Pilotbug

Aviation information and introspection

Posts Tagged EAA

Plane Driven’s Roadable Aircraft Video

Aug 8

Posted by PilotBug in Airplanes, General Aviation | Comments off

Plane Driven’s PD-1 is another entrant in to the already crowded roadable aircraft concept of which is being led and popularized by the MIT alumni designed Terrafugia LSA (Light-Sport Aircraft).

The PD-1 is expected to be offered as a kit to convert aircraft into a vehicle capable of traveling on roadways with cars. The demonstrator is using a converted Glasair Sportsman as the aircraft.  The drive pod underneath the aircraft is slid from its position directly below the plane during flight to its aft station while in drive mode.

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Oshkosh Impressions 2009

Aug 16

Posted by Rob in General Aviation | Comments off

Oshkosh 2009 was graced with some of the most pleasant weather in recent years. After being baked, broiled, rained on, hailed on, nearly blown away by convective activity, and suffering a near lightning strike in years past, a new weather related phenomenon awaited. Cold! After visiting Oshkosh annually since 1997, this meteorological phenomenon was a new one.

Weather related challenges aside, the question begged, what would we find in the face of a down economy, low employment, and a declining level of activity in general aviation? Well, as far as enthusiasm for flying is concerned, there was no apparent downturn here. Fair skies beckoned crowds to Aeroshell Plaza where the re-engined Lockheed C-5M stood open to long lines. Prominently displayed nearby was the newest heavy lifter in the Air Force arsenal, the C-17. The Customs and Border protection unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was a first time attendee as well.

General Atomics Predator

General Atomics Predator

The newest offering from the Airbus stable wowed the spectators with a graceful arrival and a breathtaking departure. The A380 was a show stopping crowd pleaser.

Airbus A-380

Airbus A-380

Preliminary figures indicate show attendees, campers, and exhibitors all posted gains over Airventure 2008. One thing for certain is the metamorphosis that has transformed Oshkosh from the world’s largest fly-in to a major aviation trade show. As has become commonplace, manufacturers now use this venue to introduce new products and services.

The economic situation seems not to have affected the interest level or enthusiasm of those in attendance. It seems Oshkosh has the ability to suspend, at least for a time, all that travails us.

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Branson’s space venture gets major boost

Aug 3

Posted by PilotBug in General Aviation | Comments off

White Knight 2, "Eve"

White Knight 2, "Eve"

During Airventure 2009, Virgin Group, parent of Virgin Galactic announced a strategic partnership with Aabar Investments who will take an equity spake in the space venture, Virgin Galactic. Aabar will acquire a 32% stake in Virgin Galactic for $280M as well as providing $100M for development in satellite launch capabilities. They also intend to construct a spaceport in Abu Dhabi.

Virgin Galactic, the start-up space venture which is to offer sub-orbital rides, displayed White Knight 2, dubbed “Eve,” the mothership designed to carry a hybrid rocket, at Airventure 2009 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, this weekend. The all composite craft, will climb up to an altitude of 50,000 feet to drop the spacecraft “SpaceShipTwo” for its Mach 3 ascent to 110 kilometers. 300 have paid $20,000 for reservations for the flight and will pay $200,000 for the actual ride.

Sir Richard Branson said, “We are delighted to partner with Aabar in a strategic deal that is a first for Virgin Galactic. The initiative will leverage the solid financial backing of Aabar and the pioneering technology and strong global relationships of Virgin Galactic. This exciting deal is indicative of the interesting and high value investments that mark the UAE’s commercial portfolio.”

The company is an offshoot from the original SpaceShipOne, Ansari X-Prize winner for the first non-government entity to reach outer space, 100 kilometers miles above the ground, twice in two weeks.  Scaled Composites, the builder of SpaceShipOne, is also the developer and manufacturer of the Virgin Galactic mothership and spacecraft.

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Space Vehicle Unveiled at EAA.

Aug 1

Posted by gil@keskydee.com (Gil Gruson) in General Aviation | Comments off

Oshkosh: If aircraft designer Burt Rutan gets his way, vacationers someday soon will leave terra firma aboard one of his brainstorms and spend their holidays in orbit. The next step in that dream – an odd-looking mother ship originally dubbed WhiteKnightTwo and now called Eve – performed flight demonstrations for thousands at EAA AirVenture on Tuesday afternoon…

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Predator B makes first landing at civilian airport

Jul 23

Posted by PilotBug in General Aviation | 1 Comment

General Atomics Predator B

General Atomics Predator B

An unmanned General Atomics Predator B landed at Whitman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin Wednesday in preparation for Aiventure 2009. The plane, operated by the Customs and Border Protection agency departed from Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota and later control was transferred to a cockpit equipped command center which was located on the ground at the Whitman airport. This was the first time an unmanned aircraft was allowed to land at a civilian airport.

The turboprop has a maximum gross weight of 10,500 lbs and can remain aloft for 30 hours and is flies at an airspeed over 220 knots. It was designed to provide remote sensing and targeting with which it can observe targets from as far away as 18 miles.

According to the CPB the Predator’s “primary mission of securing the border and preventing acts of terrorism by providing long-duration reconnaissance, intelligence, surveillance, tracking and acquisition capability to augment crewed law enforcement aircraft and watercraft as well as ground interdiction agents.” It has flown more than 3000 hours since operation began in 2004.

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