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In Flight USA Articles
Wings Over Pittsburgh Thrills Steel City Airshow Fans
By Hayman Tam
Thunderbirds four-ship diamond flies over Pittsburgh, PA. (Hayman Tam)The significance of September 11th was not lost on the minds of the airshow fans gathered that day in Pittsburgh to attend one of the largest airshows on the East Coast. This annual event is traditionally held on Father’s Day weekend to ensure good weather but after a one-year absence, organizers moved it to 9/11 with a strong patriotic theme.
Hosted by the 911th Airlift Wing, based at Pittsburgh Air Reserve Station, the “Wings Over Pittsburgh” two-day event drew record crowds this year. An estimated 175,000 folks got into Saturday’s Wings Over Pittsburgh show before the gates were closed, frustrating drivers who traveled from far and near only to be turned away when parking capacity in the local township of Moon was reached. Many fans ended up watching the performances from their cars stuck on the clogged highways. Another 120,000 fans showed up Sunday, with the Steelers football season opener helping to thin the crowds a bit.
NBAA's Convention Brings More Than Economic Benefits to Host City
With tens of thousands of Attendees, NBAA’s Annual Meeting & Convention brings an injection of economic activity to the event’s host city each year. This year, the 63rd Annual Meeting & Convention (NBAA2010) is expected to draw approximately 25,000 Attendees to Atlanta, GA.
The Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) estimates the Attendees at NBAA2010 will provide a direct economic impact of $29 to $34 million to local businesses.
Record-Setting Wings Over Wine Country
By Hayman Tam
The Chinese-designed Nanchang CJ-6 first flew in 1958. (Hayman Tam)More than 24,000 airshow fans helped to make this year’s Wings Over Wine Country Airshow the best one put together by the Pacific Coast Air Museum (PCAM) in Santa Rosa, Calif. This two-day show takes place at Charles Schulz - Sonoma County Airport (STS) and has been the museum’s major fundraiser for 14 years. The cloudy skies cleared and the temperature was perfect, just right to put in earplugs and sunscreen and enjoy the festivities.
The flying got off to a small-scale start with exhibition flights of radio-control planes by local modelers. One memorable creation was a flying doghouse complete with Snoopy perched on top, gunning for the Red Baron.
The Flight of the Century: Lucky Lindy's Dark Side
Charles Lindbergh remains probably the most famous aviator in US History due in no small part to his historic and daring solo transatlantic flight in 1927. However Lindbergh’s racist tendencies open sympathy to the Nazis and poor record as a family man obviously complicates Lindbergh’s life and
Dennis Buehn Dominates the T-6 Class in 2010 and Gets the Gold
By Alan Smith
(Jerry Maxwell)Dennis Buehn of Carson City, flying his #43 Midnight Miss III practically owned the T-6 class in 2010. He won both Gold heat races the days before windy Sunday at speeds of 237.904 and 241.247 mph and was followed by John Zayak in his #37 McDonald Racer at 231.128 on Thursday and 234.927 on Saturday. Surprisingly, expected strong contender Nick Macy in his #6 Six Cat was disqualified on Saturday for a deadline cut at the start of Saturday’s heat race. And on Thursday he dropped out after one lap. I certainly was not the six time Gold winner’s year.
A Bird's Eye View of Northeastern Washinton State Via Triking
Trike landing. (Spokane Regional CVB)By Roy A. Barnes
When Denny Reed of Backcountry Aerosports www.trikeschool.com of Cheney, Washington was first introduced to a trike, his reaction was quite negative. He refused to set foot in what he deemed a “flying weedeater.” But as time has passed, Reed has become one of the Light Sport and Ultralight Aircrafts’ best human friends, taking willing flyers like myself up, up, and away in his $60,000 motorized and natural flying machine that has a 7:1 glide ratio. It reaches speeds of 40-60 mph, and has a 34-foot wingspan and 10-foot fuselage, plus a range of 270 miles. The experimental aircraft can be transported in a pick up and set up in 40 minutes.
Pancho Barnes Legend is Committed to Film With Pancho Barnes and The Happy Bottom Riding Club
By S. Mark Rhodes
The great Pancho at the peak of her profane glory. (Courtesy of the Pancho Barnes Trust Estate)If there was ever a figure worthy of cult status in the aviation world, that individual must be Florence “Pancho” Barnes. Barnes is probably best known as a character in Tom Wolfe’s The Right Stuff as well as the film version (played by Kim Stanley). The time frame of the book and especially the film pick up at a point in Barnes’ life where she is the owner and operator of the “Happy Bottom Riding Club.” The HBRC was basically a saloon out in the middle of the Mohave Dessert, which catered to the flyers at Muroc Field (later Edwards Air Force Base) who happened to be some of the finest and most legendary test pilots of the time like Chuck Yeager, Scott Crosffield and Buzz Aldrin. Barnes held court at this raucous bar and “dude ranch” for many years helping provide emotional and libational support to this elite group of aviators.
The recently released Pancho Barnes and the Happy Bottom Riding Club (Nick Spark Productions) helps give a full picture of Barnes that has only been hinted at in The Right Stuff. Barnes grew up in a kind of blue blood family in Pasadena, California where she was expected to become a society lady like her mother. This was not to be as the young Florence showed an adventuresome streak that was at considerable odds with her mom’s idea of how a young woman should conduct herself in public.
Thunder Over Michigan 2010: A Fast Flight Back In Time
By Mike Heilman
Texas Raider was one of the eight B-17Gs to fly at the Thunder Over Michigan air show. (Mike Heilman)The ramp is full of B-17s waiting to launch for their next mission. It sounds like August 1944, but it is August 2010. There were eight B-17G Flying Fortresses that took part in the Yankee Air Museum’s 12th annual air show, “Thunder over Michigan.” The two-day event was held Aug. 7-8 at the Willow Run Airport, Ypsilanti, Michigan.
The theme for this year’s show was “Gathering of Fortress & Legends.” Show organizers billed the event as the world’s largest gathering of World War II heavy bombers and veteran aircrew and maintainers since the end of the war. The B-17, B-24 and B-25 heavy bombers all were a part of the show. Also, the show hosted several former World War II crewmembers. The veterans were available for air show spectators to meet and thank for their service.
How to Maintain Your Engine
By Bill Middlebrook
(Bill Middlebrook is President and CEO of Penn Yan Aero. He is the third generation Middlebrook to own and operate the 65-year-old independent aircraft engine facility. Bill is an expert and authority on Lycoming and Continental aircraft engines.)
If you take care of your engine, your engine will take care of you. Here’s what you need to do and why:
First, take a look at your engine and its surroundings under the cowl. Is it clean? If not, clean it up so that you can properly evaluate what you have. Is there evidence of leaking oil or carbon deposits from leaking exhaust gaskets? Are there blue stains around fuel components or intake pipes? Are there any noticeable cracks? Does the baffle seal look worn or is it pliable and sealing correctly? Is there any loose hardware or loose components? Are there any frayed cables or wires? Make a list of issues and concerns. Whether you do the service, or not, this will help you keep track of who is responsible to resolve issues.
Fly with a Snowmobile Engine?
Rethinking the Rotax 912
By Ed Downs
Long used in U. S. experimental aircraft and many certified European aircraft, the Rotax 912 has become the almost-standard engine of choice for S-LSA aircraft designers. But, ask most American pilots about flying behind a Rotax, and you get the “What, me fly with a snowmobile engine?” question followed by a wide-eye look of horror when told that the 912 delivers its maximum rated 100 horsepower at 5800 rpm. Most simply equate the name Rotax with the famed two stroke engines of the Ski-Doo snowmobile and Sea-Doo watercraft. Many conclude that the Rotax 912 is simply a variation of its well-known two-stroke counterparts. Nothing could be further from reality.
Astronaut For A Day: STS 132 and the Ship Atlantis
By Pete Trubucco
From Left to right MS Garrett Reisman, Shuttle Pilot Tony Antonelli, Pete Trabucco, Commander Ken Ham, MS Michael GoodAs a pilot and space fanatic, I have always followed our NASA space program closely and secretly hoped that one day that I would be able to work with these astronauts in space. Of course this could never really occur but a funny thing did happen to me on my way to Houston (and Johnson Space Center) not too long ago. As we all know, the end of the Space Shuttle program is right around the corner. Due to budget cuts, it looks like after the final mission is scheduled for next June and the program will truly be concluded. However on a faithful day in March, I did get to play “astronaut in training” with these star voyages and I can tell you, not many things that I have done can top this experience.
As the Space Shuttle Atlantis was scheduled for its last flight, I got a call from the NASA front office saying if I were able to get down to Houston, I would be in for a real treat. The flight that was up next was designated as STS 132 and the ship Atlantis was scheduled for liftoff (from pad 34A) on May 14, 2010. This flight marked the 32nd and (at the time) final flight for Atlantis closing almost a quarter century of service for NASA and our manned space program.
Inspiration Chino Air Museum: Evolution Of The Mustang
At Planes Of Fame you can view their rare airworthy P-51A 43-6251 named Mrs. Virginia, while A-36A 42-83731 has just been restored to flight for owner Tom Friedkin by Fighter Rebuilders.
A Different View of Haiti
Landing at PAP - Toussaint Louverture Airport Port au Prince, Haiti. (Susan Terrell)By Susan Terrell
In March I was privileged to spend five days in Port au Prince as the guest of native Haitian Cessna pilot, Reg Auguste. Reg and I met last year through the online forum board of the Cessna Pilot Society. As a student pilot as well as a writer who enjoys stories about interesting people involved in aviation, I appreciated the sense of humor and positive attitude consistently apparent in his posts, as well as his tales of renovating his 172 which reflected a genuine love and enthusiasm for flying.
Sun 'N Fun Opens New Exhibit Hanger
The Popular “Parts Exchange” Moves Nearby
The campus of the Sun ‘n Fun International Fly-In & Expo will have a slightly different look for this year’s 36th annual event, which will be held April 13 – 18 at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, Fla.
Sun ‘n Fun officials announced this past fall they would be opening a new Exhibit Hangar for this year’s International Fly-In & Expo and this month announced that the popular “Parts Exchange” aviation consignment operation would be relocated adjacent to the newly commissioned exhibit facility.
You Can't Tame a Raptor
The invasion of the Raptors is coming to the California Capital Airshow. (Staff Sgt. Michael B. Keller, USAF)By Karen Storm
In the wild, birds of prey are very distinctive in their attributes: a sharp, pointed beak; strong feet with razor-sharp talons; keen eyesight, and animals —even other birds— are their food source. Another name used to describe these birds is derived from the Latin word —Rapere— which means to plunder. They are smart, aggressive, cunning, and lethal. Such a bird is called a Raptor.
It is also the name of the United States Air Force’s newest fighter aircraft, a designation made both appropriately and without apology. The F-22 Raptor, manufactured by the team of Lockheed-Martin, Boeing, and Pratt & Whitney, is the world’s only operational fifth-generation fighter, and it is absolutely masterful at conducting its stated mission of Air Dominance.
The Battleship North Carolina's Kingfisher is a One of a Kind Aircraft Rarity
By S. Mark Rhodes
The handsome grandson of the author, Jackson Perkins surveys the deck of the Battleship North Carolina. (Papa Rhodes)In the early 1960’s, the people of North Carolina raised $330,000 (much of it from lunch money from NC school children) to buy the decommissioned USS Battleship North Carolina. The result? The birth of one of North Carolina’s most striking and iconic attractions and a great artifact of US military history. One memorable day in 1961, it chugged up the Cape Fear River and tucked into a conspicuous area across the way from downtown Wilmington, North Carolina where it’s mass and gravity dominates the landscape of this port city.
Flying in the Mountains
IFR Means I Follow Roads
By Alan Smith
Flying light aircraft in the mountains, especially during the winter months, has its own set of rules. Some are fairly obvious while others are a bit more subtle.
Flying a light plane through rugged mountain territory is done without some of the emergency options a pilot has while crossing the flatlands or wide valleys below. It should be clear, for example, to any pilot as he or she moves through the high peaks and canyons of a mountain range that fields in which he could safely put the airplane in the event of engine failure are few and far between.
Red Flag: "The First Ten Missions"
By Richard VanderMeulen
Tasked with the SEAD or Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses role an F-16CJ Viper of the 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw AFB, SC bristles with armaments. On the wingtips are a pair of AIM-120 AMRAAMs for use against enemy aircraft, inboard are an AIM-9 Sidewinder for close-in self defense against enemy aircraft on the right wing and an ACMI pod capable of constantly updating the aircraft’s position on the range complex. Further inboard is the primary armament, an AGM-88 HARM (High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile) used to destroy enemy radar sites. Under the nose is carried a HARM targeting pod and Lantirn laser designator pod for identifying targets at a distance and designating them with a laser for precision guided bombs. (Richard VanderMeulen)
Red Flag tracks its existence and basic format to lessons learned during the Vietnam War, when United States Air Force analysts noted a dramatic drop in mission survivability and dropping success rates among USAF pilots. According to past Red Flag sources, “After Vietnam we figured out that if you survived the first ten missions your chance of survival went up dramatically. Red Flag simulates the first ten missions a pilot flies in combat.” Red Flag however allows pilots to fly those first ten missions in a learning environment where the only missiles they face are represented in computer models and the closest they come to dying is hearing “you’re dead” on the radio.
Low Flying with the Swift Intruders
By Russ Albertson
Close pass by LCAC 33 (Mel Turner)
“Just because you don’t have wings, doesn’t mean you can’t fly.” The US Navy’s hovercraft designated the LCAC (Landing Craft Air Cushion) is the perfect example of this. This machine combines the qualities of a boat and a helicopter. It can hover on land or water, float or fly across the wave tops.
The LCAC was built to fill the Navy’s need for rapid delivery of men and equipment from ships to shore. This craft can carry up to 75 tons of cargo or vehicles at 60 knots up to the beach and even further inland if needed. It can fly over wet or marshy ground, and snow and ice or no barriers as long as the surface is fairly flat.
New to Flying?
By Ed Downs
Let’s assume the reader of this month’s column is not an aviator, but would like to be. Perhaps you are a pilot and know of a friend who would like to learn to fly, but just can’t afford it. Is a Sport Pilot certificate really worth looking into? Would it be better to simply wait until you can get into private pilot training and be a “real pilot?” You have a lot of company if those questions are floating around your enthusiastic, but confused head.