MIDWEEK UPDATE 1 MARCH 2017Plan Your Weekend……..Forthcoming Events Aviation News………. Worldwide Incidents and Accidents This Week in Aviation History………Advertising Rate Card  Today we discuss aircraft assessing with Paul Leaker. Paul is a Senior Certified Aircraft Appraiser (USPAP), an Approved IOSA Auditor (MBA USA), a Member National Aircraft Appraisers Association USA, a NAAA Certified Aircraft Buyers Agent and a SACAA Certified Class 2 Test Pilot To listen to a recording of the live broadcast click on the link www.debela.co.za/aviation-radio-show   1: EAA Chapter 322 meeting. Dicky Fritz Moth Hall Edenvale. Contact editor@afskies.co.za 4: SAAF Museum AFB Zwartkop open practise day 4: Durban Wings Club Fun Rally. Virginia Airport. CANCELLED Contact: Mary de Klerk maryd@expandingbranding.co.za    10 - 12: The Aero Club Air Week Parys. Website: www.aeroclub.org.za Contact Sandra Strydom Tel: 011 082 1100 E-mail: office@aeroclub.org.za 11-12: Ficksburg RC Club Fly and Braai. Contact Johan 0835785321or johan.vangreunen@dcs.gov.za 17-19 March SA Navy Festival, Simonstown. 3rd Saturday of every month. Microland. Bring and braai. Fires and bykos provided. Fires start from 09h30. Contact person: Nick Swardt 082 441 8011 or Alan Hussey 072 82 2341 30-9 April: Entry for the 2017 Stars of Sandstone Festival is available from Leigh Sanders who can be contacted on +27 79 327 7649 or e-mail leighs@sandstone.co.za - or see details at www.sandstone-estates.com 30-1 April: National Rally Flying Championships. Brits Air Field. Contact Frank Eckard e-mail: frank.eckard@mweb.co.za cell: 083 269 1516 31-1 April: Wings and Wheels Festival. Utenhage Airfield. Contact Lourens Kruger E-mail: imk@telkomsa.net Cell 082 320 2615  1: EAA Chapter 322 meeting. Dicky Fritz Moth Hall Edenvale. Contact Contact editor@afskies.co.za  4: SAAF Museum AFB Zwartkop open practise day 6: Aero Club of South Africa Annual General meeting. Contact office@aeroclub.org.za 7: TMG, LSA and Glider fly in Brits Airfield. Contact mandy@airplay.co.ca or daniel.ralefeta@gmail.com 13: SAPFA Sheila Taylor Fun Rally, Krugersdorp, Jack Taylor Airfield. Frank Eckard E-mail: frank.eckard@mweb.co.za 20 -23: AERO Friedrichshafen - Germany Website: www.aero-expo.com 3rd Saturday of every month. Microland. Bring and braai. Fires and bykos provided. Fires start from 09h30. Contact person: Nick Swardt 082 441 8011 or Alan Hussey 072 82 2341 28- 30: Thaba Nchu Airshow. Christiaan Moriaana. 012 543 1736 26 -1 May: SA National Sky Diving Championships. Rustenburg Skydiving Club  4: SAAF Museum AFB Zwartkop open practise day 5-6: Battlefields' Sports Resorts' annual fly in. Dundee KZN. Contact Dave O' Halloran e-mail gm@battlefieldslodge.co.za 6: SAAF Museum Airshow AFB Zwartkop. Contact Tel: 012 351 2290 12 - 13: Lowveld airshow. Nelspruit Airfield. Tel: 013 741 6412 Contact Willemien Hodgkinson e-mail: willemien.hodgkinson@kishugu.com 20-21: SAC KZN regionals. Ladysmith. Contact Annie Boon e-mail: chunge@mweb.co.za 3rd Saturday of every month. Microland. Bring and braai. Fires and bykos provided. Fires start from 09h30. Contact person: Nick Swardt 082 441 8011 or Alan Hussey 072 82 2341 26-28: SAPFA President's Trophy Air Race. Springs Aero Club. Website: www.sapfa.org.za E-mail: Race@sapfa.org.za. Race director Robin Spencer-Scarr: robin@stylegroup.com.au ot Contact Robbie Myburgh e-mail: roblena@mweb.co.za Cell: 083 377 0925 27-28: Wings Park Annual Airfest Fly in. All aircraft welcome. Great fun filled weekend with some of the coolest planes and pilots around. Avgas and Mogas available. Jet A1 on request. Safe parking with kilometer long grass runway. Contact Rob Williamson Cell: 082 574 9034 E-mail: rwhw@iafrica.com 27: Botswana International airshow. Matsieng Airfield (FBMA). Contact Guillaume Knipe E-mail: Gknipe@work.co.bw Cell +267 71300646  SUN FLYER TO BENEFIT FROM PART 23 REFORM Photo and video © Aero Electrical Sun Flyer  The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a final rule in mid-December 2016 for the new Part 23, which enables a more efficient certification process for general aviation aircraft with innovative technologies, such as electric-powered Sun Flyer. The rules also include provisions for electric propulsion.  Power-on tests commenced on the prototype Sun Flyer late last year, and nearly 100 customer deposits and options for deposits have been received. The 2-seat flight trainer is intended to be the first FAA-certified, U.S.-sponsored, practical, all-electric airplane to serve the flight training and general aviation markets. It features a remarkably low operating cost; low aircraft unit cost, low noise and the elimination of CO2 exhaust pollutants. John Knudsen, AEAC Executive Vice President and former FAA Attorney, echoed Bye's enthusiasm for the new rule, calling the revised Part 23 standards a game-changer. "This is probably one of the best rule re-writes I have ever seen the FAA do by taking out extraneous requirements for small airplanes," he said. "It is truly a substantial improvement." 2016 A RECORD YEAR OF GROWTH AND EXPANSION FOR CIRRUS AIRCRAFT Photo and Video © Cirrus  Total new aircraft deliveries in 2016 mark the third consecutive year that Cirrus has delivered more than 300 units and highlights steady growth over the past eight years - an increase of almost 20% since 2009. The record performance propelled Cirrus to a global fleet of more than 6,500 SR series aircraft in over 60 countries. In addition to the strong delivery performance and product line expansion, Cirrus capped off the record-setting year by launching the all new G6 SR22T, SR22 and SR20 product line, opening the Vision Centre™ - the reimagined Cirrus Aircraft Customer Experience Centre - in Knoxville, TN, expanding Duluth manufacturing operations, providing technologically advanced aircraft to global training fleets, and receiving the Joseph T. Nall Safety Award from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA).  The Vision Jet Arrives Cirrus ushered in a new era in personal transportation in 2016 when the world's first single-engine Personal Jet - the Vision Jet - was certified by the FAA in October. The spacious, technologically-advanced, pilot and passenger-friendly Personal Jet revealed to the world an all-new category of aircraft and began revolutionizing regional transportation as soon as Vision Jets started entering the hands of customers in December. The first delivery took place at the brand new 68,000 sq. ft. Finishing Center in Duluth, MN, in front of over 1,000 Cirrus employees and their families, customers, partners and national, state and local dignitaries. More than 600 Vision Jet production position holders are eagerly awaiting their turn to join the Vision Jet revolution. Cirrus G6: The Smartest, Safest, Most Connected High-Performance Piston Ever True to its core value of relentless innovation, Cirrus yet again changed the customer experience value proposition in the high-performance piston market by introducing the all-new G6 - the smartest, safest and most advanced models ever of the best-selling SR22T, SR22 and SR20 airplanes. The enhanced SR series includes the ultra-high speed Cirrus Perspective+™ by Garmin® flight deck, luxury automotive-inspired Cirrus Spectra™ wingtip lighting, premium cockpit connectivity solutions and more. The improved SR20 now comes equipped with a modernized Lycoming IO-390, 215HP powerplant. This four-cylinder G6 SR20 creates an enhanced ownership experience as it increases power while, through a collection of additional enhancements, also increasing useful load by up to 150lbs (68kg). The sixth-generation Cirrus began delivering in January 2017.  Romain Spadiny   By 1995, Garmin's sales had reached $105 million, and it had achieved a profit of $23 million. By 1999, sales had reached $233 million and a profit of $64 million. Garmin reported 2006 total revenue of $1.77 billion, up 73% from $1.03 billion in 2005.  Photo © Legend Cub There's a salient shortlist of reasons for flying a Legend Cub, and they bear repeating. For many, flying is a thing of dreams while for others it's all about the freedom. Books tell of action, adventure and bravery in flying. The Legend Cub allows us these experiences quintessentially in its fitness to purpose. Each Legend Cub is built to order and built to last. Starting today, American Legend Aircraft Company announces a limited number of delivery slots will be available for its 2017 Legend Cub. Typically operating on a 90-day delivery schedule, factory production of new aircraft is confined by two things: talent and the clock. Some lucky customers will take delivery of their new Legend Cub at the height of this year's flying season. To fulfill your dream and embark on your next memorable experience, ensure your Legend Cub delivery today. SECOND LOCKHEED MARTIN T-50A TAKES FLIGHT IN GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA Photo and video © Lockheed Martin  In February 2016, Lockheed Martin announced its plan to offer the T-50A in the APT competition and build the aircraft at a final assembly and checkout (FACO) facility in Greenville. Lockheed Martin formally unveiled its T-50A FACO and operations centre in August 2016. The T-50A is ready on day one of contract award and is purpose-built around 5th Generation thinking. It will train the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II pilots of tomorrow, as well as pilots for frontline 4th Generation aircraft. The low risk T-50A builds upon the proven heritage of the T-50 with more than 150 T-50s flying today - 200,000 flight hours and counting - and more than 1,800 pilots who have trained in this aircraft. Lockheed Martin's accompanying T-50A Ground-Based Training System features innovative technologies that deliver an immersive, synchronized ground-based training platform. The T-50A team also brings extensive experience in world-class, worldwide logistics support. Photo © MD Helicopters In late January, MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) and the Hungarian National Police celebrated the addition of five (5) MD902 Explorer helicopters to their fleet at Liszt Ferenc Airport in Budapest. The five MD 902s join a historically robust air support unit that also includes three (3) MD 500E helicopters. The MD902s have been acquired to replace an aging Mi-2 fleet.  With this acquisition, the Hungarian National Police become one of the largest fleet operators of MD-brand aircraft in Eastern Europe. The Hungarian National Police began flying the MD 500E in 1986. The National Police air support unit plays an integral role in the effective execution of Hungary's national security needs; helping police to secure borders and providing ground and air support whenever and wherever necessary.  "Like the MD 500E, the MD 902 is deeply rooted in a commitment to safety, reliability, and superior performance," Schaffer concludes. "The MD 902 truly does set the standard for affordability, dependability and safety for light and medium-twin engine helicopters. We congratulate the Hungary National Police on their newest additions, and are excited to know our aircraft will play an ongoing role in the Country's security and safety."  Photo © DJI With a 7 km operation range, 38 min flight time, IP43 level ingress protection and 2 KG max payload capacity the M200 Series drones fold down in a snap and unfold just as quickly. Gimbal mounting plates and aircraft arms stay mounted during transportation so that you're ready to fly within minutes. With improved reliability and precisions, inspectors are empowered to visualize extensive powerline networks with unparalleled detail despite adverse conditions. Equipped with both an aerial zoom and thermal camera, first responders can now quickly locate missing people in remote areas and plan the safest approach path. With a top-mounted gimbal pilots can fully inspect bridges, allowing teams to adequately plan maintenance schedules for improved public safety and minimized costs.   USA, Orlando: A Brevard County pilot has been accused of drunkenly flying a Boeing 747 overseas while working for a U.S. armed forces subcontractor. Daniel R. Criss, who was working as a pilot for armed forces subcontractor Kalitta Air, was charged Wednesday in Orlando federal court with flying the jet between Osan Air Base in South Korea and Yakota Air Base in Japan while drunk. His blood-alcohol concentration at the time exceeded the .10 percent limit allowed by federal law.   7 MARCH 1961 The # 2 North America X-15 became the first manned aircraft to exceed Mach 4 when pilot Capt. Robert M. White reached a speed of 2,905 mph which, at the altitude of 77,450 ft, he achieved Mach 4.43.  Major General Robert Michael "Bob" White During World War II he flew P-51 Mustangs from July 1944 until February 1945 when he was shot down over Germany on his 52nd combat mission. He was captured and remained a prisoner of war until his release in April 1945. He then returned to the United States, left active duty in December 1945. White attended the U.S. Air Force's Experimental Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California, and became a test pilot, flying advanced models such as the F-86 Sabre, F-89 Scorpion, the new F-102 Delta Dagger, the F-104 Starfighter and the F-105 Thunderchief. He was promoted to Deputy Chief of the Flight Test Operations Division, later becoming Assistant Chief of the Manned Spacecraft Operations Branch.  X-15. Photo NASA commons.wikimedia.org  X-15 cockpit Photo commons.wikimedia.org White was designated the Air Force's primary pilot for the North American X-15 program in 1958. While the new plane was undergoing its initial tests, he attended the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, graduating in 1959. He made his first test flight of the X-15 on April 15, 1960, when the aircraft was fitted with two interim, 16,000 lbf (71 kN) thrust rocket engines. Four months later he flew to an altitude of 136,000 ft (41.5 km), above Rogers Dry Lake. White would have participated in the Air Force's Man in Space Soonest program, had it come to fruition.  X-15 launched. Photo NASA  For a free no obligations quote email sales@pilotspost.com  |
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