#3 F-4 Phantom
#1 Su-30
The Canadian Dream
The Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow is a delta winged interceptor aircraft that was shot down at it development stages. The Arrow held high promises as it was expected to reach Mach 2 at 50 000 ft., an advanced technical and aeronautical achievement for the Canadian aviation industry at the time. The cancellation and subsequent destruction of the Arrow program was a huge blow to the industry and brought Avro Canada out of business. Consequently, 14 528 Avro employees were out of work (Stewart 1998).
Today, Canadians still mourn the loss of the Arrow.
Cancellation and Destruction...
The Avro Arrow's cancellation was announced on February 20, 1959. This decision to cancel was the result of the Liberals losing the election to the Progressive Conservative government of John Diefenbaker.
Diefenbaker had attacked the Liberals on what he claimed was outrageous spending and upon becoming Prime Minister, was ready to cancel the Arrow program.
Not only was cost a factor of the decision, but new found threats. With new ICBMs being developed and the successful launch of the Sputnik, which opened the possibility of attack from space, the threat of a bomber attack was minimal. The Arrow, being an interceptor, was developed to face the bomber threat.
However, cancelling the program was not enough. The government then ordered the destruction of the 6 prototypes built, the Orenda Iroquois engines, the production tooling, and the blue prints for fear of a Soviet "mole" infiltration of Avro.
Design...
The Arrow utilized the delta wing which is optimum for supersonic aircraft because the leading edge of the wing is behind the shockwave generated by the nose of the aircraft flying at supersonic speeds. This is also true for highly swept wings but the delta wing is a lot more stronger, simpler, and cheaper. The delta wing also provides increased lift at high altitudes where the air is thinner.
The delta wing, however, does have its disadvantages. At lower speeds and altitudes, drag is increased. Also, when maneuvering, there is a higher drag compared to conventional wings because of the high wing area.
Replicas...
A full-scale replica was built by Allan Jackson. It was used by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in 1996 to film The Arrow, a four-hour miniseries. The replica also had several public appearances at air shows and was eventually donated by Jackson to the Reynolds-Alberta Museum in his hometown of Wataskiwin, Alberta.
The Avro Museum of Canada built a 0.6 scale remoted-controlled replica of the Arrow. It was the result of eight years of research, five years of volunteer labour in contruction (which started in September 2000), and half-million dollars in materials and parts. The replica had flown successfully several times.
The Canadian Air and Space Museum also has a full-size replica of the Arrow, built by volunteers. It features many authentic-looking equipment and has made several public apperances.
Specifications...
Data from The Great Book of Fighters, The Canadian Approach to All-Weather Interceptor Development (Floyd 1958), Avro Arrow: The Story of the Arrow from its Evolution to its Extinction
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 77 ft 9 in (23.71 m)
- Wingspan: 50 ft 0 in (15.24 m)
- Height: 20 ft 6 in (6.25 m)
- Wing area: 1,225 ft² (113.8 m²)
- Airfoil: NACA 0003.5 mod root, NACA 0003.8 tip
- Empty weight: 49,040 lb (22,245 kg)
- Loaded weight: 56,920 lb (25,820 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 68,605 lb (31,120 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney J75-P-3 turbojets
Dry thrust: 12,500 lbf (55.6 kN) each
Thrust with afterburner: 23,500 lbf (104.53 kN) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 1.98 max. recorded speed, Mach 2+ potential (1,307 mph, 2,104 km/h) at 50,000 ft (15,000 m)
- Cruise speed: Mach 0.91 (607 mph, 977 km/h) at 36,000 ft (11,000 m)
- Combat radius: 360 NM (410 mi, 660 km)
- Service ceiling: 53,000 ft (16,150 m)
- Wing loading: 46.5 lb/ft² (226.9 kg/m²)
- Thrust/weight: 0.825 at loaded weight
Armament
- Rockets: 1–4× AIR-2 Genie unguided nuclear rockets
- Missiles: 8× AIM-4 Falcon, Canadair Velvet Glove (cancelled 1956), 2 AIM-7 Sparrow II 2D active guidance missiles (cancelled)
Avionics
- Hughes MX-1179 fire control system
Su-35 - Big Brother to the Su-27
A Russian 4++ Generation, heavy class, long range, multi-role, single-seat aircraft. It is a redesigned variant of the Su-27, with an upgraded airframe and improved avionics, weapons, and engines.
The Su-35 is basically a modernized version of the Su-27, built in the 1970's, to fill the gap until the new PAK FA T-50 aircraft becomes operational. The PAK FA can be comparable with the American F-22 and F-35. It was presented to the general public in the MAKS 2007 airshow.
Improvements from Su-27M...
The Su-35 has larger wings and engine intakes. The airframe of the Su-35 is reinforced with the use of composite materials (strong and lightweight) like titanium alloys that extends the aircraft's service life by about 4000-6000 hours and lengthens the time period between overhauls (Milavia). The front radar signature of the Su-35 is also significantly reduced.
An advanced digital fly-by-wire (KSU-35) is also introduced into the plane and a rear-locking radar is included for firing Semi-Active Radar Missiles.
The canards from the Su-27M Super Flanker and the speedbrake are also removed. To match or surpass the maneuverability of canard-equipped aircraft, the Su-35 uses its new engine and the digital fly-by-wire system.
The maximum payload, however, has not changed.
New engines...
The new 117S engines of NPO Saturn powers the Su-35. This engine provides 16% more thrust compared to the Su-27's AL-31F. Engine service life and time between overhauls has also been increased.
Specifications...
Data from KNAAPO, Gordon and Davidson, MAKS 2007 Su-35 Display, aviapedia.com, milavia.net
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 21.9 m (72.9 ft)
- Wingspan: 15.3 m (50.2 ft)
- Height: 5.90 m (19.4 ft)
- Wing area: 62.0 m² (667 ft²)
- Empty weight: 18,400 kg (40,570 lb)
- Loaded weight: 25,300 kg (56,660 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 34,500 kg (76,060 lb)
- Powerplant: 2× Saturn 117S with TVC nozzle turbofan
- Dry thrust: 8,800 kgf (86.3 kN, 19,400 lbf) each
- Thrust with afterburner: 14,500 kgf (142 kN, 31,900 lbf) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 2.25 (2,390 km/h, 1,490 mph) at altitude
- Range: 3,600 km (1,940 nmi) ; (1,580 km, 850 nmi near ground level)
- Ferry range: 4,500 km (2,430 nmi) with external fuel tanks
- Service ceiling: 18,000 m (59,100 ft)
- Rate of climb: >280 m/s (>55,100 ft/min)
- Wing loading: 408 kg/m² (84.9 lb/ft²)
- Thrust/weight: 1.1
Armament
- 1 × 30 mm GSh-30 internal cannon with 150 rounds
- 2 × wingtip rails for R-73 (AA-11 "Archer") air-to-air missiles or ECM pods
- 12 × wing and fuselage stations for up to 8,000 kg (17,630 lb) of ordnance, including for a variety of ordnance including air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, rockets, and bombs such as:
AA-10 Alamo: R-27R, R-27ER, R-27T, R-27ET, R-27EP, R-27AE
AA-12 Adder: R-77, and the proposed R-77M1, R-77T
AA-11 Archer: R-73E, R-73M, R-74M
AS-17 Krypton: Kh-31A, Kh-31P Anti-Radiation Missile
AS-20: Kh-59
AS-14 Kedge: Kh-29T, Kh-29L
KAB-500 Laser-guided bomb
KAB-1500 Laser-guided bomb
LGB-250 laser-guided bomb
FAB-250 250kg unguided bombs
FAB-500 500kg unguided bombs
S-25LD laser-guided rocket, S-250 unguided rocket
B-8 unguided S-8 rocket pods
B-13 unguided S-13 rocket pods
Avionics
- Irbis-E passive phased array radar
The Valkyrie
Design...
The XB-70 had six engines which had a total thrust of about 168 ooo pounds with afterburner.
The Valkyrie used a tail-less, canard and delta wing combination seen in many modern planes like the Chinese J-10 and the Eurofighter Typhoon. Canard wings are small wings mounted forward of the fuselage that greatly and effectively increases maneuverability and control of the aircraft. Delta wings are triangular wings.
The plane was mostly built with stainless steel (not corrosion), sandwiched honeycomb panels (reduces weight), and titanium (strong but light).
Prototypes and Testing...
Altogether, two XB-70s were built.
The first plane was discovered to suffer from weaknesses in the honeycomb panels because of the inexperience in the fabrication and application of this new material. The second plane, however, resolved almost all honeycomb structural issues.
The maiden flight of the Valkyrie was on September 21, 1964 and testing lasted for two years (ending in Auguest 6 1966). The Valkyrie first became supersonic on the third test flight on October 12, 1964 and on October 14, 1965, surpassed Mach 3 and reached an altitude of 70 000 ft.
XB-70 #2 was, sadly, destroyed in a mid-air collision with an F-104 after a photoshoot. NASA Chief test pilot Joe Walker (F-104) and Carl Cross (XB-70 co-pilot) died while Al White (XB-70 pilot) ejected but suffered serious injuries.
Cancellation...
The Valkyrie project was cancelled was due to a combination of factors: the introduction of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM), the high costs, and new effective high-altitude anti-air missiles.
Aircraft on display...
XB-70 #1 is currently on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio.
Specifications...
Data from USAF XB-70 Fact sheet
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 185 ft 10 in (56.6 m)
- Wingspan: 105 ft 0 in (32 m)
- Height: 30 ft 9 in (9.4 m)
- Wing area: 6,296 ft² (585 m²)
- Airfoil: Hexagonal; 0.30 Hex modified root, 0.70 Hex modified tip
- Empty weight: 210,000 lb (93,000 kg)
- Loaded weight: 534,700 lb (242,500 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 550,000 lb (250,000 kg)
- Powerplant: 6× General Electric YJ93-GE-3 afterburning turbojet
- Dry thrust: 19,900 lbf (84 kN) each
- Thrust with afterburner: 28,800 lbf (128 kN) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 3.1 (2,056 mph, 3,309 km/h)
- Cruise speed: Mach 3.0 (2,000 mph, 3,200 km/h)
- Range: 3,725 nmi (4,288 mi, 6,900 km) combat
- Service ceiling: 77,350 ft (23,600 m)
- Wing loading: 84.93 lb/ft² (414.7 kg/m²)
- lift-to-drag: about 6 at Mach 2
- Thrust/weight: 0.314
Vacation in Space?
Developed by Mojave Aerospace Ventures, SpaceShipOne is an experimental air-launched, rocket-powered aircraft that has suborbital flight capability (up to 100km altitude). It flew 17 times before retirement and is a major step towards commercial spaceflights.
Paul Allen funded the entire development cost, estimated to be about US $25 million.
Design...
SpaceShipOne and its carrier aircraft, the White Knight, was designed by Burt Rutan, a famous American aerospace engineer who also designed the Voyager, the first plane to fly around the world non stop.
SpaceShipOne uses a hybrid rocket motor (motor that uses both liquid and solid fuel), which is a lot safer than solid fuels and mechanically simpler than liquid-fueled rockets.
Its atmospheric reentry mechanism is quite innovative: the rear half of the wing and the twin tail blooms fold upward along a hinge running the length of the wing that increases drag but keeps the plane stable.
Achievements...
On October 4, SpaceShipOne won the Ansari X PRIZE by reaching 100 km twice in two weeks and carrying and equivalent three people on board with no more than 10% of non-fuel weight replaced between the flights. The prize was US $10 million.
SpaceShipOne was the first privately funded aircraft to exceed Mach 2, then Mach 3, the first privately funded manned reusable spacecraft, and the first privately funded spacecraft to exceed an altitude of 100 km.
The White Knight...
The White Knight is a jet powered aircraft that after being used to ferry SpaceShipOne, was also used to both carry and drop test flights of the Boeing X-37 Orbital Test Vehicle.
It is a two-seater that looks just as weird as the spacecrafts that it carries.
SpaceShipTwo...
A spacecraft under the development by the The Spaceship Company, a joint venture between Scaled Composites and Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group. Virgin Galactic plans to operate a fleet of five of these spacecraft by 2011.
Based on the design of SpaceShipOne, SpaceShipTwo uses a hybrid rocket and the same reentry mechanism as its predecessor. It will be air launched by its mother ship, the White Knight Two.
The cabin will be about the size of a Gulfstream V Business Jet, according to BBC, which is about 6 feet high and 7 feet wide. The plane will carry 8 people, 2 pilots and 6 passengers.
SpaceShipTwo will have a longer range (about 160 - 320 km) and fly to a higher altitude (about 135 - 140 km), according to Burt Rutan.
Tom Clancy's HAWX 2
If you are an avid plane lover, then you should definitely try out the Tom Clancy's HAWX series. It's an air combat game that features stunning graphics with high-tech aircraft. You can choose from 50 different planes from the F-22 Raptor to the SR-71 Blackbird and many more loadouts. HAWX is fast-paced and very realistic.
Here's the trailer:
Here's the trailer:
The Chinese Dragon
The J-10 is a fourth generation multi-role combat aircraft designed, developed, and produced by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAIC) for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). The J-10 first flew in 1998 and is capable of all-weather, day/night operation.
Design...
Th J-10 has canard wings (small wings at the front) and a delta-wing configuration with no tail wings. This is called a "tail-less canard delta" wing configuration and greatly increases the maneuverability of the aircraft, especially at high speeds.
The canopy of the J-10 is a two-piece bubble canopy (canopy juts out of fuselage and shaped like a bubble) that provides a 360 degree view.
Under the delta wings are 11 hard points (points on wing that can have bombs or fuel tanks attached) to which 6000 kg of equipment can be attached.
A 23 mm twin-barrel cannon is located underneath the port (left) side of the engine intake.
Foreign exports...
Pakistan has agreed to purchase 36 J-10's for its air force and delivery is scheduled for 2014-15. The new Pakistani J-10's will be designated JC-20s.
Serbia has also expressed interest for the J-10 when Serbian Defense Minister Dragan Å utanovac spoke favourably of the plane.
Possible relationship between Israeli Lavi...
There have been conflicting reports that the J-10's design was based off the cancelled Israeli Lavi (developed in the 1980's) as both have the same canard wing configuration. However, the J-9, a cancelled program of the 1960's that led to the J-10, also had a canard wing configuration.
Name...
The J in J-10 comes from the Chinese word Jian (æ¼), which, translated, means "Interceptor".
Specifications...
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 (basic), 2 (trainer variant)
- Length: 15.5 m (50 ft 10 in)
- Wingspan: 9.7 m (31 ft 10 in)
- Height: 4.78 m (15.7 ft)
- Wing area: 39 m² (419.8 ft²)
- Empty weight: 9,750 kg (21,495 lb )
- Loaded weight: 14,876 kg (32,797 lb)
- Useful load: 4,500 kg (9,900 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 19,277 kg (42,500 lb)
- Powerplant: 1× Saturn-Lyulka
- Dry thrust: 79.43 kN / 89.17 kN (17,860 lbf / 20,050 lbf)
- Thrust with afterburner: 122.5 kN / 132 kN (27,557 lbf / 29,101 lbf)
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 1.9 at altitude, Mach 1.2 at sea level
- g-limits: +9/-3 g (+88/-29 m/s², +290/-97 ft/s²)
- Combat radius: 550 km (341 mi)
- Service ceiling: 18,000 m (59,055 ft)
- Wing loading: 335 kg/m² (69 lb/ft²)
- Thrust/weight: 0.89
Armament
- Guns: 1× 23mm twin-barrel cannon
- Hardpoints: 11 in total (6× under-wing, 5× under-fuselage) with a capacity of 6,000 kg (13,228 lb) external fuel and ordnance
- Rockets: 90 mm unguided rocket pods
- Missiles:
- Air-to-air missiles: PL-8, PL-9, PL-11, PL-12
- Air-to-surface missiles: PJ-9, YJ-9K
- Bombs: laser-guided bombs (LT-2), glide bombs (LS-6) and unguided bombs
- Others: Up to 3 external fuel drop-tanks (1× under-fuselage, 2× under-wing) for extended range and loitering time
Avionics
- NRIET KLJ-10 multi-mode fire-control radar
- Externally-mounted avionics pods:
- Type Hongguang-I infra-red search and track pod
- BM/KG300G self-protection jamming pod
- KZ900 electronic reconnaissance pod
- Blue Sky navigation/attack pod
- FILAT (Forward-looking Infra-red Laser Attack Targeting) pod
From Predator to Reaper
An improvement on the MQ-1 Predator drone, the MQ-9 Reaper is a UAV that became operational in 2007. Used primarily by the USAF and the CIA, the Reaper has become a very useful and respected battlefield weapon. Improvements... (Defense-Update)
The Reaper can fly at a higher altitude (50 000 ft.) with higher speeds (260 knots) and for a longer time (14 hours fully loaded). It also has a significantly greater payload than the Predator. In internal stores, the Reaper can carry up to 800 pounds, almost twice the Predator. In external stores, the Reaper can carry up to 3000 pounds! This means that the Reaper is able to carry up to 14 Hellfire missiles, compared to the maximum 2 of the Predator.
Also, the avionics on the MQ-9 is greatly improved.
Armaments...
The Reaper can carry an assortment of different missiles and bombs. Right now, it is able to operate with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles air-to-ground missiles, GBU-12 Pathway II laser-guided bombs, and GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) bombs. Testing underway to include the AIM-92 Stinger air-to-air missile into the arsenal.
Size and Costs...
The Reaper is about twice the size of the Predator and is about the same size as the A-10 Thunderbolt (Length: 36 ft. Height: 12.5 ft. Wingspan: 66ft.).
A fully equipped Reaper can cost up US $10.5 million, more than twice the costs of a Predator (about US $4.5 million).
Other Uses...
The Reaper is also used by Homeland Security for border patrol and NASA as an information gathering platform.
Helicopter Race - A Look at Future Helicopters
Right now, Eurocopter and Sikorsky are competing to create a helicopter than can fly at speeds similar to turbo-prop powered aircraft but have full hovering capabilities of a conventional helicopter.
Both have come up with innovative designs.
Eurocopter's X-3 sports a pair of turbine engines as well as a pair of forward-facing propellers mounted on small wings just under the rotor.
Sikorsky's X-2, uses a pair of counter-rotating main rotors and a rear facing propeller, where a tail rotor on a conventional helicopter is supposed to be, to create that extra push.
Both helicopters look increasingly promising, although Sikorsky's two-seat slim design seem to be veering to a more attack-helicopter like concept while Eurocopter's X-3, with its greater cargo space, could be used more as a transport or search-and-rescue aircraft.
Sikorsky's design has recently reached the 250 knot point whereas Eurocopter, a bit behind, plans to gradually work their way to 180 knots by December. Their hope is have the X-3 eventually fly at cruise speeds of 220 knots.
Concorde Successor?
Its been 7 years since the Concorde was retired. Now, the Aerion Supersonic Business Jet (SBJ) promises to bring supersonic air travel back into reality. Right now, it is undergoing proof-of-concept aerodynamic testing in NASA wind tunnels and under the belly of a NASA F-15 (TechNewsDaily).The SBJ is planned to carry up to 12 passengers at speeds of Mach 1.5.
Design...
The new wing design of the Concorde is, according to Brian Barents, vice chairman of Aerion, the prime factor that allows the SBJ to fly economically at subsonic and supersonic speeds, because it reduces drag.
This wing design can also be seen on the F-104 Starfighter, but according the Barents, it is the advancement of materials, such as carbon fiber, that enabled this design to be incorporated onto a passenger plane.
Subsonic speeds...
Because of the wing design of the SBJ, it will be able to fly economically at subsonic speeds, which means that the SBJ will able to operate in the US where supersonic flight is banned due to sonic booms. Its speed will remain at Mach 0.98, which reduces coast-to-coast flight by 41 minutes vs conventional aircraft (TechNewsDaily).
The Future...
High performance while satisfying environmental regulations, the SBJ already has orders and the company hopes that this new aircraft will be certified by the FAA and ready to go by 2015.
The Fall of the Concorde
The Concorde, introduced in 1976, was the first passenger airliner that traveled at supersonic speeds. This was the product of a joint venture between British and French companies and remained in operation until 2003.
The Concorde could supercruise at Mach 2.02 and had a top speed of Mach 2.04.
Design...
The Concorde utilized a revolutionary dart wing design for passenger planes, obviously for increased speed. It also had a double-delta wing design that allowed for landing at lower speeds. Also, it had a nose that could "droop" down that allowed for better landing visibility.
Early production setback...
The original plan for the Concorde was to have 300 built. However, due to an Arab oil embargo, oil prices rose steeply and orders were swiftly cancelled. In the end, only 20 aircraft were ever built. These were operated by British Airways, Air France, Singapore Airlines, and Braniff International Airways.
Retirement...
The Concorde was facing retirement by the 21st century. It had a dated cockpit with analog dials and controls (since there were no competing aircraft, there was no pressure to upgrade) and an airframe worn down by close to 30 years of service.
The crash on July 25, 2000 sealed the deal. Although this was the only accident in Concorde history, the lost confidence in Concorde was never regained and passenger numbers remained low.
Finally, on November 26, 2003, Concorde G-BOAF of British Airways, the last Concorde still in service, made is retirement flight to Filton, Bristol, UK, her place of birth.
Fuel Efficiency (or inefficiency)...
The Concorde was a fuel consuming beast. The passenger mile to US gallon ratio for a 747 was 109 while the ratio for a Concorde was 14.
An Interesting Fact...
- The Concorde could cross the Atlantic in 3 hours, which meant that European passengers could arrive earlier than when they left!
Supercruise - What is it?
Supercruise is a term that describes sustained supersonic flight without the use of afterburners, hence the name super (supersonic) cruise (cruising).
The first plane that could supercruise was the English Electric Lightning introduced in 1954. From then on, many other planes had this feature.
Some of them include: the F-22 Raptor, the SR-71 Blackbird, the Eurofighter Typhoon, the Su-35BM, the JAS 39 Gripen, and the Concorde.
F-35 vs F-22
The F-22 and F-35, the newest planes in the US military's arsenal. Both are similar in appearances and capabilities. Both are the product of multi-billion dollar projects and both cost millions dollars. However, which is the better plane?
Comparison...
| | ||
| Yes (Mach 1.8) | No | |
| V/STOL (takeoff vertically) | No | Yes (One version) |
| Stealth | Better | Not as good |
| Top Speed | Mach 2.25 | Mach 1.6 |
| Service ceiling | 65 000 ft. | 60 000 ft. |
| Engines | Double | Single |
| Size | Large | Small |
| Maneuverability | Better | Not as good |
| Operate on Carriers? | No | Yes |
| Cost | US $150 million | US $96 million |
| Maintenance | More | Less |
| Payload | Larger | Smaller |
| Vectored thrusting | Yes (more maneuverable) | No |
| Avionics (equipment like radar) | Better | Not as good |
Surviving a 33 000 ft. fall without a parachute!
Vesna Vulovic, a former Serbian flight attendant, survived a 33 000 ft. fall on January 26, 1972, without a parachute when a bomb blew up a DC-9 of Yugoslavia's JAT airline (JAT Flight 364). Vesna was 22-years old. She currently holds the world record, according to the Guinness Book of Records, for surviving the highest fall without a parachute. It was exactly 10 160 m (33 333 feet).
The Crash...
The bomb, planted by the terrorist group Ustashe, detonated over the city of Srbska-Kamenica. The DC-9, which had 28 passengers on board, was torn apart by the explosions and the wreckage fell through the air for about three minutes before landing on a snow covered mountain side.
How she survived...
The snow apparently softened the impact and lucky Vesna recieved immediate aid by a German named Bruno Henke. Even better, her rescuer was a World War II medic!
Also, another factor that possibly aided in her survival was her low blood pressure which caused her to pass out quickly and saved her heart from bursting.
Injuries...
At the hospital, the doctors concluded that Vesna had:
- broken both her legs
- broken her skull (which was also hemorrhaging)
- three crushed vertebrae (sections of backbone
Vesna was paralyzed from the waist down and she could not remember anything about the incident and everything one month after - due to amnesia.
Aftermath...
However, movement of both a Vesna's legs were restored with a little bit of surgery and patience. By September of the same year, she was fit for work and was given a desk job at the same airline company (apparently to avoid publicity).
Interesting Facts...
- Vesna was not supposed to be on the flight. Her schedule was mixed up with another stewardess with the same name.
- The first thing Vesna asked for when she came to was a cigarette.
Vesna Vulovic
This article was created with information from Damn Interesting
EDIT: so apparently there is a chance (emphasis on chance) this might have been a fabricated story to cover up a mistake. Two investigative journalists from Prague claims that the plane Vulovic was on might have been mistaken for an enemy plane by a fighter plane from the Czechoslovakian Air Force and the shot down plane fell and broke up at a much lower altitude than previously claimed. Guardian
EDIT: so apparently there is a chance (emphasis on chance) this might have been a fabricated story to cover up a mistake. Two investigative journalists from Prague claims that the plane Vulovic was on might have been mistaken for an enemy plane by a fighter plane from the Czechoslovakian Air Force and the shot down plane fell and broke up at a much lower altitude than previously claimed. Guardian
Tragic B-2 Crash
On February 23rd, 2008, the Spirit of Kansas, 89-0127, crashed on the runway shortly after takeoff from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. This was the first ever crash of a B-2 bomber and one of the most costly aviation accidents ever (total loss was estimated at US$1.4 billion).
The good news is, the two officer crewmen survived after safely ejecting from the plane before it crashed. Also, there were no munitions on board.
Cause...
An investigation into the accident found out that heavy rains caused water to enter the plane's skin-flush air-data sensors, which distorted the angle of attack and yaw data the sensors were feeding the computerized flight-control system. As a result, the flight-control system, using false data, made the disastrous correction during the B-2 takeoff.
Impact...
Following the crash, a B-2 that was already flying was called down and the 19 other bombers were grounded until the initial investigation was complete.
Because the B-2 were grounded, 6 B-52s of the 96th Bomb Squadron, 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana were deployed.
Big or Small? (A380 vs 787)
Boeing and Airbus have been head-to-head in trying to dominate the commercial airliner market since 2001 (year Airbus SAS was established). Since then, both airliner manufacturers have pumped out thousands of planes and many new designs. The two most recent ones are the A380 "behemoth" from Airbus and the B787 Dreamliner "slick and fast" from Boeing. Both planes boast better fuel efficiency and lower operating costs but exactly which is better?
- 49% more seating than the Boeing 747 and 4 times more than the Boeing 787
- Expensive ($280 million)
- More entertainment (bars and Jacuzzis)
- The larger area of the A380 is possibility for many airlines to incorporate shops, arcades, and restaurants to make travelling much more enjoyable
- Can be used to carry heavy cargo
- More people one trip = less fuel (more fuel used per trip but less trips)
- Very quiet
- Fast and slick (means you get there faster)
- Cheap
- Less entertainment
- Airports do not have to redesign to accommodate the 787
- Lighter weight = less fuel (less fuel used per trip but more trips)
- Very quiet
- Pressurized for lower altitude and high humidity (sited from)
Specifications... (A380)
1. A380-800
- Cockpit Crew: 2
- Seating Capacity: 525 (3-class).
- 644 (2-class).
- 853 (1-class).
- Length: 73 m (239 ft. 6 in.).
- Span: 79.8 m (261 ft. 10 in.).
- Height: 24.1 m (79 ft. 1 in.).
- Wheelbase: 30.4 m (99 ft. 8 in.).
- Outside fuselage width: 7.14 m (23 ft. 6 in.).
- Cabin width, main deck: 6.60 m (21 ft. 8 in.).
- Cabin width, upper deck: 5.94 m (19 ft. 6 in.).
- Wing Area: 845 m2 (9 100 sq. ft.).
- Operating empty weight: 276 800 kg (610 200 lb.).
- Maximum take-off weight: 560 000 kg (1 235 000 lb.).
- Maximum Payload: 90 800 kg (200 000 lb.).
- Cruising Speed: Mach 0.85.
- Maximum Cruising Speed: Mach 0.89.
- Maximum Speed: Mach 0.96.
- Take-off Run at Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW): 2 750 m (9 020 ft.).
- Range at design load: 15 200 km (8 200 nmi.).
- Service Ceiling: 13 115 m (43 000 ft.).
- Maximum Fuel Capacity: 310 000 L (81 890 US Gal.).
- Engines (4x): GP7270 (A380-861).
- Trent 970/B (A380-841).
- Trent 972/B (A380-842).
2. A380-800F
- Cockpit Crew: 2
- Seating Capacity: 12 couriers
- Length: 73 m (239 ft 6 in)
- Span: 79.8 m (261 ft 10 in)
- Height: 24.1 m (79 ft 1 in)
- Wheelbase: 30.4 m (99 ft 8 in)
- Outside fuselage width: 7.14 m (23 ft 6 in)
- Cabin width, main deck: 6.60 m (21 ft 8 in)
- Cabin width, upper deck: 5.94 m (19 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 845 m² (9,100 sq ft)
- Operating empty weight: 252,200 kg (556,000 lb)
- Maximum take-off weight: 590,000 kg (1,300,000 lb)
- Maximum payload: 152,400 kg (336,000 lb)
- Cruising speed: Mach 0.85
- Maximum cruising speed: Mach 0.89
- Maximum speed: Mach 0.96
- Take off run at Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW): 2,900 m (9,510 ft)
- Range at design load: 10,400 km (5,600 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 13,115 m (43,000 ft)
- Maximum fuel capacity: 310,000 L (81,890 US gal),356,000 L (94,000 US gal) option
- Engines (4 x): GP7277 (A380-863F)Trent 977/B (A380-843F)
Specifications... (787 Dreamliner)
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_787#Specifications
| Model | 787-3 | 787-8 | 787-9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | Two | ||
| Passengers | 290–330 | 210–250 | 250–290 |
| Length | 186 ft (57 m) | 206 ft (63 m) | |
| Wingspan | 170 ft (52 m) | 197 ft (60 m) | 208 ft (63 m) |
| Wing sweepback | 32.2° | ||
| Height | 55 ft 6 in (16.92 m) | ||
| Fuselage height | 19 ft 5 in (5.91 m) | ||
| Fuselage width | 18 ft 11 in (5.75 m) | ||
| Cabin width | 18 ft (5.49 m) | ||
| Cargo capacity | 4,400 ft³ (124.6 m³) 28 LD3 | 5,400 ft³ (152.9 m³) 36 LD3 | |
| Empty weight | 223,000 lb (101,151.1 kg) | 242,000 lb (109,769.4 kg) | 254,000 lb (115,212.5 kg) |
| Maximum takeoff weight | 364,000 lb (165,107.6 kg) | 484,000 lb (219,538.7 kg) | 540,000 lb (244,939.9 kg) |
| Cruise speed | Mach 0.85 (903 km/h, 561 mph, 487 knots, at 40,000 ft/12.19 km) | ||
| Maximum cruise speed | Mach 0.89 (945 km/h, 587 mph, 510 knots, at 40,000 ft/12.19 km) | ||
| Range, fully loaded (not max payload) | 2,500 – 3,050 NM (4,650 – 5,650 km) | 7,650 – 8,200 NM (14,200 – 15,200 km) | 8,000 – 8,500 NM (14,800 – 15,750 km) |
| Maximum fuel capacity | 33,528 US gal (126,917 L) | 36,693 US gal (138,898 L) | |
| Service ceiling | 43,000 ft (13.1 km) | ||
| Engines (2×) | General Electric GEnx or Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 | ||
| Maximum thrust capability | 53,000 lbf (235.8 kN) | 64,000 lbf (284.7 kN) | 70,000 lbf (311.4 kN) |
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