Steve Fossett Missing

Steve FossettFossett’s single-engine vanished Monday as he was scouting dry lake beds in western Nevada, apparently to set a world land speed record.
“Steve is a tough old boot. I suspect he is waiting by his plane right now for someone to pick him up,” said Sir Richard Branson, who has helped finance many of Fossett’s adventures. “Based on his track record, I feel confident we’ll get some good news soon.”

The plane a Bellanca Citabria Super Decathlon, tail number N240R registered to the “Flying M Hunting Club, Inc”, carried a locator that sends a satellite signal after a rough landing, but no such signal had been received.

An aerial search Tuesday that included 14 aircraft conducted grid searches over 7,500 square miles but intended to concentrate on 600 square miles when the search resumes.

Stephen Fossett is an American aviator, sailor and adventurer known for his appetite for setting world records. Fossett is best known for his five world record nonstop circumnavigations of the Earth: as a long-distance solo balloonist, as a sailor, and as a solo airplane pilot. Fossett has set 116 records in five different sports, 76 of which still stand.

Fossett took off alone Monday morning from an private airstrip, owned by Barron Hilton, near Carson City. He took off with enough fuel for four to five hours of flight. A Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson noted that Fossett apparently did not file a flight plan. A friend reported him missing when he didn’t return.

Source: ABCnews

* Visit http://blog.flightstory.net/index.php?s=fossett for updates *

First Pictures – Spaceport America terminal and hangar facility unveiled

The New Mexico Spaceport Authority and representatives from the architectural/design team for Spaceport America unveiled renderings of the main terminal and hangar facility at a press conference in Las Cruces.
URS Corporation and Fosters + Partners was awarded the design of the 100,000 square-foot facility, which will serve as the primary operating base for Virgin Galactic and headquarters for the New Mexico Spaceport Authority.

Spaceport America

The U.S.-British team created a low-lying, striking design that uses natural earth as a berm, and relies on passive energy for heating and cooling, with photovoltaic panels for electricity and water recycling capabilities. A rolling concrete shell acts as a roof with massive windows opening to a stunning view of the runway and spacecraft.

Spaceport America Spaceport America Spaceport America Spaceport America

A prominent United Kingdom architectural firm, Foster + Partners has extensive experience in designing airport buildings. They are well known for constructing many high-profile, high-tech glass and steel buildings worldwide. Company founder Lord Foster said, “We are absolutely thrilled to be part of the dynamic team chosen to design the world’s first space terminal. This technically complex building will not only provide a dramatic experience for the astronauts and visitors, but will set an ecologically sound model for future Spaceport facilities.”

The world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport is designed to convey the thrill of space travel while making a minimal impact on the environment. The low-lying, organic shape resembles a rise in the landscape, and will use local materials and regional construction techniques. A careful balance between accessibility and privacy is achieved, as visitors and astronauts enter the building through a deep channel cut in the landscape. The walls will form an exhibition area leading to a galleried level above the hangar that houses the spacecraft and on through to the terminal building. Natural light enters via skylights, with a glazed façade reserved for the terminal building, establishing a platform for spectacular views onto the runway.

Kelly O’Donnell, Chair of the NMSA, is pleased with the design of the hangar and terminal facility. “The design created by the URS/Foster team is outstanding in the way it blends in with the environment, creating a shape that is both distinctive and functional while complementing the landscape,” O’Donnell said.

Working together with Foster + Partners on the project, URS Corporation is one the largest engineering and design firms in the world, and a prominent contractor for the United States government. With offices in the Americas, Asia-Pacific region, and Europe, URS is a full-service, global organization providing architectural and design services in 20 nations. “The URS team is very pleased to have been selected for this breakthrough project,” said Jens Deichmann, vice president of URS Corporation. “Our team of New Mexico, regional, and international talent is excited to help the State of New Mexico and Virgin Galactic advance their goals of commercial space travel and scientific and engineering education.” Designed to have minimal embodied carbon and few additional energy requirements, the spaceport has been planned to achieve the prestigious LEED Platinum accreditation. The low-lying form is dug into the landscape to exploit the thermal mass, which buffers the building from the extremes of the New Mexico climate as well as catching the westerly winds for ventilation.

The terminal and hangar facility are projected to cost about $31 million, and will provide a destination experience for visitors to Spaceport America. It will include Virgin Galactic’s pre-flight and post-flight training facilities and lounges, as well as the maintenance hangar for two White Knight 2 and five Spaceship 2 aircraft. The building will also be home to the NMSA, and provide a destination experience for visitors.

Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Galactic said, “I am delighted that New Mexico has chosen this excellent team to design Spaceport America. Their track record is exciting enough, but the vision for the world’s first purpose-built private spaceport is truly out of this world.” Looking to the future, Branson said, “Next year will see the first test flights of Spaceship 2 and it is fantastic that we will now have a permanent home to go to, which will be every bit as inspiring for the astronauts of the future as Burt Rutan’s groundbreaking technology.”

NMSA is currently finalizing contract negotiations with URS and Foster + Partners. The team will then begin working with the NMSA and Virgin Galactic to finalize the design of the facility, and the NMSA expects to put the construction of the facility out for bids in the first half of 2008. Meanwhile, the other elements of the spaceport, including roadways, runway, security, water, power and communication systems, are currently being designed by DMJM: AECOM and will be put out for construction bids later this year. Construction of Spaceport America will begin in 2008, immediately after the FAA issues the site operator’s license to the NMSA. Completion is expected in late 2009 or early 2010.

Links:
http://www.spaceportamerica.com
http://www.virgingalactic.com

Asia’s largest Air Show opened in Hong Kong (Photos)

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

a380 hong kong

Note the missing wingtip fences (winglets) – removed due to the Bangkok accident!

a380 hong kong

Fatal Plane Crash at Airshow in Poland (Video)

Two Zlin planes collided in mid-air during aeroplane acrobatics taking place at the Radom Air Show in Poland. The two pilots, Lech Marchlewski (the director of the Radom air club, founder and the leader of the “Zelazny” group) and Polish Championship representative, Piotr Banachowicz both died.
There were no reports of injuries among those on the ground – the collision happened well away from the crowd.

Videos


Airbus A380 hits building at Bangkok Airport

A tip of an Airbus A380’s wing scraped a repair building at the Suvarnabhumi airport, Bangkok while preparing for a test flight to Chiang Mai on Saturday morning.

Airbus let Thai Airways International (THAI) uses the world’s largest passenger plane in a trial flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.

The plane, which arrived in Thailand on Friday as part of the Asian tour to promote its sales, carried 150 VIP guests, businessmen and reporters on this special flight. It was scheduled to leave the airport at 9.45am.

Its tip hit the building when it was backing out of the parking area to the taxiway, officials said. There were no injuries.

THAI president Apinan Sumanaseni said minor damage occurred to the jet’s winglet, and expected that it would take an hour to fix the damage. The flight would be resumed on Saturday afternoon.

Airbus A380 accident Bangkok

The pushback vehicle operator was not blamed for the damage as Mr Apinan said the accident occurred because the jet is so large that it needs more space on the taxiway.

Airbus officials were sanguine.

“This sort of thing happens every day, in every airport around the world,” said Edouard Ullmo, Airbus’ executive vice president of sales for Asia Pacific.

Airbus decided to remove both winglets, designed to stabilise the aircraft in heavy turbulence, before resuming the flight to Chiang Mai Saturday afternoon.

Airbus A380 accident Bangkok

“We can fly with one winglet or no winglets,” said Ullmo. “This is standard procedure.”

The A380’s wingspan is much wider than the B747-400, at 79.8 metres compared to 64.5 metres.

Sources: BangkokPost.com, spiegel.de