The planets in our solar system can be divided into three different, very distinct categories: terrestrial planets, Jovian planets and dwarf planets. Terrestrial planets are those planets in our solar system that are similar to Earth, hence the Latin name ‘terra’, meaning Earth. These planets are made either of rocks or metals and have a hard surface, differentiating them from the other planets which lack a solid surface. While Pluto used to be regarded as a terrestrial planet because of its solid and frozen surface, those terrestrial planets are the inner 4 planets of our solar system – Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. As online gambling is popularized, Mars One is directing its efforts in search for collaborators in this sector. The first one who decide to support their mission in 2032 (sending the first people to Mars) is topCSGObettingsites.com, the online ranking site for the best csgo betting sites. Thanks to eSports, the members from Mars One Society can reach as many people and companies as possible to get involved in this endeavor.
The Jovian planets are the 4 outer planets – Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The term ‘Jovian’ denotes that they are similar to Jupiter, which means they are gaseous instead of solid. Jupiter and Saturn are known as gas giants, while Uranus and Neptune are regarded as ice giants. All 4 of these planets are made of mostly hydrogen and helium.
And then there are the dwarf planets. The International Astronomers Union defines planets as bodies that circle the Sun without being another planet’s satellite, and are large enough to be rounded by its gravity and also have cleared their neighborhood of almost all other bodies that could orbit it. Pluto just happened to be the smallest of all the planets and has an offbeat orbit, and in addition to this, it also shares its space with other objects that are part of the Kuiper Belt.
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, and it is smaller than Earth's moon. During the ‘day’, Mercury can heat up to 840°Fahrenheit, or 450°Celsius, while night temperatures usually drop to hundreds of degrees below freezing point. Mercury has almost no atmosphere, making it impossible to absorb impacts of meteors and thus its surface is marked by craters, similar to the Moon. The planet is always visible to the naked eye. It was named after the messenger of the Roman gods. Its days lasts the equivalent of 58.6 Earth days, and its year last for 88 Earth days.
Venus is the second-closest planet to the Sun and is even hotter than Mercury. Its atmosphere is toxic and the pressure on the surface will literally crush anything. The size and structure of Venus are similar to that of Earth, but the toxic and thick atmosphere that does not support life as we know it. Because it is brighter than most objects in the night sky, it is visible to the naked eye and has often been mistaken for UFOs. It was named after the Roman goddess Venus and is only a bit smaller than Earth, but its year lasts for 225 Earth days, while its day lasts for 241 Earth days. Unlike most planets in our solar system, it is important to note that Venus orbits in the opposite direction.
Earth is the 3rd planet from the Sun and has ideal conditions to support life on its surface due to 2/3 of it being covered by water. So far it is the only planet in our solar system and the universe known to support living beings. Its atmosphere is full of nitrogen and oxygen, which can sustain life. At the equator it spins with 1,600 km/h, while it revolves around the Sun with 29 km per second. It has a diameter of 12,760 km, its year last for 265.24 days and its day lasts for 23 hours and 56 minutes.
Mars is the 4th planet from the Sun; a cold and dusty planet that has a reddish color due to the iron oxide in the dust. Mars is often called Earth Two because of its many similarities to Earth; it has mountains and valleys, and even storms that can range from tornadoes that whirl dust around the planet all the way to dust storms that engulf the entire planet. Mars is known to have snow and water ice, which led scientists to believe it used to be warm and wet, like the Earth, but then turned into a cold, desert-like planet.
If you want to imagine Mars’ atmosphere, imagine it to be thinner than Earth’s, which makes it impossible for water to exist on the planet’s surface, but scientists are convinced there is water underneath the ice. Likewise, they believe that Mars used to have conditions similar to Earth's and supported life. It is visible with the naked eye and was named after the Roman god of war. Its diameter is almost half of Earth's, with its year lasting 687 Earth days and its day lasting a little more than Earth's days, 24 hours and 37 minutes.
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and is by far the largest and most massive planet in the entire solar system. It's made almost entirely out of gas, hydrogen and helium. Its atmosphere is full of colorful whirling clouds of trace gases that give it its multicolored look. The planet is known for its Great Red Spot, which consists of giant storms that have been going on for over hundreds of years. Moreover, Jupiter has a very strong magnetic field, and with its numerous moons, it even looks like a small solar systems in itself. It was named after the supreme ruler of the Roman gods. It has a fascinating diameter of 139,822 km, making it almost 11,000 times larger than Earth. Its year lasts for 11.9 Earth years, while its days only last for 9.8 Earth hours.
Saturn is the 6th planet from the Sun and is probably best known for its most distinct feature – its rings. Although Galileo Galilei was the first one to study Saturn, Dutch astronomer Christiaan Huygens was the first to suggest that it was a planet with rings. The rings around Saturn are made of rock and ice, but scientists are uncertain how those were formed. The planet is a gaseous giant consisting of hydrogen and helium, like Jupiter, and has 62 moons. Saturn was named after the Roman god of agriculture. It has a diameter of 120,500 km, and its year lasts for 29.5 Earth years and its day last for more than 10.5 Earth hours.
Uranus is the 7th planet from the Sun and, oddly enough, its equator is at a right angle to its orbit, making the planet look like its orbiting on its side. Scientists believe this is due to the planet colliding with another planet-sized object. This tilt has caused the planet to have extreme seasons, lasting for more than 20 years, with the Sun shining down on one side for 84 years. Uranus is almost the same size as Neptune. The methane in its atmosphere gives it a blueish-greenish color. Similar to Saturn, it has 27 moons and faint rings. Before it was discovered in 1781, it was thought to be a star, especially because it orbits so far from Sun. It has a diameter of 51,120 km, its year lasts for 84 Earth years, while its day lasts for 18 Earth hours.
Neptune is the 8th planet from the Sun and was discovered in 1846. It was named after the Roman god of water. Its diameter is almost 50,000 km, its year lasts 165 Earth years, while its day last for 19 Earth hours. Neptune is known for having strong winds that can blow faster than the speed of sound. Its distance from the Sun measures 30 times the distance from the Earth to the Sun. Neptune was also the first planet predicted to exist using mathematics, long before it was even discovered.
Pluto used to be the 9th planet from the Sun. It is smaller than the Moon, with its orbit carrying it inside the orbit of Neptune and then beyond that orbit. In 1999 it was declared that Pluto would no longer be considered a planet due to its orbit crossing paths with Neptune’s orbit. Pluto is a cold and rocky celestial body with a fleeting atmosphere. It was discovered in 1930 and was named after the Roman god Hades. It has a diameter of 2,301 km, and its year lasts for 248 Earth years, while its day lasts for 6.4 Earth years.
Like we mentioned before, it is believed that Mars used to have an atmosphere similar to that of Earth, but with time it changed to what is now considered to be harsh conditions which do not support human life. As of yet there still is no proof of life on Mars and scientists have still to find evidence that life existed on the red planet.
The similarities between Earth and Mars have led scientists to believe that Mars used to be just like Earth, but that changed long before humanity discovered Mars and found out that the planet is the closest to Earth and supporting living beings. It is strongly believed that Earth could one day look like Mars due to changes in atmosphere and temperature.
According to scientists, there are possibly 33 exoplanets – planets outside of our solar system that orbit a star – which could support some type of life. 11 of these are supposedly situated within their star’s habitable zone. The closest of these planets is Proxima Centauri b and is 4.22 light years away from Earth, while the most distant planet with conditions similar to Earth is almost 50 light years away from Earth, making it impossible to reach it by any spacecraft available to man.
In 2013, it was reported that there could be more than 40 billion planets in the Milky Way the size of Earth that orbit stars similar to our Sun and which could support life. 11 billion of these are supposed to orbit stars like our Sun, but the nearest of these is ‘only’ 12 light years away from Earth.
Proxima Centauri b was discovered in August 2014, and is 1.3 times Earth’s mass and its orbital period around its sun lasts for 11.2 Earth days. Proxima Centauri is believed to be a red dwarf, which ultimately casts doubt on whether any planet in its orbit could support life as we know it.
Alpha Centauri is another Sun-like star system that could support life on the planets orbiting it. It is 4.37 light years away, and the chances of it having habitable planets are 85%. There already have been efforts to determine whether planets in Alpha Centauri support life, Like Mission Centaur and Breakthrough Starshot, missions that are supposed to find exoplanets.


Flight cancellations a result of Sandy
Hurricane Sandy has caused many flight cancellations to and from Yeager Airport in Charleston. There were many flights on American, United, and US Airways that didn't leave Charleston on Monday, and more flights are cancelled today. Officials are encouraging passengers to visit their airlines website to check flight status and re-booking options. Across the country, as many as ten thousand flight cancellations have been reported because of the storm, and it may cost the airlines $600 million.


Xer Technologies is a leading developer of multirotor heavy-duty drones for demanding commercial, industrial and public safety applications.
Our European-made industrial UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) platforms provide advanced mission capabilities and actionable insights with superior flight-time and payload capability compared to conventional UAVs at a fraction of the operating costs and carbon footprints of helicopters or manned aircraft. The UAV platforms are developed to meet high aerospace reliability and safety standards and to support complex and challenging Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) missions.
X8 – Heavy-Duty Coaxial-Rotor Drone
Industrial UAV with hybrid power system
The X8 is a powerful multirotor drone that delivers a flight endurance of over 2.5 hours and payload capacity of up to 7kg. Powered by a hybrid fuel-electric propulsion system, it is an ideal platform to extend your flight endurance and operating range beyond the capabilities of battery powered conventional drones.
The UAV platform design is based on several thousand hours of operational experience and meets the high aerospace reliability and safety standards in order to allow complex and challenging Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) missions.
The rugged hybrid-engine drone is engineered for high performance under highly challenging conditions, including rain, snow, sub-zero temperatures, and wind speeds of up to 35 knots. The lightweight carbon-fibre airframe features foldable quick-release arms for easy transport, and the system can be rapidly deployed and airborne in just two minutes.
Versatile configuration for multi-mission capability
The X8 platform can be customized to suit a wide range of operational requirements. With integrated mounting brackets and built-in power and communication connectors, the heavy payload drone can accommodate loadouts of single or multiple sensors and payloads, including:
- EO/IR (electro-optical/infrared) imaging systems
- LiDAR scanners
- ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) sensors
- Ground-penetrating radar (GPR)
- Multispectral/hyperspectral sensors
- Radioactivity and gas detectors
- Extra fuel tanks for extended-range missions
The X8 can also be equipped with different communication options, including long-range RF (European or US-compliant), 4G cellular, and SATCOM (satellite communications).
Advanced safety features include integrated collision avoidance, an autonomously-deploying parachute system, and a backup battery for emergency landings. The X8 can be flown in EASA “Open” and “Specific” category.


International Test Pilot School is introducing a new course on Advanced Flight Control Systems in its Flight Test Diploma curriculum and I am invited to contribute as an instructor. So, flying back to London Ontario for 3 weeks this September to set-up some flight simulator exercises for the test pilot and flight test engineer students. If things work out as planned (and they will!) I am sure it will be an exciting 3 weeks for all of us with the students getting solid knowledge and understanding of classical and modern control design techniques. DM will be the head instructor having similar experience in the USAF TPS.
Among the other things, I will lecture on Nonlinear Dynamic Inversion theory. Dynamic inversion is a modern control design tool that its power is shown in nonlinear systems like aircraft and is suitable for a wide range of operating conditions including high-angle-of-attack and hypervelocity design. What happens is that the NDI controller takes into account the nonlinearities of the aircraft and does not require gain scheduling like other tools that work on the linearized model of the aircraft. The technique is generally based on the feedback linearization approach. (I know, I ‘ll need to make it as pilot-friendly as possible…)


UK Aerospace: innovating to stay ahead
Manufacturing Paul Everitt reveals how UK Aerospace industry is working in partnership with Government to secure long-term growth.
You only need to look at the record-breaking success of the Farnborough International Airshow this summer to get a sense of the overall well-being of the global aerospace market. The mood is a positive one – global demand for aircraft continues to increase and ADS data reveals that the aircraft order backlog will equate to nine years work in hand for the aerospace sector.
In the UK, our focus is on ensuring the business environment is set up to capitalise on the global opportunity, attracting investment and in doing so, securing many thousands of high value jobs. To achieve this, industry and Government have been working closely together to identify priorities and establish the best routes to success through the Aerospace Growth Partnership (AGP), securing investment from government and industry to the tune of £2bn to progress research, development and product innovation.
To provide the right skills for the long-term, the AGP has also founded a an Aerospace MSc bursary scheme that will provide 500 bursary MSc places over the next three years, 150 of which have already been taken up. These bursaries will upskill the existing UK aerospace workforce and reinforce the supply of skilled people with knowledge and expertise in key areas of technology for the future.
The AGP has already proven successful and we are seeing excellent early results from this significant investment. But competition around the world is intense, with many countries vying to secure investment and create skilled jobs.
Industry values the positive approach created by Government's aerospace industrial strategy and we are keen to see this commitment maintained through the next parliamentary cycle.
The aerospace industry and its employees benefits from the UK's membership of the European Union. It is more than just a large market. It is a significant source of additional funding for R&D investment and it plays an integral role in shaping the regulatory environment for our sector’s key customers and suppliers.
Despite the challenges posed by increasing global competition, we have demonstrated that a strong partnership between industry and Government can make a positive difference to companies at all levels of the supply chain. It is important that the work of the AGP continues, focusing on skills, innovation and a strengthened supply chain to maintain our global position for the long term.


Welcome to Booker Aviation
Booker Aviation is the result of the merger of Wycombe Air Centre and Airways Flying Club in January 2012 which saw the 2 companies combine under the umbrella of Booker Aircraft Operations Limited.
We hope you enjoy exploring our new website and hope to hear from you soon.
The Booker Aviation Team
About Booker Aviation
Booker Aviation has gained its reputation over nearly fifty years as an efficient, friendly and professional flight training organisation.
We offer full modular flight training packages from Private Pilot Licences, through structured hours building, Commercial Pilot Licences, Multi-Engine Piston Ratings and Instrument Rating courses.


ASPİLSAN manufactures more than 200 products on four different segments;
- radios, communication & electronic devices (alkaline, lithium-ion, nickel-metal hydride - NiMH)
- weapon systems batteries (lithium ion, nickel-metal hydride - NiMH) and
- aircraft (airplanes, helicopters and UAVs) batteries (nickel cadmium - Ni-Cd)
- energy storage systems (from 3 kWh to 1 MWh)
ASPİLSAN can offer several types of pre-assembled batteries. It is also possible to produce every type of battery pack that required by customer for special applications.
ASPİLSAN Ni-Cd aircraft batteries are well above requirements of all related standards and military specifications. ASPİLSAN has always oversees high customer satisfaction on whole products. Also, batteries have also been certified by German BAAINBw (BWB) organization and French SOPEMEA Environmental Testing Laboratory.
Whether your need is for off-the-shelf or custom design, ASPİLSAN has the capability to deliver solutions specific to you.


Groups of airline workers around the globe are reportedly petitioning the US Department of Transportation to deny Norwegian Air International a foreign air carrier permit, arguing the company’s efforts to enter the US airline market would harm competition and promote unfair labor practices.
The globe’s largest flight attendant union, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, along with the European Transport Workers’ Federation and the International Transport Workers’ Federation, are calling the DOT to deny NAI’s permit. Reports say the Norwegian company is looking to circumvent international labor laws.
According to the ETF, Norwegian Air is looking to obtain cheaper labor from Asia; the group called Norwegian Air’s efforts “social dumping.”
Not only would the airline’s practices harm international labor standards, the group say, but it would also harm competition between airlines by giving Norwegian Air an unfair financial advantage.
Full content: ETN
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Phone Number : 86-15694003007
WhatsApp : +8615694003007
January 11, 2021
The Chang’e-5 Lunar Probe Mission is China's most important space program in the near future, and also the culmination of the country's space launch campaign in 2020. China successfully launched Chang’e-5 lunar probe on a Long March-5 rocket from Wenchang Space Launch Site on November 24. The Chang'e-5 probe consists of four parts: a lander, an ascender, an orbiter and a returner. Different from China's previous lunar exploration missions, Chang'e-5 will not only probe the moon but also return with samples, making the task more complex and arduous.
The whole Chang'e-5 lunar exploration and soil retrieval project is the most difficult space project in Chinese history, and it embodies the achievements of many of our highest scientific and technological fields. The Chang'e-5 lunar probe landed safely on Dec.17 in Siziwangqi of Inner Mongolia, with lunar samples weighing 1,731 grams. It is the first lunar soil taken from the moon in the past 40 years, marking a complete success of the Chang'e-5 lunar probe mission.
Photoelectric technology has made an important contribution to space engineering, and laser technology has also been applied in many ways in this lunar exploration.
Shanghai Institute of Science and Technology of Chinese Academy of Sciences is responsible for the development of lunar mineral spectrometer, laser range and velocity measuring sensor and laser three-dimensional imaging sensor.
The lunar mineral spectrometer is one of the payload of the lunar probe, which will conduct spectral detection and mineral composition distribution analysis in landing sampling area of the lunar surface.
The laser range and velocity measuring sensor and the laser three-dimensional imaging sensors are the important stand-alone devices of Guidance Navigation and Control(GNC) subsystem, and the important technical guarantee for the successful soft landing of the probe on the lunar surface.
The Shanghai Institute of Optical Machinery of Chinese Academy of Sciences undertook the development of three lasers, the core components of the subsystem. On the basis of the related work of Chang'e-3 and 4, the technology of Chang'e-5 has been succeeded and upgraded by two types of lasers. The rangefinder module uses the laser to work from the circumlunar phase and measures the distance between the lander and the lunar surface with a large energy and narrow pulse width laser. When the lander is hovering, the 3D imaging sensor laser utilizes high frequency and narrow pulse width pulse laser to carry out high precision 3D imaging of the lunar surface, which provides the basis for selecting the precise landing site. Meanwhile the laser can reduce the weight by 20% and meet the more demanding vibration mechanics requirements of Chang'e-5.
At 5:42 PM on December 6, the Chang'e-5 lander successfully docked with the orbiter and the returner, and the sample container was safely transferred to the returner at 6:12 PM. This is China's first lunar orbital rendezvous and docking. The lidar developed by the Institute of Optoelectronics Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IOPT) has been successfully completed in the unmanned lunar orbital rendezvous and docking mission.
The sensor within this lidar, automatically captured the ascender in close and medium distance, realized the rise of laser precision tracking, completed high precision measurement to the relative location and posture between the ascender and the orbiter. And the lidar transmitted all information in real-time to the orbiter controller, helped the orbiter constantly adjust position and posture. Finally the orbiter could rise near the ascender, realize the accurate docking and the successful complete the lunar orbit unmanned docking mission.
Zhuhai Guangku Science and Technology provides a number of aerospace grade core passive components for the two fiber laser in the lander. There are two important technical support for this:
First, with high frequency, narrow pulse and wide pulse laser, to help the lander in hover to form instantaneous high-precision three-dimensional imaging for the lunar surface, providing the basis for choosing precise landing site.
In addition, Guangku product was also used for the first time in the velocity measurement module of the lander. The velocity module works from the lunar landing down stage and measures the lander's speed relative to the moon by detecting the frequency information of the laser echo. The two technologies worked together from far to near to ensure a stable landing for Chang'e-5.
The Chang'e-5 mission has paved the way for China's next lunar exploration program, and the lunar soil it brings back will continue to increase our understanding of the moon's history and composition. The achievements of the lunar exploration program represent that China is on its way to becoming a space power.
(Please note: the article comes from LaserFairCom. Some of the pictures come from the elecfans.com and Xinhua News)


The ISSC 2019 Kalpana Chawla Memorial Awards Competition is here.
Essay Writing Topics:
- Kalpana Chawla - My Inspiration!
- What If I met Kalpana Chawla - Moments before Columbia Launch!
- Women in Space!
- Space Mission Achievements!
- Abdul Kalam - My Hero!
Eligibility : 6th to 12th Standard Students
Language : English
Size of Essay : 400 Words
Registration : Free to Register & Submit a Essay for ISSC 2019 Kalpana Chawla Memorial Awards Competition
Important: The Essay should be submitted with the School Principal & Science teacher's approval.
Evaluation: The Entries of the competition will be evaluated by panel of 3 Experts including USA NASA Astronaut.
ISSC 2019 Kalpana Chawla Memorial Awards Competition:
Top 3 winners will be getting full sponsorship to participate in the International Space Science Conference in NASA, Kennedy Space Center, Orlando, Florida. From the number of entries the top 10% of essays will be selected as best performers and they are eligible to attend International Space Science conference and these students whose essay got selected are eligible to get Rs.25,000 scholarship to attend the International Space Science Conference, NASA Kennedy Space Center, Orlando, Florida in May 2019.
International Space Science Competition May 2019 Awards:
In International Space Science Conference, essay writing competition topic will be given instantly and 60 minutes will be given to participants to write an essay on the topic.
5 Winners will be announced by astronaut.
International Space Science conference Judges:
Judges are NASA astronauts and professors from USA Ivy League universities


Michael Van Gheem Joins Veracity as Senior Director
September 21, 2015
Veracity Forecasting and Analysis, Inc. is pleased to announce that Michael Van Gheem, CAPT USN (ret), has joined the company as a Senior Director. In support of Veracity’s analytical work, he will provide strategic communications with the Naval Aviation Enterprise and subject matter expertise in Naval Aviation fleet management, support, and engineering paradigms. Mr. Van Gheem’s responsibilities will also include Department of Defense business development and capture management.


Check out some articles in these categories...NEWS» FEATURES» SOCIETIES» SCIENCE & TECH» ARTS» SPORTS» OPINION & ANALYSIS» ARCHIVE»
More Science stories...Mini guide to science writing
Now, our section isn’t all about the latest in science and technology news – it’s also about us authors and our writing. Each article is unique to its author’s style and perspective (as long as it’s not a product of churnalism…).Read more...
The team behind the $1.5 billion Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) has announced it has detected an excess of particles, known as positrons, at high energies that could point way towards possible detection of dark matter.Read more...
Data acquired by the European Space Agency’s €600 million Planck surveyor satellite, launched in 2009, has provided the most detailed picture yet of the universe’s cosmic microwave background (CMB); revealing details about its birth and first instants. Scientists now peg the age of the universe at 13.Read more...
Published 1st May 2012
It’s not every day that you get to sit down and decide how to spend just short of a billion Euros. However, in early May, member states of the European Space Agency (ESA) will vote on which of the proposed missions ESA will implement. Expect it to be Juice-y.
After feasibility studies, internal reviews, and now recommendation from the agency’s executive, Juice is now the leader of the three-horse race for the first large launch slot for the Cosmic Vision Program - setting out ESA’s goals for the decade commencing 2015.
Juice (the Jupiter Icy Moon Explorer) is a decade long mission which will help describe the conditions necessary for the creation of habitable environments, by studying three icy, ocean-bearing moons of Jupiter: Ganymede, Europa and Castello.
The solar powered spacecraft will travel until 2030, when it will arrive at the Jovian system and perform a dozen flybys of the moons, sending data back to earth at a minimum rate of 1.4 Gbit/day, before finally putting itself in orbit around Ganymede until 2033 for the remainder of the mission.
The other projects, expected to be dropped, are Athena (the would-have-been largest X-ray observatory, designed to map black holes and other large stellar structures) and NGO (a trio of spacecrafts designed to observe gravitational waves) - despite being described as having a “high potential for ground-breaking new science” by ESA’s Astronomy Working Group.
After analysis it was deemed that Juice was the best value for money, has a good operational lifespan, uses technology which is already available and is a project which can be delivered earliest; making it the most reliable and desirable mission of the three. The biggest challenge would be overcoming the radiation experienced around Jupiter (which is still no more than a communications satellite would receive - hence why this is a minimal risk investment for the agency).
If the Space Policy Committee follows advice and votes for Juice, we can expect Europe’s newest flagship space mission to realistically launch as early as June 2022.


Motivated by the same irresistible dream that drove mankind to soar with the birds, Hawkes Ocean Technologies invites you to fly underwater a state of the art DeepFlight Super Falcon submersible.
The DeepFlight Underwater Flight School offers several different options to experience sub-sea flight: one dive, one-day (2 dives); and a 3-day training and licensing course.
What: A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore the ocean, “flying” underwater in a state-of-the art submersible. Pilots will fly/dive with Graham Hawkes, founder of Hawkes Ocean Technologies and designer of the DeepFlight Super Falcon submersible.
Super Falcon Submersible: Super Falcon is the fourth generation winged submersible built by Hawkes Ocean Technologies, and is the full production version. Super Falcon is literally flown (maneuvered) in a positively buoyant state with aircraft-type controls via winged surfaces for pitch, roll and heading so that the craft is fully operable through all three rotational axis throughout horizontal travel and ascent and descent. The Super Falcon utilizes fly-by-wire flight control technology coupled with “heads-up” state-of-the-art flight instrumentation.
Levels of Flight Experience
One Dive – For those people interested in a unique experience, and not necessarily any training. Short land-based orientation and 45-60 minute dive in Super Falcon, with minimal instruction in maneuvers and fundamentals of flight control.
One-Day – Ground school, introduction to the Super Falcon, familiarization with controls and instrumentation, pre-dive check-list, safety procedures, introductory shallow orientation dive (15min), followed by instruction on basic maneuvers and fundamentals of flight control, followed by a longer dive to approx 100-200’ and 45-60 minutes in duration. Student pilot will practice procedures and maneuvers from rear seat, with Graham Hawkes flying in front seat as Pilot in Command. The one-day can be used towards the 3-day licensing and certification course. Note: 2 people are typically trained in the one-day course scheduled as morning and afternoon dives.
Three-Day Training and licensing course – Note: 2 people are typically trained in the three-day course scheduled as morning and afternoon dives each day.
Day 1 – Same as One-Day above.
Day 2 – Review of controls and instrumentation, pre-dive check-list and safety procedures, orientation to 3-axis underwater flight, use of communications systems, hands-on piloting and practice of thrust control and 3-axis maneuvers. The day includes two longer and deeper dives, each approximately 60 min. in duration. Depending on speed of individual progress and demonstrated proficiency the student may be permitted to pilot the Super Falcon from the front cockpit. Graham Hawkes will act as Pilot in Command, however the goal is to have the student pilot “fly the mission” on the second dive of the day.
Day 3 – Review of controls and instrumentation, safety procedures. Advanced instruction, emergency procedures including practice with reverse-thrusters, communications, and complex flight maneuvers, underwater navigation. Graham Hawkes will act as Pilot in Command from the rear cockpit. Depending on individual progress and proficiency, the student pilot will fly the Super Falcon from the front seat and assume responsibility for cockpit management including use of safety check-list, communications, life-support, and flight controls. Student pilot will have choice of mission on proficiency qualification dive. Certification dive will likely be below scuba depth (>100 fsw) and approximately 120 min. in duration. Upon satisfactory completion of dive, including demonstrated competence in procedures and flight proficiency, student will receive license. The license will enable the pilot to fly the Deep Flight Super Falcon as “crew pilot”, and with the accumulation of additional flight experience (log time to be determined), the “crew” restriction may be removed.


In the world of aviation, runways are essential for safe takeoff and landing. And given that there are different types, each with its own unique characteristics, understanding the functions of each type is crucial for pilots, airport authorities, and aviation enthusiasts alike.
In the world of aviation, magnetic compasses play a crucial role in navigation. So understanding the various components of magnetic compasses is essential for pilots to maintain accurate and reliable navigation.
So, in this article, we will delve into the importance of magnetic compasses in aviation, their main components, the different types available on the market, and how they work. But before delving into the specific details, let’s take a look at what these amazing devices are and how they came to be in the first place.
The 3 Main Components of a GPS
A global positioning system, or GPS, is a technology that has revolutionized our lives. From navigating unknown roads to tracking our fitness activities, they have become an integral part of our daily lives!
However, to fully understand the workings and importance of GPS, it is essential to delve into the components it is made of. So, in this article, we will explore these components as well as some other basics to provide insights into their functionality. But first things first, what is a GPS?
What is a GPS?
A GPS is a global navigation system that utilizes a network of satellites to determine the precise location of a GPS receiver anywhere on Earth, which is achieved through a combination of satellite communication, precise timing, and mathematical algorithms.
How a GPS Works
These systems work when the network of satellites transmits signals, which are processed by GPS receivers that can accurately determine their position on the planet’s surface, allowing people to navigate Earth easily by using data like altitude, longitude, exact time, and velocity.
However, they not only rely on signals from satellites but also utilize a technique called trilateration, which involves measuring the distance between the GPS receiver and multiple satellites to determine its exact location, allowing the receiver to pinpoint its position with remarkable precision.
Combining this distance information from multiple satellites allows the receiver to determine its position accurately. However, to fully grasp the intricacies of these systems, let us explore the structural elements that make up a GPS.
The 3 Main Components of a GPS
In order to function seamlessly, GPS comprises three fundamental components, and understanding the role of each segment is integral to comprehending the functionality of GPS. So let’s get a closer look at each component:
|Component of GPS||The Role of the Component|
|Space Segment||It consists of a network of 24 GPS satellites that orbit the Earth, and transmit signals that carry precise timing and positioning information given they are equipped with atomic clocks that provide highly accurate timing information.|
|Control Segment||It comprises a network of ground-based control stations that are responsible for monitoring and managing the GPS satellite constellations to ensure their accurate positioning by using high-frequency radio signals that are constantly exchanging data.|
|User Segment||It represents the GPS receivers that are used by individuals, organizations, and industries to calculate precise navigation data; and they can come in the form of handheld devices or specialized receivers.|
By understanding the intricacies of these components, we can appreciate the complexity and reliability of the GPS system. But now that we have understood what GPS is, how it works, and its main components, let’s take a deeper look at some of the elements that make GPS work.
The 4 Main Elements That Make GPS Work
Since we are talking about world-wide, live-time communication, there are multiple elements that contribute to the intricacies of global navigation systems. So, to further understand how they function, let’s take a closer look at the elements that make GPS work.
1) Satellites in GPS
Satellites serve as the backbone of the GPS system, given that they are equipped with advanced technology to transmit location signals to the GPS system. They also ensure optimal coverage given that they are positioned in strategic orbits worldwide, comprising of:
- The medium Earth orbit, which has satellites positioned approximately 20,000 kilometers above the Earth’s surface.
- The geostationary orbit, which provides additional coverage in areas with high latitude.
- The high Earth orbit, which provides enhanced signal strength for specialized applications.
Each GPS satellite is equipped with atomic clocks, which ensure that the timing data transmitted by the satellites is precise to within nanoseconds. This level of accuracy is crucial for accurate positioning and navigation, as even the slightest timing discrepancy can lead to significant errors in determining one’s location.
Furthermore, they are not just passive transmitters of signals, given that they receive signals from GPS receivers on the ground, allowing the satellites to gather information about the quality of the signals received and make adjustments to improve the signal strength.
2) Ground Control Stations in GPS
Ground Control Stations ensure the optimal performance of the GPS system by monitoring and managing the GPS satellite constellation, given that they are equipped with advanced technology and a team of skilled professionals who work tirelessly to keep the GPS up and running.
Using sophisticated tracking systems and algorithms, these stations keep a close eye on each satellite’s orbit and trajectory. These skilled professionals analyze the data received from the satellites to detect any deviations or anomalies, which are usually solved upon detection.
Furthermore, in the event of an accident, ground stations have the ability to quickly switch to backup systems and restore the GPS service within a short period of time, minimizing the impact on users.
3) Receivers in GPS
GPS receivers are the devices that interpret the signals transmitted by GPS satellites to calculate precise navigation data, providing users with accurate position information and revolutionizing the way we explore the world around us.
The receivers use the signals from multiple satellites to perform a process called trilateration, which involves complex mathematical calculations that take into account the speed of light and the time it takes for the signals to travel from the satellites to the receiver. Once the GPS has determined its position, it can provide users with a wide range of information, including:
- Latitude and longitude coordinates
- And even the direction of travel
Users can additionally access advanced features such as mapping, route planning, and waypoint marking, which allow them to further plan their journey, mark important locations, and follow predetermined routes.
GPS receivers come in various forms and cater to different user needs. So let’s take a closer look into the types of GPS receivers to further understand which one best suits your needs:
|Type of GPS Receiver||Function|
|Handheld Receiver||They provide users with accurate location information and navigational assistance, and are compact and lightweight, making them ideal for use in challenging outdoor environments.|
|Automobile Receiver||They are used in vehicles for turn-by-turn directions and real-time traffic updates and are typically integrated into the vehicle’s dashboard, providing drivers with clear and concise instructions.|
|Aviation Receiver||They are designed to meet the stringent requirements of pilots and air traffic controllers and provide accurate position information, altitude data, and even weather updates to ensure safe flights.|
|Maritime Receiver||They are built to withstand the harsh conditions of the open sea and offer features such as chart plotting, tide information, and collision avoidance systems to aid sailors and boaters in their navigation.|
With advancements in technology, GPS receivers are now equipped with features such as wireless connectivity, touchscreens, and voice-guided navigation, making them even more user-friendly and enhancing the overall navigation experience.
4) Signals in GPS
GPS signals are the backbone of the entire system, given that they carry data that transmits in the L-band frequency range, which allows them to penetrate obstacles such as buildings, clouds, and foliage, enabling accurate positioning and navigation.
Upon receiving GPS signals, the GPS receiver decodes and processes the transmitted data, providing real-time navigation assistance and other location-based functionalities. But now that we have fully understood how a GPS works, let’s take a trip back in time to comprehend the enormous advancement of this marvelous technology.
The Evolution of GPS Technology
First developed by the United States Department of Defense for military purposes, GPS technology has come a long way since its inception, given that it has become smaller, more affordable, and more accessible to the general public.
This has led to its widespread adoption in various consumer devices and the spread of GPS technology in industries that impact our daily lives, giving this technology further uses like:
- Allowing pilots to accurately determine their position, plan flight routes, and navigate through challenging airspace.
- Enabling farmers to precisely map their fields, monitor crop growth, and optimize the use of resources such as fertilizers and water.
- Allowing fleet management systems to track vehicles, optimize routes, and improve logistics operations.
- And ensuring accurate timing and synchronization of telecommunication networks, providing seamless connectivity.
As technology continues to advance, the future of GPS holds exciting possibilities, with potential applications in autonomous vehicles, augmented reality, and beyond. For example, we could be looking at improved accuracy, enhanced signal reception in challenging environments, and increased integration with artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT).
They could also become smaller, more accurate, and seamlessly integrated into various devices, further expanding the applications and accessibility of GPS technology. However, only time will tell how practical these devices will get!
Seamless navigation with GPS
GPS is a complex system composed of several crucial components. From the orbiting satellites to the ground control stations and the GPS receivers in our hands, each component plays a vital role in ensuring accurate positioning and navigation.
By understanding the functionalities and intricacies of these components, we can appreciate the immense significance of GPS technology in our world. So, the next time you look up something on your maps, take a moment to appreciate the delicate process that makes seamless navigation possible.
So, in this article, we will explore the types of aircraft engines, the manufacturing process behind them, and the importance of maintenance and replacement. However, before delving into the details, let’s take a look at what aircraft engines are and what they are composed of.
What are Aircraft Engines?
Aircraft engines are complex machines that consist of numerous components working together to generate the necessary thrust for flight, ensuring the aircraft’s safe and efficient operation. But what exactly are these parts? Let’s take a closer look.
The 3 Components of Aircraft Engines
There are multiple components that make aircraft engines a reality. So, to further understand how these machines work, let’s take a closer look at what aircraft engines are composed of:
It is composed of blades that spin and compress the incoming air to increase its pressure and temperature, which then moves to the combustion chamber, maintaining the engine’s power output at different altitudes.
It generates the necessary energy for the engine to function by igniting the previously compressed air with fuel, initiating controlled combustion, which is then sent to the turbine.
The turbine is the heart of the engine, given that it extracts energy from the hot exhaust gasses generated during combustion and turns it into the rotational power that drives the aircraft forward.
It is clear to see how these components work together in order for us to arrive at our destinations harm-free. But now that we have understood what aircraft engines are, what they are made of, and how they work, let’s take a look at the types available to see which best suits your aircraft’s needs.
The 3 Types of Aircraft Engines
The aviation industry utilizes several types of aircraft engines, each with its own unique characteristics and applications. So let’s delve into the different types of aircraft engines and what they are used for:
Type of Engine
It operates by using the principle of jet propulsion, playing a significant role in the early days of aviation and paving the way for further advancements in engine technology.
It incorporates a bypass ratio, which offers greater fuel efficiency and quieter operation compared to turbojets, making it the preferred choice for commercial airliners.
It combines a gas turbine engine with a propeller system, offering superior performance at lower speeds, which is why it is commonly used in smaller aircraft for regional flights.
The continuous advancements in engine technology contribute to the ever-evolving field of aviation, ensuring safer and more efficient flights for passengers worldwide. However, to fully understand how engines work, we need to fully understand their manufacturing process.
The Manufacturing Process of Aircraft Engines
The manufacturing process of aircraft engine parts is a complex and precise procedure that involves various steps to ensure the production of high-quality components. So let’s take a step-by-step look at how these parts are made.
Step 1: Selecting the Materials
Engine parts must be made from materials that possess high strength, excellent heat resistance, and superior durability to withstand the extreme conditions of an engine environment, which include high-strength alloys that exhibit exceptional mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and temperature resistance.
Step 2: Precision Machining
Once the materials are selected, the manufacturing process involves a combination of precision machining, casting, forging, and heat treatment techniques, which are employed to shape and optimize the properties of the materials, ensuring that the final parts meet the required specifications.
Step 3: Controlling Quality
Each component then undergoes rigorous inspections and tests to ensure adherence to exacting specifications by using non-destructive testing methods, such as X-ray, ultrasonic, and magnetic particle inspections, to detect any internal defects or irregularities that may compromise the integrity of the parts.
Furthermore, statistical process control techniques are implemented throughout the manufacturing process to monitor and optimize production quality, which helps reduce the risk of failures and ensures consistency in performance.
With this process, manufacturers are able to produce engine parts that meet the demanding requirements of the aviation industry, ensuring the reliability of the engines. Now, once you’ve obtained your engine, the homework doesn’t end there. So let’s look at how to maintain and replace aircraft engine parts.
How to Maintain and Replace Aircraft Engine Parts
Proper maintenance of aircraft engine parts is essential for safe and reliable flight operations. So, here are a few quick tips on how to maintain and replace your aircraft engine parts:
- Make sure to regularly change the engine oil and filter.
- Schedule regular engine inspections, which must be carried out according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
- Employ engine monitoring systems, which track parameters such as temperatures, pressures, and vibrations, allowing for proactive maintenance planning.
- Pay close attention to the condition of the engine’s fuel system to ensure proper fuel flow and combustion efficiency.
- Any signs of contamination or blockage should be addressed promptly to prevent engine damage and maintain optimal performance.
- Check on the engine’s cooling system by looking at the condition of radiators, fans, and coolant levels to prevent overheating and ensure efficient heat dissipation.
- Check for signs of damage, which include abnormal vibrations, excessive smoke or exhaust emissions, decreased engine power, and unusual smells, to prevent failures.
- Examine engine components such as pistons, cylinders, valves, and bearings to look for signs of corrosion or cracks that may compromise the engine’s performance.
- Focus on the engine’s electrical system and inspect wiring, connectors, and sensors to prevent electrical malfunctions that could affect the engine’s performance.
By following these simple steps, you will be sure to be ahead of any unforeseen damage to your aircraft engine, further optimizing the efficiency of the aircraft all together. Now let’s take a look into the future to see what it holds for these aircraft parts.
The Innovations in Aircraft Engines
As the pendulum in the clock swings, we are starting to see more and more aviation technology forever change the way we travel. So let’s take a look at some of these advancements to see just how far we have come when it comes to aircraft engine innovations.
- Research and development efforts are focusing on finding new materials with improved strength-to-weight ratios and greater temperature resistance.
- Shape memory alloys are taking the aviation industry by storm, given they have the unique ability to return to their original shape after being deformed.
- Nanomaterials are being used given their increased strength and thermal stability, which create lighter and more efficient parts that can withstand the extreme conditions of flight.
- Lean-burn combustion is quickly becoming a favorite, given that it involves burning fuel with a higher air-to-fuel ratio, resulting in reduced emissions and improved fuel economy.
- Staged combustion techniques have also been used because they achieve higher thermal efficiencies.
- Developers are improving the blade design to allow for better airflow and reduce turbulence, resulting in increased thrust output and minimized losses due to leakage.
- The integration of sensors and control systems, which analyze various parameters, such as temperature, pressure, and fuel consumption, has maximized efficiency.
- The use of hybrid electric propulsion systems will allow for greater fuel efficiency and reduced carbon emissions.
- Biofuels, made from renewable sources such as algae or waste materials, will also offer the potential for lower emissions and a more sustainable aviation industry.
- 3D printing will allow for the creation of complex designs that were previously impossible to manufacture, reducing lead times and improving the performance of aircraft engines.
These advancements not only benefit the environment but also contribute to the long-term sustainability of the aviation industry. So, as time moves forward, we will see even more efficient and safe engines hit the market, ensuring the safety of everyone on board.
The Impact of Environmental Regulations on Engine Design
Stringent environmental regulations imposed by governing bodies worldwide are driving the aviation industry to adopt cleaner and more fuel-efficient technologies, allowing engine manufacturers to reduce emissions, lower noise levels, and improve fuel efficiency.
These developments aim to minimize the environmental impact of air travel while ensuring the industry’s long-term sustainability. By developing engines that consume less fuel, airlines can reduce their operating costs and decrease their carbon footprint.
Time to Fly with Your Aircraft Engine
Aircraft engine parts are intricately designed and manufactured to withstand the harsh conditions of aviation. Each component plays a crucial role in generating thrust and ensuring safe flight operations.
Keep in mind that with proper maintenance and periodic replacement of engine parts, you can ensure a longer lifespan for your aircraft, its components, and the safety of all passengers and crew members. So happy hunting, and remember to check your engine!
As passengers board an aircraft, they are often drawn to the captivating allure of its interior design. Little do they know, countless components work harmoniously to create a comfortable and efficient flying experience.
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In the fascinating world of aerodynamics, lift plays a crucial role in enabling an aircraft to soar through the skies. And while lift is associated with the upward force that allows an aircraft to take off, there is another component that often flies under the radar: the horizontal component of lift.
In the world of aviation, airframe components play a crucial role in the structural integrity and performance of an aircraft. These components not only provide the necessary support and stability but also contribute to the overall aerodynamics and efficiency.
Afterburners are an integral part of jet engines as they play a crucial role in enhancing thrust and speed! So, let’s take a look into the various components of an afterburner and explore some of their pros and cons.
Additionally, we will trace the evolution of afterburner technology and discuss the potential developments in the field of aerospace engineering. By the end of this article, you will have a comprehensive understanding of the components that make up an afterburner and their impact on aircraft performance.
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Human civilization is able to bring soil to the chest of the asteroid , A historic victory
About 50 years ago man was able to bring the moon soil to the Earth. That distance was about 4 lakh km. And this time an asteroid about 3 crore km away from the earth was able to bring soil by tearing the chest. The first credit for the service went to NASA. And this time the hero is Japan, the country of Doraemon. Japan’s space agency JAXA has accomplished this impossible.
The Hayabusa-2 spacecraft sent by Jaxa ( Japan Space Agency ) at midnight on Saturday ( As per Indian Standard Time ) has successfully returned to Earth. NASA has already congratulated Japan for this impossible task. NASA has already called this a historic event.
Between Mars and Jupiter have numerous asteroids. Among those asteroids is a special asteroid named Ryugu. Hayabusa-2 has been able to bring this Ryugu’s soil.
It is thought that landing on an asteroid is much more difficult than landing on planets and satellites. The main reason is that the soil of the asteroid is very rough. The surface of Asteroid is so uneven that the spacecraft can break if it moves a little. Excavations in the chest of the asteroid are even more complicated than that. And the Japanese spacecraft named Hayabusa-2 successfully showed this complex work. At the same time, Japan, the country of Doraemon, became the first country in the world to achieve this feat.
Wondering what is the benefit to brings asteroid soil from three crore km away ? is any help for common man? Common man thinks there is no benefit in this work. So the millions and billions of rupees that are spent for all these works are also in vain!
But in reality it is not! The world is running out of minerals! One day minerals will be completely exhausted. What will happen then? How will survive mankind ? That’s why this discovery is needed! Maybe on that day there will be minerals in the soil brought to the chest of this asteroid. And it Will keep human civilization alive!


Two-time shuttle astronaut Sid Gutierrez has always been a skeptic.
As a test pilot in the U.S. Air Force, Gutierrez made a living poking holes in the ideas contractors offered to the military.
“I’m used to debunking solutions people propose,” he said. “Every now and again, someone has an excellent piece of equipment, but I’m always very skeptical.”
So when Gutierrez was approached by startup company Rocket Crafters, he was prepared to find something that the start-up company overlooked.
Rocket Crafters is developing hybrid rockets to lift small satellites — micro and cubesats — into space. They say their rockets will make launches safer, more affordable and more accessible to companies and colleges. They hope to start testing their rockets on the Space Coast this month in partnership with Florida Institute of Technology…


When it comes to building the interior of a spacecraft, engineers often prioritize function over aesthetics, focusing on materials and hardware that are both safe and effective for executing the vehicle’s intended mission. But some scientists say it’s time to consider another crucial factor when designing a spacecraft’s insides: how it will affect the behavior of the passengers?
For astronauts traveling vast distances — perhaps on a trip to Mars — the design of a spacecraft’s interior could be a critical tool for keeping people happy and healthy during the journey. Room will likely be limited on any vehicle we send to the Red Planet; getting massive objects into space takes a lot of energy and money, so the interiors on these transports could be tight. And passengers will be stuck with the same group of people for the entire ride — a trip that could take years to complete. All of those conditions could create a nightmare scenario for a person’s psychological health, causing stress, bad sleep schedules, depression, and other negative feelings that might affect their time in space.
That’s why a new workshop next week plans to address this often-overlooked aspect of space travel. Called Space^2, the event will bring together astronauts, health professionals, and design experts in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to discuss what types of technologies and hardware deep space missions can include inside their spacecraft to make interplanetary journeys a more enjoyable experience. Up until now, astronauts have mostly experienced short trips to space, usually lasting less than a year. Because of this, spacecraft interiors have revolved around optimizing volume and less on giving people peace of mind. And some experts say that needs to change.
“Not much has been done in terms of the design and interior of the spacecraft,” Dorit Donoviel, director for the Translational Research Institute for Space Health and one of the conference organizers, tells The Verge. “It’s really about where they want to place their levers, their displays, what kind of materials they’ll use in terms of preventing bacterial growth. I don’t think there’s been too much emphasis on the behavioral or really the human side of some of these interior environments.”
Unfortunately, there isn’t a ton of research out there to guide engineers on the best spacecraft design for keeping astronauts in good spirits. That’s because conducting research on isolation can be tough to pull off. “These are difficult experiments to do ethically anywhere in the world, really,” Ted Smith, director of the Center for Healthy Air, Water and Soil at the University of Louisville, tells The Verge. “There’s really a lot more that we don’t know than we do know about how the social psychology and the personal individual psychology degrades when circumstances degrade.”
But some investigations have been done in this area, looking at how small groups of astronauts might fare when trapped together in confined quarters for an extended period of time. For the last six years, the University of Hawaii has overseen simulated Mars missions on the side of an active volcano, Mauna Loa, on Hawaii’s Big Island. During these missions, small groups of people live together in a fake Martian habitat called HI-SEAS for months at a time, allowing scientists to better understand how people might interact when on a mission to Mars. (The owner of HI-SEAS now plans to run fake Moon missions at the habitat, now that NASA is focused on a return to the Moon.)
Between 2010 and 2011, Russia and Europa studied a crew of six, who lived together in a simulated spacecraft for 520 days, the approximate length of a human mission to fly by Mars. They only had 775 square feet of space for the entire experiment, about the size of a tiny one-bedroom apartment. Investigators found that some stopped moving around as much toward the end of the experiment, a few experienced an increase in depressive symptoms, and most of the participants had abnormal sleep schedules. One crew member no longer had a day / night sleep cycle.
Some historical situations provide context for what might happen on a mission to Mars. One Russian cosmonaut, Valentin Lebedev, wrote about his strained experience spending 211 days on board a tiny space station called Salyut-7 in 1982, with just one other crew member. “It’s a really compelling story, because there were periods of time they weren’t even talking to each other,” Jay Buckey, a former NASA astronaut and a professor of medicine at the Geisel School of Medicine, tells The Verge. Numerous expeditions to Antarctica have also put scientists in close quarters, surrounded by an unwelcoming environment. The Belgica, the first expedition to spend winter at the continent in the late 1890s, experienced significant struggles when the ship became trapped in ice. The crew on board couldn’t go outside much, and many experienced severe mental health issues as a result of the experience. “They had a really high rate of psychosocial problems, part of which might have been due to the environment they were in,” Buckey says.
Ultimately, humans are physical and visual human beings, says Donoviel, and space travel can deprive individuals of some of their basic desires. Plus, the longer people stay on a spacecraft, the harder it can be for them. “It’s a challenge to live with a small group of people for a long period of time, and there are definitely issues with stress, conflict, and sometimes depression,” says Buckey. For instance, when NASA shifted from doing Space Shuttle missions, which lasted for just weeks at a time, to six-month stays on the International Space Station, there were anecdotal reports of astronauts experiencing much more psychological stress, according to the space agency.
It will all be much worse on a mission to Mars than it is for those on the ISS. The ISS has about 32,333 cubic feet of interior space, about the volume of a Boeing 747, NASA says. That allows crews a bit more room to move around. But for a Mars mission, NASA has estimated that the minimal acceptable volume for a human mission to the Red Planet will be about 883 cubic feet per person. For a four-person crew, that adds up to about the size of a 17-foot U-Haul trailer. Donoviel hopes that this number could potentially grow based on some more behavioral research. “Unless we bring forward the requirements for the humans to the engineers, we’re going to be given a number we’re just going to have to live with, and I’m not sure it’s going to be sufficient for health,” she says.
Of course, there are others who want to go to Mars, too, and make it a luxurious experience. Private spaceflight company SpaceX, dreams of creating a more spacious vehicle, the Starship, to take people to the Moon and Mars. During a presentation, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has said the interior pressurized volume of the vehicle would be about that of the ISS. And the company is known for valuing aesthetics as much as function in its designs, which could make things a little more pleasing to the eye. Still, SpaceX runs into the same problem of isolation. Astronauts on the International Space Station are able to look out the window and see Earth whenever they please, feeling a connection to home. Earth will only be a speck in the distance for those on a mission to Mars.
One way experts are thinking of combatting this is through the use of virtual reality. VR headsets were given to crews on the simulated HI-SEAS missions in Hawaii, showing them scenes from the Bavarian Alps and beaches in Australia, something they very much enjoyed, according to Buckey. Such technology could be a way for astronauts to momentarily escape the daunting task of going to Mars.
Another concern for astronauts is that they will have to stay with the same group of people for such a long period of time. The astronauts on the ISS rotate crews every few months, so they can work with different groups of people from time to time. Mars astronauts will not have that luxury. This lack of diversity, combined with a lack of privacy, is thought to be a stressor too, says Smith. “It’s a thought experiment we can all do about how we can become very sensitive over periods of time to small annoyances from each other,” says Smith. “There’s abundant evidence that we as humans require interaction with lots of other folks, and when you reduce those numbers and you hold them constant, the variability that we look for goes hungry.”
To combat this, it’s possible that engineers and designers might want to introduce certain smells and sounds inside the cabin. “It turns out there are certain smells that make people feel like they’re surrounded more closely by people and certain smells that make you feel like you’ve got a little more space between you and your fellow humans,” says Smith. In fact, various cedar scents and bright colors were used on the British Antarctic Survey’s research station in Antarctica to combat the blues of being cooped up all winter. Smith also notes the possibility of creating synthetic human beings with visuals on walls or conversational bots akin to Siri or Alexa.
There aren’t any correct solutions to these problems yet, but the Space^2 conference could put engineers on the right path. “This is a great chance for us to think about things great and small that we can bring with us and things that are analogue and digital we can bring with us,” says Smith. And while a human mission to Mars is still many years away, experts say it’s time to think about this now so we can plan the design of these spacecraft well in advance. If behavioral health isn’t taken into consideration, adverse reactions could be disastrous for deep space travel.
“We really don’t know how these folks will react to such a confined space. And the consequence of that is loss of crew or loss of mission,” says Donoviel.


We are revisiting Kennedy Space Centre.
In April 2010 Dick and I were privileged to be hosted by Jim and Bernie Kennedy here at Kennedy Space centre for the launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery on flight STS-131.
Being present for that launch was a highlight of our lives.
There is nothing comparable to the profound experience of witnessing the culmination of the work of many people to make such a magnificent vehicle powered to take people safely 240miles into space and then to bring them home.
That launch event coincided with the transit of the International Space Station across the face of the moon at T-20 before blast off of the shuttle. The crowd made the pledge of allegiance and sang the national anthem. We were deeply moved by the whole event.
Here is our friend, Jim. He recalled that as a child John Glenn used to attend the Presbyterian church and that this had inspired Jim's interest in space. Jim is a former Director of Kennedy Space Centre.
Up close - and as if she is in flight.
Atlantis first flew in 1985 and has flown 33 missions to the International Space Station. Her last flight was in July 2011.
Terry showed us tile samples and explained the complex materials and application of the heat shield tiles.
For the international space station home handy people....
Astronauts now travel to and from the international space station via Rissian Soyuz spacecraft.
Charlie Walker, a scientist and the first non governmental astronaut spoke at lunch about food in space.- snacks for Mercury astronauts for their short journeys; food for the longer Apollo journeys and for shuttle journeys and longer stays on board the International Space Station. Freeze dried food, dehydrated drinks; catalytic production of water on early flights; managing prepartion and eating in a weightless environment - velcro and magnets are used to hold packages and utensils in place.
Jim Kennedy is a wonderful communicator and is great with young folk.
Ethan and Aidan from Wales had questions for Jim. For example, they wanted to know about what the physical condition of astronauts was like after months in space.
After viewing the space Station IMAX film we took a bus tour around the NASA campus.
Conservation of wildlife is part of the NASA story. We saw bald eagle nests; there are bobcats, panthers, snakes, wild hogs many birds and...
Here we are with Appollo 8 command module which carried the first humans to orbit the moon on Christmas Eve, 1968.
Astronauts Bill Anderson, Jim Lovell, and Frank Borman read from Genesis 1:1--10. 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.2. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters...
Dinner at the Dixie Crossroads with Terry and Patty White and Carol and Rich Bollas and our hosts completed this marvellous day.


UAV Forge 2020
Our goal this year is to raise $12,000 to support our project costs which include the airframe, ground control station, and travel.
UAV Forge at UCI Team Members.
UAV Forge is a group of students involved in a multidisciplinary engineering senior design project with a focus on designing, building and programming unmanned aerial vehicles. Our goal this academic year is to travel to Maryland to compete in the 18th annual Student Unmanned Aerial Systems Competition (SUAS) hosted by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI). The competition is held in Webster Naval Air Station, in Patuxent River, MD, from June 17th to 20th.
Every donation helps our team tremendously and we here at UAV Forge greatly appreciate your support to our cause because it allows UAV Forge to continue to grow and reach greater heights.
UAV Forge's previous competition airplane: the Avistar 30cc.
UAV Forge team members conducting tests on our aircraft.
We would all appreciate any contributions you can make to our campaign! Please share with your friends, family, or any other contacts to help support our project. Your support will go a long way to helping us be able to reach our goals and become better engineers!


One of the most widely known aircrafts in general aviation is the Cessna 172. Depending on the year and model, the aircraft may be equipped with one of the two ways that fuels may be delivered to the engine, gravity feed or fuel pump. The following sections will explore both methods.
Fuel Delivery Using Gravity
In the gravity feed method, fuel flows from the left or right fuel tank controlled by the fuel selector within the cockpit with the assistance of gravity. The fuel makes its way through the strainer to filter out unwanted contaminants and is delivered directly into the fuel air control unit.
Carburetors are used as the fuel air control unit in some older planes. The subcomponents that make up a carburetor are the fuel inlet, float chamber, air inlet, venturi, discharge nozzle, mixture needle, and throttle valve.
During fuel delivery, the fuel is received by the carburetor through the fuel inlet and fills the chamber where the amount of fuel is regulated by a float-type device. The second chamber of the carburetor resemble a throat. Its purpose is to promote air flow and withdraw fuel through the discharge nozzle from the float chamber in vapor form. This is achieved with a venturi, a restricted region near the middle of the throat that creates a low pressure area compared the incoming air and the float chamber. The higher pressure air at the air inlet allows air to flow through the venturi. Similarly, the high pressure air in the float chamber forces fuel through the mixture needle and discharge nozzle into the venturi where it mixes with the high pressure air from the air inlet. The fuel air mixture continues their way through the remainder of the carburetor and is delivered to the cylinders regulated by the throttle valve.
Carburetors are subjected to carburetor ice. When this happens, the engine may run rough or stops completely in worse case scenario. Carburetor icing is highly likely to occur when the temperature falls below 21°C (70°F) and relative humidity is greater than 80%, but it is also possible for temperature as high as 38°C (100°F) when relative humidity is greater than 50%. Use carburetor heat when carburetor ice is suspected.
Fuel Delivery Using Fuel Pump
The two additional components added to the fuel system that make up the fuel pump system are the engine-driven fuel pump and a backup electric fuel pump. Similar to the gravity feed method, fuel is drawn from the selected tank(s) indicated on the fuel selector by the engine-driven fuel pump. The fuel will flow from the selected tank(s), through the fuel selector, into the strainer to filter out unwanted contaminants, and delivered directly into the fuel air control unit. When the engine driven pump fails, the backup electric fuel pump can be used to maintain engine operation.
In a fuel injection system, fuel is delivered by fuel pump and received by the fuel air control unit or also known as servo regulator. This fuel air control unit gauges mixture to the fuel distribution valve based on the throttle position. The fuel distribution valve then routes mixture evenly to all cylinders.
The ignition system provides a way to ignite the fuel and air mixture in the cylinders. It is made up of magnetos, spark plugs, and the ignition switch. The magnetos are self-contained engine-driven component that delivers electrical power to the spark plugs in the cylinders. Each cylinder contains two spark plugs powered by two separate magnetos. This redundancy is employed such that when one magneto fails, all cylinders will continue to operate with the only impact being slight loss of power output. The ignition system will start by turning the ignition switch and continue to fire when the crankshaft is turning.
Four Stroke Operating Cycle
The four stroke operating cycle describes the process where the fuel and ignition systems work in unison to turn the crankshaft. The four strokes refer to the four different phases that occur in the cylinders: intake, compression, power, and exhaust.
During the intake phase, the piston moves away from the cylinder head drawing fuel and air mixture into the combustion chamber via intake valve. The piston then moves toward the cylinder head and compresses the mixture in the process during the compression phase. In the power stroke, the spark plugs fire and ignites the mixture resulting in a rapid expanding gases that pushes the piston away from the cylinder head and rotate the crankshaft. Lastly, the exhaust phase expels the burned gases from the combustion chamber through the open exhaust valve.


Pilots are often sent on long solo missions with no guidance or assistance along the way. They are given an objective and a “blue sky” plan; anything unexpected is the problem of the pilot alone. Despite the importance of the mission, there is nobody on board to share the stress that comes with “mission critical” tasks. Sometimes it’s hard to stay in the air with the gravity of heavy responsibility pulling at your wings, but the faith that’s been placed in your abilities can be very uplifting.
Solo pilots must be as vigilant of their resources – fuel, oxygen, time – as they are of potential obstacles. Stormy weather, reroutes or faulty equipment can instantly turn dealing with a straightforward mission into dealing with the impossible.
Does your work ever send you on a long, solo run with “mission critical” objectives? Does the lack of colleague camaraderie ever make the air feel thin? Would you welcome a solo flight as a testament to your skills and reliability, or would you find yourself reaching for the ejection handle?


The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is now in its 35th year and is Europe’s largest ballooning event. Four days of fun for the whole family from 8th – 11th August 2013. During the fiesta over 150 hot air balloons will have taken off from Ashton Court Estate at 6am and 6pm.
The event features colourful hot-air balloon displays, attracting over half a million visitors to the scenic grounds of Ashton Court. Balloons of all shapes and sizes lift off over the City of Bristol as well as taking part in various ballooning competitions including who can reach the furthest point in a set time or landing challenges. There is entertainment for all the family with fairground rides.


Angry Birds hit Space Center Houston
Published 6:19 pm, Wednesday, December 26, 2012
The virtual world of "Angry Birds Space" will arrive at Space Center Houston on Friday.
No one could have predicted how fun it would be to catapult angry birds into the air in the hopes of destroying complacent pigs. But people loved the "Angry Birds" video game, and then "Angry Birds Space" took it light years further - challenging players to slingshot birds over longer distances, reckon with gravity and still kill pigs.
At Space Center Houston, visitors will find huge 3-D sculptures and imaginative scenes from "Angry Birds Space" in the Kids Space Place, starting at 11 a.m. Friday.
Look for a giant Angry Birds Space logo that's perfect for a photo-op and a small air pump where kids can shoot their own angry birds.
Space Center Houston is at 1601 NASA Parkway. Information: 281-244-2100.


video (animation), 2016.
Sky in Ruins (di sotto in sù) is an illusionistic ceiling video projection that alludes to the tradition of Renaissance ceiling painting and its illusionistic depictions of limitless space with an architectural vanishing point on the ceiling. The vanishing point was vertically directly above, the gaze was directed di sotto in sù, “from below, upward,” to the illusory open skies.
The vanishing point in the Sky in Ruins project is in the blackness of the orbits along which satellites circle the Earth. The projection is a window into the nearby cosmos, where there is far more space trash than satellites. It is a ceiling illusion that provides a dystopian view of space in our vicinity. A series of close-ups of collisions between satellites and space trash is projected onto the space dumping ground opening up above us.
The 3-D animation is a homemade visual illusion. It is made with Blender open source software, with realistically fashioned models of satellites, and is accompanied by recordings of actual space sounds. The main purpose of the work, however, is not so much to portray a real situation in nearby space as it is to point out that the universe, despite its vastness, is not so unlimited that we could go on simply moving our bad habits from Earth out into space.
Project documentation: Beyond the Globe | 8th Triennial of Contemporary Art – U3, Museum of Contemporary Art (+MSUM), Ljubljana, Slovenia. Curated by: Boris Groys
Making-of and sketches


Tidman Legal advises Niparo on its Intellectual Property and Technology to form new ethical space consultancy
Tidman Legal has advised the UK’s first ethical space consultancy Niparo on its intellectual property and technology.
With small satellites (including cubesats) now an affordable way to access space, Niparo are involved in several projects that would launch a fleet of cubesats from the United Kingdom to allow Earth observation and tackle climate change.
The Tidman Legal team advising on intellectual property and technology aspects of the space business was led by Managing Director, Oliver Tidman.
“I knew this going in, but the services, quality and professionalism of Tidman Legal were totally excellent. Working with Oliver was a true joy and I’m hoping to have a very long and fruitful working relationship and collaboration with him and Tidman Legal,” said Nicholas Ross, CEO of Niparo.
Oliver Tidman added: “This is an exciting time for Niparo as they grow the business as part of the wider space network in Scotland. It was a pleasure to advise Nicholas on intellectual property matters and to assist in starting the business on a solid legal foundation. I look forward to continuing working with Nicholas and Niparo going forward.”


One of those sets is the LEGO City Passenger Plane. Out of production for about a year now, it's still available on the secondary market, or if you're lucky, on a clearance shelf in a toy store. The Passenger Plane is a four-engine jet, nearly two feet long and just as wide. For the 1 3/4" LEGO minifigures, it's enormous, and by far the largest LEGO airplane in my collection.
LS972, SL972, LEGO City Ambulance Plane, ambulance plane, double tail plane, double tail airplane, emergency plane, propeller plane, double propeller plane, plane with two tails, EMT plane, EMT services, emergency services, plane doctor, lego city plane, lego city emergency services, lego city emergency, lego plane, lego propeller plane, lego light aircraft, lego aircraft, lego emergency plane, lego ambulance plane, lego emergency, lego helpers, lego doctor,


A delegation of Jacksonville business leaders, including representatives from the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, its economic development arm, Cornerstone Regional Development Partnership, and the Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA), showcased Northeast Florida at the 49th International Paris Air Show, promoting future job growth and business development in the region.
A team of eight business leaders, including Chamber Chair Hugh Greene, Chair-elect Tom Van Berkel and Jacksonville Aviation Authority CEO Steve Grossman, met with 16 prospective companies and four new companies looking at Northeast Florida.
The industries included a combination of aircraft manufacturing, aviation components manufacturing, and maintenance repair and overhaul. As a result of continuously marketing Northeast Florida to the aviation industry, several companies placed this region on their short-list for consideration. The air show allows area leaders to have meetings with companies that would not otherwise be possible in the United States.
The air show attracted more than 200,000 attendees this year. A number of participants viewed the Jacksonville and Florida trade show displays and visited with team representatives. More than 20,000 people are currently employed in the aviation and aerospace industry sectors in the Northeast Florida region.
This is another example of the great ways the Chamber is getting the story of Jacksonville out to an international audience!


Posted by The Ethiopia Observatory (TEO)
Following the downing in eastern Ukraine of Malaysian passenger airlines, Flight 17, which was shot down on July 17 by separatist rebels, the US has issued flight advisories and prohibitions for 14 airspaces around the world, identifying countries by name. The concerned states are:
Ethiopia, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Congo, Egypt Sinai Peninsula, Iran, Kenya, Mali, Syria and Yemen.
Regarding Ethiopia, the advisory states:
ETHIOPIA FDC 0/4999 KFDC A0012/00 Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 87 – Prohibition against Certain Flights Within the Territory and Airspace of Ethiopia.
a. Applicability. This Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) No. 87 applies to all U.S. air carriers or commercial operators, all persons exercising the privileges of an airman certificate issued by the FAA unless that person is engaged in the operation of a U.S.-registered aircraft for a foreign air carrier, and all operators using aircraft registered in the United States except where the operator of such aircraft is a foreign air carrier.
b. Flight prohibition. Except as provided in paragraphs c and d of this SFAR, no person described in paragraph a may conduct flight operations within the territory and airspace of Ethiopia north of 12 degrees north latitude. c. Permitted operations. This SFAR does not prohibit persons described in paragraph a from conducting flight operations within the territory and airspace of Ethiopia where such operations are authorized either by exemption issued by the Administrator or by an authorization issued by another agency of the United States Government with the approval of the FAA.
d. Emergency situations. In an emergency that requires immediate decision and action for the safety of the flight, the pilot in command of an aircraft may deviate from this SFAR to the extent required by that emergency. Except for U.S. air carriers and commercial operators that are subject to the requirements of 14 CFR 121.557, 121.559, or 135.19, each person who deviates from this rule shall, within ten (10) days of the deviation, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays, submit to the nearest FAA Flight Standards District Office a complete report of the operations of the aircraft involved in the deviation, including a description of the deviation and the reason therefor.
e. Expiration. This Special Federal Aviation Regulation shall remain in effect until further notice. (FAA/AIA-1005/14/02)
ETHIOPIA/KENYA KFDC A0012/97 Ethiopia/Kenya Advisory: Potentially Hostile Situation.
Attention U.S. Operators:
Aircraft that cross into Ethiopian airspace while taking off or landing at Mandera Airstrip in Kenya may be fired upon by Ethiopian forces. Mandera is located in the extreme northeastern corner of Kenya, adjacent Ethiopia and Somalia. Operators considering flights to northeastern Kenya should familiarize themselves with the current situation. (FAA/AIA-100 5/14/02)
Read the full details of the advisories from The Washington Post.


Assistant Professor Vacancies at Indian Institute of Space Science & Technology (IIST)
|Vacancies at Indian Institute of Space |
Science & Technology (IIST)
Indian Institute of Space Science & Technology (IIST)
IIST invites application for the post of Assistant Professor in following areas :
Measurement and Instrumentation
Electrical Engineering / Control Engineering
Digital Signal Processing
Digital Communication System/ Radar Systems
RF anf Microwave Engineering
Semi Conductor Device
VLSI Design/ Microelectronics/ MEMS
Antenna SystemsAssistant Professor : Rs.15600 -39100/- (PB 3) with Grade Pay of Rs. 7600/-+ HRA & DA at applicable rates.,
Age : 40 years as on 30/09/2012.
How to Apply : Applications in the prescribed format should be submitted on or before 30/09/2012electronically to firstname.lastname@example.org or by post to: Administrative Officer, IIST, ATF Area, VSSC Campus, ISRO P.O., Thiruvananthapuram-695022. Applications should be superscribed as “Application for the post of __________, Post No.___________”.
for details and application format.


Join our Science Questers as they learn about birch bark canoes and pilot Don Todd, who has flown on every continent except Antarctica.
DON: (Language greeting) I’m Don Todd and I’m here to tell you a little bit about flying and aviation and about my life. I am a professional pilot. I started as a dock boy on the fuel plane when I was 17. And I gained my experience in the Northwest Territories. When I qualified, I got a job in Inuvik when I began flying a twin engine aircraft as a co-pilot. But I love flying in the north, especially in the summertime when the weather’s good and the sun is 24 hours. Any time of day or night, if a flight came up we’d have to go. That was, that was interesting. I got to know the Inuit people very well and especially enjoyed going to their community and visiting them when they’d come to the aircraft. After a few seasons of flying in Canada, I decided that I’d like to see the world so I traveled, I got an airplane ticket to Africa. I really enjoyed the African people. They are very welcoming, very big smiles, very kind and friendly and the children, they’re very natural. They like to play, like to laugh a lot. So they really are my family was integrated well amongst them and I felt at home with them.
DON: Our ancestors were great navigators and navigating means going between one part of the world or one part of the earth to another part of the earth and be able to get there and find your way. Well pilots have to do something, they have to go between this point where they take off to where they have to, to land and they have to get there without wasting any time so it’s important to be able to know how to navigate. If you have a wish to become a pilot, you could do it, but there’s some challenges ahead of you. One of them is that you have to get through high school. The most important ones would be math, geography, English, and science as well. If you studied those and got good marks in them and you finished your high school, it’ll make it much easier to become a pilot, go on to become an airline pilot and in, in that case I would recommend, consider going to university, get qualified with a degree, and then you could become a pilot.


These hilariously strange photos of astronauts committing suicide have left us baffled and curious. The collection entitled the “Astronaut Suicides” was photographed by Neil Dacosta, Art Direction credit goes to Sara Phillips and Saskia Thomson is responsible for the photo re-touching. The photos were inspired by the bittersweet closing of the NASA space shuttle program, begging the question of viewers, “What will the astronauts do now?”. In February 2010, President Barack Obama signaled the end of the shuttle program in order to “focus instead on radically new space technologies” – signaling the end of the shuttle program after the final launch and landing of the Atlantis space shuttle. On April 15, 2010, Obama stated, “I understand that some believe that we should return to the surface of the moon but I have to say this bluntly, we have been there before.” Too bad, such a sad end to an iconic era. Kudos go out to the creative team for marking the end of an era in a compelling and quirky way. The photographs were shot in Portland, Oregon and feature a space suit from a Hollywood prop house that supplies replica suits to the film industry.


With the collaboration of METU Aerospace Students’ Society and GE Aviation, a presentation will be given by GE Aviation to help the graduates or to-be-graduates plan their careers professionally. The presentation will take place in Aerospace Engineering Department’s Conference Hall on 24.05.2017 Wednesday at 12.30. The Edison Engineering Development Program (EEDP) is an intensive program for people who have a passion for technology, a drive for technical excellence, and share in GE's core values. The program is designed to accelerate participants' professional development through intense technical training and a variety of business-critical assignments. Edison graduates have the technical and business foundation to proactively and continually make innovative contributions to GE's future. If you love technology and want a career in engineering, the Edison Engineering Development Program is for you! During the presentation, we’ll have a small workshop in which the students have mock interviews, during which useful tips will be given. Also, a small competition will take place. If you win, you’ll get a chance to take a technical tour of GE Aviation or a career coaching opportunity from GE Aviation. Also, snacks will be served during the event.


Stock Markets1 hour ago (Oct 03, 2021 02:45AM ET)
DUBAI (Reuters) – Italian aerospace firm Leonardo expects the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration will certify the AW609 aircraft in 2022, nearly two decades after the first test flight.
The AW609 is a twin-engine tilt-rotor aircraft that can take off like a helicopter but flies like a plane, giving it greater speed and distance than normal helicopters.
Chief Executive Alessandro Profumo said the first two AW609s built for a customer were in production and would be delivered as soon the aircraft is certified, which he expects will be next year.
“We’re pretty close to the final step,” he told Reuters at the Dubai Expo world fair.
An FAA representative said in response to a Reuters query that the agency “does not comment on certification projects.”
Leonardo forecasts civil, government and military demand for the AW609, including for transport to offshore oil and gas sites, search and rescue operations, border patrol and surveillance.
“We are seeing a lot interest,” Profumo said, including from potential buyers in the United States, Australia and Japan.
An AW609 prototype first took flight in 2003 and four prototypes have been built including one that crashed in 2015, killing the two pilots on board.
Italy’s flight safety agency recommended aerodynamic and software changes to the aircraft following the crash.
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