Video – Su-27 Crashes At Polish Air Show

On Sunday, a Suchoi Su-27 operated by Belarussian Air Force crashed during Radom Air Show in Poland. It’s believed that the crash was caused by a bird strike. Both pilots did not eject and were killed.

Just a few weeks ago 2 Suchoi Su-27 collided near Moscow during a training flight for Maks 2009 Air Show, killing 1 pilot and 1 person on the ground.

4000th A320 Family Aircraft Delivered

On Friday, Airbus has delivered its 4000th A320 Family aircraft to Brazilian flag carrier TAM from its Final Assembly Line in Hamburg.

The aircraft, an A319, is powered with IAE engines and configured in a single-class layout seating 144 passengers. On the A319’s ferry flight from Hamburg to Brazil, TAM transported goods for schools for handicapped children in the region. The equipment was donated by Aviation without Borders Germany (LOG) and facilitated by the Airbus Foundation.

TAM 4000th A320 Family Aircraft
4000th Airbus A320 Family Aircraft - TAM Brazil

In July more than 10,000 Airbus employees involved in the programme at all Airbus’ sites celebrated the production of the 4000th A320 Family aircraft.

TAM became an Airbus A319 operator in 1998 with a historic combined order of 90 aircraft together with the airlines TACA and LAN. Today the airline operates a fleet of 125 Airbus aircraft. More than 350 Airbus aircraft are in operation in Latin America with 22 carriers. This represents more than 40 per cent of aircraft over 100 seats in service in Latin America.

The A320 Family includes the A318, A319, A320 and A321.

Source: Airbus
Photos: Airbus

Safety Report – 08/31/2009


Date: 08/29/2009 23:51
Location: Charlotte, NC
Aircraft Type: McDonnell Douglas MD-88 Registration: N974DL
Operator: Delta Air Lines Flight: 1606
Phase: Landing
Level of Damage: Unknown
Injuries & Fatalities: None
Description: On landing, the landing gear door was extended and made contact with the pavement during rollout

Date: 08/27/2009 20:03
Location: Tampa, FL
Aircraft Type: Boeing 717-200 Registration: Unknown
Operator: Airtran Airways Flight: TRS163
Phase: Unknown
Level of Damage: None
Injuries & Fatalities: 1 injured crew member
Description: The flight encountered turbulence and one flight crew member sustained a broken ankle – 60 Miles from Tampa, FL

Source: FAA
Correctness of this posting is not guaranteed & completeness not intended. This posting is just for informational purpose.

Photos – Inside the Lockheed Martin Airborne Multi-Intelligence Laboratory (AML)

Lockheed Martin recently released photos showing the inside of their new Airborne Multi-Intelligence Laboratory (AML). The Lockheed Martin AML is based on the Gulfstream III business jet and will be used “to tailor advanced sensor combinations to resolve specific military, strategic intelligence and homeland security mission needs.”

The plane features a computing capability that supports most commercial operating systems, a radome on the belly of the aircraft with ample volume for a range of sensors, and four workstations. In addition, the AML can process data both onboard and on the ground to accommodate a variety of experiments. While the AML is equipped with a robust suite of sensors as well as wideband and narrowband data links, the intent is to rotate sensors as necessary to answer specific requirements. To achieve that goal, the AML incorporates an easily reconfigurable architecture designed to allow different sensors and equipment to be rapidly integrated into the aircraft’s mission systems.

The airborne test bed received its Experimental Airworthiness Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Wednesday.

Photos via Flickr
Source: Lockheed Martin

787 First Flight Scheduled for End of 2009

Boeing today announced an update to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner program. According to the planemaker, the first flight of the 787 Dreamliner is expected by the end of 2009 and first delivery is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2010.

The new schedule reflects the previously announced need to reinforce an area within the side-of-body section of the aircraft, along with the addition of several weeks of schedule margin to reduce flight test and certification risk. The company projects achieving a production rate of 10 airplanes per month in late 2013.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Painted in Special Livery

The 787 team working the side-of-body reinforcement has completed initial testing and is finalizing design details of new fittings that are expected to ensure full structural integrity of the joint. The static test procedure that uncovered the issue will be repeated and the results fully analyzed before first flight is conducted. Fatigue testing also will be performed on stringer components to validate the long-term durability of the modification.

The first 787 test airplane and static test unit have been prepared for the new fittings. Installation is expected to begin within the next few weeks.

Source: Boeing
Photo: Boeing

Photos – KLM 777-300ER in SkyTeam Livery

Boeing today delivered a 777-300ER (Extended Range) to KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (Reg: PH-BVD – Name: “Nationaal Park Amboseli”). The airplane has been painted in a special SkyTeam livery in celebration of the alliance’s 10th anniversary. Today’s delivery marks the start of an in-service evaluation using chrome-free decorative paint and primer.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 777-300ER in Special SkyTeam Livery
Photo: Boeing

More photos at Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nustyr/3856519598/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nustyr/3855729967/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nustyr/3855729713/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nustyr/3856520306/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nustyr/3856520138/

As part of Boeing’s lifecycle approach to reducing environmental impact and in response to KLM’s and other customer’s requests, Boeing has introduced a chrome-free primer and chrome-free exterior decorative paint to this airplane. In addition to simplified health and safety monitoring requirements, a chrome-free primer reduces the environmental impact of the paint and stripping process. Removing chrome from the paint and primer eliminates the need for special handling of paint waste and clean-up and designated offsite disposal areas.

Boeing will apply the non-chrome paint and primer on up to 14 airplanes across Boeing models for in-service evaluation with the intention of making it a standard option in the future.

Source: Boeing

Photo – Bombardier CSeries Fuselage Test Barrel

The first test component, a fuselage test barrel, for the new CSeries single-aisle aircraft, has been delivered to Bombardier’s Saint-Laurent, Quebec facility. The test barrel is representative of the main fuselage section of the upcoming CSeries aircraft. Its production and testing will demonstrate the manufacturing and engineering structural concepts before the aircraft’s final design phase begins in 2010. The CSeries aircraft’s entry into service is scheduled for 2013.

Bombardier CSeries Fuselage

The test barrel, which measures approximately 23 feet (7 m) long and has a maximum diameter of approximately 12 feet (3.7 m), is made of advanced aluminum alloys. These materials have been selected to provide weight and maintenance advantages for CSeries jetliner operators.

Built by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, a unit of China Aviation Industry, the test barrel left Dalian, China on July 20, 2009, traveled across the Pacific and then 2,500 miles from California to Quebec.

Over 10 per cent of the CSeries aircraft will be manufactured in China by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation. Shenyang also supplies the empennage, as well as the aft and forward fuselage sections for Bombardier’s Q400 turboprop airliner.

Bombardier’s 110-seat and 130-seat CSeries aircraft will benefit from the latest technological advancements, including: fourth generation aerodynamics; increased use of composites and advanced aluminium alloys in structures; a next-generation engine – the Pratt & Whitney PurePowerTM PW1000G engine; and the very latest in system technologies, such as fly-by-wire and electric brakes.

Photo: Bombardier
Source: Bombardier

Safety Report – 08/24/2009


Date: 08/21/2009 23:46
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Aircraft Type: Boeing 757-223 Registration: N663AM
Operator: American Airlines
Phase: Cruise
Level of Damage: Minor
Injuries & Fatalities: None
Description: The flight declared an emergency due to a right wing structural issue. The flight diverted to LAX and landed without incident. Post flight inspection revealed 5 FT of right wing trailing edge slat damaged.

Source: FAA
Correctness of this posting is not guaranteed & completeness not intended. This posting is just for informational purpose.

Photos – Red Bull Air Race Budapest

This week the 4th Red Bull Air Race of the 2009 season was taking place in Budapest (Hungary).

On Wednesday, American Kirby Chambliss upset championship leader Hannes Arch in Qualifying at 4th round, snatching one championship point away from the Austrian with the fastest time of the day. Australia’s rookie sensation Matt Hall got a career-best third while Arch’s main rival for the overall title, Britain’s Paul Bonhomme, fell to sixth place.

Today the American Michael Goulian won the thrill-filled final race, while Britain’s Paul Bonhomme grabbed second place and knocked Austrian Hannes Arch out of the championship lead in a thrilling battle over the Danube River in front of a national holiday crowd of 650,000. American Kirby Chambliss grabbed third place, which dropped Arch into fourth and off the podium for the first time in over a year. German rookie Matthias Dolderer took a career-best fifth place.

Photos

Red Bull Air Race 2009 Budapest Qualifying Peter Besenyei

Red Bull Air Race Budapest Qualifying Peter Besenyei 2009

Red Bull Air Race Budapest Flying under Bridge Red Bull Air Race Budapest Stunning Flight Action

Photos by Red Bull (Thanks!)