Or atlest a little dozed off…
Britains Formula One hero and brand ambassador for Bombardier Lewis Hamilton took on the Canadian airframers iconic Learjet 60 in a special one off head-to-head challenge at the Farnborough International Airshow Monday. Hamilton tore his McLaren Mercedes around the runway at 175mph, competing against the Learjet some 200ft above him and winning the race.
EADS is spreading its wings, although will not be moving out of Europe. Addressing delegates at the Farnborough International Airshow Monday, CEO Louis Gallois said the company is shopping for acquisitions and the low U.S. dollar is making that side of the pond attractive. He said the acquisition drive is an attempt to balance risk and cost. Gallois said the company is looking to reduce its share of commercial aircraft platforms to 50 percent from 60 to 65 percent via acquisitions.
Russian passenger jet MS-21 is expected to have 15-20% better
characteristics than those of A-320 manufactured by Airbus. China has a
chance to become one of the jet’s developers. Full Story
Cessna Aircraft is making progress on its attempts to revitalize the flight training and recreational flying markets. The engineering team now has completed the third 162 SkyCatcher airframe, which will be used for static testing. Two other airplanes are being used for flight testing. One of those will be equipped with a production interior, which will makes its debut at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis., later this month…
FARNBOROUGH, England (BUSINESS WIRE): China Southern Airlines today announced that it has selected CFM56-5B engines to power a new fleet of 20 Airbus A320 family aircraft, and back the engine purchase with a long-term material services agreement.
CFM56-5B engines are a product of CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between Snecma (SAFRAN Group) and General Electric Company…
FARNBOROUGH (U.K.)(RIA Novosti): More than 60 Russian defense-industry companies are taking part in the Farnborough air show that opened on Monday, southwest of the British capital. The Farnborough International Airshow 2008 will be the biggest event ever in its 60-year history in terms of exhibition space and exhibitor numbers, the organizers said on its website…
WASHINGTON: The Federal Aviation Administration announced measures Monday to improve runway safety, including the installation at major airports of lights that signal pilots when a runway is safe to enter. The announcement by Acting FAA Administrator Robert Sturgell comes amid criticism of FAA officials by federal lawmakers and others over an alarming rate of runway incursions at airports…
FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom: Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Dubai’s recently launched low-cost airline FlyDubai today announced an order for 50 Next-Generation 737-800s at the Farnborough Air Show. Valued at approximately $3.74 billion at current list prices, the order will be added to Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries Web site at the next regularly scheduled update. FlyDubai has substitution rights to convert its 737-800 orders to 737-900ERs (extended range) in the future.
FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom: Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Etihad Airways today announced an order for 35 787-9 Dreamliners and 10 777-300ERs (Extended Range) at the Farnborough Airshow. Valued at $9.4 billion at current list prices, the order has been attributed on Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries Web site to an unidentified customer.
FARNBOROUGH, (RIA Novosti): Russia’s Irkut corporation, the manufacturer of the famed Sukhoi fighters, has 80 solid orders for Yak-130 combat trainers, the company director said on Monday during the Farnborough air show currently being held near London…
Last week, the major airlines sent a letter to their customers blaming oil speculators for high prices. AVweb Editorial Director Paul Bertorelli thinks they’re giving customers the runaround, asking them to become junior lobbyists and urge Congress to crack down on oil speculators instead of demanding a consistent, practical national energy policy. Read what Paul has to say about this on the AVweb Insider blog.
Last week we brought you a classic Tiger Moth doing aerobatic maneuvers over Australia. This week, we journey to the opposite end of the globe and serve up what YouTube user CrowBerry Dog modestly calls a “flight into known icing” over Knik Glacier in Alaska. (Click through to watch.)
Overheard in IFR Magazine’s “On the Air”Overheard in Southern Florida:Fort Myers Approach:”Cessna Three Four Alpha, say heading.”Cessna:”Ah, we’re headin’ for Tampa.”Fort Myers Approach:”Cessna Three Four Alpha, say heading.”Cessna:”Well, okay. We’re headin’ for the LaBelle VOR first and then going on to Tampa.”Fort Myers Approach:”Cessna Three Four Alpha, could you look at your compass and tell me what number is behind the little line?”Cessna:”Oh you want to know which way we’re going right now. L-r three five zero, sir.”Jerry ZezasMarathon, Florida
>>> AVWEB FUEL FINDER CURRENT PRICE FOR 100LL: $5.59 (up 2¢ from last week)CURRENT PRICE FOR JET A: $5.97 (up 5¢ from last week)Fuel prices provided weekly by AirNav, based on prices from the past 2 weeks. Changes are relative to last week’s prices. /TEXT_ONLY–>AVweb’s “FBO of the Week” ribbon goes to St. Petersburg Flying Service at KSPG in St. Petersburg, Florida.AVweb reader Shaina Lotu writes:I’ve never met a more user-friendly FBO. This FBO has an extremely competitive fuel price for how much service they offer … [and] they have a brand-new terminal and are located right in downtown St. Pete.Keep those nominations coming. For complete contest rules, click here.AVweb is actively seeking out the best FBOs in the country and another one, submitted by you, will be spotlighted here next Monday!
If you’re looking for a high-flying adventure for kids, try the Experimental Aircraft Association’s free fly-in at Murfreesboro Municipal Airport.
Robert P. Mark - www.jetwhine.com If you’re a pilot and and watch the AOPA video of the rocket-run the F-16 pilots ran on a couple of civil airplanes in March, you’ll probably lose your lunch. A Beech Premier and a PC-12 were transiting a Military Operations Area (MOA) that the ABQ Center controller obviously realized was active when the fighter decided to make the two civil pilots aware they were not wanted.
The National Business Aviation Association spent $670,000 in the first quarter to lobby on legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration and other issues.
LONDON (Reuters): Russia’s Sukhoi will announce 30 orders for its Superjet 100 regional aircraft at the Farnborough air show, a spokeswoman said on Saturday. The orders will be unveiled at a news conference on Tuesday, she said…
PARIS (Reuters): Aircraft maker Airbus (EAD.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) expects to announce new orders at the Farnborough air show next week, its Director-General Fabrice Bregier said in an interview published on Saturday…
JERUSALEM: Israel displayed its latest spy plane on Thursday in what defence officials said was a show of strength in response to Iranian war games and missile tests. The aircraft’s sophisticated intelligence-gathering technology and electronic warfare systems were developed by state-run Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and installed aboard a US-made Gulfstream G550 business jet…
Propped up by a culture of fear, TSA has become a bureaucracy with too much power and little accountability. Where will the lunacy stop?..
The Federal Aviation Administration this week took the bold step to enlist the folks at X PRIZE, the same out fit currently offering a $30 million prize to land a privately funded robotic craft on the Moon and a $10 million reward for researchers to build clean and super-efficient cars…
A pilot branded “a very real danger to the skies” has been jailed for nine months.
THE aviation world might traditionally be considered a man’s domain, but the number of women in the Gulf taking to the skies is soaring to an all-time high.
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association has announced the hiring of Paul H. Feldman as Vice President, Government Affairs.
By Robert Mark on July 9th, 2008 - www.jetwhine.com Those of us who have either flown business airplanes or have been lucky enough to travel in the back - a few of us qualify for both - are light years ahead of the people we are still trying to convince about the value of personal air travel over the chaos of traveling on board the airlines, despite yesterday’s Jetwhine post on Virgin America.
By Robert Mark on July 8th, 2008 - www.jetwhine.com Clever and creative are not terms people use much when they speak about the airline industry, except for a few of the “Gen Xer airlines” as I call the Low Cost Carriers because they really seem to get it.
Dolphins and whales have evolved over millions of years to maximize efficiency of movement through water. The human species has been trying to perfect streamlined designs for barely a century. Biologists and engineers, applying biomimicry, studied the flippers, fins and tails of whales and dolphins, and have discovered some features of their structure that contradict long-held engineering theories…
SANTIAGO (Xinhua): A small airplane crashed Thursday in the south of Chile shortly after it took off from La Paloma airport in Puerto Montt, capital of the region of Los Lagos, 990 km south of Santiago, killing nine persons, authorities said. The Beechcraft 99A aircraft took off from La Paloma airport at 10:20 a.m. local time (1420 GTM) on route to Melinka island but it fell down near the airport at 10:30 a.m. local time (1430 GTM), near a residential sector…
Bell Helicopter officials told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram this week that the civilian market for the Bell 206 Tiltorotor BA609 is disappearing as more capable helicopters and $2 million very light jets take center stage. The lead on the project has been shifted to program partner AugustaWestland in Italy. The military counterpart is the V-22 Osprey. A mock-up of the combination airplane and helicopter has occupied space each year on the exhibit floor of the National Business Aviation Association’s annual convention…