American Airlines now prohibits flight attendants from easily removing passengers over mild concerns such as odor, attire, or attitude. This gives attendants less power to remove customers from flights at will.
The new rule has been added to the American Airlines in-flight manual for all attendants to read and follow. The airline states that representatives from airports and other committees have reviewed the manual and made suggestions for what should be added or changed.
American Airlines Prohibits Trivial Removals
Within the revision, American Airlines wrote the following:
“We’ve made important updates and provided additional clarity — with special attention directed at situations that involve customer acceptance and those that may result in the removal of passengers.”
Here is a rundown of the new policies in the in-flight manual:
Flight attendants can only remove passengers over concerns of safety or security.
Any concerns attendants have must first be addressed with the passenger in question.
Flight attendants are not allowed to make decisions on removing passengers alone. At least two crew members must come up with a resolution.
The flight captain will maintain authority over passenger removals due to safety, but he or she will now need to contact a Complaint Resolution Official. Attendants will also need to submit a Customer Event Non-Safety (CERS) report.
An American Airlines Airbus A321. Image: Glenn Beltz from Goleta, USA, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The new manual also includes a statement on discrimination:
“Our charge for every team member — no matter the circumstance — is to lead with respect, discretion, care and empathy…Discrimination based on race, gender, color, sexual orientation or national origin against any customer or team member is unacceptable and will not be tolerated at American Airlines.”
The Story Behind New American Rules
On 5 January, 2024, a caucasian male flight attendant removed eight black male passengers off an American Airlines flight due to “offensive body odor”. The flight was slated for Phoenix to New York City, stalling the trip home for many passengers.
The ordeal was said to have delayed the flight for about an hour. The men were eventually allowed back on the plane to New York.
Three of the eight men responded with a lawsuit against American in late June. Three Brooklyn residents, Alvin Jackson, Emmanual Jean Joseph, and Xavier Veal, claimed they faced “blatant and egregious” racial discrimination from the staff.
A video of the incident is available on YouTube. It shows many of the men arguing with an airline agent outside the gate to the aircraft.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom publicly commented on the incident in a letter to employees. “I am incredibly disappointed by what happened on that flight and the breakdown of our procedures,” said Isom. “…We fell short of our commitments and failed our customers in this incident.”
Following an internal investigation, the airline responded by announcing that the crew members that barred the men from flying were placed on leave.
American Airlines’ policies imply that there’s still a possibility that attendants can refuse to serve passengers over odor. But the new additions to the policy will make it harder and require more steps to carry out.
Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota and American aviation company Joby Aviation conducted the first air taxi flight in Japan. Joby’s electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft managed to successfully transport passengers in one of Toyota’s production locations earlier this month.
The first international flight was conducted at the Toyota Higashi-Fuji Technical Center in Shizuoka, Japan on 4 November. Within sight of Mount Fuji, the test flight signified the aircraft’s environmental friendliness. The flight was also a homage to the two company’s fruitful, seven-year relationship.
Toyota and Joby Heads Give Congratulations
Joby Founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt commented on the first flight in Japan:
“Our first overseas flight marks a significant milestone on our journey towards making clean air travel an everyday reality. We share Toyota’s vision for the future of mobility and are honored to have had the opportunity to present a glimpse of that future through our flight in Japan.”
Toyota Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Hiroki Nakajima also chimed in on the potential of Joby’s eVTOL vehicles:
“Air mobility has the potential to change our ‘sense of distance and time,’ and open a future with the new option of air mobility that will further enrich the lives of many people.”
Joby’s air taxi can travel up to 200 miles per hour and seat five people in unison, including the pilot. According to Joby, the eVTOL aircrafts also operate with zero carbon emissions and run quieter than most helicopters today.
With Joby’s air taxis planned for service, the company hopes to alleviate land vehicle traffic congestion. The taxis can also give travelers in rural and urban areas more transportation options.
Toyota and Joby’s Aviation Aspirations
In October, Toyota announced it would pledge $500 million into Joby, with a lifetime total of $394 million since 2019. Two tranches make up the new investment. The first tranche is set to deliver some time later in 2024, with the second tranche taking place in 2025.
Prior to the recent investment, Toyota previously invested money in Joby towards the creation of unique powertrains and other components for the American air taxis. Toyota President and CEO Ted Ogawa also joined Joby’s Board of Directors at the start of July 2023.
Earlier in 2024, Joby reached an agreement with Dubai’s road and Transport Authority to operate air taxi services in the United Arab Emirates starting as early as 2026. Joby is also looking to legally fly its eVTOL taxis in the United Kingdom and Australia in the future.
Imagine flying from Beijing to New York City for lunch and returning to China in time for dinner. This might seem hard to imagine, but a Chinese company has plans to make it possible with supersonic travel as early as 2027.
On 27 October 2024, the Chinese company Space Transportation, also known as LingkongTianxing Technology, reported it conducted a successful test flight of its Yunxing prototype plane. The company claims the aircraft will be able to fly at speeds of about 3069 miles per hour or Mach 4, far exceeding the target Mach 1.5 speeds of the planned Boom supersonic jet.
Front of the Yunxing | (X @CNSpaceflight)
Concorde Taxiing | Public Domain
Space Transportation plans for the Yunxing to be the first supersonic commercial airliner since the Concorde to provide supersonic travel and that it will fly significantly faster than the Concorde’s maximum speed of about 1250 miles per hour or Mach 2.
Design Challenges for the Yunxing
Space Transportation has not released many details about things like the size and passenger capacity of the Yunxing but did state that it will have an all-composite structure. It also announced that the aircraft will have some unique capabilities for a passenger jet, like having vertical takeoff and landing capabilities and flying at about 65,000 feet.
Space Transportation will face some technical challenges with supersonic travel, and none might be more difficult than kinetic heating. Supersonic aircraft face kinetic heating caused by friction from the air. During flight, the Concorde, for example, would heat up to about 266 degrees Fahrenheit at its nose and 199 degrees at its tail. The heat would also cause the airframe to expand nine or ten inches, a process known as thermal liner expansion.
Space transportation will certainly have to account for this with the expected higher supersonic speeds of the Yunxing.
Buffeting at high speeds will be another challenge Space Transportation must face before it can return to supersonic travel. Chinese researchers are working on this. As aircraft reach and exceed the speed of sound, shock waves develop which can reduce lift and cause dangerous vibrations.
Scientists from Northwestern Polytechnical University in China are working on a concept to incorporate holes into wing designs. The holes would diminish the shock waves and vibrations and result in improved aerodynamic efficiency.
Funding and Bold Claims
Space Transportation has attracted investors interested in the Yunxing project and supersonic travel, pulling in $76 million in recent years from Chinese state-owned companies and private corporations. The company is not afraid of making bold claims about the project.
A 2021 press release from Space Transportation stated they were the “only high-tech enterprise in China that is engaged in the research and development and application of commercial hypersonic flights.”
While this sounds impressive, it is not technically correct, as the definition of “hypersonic” is a speed that exceeds five times the speed of sound.
Despite Space Transportation’s claims, other companies have begun to show interest in developing their own supersonic commercial aircraft, including Boeing, Hermeus, and Boom Supersonic. Boom is working on its XB-1 with the goal of providing supersonic travel.
Concorde Set Early Standard in Supersonic Travel
The Concorde was the first commercial jet to offer supersonic travel and made flights, usually between Paris, London, and New York, from 1976 until 2003. It carried 92 – 128 passengers and nine crew members. Space Transportation has not provided details on how many passengers the Yunxing will carry.
The Concorde also saw a steep reduction in numbers of passengers following September 11, 2001, and was limited to flying mostly over water to avoid creating sonic booms near populated areas. All of this combined to make the aircraft too costly to continue its commercial flights.
Supersonic Travel Versus Luxury
Artist depiction of interior of yunxing | space transportation
Space Transportation estimates passengers will pay between $20000 to $30000 to fly one-way on the Yunxing. It used to cost about $12000 for a round-trip ticket on the Concorde between London and New York. This brings up questions of why people would choose supersonic travel on the Chinese aircraft, especially considering some of the more comfortable, less expensive, but luxurious options available for first-class travel.
Space Transportation has released images of what the interior of the Yunxing will be like, and it does look similar to the Concorde. It appears a bit cramped with not much room to move about during the flight, but if you are traveling at 3,000 mph and getting to your destination in a few hours, does that really matter?
Concorde Interior | public domain
For an example of luxurious travel, ETIHAD, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), offers an opulent first-class suite called “The Residence” on its Airbus 380s which is a three-room apartment with living room, bedroom, shower, and butler service. The cost for a round-trip ticket in the “The Residence” from New York to Abu Dhabi is about $25000.
Bedroom in etihad “residence” in flight suite | etihad
Customers To Determine if Yunxing is a Success
Customers willing to pay a lot for air travel will have to decide between the convenience of supersonic travel versus luxury. That may determine whether the Yunxing will be successful or whether it will eventually fail due to high costs.
The future will tell whether the Yunxing will set a new standard in supersonic travel, or whether it will have a relatively short lifespan like the Concorde. That is if this paper airplane ever becomes reality.
Grumman’s Panther Jet Was The Navy And Marine Corps Jet Workhorse of the Korean War
Grumman built several notable fighters, but their F9F Panther was the first jet-powered fighter. One of the workhorses of the Korean War and the very first jet aircraft flown by the Navy’s Blue Angels, the Panther was one of many designs conceived during World War II that relied on the slow pace of turbojet engine development to get off the ground.
Ironically, the genesis of the Panther actually traces back to the two-seat Grumman G-75 design that lost out to the Douglas XF3D-1 Skyknight in 1946.
The Grumman F9F Panther was one of the United States Navy’s first successful carrier-based jet fighters | Official US Navy Photograph
A Different Breed of Grumman Cat
Even though the Navy’s Bureau of Aeronautics (BuAer) issued a contract to Douglas for the F3D-1, they also issued a contract to Grumman for two XF9F-1 (G-75) prototypes in 1946. It has been said that BuAer doubled down when it issued contracts to both companies.
In any case, BuAer agreed with Grumman’s revised plan to develop a different single-seat design (the G-79) under the contract issued for the G-75. That’s how the G-75 became the G-79 (F9F-2) and then became the straight-winged conventional tailplane-equipped F9F Panther.
Official US Navy Photograph
Engine Technology Fails Another Jet Fighter- For a Time
Grumman test pilot “Corky Meyer” flew the prototype on 21 November 1947. However, like all jet-powered fighters in development at the time, the Panther underwent considerable engine development for quite some time, even after production began.
Initially powered by the Pratt & Whitney J42 turbojet engine- a contract-built version of the Rolls-Royce Nene, Panthers were fitted with permanent wing tip tanks to provide enough fuel for the inefficient (read thirsty) jet engines of the time. Irony strikes again: The tip tanks actually improved the Panther’s roll rate.
Official US Navy Photograph
The First Fighter/Attack Guys?
After passing carrier qualification testing, the F9F-2 Panther was cleared to operate from aircraft carriers. Equipped with four 20 millimeter cannons mounted under the nose of the aircraft and capable of carrying bombs on underwing hardpoints and rockets on underwing rails, Panthers were fighter-bombers from the start.
Close air support (CAS) became a primary role for both Navy and Marine Corps Panthers. Early F9Fs experienced tailhook and aft fuselage problems that were so severe that entire aft fuselages were pulled from recovering jets. Grumman fixed these issues before the next major variant of the jet was introduced.
Official US Marine Corps Photograph
Slower in the Pattern Around the Boat = Good Thing
The F9F-4 was a development of the first jet cat, featuring a longer fuselage to increase internal fuel capacity and a larger vertical stabilizer for improved lateral stability. Originally powered by Allison J33 engines, many F9F-4s later received the tried-and-true P&W J42 engines.
One new aspect of the F9F-4 was the use of pressurized bleed air to simulate higher speeds across the flaps. This modification, utilizing engine compressor stage bleed air, resulted in a nine-knot slower stall speed and a 7-knot slower approach speed. F9F-5s received another thousand pounds of thrust when the stronger P&W J48 engine powered them. Anti-stall fences were mounted just outboard of the wing roots as well.
Official US Navy Photograph
The Panther Heads to Korea
Panthers became operational with VF-51 Screaming Eagles during May of 1949 and VF-11 Red Rippers at Naval Air Station (NAS) San Diego a few months later. During August 1949, VMF-115 Silver Eagles at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point received their first Panther jets. The first Navy Panther squadrons to see action in Korea were VF-51 and VF-52 Knightriders. The Marines of VMF-311 Tomcats arrived in Korea first in December 1950, flying their F9F-2B Panthers.
Official US Marine Corps Photograph
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The F-100 Super Sabre Overcame Significant Engineering Challenges To Become A Legendary Fighter Bomber
North American’s F-100 Super Sabre served the United States for 25 years. The Hun was the first American fighter jet capable of level supersonic flight. Progenitor of the Century Series, the F-100 was conceived in 1949 and developed during the 1950s- serving during some of the hottest years of the Cold War. North American’s justly famous F-86 Sabre jet fighter was the aircraft upon which the Hun was loosely based. One of the first American aircraft to incorporate significant amounts of titanium in its structure, the F-100 was much more than a redesigned F-86.
Official US Air Force Photograph
Bought Before It Was Built
The F-100 began as an unsolicited proposal for a supersonic day fighter to the United States Air Force (USAF). Because the F-100 was equipped with wings swept at 45 degrees, it was initially dubbed the Sabre 45. North American’s mockup of the design was inspected on 7 July 1951, and after over a hundred modifications, the new aircraft was accepted as the F-100 on 30 November 1951. On 3 January 1952, the USAF ordered two prototypes (YF-100As) to be followed quickly by 23 F-100As for delivery in February of 1952 and 250 more F-100As for delivery in August of 1952.
Official US Air Force Photograph
Deadly Sabre Dance
First flown in May of 1953, the YF-100A prototype performed so well that the F-100A went into production just five months later. But when Pearl Harbor hero and North American test pilot George Welch was killed in an early production F-100A during October of 1954 the cause was determined to be yaw instability-induced inertia coupling. Additional flight testing revealed that as the F-100A approached stall speeds, lift reduction on the outer wings could cause a violent pitch-up- the Sabre Dance.
Official US Air Force Photograph
Prone to Problems at First
Potentially deadly design issues notwithstanding, the F-100A was pressed into service quickly due to delays in the other fighter-bomber in development at the time, Republic’s F-84F Thunderstreak. The Hun went into service with the USAF Tactical Air Command (TAC) in September of 1954. TAC immediately requested that subsequently delivered F-100s be capable of “special weapons” (tactical nuclear weapons) delivery and that they keep the four 20 millimeter cannons mounted in the forward fuselage. However, no less than six major mishaps occurred within just two months. The entire fleet of F-100As was grounded until February of 1955.
Official US Air Force Photograph
Those Slick Chicks
One noteworthy modification program was the Slick Chick RF-100A photographic reconnaissance variant. Six F-100As were modified to fit cameras in place of the gun armament. Because the camera equipment would not all fit within the available space the engineers added a bulge that extended from below the windshield almost to the trailing edge of the wing. RF-100As apparently flew some highly sensitive missions over Soviet-occupied territories in Europe during some of the hottest days of the Cold War. Many of these missions are still classified today. After their service in Europe the Slick Chicks were used by the Taiwanese. Those missions are also still classified too.
After Delta Air Lines served CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. with a lawsuit last week, CrowdStrike retaliated with a counter lawsuit filed in Fulton County Superior Court.
In light of the global IT outage this past July, CrowdStrike claims that the airline failed to uphold security standards, including failing to update firmware. The latest lawsuit claims that Delta’s own actions compromised thousands of passwords in its systems.
The CrowdStrike outage occurred during a universal firmware update on 19 July that automatically took place involving all CrowdStrike Falcon security programs connected to the internet. Due to a glitch causing Microsoft systems to function, various airlines that implemented Falcon were affected, with Delta alone having to cancel more than 5,000 flights over a span of a week.
A Delta Boeing 737-900 and a Southwest Boeing 737-700 at General Mitchell International Airport (KMKE) | IMAGE: Miguel Ángel on Unsplash
Delta and CrowdStrike Clash in Court
Both Delta and CrowdStrike filed their lawsuit within hours of one another, with Delta submitting their complaint in court on 25 October and CrowdStrike filing later in the day.
Delta is seeking $500 million from CrowdStrike in damages affected by the IT outage, in addition to legal fees and punitive expenses. Delta’s lawsuit argues that CrowdStrike “cut corners and took shortcuts” and “caused a global catastrophe” as a result. The airline claims that it lost $380 million in customer refunds and $170 million for maintenance expenses.
CrowdStrike’s civil complaint defended the company’s actions, explaining how lingering issues on Delta’s end were caused by the airline’s own infrastructure. CrowdStrike also cited that other airlines have managed to recover faster from the July outage compared to Delta.
A CrowdStrike representative commented further on Delta’s claims to Law360:
“Delta’s claims are based on proven disinformation, demonstrate a lack of understanding of how modern cybersecurity works and reflect a desperate attempt to shift blame for its slow recovery away from its failure to modernize its antiquated IT infrastructure.”
Additional Notes From Delta and CrowdStrike
Microsoft appears to have partaken in CrowdStrike’s lawsuit, repeating the sentiments of the IT security company. Back in late July, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian expressed plans to also sue Microsoft, but the lawsuit never materialized.
CrowdStrike’s attorneys have also pointed out that there’s a special compensation clause in the three-year contract signed by both parties in 2022. The clause cites that any compensation that CrowdStrike owes to Delta is limited to “twice the fee for CrowdStrike’s services”.
As a response to CrowdStrike’s counter lawsuit, a Delta representative called the lawsuit “meritless” in a message to CIO Dive. The airline plans to file a motion to dismiss the lawsuit.
CrowdStrike is proposing for a declaratory judgment to prohibit Delta from demanding monetary damages from the security company.
Other Legal Struggles
Delta Air Lines has settled a class action lawsuit filed by customers that claimed the airline had mishandled the IT outage. The customers claimed to have had to pay even more money for air fares from competitors, meals, and rental cars due to negligence by Delta.
The class action lawsuit states that Delta failed to recover from the CrowdStrike outage, leaving passengers stranded at airports across the globe.
Investors have also labeled CrowdStrike a defendant in a separate legal battle that began weeks after the worldwide outage. The Plymouth County Retirement Association filed a class action lawsuit against the tech company in Austin, Texas.
In March 2024, CEO George Kurtz made claims to investors that the company tested and certified his software, with the association stating that Kurtz’ words were “false and misleading”. A CrowdStrike spokesperson responded to the lawsuit at the time, stating the company will aggressively defend the case.
United Airlines is one of the largest commercial airlines in the world, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The airline attracts tens of millions of travelers annually with flights to over 200 domestic destinations and over 100 international destinations.
But if this is your first time booking with United Airlines, it can be overwhelming to search for where to go if you want to cancel your plane tickets and get your money back. In this article, we’ll show you how to know if you qualify for a refund and how to request one.
About United Airlines Refunds
According to the United Airlines official website, the company offers a 24-hour window to customers to request a refund on recently purchased flight tickets.
For Basic Economy tickets, the refund window will only be present if your flight is at least over a week away. If it’s less than a week from your scheduled flight, you unfortunately won’t be able to get a refund.
United Airlines Refund Policies for 2025 21
If United Airlines, your airport, or the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) canceled your flight, you should get a refund automatically. Up until 2024, many airlines required the customers to contact customer support to ask for a refund if they qualify. A bill that passed in 2024, however, made it mandatory for United to process every refund automatically.
For significantly delayed flights, the airline must give you the option to cancel your flight for a full refund. This rule is in effect for domestic flights that are delayed by at least three hours and global flights that are delayed by at least six.
Refunds For Unplanned Events and Other Expenses
If your flight will still go on, but forces beyond your control stop you from making the flight, you could also be eligible for a refund. United lists military orders, death in the family, jury duty, and certain illnesses as four “unplanned events” that make a refund considerable.
As far as other United expenses go, there are a select number of them that customers can also cancel and get refunds for. These include service fees, meals, and Wi-Fi. Services that are ineligible for refunds include Economy Plus subscriptions, United Club subscriptions, and travel bundles.
If your flight was canceled, and you also ordered Priority Boarding, Premier Access, and Cabin Upgrades, you will get a refund for these services also.
If United asked you to downgrade your seat, you can also opt for a United Airlines refund. Should you accept the new seat, you’ll get a partial refund. If you reject the new seat, you’ll cancel your flight, but you’ll get a full refund, even if it’s outside the 24-hour window.
Canceling A United Airlines Flight
You can cancel a United Airlines flight on the airline’ official website. You’ll need to log in to your account to request your cancelation.
Once you’re logged in, click on the “My Trips” page. You’ll then the site will prompt you to enter your confirmation number and MileagePlus number. If you don’t know these numbers, you can find them in your confirmation email when you ordered your tickets.
If you’re due for a refund, no matter the circumstance, your money should return to your original payment method. Credit card refunds take up to seven days while bank account orders should take up to 20 days. The refund should appear on your next bank statement.
If you don’t qualify for a refund, you can still cancel your tickets. Rather than a monetary refund, however, the airline will issue non-refundable travel credits. You can redeem these credits for future flights with United for up to a year.
Depending on the flight you choose, you can order a flight using your credit and spend little to no money on that flight.
There are many different ways you can qualify for a United Airlines refund. Request a refund as soon as you decide to while you still have the option to get your hard-earned money back.
On 27 July 1972, under the control of McDonnell Douglas chief test pilot Irving L. Burrows, the F-15 Eagle first took to the skies over Edwards AFB, CA.
Burrows took the Air Force’s new twin-engine dedicated air superiority fighter on a 50 minute cruise, which topped out at 12,000 feet and 250 knots, before returning to base. The flight was uneventful other than a minor issue with a landing gear door.
“It was just like the simulator,” said Burrows upon departing the aircraft, S/N 71-0280, the first YF-15A prototype (F-15A). It was painted in “Air Superiority Blue” with orange flight test markings, and had square wingtips and an unnotched stabilator.
“This aircraft performed well from the first minute,” said Burrows later. “We knew we had a winner from the start.”
Several more flights occurred in the week that followed. They included milestones such as achieving Mach 1.5 speed and reaching an altitude of 45,000 feet.
Above, watch Burrows give a presentation on the design, testing, and legacy of the F-15 at the Missouri Aviation Historical Society’s July 2012 meeting.
A total of 12 pre-production F-15s were made, serial numbers 71-0280–71-0291, and the twin-engine fighter jet was approved by the USAF for full-rate production just 6 months after its first flight test.
The single seat A model jet evolved quite a bit in the years that followed. The two-seat B model came not long after, followed by the F-15C, -D, and -E models. They additional models fulfilled the need for a dual-role fighter that can engage both ground and air targets.
McDonnell Douglas F-15A (S/N 71-0280, the first F-15A prototype). Note the square wingtips and unnotched stabilator. Photo: USAF
The jet has broken many records, shot down numerous adversaries, and even shot down a satellite in 1985 as the culmination of a six year development and test program for the anti-satellite (or ASAT) missile (another mission out of Edwards AFB too).
The historic 71-0280 which flew the first flight is on display at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.
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The past weekend saw a groundbreaking new flight taking place from Texas to Australia. American Airlines completed a nonstop route to Brisbane all the way from its Dallas-Fort Worth hub, attracting attention from around the globe.
American Airlines Flight AA7 departed around 2200 local time Saturday evening. The flight concluded 16 hours later when it touched down at Brisbane Airport in Australia Monday morning at 454 local time, over half an hour ahead of schedule.
Raising the Bar in Trans-Pacific Aviation
The inaugural flight to Australia set a couple of records last weekend. The flight marked the longest ever American flight by distance at over 8,300 miles. This also set a new record as the longest flight either to or from Brisbane Airport.
The flight took place on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner at full capacity with multiple crews working different shifts of the flight. Three pilots also operated the aircraft during its flight. A total of 285 people were on board, though American didn’t disclose how many were passengers.
Brisbane Airport broadcasted the aircraft landing live on its YouTube channel, seen by over 38,000 viewers since Monday. The two-hour and 15-minute event was hosted by Brisbane Airport Media Manager Peter Doherty and ‘The Great Outdoors’ host and producer Sammy Cheney.
“This is not just linking two cities, this is linking two countries,” Doherty exclaimed. “Look at that! It’s fantastic!” he exclaimed as the aircraft made its landing on the runway.
Following the American Brisbane Flight
After the American Airlines flight landed and deplaned, each passenger was given free goods from Brooki Bakehouse, a local business founded by Queensland influencer Brooke Bellamy.
FlightRadar24 Director of Communications Ian Petchenik also shared his thoughts during the inaugural flight to Australia:
“We expect this to be one of the most tracked flights on FlightRadar24, with people around the world tuning in to follow the aircraft’s progress from Dallas-Fort Worth to Brisbane, especially keen to watch the livestream of the landing.”
File Photo: American Airlines have 737-800
Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graff called the Dallas flight “a landmark moment” for Brisbane and Queensland. He added that the connection between the two airports “unlocks incredible potential” for travelers flying across the Pacific Ocean.
The Australian Government projects that this seasonal route will attract 141,000 travelers to Queensland, Australia over the next few years, with an influx of up to $113 million Australian dollars into the nation’s economy.
More on the American Airlines Winter Schedule
The historic route was first announced by American Airlines back in February as part of a deal with Qantas Airways. The February press release touts the partnership as a catalyst to a “comprehensive network” of destinations for Americans, Australians, and New Zealanders. Additional Winter routes that were announced are for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as well as a return to Kona, Hawaii.
Former Australian Treasurer Cameron Dick had encouraging words on the announcement, stating that the new connection “opens up many opportunities” for businesses in both Queensland and Texas.
The airline will also resume additional international flights next month. American will resume flights from Los Angeles to Auckland, New Zealand on 5 December and fly again between Dallas-Fort Worth and Kahului, Hawaii starting 19 December.
American’s US Airways Heritage Livery (Courtesy American Airlines)
American Airlines currently operates five flights weekly between Dallas-Fort Worth and Brisbane. The airline will then fly to and from Brisbane every day from December through March 2025. Google Flights currently lists one-way flights from Dallas to Brisbane via American starting at $892.
United Airlines is the only other United States airline that operates nonstop flights to Brisbane. United’s two current Brisbane routes fly to and from San Francisco and Los Angeles, California.
Watch the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds fly together over Pensacola! The rarely seen Super Delta brings all 6 demo jets from each team together in one massive 12-jet formation.
Both teams have conducted joint training together each winter for the last 5 years, most recently in March 2024 when the Thunderbirds visited the Blues’ at NAS El Centro. Each team represents different military branches, but both share a similar mission.
They are now on the tail-end of a very busy air show season, performing across the United States week after week. The Pensacola show will be the last for both teams in 2024.
A rare appearance together at the home of the Blue Angels
The blue angels and thunderbirds super delta over pensacola oct 30, 2024 (mike killian photo)
“Having our military’s top flight demonstration teams perform at the ‘Cradle of Naval Aviation’ will undoubtedly be an experience you won’t want to miss!” said Capt. Terry Shashaty, NAS Pensacola’s commanding officer.
“The Blue Angels and Homecoming Air Show are ingrained in the identity of Pensacola. We are proud to host a family-friendly event showcasing the capabilities and precision of both the Navy and Air Force teams as well as our civilian performers!”
The blue angels and thunderbirds super delta over pensacola oct 30, 2024 (mike killian photo)
“Our demonstrations showcase the incredible milestones a team can accomplish when they work together,” says Thunderbirds leader Lt. Col. Nathan Malafa.
“It’s an honor to perform alongside our Navy counterparts; we both started building the foundations of our 2024 teams together in El Centro and will end our seasons together in a display of excellence.”
This isn’t the first time both teams have got together at an air show
The blue angels and thunderbirds super delta over pensacola oct 30, 2024 (mike killian photo)
While it is rare to see both teams together at any air show, it has happened before. They both appeared at Point Mugu in 2023.
They also flew the “Super Delta” together during a National Memorial Day parade in 2021, in addition to the America Strong flyovers during Covid in 2020. Both teams also appeared together at the Kansas City air show in 2021.
The blue angels and thunderbirds super delta over pensacola oct 30, 2024 (mike killian photo)
While both teams will be at the air show Nov 1-2, they won’t be actually flying together. Each team will fly their demos separately (officially, for now). The Thunderbirds are scheduled to takeoff at noon each day, followed by the Blues at 2pm.
The 2024 edition of the Wings Over Houston Airshow (WOHA) drew over 120,000 people to Ellington Field southeast of Houston over two warm-to-hot but CAVU days. At this, the 40th annual WOHA, fans were enthralled by everything from the RE/MAX Skydiving Team, which opened each day’s show from above with our National Anthem while being circled by the Nextgen Eagles, to the headliners of the event, the US Air Force F-16C Viper Demo Team and the US Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron (AKA the Blue Angels). From open to close both days there was always something good to see, hear, eat, or buy.
ReMAX skydiving team national anthem (image via author)
The Quick List:
Radio controlled aircraft demonstrations prior to show open
Extra 330LX aerobatics demonstration (John and Shane McGillis)
warbird flightline (image via author)
US Air Force Academy glider aerobatics demonstration
Model rocketry
MiG-15 (image via author)
MiG-15 flight demonstration (Sunday only)
US Coast Guard Air Station Houston MH-65E Dauphin rescue demonstration
collings foundation me-262B-1C (image via author)
Collings Foundation Me-262B-1c flight demonstration
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Big bang at the end of the CAF tora tora tora reenactment (image via author)
CAF Tora Tora Tora reenactment
five CAF ‘zekes’ and three CAF ‘kates’ (image via author)
CAF Missing Man formation flyover
CAF warbird fighters and bombers flight demonstration
warbird fighters (image via author)
Vietnam War Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) demonstration (TA-4F Skyhawk, F-100F Super Sabre, T-28B Trojan, A-1H Skyraider, CH-46E Sea Knights, AH-1G Cobra)
TA-4F Skyhawk 518 making freedom sounds (image via author)
Before 2024, the only way to go to space was by rocket, but that is about to change. Offering a new development in balloon exploration, Space Perspective, a company based in Titusville Florida, will soon be taking people up to 100,000 feet in a luxurious capsule lifted by a balloon. For each flight, eight passengers plus a pilot, will board the Space Perspective Spaceship Neptune Capsule for a six-hour voyage to the edge of space.
The Space Perspective “SpaceBalloon,” filled with hydrogen, will lift the capsule at 12 miles per hour. The balloon itself is not a new technology but uses a proven design similar to what NASA has used more than 1000 times carrying payloads heavier than the Spaceship Neptune Capsule.
Artist depiction of the Space Perspective SpaceBalloon | IMAGE: Space Perspective on Facebook
Luxurious interior of spaceship neptune capsule | IMAGE: space p[ers[ective on facebook
The Spaceship Neptune Capsule is a completely original design, with new technology and materials. Its diameter is 16 feet, and its pressurized volume is more than 200 cubic feet. The inside of the capsule, which the company calls the “Space Lounge,” is nothing less than plush, with seats comparable to the most exclusive first-class section on any aircraft. The large windows on all sides will allow each passenger clear, wide views. The capsule will also have a fully stocked bar and food service, wifi to allow guests to livestream the experience, and even a bathroom called the “Space Spa” with its own windows. None of this comes cheap, as the cost of the Space Perspective experience is $125,000.
Six Hours to Space and Back
The balloon experience will last about six hours. It will lift off from either land or water, take approximately two hours to reach its apogee of 100,000 feet, then float at that altitude for two hours, and then descend. The adventure will not end when the Spaceship Neptune Capsule returns to earth.
It will land in the ocean, and meet up with the Space Perspective ship, the 294-foot Marine Spaceport Voyager. The company plans to have a fleet of these ships as it expands operations to several other bases around the world including Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
space perspective Flight profile | image: space perspective on facebook
As the capsule nears the water, an inflatable cone at its base will deploy, ensuring a gentle landing. Small boats from the Marine Spaceport Voyager will reach the capsule within five minutes to ready it to be lifted onto the larger ship’s deck. Space Perspective expects it take 20 minutes from splashdown to when the passengers disembark onto the deck.
Engineering Challenges and Partners For Space Perspective
Retrieval of capsule upon landing | image: space perspective on facebook
Engineers faced many challenges in developing the Spaceship Neptune Capsule For example, temperature control is a major factor when going up 100,000 feet. The side of the capsule facing the sun will reach temperatures as high as 91 degrees Fahrenheit, while on the opposite side the temperature will be as low as 26 degrees Fahrenheit at the same time. The windows are also very large, much bigger than those on other spacecraft or aircraft.
To deal with some of these challenges, Space Perspective partnered with Llamas Plastics Inc. to develop the windows. These windows, which are five feet tall, have be clear, but also safe and strong enough to handle the pressure inside the capsule.
Spaceship Neptune capsule construction | image: space perspective on facebook
Llamas Plastics Develops Process for Capsule Window Protection and Visibility
According to Coating Engineer Micah Llamas, their company applies “thin film coatings in a vacuum setting” using a process that involves placing the windows and a metal into a vacuum chamber, lowering the pressure, and igniting the metal.
This vaporizes the metal, which then adheres to the windows while staying transparent. The goal of this was to create windows that reflect ultraviolet rays, control the temperature inside, and maintain visibility.
Space Perspective also partnered with Siemens Digital Industries Software and Amazon Web Services (AWS) to design analysis software. This will simulate all aspects of the Spaceship Neptune Capsule flights, reducing the time to analyze structural, thermal, and other conditions from a week to about ten hours.
Space Perspective has also engaged in a partnership with Epsilon 3, a company with an operations and procedures software platform that allows it to synchronize business processes such as mission-control and marine operations.
A common question about the SpaceBalloon is what would happen if it developed a leak or some other major failure. Space Perspective has designed the capsule to have what it calls a “Reserve Decent System” which is a parachute system like that used in various spacecraft. This is not the only safety element. The company has also partnered with Operator Solutions, a business with search and rescue specialists, doctors, human space flight experts, and fixed and rotary-wing aircrews to provide rescue services.
Space Perspective Attracting Sponsorship and Marketing Partners
Space Perspective has also attracted other companies interested in working together on marketing opportunities. One is a relationship with Mercedes-Maybach. They will use their electric vehicles to carry passengers to and from the capsule, supporting Space Perspective’s goal to remain carbon neutral.
Another business interested in the Spaceship Neptune Capsule is Oreo U.S. In 2023, they produced a limited-edition cookie they called the “Space-Dunk” and created a sweepstakes. The winner will receive a ride aboard the capsule. Considering the cost of a ticket is $125,000, this is a sweet deal indeed.
oreo limited edition space dunk cookie | image: space perspective on facebook
This price has not deterred people from booking seats aboard the capsule. So far, more than 1600 people have paid deposits for upcoming trips, which Space Perspective says will begin in 2025, once testing is complete and they receive full approval from the FAA.
They also hope to expand the basic flights to include events like music shows, meetings, and even weddings. They will also offer packages like overnight missions and trips with different takeoff and landing sites.
