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Lufthansa Ace Makes Challenging Madeira Airport Approach Look Easy

Bill Walton
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Lufthansa Ace Makes Challenging Madeira Airport Approach Look Easy

Cristiano Ronaldo Madeira International Airport is on the island of Madeira, which is located west of Morocco and southwest of Portugal in the Atlantic Ocean. Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago and a popular vacation destination for Europeans. The airport serves Funchal, which is the capital of Madeira, as well as the rest of the island. The single runway (05/23) has been both famous and notorious for its short length and tricky 05 approaches. Lots of airports have prevailing crosswinds, and Ronaldo Madeira has some of the worst. If you’re watching a hairy crosswind approach the odds favor Madeira as the destination. Extended several times over the years, the runway is now 9,125 feet long. But it’s how it got that way that makes Madeira unique.

Madeira Airport Runway Crop Richard Bartz
Photo Credit: Richard Bartz

In 2000, the runway was extended from 5,906 feet (1,800 meters) to 9,125 feet (2,781 meters). The 2000 runway extension was built on a platform. The platform is supported by 180 columns that average 230 feet (70 meters) in height. The runway extension and its infrastructure were built by Brazilian construction company Andrade Gutierrez and was the recipient of the 2004 Outstanding Structure Award by the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE). The video shows two crosswind approaches to FNC- one slick (by a TAP Air Portugal 737) and the other more typical (by a Lufthansa A321-200, “Hildesheim”).

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BONUS: Here’s a second video of truly hairy Madeira approaches and go-arounds.

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Title image from screenshot of Paulo Ricardo Faria’s video (linked to above).

This Russian Woman Is One Hell of A Pilot

Bill Walton
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This Russian Woman Is One Hell of A Pilot

Svetlana Vladimirovna Kapanina is the closest thing to a famous lady aerobatic pilot they have in Eastern Europe. Born in what is now Kazakhstan in 1968, she enrolled in medical school at Tselinograd (now Astana), where she graduated with a Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences.

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She has been a pilot in aerobatic competitions since 1988 when she was 19 years old. After only two years, she became an instructor. Svetlana is a graduate of the highly-respected Kaluga Aeronautical Technical School (think Embry-Riddle in the States). She flies the Sukhoi Su-26M and Su-31M and the Extra 300 and 330 aerobatic aircraft in competition.

Svetlana’s impressive list of accomplishments includes 67 Gold, 21 Silver, and 12 Bronze World, European, and Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) Medals, 17 European Championships, three Absolute European Championships, two Russian Women’s Championships, seven Absolute World Championships, two Absolute World Air Games Championships, and 38 other World Championships between 1996 and 2013.

She has received the Sabiha Gokcen and Centenary Medals as well as the Paul Tissandier Diploma from the FAI and was awarded Russia’s Order of Courage by President Vladimir Putin on December 22nd 2014. Today Svetlana is married and lives in Moscow with her husband and two children. This video of her throwing her Sukhoi around the sky was recorded during an aerobatic performance at Sochi- site of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

This is Heaven! Warbirds Descend on World’s Most Unique Beachside Runway

Bill Walton
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This is Heaven! Warbirds Descend on World’s Most Unique Beachside Runway

The Bucket Air Show at Gustaf III Airport (SBH) on the island of Saint Barthelemy (St. Barts) is well known for being an opportunity to see warbirds flying low and fast only feet away from spectators. The airport does not fall under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) control and is therefore free of altitude restrictions. As far as the speed goes, well it’s a given that warbirds are meant to go fast, and fast they definitely do go at Saint Barthelemy. The airport itself is considered one of the scariest in the Caribbean if not the world, with an approach path that requires a just-above-stall-speed approach over a steep hill and then a rapid descent and flare in order to land on the short runway that ends on St. Jean beach after only 2,133 feet (650 meters). Did we mention that at the top of the hill there is a traffic circle that’s often choked with avgeeks shooting video and taking pictures as planes fly by just feet above their heads?

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Photo Credit: Yachting World Magazine

In this particular HD video, shot during the 2015 edition of the Bucket Air Show, you’ll see two different Grumman F7F Tigercats, two North American B-25 Mitchells, a Grumman TBM-3E Avenger, a Vought FG-1D Corsair, an actual Mitsubishi A6M2 Model 21 Zero (not a Tora Tora Tora mod of a T-6), and a Curtiss P-40K Warhawk fly passes over thrilled crowds and some beautiful blue Caribbean water. Several of the aircraft are based at Ellington Field near Houston in Texas with Texas Flying Legends. The sharp-eyed avgeeks among you will notice that the registration numbers on the aircraft have been painted on in the larger size lettering required by many Caribbean and foreign nations. Miss the FAA yet?

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Bonus Video: HD cockpit, ground-to-air, and air-to-air footage shot during the 2011 airshow. Would have been cool to be on that sailboat near the end!

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He’s Back! Blue Angels C-130 Fat Albert Poised To Return To Airshow Duty

Charles Atkeison
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He’s Back! Blue Angels C-130 Fat Albert Poised To Return To Airshow Duty

NAS PENSACOLA, Fla. — The workhorse of the Blue Angels is returning to the squadron on Friday following nine months of intensive upgrades and repairs to the hulking C-130 Hercules aircraft.

An airshow favorite across America, the C-130T transport known as Fat Albert has not attended an airshow since last July following the Blue Angels maintence team’s decision to begin a complete overhaul on the aging aircraft. Bert’s maintenance at Hill Air Force Base in Utah has involved the removal and upgrade of it’s four turboprop engines; the removal and structual inspection of its wings; wiring inspections and repairs; and a complete paint removal followed by a new paint job.fat2

Bert’s prime job is the transportation of key support personel and hardware from Pensacola Naval Air Station, the home of the Blue Angels, to each airshow site. Bert takes-off loaded with nealy 10,000 pounds of aircraft hardware, nearly sixty support members, and airshow logistics two days prior to an airshow.

The blue, yellow, and white Lockheed Martin-built aircraft is a crowd favorite as Bert takes to the skies to begin the Blue Angels one hour long demonstration followed by the six Navy F/A-18 Hornets. Bert’s crew puts the aircraft through several maneuvers including several low passes and a short-field assault landing during it’s 12-minute demonstration.fat3

The squadron has used another KC-130T — nicknamed Ernie — in Bert’s place this year. Major Mark Hamilton, Major Mark Montgomery, and Major Kyle Maschner will perform the flying this season, while four crewmembers — GySgt. Beau Beville, Sgt. Anthony Black, GySgt. Jason Glatfelter, and GySgt. Stephen Stewart — make up the logistics crew.fat4

“Good to see my old friend again,” Maj. Hamilton said on Tuesday. The entire crew departed Hill, AFB aboard Fat Albert on Tuesday, and will make two stops this week en route to their arrival at NAS Pensacola on Friday.

Fat Albert’s all-Marine crew will spend at least two weeks training aboard the C-130T prior to the aircraft’s official return. The Blue Angels have not announced an official return date for Fat Albert to an airshow site.fat5

(Charles Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

Fly Along with Lockheed Aerial Photographer Matt Short, in 360 Degrees

Mike Killian
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Fly Along with Lockheed Aerial Photographer Matt Short, in 360 Degrees

Lockheed Martin employs a team of some of the finest aerial aviation photographers in the world. Arguably one of the coolest jobs ever, they are responsible for producing the company’s high-end aerial still and video imagery of high-performance military aircraft, FROM high-performance military aircraft, documenting everything from testing and development, to program milestones, to producing video updates for public release.

Take a peek behind the scenes in this 360-degree video by Lockheed Aerial Photographer Matt Short, on a recent photo mission chasing two F-35A Lightning IIs from an F-16.

Not all browsers will support 360-degree view, but for those who don’t, it’s still pretty cool anyway.

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Falcon 9 launch marks historic milestone for SpaceX and Kennedy Space Center

Charles Atkeison
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Falcon 9 launch marks historic milestone for SpaceX and Kennedy Space Center

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A uncrewed SpaceX cargo craft departed America’s Space Coast on Saturday loaded with nearly three tons of supplies for astronauts living and working aboard the International Space Station.

The SpaceX launch marked the first reflight of a Dragon spacecraft, and also set a historic milestone from America’s Spaceport.

A Space Exploration Technologies Corp. Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center’s Pad-39A on June 3 at 5:07:38 p.m. EDT, blazing a trail out over the Atlantic Ocean.

The lift-off marked the 100th rocket launch from the historic launch complex 39-A.

The launch pad was first used fifty years ago this November as the first Saturn V moon rocket launched during the uncrewed Apollo 4 mission. Pad 39-A later supported many notable space flights including Apollo 11’s mission to first land man on the moon in 1969; America’s first space station Skylab in 1973; the first space shuttle flight in 1981 and 81 subsequent shuttle flights; and today, SpaceX launches.

Signed in April 2014 by CEO Elon Musk, SpaceX has an exclusive twenty-year lease with NASA to use 39A for both uncrewed launches, and future crewed missions aimed at sending astronauts to the space station and Mars. A Dragon 2 spacecraft will be used for crewed flights to the station beginning in summer of 2018.

Nine minutes following its lift-off, the Falcon’s first stage touched down for the fifth time at Cape Canaveral AFS. It’s successful return may see it’s reflight on a future SpaceX launch in 2019.

Dragon arrived in a preliminary orbit ten minutes following launch, and began to deploy its twin solar arrays. In the days that follow, the cargo craft will begin a series of thruster jet firings to help reach the space station’s orbit.

Three days following Dragon’s Saturday launch, it will be steered by controllers on the ground to close within reach of the space station’s 55-foot long Canada-built arm. Orbiting 255 miles above, astronauts Peggy Whitson and Jack Fischer have trained this week with the computer software and the station’s robotic arm which will be used to snare Dragon following the craft’s rendezvous and approach. Whitson and Fischer are expected to snare the Dragon at about 10:00 a.m. on June 5. It will then take about two hours to slowly guide the spacecraft in to dock with the station’s docking port via ground commands.

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Photo by: Space X

“The flight will deliver investigations and facilities that study neutron stars, osteoporosis, solar panels, tools for Earth-observation, and more,” said Jenny Howard of International Space Station Program Science Office at the Johnson Space Center. Dragon’s unpressurized cargo hold will carry the solar panels and equipment planned for installation on the outside of the station.

The Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer payload will study the extraordinary physics of several neutron stars as scientists and astronomers study their nature and behavior.

“NICER will provide high-precision measurements of neutron stars, objects containing ultra-dense matter at the threshold of collapse into black holes,” explained NASA spokesperson Clare Skelly from the control room at Goddard Space Flight Center. “NICER will also test — for the first time in space — technology that uses pulsars as navigation beacons.”

In addition, Dragon will deliver equipment and science materials to support over 250 science and research investigations aboard the orbiting laboratory.

Dragon is expected to undock from the space station on July 2, and return to Earth hours later loaded with completed science research, used cargo and trash for a planned splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Baja California.

(Charles Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

Landing Without Seeing The Runway Is Not For The Faint of Heart

Bill Walton
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Landing Without Seeing The Runway Is Not For The Faint of Heart

The definition of a Category IIIB approach is a precision approach and landing with no decision height or a decision height lower than 50 feet (15 meters) and a runway visual range less than 700 feet (200 meters) but not less than 150 feet (50 meters). About the only approach any hairier than that is the IIIC approach, which is a precision approach and landing with no decision height and no runway visual range limitation. In the video below a Boeing 767 performs a minimums Cat IIIB landing at Milan in Italy.

Photo Credit: ozz13x

Local weather at some airports frequently creates Category II and Category III approach conditions. Fog and blowing snow are the most common causes. The Instrument Landing System (ILS) is a ground-based instrument approach system which provides precision guidance to an aircraft approaching and landing on the runway. The ILS consists of the localizer, which indicates landing aircraft heading, the glide scope, which guides altitude, and the airfield lighting system. The pilot controls the aircraft so that the glide slope indicator and localizer needle remain centered on the cockpit display to land the aircraft. The pilot can then visually identify the runway either by pavement or with the assistance of an associated approach lighting system.

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Remembering Blue Angel #6, One Year Later

Mike Killian
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Remembering Blue Angel #6, One Year Later

One year ago today, on June 2, 2016, USMC Capt. Jeff “Kooch” Kuss, Blue Angel 6, was lost in a tragic accident while practicing for The Great Tennessee Air Show.

I was honored to work with Sean Tucker that day on a few shoots, ahead of the weekend’s shows, one of which was with Jeff and Blue Angel 5, Lt. Ryan Chamberlain. A dream come true for any aviation photographer, and I think most pilots too. The flight went flawlessly too; everyone made it look so easy, true professionals.

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But the day would quickly go from amazing to tragic, because little did we know, it would be Jeff’s last flight.

I hadn’t thoroughly reviewed the images yet, when the accident happened. We were actually preparing for another photo shoot, our third of the day, when it occurred.

It wasn’t long after, when the Blues and Sean asked to see the images, and there’s one that sticks out more than the rest, easily. At one point, the sun reflected a starburst off Capt. Kuss’ canopy, but only his canopy – not Blue Angel 5 or Sean Tucker’s. I caught it on video too; it clearly happens only to jet 6.

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Another aviation photographer, Glenn Watson, had worked a shoot with Capt. Kuss earlier in the year too, along with performer Rob Holland. Knowing how rare it is for photographers to fly photo shoots with the Blues, we compiled our “behind the scenes” footage from our shoots into a video tribute, following the accident.
 
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The Blues cancelled several scheduled upcoming shows following the crash, as they grieved the loss of Capt. Kuss and worked to figure out what went wrong.
In the meantime, the U.S. NAVY F/18 Tac Demo team stepped up to replace the Blues, with both demo teams (Legacy and Super Hornets) painting the number “6” on their planes.
So I contacted VFA-106 Demo Hornet pilot, Lt. John “Toby” Keith, to do a tribute photo shoot honoring Capt. Kuss, in formation with Rob Holland, at the Vero Beach Air Show on June 24, 2016.
Rob and I both flew shoots with Capt. Kuss, so it meant a lot to us to honor him in this small way, with one final shoot. It meant a lot to the VFA-106 Tac Demo team too, and they did not hesitate at the chance.

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The same day, the Blues announced they would return to airshows for Independence Day weekend July 2-4, flying a modified five jet demonstration, along with Fat Albert, until Cmdr. Frank Weisser joined the team again as their new #6 pilot last fall.
This week, to mark the 1 year anniversary, WKRN-TV in Nashville, TN produced a 30-minute special titled, “One Year Later: Honoring the Life of Blue Angel Pilot Capt. Jeff Kuss”. It aired June 1, and can now be watched online:
Will the team be performing at an air show near you soon? Check out the 2017 / 2018 Blue Angels schedule to find out:
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Russia’s New Midsize Airliner Shares Lineage To Ancient Soviet Yak

Bill Walton
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Russia’s New Midsize Airliner Shares Lineage To Ancient Soviet Yak

Since the fall of the Soviet Union there have been few aircraft designed and built by the former Soviet states. One of the exceptions is the new Irkut MC-21. The twin-engine airliner was developed by the Yakovlev Design Bureau and produced by Irkut- themselves both parts of Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC). The MC-21 is a direct competitor to the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A320. It took the Russians 11 years to get the MC-21 off the drawing boards and into the air, but on May 28th the MC-21 flew for the first time from the runway at the Irkutsk factory in Eastern Siberia.

MC 21 300 maiden flight in Irkutsk Dennis Fedorko
Photo Credit: Dennis Fedorko

The MC-21 is a direct descendant of the now-dormant Yakovlev Yak-242, which was itself a derivative of the Yak-42. It is possible that the new airliner may take the Yak-242 name again once the aircraft is in production. UAC envisions the MC-21 replacing the aging Tupelov Tu-134, Tu-154, and Tu-204 as well as the Yak-42 passenger airliners in the former Soviet Union. Sukhoi designed and produced the carbon fiber composite wings. Powered by either the Pratt & Whitney PW1000G or Aviadvigatel OJSC PD-14 turbofan engines, the MC-21 can carry as many as 211 passengers as far as 3,500 miles. The aircraft has state of the art avionics and flight control systems. Airlines (mostly in the former Soviet states at this time) have ordered more than 180 of them so far.

MS 21 cockpit mock up Beltyukov Alex Beltyukov
Photo Credit: Alex Beltyukov

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New King Of The Skies Emerges: Six Engines And A Wingspan Longer Than A Football Field

Bill Walton
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New King Of The Skies Emerges: Six Engines And A Wingspan Longer Than A Football Field

The Scaled Composites Model 351 Is being built for Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s Stratolaunch Systems as a platform from which air-launch space missions can be staged. The aircraft boasts a wingspan of 385 feet (117 meters) which makes the 351 the undisputed wingspan champion of the world- longer than the Apollo Saturn V rockets were tall. The twin fuselages are 73 feet (22 meters) long and joined by a single wing section under which the payload(s) will be carried to launch altitude- commonly 35,000 feet (10,668 meters).

Stratolaunch apogee JR Schumacher
Photo Credit: JR Schumacher

Many of the aircraft’s components are actually Boeing 747 parts, including the six Pratt & Whitney PW4056 engines, flight deck (in the starboard side fuselage), avionics, landing gear, and a few other systems. Scaled Composites went to the boneyard at Mojave and snagged two former United Airlines Boeing 747-400s, brought them to their facility at Mojave, and parted them out. A large percentage of the structure is comprised of composite materials such as carbon fiber.

668px Stratolaunch comparison.svg Mwarren us
Photo Credit: Mwarren us

Weighing in at a whopping 1,300,000 pounds (650 tons or 589,670 kilograms), and requiring 12,000 feet (3,700 meters) of runway to lift off with a payload, the 351 looks as if it is missing some pieces. There is no joinery between the tail surfaces, which is unusual to say the least. Each fuselage “boom” has its own complete tail. But when one considers that the payload will be carried aloft under the center wing section between the two fuselages it all makes sense. The project began in 2010 and the first flight of the 351 is scheduled to take place in 2017 with the first payload launch to occur in 2020.

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Photo Credit: Scaled Composites

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Historic Warbirds to Highlight Mid-Atlantic Air Museum’s Airshow Weekend

Charles Atkeison
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Historic Warbirds to Highlight Mid-Atlantic Air Museum’s Airshow Weekend

READING, Penn. — The warbirds and aces of World War II will blaze a trail above the Reading Regional Airport this weekend as the pilots of today recount the history of America’s pilots of the greatest generation.

Great weather is forecast for the 27th Annual Mid-Atlantic Air Museum’s World War II Weekend located northwest of Philadelphia. The three day airshow takes off on Friday and will include live music and a huge display of aircraft in the air and on static display.

The six Navy SNJ-2 warbirds of the GEICO Skytypers Airshow Team will make their first visit to the Museum’s World War II Weekend. The team, who recently earned the Art Scholl Showmanship Award for excellence in air show performance, will perform each afternoon June 2, 3, and 4.

“This is an exciting first for World War II Weekend,” Museum President Russ Strine said of the GEICO Skytypers visit. “This is our first ever, six ship formation team.”

Their 18 minute flight demonstration will highlight the rare SNJ-2 aircraft as the pilots tell the story of an age before the jet engine; and how a this prop plane made the difference during the second world war. A flight trainer in the early-1940’s, the SNJ was known among the army’s aviators as the pilot maker.

Local residents and guests attending the three day airshow and static display will be able to see the Skytypers sky type several massive messages. The white dot matrix sky messages are computer commanded from each aircraft and much like an Oki Data printer the planes soar in unison to deliver topical messages.war2

“We are looking forward to seeing the people of the Reading area that have not seen us before and showing our demo, and putting some smiles on their faces,” said Larry Arken, lead pilot of the GEICO Skytypers, on Tuesday. “Also, getting to meet the guests face-to-face, that’s always one of the best things.”

Also performing is the North American B-25J Mitchell bomber which carries the name Panchito. Flown by it’s owner Larry Kelley, Panchito is scheduled to perform each afternoon, and will also fly paying spectators as he provides guests with a unique World War II experience.

“Wanna see what an old warbird is really like, come to an airshow and see them fly — hear them,” Kelley said this this aerospace journalist while on the flight line. “You’ll see smoke when they start up. Listen to them as there’s nothing like the sound of a radial engine.”

The 53-foot long silver aircraft has a wingspan of 67 feet and is powered by two 1700 hp Wright R2600-92 radial piston engines. The twin engines can allow Kelley to navigate at a cruising speed of just over 200 m.p.h. or 334 m.p.h. maxium speed.
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The gathering of warbirds will include three B-25 Mitchell’s, two P-51D Mustangs, and a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk are a few more of the historic aircraft built and flown during the decade of the 1940’s.

As guests enter the airshow site, audio from the early 1940’s will echo the historic events of yesteryear as visitors walk past aircraft and receive the full experience of that era. The live music of Frank Sinatra; a portrale of president Franklin D. Roosevelt; and many honored guests as veterans of the second world war take time to meet and greet visitors and share their rare stories.

Gates open each day at 8:30 a.m., and tickets are only available at the gates. Visit http://www.maam.org/wwii/ww2_tickets.htm for full information.

(Charles Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)

This Helicopter Hasn’t Been Started In 20 Years, Will It Work?

Bill Walton
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This Helicopter Hasn’t Been Started In 20 Years, Will It Work?

The Mi-2 Hoplite is a small, lightly armored turbine-powered transport helicopter that could also provide close air support when armed with 57 mm rockets and a 23 mm cannon. Many of them have had the armor and military equipment removed and been adapted for other civilian roles such as air ambulance, aerial surveying, aerial spraying, and crop dusting. The video highlights the first startup of the Mi-2’s twin PZL GTD-350P turboshaft engines on a helo that’s been sitting outside in the elements for 20 years.

Mi 2 in flight 5679120736 Aleksandr Markin
Photo Credit: Aleksandr Markin

5,497 Mi-2s were built, all of them in Poland at the WSK PZL-Swidnik factory in Swidnik, Poland. The Mi-2 is essentially a turbine-powered version of the previous piston-powered Mi-1. The Mi-2’s turboshaft engines produce 40% more power at half the weight of the piston engines in the Mi-1. First flown in 1961, the development of the Mi-2 was moved to Poland in 1964. The Soviet Air Force started flying them in 1965. 30 countries have also flown the military variant. Operational civilian Mi-2s can still be found on every continent.

Миль Ми 2 5410604048 Монино музей ВВС RP598 Pavel Adzhigildaev
Photo Credit: Pavel Adzhigildaev

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