The Aviation Blog
Airbus has published several nice videos from ILA 2008 Berlin Air Show. The videos feature the opening ceremony and highlights from press conferences as well as A380 flight display. If you like Airbus and the A380, you should definitely check out these videos.
Yesterday at ILA 2008 - Berlin Air Show - a Messerschmitt Me-109 crash landed and went off the runway after the right landing gear collapsed during landing. No one was injured. Sadly, because of the damage, the plane will not be performing for the rest of the show. 
Video
Raw video by AP
The world’s oldest air show, the ILA, is taking place between 27 May and 1 June 2008 at Berlin-Schönefeld Airport (Germany). Over 1,000 exhibitors from more than 40 countries are expected at this most important meeting place for the industry anywhere in Europe this year. The partner country at the ILA2008 is India, which has announced its largest-ever presentation at any foreign aerospace show. Over 300 aircraft of all sizes and categories will be on display on the ground and in the air.
The Air Show will be open for general public from 30 May to 1 June, offering an amazing static and air display.
Some of this year’s highlights are the Memorial Flight - 60 years airbridge with Douglas DC-3 and US Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster III, USAF Rockwell B-1B Lancer on flying display (as well as on static display), Airbus A380-842 on flying display, A330-200 and A320 on static display, A320 featuring the Airbus/DLR/Michelin-fuel-cell-system, which was successfully tested in flight in February this year - a civil aviation’s “first”, Messerschmitt Me 262 on flying display, as well as many jet fighters performing breathtaking high-performance shows like Panavia Tornado, F4-F Phantom, Eurofighter Typhoon, MiG-29 Fulcrum, F-5E Tiger II, F-16, F-86 Sabre. Helicopters that will be seen in flying action include Bell UH-1D, Sikorsky CH-53, NH-Industries NH90, Eurocopter Tiger, MBB BO 105, Boeing CH-47 Chinook.
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) of this year’s partner country, India, intends to display its single-engined HJT-36 “Sitara” jet trainer, the light military and civil helicopter “Dhruv” and the “Tejas” light combat aircraft for the first time in Europe.
Depending on the weather conditions, a Wing Walkers Show with a Boeing Stearman PT17 can be admired.
More information: http://www.ila-berlin.de/ila2008/home/index_e.cfm
I will attend the Air Show at the weekend public display to take some photos for you!
(If you can offer a trade visitor ticket, please feel free to contact me. (Red Bull maybe? 
)
Watch this video and learn more about the airplane types used by various pilots in the Red Bull Air Races.
MXS
The MXS is a new breed of aircraft representing the latest in state of the art design and technology. The plane was designed using advanced computer solid modeling with emphasis on aerodynamic efficiency. The MXS stands alone in that it is constructed entirely of “Aerospace” grade carbon fiber which provides superior strength and durability never before seen in an aircraft of this type. The technologically advanced MXS is expected to set a new standard in overall aircraft design for the Red Bull Air Races.
Edge 540
Zivko Aeronautics of Oklahoma, USA had a mission to produce a plane that could perform precise standard maneuvers at speed and leave ample creative room for professionals to develop new figures. The result of is the Edge 540. The small one-seater airplane (a two-seater version is also available) is as precise and controllable as it is aggressive. The Edge is a ‘Shoulder Wing’ plane with extremely stiff wings. The use of a steel tube frame with composite fairings results in an extremely light, durable and stable fuselage. The Edge 540 has the highest aerobatic thrust to weight ratio of any competition aircraft.
Extra 300SR
The competition format of the Red Bull Air Race requires a standard of airplanes which so far has not been produced in aviation history on an officially certified level. ‘Extra Aircraft’, with its long experience in building world leading aerobatic airplanes, has now developed a race tool to meet today’s requirements for the new format of the Red Bull Air Race. The aircraft meets the demanding and stringent limits of the German Aviation Authority “LBA” (Luftfahrt-Bundesamt) as the acting authority for EASA (European Air Safety Agency). The design pays special attention to an aerodynamic wing optimized for low drag and high lift. Overall weight was drastically reduced within the technical boundaries for safe operation. The result is a plane capable of flying in a wide speed range, giving the pilot the option of flying very sharp turns at relatively low airspeeds.
Detroit, MI (USA) & Windsor, ON (Canada) will be the third stop on a ten city worldwide tour to make up the 2008 Red Bull Air Race World Series schedule. On May 31 and June 1, twelve of the world’s best pilots will introduce Canadians to a new dimension in motorsport. The pilots will pull up to 10 Gs with unprecedented skill and precision in their high-performance race planes just feet above the Detroit River in a captivating race against the clock.
The Detroit-Windsor race will follow the San Diego stop on May 3 and 4, and the 2008 season opener that took place in Abu Dhabi, UAE on April 10 and 11 where British racer Paul Bonhomme brought a first-place finish back to Great Britain. In 2007, 4.5 million spectators attended 10 stops worldwide.
The Detroit-Windsor race will be staged along the Detroit River, which is one of the world’s most trafficked international shipping lanes. There will be two ticketed areas on both the Detroit and Windsor sides of the river that will offer all the necessary amenities and services including Jumbotron screens to get a birds-eye view of the race action.
Windsor’s rich knowledge in the automotive industry as well as its abundance of sports fans make it an ideal stop for the Red Bull Air Race World Series. The city shares an international border with the US and is located on the other side of the Detroit River. This race will mark the first time the Red Bull Air Race will take place between two countries at the same time, making world history for the Series and for the cities of Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan.
“This is a world class event, an event that is so large that I don’t think people from Detroit or Windsor have truly grasped how significant it is,” said Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis at the official launch of the event today at the Detroit City Airport. “We are very proud to be part of this unique opportunity: the first time the Red Bull Air Race has taken over two countries at the same time. Once again building on that wonderful legacy of two nations working together, two regions working together, and two cities providing the event, providing the fans, providing opportunity.”
“The city of Detroit is proud to welcome the Red Bull Air Race World Series on our international waterfront this May,” added Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. “This is yet another example of how Detroit is an ideal host for premium sporting events like the Red Bull Air Race, which will help further place our fine city on a global stage.”
This will be the first year a Canadian city is included in the Red Bull Air Race Series. The 2008 Series returns to London, Budapest, Porto, and Perth, which all held races in 2007. Tickets to the Detroit-Windsor race can be purchased at www.redbullairrace.com.
Each race will comprise two days of competition: Qualifying Day and Race Day. The overall series points leader will be crowned Red Bull Air Race World Champion after the season finale in Perth, Australia in November. In the Red Bull Air Race, the world’s best pilots race at speeds reaching 260 mph, enduring forces of up to 10 Gs as they navigate a low-level, aerial race track made of air-filled pylons.
Source: Red Bull
These awesome photos are showing Airbus A380-861 MSN009 (F-WWEA) doing a spectacular, dust raising flight demonstration at FIDAE Airshow 2008, taking place in Santiago de Chile till April 6.
More pictures from FIDAE can be found at: Anfemabra’s Flickr Album & Nicotremus’ Flickr Album
Found via Yoove.net Flickr Tickr
Airbus will be present at the FIDAE Airshow 2008, the “Feria Internacional del Aire y del Espacio”, taking place in Santiago de Chile from 31st of March to 6th of April. On this occasion an A380 development aircraft will take part in the daily flying demonstrations and can also be viewed at the static display area throughout the week. The aircraft will arrive in Santiago de Chile on the 29th of March, landing for the first time on Chilean soil.
Visitors to the show will be able to find out more about the entire Airbus product line at the indoor stand of its parent company EADS, located in the main hall stand no E39 of the Exhibition Centre. The exhibit will feature scale models of the A380, the new long range wide-body A350 XWB, and the new A330-200 Freighter. Airbus executives will be present at the EADS chalet (row D 4-8).
Visit: http://www.fidae.cl for more information.
Source: Airbus
Airbus today announced that they will attend the Singapore Airshow, Asia’s largest Airshow, taking place in Singapore from 19th to 24th February. The manufacturer’s participation will feature an A380 development aircraft, which will take part in the daily flying schedule and will also be on view at the static display area throughout the week.
Visitors to the show will be able to find out more about the entire Airbus product line at the indoor stand of its parent company EADS, located in the main hall (H23) of the new Changi Exhibition Centre. The exhibit will feature scale models of the A380, new widebody A350 and the popular single aisle A320. Airbus executives will be present at the EADS chalet (row CD12 to CD18).
Airbus will hold a press conference on Wednesday 20th February, starting at 10h15, with Airbus President and CEO, Tom Enders and John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers.
Visit singaporeairshow.com.sg for further information
Source: Airbus
Today I’ve got an email from AirShowBuzz, asking for your help.
On December 3, The Schwan Food Company decommissioned the Red Baron Pizza Squadron after 28 years of amazing air show flying. The Red Barons are truly an American treasure and their abrupt retirement is a devastating loss to the national aviation heritage.
Please click on the link below to go to AirShowBuzz.com and sign the petition.
Please pass this link around and encourage all your friends to do the same. Also, if you have an account with Digg.com be sure to vote for the submission below so they can bring this to the attention of as many people as possible. Together we might all be able to make a difference so future generations can enjoy the sights and sounds of the greatest civilian formation team of all time.
Sign the petition - Save the Red Barons
Digg it
Statement by The Schwan Food Company
“The Red Baron Squadron has been an incredible asset to our company and we are very proud of its long successful history,” said Bill McCormack, executive vice president. “The retail grocery industry has experienced considerable change over the past few years. And, as a result, we have decided to refocus our Red Baron marketing program and to discontinue the Red Baron Squadron.”
“We are very proud to have been a part of such a legendary program,” said Jayson Wilson, director of flight operations and left wing pilot - speaking on behalf of the Red Baron Squadron pilots, technicians and administrative staff. “We can all say we were a part of something really special. The air show community and our fans have been great. We’ll miss all of them.”
Facts about the Red Baron Squadron
Airbus ended the 10th Dubai Airshow with major orders, re-enforcing customer confidence in its leading product range. During the show, Airbus received 163 firm orders valued at US over $28 billion at catalogue prices, from 10 customers. Airbus also won its largest ever order in terms of value for 70 A350 XWBs and 11 A380s from Emirates Airline. In addition, it received 132 commitments from three customers.
Orders in detail
Source: Airbus
Boeing could not announce as many new orders as Airbus at Dubai Airshow 2007, however some big orders have been signed.
Orders in detail
Source: Boeing
Today Dubai Air Show 2007, the biggest aviation show in the Middle East, opened at Dubai International Airport, UAE. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, this years edition is the largest so far, with participation of 850 exhibitors from 50 countries and over 140 aircrafts on display.
Exhibitors are showcasing the latest civil, military and transport aircrafts as well as state-of-the-art air defence systems and equipment at the event that will run from 11 - 15 November.
This year’s static display will boast its largest ever aircraft showing including regional debuts from, the Cirrus SR22 G3 – the world’s fastest-selling, single-engined four-seater aircraft; the Eclipse 500, the forerunner in the Very Light Jet (VLJ) market and the quietest jet in history; the Dassault Falcon 7X, which is the original ‘fly-by-wire’ long range business jet claiming to be the “first aircraft to be designed entirely on a virtual platform”, and the Sino Swearingen SJ30, the world’s fastest longest range light jet.
The Russian MIG 29 multi-role fighter aircraft and the block 60 Lockheed Martin F-16, one of the most popular attack aircraft in its class, will also take to the skies during the show’s daily flying display as will the Airbus A380, adorned in the company’s livery as it makes its return to the UAE.
And to celebrate the Dubai Airshow’s 10th Anniversary, which expects up to 40,000 visitors, this year’s flying display will feature performances by three of the world’s top aerobatics display team – Britain’s Red Arrows flying the BAE Systems’ training Hawk, the Patrouille de France in the Dassault/ Dornier AlphaJet, and Spain’s Patrulla Aguila, which is making its Arabian Gulf debut in the Casa C-101 Aviojet.
“The aircraft fleet we will have on display is unparalleled regionally or internationally and is testament to both the reputation of the Dubai Airshow and the importance of the Middle East to the global aviation market. It includes some of the world’s most advanced, state-of-the-art aircraft, many of which are touching down here for the very first time,” said Alison Weller, Director-Aerospace, Fairs & Exhibitions – which organises the show.
“The wide diversity of aircraft shows the depth and breadth of our exhibitor portfolio and we know visitors to the Dubai Airshow will be in for a major treat as they will see first hand the very best the industry has to offer.”
Helicopters also feature heavily in the 2007 showing with the MD 902 Helicopter making its regional exhibition debut. Boasting state-of-the-art patented “NOTAR” (No Tail Rotor) technology, which increases passenger and bystander safety, reduces pilot workload and lowers external noise levels, the MD is a sought after model for EMS services throughout the region, especially as it is well equipped to deal with the Middle East’s high temperatures.
And joining military heavyweights MiG and the F-16, is the USAF’s legendary fighter, the F-117A Nighthawk Stealth Fighter attack, the world’s first operational stealth aircraft, as well as Abu Dhabi-based Adcom Military Industries, which is displaying its Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Yabhon range including the new jet-powered, high-speed diving target drone, designated the ‘Yabhon HMD’.
Today I found some crazy videos on YouTube featuring a TAP Airbus A310 in low-flying display at the Portugal Airshow 2007, last Saturday.
Enjoy! These videos are really great! 
A pilot who flew with a World War II stunt plane team died Friday during a practice run for a Virginia air show, officials said.
Jan Wildbergh, 74, the flight leader of the Geico Skytypers Air Show Team, was piloting one of six SNJ-2 planes over the Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach, Va., around noon, officials said.
Larry Arken, deputy squadron commander of the nine-pilot team, said that the pilots had just finished rehearsing their routine and were coming in for a landing when Wildbergh’s No. 6 plane, the last in the formation, crashed.
Arken said witnesses told him the plane appeared to crash while still under its own power. Team spokesman Ralph Robert told WAVY-TV in Portsmouth that the plane had no ejection system and was probably flying too low for Wildbergh to use his parachute. “He probably tried to continue making the maneuver and save the plane, possibly by doing a belly flop,” Roberts said.
The squadron performs at air shows throughout the country, delivering aerial messages 10,000 feet in the air that can stretch eight miles wide. The planes were used to train naval pilots during World War II.
Video: whdh.com
Source: newsday.com
The world’s biggest passenger jet flew through Hong Kong harbour Monday to mark the arrival of Asia’s largest air show.
The double-decker Airbus A380 roared past the city’s famous skyscrapers to open the four-day Asian Aerospace International Expo and Congress, now a purely civilian show after years of focussing on military and commercial aircraft.
After 25 years in Singapore, Asian Aerospace is being staged in Hong Kong, with delegates from the mainland’s aviation authorities and airlines among some 10,000 visitors expected to check out the latest products on offer.
Photos via Flickr Hong Kong Group - by lukas.jenkner
Note the missing wingtip fences (winglets) - removed due to the Bangkok accident!
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