This past week the skies around Savannah, GA have roared to the sound of freedom, as the Air National Guard’s premier counter aerial combat training exercise ‘Sentry Savannah’ got underway. For 2 weeks Air Force fighter pilots and their crews are putting their skills & knowledge into action, integrating tactics and training together in air to air combat, offensive / defensive counter air missions, cruise missile defense and dropping weapons on the range.
Ouch! That’s a Rough A220 Landing
Being a pilot is probably the best job in the world. That is until you have a direct crosswind at max limits in dog poop weather. This crew looks like they faced one of those days. This Airbus A220 balked landing looked like it was a rough one.
We’ve posted a few rough landings before by pilots who faced some rough conditions of their own. Who could forget the Silkways 747 landing in a European storm or the Emirates A380 that made a very sharp correction back to centerline after a landing in very gusty conditions a few years back?
This latest video was posted by KMSPVideos on Youtube. He filmed it on April 24, 2022. His site has a great collection of videos, primarily from Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport (MSP). MSP has some great spotting locations. The airport is both a Delta and Sun Country Airlines hub and has significant international traffic. Back in the day, it was also a Northwest Airlines hub too (Be sure to check out KMSPVideos other work too including some great classic Northwest DC-9 footage).
You can always go around
In the video below, you can see the A220 make a fairly normal approach in gusty conditions. At about 20 feet, the jet suddenly nosed forward pretty aggressively potentially a reaction to a sudden shear. At this point it appears that the crew initiated a go-around but the jet touched down firmly with spoilers now deployed and in a low energy state.
While traveling on the ground before lifting back off, it appears that the A220 almost had a tail strike as the crew attempted to rotate. Simultaneously the jet veered pretty close to the left side of the runway (it might be a visual illusion, we’ll let you be the judge how close it was the edge).
The second landing was much less eventful fortunately. Two nuggets of knowledge here: 1.) Any pilot can have a bad day. Conditions were challenging to be sure. It’s about learning lessons from others to help make your next flight safer. 2.) As a pilot you always have to be ready for a go around. Even a stable approach can become unstable in the blink of an eye, particularly in gusty crosswind conditions. They did the right thing by going around. It reminded us of this famous pilot song…
Do you fly the A220? Any thoughts to add? We’d love to hear your perspective. Share it in the comments below.
Hawaiian Airlines Will Start Providing SpaceX Starlink Internet to Passengers
The Airline is Pulling Out All the Inflight Broadband Stops
Hawaiian Airlines is set to become the first major airline to provide free high-speed SpaceX Starlink internet service to passengers on their fleet of Airbus A330, A321neo, and incoming Boeing 787-9s. The jets fly routes between the Islands and the continental United States, Asia, and Oceania. The service won’t be available on their Boeing 717s, which operate short flights between the Islands.
“When we launch with Starlink we will have the best connectivity experience available in the air,” said Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO Peter Ingram. “We waited until technology caught up with our high standards for guest experience, but it will be worth the wait. Our guests can look forward to fast, seamless and free Wi-Fi to complement our award-winning onboard Hawaiian hospitality.”
SpaceX began launching their Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit back in 2019 to provide global high-speed, low-latency broadband internet, especially to rural and remote areas where connectivity is unreliable or completely non-existent.
Thus far, SpaceX has launched over 2,000 of the satellites, out of a planned constellation of up to 12,000, and they are currently awaiting approval from an international regulator to launch up to 30,000 more.
Starlink made headlines recently when Elon Musk and SpaceX sent Starlink terminals to Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, responding to a public cry for help from Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s vice prime minister and the country’s minister of digital transformation, as military operations caused significant disruptions across the country.
And it didn’t take long for the service to be up and running, providing internet independent of local infrastructure across the war-torn nation. By April 6, SpaceX had sent over 5,000 ground terminals to Ukraine, preventing Russia from cutting off the country’s communications. Starlink even resisted all hacking and jamming attempts by Russia, thereby earning high praise from the Pentagon for how well the service has performed in the electronic warfare domain.
“The way that Starlink was able to upgrade when a threat showed up, we need to be able to have that ability,” said Dave Tremper, Director of Electronic Warfare at the Office of the Secretary of Defense. “We have to be able to change our electromagnetic posture, to be able to change very dynamically what we’re trying to do without losing capability along the way.”
“Hawaiian Airlines is ensuring its passengers will experience high-speed internet the way we expect it in the 21st century, making hassles like downloading movies before takeoff a relic of the past,” said SpaceX Vice President of Starlink Commercial Sales Jonathan Hofeller.
“With Starlink, the inflight experience is greatly simplified so that once passengers step onboard the plane the internet works seamlessly throughout their flight. Soon, passengers will enjoy all the benefits of having the world’s best in-flight internet connectivity from the comfort of their seats.”
The airline claims, “Guests will be able to stream content, play games live with friends on the ground, work and collaborate in real-time, plan their Hawai‘i vacation, or share their special island moments on social media. Connecting to the internet will be seamless when guests walk on board, without registration pages or payment portals.”
Hawaiian will begin installing Starlinks on select aircraft next year.
Alaska Airlines Celebrates Star Wars With New Themed 737 Jet
Alaska Airlines posted a very interesting post on their blog yesterday. They announced that on May 4th (the ‘official’ May the 4th be with you day) any travelers wearing Star Wars gear can board their flight early. According to the post, “When a guest wears any clothing item Star Wars-related, they’ll be able to board their flight just after Group B (which could stand for, say, Boba Fett).”
Alaska unveiled a special themed Star Wars jet today. The jet, tail number N538AS, will have a special Star Wars themed livery. It is expected to fly its first flight from San Francisco to Santa Ana.
The aircraft is part of Alaska Airlines tie up with Disneyland. Alaska Airlines said, “For this latest collaboration – Alaska’s seventh painted plane for the Disneyland Resort – no Jedi mind tricks were needed: the force was strong for a Star Wars livery to finally enter Alaska’s fleet. The aircraft’s official name is “Star Wars Transport to the Disneyland Resort” with a tail number of N538AS. After the big reveal and celebration at the gate in the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the plane made its inaugural flight today and ultimate arrival at John Wayne Airport in Orange County.”
Not the First Star Wars Themed Aircraft
This is actually the 4th (hehe) Star Wars themed aircraft livery. ANA had two back in 2017. Then in 2019, United Airlines unveiled a special 737-800 adorned in black. That jet even included a special theme inside for passengers to enjoy. The United jet was recently repainted to the regular United colors, presumably paving the way for the latest Alaska Airlines special livery.
Ukraine Admits ‘Ghost Of Kyiv’ Pilot Was a Myth
At the beginning of Ukraine’s conflict with Russia, a pretty amazing story emerged that was picked up by multiple news outlets. The story goes that a lone heroic Ukrainian fighter pilot shot down six Russian Air Force jets by himself on the first day of the conflict. Outnumbered and outgunned, he boosted the morale of Ukrainian forces and became a media sensation.
The story was amplified by social media as the lore of a heroic and rogue pilot grew. Some even posted that the pilot shot down a total of 40 aircraft before finally being shot down himself. Now in a Facebook post on Ukraine’s official Facebook page, they admit that the ‘Ghost of Kyiv’ was never real.
The news comes after major news outlets questioned whether the story was true. Some outlets suggested that Major Stepan Tarabalka was the real ‘Ghost of Kyiv’ and recently killed in battle. In the post below though, Ukraine’s Air Force attempts to set the record straight both the story is a legend and that no single pilot shot down 40 aircraft, let alone the original story that a pilot shot down 6 in one day.
A translation of the post on Facebook states, the “Ghost of Kiev is a superhero-legend whose character was created by Ukrainians! This is a faster collected image of pilots of the 40th Air Force tactical aviation brigade, who protect the sky of the capital. What suddenly appear where they are not expected!”
Final Days To See ‘Classic’ Southwest Colors on 737-700
These are the final days to see the ‘classic’ Southwest Airlines colors on a Boeing 737-700. Southwest plans to retire the final Boeing 737-700 in the ‘classic’ paint scheme later this month. When Southwest first started, they were known for their mustard yellow paint scheme. These jets plied the skies offering a unique paint scheme, quick turns, and low fares. At one time, founder Herb Kelleher once even referred to them as his “red bellied warriors.”
In 2001, Southwest introduced a new paint scheme known as Canyon Blue. The purple-ish colored jets still had a red belly. At the time, Southwest said they would maintain three jets in classic colors to honor founding members of the airline. The jets maintained the classic scheme albeit with a gold finish instead of the typical mustard yellow.
Over time, Southwest painted N792SW (as seen above) in their latest “heart” paint scheme that was introduced in 2016. Southwest then retired the plane dedicated to Herb Kelleher (N711HK) earlier this year. Now, the classic jet dedicated to Southwest co-founder and former CEO Colleen Barrett (N714CB) will be retired soon as well. Soon there will be no 737-700s in the ‘classic’ scheme.
Don’t worry, the ‘classic’ livery will soon be back
For any avgeeks who were about to cry from the news, take heart. Southwest plans to reintroduce the ‘classic’ livery later this year on a brand new Boeing 737-MAX8. The new jet will be the first special livery on a MAX jet. It will be dedicated to Southwest’s founder and former CEO Herb Kelleher. Some avgeek chatter has mentioned that the last ‘classic’ scheme lacked the white outlines on each window. Hopefully Southwest’s paint team will add back the white outline on the passenger windows to be true to the original.
Colleen Barrett will also receive a new dedicated jet. Her jet will remain the only aircraft in the 2001 Canyon Blue scheme. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter. We’ll post them as soon as they are spotted.
Spirit Says No To JetBlue
We’ve previously reported on the offers by both Frontier and JetBlue to merge with Spirit. JetBlue’s offer was for more money but the marriage between two different types of airlines seems to be a mismatch.
Today Spirit reiterated that they do not intend to pursue a merger with JetBlue. In a press release, the Board of Directors for Spirit announced that they still support the merger between Frontier and Spirit Airlines.
Spirit’s board said the merger with JetBlue “does not constitute a ‘Superior Proposal’ as defined in Spirit’s merger agreement with Frontier Group Holdings, Inc., parent company of Frontier Airlines, Inc., because it has determined that the proposed transaction is not reasonably capable of being consummated.
The press release added that “the Board continues to believe that the pending transaction with Frontier represents the best opportunity to maximize value and recommends that Spirit shareholders adopt the merger agreement with Frontier. Spirit’s Board of Directors also issued the following letter to JetBlue.”
Six Great Hacks for Crushing Your Private Pilot’s License
How to Achieve Your Dreams of Flight Without Going Broke!
Have you ever heard this said about people pursuing a Private Pilot’s License?
“Oh, that guy? He has about 80 hours in his logbook, but no license. He only flies a few times a month, so he gets stuck learning and relearning the same maneuvers.”
“Yeah, I started flying lessons one summer. Soloed, logged a bunch of hours, but never actually got my license.”
“I’d love to learn to fly, but it seems so expensive. I have no idea where to start.”
You’ve probably heard versions of these stories before. Aspiring private pilots face all kinds of headwinds en route to getting the FAA license. The time, effort, and energy required to follow through on the hours of training, studying, and preparing for the check ride are demanding. Many student pilots fizzle out in the first few weeks of training once the motivation, or the money, runs out. But if you can do it right from the start, few goals are more rewarding than taking your flying ambitions all the way to the Private Pilot’s License. Below are six “hacks” that I learned from getting my Private Pilot’s License that will help you get there.
1. Block Out the Time
Learning how to fly is like learning a new language: The best way to advance quickly is by immersing yourself in it. I started flight training at the beginning of May 2020 and got my private pilot’s license by mid-August. For those three-and-a-half months, I flew 3-4 (and sometimes 4-5) days a week. The days I wasn’t flying, I’d throw myself into ground school. Often, I’d fly in the mornings and do 2-3 hours of ground school in the afternoon.
The key is blocking out a solid chunk of time where you can focus intensively on flying. If you’re only able to fly once every two weeks, you’ll spend most of each lesson refreshing and re-learning what you went over before. Flying consistently, especially at the beginning of your aviation education, is the best way to build on the skills you’re acquiring without spending time revising those skills before you move to the next one. Better efficiency in your training means better efficiency in your budget.
Many pilots who fail to get this point get stuck in limbo. Similar to the first story above, they fly once a month and learn and relearn the same skills, logging time and spending money but never flying with the consistency it takes to progress through the check ride. Don’t get stuck in that trap!
Finding the chunk of time to devote to intensive training can be difficult. Here are a few practical tips:
- Block out time when the weather in your local area allows for consistent flying. (Late spring to early summer, for example, was a great time to learn in Texas.)
- Set a demanding but realistic deadline that will motivate you to finish.
- Visualize your goal in concrete terms. For example, “I’m going to fly my wife and kids to our family beach vacation in August.” “I’m going to fly my mom to the historic airfield she’s always wanted to visit before I leave the country for grad school in four months.” You get the picture.
2. Find the Right Instructor for your Private
You’re going to spend a LOT of hours with the person who’s teaching you to fly. Make sure that you get along. At minimum, make sure you feel comfortable asking that person questions and admitting when you don’t know something. Make sure they understand your aviation goals and have the incentive to help you reach those goals as efficiently as possible. Sometimes, younger instructors who are building hours for the airlines are more likely to help you progress quickly than more experienced instructors who have less incentive to expedite your training.
While there are advantages to hiring multiple instructors—it’s always helpful to get different perspectives and may help you schedule a lot of hours in a short amount of time—you’re more likely to progress faster if you work with the same instructor, since they’ll be able to learn your habits and track your development more closely.
My flight instructor was the highlight of my private pilot training, but it took trial-and-error to find the right match. I took my first discovery flight with a 70-year-old CFI who gave me the creeps. I switched to a retired Marine-turned-corporate-pilot, and it took my training to a different level. He had an inexhaustible bank of stories, and I still hear his voice in my head on key flight maneuvers.
More than once, that voice has been the difference between a safe flight and a bad outcome. (Landing NORDO after an electrical failure in a Class Charlie international airport, for example, I heard him say the whole time, “Pitch for airspeed, throttle for power.” It helped me keep calm and manage the situation successfully.)
3. Make Every Lesson Count
You can’t control the weather or the ATC red tape, but you can control the quality of the time you spend in the plane and face-to-face with your instructor. Maximize that quality by showing up well prepared.
On a practical level, get the sleep, nutrition, and caffeine (“nectar of the gods,” my instructor says) that you need to be mentally sharp. On an aviation level, study on the ground what you’re covering in the air ahead of time. For example, if you’re working on steep turns, read about steep turn procedures in the FAA textbook and “chair-fly” (i.e. simulate) the maneuver the night before. By the time you get in the plane, the actual steep turn will be review, and you’ll master the skill much faster.
Another key is to keep an ongoing aviation journal. Take the time after the lesson to debrief your mistakes. Take notes and draw diagrams. Set specific goals for fixing those mistakes next time you practice the procedure. On this point, I think often of what a friend and F-35 pilot told me his squadron would do before flying sorties over the South China Sea: “Always chair-fly the mission.”
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Qantas Announces World’s Longest Flight
Qantas unveiled their long awaited ‘project sunrise’ solution today. Long considered the holy grail of aviation, a non-stop connection between London and Sydney seemed impossible, then economically unfeasible, then with COVID, undesirable. Qantas’ announcement today finally will make the route a reality beginning in 2025. It will save passengers hours in travel time but result in over 19 hours in the air, enabling a flight so long that passengers will see two sunrises between takeoff and landing on flights between London and Sydney.
Finding the Right Aircraft
Qantas and other airlines have sought to connect London and Sydney on a non-stop route for decades. There have been the occasional nonstop charter and demonstration flights between London and Sydney utilizing the Boeing 777 and 787. The problem though is that the distance is so great that flights were severely weight restricted, making daily travel uneconomical.
The sheer distance between cities means that passengers who want to fly today between two distant cities have lengthy layovers in places like Singapore, Hong Kong, or Perth. This means that travel typically results in well over a day of travel in each direction. Qantas initially had to identify an aircraft that could make the record setting route economical. They originally tested the route using a Boeing 787. In 2019, they announced that the A350 would be their jet of choice for the route. Today, Qantas announced an order for 12 A350-1000 jets along with an order for A321XLRs and A220-300 to grow and refresh their fleet.
Research to make the flight tolerable
At 19 hours, it would be the world’s longest scheduled route. A flight that long is nothing to sneeze at. It presents real challenges that could affect physical and mental health if they were not proactively addressed. Qantas began a series of research flights using a Boeing 787-9 to identify how to make the future route more pleasant and safe for passengers. During the flights, they flew only 40 employees on each route, utilizing surveys and post flight evaluations to find the optimal solution for dining, personal space, entertainment, and health.
How They Will Make The Flights More Pleasant
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said: “New types of aircraft make new things possible. That’s what makes today’s announcement so significant for the national carrier and for a country like Australia where air travel is crucial.
“Throughout our history, the aircraft we’ve flown have defined the era we’re in. The 707 introduced the jet age, the 747 democratized travel and the A380 brought a completely new level of comfort. The A350 and Project Sunrise will make any city just one flight away from Australia. It’s the last frontier and the final fix for the tyranny of distance. As you’d expect, the cabin is being specially designed for maximum comfort in all classes for long-haul flying.”
Qantas’ A350 aircraft will be configured with just 238 passengers. That’s about 30% less than what other airlines fly on comparable jets. The jets will provide more space for passengers in all cabins of service. Premium cabins will comprise 40% of the overall cabin space. First class will introduce a new seat which is actually a private suite offering a seat that transforms into a bed, a 32″ entertainment screen, plenty of storage and a seat for visiting passengers.
Economy passengers will also benefit as they will have 33″ of legroom. That’s more akin to economy-plus space on most domestic carriers. One major announcement is that the long haul A350 cabins will offer a ‘well being’ space for all passengers. This is a dedicated space for passengers to stretch their legs. The airline will offer screens offering relaxing videos that guide passengers for proper stretches. It will also offer snacks and self-serve hydration stations in areas that won’t get in the way of flight attendants’ service galleys.
Service is expected to begin in 2025. Other long distance routes like Sydney to the east coast of the United States and Australia to other destinations in Europe are possible with the new fleet.
Why does the Airbus A320 sounds like a barking dog after landing?
The Airbus A320 is one of the most popular narrow-body jets ever to fly. With more than 5,000 built and another 8000 orders, there is a high likelihood that you’ve either flown on one before or will fly on one soon. It’s a nice ride.
The jet is wider than the 737. For pilots, the plane is also fly by wire, has a side stick instead of a yoke and even a fold-out tray table in each crew position. There is one very peculiar thing about the jet. Before takeoff when the engines are starting and after landing (typically at the gate), the jet makes an odd barking noise. Why is that?
Yep, the Airbus A320 sounds like a barking dog after its lands
For the first time traveler, they might think that their jet is carrying a pack of race dogs in the cargo compartment below. This video above from DAR 4K does a nice job of capturing the noise. We can assure you. It not a dog (or pack of them). It’s actually a noise made by the PTU or power transfer unit.
Here’s your answer: The Power Transfer Unit is Why The Airbus A320 Sounds Like A Barking Dog
The PTU transfers power from one hydraulic unit to another. In the A320, there are actually three hydraulic systems. Two hydraulic systems are powered by each engine with a third system powered by an electric backup pump.
The PTU provides hydraulic power across the systems. The hydraulics are used in flight to power the control surfaces, landing gear deployment and retraction, nose wheel steering, breaking system on the ground and movement of the flaps and slats. The system’s power is shared but fluid is not. This setup ensures that even with an engine off, you still have full hydraulics available.
The reason that the Airbus A320 sounds like a barking dog when departing the gate is because typically only one system is running. After arrival, typically one engine is shut down. That means that the system is utilizing the PTU to ensure that the entire hydraulic system stays pressurized.
It’s a great system that works and ensures that pilots have access to all controls at all times. But it can be a bit annoying, particularly if your are sitting in rows 15-20.
Southwest Airlines Hosts Inflight Wedding On Flight to Vegas
If you’ve ever flown to Vegas, you know that the flights tend to be a little more wild than your typical flight from Denver to Salt Lake City. But this one tops the cake! A recent Southwest Airlines flight hosted a wedding with creative decorations and an interesting backstory.
The Inflight Wedding Wasn’t Planned
Pam and Jeremy were flying on a different airline when their flight was cancelled at DFW. According to the post on Southwest’s Instagram account, a fellow passenger overheard that they had a wedding appointment planned in Vegas later that day. He mentioned to them that they could still make it as Southwest had flights to Vegas from Dallas Love Field. So they made the 9 mile trek across town to catch a Southwest flight. That fellow passenger turned out to be a guy named Chris. Chris was also an ordained minister.
Southwest Airlines Pilot Noticed Her Carrying Her Dress…The rest is history
When she boarded her flight, the captain noticed Pam carrying her dress. Pam explained her challenging journey and and joked that she should just get married on the flight. The pilot said, “let’s do it!”
After takeoff, the flight attendants hung up toilet paper streamers near the bulkhead, turned out all the blue call buttons to light the aisle, and started playing “Here comes the bride” on the speaker from their cell phone. The bride and groom changed into their wedding clothes and the officiant received a sash for the ceremony made out of swizzle sticks and snack pouches. A photographer was even on the flight and available to capture the moment. The wedding venue was set. What followed was a very cute wedding complete with a captive audience capturing the moment on video.
Bride Made Some Funny Airborne Quips In Her Wedding Vows
The bride and groom took in the moment. 625 days earlier they met on Bumble. Jeremy said that Pam is the “best thing to ever happen to me.” As Pam said her wedding vows, she added that she loves her with her now husband with her whole heart. She said she can’t wait to be Jeremy’s “copilot through life. She’ll be his cross to the crosscheck. And any turbulence, I want to weather it with you.”
It’s a great post by Southwest Airlines. Known for being a bit unconventional, they’ve held concerts in the skies with famous artists. They are also known for their flight attendants dressing up for holidays like Halloween and Christmas. This is the first time we’ve seen a full wedding in the skies. Best of luck to the couple! Be sure to check out the entire post by Southwest below.
WATCH: The World’s Largest RC Airliner Actually Flies
The Proof is In This Very Impressive Video!
The Airbus A380 might not have been a commercial success but it still won its way into the hearts of faithful avgeeks. With two full decks, the jet is able to seat up to 800 people in a single class seating arrangement.
More About the A380’s Sad Bad Timing
When it was first introduced in 2005, Airbus expected it to be a runaway success. Their theory was that congestion at hub airports like LAX and London Heathrow would require larger aircraft to support continued growth. Unfortunately, the economic downturn of 2008 struck at about the same time when larger 777-300ERs were becoming more common and the 787 was introduced. Airlines realized that they could fly more efficient aircraft to bypass the hubs altogether or carry slightly smaller loads with the efficiency of two engines instead of four. Particularly after the pandemic, the A380 fell out of favor. Airlines like Lufthansa, Air France, Thai, Ethiad, and Malaysia all retired their fleets less than 15 years years after introduction.
You Still Can See Thai Airways Fly an A380 (Sort of)
Even with the real Thai Airways having retired their A380s back in 2020, there is still one way to see one fly. Christopher Ferkl from Austria built a 1/13 scale A380 in Thai colors. In the video below, his creation takes flight.
The massive RC model jet is 20 feet long with a wingspan of 18.5 feet. That’s huge! The model is powered by 4 M166TS engines that provide 166N (about 37 pounds) of thrust each. The jet carries about 2.2 gallons of fuel and has operational landing gear and flight controls. According to the video, it took 3 years to build, quite the labor of love!
Check out this awesome video from our friends at RCScaleAirplanes on Youtube. Their video has already racked up a few million views in just the first few weeks!