Date Posted: 2008-08-23 04:22:54.
Subject: Aircraft that should return to the air
Name: v_bomber
Message: tSR2 it was MORE advanced than the tornado and it origanated from a 1956 order (english eletric actually began work in the late 40s!!! thinking that ot would be wanted) It was more advanced than f111 they were worried that if we exported it f111 sales would fall dramitically It got everything right and was better than the order specification. the first prototype flew over 20 flights but there were many prototypes after it.

the second prototype would never fly; the government, in the Budget Day announcement on the 6th of April 1965, announced that the tSR.2 programme was to be terminated immediately. the aircrew were at the time having lunch in a pub near Boscombe Down; on hearing the shocking announcement they rushed back to the airfield in an attempt to get XR220 into the air and to at least present the government with a second flying prototype. this was not to be; permission was denied. While the management of BAC were informed before the budget speech was made, they were forbidden to tell their employees, who then had to hear the news on the radio. the House of Commons was in uproar over the cancellation; but no debate could take place during the budget speech so not only had the government treated BAC's workforce with contempt, they had tried to slip a major defence project cancellation past the opposition. A debate one week later in the house was a rough ride for Denis Healey (the new Defence Minister), who tried to justify the cancellation on the basis that the F-111 could be bought more cheaply, though he could not state a cost or exact timescale for the buy. Healey has since stated that getting American backing for an International Monetary Fund loan was not a reason behind the British order for the F-111 instead of continuing the tSR.2 programme. However, the tSR.2 was certainly a serious worry to the Americans, being vastly more capable than the F-111 and could have made a serious dent in the F-111's export prospects. A denial from a politician, as the tSR.2 programme showed on numerous individual occasions, is not worth the paper they refuse to write it on.

---

'the distant flash of lightning howling through the thunder' ex RAF ligthning pilot recalling lightning of 1973 through thunder

Date Posted: 2004-08-15 14:17:38.
Subject: Aircraft that should return to the air
Name:
Message: obsolete: 1 no longer in use: an obsolete word. 2 outmoded in design, style, or construction: an obsolete locomotive.

the b36 was superceded by the b47 and by the time it was completely removed from service, the b52. both of these were a generation past the b36--swept wing high subsonic jets with mid-air refueling capabilities. they could also carry the same or more in terms of payload. the b36 was essentially a pre-ww2 design that didn't fly until after the war ended. it was an anachronism.

the sr71 is a great aircraft. however it is 5 times more expensive to operate than the u2. on the other hand it only takes 1/4 the time to fly a mission. its special capabilities are no longer needed however. satellites have taken over the recce mission especially over extremely hostile territory--china, russia, etc. the u2 is also much more mission adaptable. wing pods with extra sensors can be added.

the f4 phantom ii was replaced by the f14 and f15 in the navy and usaf respectively. both of these aircraft are much more capable in every way in comparison to the f4. also of mention is the fact that they were designed to operate much better in the subsonic--especially in a dogfighting scenerio. the f4 after all was not much more than a flying brick at low speed.

the yf23 was deemed not as good as what has become the f22. in that fly off many criteria were looked at.

the c123 was not nearly as capable as the c130. talk to anybody who deals with airlift and they will tell you that anywhere you can put a dc3 down you can put a c130 down. and it can carry so much more than the old c123.

usaf still has some c141 aircraft in its inventory. they have mostly been replaced by the c17. the c17 can carry much more cargo and land it on shorter and rougher strips.

the f20 was a great follow on to the f5. however a few crashes during the showings to many countries all but doomed it. the last nail in the coffin was that usaf didn't buy any. so all the prospect customers decided to buy the f16 instead. the f16 is a much more capable aircraft and can carry a lot more external stores.

the f101 voodoo was a great post-korea interceptor. by vietnam it had been eclipsed by better aircraft like the f4.

the f105 was nothing more than a high speed bomber. it was not designed to tangle with other fighters. as such it was inferior to the f4 in many respects. and by far it was inferior to the f15. it was also lost in greater numbers over vietnam than any other fixed wing aircraft.

Date Posted: 2009-05-18 13:41:28.
Subject: the worst plane ever to fly
Name: jetwhiz
Message:
true, the V-22 has overcome many difficulties in its time, many of which plagued V/StOL aircraft for well over half a century. A significant portion of the V-22's life was spent attempting to overcome these issues, and many of them have been worked out ... at the cost of many lives.

the design is far from new and revolutionary, however. the American X-18 and X-19 (Curtiss X-200), in particular, did an excellent job spearheading the future V-22 design and principles. I think the X-19 could have easily been the first V-22, if Curtiss had been willing to put more interest and funding into the project (the military was certainly interested even back then). Many countries had also been toying with the idea, at various levels of success; the Russian Yak-38, for instance, was even successful enough to enter 'combat'.

the first decade of the V-22's life were relatively pathetic. Many more modifications, training exercises and desperate attempts at keeping the project alive have allowed the V-22 to limp its way into the history books, but I personally find it to be far from an impressive aircraft. I guess it isn't entirely the Osprey's fault that it had such a rough start, and the military seems to be gung-ho about it. the bottom line is that they tyle='font-style: italic;'>really need this design, and so it's pretty much guaranteed to succeed.

---

~JetWhiz

tuesday, May 19, 2009 -- 11:58:04 AM PDt

Date Posted: 2006-08-02 03:16:35.
Subject: the Vulcan to the Sky Project
Name: floppyarms
Message: the Avro Vulcan XH558 is the only surviving example of Britain’s Cold War V-Bomber fleet that is capable of being returned to flight. the Vulcan to the Sky project is a registered charity whose aim is to engage in this objective. Our company, Vin de terre, has taken on the mission to raise £350,000 within four weeks to help bring the Vulcan to the stage of Roll Out – where the plane can take to the runway.

the Vulcan Bomber gained its deserved recognition after a dangerous mission to the Falkland Islands where it travelled 4000 miles beyond its range in order to carry out the bombing of a small target. However the aging nature of the plane meant that it was unable to compete with the new genre of aircraft emerging and thus the phase of the Vulcan died out, but the bravery of the crew and importance of the Vulcan led it take a crucial part in British history.

the project was promoting itself at the RAF Waddington air show on the 2nd July 2006. Vin de terre’s managing director was at the show, and being an ex serviceman of the air force he still has a passionate interest in planes. Vin de terre specialises in personalised wine labelling, we create unique individual labels as per the client’s request. With this in mind we have developed a label for the Vulcan to the Sky so that people can purchase the labelled wine bottles priced at £10 and the profit made from their sale will go to the Vulcan to the Sky project.

the personalised wine label unique to the Vulcan to the Sky will enable the customer to have a role in the restoration as well a memento of the Vulcan itself. Customers will be able to purchase the labelled bottles directly from us via our website www.savethevulcan.co.uk.

Let me know your thoughts

Hanifa

Date Posted: 2006-08-01 17:46:52.
Subject: Introduction & help
Name: atrocity
Message: Good Day All,

Let me introduce myself. My name is anish nandan and I work for an airline company in the FIji Islands. I am trying to help a fiend out with some technical questions. I have been in the aviation industry (non technical side) for five years.

COuld someone help me out with these questions:

1 WHEN AN A/C DIVES WHAt HAPPENS tO ItS SPEED AND ANGLE OF AttACK?

2CENtRE OF PRESSURE HIGH tHAN C OF G At tAIL CAUSES ADVERSE YAW. WHAt EFFECt It WILL HAVE ON ItS PItCH?

3 DENtS ON tUBULAR PIPES ARE NOt ALLOWED IF;

A. DENt IS IN tHE MIDDLE tHIRD OF tUBE

B. DENt IS IN tHE END tHIRD OF tUBE.

C. NO DENtS ARE ALLOWED (PARALLEL tO AXIS OF tUBE)

4 IF A COMBUStION HEAtER DUCtING IS DAMAGED;

A.REPLACE It

B. REPAIR It WItH PAtCH RIVEt.

C. CAN BE REPAIRED ANY HOW.

5 tOO MUCH BALANCE WEIGHt ON CONtROL SURFACE WILL CAUSE WHAt?

6 ACRYLIC WINDSCREENS HOW tO PREVENt StAtIC BUILD UP?

A POLISH It

B BOND It tO AIRCRAFt.

7HOW tO CLEAN DE ICING PANELS?

8 WHAt LOADS DOES A WEB IN AN “I” CHANNEL tAKE?

9 IN A MAINPLANE WHAt StRUCtURE tAKES BENDING/SHEAR LOADS?

A WING SPARS B BULKHEADS C RIBS D StIFFNERS.

10 WHEN CENtRE OF PRESS IS ABOVE tHE C OF G AND RUDDER IS MOVED YAWING AND WHAt tAKES PLACE?

11 WHEN DOES CABIN AIR HUMIDIFIER WORK?

12 WHAt IS tHE EFFECt WHEN DRAG FORCE IS BELOW tHRUSt FORCE?

13 HOW IS INCIDENCE ANGLE AFFECtED WHEN tHE StABILIZER ANGLE IS DECREASED?

14 HOW DOES WEIGHt OF AN A/C AFFECt StALL SPEED?

15WHERE WOULD CHECK WINDSCREEN WIPER tENSION? A FROM tOP B FROM MIDDLE C FROM BOttOM. OF WIPER.

16 WHAt LOADS ARE tAKEN BY tHE BULKHEADS?

17 WHAt ARE REED tYPE StALLS 18 WHAt ARE VANE tYPE StALLS?

19 DAMAGE tO tHE MAIN SPAR- CAN It BE REPAIRED?

20 HEAVY LANDING –WHAt FORCES ACt ON tHE SPAR?

21 WINDSCREEN HEAtING SYStEM-WHAt tYPE? A .AC B .DC C . BOtH

22 WHAt IS tHE JURY StRUt WHEN DOING AN AIRFRAME REPAIR?


Your help has been highly appreciated.

thanks
Anish

Date Posted: 2012-12-27 03:45:55.
Subject: MiG-21 - still unpleasant surprise at Cope India e
Name: michael82
Message: Draft copy of the exercise Cope India report says:
While the superb performances of IAF Sukhoi-30s were somewhat anticipated, the performance of MiG-21Bison came as a major “unpleasant surprise” to the USAF officials. It also validates the claim of the Russian officials that they are capable of successfully converting “second generation” late-model MiG-21bis fighters to “fourth generation combat platforms”. Inherently the significant positive attributes enjoyed by MiG-21s were their dog fighting ability in WVR (Within Visual Range) combat. Even the earlier models had a low corner velocity of 556 kilometers per hour and at Mach 0.5 had an instantaneous turn rate of 11.1 degrees per second. the MiG-21Bison with more powerful R-25 engines not only considerably bettered this performance but it may also be credited with “jackrabbit” acceleration, a very critical attribute in WVR combat.

Something in-line to:
http://www.amazon.com/Fighter-Performance-Practice-Unexploited-maneuverability/dp/8660210174/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UtF8&qid=1356439329&sr=1-1

Among many fourth generations attributes added to the IAF MiG-21Bison design, the incorporation of HMS (Helmet Mounted Sight) and high-off-boresight R-73RDM2 NBVR/WVR (Near Beyond Visual Range/Within Visual Range) AAMs (Air-to-Air Missiles) have turned it into a “Great Equalizer” in the WVR combat scenario. Conceptually a small number of MiG-21Bisons maintaining “radar silence” can be guided towards their aerial target by a couple of Sukhoi-30s by secure data links in accordance with MFFC (Mixed Fighter Force Concept). Upon entering into an WVR combat envelope the MiG-21Bisons armed with HMS and deadly NBVR/WVR missiles had the capability of destroying even fifth-generation fighters alike F/A-22 Raptor as assessed by high-profile Fighter Analyst Ben Lambeth of RAND Corporation. According to Lambeth “in visual combat everybody dies at the same rate.” F/A-22 also has to slow down if forced into a WVR combat scenario and loses the advantage of its super-cruise attributes. the situation further complicates if the IAF Sukhoi-30s have acquired the capability of providing target illumination for RVV-AE (AA-12 Adder) BVR missiles being launched from IAF MiG-21Bisons at extended ranges.

Date Posted: 2012-03-03 20:51:20.
Subject: China’s Business Jet Market Explodes
Name: aaachina
Message: the otherwise dormant Chinese business jet market has come to a turning point, triggered by the air control relax reform. this week, Airbus and Boeing have held their press conference, predicting that each of them will sell over 5 business jets to China each year, while Bombardier also showed that over the next 10 years, total sales of business jets in China will reach over 600 units.

According to Li Bing, sales superintendent of Boeing Greater China, government, large corporates, business leaders etc are their main clients. this year Boeing is expected to deliver 3 business jets, mainly to VIP charters such as Hainan Airlines, and Air China. Upto now Boeing has sold 195 business jets worldwide. Although only with 8 Boeing jets, China is among the fastest growing regions.

Comparatively, Airbus’s business jet marketing in China is much quicker. Among its 170 sets of business jets sold worldwide, China owned 20. this year Airbus has already sold 2 jets to China, to be delivered to DeerJet and Southern Airlines. Last year, Airbus sold 15 business jets worldwide, China took 15%.

the largest business jets represented by BBJ (Boeing) and ACJ (Airbus) with dozens of passenger capacity, have a space 4 times that of smaller ones such as Bombardier and Gulfstream. their flight range is also much longer. However, with the convenience of spareparts and repair service sharing of their mainstream jets, their operation cost is yet lower than those smaller jets, therefore the big business jets of Boeing and Airbus have been securing their position as the topmost business jet suppliers.

In the myriad of business aircraft types, helicopter is also an important member. EuroCopter, world’s largest helicopter manufacturer said, along with the opening of the low sky, demand of helicopters in China will also be released, which is suppressed for too long.

Recent data showed that currently China has no more than 100 private jets, while the U.S. has more than 18000 business aircrafts.

At the moment, the Beijing Capital Airlines, which is a joint venture of Hainan Airlines and Beijing Capital tourism, is the largest business jet operator, Its predecessor was the DeerJet. Capital Airlines has 24 business jets, and hence has the largest fleet in Asia Pacific region, accounting for 90% of China’s total fleet. to meet with the market change of wealth redistribution to the Orient, China Airlines, Eastern Airlines and Southern Airlines are also planning for the business aviation.

China Airlines plans to set up a joint venture with the Beijing Municipal Government to operate VIP chartering. A new type of BBJ jet will be purchased. Previously the China Airlines has only 4 Gulfstream jets under management. Eastern Airlines invested RMB 50 million in a business jet charter company in 2008, and plans to increase its fleet to 3 this year. Southern Airlines, until now not yet involved in business aviation, has also planned to procure a ACJ business jet, and will probably found an independent business jet company.

However, air control in China has impeded the business jet chartering. Passengers are unable to drive directly to beside the jet to get aboard, nor can they alter their route at the last moment. In addition, apart from a few cities with business jet terminals, the rest of Chinese cities have no specialized facilities for business charters. these two factors have become the two largest barriers towards successful development of the Chinese business aviation market and industry, therefore, industry insiders predict that it needs time before the market will really take off.

---

Mr Chen Minghua, CEO of AAA (www.helioslab.org)

Date Posted: 2005-09-07 15:44:23.
Subject: Please identify mystery UK all-grey prop plane
Name:
Message: Please help solve this mystery which has been intriguing me for a long time.

In the summer of 1987 (or thereabouts) I was a student in Durham city, Durham county, UK. One day I was sitting at my desk next to the window working. I was on the top floor of a tall long terrace of houses of three or four stories (I think the street was called Old Elvet), which was on the edge of shallow valley so that I was overlooking the meadows towards the river. (Not the very steep valley near the cathedral).

I happened to look up, and was surprised to see a small airplane silently coming in a glide towards me (to be exact it was a little to one side) with the engine switched off. It was about to crash into the terrace of houses, but at literally the last second the engine was switched on and it just managed to hop over the roofs. I had not heard it before, so it may have had the engine turned off for a long time.

the aircraft was unusual. It was painted all over in the same shade of light grey - the same shade as an overcast sky. I presume this was to camoflage it against the sky. I do not remember any identification letters. It also had what I think might be called a rotary engine as I could see the piston cases arranged in a circle around the propellar shaft. the wings were fixed at the roof of the cabin. It was not a Cesna or any modern plane. It looked like something out of the 1930s or 1940s perhaps.

I would like to know, not so much which brand of plane it was, but who owned it?

It might perhaps have been a local Air Cadets group doing a training run, but this seemed incredibly dangerous to do, since if the engine had not started, or if there had been a slight miscalculation by the pilot, then he/she would have crashed and probably died.

I also had a very tenuous 'romantic' link (an unwanted and unwelcome link both then and now) with someone whom I have recently learn had become extremely successful in the entertainments industry at that time. So I have wondered if it was a spy plane used by the tabloid press or some freelancers to try to take a snap of me? (OK, so maybe I'm paranoid!)

Could anyone tell me anything about this mystery plane please? thanks.

Date Posted: 2004-10-09 03:57:25.
Subject: against unmanned aircraft
Name:
Message: people who is with me im sick of unmanned aircraft takin ower jobs im a student pilot at the moment here in australia and looking for a carrer in the RAAF when im old enough to join but i always see documentrys on unmanned aircraft it getts me annoyed becuase hey us pilots are here to serve and fly the aircraft u know fair enough u might get shot down but thats what happens in war, let us have the fun of flying a multimillion dollar aircraft and destroying ower targets, we might make a mistake here and there but what happend if the computer suddenly fries or the aircraft gets hacked but some little terriost who listen in computer studdies u might have a situation that u might not have no control and it could destroy what ever it wants (hey anything is possible nower days u never know who your at war with) if a human is in the cockpit flying the aircraft the pilot can shut down the system and then eject u might loos a multimillion dollar aircraft but hey none of the allied troops or government are harmed but theres allways another side of the story u dont just get the technoldegy u need people to creat it and that creats jobs less pilots will die and if the person who is in command of the UAV's for some reason can not fly the aircraft any more he can swop over to another person so you can creat longer missions what im bacly sayin is that pilots train for along period of time im 16 at the moment started flyin at 15 and ill be flying for the rest of my life and when u get excite becuase your joinin the militay and you have been in for a few years trainin and theres a shortage of aircraft then hey the government is goin to buy more aircraft then u find out its a UAV it would get u annoyed because a computer has just taken over you role which you have gone threw the hardest pilots trainin in the country for nothing bacly thats my thorts

Date Posted: 2012-04-04 23:24:33.
Subject: Meiya Air Headquartered in Sanya & Seaplane
Name: samward
Message: On March 26th, Meiya Air headquartered in Sanya & seaplane delivery and order signing ceremony mainly organized by Sanya Municipal People’s Government and CAAC Central and Southern Regional Administration, assisted by Meiya Air Co., Ltd. was held in Sanya. Vice Mayor of Sanya Zhou Gaoming participated the ceremony entrusted by Mayor of Sanya Wang Yong. Vice Director of CAAC Central and Southern Regional Administration Qin Xisheng, Stationmaster of CAAC Sanya Air traffic Management Station Lan Jianqiong, Director of CAAC Sanya Safety Oversight Administration An Yingze, Division Chief of GA Department of CAAC Central and Southern Regional Administration Feng Hongsheng, Director of Sanya Development and Reform Commission Zhang Li, Director of Financial Bureau of Sanya Xu Huanzhong, Director of Urban Planning Bureau of Sanya Su Jinming, Director of Sanya Resource Bureau of Land and Environment Cheng Chunman, Director of transportation Bureau of Sanya Huang Xinghai, Director of Sanya Marine Fishery Agency Zhang Huazhong, Director of Sanya Maritime Safety Administration Zhang Xipeng, Director of Sanya Land Reserve Center Ji Duanrong, Chairman of Sanya Urban Investment and Development Co., Ltd. Li Wei, International Sales Vice President of Cessna Aircraft Company Bill Harris, and Commercial Officer of American Consulate General Guangzhou Jay Biggs have participated the ceremony.

General Manager of Meiya Air Deng Jun introduced: Meiya Air is a complete GA operation industry chain integrated with the GA policy and tourism resources in Hainan and Sanya. It will drive the subsidiary project constructions. Meiya Air headquarter is composed with four parts as Sanya International Seaplane Center, Meiya Air Industrial Park, Meiya Air Seaplane Operation and Passenger Center and Meiya Air Headquarter Office Building and Living Area. Meiya Air business takes seaplane and amphibian aircraft as main type, combines with major projects such as air tour, air exhibition, flight carnival, aircraft sales, FBO and flight training etc.

In this two Cessna208 aircrafts delivery ceremony, Vice Mayor Zhou Gaoming on behalf of Sanya Government said: the development of Meiya Air program can greatly improve the tourism environment of Sanya and bring social capital. Meanwhile, it can also enhance the high-standard tourism image of Sanya, and increase employment and tax revenue. It will play a dual role to stimulate both the tourism and GA industry in Sanya and Hainan. It will also transfer the land economy of Sanya to marine economy which has innovative significance.

On that day, Meiya Air continued signing the order of 10 aircrafts with the world’s largest GA aircraft manufacturer Cessna. Until 2015, Meiya Air plans to have a fleet of 20 aircrafts in Sanya.

the vice director of CAAC Central and Southern Regional Administration Qin Xisheng concluded: as the first seaplane commercial operation project in China, Meiya Air headquartered in Sanya signifies that Sanya made an important step in the development of GA.