Airshow UK - Det er mange av dem - AIN

RAF Events Launch Summer Show Season

by Chris Pocock

 - June 26, 2018, 7:14 AM

The RAF Red Arrows over The Mall during a previous flypast of central London. (Photo: MoD)

 - June 26, 2018, 7:14 AM

In the week preceding this year’s Farnborough International Airshow, a series of events in southern England could overshadow the traditional aerospace showcase in Hampshire. On July 10, the RAF will celebrate its 100th anniversary with a 100-aircraft flypast over central London. On July 11-12 the RAF Air Power Conference in London will attract a large international gathering. On July 13-15 the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) will also mark the RAF 100th with flypasts and provide a venue for aerospace industry engagement as well as a major public spectacle.

The RAF flypast will coincide with a service in Westminster Abbey and a parade on The Mall. Skeptics have suggested that the RAF will struggle to get 100 aircraft airworthy after the UK defense cuts of the past decade or more. The flypast is supposed to be led by three of the four F-35Bs that recently arrived at RAF Marham.

More than 70 armed services chiefs from 61 nations are expected to attend the Air Power Conference, along with 400 other delegates. “We want to look at how air power moves into the information age in terms of command and control, the recruitment of the right people, skills and mindset, and the application of new technologies. This needs to be a forward-looking, next-generation debate,” said Air Vice-Marshal Mike Wigston, the UK’s assistant chief of the Air Staff.

More than 300 aircraft are expected at RIAT, where the flying display lasts for seven hours. In addition to a major RAF presence on the ground and in the air, diverse foreign air forces will participate. Many of the delegates from the Air Power Conference will attend RIAT, as well as Farnborough. For this reason, aerospace companies have increasingly embraced RIAT to demonstrate new hardware and services and offer hospitality.

For instance, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has announced that its new MQ-9B SkyGuardian will be on display at RIAT, after flying there from the U.S. A company spokesman confirmed to AIN that the remotely piloted aircraft would not be moving on to Farnborough for display there.

MPA - Korea går for P-8 tilsynelatende uten forutgående konkurranse - AIN

Korea Opts For Boeing P-8A Poseidon MPA

by Chen Chuanren

 - June 28, 2018, 6:29 AM

Korea is buying the P-8A, with New Zealand to follow. (Photo: Boeing)

The Republic of Korea (ROK) will acquire Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, the country’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced on June 25. The aircraft will be procured via the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) procedure. DAPA said that the P-8A was selected after a “comprehensive review of legal aspects, cost, schedule, and performance.” However, there was no open evaluation of alternative MPAs such as the Saab Swordfish or the Airbus C295 ASW.

The ROK said in February that it was seeking new MPAs to better counter North Korea’s ballistic missile submarines. The P-8As will replace 16 Lockheed P-3C/CK Orions. This deal will make Korea the third Asia-Pacific nation to fly the P-8A after Australia and India.

The number of P-8As to be acquired has not been stated, but there are suggestions that the contract would be worth $1.71 billion. A DAPA source told Korea's Yonhap news agency unofficially that the Poseidon’s price would be 10 to 28 percent greater if the aircraft were to be selected after an open contest.

In any case, said Yoon Sukjoon, senior fellow at the Korean Institute for Military Affairs, “Monies would not be a crucial decision factor because of the security environment of the Korean Peninsula, despite the recent thawing of tensions.” He continued: “It is the range and heavy load of ASW and ASuW weapons that are particularly crucial elements for the deal.

FMS is the preferred means to prevent the kinds of embezzlement and bribery scandals that have shaken the government lately, Yoon added. “The P-8 would also enhance interoperability with the U.S. Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force [JMSDF],” he added.

Coincidentally, just two weeks ago, the Indian Navy and U.S. Navy each deployed a P-8 Poseidon on Exercise Malabar in Guam for anti-surface and anti-submarine drills. They were joined by a P-1 jet MPA from the JMSDF.

New Zealand is on the verge of deciding to buy P-8A Poseidons. Defense minister Ron Mark has proposed a package for approval by the new Labour government. Wellington is seeking four P-8As worth around $1.4 billion to replace six P-3K2s that have been flying since the 1960s. According to New Zealand media, the announcement will be made by the end of July.

The latest enhancement to the P-8A is the High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon Capability. This involves fitting a wing kit onto the Mk 54 Mod 0/Mod 1 torpedo, allowing the P-8A to strike submarine targets at a stand-off range and altitude.

F-35 - JSM testmissiler skal leveres av Kongsberg - TU

F-35 våpenrom - Foto: Per Gram

Innfasingen av Forsvarets nye kampfly har vist seg lukrativt for Kongsberg Gruppen. Fredag ble det kjent at konsernets teknologibedrift skal levere testmissiler til en verdi av 700 millioner kroner. 

Joint Strike Missile (JSM)

Kongsberg Gruppen skal levere missiler til Forsvarets F-35

• 29. juni 2018 - 21:1

Det er Kongsberg Gruppens teknologibedrift, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS, som har inngått avtalen om leveranse av testmissiler til en verdi av 700 millioner kroner, med Forsvarsmateriell.

Missilene er av typen Joint Strike Missile (JSM), og de skal brukes til integrasjonsfasen på Forsvarets kampfly F-35, skriver Kongsberg Gruppen i en pressemelding fredag.

– JSM-prosjektet fortsetter på plan og er det eneste femtegenerasjon-missilet tilgjengelig på F-35. Prosjektet har et betydelig langsiktig potensial for Kongsberg Gruppen og et stort antall norske underleverandører, sier administrerende direktør Eirik Lie i Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS i meldingen.

Testmissilene skal brukes for integrasjon av missilene på F-35. Det dreier seg om praktiske prøver på flyet, separasjon fra flyet og komplette tester mot bakkemål.

Leveransen av missiler er ikke den eneste store kontrakten Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS har på F-35-flyene. Tidligere i år ble det kjent at konsernet skal levere deler til halen på mer enn 150 eksemplarer av kampflyet. Ordren har en verdi på 535 millioner kroner.

Trump: EU ble skapt for å utnytte og plyndre USA - DN

Nok en gang angriper Trump Europa. Hans utviste historieløshet er farlig for verden.  Han elsker, inntil videre, Kim Jung Un, Kina og Russland, og har lagt oss for hat. Det er åpenbart at vi ikke kan stole på USA. Vi må bygge vårt eget troverdige forsvar. Sjekk artikkel i DN i dag: https://tinyurl.com/y9nfg965

Sikkerhetslanding på Shannon den 23. mai - Stå på krava!

Foto: Per Gram

På vei fra London Heathrow til Newark, fikk vi trykkfall i flyet vest av Irland, en B767 fra United, som førte til  en sikkerhetslanding på Shannon. Før ble dette kalt førevarslanding, men det er det ingen som skjønner lenger. Ikke noe drama i det hele tatt, maskene ble ikke utløst. Det ble overnatting fordi besetningen ville slippe opp for lovlig arbeidstid. Vi ble godt tatt vare på og fikk god informasjon. Jeg så for meg muligheten til å besøke stedet hvor "Irish Coffee" ble servert første gang, nemlig i sjøflyhavna på Shannon. Ingen mulighet til det fordi vi måtte holde oss samlet av informasjonsårsaker. Vi fikk klar beskjed om hvordan vi skulle gå frem for å søke erstatning for tapt tid. Kom oss avgårde neste dag med en annen B767. Nådde bestemmelsesstedet, Cincinnati, nær 24t forsinket.

Etter hjemkomst Stavanger sendte jeg all dokumentasjon til United. Etter en tid fikk jeg svar tilbake at de ville erstatte min tapte tid med US$400. Beløpet måtte brukes hos United i løpet av 12 mndr. Hm, tenkte jeg, dette hørtes ikke riktig ut. Jeg sendte saken over til forbrukerrådet som svarte meg ganske kvikt at de mente, basert på mine opplysninger, at jeg skulle ha €600 utbetalt på den måten som passet meg best. Erstatningen skulle absolutt ikke bindes opp til noe spesielt produkt.

Jeg sendte et krav på dette beløpet til United som svarte meg i går den 29. at ja, de hadde vurdert saken min nøye og funnet at jeg skulle få overført €600 til min konto. De innrømmet at det var i henhold til EU lov. Hadde jeg ikke fulgt dette opp ville jeg fått halvparten av det beløp jeg hadde krav på samt at jeg måtte foreta en reise med United i løpet av 12 mndr. dersom jeg skulle ha noe glede av erstatningen.

Jeg sendte hilsen til Forbrukerrådet og takket for god service.

Jeg skjønner godt at det er god forretning i å etablere firmaer som gjør denne jobben for reisende, mot god provisjon. Det er ikke alle som ha ork til å forfølge slike saker, ikke minst fordi regelverket synes infløkt.

Kina hever pensjonsalderen fra 60 til 62 for å avhjelpe et akutt flygerproblem - AIN

China To Raise Pilot Retirement Age to 62

After much thought and debate, China plans to raise the retirement age of pilots working with local airlines from 60 to 62 in 2021 as part of its plan to help ease an acute shortage. According to Chinese state projections, the country’s airlines will require 5,000 pilots per year to meet the rapid expansion and growth of the local civil aviation industry. Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) official Ma Lin told AIN that the number of pilots required by Chinese airlines increases every year as carriers expand their networks and fleets and build frequencies. China’s aviation market grew 13.1 percent in 2017, as 549.7 million Chinese traveled that year. Estimates place market growth at 16 to 17 percent this year. The world’s fastest-growing aviation market, China continues to attract foreign pilots with generous remuneration packages of as much as $310,000 a year for experienced captains with a current type rating. Some airlines offer tax-free salaries to outdo others. Contracts usually run three years with provision for expansion. In the early 2000s, virtually no foreign pilots worked in China. Today, some 1,600 foreign pilots now fly for Chinese carriers. According to Boeing’s 2017 to 2036 forecast, Chinese airline fleets will close to triple, to 7,240 aircraft over the next 20 years, requiring some 100,000 pilots. Read Expanded Version

Droner - Facebook gir opp sin flygende iternetftorbindelse - AIN

Facebook abandons its Project Aquila flying internet plan

Dave LeeNorth America technology reporter

• 27 June 2018
 
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Image copyrightFACEBOOK

Image captionFacebook had been hoping to offering connectivity by sending data between a fleet of drones

Facebook is giving up on its plan to create drones that beam down internet connectivity, the company has confirmed.

Project Aquila, first announced in 2014, failed to achieve the long flight times managed by airborne connectivity efforts from rivals including Google.

In one test, Facebook’s craft suffered a broken wing as it came in to land.

On Tuesday the company said it would instead partner with firms such as Airbus to continue its efforts to connect more people to the internet.

The decision means the closure of a facility in Bridgwater, UK, that had been used to build the technology.

“It's been exciting to see leading companies in the aerospace industry start investing in this technology too - including the design and construction of new high-altitude aircraft,” wrote Yael Maguire, Facebook’s Director of Engineering, in a blog post.

"Given these developments, we've decided not to design or build our own aircraft any longer.”

The Project Aquila craft had the wingspan of a Boeing 737 and weighed the same as a typical family car. It was solar-powered during the day and battery-powered at night, and in testing managed 90 minutes in the air.

Media captionFacebook's Aquila drone takes to the air

However, Facebook's efforts paled in comparison to Project Loon, a similar idea using high-altitude balloons rather than drones. It is being worked on by X, the experimental arm of Google parent company Alphabet.

Project Loon balloons have flown more than 15 million miles of tests, the company has said, with the longest continuous flight lasting almost 190 days. In 2017, the balloons were used by residents of hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico.

Flyplasstreik avverget - Forhandlinger gjenopptas i september - Avinor

Vis det i en nettleser Avinor   Pause i meklingen Avinor - 29-06-2018 07:51 CEST Etter forslag fra mekleren, ble partene enige om å ta en pause i meklingen for Avinor AS og Avinor Flysikring AS for å diskutere krevende spørsmål knyttet til overenskomstrevisjonen 2018. Ny meklingsfrist blir tirsdag 4. september ved midnatt. Så lenge meklingen ikke er avsluttet, vil heller ikke en streik kunne iverksettes. En eventuell streik vil dermed først vil kunne ha oppstart fra onsdag 5. september.

Leidulf Heskje - Luftfartsperson

For å få et innblikk i Heskjes virksomhet bør du lese mitt blogginnlegg datert 14. juli 2017.

Foto av Heskje: Stavanger Aftenblad

Bell 505 presentasjonen, som jeg vil komme tilbake til, ble gjennomført i- og ved en av hangarene Leidulf eier på Sola flyplass. I denne hangaren, tidligere eid av Helikopter Service AS, drev HS vedlikehold av mindre fly- og helikoptre. Forsvarets Falcon 20 fly var her for å få oppgradert interiør. Ingen stor hangar, men innholdsrik. Heskje elsker åpenbart både fly- og sportsbiler. Det gjør jeg og, men jeg har dessverre ikke råd til å finansiere slike drømmer selv om jeg hadde en 911, 1984 cabrio i 15 år. Pussig nok har Stig Bakke, omtalt her tidligere, også samme interesser som Heskje.
Den vakreste sportsbil som er bygget, er etter min mening jaguar Type E cabriolet. Heskje har en slik som sår i hangaren sammen med Aston Martin DB5 som du ser på bildet over. Her er Jaggen:

Du ser også halen til en Ryan ST-A, også i "mint condition" - Foto: Per Gram

DB`en i profil, forurenset av et par brosjyrer på taket - Foto: Per Gram

Det er usikkert hvor mange Fiesler Storch som er flybare i verden , antakelig 11, men to av dem er i Norge, og èn er her hos Heskje. Den skulle ha fløyet på Sola airshow nylig, men måtte stå på static display i stedet. Her er den:

Foto: Per Gram

En P-51 Mustang, som du husker jeg var i nærkontakt med i fjor under Sola Airshow, har også funnet plass i hangaren. Om den leier plass eller eies av Heskje er jeg ikke sikker på. Uansett så håper jeg at den skal fly fra Sola i tiden som kommer. Lyden av RR Merlin er ikke til å ta feil av.

Foto: Per Gram

Et fly skinte som en sol og var vanskelig å fokusere på, men en Ryan STA var veldig tilstede. Det ble kjøpt fra UK for ca. et år siden. Et blankpolert, vakkert fly:

Foto: Per Gram

Her en STA i National Museum of the USAF. Den var egentlig sivil, men brukt av Army Aviation:

Foto: Per Gram

En todekker hører også til her, en Boeing Stearman:

Utenfor står Biltemas Spitfire parkert. Antakelig i påvente av at Duxford kaller på den. Der borte skal det jo trenes på å gjenskape invasjonen av Normandie i 1944. 75-års jubileet neste år blir store greier, så forbered deg!

Foto: Per Gram

Bloggen ønsker Leidulf Heskje lykke til med sine prosjekter!

Norwegians nye seter får omtale - ATW

Norwegian installs new slimline seats on its Boeing 737 MAXs

Jun 28, 2018Alan Dron

Slimline seats as installed on Norwegian Boeing 737 MAXs

Norwegian

LCC Norwegian has introduced its first Boeing 737 MAX with a cabin featuring new slimline seats that the airline says are designed for more comfort on longer routes and will give taller passengers more personal space.

Norwegian is installing the new Recaro BL3710C seat on its latest aircraft. The leather seats have 30in seat pitch and are 16.8in wide. The airline says that the new seats are designed to add space at knee-level. Norwegian claims it is the first airline to install the new seat.

Norwegian has more than 100 Boeing 737 MAX on order and will take delivery of 12 this year. The aircraft operate on the carrier’s transatlantic routes to New York Stewart International and Providence from the UK and Ireland. The 737 MAXs will also replace older Boeing 737-800s on the airline’s short-haul routes. The airline will retrofit its existing fleet of six Boeing 737 MAX aircraft with the new seats.

Each seat weighs around 10kg - 1kg less than the seats they replace, which reduces the weight of the aircraft by more than 200kg overall, improving fuel burn.

The 737 MAX currently services New York Stewart International and Providence airports on the US East Coast.

Beluga ruller ut fra lakkeringssjappa - Airbus

Airbus BelugaXL rolls-out of paintshop Transport aircraft unveils special livery chosen by Airbus employees Toulouse, 28 June 2018 – The first BelugaXL has rolled out of the paintshop unveiling a special livery making it look like a Beluga Whale. The livery was one of six choices submitted to Airbus employees through a poll in which 20,000 people participated. With 40% votes in favour, the smiley livery won. The BelugaXL will now undertake ground tests before first flight planned in summer 2018.  Caption: The first BelugaXL rolls out from the paintshop. The decision to build the BelugaXL was taken in November 2014 to address the transport and ramp-up capacity requirements for Airbus beyond 2019. The new oversize air transporters are based on the A330-200 Freighter, with a large re-use of existing components and equipments. The first of five BelugaXLs will fly in summer 2018 and enter into service in 2019.

Helikopterrute USA - AIN

AAG Launches Teterboro-NYC Heli Shuttle Service

Following the success of a helicopter transfer service from London Biggin Hill Airport to London that was launched in 2014, the UK airport has worked with New York-based helicopter operator Associated Aircraft Group (AAG) to institute a similar service linking sister airport Teterboro with the U.S. financial capital. “The London Heli Shuttle has been a game changer at our airport, allowing passengers a quick six-minute transfer to the city center,” explained Robert Walters, Biggin Hill’s business development manager. “With Teterboro the same time by helicopter to New York City, it is fantastic to be able to mirror this service with AAG in the United States and form an effective 'air bridge' between the two cities.” AAG operates the largest fleet of Sikorsky S-76s in the Northeast U.S., and its New York Heli Shuttle flights will operate between the dedicated business aviation airport and Manhattan’s heliports. “We have seen how successful the London Heli Shuttle has been for London Biggin Hill, and we are excited to be bringing this option to New York,” said AAG general manager John Gow. Using the two services on either side of the Atlantic, passengers can end the work day in Manhattan, take the heli-shuttle to Teterboro, board a jet to Biggin Hill, and then take the shuttle to London in time for an early breakfast meeting, Walters noted.

Orville Wright`s last flight

You know the history of Orville Wright’s first flight. 
Do you know the story behind his final flight?

The Lockheed Constellation introduced long-distance, high-capacity, commercial passenger flight to the world. Featuring a distinctive tripletail design and dolphin-shaped fuselage, it was powered—appropriately—by four Wright R-3350 engines (3250 horsepower each) and cruised at speeds in excess of 300 miles per hour.

On April 17, 1944, a “Connie” piloted by Howard Hughes and TWA president Jack Frye, set a new transcontinental speed record, crossing the United States from Burbank, CA to Washington, D.C. in just 6 hours and 58 minutes, averaging 331 MPH.

Aviation had come a long way in the 40 years since the Wright brothers first flight. Planes were now capable of crossing the country in just hours.

On the return trip from D.C., April 26, 1944, the Constellation stopped at Wright Field near Dayton, Ohio to pick up one special passenger: Orville Wright.

During Wright’s 50-minute honor flight over Dayton, the Army pilot, Lt. Col. George A. Hatcher, let Orville have the controls one final time, albeit briefly. Orville was quick to point out the Constellation’s 126-feet and 2-inch wingspan was longer than his history-making first flight, which had traveled only 120 feet.

Orville’s first flight was only about 10 feet off the ground. His last, in the Constellation, was considerably higher: the Constellation was pressurized, with a service ceiling of 24,000 feet. 

Helikopter - Bell 505 presentert på Sola, men......

....før den kommer på bloggen vil jeg presentere noe spesielt, nemlig de to eneste sivile Hueys som flyr i Norge. Er dette feil ber jeg om korreksjon, men flygerne Stig Bakke og Sigve Fosmark var tilstede, førstnevnte med sin Bell UH-1E. Stig jobbet i "oljå" og tjente en del millioner på patenter han  eide gjennom sitt firma. Det ble solgt og han satt igjen med en pen gevinst. I godt voksen alder tok han lappen og kjøpte sitt helikopter.

Stig på Sola Airshow - Foto: Per Gram

Den er veteran fra Vietnamkrigen, og ser slik ut; som en noe rufsete krigsmaskin. 

Foto via Sigve

Sigve hadde sin parkert hjemme i Lysebotn. Det er en av Luftforsvarets orginale maskiner, altså en UH-1B.  Sivilt registrert er det en Bell 204. Den ser absolutt ikke rufsete ut, men er veldig flott oppusset og vedlikeholdt; en skikkelig perle. Den brukes mest til saueleting i Lyseheiene, sier Sigve. Tipper det er en del basehoppere der inne som kunne tenke seg en tur opp til Kjerag med en slik veteran. Sigve eide fra tidligere en Bell 47 D1. Den kjøpte han av Helilift i 1976. I 1992 ble den overlatt til Forsvarsmuseet i bytte mot den UH-1B han har i dag. Bell 47`en ble senere gitt til Norsk Luftfartsmueseum. Den var nemlig blant de første Luftorsvaret mottok i 1953.

Stig Bakke t.v. og Sigve Fosmark - Foto: Per Gram

Ved en senere anledning kommer omtale av hangaren til Leiduf Heskje. "It looks like Hangar 4 at Duxford", var det en som sa.

---ooo00O00ooo---

Droner - Mer om Triton og Australia - UAS Vision

Australia to Buy Six MQ-4C Tritons

The security of Australia’s maritime borders will be significantly strengthened with another major military investment. The Turnbull Government will invest $1.4 billion and acquire the first of six MQ-4C Triton remotely piloted aircraft through a cooperative program with the United States Navy.

The Triton will complement the surveillance role of the P-8A Poseidon aircraft through sustained operations at long ranges as well as being able to undertake a range of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance tasks.

Together these aircraft will significantly enhance our anti-submarine warfare and maritime strike capability, as well as our search and rescue capability.

Our number one priority is keeping Australians safe. This investment will protect our borders and make our region more secure.

As part of this investment Australia will also enter into a $200 million cooperative program with the United States Navy for the development, production and sustainment of the MQ-4C Triton.

Australia’s alliance with the US is our most important defence relationship, underpinned by strong cooperation in defence industry and capability development.

This cooperative program will strengthen our ability to to develop advanced capability and conduct joint military operations.

As part of the initial $1.4 billion investment in the Triton system, the Government will invest $364 million on new facilities at RAAF Base Edinburgh and RAAF Base Tindal, as well the necessary ground control systems, support and training required to implement a project of this nature.

The project is expected to create about 70 jobs across South Australia and the Northern Territory.

Northrop Grumman as supplier of the Triton will play a lead role in delivering the capability in Australia. This investment follows Northrop’s commitment to a $50 million advanced Electronic Sustainment Centre of Excellence at the new Western Sydney Airport.Australia has already taken delivery of seven Poseidon aircraft and achieved Initial Operational Capability earlier this year. The full fleet of 12 Poseidon aircraft is expected to be delivered and in operation by 2022.The first of the Triton aircraft is expected to be introduced into service in mid-2023 with all six aircraft planned to be delivered and in operation by late 2025, based at RAAF Base, Edinburgh in South Australia.

The Orion fleet has performed exceptionally on operations throughout its distinguished service, and the last of these aircraft will be over 40 years old when they are withdrawn from service in 2023.