoms in front-line service.

So why was the F-4 such a durable plane that was also popular with the pilots who flew the Phantom? Here are eight reasons:

  1. McDonnell Aircraft, based in St. Louis, was tasked with developing a fighter for the “next war.” The Navy wanted a twin-seat, twin-engine aircraft that could operate at high altitude at supersonic speed. The F-4 was the result. The Phantom like an All-Pro NFL linebacker – rugged size and jaw-dropping speed. It could reach Mach 2.2 and carry more than 18,000 pounds of weaponry.
  2. After becoming operational, the F-4 established its superiority. In just over two years of test flights, the Phantom set 15 world records including speed and altitude.

    An F-4 Phantom on a bombing run in Vietnam. Credit: U.S. Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation.
    An F-4 Phantom on a bombing run in Vietnam. Credit: U.S. Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation.
  3. Ironically, the F-4 was a fighter without an on-board gun. It was designed to fire rockets – Sparrows and Sidewinders. Later models added an M61 Vulcan rotary cannon. Because rockets tended to miss their targets, the cannon gave pilots a backup and a security blanket. In dogfights with MiGs in Vietnam, the cannon and the heat-seeking Sidewinders were the only effective weapons.
  4. The F-4 was initially developed for the Navy but the plane was soon in service for all branches of the U.S. military. The versatile Phantom could carry out recon missions, was outstanding in dog fights and could provide air support for ground troops.
  5. The Phantom was packed nose to tail with high-tech gear – radar, missile fire control, advanced navigation systems, an analog air-data computer – and it marked the beginning of the two-seat fighter. The back seater served as fire-control/radar officer, navigator and in later versions of the F-4 with dual pilot controls was also capable of flying the plane.mcdonnell_douglas_f_-_4j_phantom_blue_angels
  6. The size, speed and power of the F-4 made it an awesome sight in flight. The Phantom is the only aircraft that was used by the United States’ two flight demonstration teams – the Air Force’s Thunderbirds and the Navy’s Blue Angels.
  7. The popularity of an aircraft can be measured by the nickname(s) given by the men who fly those aircraft. Officially designated as the “Phantom” the F-4 also earned a long list of nicknames. It shot down a number of Soviet-buit MiGs, earning the description as the “World’s Leading Distributor of MiG Parts.” It was also known as Snoopy, Rhino, Double Ugly, Old Smokey, the Flying Anvil, Flying Footlocker, Flying Brick, Lead Sled, The Big Iron Sled, The St. Louis Slugger and Old Bent Wing because of its unique up-angled wing tips.
  8. In the 1960s, NASA needed a chase plane to film rockets they were test launching for the space program. The F-4’s twin General Electric J79 engines enabled the Phantom to track a Titan rocket for 90 seconds as it reached Mach 1. Retired colonel Jack Petry was one of the chase pilots who filmed the rocket launches. “Absolutely beautiful,” Petry told Air&Space Magazine of the experience. “To see that massive thing in flight and be right there in the air with it – you can imagine the exhilaration.”

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Getting Pumped Up About The Hybrid Airship

Wendell Barnhouse
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Getting Pumped Up About The Hybrid Airship
Artist rendering of the Hybrid Airship being developed by Lockheed Martin and Hybrid Enterprises. Credit: Lockheed Martin.
Artist rendering of the Hybrid Airship being developed by Lockheed Martin and Hybrid Enterprises. Credit: Lockheed Martin.

It can carry more than a C-130 and fly over 1,000 miles at a fraction of the cost.

Everything old is new again. At least, that’s how the saying goes. And that appears to apply to blimps.

Also known as airships, they were on the leading edge of man’s attempts to leave the Earth’s gravitational pull. For most of us, the word associated with “blimp” is “Goodyear.” That company and others have advertised by providing blimps for aerial shots at major sports events, football games in particular.

For the last 20 years, Lockheed Martin and Hybrid Enterprises have been working on making blimps relative for the 21st century. They’ve developed the Hybrid Airship and its purpose could be hauling cargo to and from remote locations.

Two other companies are developing similar aircraft. Hybrid Air Vehicles, based in England, has developed the Airlander 10 and Thales has the Stratobus, a high-altitude blimp that the company describes as an autonomous, stationary stratospheric platform.

Specifically, it’s thought that the Hybrid Airship could unlock resources in Africa that could be worth billions of dollars. The helium-powered blimp can carry up to 20 tons, has a range of more than 1,000 miles and a top speed of 60 knots.

More importantly, it doesn’t need a runway. Unlike other airships, it doesn’t need to be tethered to a mooring tower. The Hybrid Airship has four landing pads similar to a hover craft that allows it to land on a variety of surfaces.

“When you build a project in a remote area, you always have to start with a road, a railway line, and a power line before you build the smelter,” Robert S. Stewart, head of African mining firm Interop AG, told CNN.com. “With an airship you can fly straight in, without even an airport, just an area the size of two or three football fields.”

The new giant blimp has caused the Federal Aviation Administration to redefine the rules for such a craft. Lockheed-Martin and the FAA have worked for more than a decade to define criteria. Last November, the FAA approved a project specific certification plan for the Hybrid Airship.

The FAA’s approval for the certification plan gave Lockheed Martin the green light to start production. Each “super blimp” is expected to cost $40 million. Final FAA certification is needed and Hybrid Enterprises hopes its super blimp will be in operation by 2018.

Those of us at Avgeekery.com hope that the Hybrid Airship’s official debut is accompanied by Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway To Heaven.”

This Badass Song About Their Favorite Fighter Jets Was Written By Real Fighter Pilots | VIDEO

Wendell Barnhouse
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This Badass Song About Their Favorite Fighter Jets Was Written By Real Fighter Pilots | VIDEO

Real pilots wrote the most ornery songs about pilots, planes, and the daily grind of the Air Force.

The Dos Gringos band are better fighter pilots than singers and song writers. (That’s a compliment, guys.)

They penned this little ditty about their favorite military aircraft. It’s catchy and the singing is above average. (That assessment comes from a below – way below – average singer.) Caution about some of the language – it’s NSFW so either be careful where you watch or plug in your earphones.

As fun as the song is, the aerial footage that goes along with the music is top shelf.

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Sobering Facts Regarding Aviation Emissions And Global Warming

Wendell Barnhouse
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Sobering Facts Regarding Aviation Emissions And Global Warming

Spoiler alert! Chemtrails aren’t real but the world of aviation isn’t exactly environmentally friendly either.

The debate over climate change is also a debate about scientific facts and research. According to the research and the numbers from various sources, it’s ironic that a fair amount of air pollution comes from aircraft. The urge to get from here to there as quickly and as often as possible has created growth in passenger and cargo flights worldwide.

If the aviation industry were a country, it would rank in the top 10 in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. All flights worldwide account for about 2.5 percent of global CO2 emissions. Left unchecked, those emissions are estimated to grow by two to four times over the next three decades. And, aviation emissions could help push global warming over the 2 degrees Celsius line, which is the recognized goal to limit temperature increases.

Atmosfair, a German organization, calculates that a roundtrip flight from, say, Denver to New York produces the equivalent of nearly a year’s worth of emissions from a car, and more than the annual emissions of an average person living in India.

In addition to carbon dioxide, planes also emit nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, black carbon and as well as water vapor that can form heat-trapping clouds. Also, because these emissions take place in the upper troposphere, the effects are magnified.

Since 1978, American commercial airlines have improved their fuel efficiency by 120 percent. United and Southwest airlines have each announced they plan on trying alternative fuels. But alternative fuels are still in the experimental phase and there’s no guarantee enough can be produced to meet the high demand.

The Environmental Protection Agency is working on rules to address carbon dioxide emissions from aircraft. Its findings are due in April. The U.S. produces about a third of the global aviation emissions. The EPA was forced to formulate a plan after it was sued by environmental groups.

Inside_the_Airport_Control_TowerAir pollution from planes in Europe is to rise by nearly half in the next two decades, according to the European Aviation Environmental report. Its findings are based on flights over the last 25 years. The report said that aircraft emissions of nitrogen oxides – which are linked to lung damage – has doubled since 1990 and are expected to increase by 43 percent over the next two decades.

Regulating aircraft emissions is a global issue. Regulating flights that leave one country and land in another is difficult unless each country has the same emissions standards.

Alice Bows-Larkin is an atmospheric scientist at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of Manchester. She believes that reducing the number of planes in the sky is the only way to keep emissions at an acceptable level. She hasn’t flown since 2005.

“Flight is the most carbon-intensive activity that we can do,” Bows-Larkin said. “We need to do something sooner rather than later. Time is massively against us.”

Boeing Introduces 737-800 BCF Freighter, First Delivery in late 2017

Wendell Barnhouse
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Boeing Introduces 737-800 BCF Freighter, First Delivery in late 2017
Boeing will introduce the 737-800 BCF freighter by the end of 2017. Source: Boeing
Boeing will introduce the 737-800 BCF freighter by the end of 2017. Source: Boeing

Boeing today announced the launch of its 737-800 converted freighter. The 737 cargo series will be in the air by the fourth quarter of 2017 and the company says it is has commitments for up to 55 conversions from seven different customers.

The 737-800 is the first Next-Generation 737 that Boeing has offered for conversion. This standard-body converted freighter will primarily be used to carry express cargo on domestic routes.

“The Next-Generation 737 provides exceptional value to express freight carriers through its superior payload, range, reliability and efficiency,” said Stan Deal, senior vice president, Commercial Aviation Services, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “While the recovery of the global cargo market has been slow, we see demand for freighters, such as the 737-800BCF, that will carry express cargo on domestic routes.

“Over the next 20 years, Boeing forecasts customers will need more than 1,000 converted freighters the size of the 737, with China’s domestic air freight carriers accounting for nearly one-third of the total market.”

Boeing is continuing its practice of converting passenger planes for cargo purposes. Making this move with the 737 will allow for converting planes as more are retired from passenger service. It will also provide a high-capacity mid-range cargo carrier which will be particularly valuable to the growing Asian market.

Once modified, the 737-800 will include a large main-deck cargo door, a cargo-handling system plus accommodations for up to four non-flying crew or passengers. Boeing says the 737-800BCF will be able to carry up to 52,800 pounds of cargo. There will be 5,000 cubic feet of cargo space on the main deck, complemented with an additional 1,540 cubic feet of cargo space at the lower cargo holds.

Boeing says the conversions of existing passenger airplanes will take place at select facilities located near conversion demand. That will include the company’s facility in Shanghai.

 

 

The Day We Lost A SR-71 (M-21) While Testing A James Bond-like Drone | VIDEO

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The Day We Lost A SR-71 (M-21) While Testing A James Bond-like Drone | VIDEO

The Drone was supposed to fly over Soviet territory then air drop its film before self destructing.

Over 50 years ago, in the height of the Cold War, spying on the Soviet Union from the air was a major endeavor.  If you’ve seen the movie “Bridge Of Spies”, you may recall that it was based on the Soviets shooting down a U-2 spy plane and capturing its pilot, Francis Gary Powers, in 1960.

A few years later after the Powers’ incident, the U.S. had developed the Lockheed SR-71 “Blackbird” reconnaissance aircraft. But instead of risking pilots over Soviet territory, the SR-71 was used to launch a drone that would make a photography pass, drop its payload safely and then self-destruct.

This video shows a test that ended in disaster in May of 1966, destroying both the drone and the SR-71 and resulting in the death of Launch Control Officer Ray Torick.

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Is Next Major Air Show A Barometer For International Aviation?

Wendell Barnhouse
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Is Next Major Air Show A Barometer For International Aviation?

The next big international airshow will take place in England. The Farnborough Air Show in July will help determine if the international aviation industry is ascending, descending or maintaining altitude.

That will no doubt be a debate over the next six months considering that last week’s Singapore Airshow wrapped up with several mixed messages.

While Asia, and China in particular, should provide a booming market for both aircraft production and commercial aviation, there are concerns about the stability of the global economy. Plus, with saber rattling taking place in North Korea and China, there is uneasiness about political and military clashes in the region.

Also, with oil prices at record lows and leading to lower prices for jet fuel, there is less urgency for airlines to start phasing out jets that aren’t as fuel efficient as new models.

The 2014 Singapore Airshow did $32 billion (U.S. dollars) in business while this year’s event reported just $12.3 billion. However, the event organizer said there were 40 deals that have not been announced, up from the 24 undisclosed deals in 2014. That would appear to indicate that there’s neutral growth.

The Singapore event drew the usual number of exhibitors and featured its largest display of static aircraft with over 60 commercial, private, military and experimental aircraft.

Gulfstream's G650 is the company's largest and fastest business jet with a top speed of Mach 0.925. Credit: Wikipedia.
Gulfstream’s G650 is the company’s largest and fastest business jet with a top speed of Mach 0.925. Credit: Wikipedia.

Business Aviation Continues Growth

One of the growth areas is personal/business aviation. The lines for private viewings of business jets at the year’s Singapore Airshow were long – about as long as the waiting list to purchase a new business net. One manufacturer said the earliest delivery would be 2018.

Gulfstream and Embraer each had their top-of-the line business jets on display. In the last decade, world-wide business jets have nearly doubled and a Honeywell Aerospace report estimates the world will need 9,200 new business jet deliveries by 2026.

Airbus To Challenge Boeing’s 777

With the Farnborough Air Show more in its back yard, Airbus Group SE plans to add some intrigue to the event.

Airbus said this week it plans to preview plans to produce a larger version of its A350 jetliner. The move is a counter punch to Boeing’s 777X, which can haul 425 passengers. The A350 stretch model would offer more seats.

“We’re starting to conclude that perhaps there is such a market and now we’re talking to key airlines about what we might be able to do in that market but no final decision has been made,” Airbus’s chief salesman John Leahy said in an interview at the Singapore Airshow. “We’ll certainly be able to give you an update at Farnborough.”

And Farnborough might provide a heat check on the world’s aviation business.  Despite weak sales, Boeing and Airbus have manufacturing backlogs. As one might expect of a Chief Operating Officer, Airbus’ Leahy is optimistic.

“Some people are saying we’re in the middle of a bubble,” Leahy said. “But reality is, the only thing that worries me is to not be able to deliver the aircraft our customers have ordered.”

 

Innovations And Technology Leading To Smaller, Affordable Aircraft

Wendell Barnhouse
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Innovations And Technology Leading To Smaller, Affordable Aircraft
Three IconA5s fly in formation. Credit: Iconaircraft.com
Three IconA5s fly in formation. Credit: Iconaircraft.com

Advancements in technology and innovations are coming at a staggering pace. Consider what our great, great grandparents had in their world and now consider what wonders and advancements our children will encounter.

Advancements in flight are particularly coming at warp speed. Man was earth-bound until 1903 and 66 years later, man was walking on the moon.

Now that we’ve got all that philosophical perspective out of the way … the cutting edge in civilian aviation involves breakthroughs in light, small aircraft that puts civilian aviation in the range for many more people.

In short, it’s not your father’s Cessna anymore.

According to a recent CNN article, a number of start-up companies are building planes that seat from two to five people that have long range and are fuel efficient. Some of the planes feature collapsible wings and can be stored in the same garage where you park your SUV.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration defines “small” (also called “light”) aircraft as “an aircraft of 12,500 pounds or less maximum certificated takeoff weight.” (Depending on the category, according to the FAA, small airplanes can reach up to 19,000 pounds maximum takeoff weight.)

Source: Cobalt
Source: Cobalt

David Loury, a French-born California-based entrepreneur David Loury is close to launching the Cobalt Valkyrie-X (cue Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries”). The plane has sleek, sports car looks and is powered by a single piston engine mounted at the rear of the aircraft. It seats five and can travel from London to most of Western Europe without refueling. It has a top speed of nearly 300 MPH.

The company is taking pre-orders with a base price of around $700,000.

Icon Aircraft, a California-based company, has unveiled a two-seat foldable seaplane called the Icon A5. The company claims that “awesome comes standard.”

The base price is $197,000 but tricked-out versions will cost up to $250,000. It can be flown by people with sport pilot license, which can be obtained in about half the time it takes to qualify for a standard pilot license.

Plus, with its foldable wings it fits in most car garages and can be towed over land.

Aviation designer Burt Rutan, best known for his involvement with SpaceShipOne, has designed the SkiGull. Much like the Icon A5, its folding wings allows it to be housed in a single-car garage.

The fuselage hangs below the single engine, gondola fashion, and the cockpit accommodates two. Perhaps the most unique aspect of the SkiGull is its retractable and flexible ski system. It allows the aircraft to land in rougher water than most sea planes. The skis also have small wheels that allow the plane to land on snow or grass.

Much like the innovations in the phone/communication industry, it appears that designers are combining with technology to make aircraft safer and more versatile. Can we be that far away from this?

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UPDATE: American Airlines Drops Suit Against Internet Provider Gogo

Wendell Barnhouse
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UPDATE: American Airlines Drops Suit Against Internet Provider Gogo
Photo by Jim Mumaw
Photo by Jim Mumaw

American Airlines still wants its customers to experience faster in-flight Internet service. Gogo, which currently provides that service, might continue in that role. What won’t happen – for now, at least – is litigation.

As reported on Avgeekery.com, last week AA filed a lawsuit against Gogo but Monday the airline announced it had withdrawn the suit. American originally filed the suit to announce it intended it to enforce a contract clause with Gogo.

To avoid litigation, Gogo said it wouldn’t oppose American’s desire to seek competing offers of faster WiFi on its 200 aircraft.

Gogo, the largest in-flight wireless provider in the country with nearly 9,000 aircraft, said it will submit a bid to install its latest satellite-based system on the 737s which American says have the slowest WiFi.

Southwest Airlines Unveils “Tennessee One” | VIDEO

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Southwest Airlines Unveils “Tennessee One” | VIDEO
Source: Southwest Airlines
Source: Southwest Airlines

Dallas-based Southwest Airlines celebrated more than 30 years of service to Nashville by unveiling the carrier’s latest specialty aircraft: “Tennessee One.” The Boeing 737-700 is painted with an artist’s rendition of the Tennessee state flag. (See video below.)

Ceremonies took place Monday in Nashville with live music performances by Republic Nashville Recording Artist, A Thousand Horses, and Columbia Recording Artist, Maren Morris. Employees, customers and community members then boarded Tennessee One and flew to Memphis.

During the flight, Tennessee native and RCA Records Nashville Recording Artist, Chris Young, along with Republic Nashville Recording Artist, Cassadee Pope, serenaded the passengers in crew. Upon arrival in Memphis, local favorite Ghost Town Blues Band provided more music.

As part of the celebration, Southwest announced special fare sales to Nashville and Memphis from select destinations.

Tennessee One joins ten other 737s in the Southwest fleet that carry unique, state-themed paint schemes: Arizona One, California One, Colorado One, Florida One, Illinois One, Lone Star One (Texas), Maryland One, Missouri One, Nevada One, and New Mexico One.

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These F-16 Warriors Build The Next Generation of Fighter Pilots | VIDEO

Wendell Barnhouse
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These F-16 Warriors Build The Next Generation of Fighter Pilots | VIDEO

Training_an_F-16_pilot_at_Luke_Air_Force_Base_-_YouTube

America’s Next Generation of F-16 Warriors Are Trained At Luke AFB

The words “training, practice and instruction” can be applied to any job or business. But when it comes to preparing fighter pilots to be the best in the world, “training, practice and instruction” are words whose definition are refined. Two of the instructor pilots at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona discuss what goes in to their jobs during the F-16 Basic Course for pilots.

In any military discipline, training is never the same as combat. Simulation is just that – there are no real targets, no lives at stake, no opposition fire. The goal of the instructors is to instill a mindset that winning is everything, that second place means you’re dead, that training to a razor’s edge is the only way to get maximum performance from the pilot and the aircraft.

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The End Of Days For The 747 Jumbo Jet

Wendell Barnhouse
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The End Of Days For The 747 Jumbo Jet
Photo by: Simon Sees
United will end all 747 service by 2018.  They join a growing list of airlines who have retired or will retire the famous dual decker jet in the next few years. Photo by: Simon Sees

The Boeing 747’s time as a passenger jet appears to be slipping away.

Just over a month ago, Air France had its last commercial 747 passenger flight when flight 439 traveled from Mexico City to Paris. That signaled the end of 45 years of Air France flying the Jumbo Jet.

Brian Sumers, a Los Angeles-based journalist and expert on commercial aviation, reported that United Airlines told its pilots Friday that the company’s plans to retire its 747s could be accelerated. United said that 2018 is the earliest it could stop flying 747s but the planes could remain in service until 2020.

Delta is in the process of phasing out its 747s and expects to have all 16 retired by next year.

According to CAPA’s data base, there are 221 747s that are in service as commercial aircraft. One third of the 747s are operated by three airlines: United, British Airways and KLM.

Even Boeing’s most efficient 747-8 has a hard time competing with Boeing’s 777 and 787 and the Airbus models. Those high-capacity planes have two engines and being more modern, they’re easier to service.

The 747 started flying commercially in 1970 and since then the four-engine wide-body has been one of the most recognizable aircraft in the world. The fuselage has a distinctive hump just behind the cockpit, which gave the interior a second level for privileged passengers. The Jumbo Jet helped revolutionize air travel, hauling hundreds of passengers to faraway destinations.

The 747 took over as Air Force One in 1990 and it also served as the transportation for the Space Shuttle, which piggy backed from the West Coast to Florida perched on top of the 747. Those who were able to see an iconic jet flying with an iconic spacecraft on top will never forget the sight.

Earlier this year, Boeing announced it was reducing production of 747 jets to just six a year.  Passenger versions will continue to be offered but the primary focus will shift to selling the cargo version.  Boeing has said that they see the 747-8 fitting a niche for outsized cargo for some time to come. Also, Boeing is in the process of modifying a commercial 747-8 that will be the next Air Force One. There will be three of those planes, as the government needs to have two ready to fly at all times while the third is being serviced. The new Air Force Ones are expected to be in service in 2020.

Roundup: A Meaty Buffet Of Stories Including Commercial Flights Plus Update On Hawaii Copter Crash

Wendell Barnhouse
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Roundup: A Meaty Buffet Of Stories Including Commercial Flights Plus Update On Hawaii Copter Crash

A frequent nightmare for frequent fliers is waking up in a cold sweat after a dream about being stuck on a flight that never ends.

The “Nightmare On Delta Flight 944” happened this week. It was the usual imperfect perfect storm of circumstances and bad luck. About 160 passengers were on Monday’s flight from Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic to New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Bad weather, turbulence, two diverted landings and uncoordinated responses by the airline led to plenty of disgruntled passengers.

Why, How Airline Connections Are Missed

Perhaps there was a traveler on Delta 944 who was connecting for that flight and ran too late to make the connection. That would have been fortunate for that passenger, missing out on a 30-hour excursion.

But some of us have experienced the frustration of our flight of origin being delayed and creating a mad dash to make the connecting flight. And the unluckiest folks are the ones who think they have raced through the terminal and made it to the gate with time to spare … only to find out that the door has been shut and the gate agent has thrown up a human road block.

This post on crankyflier.com helps explain why airlines are capricious when it comes to holding connecting flights.

Virgin America Perplexed By Bare Fare Competition

The emergence and success of low-fare, no-frills airlines, combined with lower fuel prices, has created some tough choices for major carriers. For instance, in markets where Spirit operates, the larger carriers who offer more full service are faced with the prospect of dropping fares.

Virgin America, which in the past two years has started operating flights out of Dallas Love Field, is balking at selling cheap seats. An executive for Virgin calls it a “very toxic fare environment.” The airline is willing to fly with empty seats rather than sell them at low fares.

“We are not going to fly passengers at rates that will not make money,” Virgin America chief executive officer David Cush said on a Thursday conference call with analysts. “We are going to make sure we get an average ticket value up to where its sustainable and we can earn a return, and we’ll take the hit on load factor.”

Southwest Rates As Top 10 Most-Admired Company

Commercial airlines are in the business of customer service but they’re also committed to making a profit while moving millions of passengers safely for departure to arrival. Translation: They can’t make everybody happy. And the passengers who complain that they didn’t get enough peanuts create stressful work environments.

When it was founded over four decades ago, Southwest Airlines has tried its best to make its passengers happy and, more importantly, keeping its employees happy. When your flight attendant or gate agent is in a good mood, it helps defuse issues with cranky travelers.

Southwest ranked No. 7 – the only airline in the top 10 – in FORTUNE’s 2016 list of World’s Most Admired Companies. So, get those resumes printed and fill out those applications, youngsters.

Update On Hawaii Helicopter Crash

Last night Avgeekery.com posted the dramatic footage and story of the helicopter crash in Hawaii nearly the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor.

Here’s an update on the bystanders who jumped in to help pull the five passengers from the water plus new details about the crash and the survivors’ conditions.

 

WATCH: Boeing’s 757 Takes Off for the First Time.

Avgeekery
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WATCH: Boeing’s 757 Takes Off for the First Time.

The Atari Ferrari Performed Like Nothing Else

It’s hard to believe the 757 first flew way back in 1982. With it’s graceful lines, powerful engines and long legs, the mid-sized airliner has aged incredibly well.  The airliner is an Avgeek favorite. But the beauty is now decidedly middle aged.  United, Delta, and American are retiring the 757 in favor of newer 737-900s and Airbus A321s. Many first tier operators retiring the type or relegating the remaining 757 jets to long, thin routes that only the type can do. Here was her first flight.

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Back in 1982 though, the 757 was the cats meow.  It represented a new generation of ‘glass’ cockpits with CRT panels instead of analog gauges, high bypass engines that ‘sipped’ fuel and the ability to operate in hot and high airports just like the 727.  Built in parallel with the 767, the 757 was the first time that Boeing attempted to build two jets under a common type rating.  They succeeded. 1,049 757’s were delivered between 1982 and 2002.

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image via boeing

BREAKING: Five Survive Crash Of Tourist Helicopter In Hawaii

Wendell Barnhouse
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BREAKING: Five Survive Crash Of Tourist Helicopter In Hawaii

Screen capture of video by: mrmotofy
Screen capture of video by:
mrmotofy

A helicopter carrying tourists made a hard landing in water Thursday not far from the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. All five passengers survived. This video shows that perhaps the tail rotor gave out as the copter was coming in for a landing.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported that a 16-year-old passenger was critically injured in the crash. Also, a 50-year-old man and 45-year-old woman are hospitalized in stable condition. The two other passengers were in a hospital but there was no information on their conditions.

A check of the tail number of the helicopter that crashed showed it is a 1979 Bell 206B Jet Ranger and is owned by Genesis Aviation.

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Watch This Massive 777 Gear Swing Up And Down

Wendell Barnhouse
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Watch This Massive 777 Gear Swing Up And Down

Screenshot of video by: 17crossfeed featuring 777 gear.
Screenshot of video by: 17crossfeed featuring the 777 landing gear.

Boeing’s 777 is the world’s largest two-engine passenger jet and can haul up to 451 people. At that size, it’s understandable that it needs the landing gear to match.

The Triple Seven has six wheels on each of its main landing gear. In this video, you can see ground tests as the main gear is deployed and retracted.

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Roundup: Iron Maiden Takes Flight, Cheap Fares Impact, More Tokyo Flights And A Stowaway Story

Wendell Barnhouse
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Roundup: Iron Maiden Takes Flight, Cheap Fares Impact, More Tokyo Flights And A Stowaway Story

Photo by: Iron Maiden
Photo by: Iron Maiden

For those of you about to heavy metal rock with Iron Maiden, we salute you.

The band kicks off its Book Of Souls World tour in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. on Feb. 24. The band’s previous tour traveled in a 757. This tour will fly in a tricked-out 747 dubbed as Ed Force One, which is how the band has tagged its planes since its first big tour in 2008. The schedule for the tour, which ends in August, is printed below the cockpit.

Iron Maiden front man Bruce Dickinson and will be in the cockpit on many of the flights. In keeping with its “dark” themes, the 747’s flight numbers will be “666.”

The 747 will haul over 12 tons of equipment and travel more than 55,000 miles as the tour visits 35 countries and six continents.

Cheap Fares Have Far-Reaching Effects

There’s probably nothing more democratic and diverse than a packed commercial flight. In particular, there is a wide variety of fares paid by the passengers.

Take a row in a 737. Six passengers, probably six different fares. A business traveler booking at the last minute might have paid full fare while a vacation traveler might have scored the cheapest ticket available because it was booked six months in advance.

The airlines’ ticket pricing and policies have been galling and confusing since the industry was deregulated. The only thing that keeps fares reasonably reasonable is competition. A successful low-fare airline like Spirit has lived up to its “Bare Fare” motto.

Of course, some would say the no frills carriers are just a step above packing yourself in a box with an oxygen tank and a bottle of water and shipping yourself FedEx.

This New York Times article looks into how the low-fare carriers and the trend of no-frills ticketing is impacting the cost of air travel and how the legacy carriers are trying to compete without angering their elite frequent fliers.

New Agreement Adds Flights To Tokyo’s Haneda Airport

Thanks to an agreement reached Thursday between the United States and Japan, travelers facing nonstop flights from the West Coast to Tokyo will arrive with time to do business.

The deal with Tokyo’s Haneda Airport adds five departures and five arrivals between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. plus also adds one overnight departure and arrival. Previously there had been no daytime arrivals for flights between Los Angeles and Tokyo.

Haneda Airport is located closer to Tokyo’s downtown and the additional flight times will mean more convenience in terms of business meetings. Narita International Airport is Tokyo’s hub for international flights but is located on the edge of the city.

The Case Of The Serial Stowaway

This story is equal parts fascinating and sad.

Marilyn Hartman, aka The Serial Stowaway, was arrested Wednesday at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. She’s facing charges of felony probation violation and misdemeanor criminal trespass. Since April of 2015, she’s been arrested seven times at O’Hare and Chicago’s Midway Airport for trying to board flights without a boarding pass.

Hartman, 64, is known to have made 13 failed attempts to board flights without a ticket. What’s amazing is that at least three other times she has successfully traveled by air without a ticket.

 

A New Era in the Cockpit: Electronic Flight Bags Are Here

Rob Graves
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A New Era in the Cockpit: Electronic Flight Bags Are Here

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Have you noticed lately that when you see pilots walking through an airport terminal they rarely seem to be carrying flight bags anymore? You remember, those large black suitcases usually covered in stickers which pilots would have hooked onto their rollaboards? Yes, it is true that most pilots are no longer dragging these heavy albatrosses around, but there’s a reason for this. Those suitcases have been replaced by a device that’s come to be known as an electronic flight bag (EFB).

“Electronic flight bag” is a generic term for any device containing aviation data which is designed to be used in flight. Those ubiquitous flight cases that pilots used to carry around were filled with things like charts, approach plates and aircraft operating manuals. All of that data has now been digitized and loaded onto electronic flight bags. Now, instead of lugging around thirty pounds of paper, pilots need only carry a one pound device such as an iPad or Surface tablet.

The idea of using a separate electronic computer on board an aircraft dates back to the 1980s when programmable calculators became powerful enough to do airplane performance calculations. Those calculations had been previously done through the use of finely detailed graphs and charts but the process was susceptible to human error and was horrendously slow.

Back in the 1980s as a newly minted Air Force pilot flying the KC-135 aerial tanker, I disliked the “chase-through” charts so much that it was an easy decision for me to spend a few hundred dollars on an HP programmable calculator to do the takeoff data calculations. And believe me, that was serious money to a 2nd lieutenant.

Many airlines first adopted onboard computers for calculating performance data, but as the computing and memory capabilities of portable devices increased, it became easy to see that EFBs could do much more.

Lose Weight Today!

Even though the reduction of 60 or 70 pounds of weight between two pilots on the aircraft nearly justifies the expense of the devices, their benefit and potential extends far beyond mere weight reduction. Being information devices, EFBs have the potential to revolutionize the access that pilots have to things like real time ground based weather data as well as safety enhancements such as position location while taxiing using the device’s GPS receiver.

An EFB can contain not only manuals for normal and non-normal operation of the aircraft, but the entire library of reference and training materials that were considered too bulky and not essential for daily carry. Communications from airline managements to their pilots have also been enhanced by the use of EFBs. Traditionally, bulletins, announcements and policy changes were distributed by paper placed in a pilot’s mailbox at their base or through a read-before-fly book in the pilot lounge. Now with electronic updating, information can be pushed to the devices at any time during a trip or on a pilot’s days off.

Obtaining real time weather information from ground based radar has never been possible while airborne, but that may be changing with the introduction of WiFi capable EFBs. The FAA still prohibits the use of any WiFi devices by pilots while flying, but should this restriction be eased, WiFi enabled EFBs will then have access to this data through the aircraft WiFi which will augment information from airborne radar displays. This will be especially helpful when trying to navigate around thunderstorms which can be opaque to aircraft radar.

Update Your Apps

There are many different devices and configurations of EFBs in use but the FAA requires that any EFB in use must be verified to have the latest version of any charts or approach plates to be used. As updates to aeronautical information occur weekly, various methods of making sure EFB apps and the information they display are current are employed. Several different devices and data configurations are also used by various airlines.

United, for instance, issues company provided iPads to its pilots which are locked so no personal apps or information can be added. Southwest reimbursed their pilots to purchase their own iPads which were then updated with the required EFB apps while still being unlocked for personal use. Delta made a decision to go with the Surface tablet from Microsoft and is currently petitioning the FAA for an exception to be made to cockpit WiFi prohibitions.

There are just as many mounting solutions with EFBs being mounted to control yokes, side panels or suction cupped to the cockpit window. Here’s a particularly humorous tutorial on how to attach the “RAM” mount used by American Airlines:

The end goal of the EFB is to allow cockpits to become completely paperless. Many airlines still use paper for weather packages, Notams, dispatch releases and minimum equipment list (MEL) documentation. The future of the EFB is envisioned as being one stop shopping for any kind of information processing to be done in the cockpit.

In the near future, pilots may see their dispatch release show up, check the weather, Notams and maintenance status of their aircraft and then add an alternate or fuel all through their WiFi connected EFB. I’m guessing, though, that we won’t be approved to watch the game up front any time soon. Maybe just the highlights.

Happy flying!

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Avgeekery is excited to welcome Rob aboard our editorial team.  Looking for more stories from the cockpit? Rob publishes a blog called “This is Your Captain Speaking”.  You can also check out his Facebook page here.

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