http://blog.flightstory.net The Aviation Blog Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:58:10 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en A guy on YouTube called Balleka did a spectacular in-flight video of a Boeing 747-200F. He put a Contour HD helmet cam on the the nose gear and filmed takeoff and landing on a flight from Johannesburg (JNB) to Maputo International Airport (MPM). You definitely have to watch this! He also ... http://blog.flightstory.net/1482/video-747-in-flight-nose-gear-cam/ Unfortunately Northrop Grumman today announced that they decided to drop out of the U.S. Air Force tanker bid because of the clearly unfair nature of the competition. The following statement was released by Northrop Grumman Corporation: "After a comprehensive analysis of the final RFP, Northrop Grumman has determined that it will not ... http://blog.flightstory.net/1480/northrop-grumman-drops-out-of-air-force-tanker-competition/ 74 years ago, on March 4, 1936 the German Hindenburg airship accomplished its first flight. The airship flew from March 1936 until destroyed by fire 14 months later on May 6, 1937, at the end of the first North American transatlantic journey while landing at Lakehurst Naval Air Station, New Jersey. The ... http://blog.flightstory.net/1478/history-of-the-hindenburg-airship/ The Boeing 747-8 Freighter successfully took to the sky for the first time Monday Feb. 8. With 747 Chief Pilot Mark Feuerstein and Capt. Tom Imrich in the flight deck, the newest member of the 747 family took off at 12:39 p.m. local time from Paine Field in Everett and landed ... http://blog.flightstory.net/1475/video-boeing-747-8-freighter-first-flight/ Boeing announced that they completed taxi tests on the first 747-8 Freighter today. The new airplane reached a top seed of approximately 90 knots (103.5 mph, 166.6 kph). This was the last functional test planned before first flight. First flight of the 747-8 Freighter is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 8. Video: Boeing ... http://blog.flightstory.net/1474/video-747-8-freighter-taxi-tests-completed/ Boeing announced the first flight of the 747-8 Freighter. The first flight window is planned to open on February 8. This date is dependent on several factors, including final internal reviews, taxi test, receiving the final experimental ticket from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and weather conditions. The first flight ... http://blog.flightstory.net/1473/boeing-747-8-freighter-first-flight-announced/ South African low-fare airline kulula.com recently came up with a brand-new, funny livery. One of their Boeing 737-86N (ZS-ZWP / OK-PIK), called "Flying 101" is entirely covered with details and funny remarks about the plane. Photos - by Malcolm Nason The captain's window is marked with the big cheese ("captain, ... http://blog.flightstory.net/1472/kulula-air-with-new-funny-livery/ Today the prototype of the first Russian fifth generation jet fighter, the Sukhoi PAK-FA T-50 successfully completed its first flight! “In the course of the flight we’ve conducted initial evaluation of the aircraft controllability, engine performance and primary systems operation, the aircraft had retracted and extracted the landing gear. The aircraft ... http://blog.flightstory.net/1468/video-photos-sukhoi-pak-fa-t-50-first-flight/ Air New Zealand this week introduced their new (premium) economy class seat, the so called "Sky Couch". The seats, designed by Air New Zealand and built by Recaro, have large flip-up cushions that fill the space between the end of the seat and the next row of seats. Arm rests ... http://blog.flightstory.net/1466/air-new-zealand-with-new-sky-couch-seats/ Today Ethiopian Airlines flight 409, a Boeing 737-8AS(WL) (ET-ANB), crashed into the Mediterranean Sea shortly after takeoff from Beirut (BEY/OLBA), Lebanon. The flight was bound for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Unfortunately, no one of the 8 crew and 82 passengers survived this accident. Weather reported about the time of the accident ... http://blog.flightstory.net/1465/ethiopian-airlines-boeing-737-crashed-into-mediterranean-sea/ Almost one year after the famous US Airways 1549 New York Hudson River emergency landing, Airbus A320-214 N106US (S/N 1044) was put on auction recently. The auction closes March 27 and is open to the general public. Bids can be submitted online. The wreckage is currently stored in Kearny, NJ ... http://blog.flightstory.net/1459/n106us-hudson-a320-wreckage-to-be-sold/ Airbus today celebrated the delivery of the 6,000th aircraft in the airframe manufacturer's 40 year history. The aircraft, an A380 (MSN025), was handed over to Emirates Airline in a ceremony in Hamburg. The aircraft is Emirates' eighth A380. Accepting delivery of the new aircraft, Adel Al Redha, Executive Vice President, Emirates' ... http://blog.flightstory.net/1457/airbus-delivers-6000th-aircraft/ An United Airlines Airbus A319-131 (N816UA) was substantially damaged today when it landed at Newark-Liberty International Airport, NJ (EWR) with its right hand main landing gear retracted. Videos Photos United Airlines flight UA634 was bound from Chicago-O'Hare International Airport, IL (ORD) to Newark-Liberty International Airport, NJ (EWR). While on finals, the crew ... http://blog.flightstory.net/1456/united-airlines-airbus-a319-emergency-landing-at-newark/ Russia has started tests of its fifth generation fighter - the Sukhoi T-50 PAK FA! The project in which India is also a partner, prepares to compete with the F-22 Raptor. The first prototype of the aircraft rolled out on the runway of KNAAPO aircraft plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur in the country's ... http://blog.flightstory.net/1454/russia-tests-5th-generation-fighter/ Dear fellow aviation enthusiasts, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous year 2010! Cartoon kindly provided by www.humor.aero - aviation cartoon books http://blog.flightstory.net/1452/merry-christmas-and-a-happy-new-year/