Showing posts with label aviation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label aviation. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Friday, February 06, 2009
Cactus 1549 in the Hudson River
This is the R/T recording between US Airways (Cactus 1549) just prior to it being ditched in the Hudson River.
Monday, May 26, 2008
The Missing Man
This afternoon I went to watch 'the missing man' being flown over the Margraten American Cemetery. Had to queue for 15 minutes to get parked with the other thousands of visitors who went to thank our American brothers in arms for saving this part of Holland.
It was quite a touching ceremony. Nice music and reeth laying etc. And beautiful weather but a long wait for the deafining jets which is the main reason I went. But the hour and a half wait amongst those crosses makes you think about what went on in this peaceful part of Holland.
F16's flying 'the missing man'
It was quite a touching ceremony. Nice music and reeth laying etc. And beautiful weather but a long wait for the deafining jets which is the main reason I went. But the hour and a half wait amongst those crosses makes you think about what went on in this peaceful part of Holland.
F16's flying 'the missing man'
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Hot Air Balloon Simulator
I was looking for some info on ballooning weather conditions when I stumbled across this site.
It is a hot air balloon simulator. Very realistically done and very simple to use.
http://www.balloonsimulator.com/
Click on the basket to burn, on the ceiling of the envelope to cool. Drop a marker at the yellow flag and return to base.
At different heights the winds change and you have a small weather balloon to release to guage the winds. It's actualy quite tough, but theraputic.
It is a hot air balloon simulator. Very realistically done and very simple to use.
http://www.balloonsimulator.com/
Click on the basket to burn, on the ceiling of the envelope to cool. Drop a marker at the yellow flag and return to base.
At different heights the winds change and you have a small weather balloon to release to guage the winds. It's actualy quite tough, but theraputic.
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Thunderstorm, (TS)
Ever wondered what happens when a thunderstorm travels over an airport. Here is a clip from the approx 150 aircraft that fly into the Memphis Airport Fed-Ex hub every early morning in about 2 hours whilst a thunderstorm is approaching.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Google Flight Sim
I read on a site today if you use the new version of Google Earth you can use a Flight Simulator by easily pressing '[ALT] [CTRL] [A]'.
It gives you the option of flying an F16 or a SR-22 a small 4 seater light aircraft. I tried the light aircraft to see if I could fly over the Tranporter Bridge.
I ended up crashing into the Tees. So it is quite a realistic flight sim, for an add-on to a system. I'm gonna have another go tonight with the F16. A low high speed pass.
It is quite a good programme to use considering Microsofts Flight Sim you have to pay shit-loads to get realistic land simulations of areas that you want to fly over.
Update: I tried again with the F16 and failed. Went for a low pass over Roseberry topping and ending up crashing near Yarm.
It gives you the option of flying an F16 or a SR-22 a small 4 seater light aircraft. I tried the light aircraft to see if I could fly over the Tranporter Bridge.
I ended up crashing into the Tees. So it is quite a realistic flight sim, for an add-on to a system. I'm gonna have another go tonight with the F16. A low high speed pass.
It is quite a good programme to use considering Microsofts Flight Sim you have to pay shit-loads to get realistic land simulations of areas that you want to fly over.
Update: I tried again with the F16 and failed. Went for a low pass over Roseberry topping and ending up crashing near Yarm.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Gordon Bennett takes off again
The long distance balloons ; very different from the usual ones
The 51st Gordon Bennett balloon race will set off today from Belgium. The start off point is still not decided due to the possible interference with EBBR (Brussels Airport) . See the fantastic ATC Network for details - http://www.atc-network.com/site/index.php?module=announce&ANN_user_op=view&ANN_id=822
The competition will set off from Belgium when the 14 balloons should set off late afternoon saturday. Looking at the wind they will be passing close to Maastricht and probably set off in the direction of Russia. But you can track their exact position live on the website
It will be a totally different competion than last year when the competitors headed in the direction of the UK then the wind changed and they finished in Scandinavia.
The Teams taking part this year are:
1. FRA 1 Leÿs / Rolland (F-PPSE)
2. BEL 1 Van Havere / De Cock (D-OAVB)
3. NED 1 Jurg / Van Houten (PH-KTS)
4. USA 1 Abruzzo / Rymer-Davis (N801NM)
5. GER 3 Hageney / Gerhardt (D-OWBA)
6. GBR 2 Folkes / Rich (D-OCOL)
7. SWI 1 Krebs / Vollenweider (D-OCFT)
8. BEL 2 Berben / Siméons (D-OBYN)
9. USA 3 Sullivan / White (D-ORZL)
10. GER 1 Eimers / Seel (D-OWBI)
11. GBR 1 Hempleman-Adams / Rivers-Scott (D-OBCW)
12. SWI 2 Stoll / Mattenberger (HB-QHP)
13. USA 2 Critelli / MacNutt (D-OWML)
14. GER 2 Hora / Löschhorn (D-OWNT)
Since 1906 this competition has taken place 54 times and so far the countries winning are:
USA - 12
Belgium - 10
Austria - 8
France - 5
Germany - 5
Poland - 5
Switz - 4
So it looks like time for a UK win considering we almost beat the Belgians last year.
Come on GBR 1 & 2
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Balloon Fart
The Balloon I should have been on yesterday evening.
Yesterday I won a 'balonvaart' (Hot air balloon trip) on a local radio station (Radio Meerssen) competition. It was the star prize in a 'vacation top 100' competition. I only entered it as I was disgusted by the choice of most people's top 5's. So I put mine is with 'The Smiths, Joy Division, New Order, The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays'. Needless to say none made the top 100.
Anyway they rang up and said that I have won the 'star prize' of a hot air balloon trip and could I come in live on the radio show on Tuesday to pick it up.
They actually wanted to present the prize to me yesterday and take the trip there live on the show which was being transmitted that day from a small caravan site. But as I was out they gave the ride to other volunteers at the event.
Strangely enough whilst sitting here at the PC I then saw the balloon floating towards the house with the volunteers on board. They landed somewhere in Belgium.
I've always wanted to take a trip in a balloon but now I have the chance I have to admit I am bricking it.
Anyway they rang up and said that I have won the 'star prize' of a hot air balloon trip and could I come in live on the radio show on Tuesday to pick it up.
They actually wanted to present the prize to me yesterday and take the trip there live on the show which was being transmitted that day from a small caravan site. But as I was out they gave the ride to other volunteers at the event.
Strangely enough whilst sitting here at the PC I then saw the balloon floating towards the house with the volunteers on board. They landed somewhere in Belgium.
I've always wanted to take a trip in a balloon but now I have the chance I have to admit I am bricking it.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Friday, March 09, 2007
Biz Jets
Maastricht-Aachen Airport
From my office window I can see the planes taking off from the local Maastricht-Aachen Airport. Usually during a day there is about 7 - 10 departures from the airport. 3 or 4 passenger flights and the rest cargo flights.
The last couple of days there has been a constant stream all day long of small 'biz jets' streaming up on the departure route. The reason being is that today the TEFAF exhibition opens at the MECC (Maastricht Exhibition and Conference Centre). TEFAF ia apparently the world's largest art and antiques fair. The exhibitors are art dealers. And most of them travel in private jets. One arrived today in a converted Boeing 727.
Do ya want ya windows washing sir?
There is usually a local newspaper article during the exhibition to stagger us paupers at the value of all the artwork held inside the expo. They never mention though that there is probably 5 times the value sitting on the airports aprons at the same time.
If you would like to visit the exhibition the entrance fee is only 55-Euros and 20-Euros for a catalogue. An attempt to keep the riff-raff out
If you would like to visit the exhibition the entrance fee is only 55-Euros and 20-Euros for a catalogue. An attempt to keep the riff-raff out
Friday, December 08, 2006
Lancaster Bomber
Two different satellite photos of the same location, the corner of Lake Way and Hayeswater in Huntingdon, taken around the same time but 1 striking difference.
Spot the difference.
The second one features the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Avro Lancaster, the City of Lincoln pictured below. It was discovered by a resident of one of the houses in the photo while he was trying to locate his place of residence.
'the City of Lincoln'
The plane was used in the film Guns of Navarone
Guns of Navaron featuring David Niven, Gregory Peck and Anthony Quinn.
The 'Guns' featured Greek actreess Irene Papas who also starred in Captain Corelli's Mandolin and was was once dubbed by Catherine Hepburn as "one of the best actresses in the history of cinema"
Irene Papas
View from Virtual Earth:
View from Google Earth:
Spot the difference.
The second one features the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Avro Lancaster, the City of Lincoln pictured below. It was discovered by a resident of one of the houses in the photo while he was trying to locate his place of residence.
'the City of Lincoln'
The plane was used in the film Guns of Navarone
Guns of Navaron featuring David Niven, Gregory Peck and Anthony Quinn.
The 'Guns' featured Greek actreess Irene Papas who also starred in Captain Corelli's Mandolin and was was once dubbed by Catherine Hepburn as "one of the best actresses in the history of cinema"
Irene Papas
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Flying Bedrooms
Sometimes during the day I listen to the local airport's Air Traffic Control Tower's transmissions from my upstairs office. I can see the aircraft taking off and landing (depending on the wind direction) so like to know what is coming next.
Maastricht-Aachen Airport (Almost inappropriately named as Durham Tees Valley Airport) is not a busy place. It has 2 passengers routes, Berlin and Amsterdam. Around 12 routes for charters during the holiday season and a steady cargo haul to places like Nairobi, Istanbul and Pskov.
It also houses a couple of aviation companies, one that paints and one that maintains and converts planes. So it is not perculiar for an arriving plane instead of taking off again after 1 hour to disappear for a few days. One such plane was a Flyjet B767 reg G-FJEC which landed on the 27th November.
G-FJEC B767 as it was
Today the plane re-emerged from the hanger of the painting company in new Silverjet colours. It is the first plane ever to display silverjet's colours. Silverjet is a new airline founded by Lawrence Hunt are looking to revolutionise the business travel sector.
When it did reveal it's new look the plane had also a new registration G-SJET. An obvious sign that Silverjet are looking to attract the business person to its seats. Personalised Mercedes owners should only travel on personalised planes.
For an hour or so the plane flew around in the CTR (control zone) of Maastricht airport whilst being photogrpahed for the marketing bods at Silverjet before leaving to land at Luton Airport.
G-SJET B767 first flown 07.12.2006 Thanks to Bjorn van Velpen for the picture
Silverjet will not start flying until the 25th January 2007. The first route is Luton Airport to New York (Newark). The plane (normally a 300 seater) will only house 100 passengers on 75" flatbed convertible seats. Check-in time will be 30 minutes through a private terminal. The price for a seat/bed around £999.
A similar seat/bed that will be onboard Silver Jets 767's
7 more planes are due to land at Maastricht to be painted in the coming months. I think Silverjet is going places. In honour of this first inaugural flight I think we should commemorate it by a short clip of the Cats UK singing the 70's hit 'Luton Airport'
Maastricht-Aachen Airport (Almost inappropriately named as Durham Tees Valley Airport) is not a busy place. It has 2 passengers routes, Berlin and Amsterdam. Around 12 routes for charters during the holiday season and a steady cargo haul to places like Nairobi, Istanbul and Pskov.
It also houses a couple of aviation companies, one that paints and one that maintains and converts planes. So it is not perculiar for an arriving plane instead of taking off again after 1 hour to disappear for a few days. One such plane was a Flyjet B767 reg G-FJEC which landed on the 27th November.
G-FJEC B767 as it was
Today the plane re-emerged from the hanger of the painting company in new Silverjet colours. It is the first plane ever to display silverjet's colours. Silverjet is a new airline founded by Lawrence Hunt are looking to revolutionise the business travel sector.
When it did reveal it's new look the plane had also a new registration G-SJET. An obvious sign that Silverjet are looking to attract the business person to its seats. Personalised Mercedes owners should only travel on personalised planes.
For an hour or so the plane flew around in the CTR (control zone) of Maastricht airport whilst being photogrpahed for the marketing bods at Silverjet before leaving to land at Luton Airport.
G-SJET B767 first flown 07.12.2006 Thanks to Bjorn van Velpen for the picture
Silverjet will not start flying until the 25th January 2007. The first route is Luton Airport to New York (Newark). The plane (normally a 300 seater) will only house 100 passengers on 75" flatbed convertible seats. Check-in time will be 30 minutes through a private terminal. The price for a seat/bed around £999.
A similar seat/bed that will be onboard Silver Jets 767's
7 more planes are due to land at Maastricht to be painted in the coming months. I think Silverjet is going places. In honour of this first inaugural flight I think we should commemorate it by a short clip of the Cats UK singing the 70's hit 'Luton Airport'
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Monday, November 20, 2006
Runway Incursion
This picture is not relevant just thought it was jolly nice
I received a terrifying press release today to place on my 'other' website. It was concerning a runway incursion in Chicago in July this year involving a B747 and a B737. Since the worst ever aviation disaster in 1977 in Tenerife caused by a runway incursion lots of thought and innovation has been put into systems to avoid 2 aircraft being on the same runway at the same time.
Ground Movement Radars, Enhanced Surface Markings Project. There is currently a new project to develop a lighting system that will light the runway red should a runway incursion beome a possibility so the pilot will at least ask the control tower 'should i really be taking off?'.
At Chicago O'Hare they have some systems to help controllers detect incursions but on the day in question the most important one was not working and even so experts have said it would not have prevented a collision in this incident. Unfortunately you can never stop human error with all the systems in the world. A disaster was only prevented by the pilot rotating the B737 earlier than normal to avoid colliding with the aircraft that had just landed and was basically on the runway in front of him. They missed eachother by 35ft. (equivalent to 5 tallboys).
The most surprising thing about the video of this incident is the real voice recording of the pilot. I would have imagined his heart was in his mouth , but instead he casually replies to the screaming controllers "STOP STOP STOP!" with a cool as you like "don’t worry we got him".
Ground Movement Radars, Enhanced Surface Markings Project. There is currently a new project to develop a lighting system that will light the runway red should a runway incursion beome a possibility so the pilot will at least ask the control tower 'should i really be taking off?'.
At Chicago O'Hare they have some systems to help controllers detect incursions but on the day in question the most important one was not working and even so experts have said it would not have prevented a collision in this incident. Unfortunately you can never stop human error with all the systems in the world. A disaster was only prevented by the pilot rotating the B737 earlier than normal to avoid colliding with the aircraft that had just landed and was basically on the runway in front of him. They missed eachother by 35ft. (equivalent to 5 tallboys).
The most surprising thing about the video of this incident is the real voice recording of the pilot. I would have imagined his heart was in his mouth , but instead he casually replies to the screaming controllers "STOP STOP STOP!" with a cool as you like "don’t worry we got him".
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