I know this is just a glorified glider trick, but you have to admit that this is pretty cool. Good job with energy management in estimating the takeoff roll and timing the glide down the valley.
Archive for September, 2009
Cessna 162 Skycatcher
Cessna has announced that the first production C-162 Skycatcher has been completed in its Shenyang, China factory. The first flight of the new LSA (Light Sport Aircraft) trainer was accomplished soon after to confirm its handling qualities.
“The Skycatcher program continues to make significant progress, today with the first flight of our very first aircraft produced on production tooling, following closely on the heels of our announcement in July of ASTM compliance for the aircraft,” said Jack J. Pelton, Cessna chairman, president and CEO. “We are excited about this program and eager for the Model 162 Skycatcher to take its place in the industry as the light sport aircraft of choice.”
The aircraft, the first all new single-engine piston trainer that Cessna has developed since the venerable C-150 in 1958, will feature a Continental 200D, 100HP engine and a Garmin G300 avionics package featuring a spilt-screen PFD/MFD or optional two-screen version. Deliveries to the United States will begin by the end of the year.
The LSA program was created by the FAA, with heavy lobbying by the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and others to create a lower cost alternative to flying. LSA’s are certified to have a maximum gross weight of 1320 lbs, fly no faster than 120 knots and operate under VFR. Less restrictive medical requirements enable some pilots to operate LSAs using just their current driver’s license as proof of medical fitness.
Rick Day, Senior Vice President for Operations, Air Traffic Organization unveiled new flight safety and operational enhancements for the VFR flight corridor on New York’s Hudson river in testimony today. Mr. Day’s statements, made to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security on Aviation Safety, was in response to the fatal mid-air collision of a Piper PA-32 and a Eurocopter AS 350 on August 8th.
Current Hudson Airspace
The Task Force, consisting of FAA air traffic and safety experts and air traffic controllers, with assistance from the Helicopter Association International, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, and the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey, was assigned to make recommendations. These include mandating pilot rules, standardizing charts, create an entry point from Teterboro, and restructuring the airspace in the following manner:
- It would establish a uniform “floor” for the Class B airspace over the Hudson River at 1,300 feet, which would also serve as the “ceiling” for the exclusionary zone. This removes some confusing complexity that currently exists.
- Between 1,300-2,000 feet, aircraft will operate in the Class B airspace under visual flight rules but under positive air traffic control and communicate with controllers on the appropriate air traffic frequency.
- Below 1,300 feet, aircraft must use a single common radio frequency. Mandatory routes for aircraft flying up and down the river will require them to favor the “right side” of the river (i.e. the east side for northbound traffic and the west side for southbound traffic) to provide horizontal separation as well.
- Coordination of traffic and handoffs between Air Traffic Controllers at the Teterboro tower, Newark tower, and radar control will be improved.
Proposed Hudson Airspace
Space Shuttle on pad
NASA has issued a press release in which they are announcing their intent to offer Space Shuttle artifacts to museums and other institutions for display to the public.
Items used for the retiring Space Shuttle, formally known as the Space Transportation System (STS), are being made available on request during its 90-day screening period. A request for an item does not guarantee that NASA will offer the artifact to that institution.
Initially only a few hundred items will be available, but several thousand are expected to be offered as the need for them in the STS program is evaluated. While the items are free, the costs of transporting and any special handling fees are to be borne by the recipient.
Cessna CJ4
Textron, the manufacturing conglomerate, whose companies include aircraft builder Cesssa and Bell helicopter, is offering $650M in a cash tender which will provide financing through its lending arm Textron Financial. This is the first offering since May for the Providence, R.I. based company.
During the recent recession, Textron Financial produced staggering losses for the company and the decision to use the lend again may be a further sign that the economic crisis is ebbing for both the economy as a whole and Textron in particular.