A Pilot's Blog » Aviation News

Merry Christmas from MrPilot.org

MrPilot — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 05:01:44 +0000

Wishing everyone out there a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

And a Merry Christmas it is this year for Boeing, who earlier this month had the first test flight of the 787! Congratulations Boeing!

Tanker Split?

MrPilot — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 02:28:47 +0000

The latest rumblings from Washington have taken an interesting tone:

WASHINGTON — Congress will consider next week whether to split up a lucrative Air Force contract between Boeing and Northrop Grumman, KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reported.

Washington, D.C. bureau reporter Scott MacFarlane said that under the plan, each company would get some of the work in the $35 billion program for new air refueling tankers.

As much as I love Boeing, this may be for the best. The Air Force needs these new tankers badly, and any further delays are doing nothing but hurt the military. If a split order between both companies is what is needed to resolve the argument, then let’s do it. Get the Air Force the tools it needs to do the job right!

Flying an Airplane with No Arms

MrPilot — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 18:13:53 +0000

This is an amazing story. Jessica Cox was born without arms, but that doesn’t stop her from living her day to day life – as well as have some fun. She recently earned her sport pilot certificate flying a 1946 Ercoupe that apparently was designed well enough that you can fly it with your feet! Very, very cool.

“I like it when it’s less windy, but this plane can handle 20 knots,” she says. “The manufacturers of this plane wanted to make it simple, use the concept of driving and apply it to a plane. But it’s still the most difficult thing I’ve ever done.”
She already has spent about 25 hours doing solo flights without instructor Parrish Traweek. Her goal is to reach 150 hours and become a sport pilot instructor.
In the cockpit and ready to take off, Cox puts her left foot on the throttle and her right foot on the yoke, then checks her headphones and the radio. The propeller now makes a loud “thrum.” She fixes her eyes forward, and the tiny plane motors up into the blue, cloud-dotted sky.

Best of luck to Jessica in her future flying endeavors. I’m sure she’ll make an excellent instructor.

US Airways Flight 1549

MrPilot — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 17:48:00 +0000

By now, no doubt everyone has heard of the miraculous water landing of US Airways Flight 1549 after multiple birdstrikes on takeoff disabled both of her engines. All 155 souls on board survived the landing thanks to the impeccable skills of Captain Chesley Sullenberger, First Officer Jeffrey Skiles, the entire cabin crew, and all of the rescuers who quickly came to their aid.

A US Coast Guard surveillance video has been released that shows the splashdown of the aircraft as well as the initial rescue operations. The splashdown happens in the far left frame at around 2:00 in. Within seconds, once the video operator zooms in on the aircraft, passengers are already filing out onto the wings. And not more than three minutes after landing, the first boat arrives. Absolutely amazing response. Way to go NYC!

VC-25 Replacement?

MrPilot — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 03:25:14 +0000

According to an article on Flight Global, the Air Force is considering their options for replacement of the two VC-25 Presidential aircraft (known as Air Force One when the President is on board), with three new aircraft in 2017, 2019, and 2021. The obvious choice would be the 747-8I, Boeing’s latest model of the 747 line. However, the Air Force is also considering other alternatives, including the Airbus A380. I sincerely hope that the Air Force stays with Boeing. It would be a shame for the President of the United States of America to be riding around on a foreign aircraft. The Air Force may end up with a foreign replacement for their tankers, and I can live with that, but for the sheer image that it presents, the primary “Air Force One” should only be American.

NASA Awards Cargo Contracts

MrPilot — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 05:59:45 +0000

There was some good news this week regarding cargo transportation to the International Space Station after the Space Shuttles are retired in 2010.

Orbital Sciences Corp. and Space Exploration Technologies – SpaceX – today won NASA contracts valued at up to $1.9 billion and $1.6 billion respectively for 20 unmanned space station cargo flights to deliver experiment hardware, crew supplies and replacement components after the space shuttle is retired.

This will greatly reduce our need to rely on Russian or European transports to send our supply obligations up to the ISS. And, if SpaceX is successful with their DragonX manned capability, we may also be able to avoid using any non-US transport for crew rotations as well. This is wonderful news.

Steve Fossett’s Aircraft, Possible Remains Found

MrPilot — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 04:22:51 +0000

Thirteen months ago today, Steve Fossett took off from Baron Hilton’s ranch in Nevada to scout for dry lake beds to use as a possible test site for his next record-setting goal: the world land speed record. Tragically, he never returned from that flight. Until this week he remained missing, though declared dead in February, and neither he or his aircraft was found. This week, however, brought news that a hiker in California had found items possibly belonging to Fossett.

He had found, not far over the border between Nevada and California, Fossett’s pilot certificate, two soaring-related certificates, a pullover jacket, and a little over $1000 in cash. Once confirmed authentic by the authorities, a new search began in the area to try and find any more clues. Two days ago, they found and identified what was left of his aircraft. And yesterday, they found human remains at the crash site. These remains have been sent in for DNA analysis to see if they are indeed human, and if so, if they are those of Mr. Fossett.

Judging from the crash site and condition of the debris, the initial thoughts of the NTSB and other law enforcement are that for some reason, his aircraft impacted a hillside slightly above 10,000′ at a very high rate of speed. The cause of the crash – be it mechanical, weather, or medical related – may never be known, but I’m very confident that the highly skilled investigators of the NTSB will give everything they can to try and determine it.

While the confirmation of what everyone at this point knew was true is sad, I hope that finally finding the crash site, and possibly his remains, will bring much-needed closure to his family and friends.

GAO Sustains Boeing Protest

MrPilot — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 03:08:07 +0000

In a stunning development this week, the GAO sustained Boeing’s protest of the Air Force’s decision to award its next-generation tanker contract to Airbus (via middle-man Northrup Grumman). This was widely unexpected as the GAO rarely upholds such protests, but leaves hope for a new bid on the contract that will be evaluated fairly. And if that is the case, then I’m confident that Boeing will eventually win the day. Congratulations Boeing!

Related: The Tanker Deal

The Tanker Deal

MrPilot — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 03:54:39 +0000

So, since it’s been all over the news lately, I guess I should opine on the recent decision by the Air Force to award the contract for building the next generation of tanker aircraft to Airbus instead of Boeing. I see it two ways. On one hand, above all, I want the Air Force to have the best possible aircraft to do the job, and I want them to get those aircraft as soon as possible. On the other hand, I am an unapologetic Boeing fan and believe that any aircraft they brought to the table would have been the superior one hands down. Now that Congress is investigating the matter it’s coming to light that the judging criteria may have been stacked against Boeing. If this turns out to be true, I hope that they challenge the results and have a chance to bid again, because in a fair bid, I believe they would easily win. But whatever happens, I hope that the Air Force gets their new tankers as expeditiously as possible.

Update: Boeing has decided to protest the decision. Good luck!

Cleared to Land – Look Out for the Cars

MrPilot — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 01:30:16 +0000

After a certain point in my flight training, almost daily my instructor would pull “engine out” drills and I would have to go through the motions of making an emergency landing. This guy had to do it for real.

A single-engine airplane surprised motorists on I-70 just east of the Greenfield exit Sunday afternoon after the pilot lost power and had to make an emergency landing on the highway, according to the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department.

Thankfully the pilot was able to land safely, and after an roadside inspection, was able to take off again from the highway to return to the airport. There’s something you don’t see everyday.