Flying cars are not as fictional as we once thought. Recent advancements in the autonomous vehicle industry and drone technology are introducing society to new forms of transportation. You might be wondering, who is actually working on this technology and what does it even mean to work in the industry of flying cars?
Bernd Rietberg, a Flying Car and Autonomous Flight Engineer Nanodegree program graduate, can tell you a lot about the flying car industry. He is on the Silverwing team that just made it to the final round of Boeing’s GoFly challenge. We had a chance to sit down with him and learn about how he and his team are pioneering the next form of transportation.
How has your learning and career journey led you to flying cars?
As a kid, I always wanted to be an inventor. When I was 6, my dad told me that was called being an ‘engineer’. So I tried my hardest to remember that difficult word –Engineer!I would repeat that to myself late at night.
That interest and curiosity stuck with me through my childhood. When I went off to university, I chose to major in physics, which was incredible; I loved the broad nature of this field and its applicability in every form of engineering. I decided to enroll in a master’s program for Applied Physics, which I graduated top of my class from a couple of years ago.
With a background in physics, my first job out of school was actually as a physics teacher. What better way to engrain your knowledge than to share it with others. During that time, I also set up a small startup, which led me to find my true passion: connecting technology with entrepreneurship.
I began working at TNO, an applied research institute, where I focused on bringing my physics background to disruptive high-tech systems in sustainable mobility.
I still work there, now at the defense research unit, which investigates counter drone systems and utilizes drones for reconnaissance, among other things.
Working in the mobility industry has kept me curious about drones. Last year, I began noticing an acceleration in the development of flying cars. I grew excited about the complexity of developing this technology and integrating it into society today. As a physicist, I really enjoy complex problems that require a multitude of disciplines.
2. What motivated you to enroll in Udacity’s Flying Car Nanodegree program?
I started reading more about the electrification of flight and flying cars in general. I was studying several disruptive mobility systems, such as the Hyperloop, self-driving taxis, drones, and avatars when I stumbled upon the Flying Car Nanodegree program. The course content was very similar to the topics I had been researching and this seemed like a great way to dive deeper, beyond research, and actually obtain flying car related skills. At the same time, I was a bit nervous. The projects were beyond my current skill set and the projected time commitment in tandem with a full-time job seemed like a challenge. I weighed the options and decided to go for it.
It was a great decision. Indeed, it was a big challenge to do alongside my job, but it brought me so much in terms of my programming skills, network, and mindset.
3. You’re now working to build a flying car with Team Silverwing, how did this evolve?
When I enrolled in the Flying Car Nanodegree program, I was immersed in a new community of like-minded engineers. I was also able to implement some of my Nanodegree program skills in my current role, specifically researching the integration of flying taxis into society.
Through the network of engineers working on flying cars, I ended up hearing about this extremely cool student team here at the TU Delft called Silverwing. This team was actually attempting to build a flying car themselves with the hope of winning the Boeing GoFly challenge.
I was immediately interested––this seemed like a great opportunity. I thought to myself: “How cool is it to actually try to build a massive fixed-wing drone?”
4. What is Silverwing’s main objective?
The team’s vision is to accelerate the road towards personal, electric and autonomous aviation. By joining the Boeing GoFly challenge, we will show the world that mobility is ready for the next revolution: safe, reliable, and quiet personal air mobility. We’ve already won the first two rounds of the challenge, and we hope to win the finale next year as well.
Silverwing is building a one-person, fully autonomous, electric, fixed-wing drone for the Boeing GoFly challenge. Our system kinda looks like a flying motorcycle. The interesting thing about our design is that it actually lands on its tail, like a rocket. This allows it to be super efficient for each stage of flight: During Vertical Take-off and Landing, it requires less energy and produces less sound; and during cruise, it utilizes the wings to provide lift – allowing it to stay aloft a lot longer. We don’t use seperate propellers or rotate the propellers for liftoff and landing, but actually rotate the entire vehicle. This makes it more aerodynamically optimized, reduces weight, and improves reliability.
Winning the Boeing GoFly Challenge will help us achieve this goal. After the competition, we will further develop our prototype into a scalable, manufacturable product for several applications and industries.
5. What is your role within the team?
My role as Lead Business Developer is to think about the future of Silverwing after the Boeing GoFly Competition. Can we find use cases for our drone, or continue to develop our drone for commercial applications? Would cargo transport be a better first option? And for which markets might an autonomous VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) heavy-payload drone be interesting?
6. Silverwing has made it to the final round of Boeing-sponsored GoFly competition, what does this mean for the team?
It’s a huge accomplishment. We’re amongst the best now, and I think we stand a chance to win. I’m incredibly proud of our team: we’ve gone from 8 people and a mere drawing on paper to 35 people with full-scale model production in less than a year.
Our design is the best but the final competition is tough. We’re up against people and companies with decades of experience.
7. In your opinion, what is the future of flying cars? What is the most important aspect of achieving this future?
The future is challenging. My prior job focused on researching the societal integration of the future of disruptive mobility systems. From a vehicle perspective, it’s definitely technologically possible within a couple of years. But from a societal implementation standpoint, there are still many challenges. Developing air traffic management systems, infrastructure changes, safety procedures, rules and regulations, certification, public acceptance, partnerships…those are all slow processes in innovation, especially in aviation.
We’re already seeing semi-autonomous heavy-payload drones being used for cargo and agriculture. I think we will see tests of autonomous passenger services with VTOL Aircraft traveling between existing helipads and airports within a couple of years. Next, we’ll see tests with VTOL services between nearby cities, in countries where legislation is quicker to adapt. But scaling this to dozens of landing platforms within cities and hundreds of flying taxis is in my view at least a decade off.
Of course, certain countries and cities will be quicker to adopt, so you might be lucky in San Francisco 😉
Congrats to Bernd and the Silverwing team, we’re excited to see how the final round of the Boeing Go Fly competition goes! Here’s a short snippet of our conversation with him.
To learn more about flying cars enroll in the Flying Car and Autonomous Flight Nanodegree program


An Astronaut’s Tips on Coping with Confinement & Isolation
Bel Air | August 31, 2020
The COVID-19 crisis forced Americans into long-term isolation for an indeterminable amount of time. Bel Air Investment Advisors invited astronaut Dr. Garrett Reisman to discuss with its guests ways to live meaningfully in isolation. Dr. Reisman, selected by NASA in 1998, flew on missions with the Endeavor and Atlantis space shuttles and served aboard the International Space Station.
During the virtual event, Dr. Reisman explored several tools astronauts use to manage the anxiety, uncertainty, and loneliness that can emerge during extended periods of isolation. Among the many pieces of advice he shared, Dr. Reisman emphasized how important it is to stay busy. Few things can add to the hardships of isolation more than not having anything to do. Secondly, Dr. Reisman promoted the idea of expeditionary behavior. It is important to demonstrate leadership and fellowship, to communicate well with those around you, and to do intentional acts of self and team care. Additionally, Dr. Reisman advised that everyone that lives with others should have a dedicated personal space where they can have privacy and time alone. Conversely, it is also important that people reach out to others and intentionally stay in touch with those outside their bubble so in order to maintain human connections.
This exclusive event was part of Bel Air’s ongoing Conversations series that works to connect its community to unique and memorable events. Bel Air brought the event to guests virtually as a way to continue to strengthen their community while under Stay at Home directives.


Aer Lingus flights between Manchester and New York JFK began this week and thus became the airline’s first direct service between the UK and US.
The carrier will also launch Manchester to Orlando flights on December 11 ahead of âambitiousâ transatlantic flight plans from Dublin and Manchester in 2022.
Services were previously scheduled to start on September 30, but were delayed due to continued restrictions on travel to the United States.
Aer Lingus operates the new service using Airbus A321LR single-aisle aircraft with 16 business class reclining seats and 168 economy cabin seats.
In 2022, it intends to operate more than 71 direct routes to 62 destinations as it reconstitutes its network, including 16 transatlantic routes from Dublin and Manchester. It operated more than 100 lines in 2019.
The launch of Manchester-New York flights âmarks a very important day for Aer Lingus as we launch our first flights from the UK to the US as we reclaim and expand our transatlantic network,â said Reid Moody, responsible for strategy and strategy of Aer Lingus. planning officer.
Karen Smart, Managing Director of Manchester Airport, added: âIt’s incredibly nice to see Aer Lingus launch its service to New York, which will give passengers more choice when they want to travel to one of our most popular destinations.
âAer Lingus’ transatlantic routes will undoubtedly be extremely popular with the 22 million people who live in our catchment area, especially now that the United States has opened up to British travelers.


On Dec. 8th, Iranian State TV aired footage of what they claim is an RQ-170 drone – in REALLY good condition. The U.S. has openly stated that a drone did in fact land in Iranian territory, but opted neither to retrieve, nor to destroy the drone. In fact, the U.S. government claimed the drone crashed and all that was left was a “pile of rubble.”
So, either Iran is airing images of an intact U.S. drone that is faux to attract attention and promote anti-American propaganda or Iran is airing images of an intact U.S. drone that is REAL and appears to be in great condition. Let’s assume it’s real.
- Iran employs the technology into their own
- Iran sells the technology to China or Russia – who then breaks it down, employs it into their technology, and then sells it back to Iran – Ikea style.
Suppose we say that the U.S. intentionally crashed the RQ-170 in Iran – intact and operational – what would be the strategic value of that? Remember – it was NOT important enough to send in Seal Team 6 or whomever, which means the U.S. government really thought it was destroyed or really wanted Iran to possess it.
Israel is probably sweatin’ it a little.
- U.S. Spy Drone Captured by Iran of the Day (geeks.thedailywh.at)
- Iran shows intact drone, boasts of cyberattack – CBS News (cbsnews.com)
- Video: Iran Shows Off Captured U.S. Drone, Swears It’s No Fake (wired.com)
- Iranian TV airs image of alleged U.S. drone (cnn.com)
- US official: Iran does have our drone – CBS News (cbsnews.com)
- US Drone Brought Down by Electronic Warfare Ambush (fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com)
- Iran Shows Alleged U.S. Stealth Drone on TV – ABC News (abcnews.go.com)
- Iran Shows Video of Captured US Drone (abcnews.go.com)
- Iran airs footage of U.S. drone, protests ‘violation’ (vancouversun.com)
- Iran state television displays downed US drone (worldnews.msnbc.msn.com)
- Iranian TV Shows Downed US Drone (politics.slashdot.org)
- Iran Broadcasts Footage of Downed US Drone (usnews.com)


On June 15, 2016, the Ministry of Civil Aviation issued the National Civil Aviation Policy (‘Policy’), focusing on affordable air travel, improving connectivity, boosting tourism, infrastructure, sustainable development and job creation in tier-II and tier-III cities and tax/economic sops. The Policy covers 22 facets of Indian civil aviation including maintenance, repair and overhaul operations, ground-handling, security and customs. ‘Regional Connectivity’, being a key focus-area, the Policy encourages the development of regional airports and airstrips, provides incentives to airline operators to fly to less connected sectors and provides for a cross-subsidy between popular routes and regional routes.
Additionally, the erstwhile ‘5/20 Rule’ which provided that an Indian airline could operate on international routes only if it had previously operated for a period of five years on domestic routes and had a fleet of at least 20 aircraft, has been liberalised by permitting all airlines to commence international operations, provided that they deploy at least 20 aircraft or 20% of total capacity, whichever is higher, for domestic operations.
Other significant changes include the implementation of ‘open sky agreements’ (permitting Indian operators to launch both passenger and cargo flights to and from a range of countries), development of greenfield and brownfield airports by the private sector, State governments and/or by a public-private-partnership, promotion of air cargo services to further the ‘Make in India’, e-commerce and export policies of the Government.


The Queen’s Birthday Fly Past
A large formation of military aircraft will form Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Flypast on 9 June 2018.
The Flypast formation will form up at Southwold and route via Ipswich, abeam Colchester, Chelmsford and enter the London City Control Zone south of Stapleford aerodrome; the formation will overfly Buckingham Palace and route via RAF Northolt and RAF Halton and disperse in the RAF Brize Norton area. The flypast will be over Buckingham Palace at 1pm. This means that the formation will pass by the Park some time between 10.10am and 12.05pm, offering us the chance to watch planes including the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster, Spitfire & Hurricane fly down the coast before heading inland and South to Buckingham Palace.
The rehearsals for this flypast will be held during the period 5th to 7th June 2018 and will start in the vicinity of Southwold, Suffolk then route via the overhead of RAF Marham, Norfolk and conclude, for dispersal, at RAF Cranwell, Lincolnshire.
The rehearsals took place on the 5th June 2018. Aircraft (serials & callsigns) below:
|A400M Atlas (Grizzly) ZM405
Voyager (Tartan 1) ZZ336
Typhoon FGR4 x2 ZK308, ZK346
C-17 Globemaster III (Blackcat 01) ZZ176
Tornado GR4 x4 (Monster 01) ZA554, ZA542, ZA607, ZA587
Tucano T1 ZF417
Hawk T1 (Windsor 02) XX205 (may not have been part of the flypast)
Puma HC2 (Alien 01) XW199
Queen’s Birthday Flypast 2018 Aircraft on 9th June 2018:
|Puma & Chinook
BBMF Lancaster, Spitfire & Hurricane
C17 Globemaster III
Tornado GR4 x4
Red Arrows x9To be confirmed


Remote controlled airplanes or RC planes are among the popular interests of many individuals. All seem to be easy when the plane is controlled as it flies in the air, yet a lot of work is actually required to be done before the RC planes are ready to take off. There are several things that you need to understand about RC planes so you can effectively fly and operate them.
Available Kinds Of Planes
There are different kinds of planes you can find and which of them to operate will depend on the skill level you have as an operator. There are Trainers or planes that are especially designed with durability and flight stability. Such planes are specifically used by beginners. Once your skills become better, you can get more challenging airplanes like the Aerial Acrobatics.
These model airplanes are also available in different prices and costs. Brand new planes can be bought for as low as $40 or as high as more than $1,000. Beginners are advised not to spend too much on their first planes. A budget of $40-100 will be reasonable for beginners.
Other Things Needed
Model planes come in kits that contain all essential parts of the toy. When buying your airplane kit, always look for the list of components included in the package so that you can check if all these parts are indeed inside your kit. Most airplanes for beginners are ready to fly; you just need to load the transmitter up with proper batteries (usually AA batteries). If you need to assemble the airplane, you will need some hand tools handy as well. It is up to you to decide if you will buy readymade planes or those that you still need to assemble.
In order to fly the plane, you need to familiarize yourself with the channels on your controller. Each channel has a specific function for flying the RC plane. A controller may have two channels; one for the propeller and the other for the back rudder for the Yaw movement (left or right turn)). There are also transmitters with three channels. One is for the throttle, another is for the rudder; and the last is for the elevator so the plane can perform the Pitch (up or down). There are also four-channel transmitters. The first three channels are similar to that of a three-channel transmitter; while the last channel is for controlling ailerons. Ailerons are effective means to better turn the airplane. Other transmitters also have more channels to control the flaps or the landing gear.
Needed Flying Area
It can be difficult to determine how much space is really required; but ideally, the bigger the size of the plane, the more space will be needed. In most cases, the size of soccer or baseball fields will be enough to fly the planes appropriately. If you attempt to fly your plane in smaller areas with various obstructions, the plane might crash and get damaged.
Wind direction has an influence on how efficient your plane can fly. Thus, as an RC plane pilot, you also need to know how the wind direction may be determined and utilized when operating your toy. You can throw grass clippings or light materials to the air to know where they will be blown. As much as possible, do not launch against the direction of the wind. Taking off the plane perpendicular to the blowing wind is not advised for beginners who are still not very skilled at controlling the plane under such circumstances.


Ashley currently works for the U.S. Forest Service as a wildland firefighter. After many years with boots on the ground, she decided to apply and successfully made it through training to become a Smokejumper. This unique “mode of transport,” where she gets to jump out of a perfectly good airplane on a parachute to fight wildland fire, sparked her desire to fly the aircraft she jumps out of now. Her dream is to become the pilot of these aircraft and fill a different role while staying involved with the wildland fire community that she loves. While continuing to fight wildland fire in the summer, Ashley pursues here ratings in the winter when wildland fires are less frequent.
In June of 2016, Ashley was part of the six founding members who created the MYL High Flying Club in the small town of McCall, Idaho where she lives. The club now owns two planes and is at full capacity with 15 members. Along with the club, Ashley has helped teach at the Flying Companion Seminar through the 99s and loves being involved at the Women in Aviation conference each year!
Ashley feels blessed and is so thankful to have been chosen for the Dare to Dream Scholarship! It never fails to amaze her the generosity and willingness to help that the aviation community offers. She hopes to be able to give back in a similar capacity someday. Thank you!


Logistics real estate specialist ESR is getting ready for the future of high speed delivery with an initiative to design and demonstrate the world’s first cargo drone facility at Tokyo area warehouse project.
The Hong Kong-listed warehouse developer and fund manager announced late last week that it has begun working with UK drone development startup VRCO to establish the tech program as a way to explore building a fleet of automated drones to accelerate and streamline delivery of cargo by air.
“The ability to move high value, time sensitive cargo directly from our distribution centre to its destination presents a significant value proposition for ESR’s tenants and operators,” ESR co-founder and co-chief executive Stuart Gibson said in a statement.
The company plans to develop the concept for its cargo drone program at its ESR Higashi Ogishima Distribution Centre, a 365,385 square metre (3.9 million square foot) project that it began building earlier this month, with plans to expand the program to other facilities in Japan and across the region.
Testing Drone Potential
The goal of ESR’s collaboration with VRCO, a five-year old startup aimed at developing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, is to validate how ESR’s tenants can use eVTOL airframes to transform the movement of commercial cargo from warehouses, the company said in its statement.
Part of the cooperation will be establishing a command centre at the Higashi Ogishima facility which will enable delivery firms to manage air transport of cargo under all weather conditions and at varying volumes of demand. Key to the program is a flight infrastructure modelling system developed by VRCO under its Future of Flight simulator division, which will allow for testing potential drone applications.
“VRCO’s Future of Flight modelling and Simulation capability will aid ESR to make informed decisions with regard to the definition and adoption of eVTOL services along with the understanding of the required investments and adaptions to existing and future ESR properties to best leverage this,” ESR’s Gibson added.
The collaboration with VRCO will be carried out through ESR’s Future Solutions Group, which evaluates how technological, economic and societal changes will affect the design and operation of ESR’s distribution facilities.
Adding to a Greater Tokyo SuperShed
ESR’s drone program at the Higashi Ogishima is one element of a battery of tech features being incorporated in the double-ramped, mega-shed, which at nine-storeys will be among Japan’s tallest when it is completed in March 2023.
The Warburg Pincus-backed company announced commencement of construction on the first phase of the facility near Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on 8 December, as the latest addition to its existing 3.4 million square metres of completed warehouses in the country.
The Higashi Ogishima distribution centre has been certified as Class S, the highest rank possible under Japan’s CASBEE ratings for green buildings, and will generate part of the electricity need for its tenants operations via sustainable sources.
Following ESR’s practice of making its facilities worker friendly, the distribution centre in Kanagawa prefecture’s Kawasaki ward will include a day-care centre and a worker’s lounge, as well as a bowling alley, conference facilities and a dining room with a private chef.


Airplane Flying Simulator is a flight simulator with realistic graphics and aircraft control system. And if you believe the statements of the developers, this simulator can be attributed to the best games of this genre. We can only go into the game, try it, and only after that put our assessment. The main thing to do here is to fly, but for this you need to take off, and only after gaining altitude. Therefore, study the aircraft dashboard, the task, the destination, in general, everything that a real pilot should know. Who knows, maybe this game will mark the beginning of your professional life.
How To Play:
"Mouse" Speed control and chassis, "direction key" Flight direction


With talk throughout NASA of the “Artemis Program,” a mission designed to introduce new technologies to send humans back to the moon, and the “Commercial Crew Program,” creating new methods of space transportation, would it be so unlikely to wonder if younger people, even students could end up taking classes in space?
The possibility is not unthinkable, considering the educational requirements of becoming an astronaut have changed. In 1964, the requirement of being an astronaut was a Doctorate in medicine, engineering, or a natural science such as physics, chemistry or biology. This, combined with
required Engineering and Flight experience made the ability to be an astronaut, astronomically difficult.
But in the present, that requirement has dropped and the opportunities have widened. A person would only need a Bachelor’s degree in engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science or mathematics. Along with the degree, three years of related
professional experience or at minimum, a total of 1,000 hours of pilot-in-command time in jet aircraft is required.
Yet the drop in primary education does not affect NASA’s astronaut training program. The programs consist of classes that include sciences, medical emergencies, and public speaking. Also all astronauts must learn to work as a team by flying training jets and running simulations
to build teamwork and familiarise themselves with their equipment. Lastly, each astronaut candidate must go through survival training, a three day period spent in the wilderness to fend for themselves. A grueling task, but after that you will be able to become an astronaut.


Bird ѕtгіkeѕ are ᴏne ᴏf the mᴏst cᴏmmᴏn tһгeаtѕ tᴏ airplanes, and while mᴏst incidents are nᴏt dапɡeгᴏᴜѕ, they can sᴏmetimes lead tᴏ саtаѕtгᴏрһіс cᴏnseqᴜences. This is the stᴏry ᴏf hᴏw pilᴏt Jasᴏn had tᴏ deal with a flᴏck ᴏf birds аttасkіпɡ his plane and hᴏw he managed tᴏ safely land the plane and evacᴜate all passengers.
It was a bright and sᴜnny day, and the plane was crᴜising smᴏᴏthly at 30,000 feet when sᴜddenly, ᴏᴜt ᴏf nᴏwhere, a flᴏck ᴏf birds appeared and started аttасkіпɡ the plane. The birds were һіttіпɡ the windshield, the engines, and the wings, caᴜsing the plane tᴏ ѕһаke and rattle viᴏlently.
Pilᴏt Jasᴏn immediately tᴏᴏk actiᴏn and tried tᴏ maneᴜver the plane away frᴏm the birds, bᴜt they kept cᴏming back, mᴏre аɡɡгeѕѕіⱱe than ever. He realized that he needed tᴏ find a way tᴏ cᴏntrᴏl the sitᴜatiᴏn qᴜickly, ᴏr the cᴏnseqᴜences cᴏᴜld be dіѕаѕtгᴏᴜѕ.
As he was trying tᴏ think ᴏf a sᴏlᴜtiᴏn, he nᴏticed a large flᴏck ᴏf birds standing in the distance, in a fᴏrested area. He knew that if he cᴏᴜld make it there, he might be able tᴏ land the plane safely and аⱱᴏіd any fᴜrther dаmаɡe.
With a calm bᴜt ᴜrgent vᴏice, he annᴏᴜnced tᴏ the cabin crew that they wᴏᴜld be making an emeгɡeпсу landing and instrᴜcted them tᴏ prepare the passengers fᴏr evacᴜatiᴏn. He alsᴏ cᴏntacted air traffic cᴏntrᴏl and infᴏrmed them ᴏf the sitᴜatiᴏn, reqᴜesting сɩeагапсe fᴏr an emeгɡeпсу landing.
As the plane apprᴏached the fᴏrested area, the birds were still аttасkіпɡ, bᴜt Jasᴏn managed tᴏ keep the plane steady and аⱱᴏіd any majᴏr dаmаɡe. He made a perfect landing ᴏn a nearby river, ᴜsing the water tᴏ slᴏw dᴏwп the plane and ргeⱱeпt it frᴏm crashing.
As sᴏᴏn as the plane саme tᴏ a stᴏp, the cabin crew qᴜickly initiated the evacᴜatiᴏn prᴏcess, helping passengers exіt the plane safely and swiftly. Despite sᴏme minᴏr іпjᴜгіeѕ frᴏm the bird ѕtгіkeѕ, all passengers and crew were able tᴏ evacᴜate safely and await гeѕсᴜe.
After the іпсіdeпt, Jasᴏn and his team were һаіɩed as herᴏes fᴏr their qᴜick thinking and excellent execᴜtiᴏn ᴏf the emeгɡeпсу landing. The airline alsᴏ tᴏᴏk measᴜres tᴏ ensᴜre that sᴜch incidents wᴏᴜld be ргeⱱeпted in the fᴜtᴜre, inclᴜding increasing the freqᴜency ᴏf bird cᴏntrᴏl measᴜres arᴏᴜnd airpᴏrts.
In cᴏnclᴜsiᴏn, the stᴏry ᴏf the flᴏck ᴏf birds аttасkіпɡ pilᴏt Jasᴏn’s plane is a testament tᴏ the impᴏrtance ᴏf qᴜick thinking and effeсtіⱱe сгіѕіѕ management in the aviatiᴏn indᴜstry. Thanks tᴏ the pilᴏt’s qᴜick and calm deсіѕіᴏп-making, all passengers and crew were able tᴏ evacᴜate safely and the іпсіdeпt serves as a гemіпdeг ᴏf the cᴏnstant vigilance reqᴜired tᴏ ensᴜre the safety ᴏf all air travelers.


Apollo is a cooperative strategy game inspired by the NASA moon missions. The year is 1961, President Kennedy challenged the nation to land astronauts on the moon by the end of the decade. Now it’s up to you to walk in the footsteps of NASA’s pioneers and embark on the missions that made history… FOR ALL MANKIND! Play as Mission Control and or an Astronaut. Both sides must work together and strategize to complete flight stages, overcome obstacles, repair the spacecraft, and keep communications clear.
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Aircraft and avionics mechanics and technicians carry out maintenance, repairs and inspections mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Often called aircraft technicians, airframe technicians, powerplant or avionics aviation maintenance technicians, this is a high-powered and an important part of the aviation industry. Most of these great techs focus on preventative maintenance which keep our planes safely flying. You need to be trained properly and qualified by the FAA to be a part of this exciting aviation career.
We have the information on getting great aviation mechanics training at top aviation maintenance schools. Find out about the types of aircraft mechanic programs that are right for you. Become a specialist working on jets, propeller-driven airplanes, and helicopters. Specialize in electrical or hydraulics. The possibilities are limitless in this well respected career.
Did you know that through the year 2012, a good amount of mechanics are projected to retire,opening up thousands of positions each year? Now is the time to look into this exciting opportunity and start your education in avionics, powerplant technology and airline mechanics today!Couldn't execute query.


|ZFIN ID: ZDB-PUB-161111-8|
Characterization of Aspergillus fumigatus Isolates from Air and Surfaces of the International Space Station.
Knox, B.P., Blachowicz, A., Palmer, J.M., Romsdahl, J., Huttenlocher, A., Wang, C.C., Keller, N.P., Venkateswaran, K.
|Source:||mSphere 1(5): (Journal)|
|Registered Authors:||Huttenlocher, Anna|
|Keywords:||Aspergillus fumigatus, International Space Station, SNP analysis, secondary metabolites, virulence|
|PubMed:||27830189 Full text @ mSphere|
Knox, B.P., Blachowicz, A., Palmer, J.M., Romsdahl, J., Huttenlocher, A., Wang, C.C., Keller, N.P., Venkateswaran, K. (2016) Characterization of Aspergillus fumigatus Isolates from Air and Surfaces of the International Space Station.. mSphere. 1(5).
ABSTRACTOne mission of the Microbial Observatory Experiments on the International Space Station (ISS) is to examine the traits and diversity of fungal isolates to gain a better understanding of how fungi may adapt to microgravity environments and how this may affect interactions with humans in a closed habitat. Here, we report an initial characterization of two isolates, ISSFT-021 and IF1SW-F4, of Aspergillus fumigatus collected from the ISS and a comparison to the experimentally established clinical isolates Af293 and CEA10. Whole-genome sequencing of ISSFT-021 and IF1SW-F4 showed 54,960 and 52,129 single nucleotide polymorphisms, respectively, compared to Af293, which is consistent with observed genetic heterogeneity among sequenced A. fumigatus isolates from diverse clinical and environmental sources. Assessment of in vitro growth characteristics, secondary metabolite production, and susceptibility to chemical stresses revealed no outstanding differences between ISS and clinical strains that would suggest special adaptation to life aboard the ISS. Virulence assessment in a neutrophil-deficient larval zebrafish model of invasive aspergillosis revealed that both ISSFT-021 and IF1SW-F4 were significantly more lethal than Af293 and CEA10. Taken together, these genomic, in vitro, and in vivo analyses of two A. fumigatus strains isolated from the ISS provide a benchmark for future investigations of these strains and for continuing research on specific microbial isolates from manned space environments. IMPORTANCE As durations of manned space missions increase, it is imperative to understand the long-term consequence of microbial exposure on human health in a closed human habitat. To date, studies aimed at bacterial and fungal contamination of space vessels have highlighted species compositions biased toward hardy, persistent organisms capable of withstanding harsh conditions. In the current study, we assessed traits of two independent Aspergillus fumigatus strains isolated from the International Space Station. Ubiquitously found in terrestrial soil and atmospheric environments, A. fumigatus is a significant opportunistic fungal threat to human health, particularly among the immunocompromised. Using two well-known clinical isolates of A. fumigatus as comparators, we found that both ISS isolates exhibited normal in vitro growth and chemical stress tolerance yet caused higher lethality in a vertebrate model of invasive disease. These findings substantiate the need for additional studies of physical traits and biological activities of microbes adapted to microgravity and other extreme extraterrestrial conditions.


The software recognizes the identification numbers issued by the ICAO and the FAA, which are located on the outside of airplanes and helicopters. Many private planes and light aircraft travel are not equipped with a transponder. This is where the app comes in, as it helps to identify and track aircraft in real time as they move, take off or land. This is a valuable tool, particularly for smaller airports with limited human resources.
The software reports extra metadata such as the time and date in addition to the aircraft tail number. This data helps to improve processes and increase security. The application also provides significant support within insurance and supply chain management, as well as assisting law enforcement authorities by tracking unauthorized small aircraft.
Recognition of ICAO and FAA registration prefixes
Operation with speeds up to 50 km/h
Real-time results: Aircraft ID, Aircraft type, Country, etc.
Triggering of MOBOTIX events via MxMessageSystem
Consolidated event search via MxManagementCenter Smart Data Interface and/or the MOBOTIX HUB
Metadata transferred via generic transmission protocols and/or pre-defined third-party interfaces
Blocked and safe lists (granted and denied; e.g. grant/deny access, alarm, etc.)
The application provides high accuracy of 99%
Examples of typical applications:
Supports the coordination and monitoring of regional airports
Documentation and control of glider airfields and small airports used for private aircraft
Documentation of take-offs and landings in helicopter landing pads, e.g. hospitals and ships
Documentation of flight operations at airports and runways that are rarely used or unoccupied, e.g. to protect against smuggling and drug imports
The app is suitable for the following industries among others:
Federal, state and local government; traffic and transport; healthcare;


Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Mission Control, This is Apollo Celebrates 40th Anniversary
I was 7 when Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the moon, and I was BIG into the space program at the time as were most kids I think. It's pretty exciting for me right now to read all of the stuff coming out for the 4oth anniversary of the landing. When I read Karen's post yesterday I thought I'd continue the theme with Mission Control, This is Apollo written by Andrew Chaikin and illustrated by Apollo astronaut Alan Bean.
Each chapter in the book follows a different Apollo mission from the tragedy on the launch pad of Apollo 1 to the triumph on the moon of Apollo 11 to the nerve racking flight of Apollo 13. Andrew Chaikin writes some of the well known facts and includes a lot of behind the scenes information that always fascinated me as a kid. Information like how the astronauts trained, how they eat and how they go to the bathroom in space. The book includes interviews with many of the astronauts that flew Apollo missions in which they not only talk about the science of their flights, but also their wonder at seeing an "Earthrise" from the moon. I was fascinated to read how inspired many of them were by the total desolation of the moon and silky smooth blackness of the sky around them. It's something only someone who has been there can appreciate. The whole book is written in a way that kids who love space and science will really get into and understand. The other part of the book, the pictures, will appeal to all kids.
After retiring from the space industry, astronaut Allan Bean became an artist, a painter. It was something he dabbled in and practiced all of his life, but in retirement he could devote time to it. Many of his paintings appear in the book, all of them are taken from actual events from Apollo missions some that he flew and some that he didn't. The process he uses is described in the back and I was intrigued by what he does to create his artwork. He adds texture to his work with the sole of the boots he wore on the moon and a geological hammer he used on the moon, but the really awesome thing is, that each of his space paintings include a little bit of the moon in them. Since he was unable to get any actual moon rocks from NASA, he ground up the patches from his flight suit that still had traces of moon dust on them, and he puts a bit of the dust in each of his painting. Go here for a detailed description of the process. In addition to that coolness, Alan Bean's paintings are beautiful, portraying the feeling of space in a way that only someone who has been there can.
This is a beautiful celebration of one of our country's proudest times and I can't wait to share it with the kids in the library.


Airlines are facing growing pressure to tackle a rapid rise in greenhouse gas emissions caused by the industry, which contributes to global warming and climate disasters. Hydrogen fuel is seen as critical to decarbonizing air transport, with the potential to reduce aviation’s carbon emissions by up to 50%, according to Airbus (, which is also exploring its potential. )
A six-seater Piper Malibu M350 flies with ZeroAvia’s powertrain at Cranfield, England in September.
ZeroAvia completed the world’s first hydrogen-powered flight of a commercial aircraft in September when a six-seat plane took off from its research and development facility in Cranfield, England and flew for about 10 to 15 minutes before landing.
It wants to go much further, saying Wednesday that it expects a flight of 250 miles — roughly the distance from London to Paris — in the next three months.
The company plans to commercialize its technology as early as 2023 with flights of up to 500 miles in aircraft of up to 20 seats, which are typically used in regional aviation and cargo transport. Within the next 10 years it intends to realize flights of over 1,000 miles in aircraft with over 100 seats.
Miftakhov said that more than 10 airlines are gearing up to implement the company’s technology in 2023.
“ZeroAvia’s zero-emission aviation powertrain has real potential to help decarbonize the aviation sector, and we hope this investment will further accelerate the pace of innovation to enable zero-emission air transport at scale,” Amazon’s vice president for worldwide sustainability Kara Hurst said in a statement.
Amazon’s investment was made through its Climate Pledge Fund, which it set up in 2019 to help it and other companies achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Paris climate agreement. To help reach its climate goals, Amazon will begin using electric vans to make deliveries next year.
Shell’s investment was made through Shell Ventures, which invests in renewable energy companies.
This content was originally published here.


This RC TIE Fighter is every geeks dream!!
When Darth Vader bothers to join a space dogfight in his TIE Fighter, you just know shit has gotten real and someone is about to blasted out of the sky!!!
This RC TIE Fighter is modeled after the ship that Darth Vader flew in the Battle of Yavin during the final battle of the original Star Wars (A New Hope) movie.
With the new Star Wars movie, this toy is sure to be a hit!! Get one for yourself or your favorite geek today.
RC Tie Fighter: Product Details
- Dimensions: ~8″ tail to tip x ~9.7″ wing to wing x ~3.9″ tall.
- Officially-licensed Star Wars merchandise.
- Darth Vader’s TIE Advanced x1 Starfighter.
- Ducted fan propeller and rudder control for real, gravity-defying flying action.
- 2.4Ghz communication provides precise, high-performance remote control.
- Up to 250 ft. range.
- TIE fighter recharges via the remote control.
- Includes: Darth Vader’s TIE Advanced x1 Starfighter, remote control, and instructions.
- Batteries: 6 AA batteries (not included).


Armstrong died following complications from heart-bypass surgery he underwent earlier this month, the family said in a statement, just two days after his birthday on August 5.
As commander of the Apollo 11 mission, Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the moon on
20 1969. As
he stepped on the dusty surface, Armstrong said: "That's one small step
for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind."
He once was asked how he felt knowing his footprints would likely stay on the moon's surface for thousands of years. "I kind of hope that somebody goes up there one of these days and cleans them up," he said.


On Friday, I finally got around to visiting the National Air Force Museum for the first time in decades. I believe I'd last been there in the 1980s and the place has grown and improved. Although I started with a look inside, after learning that a guided tour would be starting in less than an hour, I decided to join the tour and also decided that my pre-tour time would be spent best outside. When I was last here, the outside Air Park held a lot more planes than it does now. Many of the airplanes and rockets that once sat outside are now inside the greatly expanded buildings. The first plane pictured is the "Hanoi Taxi", a Lockheed C-141 Starlifter that got its nickname from two 1973 flights to Hanoi, North Vietnam, to retrieve 78 newly released prisoners of war. Beyond the Starlifter's covered engine sits a Northop YC-125B Raider. Even with three engines, the 1948 airplane was underpowered and all were retired by 1955. The "Snoopy Nose" plane started out as a Boeing C-135 Stratolifter but was modified to carry radar and other telemetry equipment in support of the Apollo Program. This one, the last of the breed, was retired in 2000.
Then it was back inside for the start of the tour and a picture of what our guide called "Air Force One". That's not quite true not only because Air Force is an official designation for the plane carrying the president but also because this is an exact replica of the very first airplane purchased by the U. S. Army. The original is at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. That guide, by the way, was Don Myer, a retired flyer with lots of knowledge and good stories. The photo is of the 1918 McCook Field wind tunnel and the 1916 Wright Brothers wind tunnel is also on display. That upside down Fokker Dr. I replica is suspended overhead. The aircraft in the group shot include a Kellett K-2/K-3 Autogiro, a Boeing P-12E, and a Curtiss P-6E Hawk. All are from the 1930s.
The mannequin in pajamas represents Lt. Phillip Rasmussen who was one of just eight U.S. pilots to get aloft during the bombing of Pearl Harbor. There was no time to get dressed. Rasmussen shot down one Japanese plane before landing a badly damaged Curtiss P-36A Hawk with more than 500 bullet holes. That's a womannequin standing in the cockpit of the Beech AT-10 Wichita. Women did not fly in combat during World War II but they did an awful lot of under-recognized and under-compensated flying back in the states. That's a Curtiss P-40E Warhawk in Flying Tiger garb with lots of other WWII aircraft behind it then a shot of our tour group heading towards a British built De Havilland Mosquito. "Bockscar" was named for its regular pilot, Captain Frederick C. Bock, but another crew, headed by Major Charles W. Sweeney, was on board when the Boeing B-29 Superfortress dropped the second and last atomic bomb ever used. When the "Enola Gay's" dropping of the "Little Boy" bomb on Hiroshima failed to bring about Japan's surrender, the decision was made to send off "Bockscar" and "Fat Man". The original target was Kokura but clouds and smog saved that city and "Bockscar" headed for the backup target, Nagasaki. A "Fat Man" replica sits next to the plane that delivered the real thing.
The last row starts with what I believe was the first thing I wanted to see on my very first visit to the museum. It's the MIG-15 that was flown out of North Korea in 1953 in exchange for $100,000 and a new life. I recall hearing the story as a kid -- maybe it was a hot topic for folks living within 50 miles of Wright-Patterson AFB -- and being fascinated by it. As a somewhat older kid, I remember hearing stories and rumors about the plane in the next picture, the SR-71A Blackbird. It could fly faster and higher than anything in existence and it was a secret for a long time. It seems, however, that most of those rumors were true. I don't have any information on the pictured rockets but can tell you they're in a very tall building. I do know that the Apollo 15 command module is here because that was the only Apollo mission with an all Air Force crew (Scott, Irwin, & Worden). The last picture is of the only B2 Stealth bomber on permanent display anywhere. The museum doesn't get anything until the Air Force is done with it and they got this non-flying airframe only after it had cracked in stress testing at 161% of design specifications. But, as Bruce says, "a little touch up and a little paint"
There are a total of six galleries at the museum. I compressed the first two, "Early Years" and "World War II", into five photos each and the other four, "Korean War", "Southeast Asia War", "Cold War", and "Missile & Space", into five photos total. That is high compression indeed. Hours could be spent in each gallery and we spent just two and a half jam-packed informative and entertaining hours on the whole place. Plus there's the National Aviation Hall of Fame, which I barely peeked into, and the IMAX theater, which I didn't even think about. This place deserves a day and could justify a whole lot more. And it's free.
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Rocket engine principle is simple
From the principle of the rocket engine, it is actually simpler than the piston engine that is common in automobiles.
Its basic principle is Newton's third law, which we all learned in middle school. Force is the interaction between objects and objects.
If you throw a certain mass backwards at a certain speed, you will be thrust by a reaction force and accelerate forward.
A similar phenomenon is very common. For example, we put a balloon full of gas and untied it. The balloon is not the internal gas that will be ejected. "pupupu" flying around, right.
Therefore, the basic structure of the rocket engine is very similar to that of the open balloon. The internal combustion chamber, like the balloon body, contains a large amount of high-temperature and high-pressure gas generated by combustion, and then a nozzle is added to give the gas. When it is sprayed out, it can generate thrust.
But difficult to manufacture
Although the principle is very simple, it is not easy to make it.
Most of the performance of rocket engines comes from high temperatures, so the temperature inside the internal combustion chamber is very high, reaching 3,500 K.
What concept? More than 3,200 degrees Celsius, they are catching up with the temperature inside the core. This temperature has far exceeded the melting point of almost all nozzle and combustion chamber materials.
In addition to the temperature, the internal pressure of the rocket engine, the pressure of 10 to 200 bar, is far above the cylinder pressure of the engine of about 10 bar. Therefore, the material science and design requirements are very high.
Therefore, the cost of a rocket engine is very high and it is almost impossible to use it on a small, cheap car.
Rocket engine thrust is very large
The faster the rocket engine's exhaust speed, the greater the thrust. Quasi-high supersonic exhaust jets can be produced with specially designed nozzles. At sea level, the engine's exhaust velocity can easily reach 10 times the speed of sound.
Therefore, the thrust of the rocket engine is very large, and it is possible to push hundreds or even thousands of tons of heavy rockets to fly into the sky.
The most powerful liquid rocket engine in history, the RD-170 series, has a vacuum thrust of more than 800 tons.
The turbo pump used to transport the propellant to the combustion chamber is almost 257,000 horsepower, which is more than 2,000 times stronger than the engine of the family car.
The one used to drive a one or two tons of family cars is simply that the Hercules raised a small chestnut.
But it is difficult to adjust the direction
With such a powerful power, it has a drawback, that is, it is difficult to turn. After all, in principle, the rocket engine, which produces thrust directly, and then speeds up, it is difficult to turn through the tires.
Even with some vector control, the direction of the jet can be adjusted, and the rocket engine can't make the car smash in the streets.
It turned out to be "bang". Turn right at the first intersection, next traffic light, then turn left. Now you "boom" and go straight to the third intersection. How do you turn?
Will also affect other vehicles or pedestrians
In addition, high-temperature, high-pressure, high-speed exhaust jets that are directly injected backwards may also affect the rear vehicle.
As mentioned earlier, the internal combustion temperature of the rocket is 3,500 Kelvin and 3,200 ° C. These high-temperature gases are directly discharged.
The tail flame of a large rocket engine can even reach the fire of hundreds of meters. Even for a small rocket engine, the tail flame can reach a length of several meters.
It is like saying that there is a flamethrower behind the car, and anyone who dares to chase your tail, "boom", the car is burning.
In general, the rocket engine is specially used for the rocket to ascend into space. The linear thrust is indeed large, but it does not turn. It is not suitable for transportation in such streets and lanes, and the car behind it will be burned.


Drone/UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) Policy
Drones, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (“UAS"), Unmanned Aircraft ("UA"), Remotely Operated Aircraft ("ROA"), and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ("UAVs"), are all terms occasionally used to identify unmanned aircraft and are individually and collectively referred to in this Policy as "UAVs." Moscone Center Management (Operator) may permit the operation of UAVs inside and in close proximity to the Facility, provided that Licensee complies with the following terms and conditions, and guarantees that the following conditions are strictly adhered to:
For the use of Drones/UAVs at The Moscone Center, Licensee must:
- Provide a written, detailed description of the proposed UAV (including make, model number, and manufacturers guidelines), and the location, date, and time proposed for the UAV operation to the Operator;
- Provide documentation satisfactory to Operator (in Operator's sole discretion) that the UAV operator has been trained and is qualified to operate the UAV.
- Ensure compliance at all times with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, and procedures issued by federal, state, and local governmental authorities or the operator of any airports or nearby sporting facilities, including without limitation the Federal Aviation Regulations (“FARs”) and any rules and regulations issued by the FAA or the TSA as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.
- Secure written approval from Operator before any UAV is operated in or near the Facility or in connection with Licensee's event.
- Prior to use, Moscone Center Security must physically view the UAV to ensure it meets the weapons prohibition requirement.


Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. Because it has virtually no atmosphere (its gravity is so low that it cannot hold gases and liquids to its surface), Mercury has very extreme temperature variations.
The only spacecraft to explore Mercury close-up was Mariner 10 which completed 3 flybys of Mercury in 1974 and 1975.
Reprocessing of the Mariner 10 data has resulted in this beautiful mosaic. Like the Earth's Moon, Mercury's surface shows the scars of impact cratering. The smooth vertical band and patches represent regions where no image information is available.
Does Mercury emit radio waves?


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Regardless of the scope of your mission, SQA will develop a solution to meet your needs. We challenge you to review our services and contact us to see what we can do for you.
WE PROVIDE THE SERVICES YOU NEED, WHERE AND WHEN YOU NEED IT.
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The night's sky
Our world came out of our solar system and the universe 4.5 billion years ago. Over the last half century we have learnt so much about the universe. It turns out to be more complex than we could have imagined - even the concept of a "uni"verse is now challeged. Was the so-called "big bang" a unique event? The more we discover - the more questions we raise - which all together builds an incredible story.
The Moon missions of the 1960's were trully inspiring - humans moving beyond the Earth for the first time, images of the Earth from our Moon and detailed images of the other planets in our solar system. The NASA space programmes pushed back the boundaries of technology and many the methods used today eg in Earth Observation were developed to meet the needs of that time eg mapping the Moon and Mars.
The Space section will highlight selected features from Earth Observation to the Moon, the planets, our solar system and beyond.
Start: before the big bang
The Universe:: Wikipedia article


Microscope, camera parts, and sensor tech for drones
A drone is not just an instrument that you fly, but a piece of equipment that is a part of the drone.
You might see a drone being used for commercial, military, or law enforcement purposes, but the real power of a drone lies in its ability to operate autonomously.
The more you know about drone technology, the more you can customize it to suit your needs and needs of your needs.
The best part about drones is that they can fly for a long time.
There are a few drones that can last for up to six months.
The latest drone, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, is a stealthy, four-engine fighter jet that is capable of performing multiple missions in a single night.
With an engine of less than 2,500 pounds, the Air Force is not only making it more stealthy than the Lockheed Martin F-16, but it’s also capable of carrying much heavier weapons and payload.
This makes it an ideal drone for aerial reconnaissance and surveillance.
Drone technology is growing rapidly, and you can expect drones to be one of the key features in a lot of our future products.
Drone parts and sensors will be an integral part of drones, but there are a lot more options out there.
These drones will be able to perform the job of the most sophisticated drone in the world.
We can make drones that are able to fly for months, and those drones will need to be extremely flexible.
A good example of this is the Cessna 210.
This plane is a true workhorse, and is capable not only of flying long distances, but also of carrying payloads and payloads of various types.
You can see the C-210 at work in this video.
Other than the aircraft itself, there are also a number of different types of drones that you can buy.
You could buy a drone that can fly at high altitudes for aerial photography or surveillance, and then you can add a camera to it, and this drone will also be able perform other tasks that are not directly related to photography or surveying.
We’ve covered the different types and types of drone components before, but now it’s time to look at what we can expect to see in drones over the next five years.
This is the most important part of drone design.
You will be seeing a lot, if not the whole drone, in the future.
The next wave of drone technology is a lot like the one that we have seen in the last couple of years.
We’re not seeing a new drone, but we’re also not seeing many drones that don’t have some form of connectivity, like GPS or the like.
We may see some smaller drones that only have connectivity on the ground, but for the majority of the time, drones will still be a big part of our lives.
There is a large market for drones that will fly for many years, and we expect that to continue.
A lot of the drones that we see today, even if they are a bit less expensive, have a lot in common.
These are not the latest drone in terms of features, but they are the most efficient drones.
The same can be said for many of the other types of parts, like the propellers and the cameras.
If you look at the drone parts market, there is a great deal of overlap between drone technology and other consumer electronics.
The most common types of components are electronics, and a lot is made from plastics.
If we look at consumer electronics, we’re seeing many different types that are being used today.
This includes TVs, monitors, cameras, printers, speakers, microphones, etc. We see many of these things on our televisions and monitors, and even on the phones and tablets.
We also see a lot made of plastic.
It’s been shown that the plastic in a consumer electronics product can be used to make an object like a laptop case, which is why we see a large number of plastic-free consumer electronics products.
A common element that we find in consumer electronics is the need for an integrated circuit (IC).
We’re seeing this on many of our phones, tablets, and laptops today.
The first ICs you need to buy for your drone are usually small and low-power.
The IC that comes with the drone will be a microcontroller, or microcontroller with a logic level of 0 or 1, and the most common ones will come with 2, 4, or 8 microcontrollers.
These microcontors will have a programmable pin and are generally a single-chip design.
In addition to microcontorts, you can find chips for GPS, radio, and video cameras.
We’ll discuss how to get the most out of these in a bit.
You also need a battery for your drones, and for that you’ll need a solar cell.
There’s no need to worry about buying a solar battery because there are solar cells for your smartphone, and there’s also a battery pack for your phone.
The batteries will usually come


An aircraft mechanic at Midway told WBBM-AM radio that the plane's nose gear had collapsed and the jet appeared to have been hit by a vehicle.Now how the hell did a car get involved in this?
We've got breaking news from Chicago, which is under siege by a December blizzard. [Ed. note: While the blizzard is not a suspect at this time, police officials confirm it is being regarded as a "person of interest."]
Jetliner slides off runway at Midway AirportThe Southwest 737, Flight 1248, landing at Midway Airport (airport code MDW), skidded off the runway at the northwest corner of the airport, breaking through the fence and ending at the intersection of Central Avenue and 55th Street.


Wailian Wailian added new article
How to use f7 AIO flight controller correctly?
Are you tired of struggling with your drone's flight controller? Are you ready to take your flying skills to the next level? Look no further than the F7 AIO flight controller! This powerful tool can help you achieve better stability, faster response times, and more precise movements. But if you're not using it correctly, it can be a headache. In this blog post, we'll show you how to use...
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Virtavia A4 Skyhawk Fsx 1
5f91d47415 FSX - Virtavia A-4 Skyhawk Review - YouTube
Novawing24 takes to the skies off New South Wales to test out Virtavia's A-4 Skyhawk.
Virtavia A-4 Skyhawk for FSX version 1.0.0 by Virtavia .
How to uninstall Virtavia A-4 Skyhawk for FSX Version 1.0.0 by Virtavia? Learn how to remove Virtavia A-4 Skyhawk for FSX Version 1.0.0 from your computer.
Firearms and Hunting
A-4 Skyhawk for FSX.. Conceived as a jet-powered replacement for the A-1J Skyraider, Ed Heinemann's design became unboubtedly one of the most successful aircraft ever .
Virtavia - A-4 Skyhawk for FSX - FlightSim Pilot Shop
Virtavia - A-4 Skyhawk for FSX - FSPilotShop.. Flight Simulator X Military Aircraft .. FSX Addons & hardware, yokes, pedals, scenery, aircraft.
FlightSim.Com - Review: Douglas A-4 Skyhawk By Virtavia
Review: Douglas A-4 Skyhawk By Virtavia By Raymond Andersen The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a single seated, one .. Hereafter I opened up my FSX and went into my virtual .


|Publication Date||January 14, 2017|
Get This Book
The United States Army has sponsored far fewer launches on the Eastern Range than either the Air Force or the Navy. Only about a tenth of the range's missile and space flights can be attributed to Army programs, versus more than a third sponsored by each of the other services. Nevertheless, numbers seldom tell the whole story, and we would be guilty of a grave disservice if we overlooked the Army's impressive achievements in the development of rocket-powered vehicles, missile guidance systems, and reentry vehicle technologies from the late 1940s onward. Several years of experimental flights were conducted at the White Sands Proving Ground before the Army sponsored the first two ballistic missile launches from Cape Canaveral, Florida, in July 1950. In June 1950, the Army moved some of its most important guided missile projects from Fort Bliss, Texas, to Redstone Arsenal near Huntsville, Alabama. Work began in earnest on the REDSTONE ballistic missile program shortly thereafter. In many ways, the early Army missile programs set the tone for the development of other ballistic missiles and range instrumentation by other military branches in the 1950s. PERSHING missile launches continued at the Cape in the 1960s, and they were followed by PERSHING 1A and PERSHING II launches in the 1970s and 1980s. This study begins with a summary of the major events leading up to the REDSTONE missile program at Cape Canaveral. It includes an overview of RAF Bomber Command's raid against Peenemunde in August 1943 and the U.S. Army's recruitment of Wernher von Braun and his 'hand-picked' team of rocket experts in 1945. It continues with a sketch of the Army's early missile projects at Fort Bliss, Texas, and the recommendations that shaped the REDSTONE missile. The study also provides detailed descriptions of flight performance objectives, missile specifications, launch locations, ground support equipment, range instrumentation, and the results of REDSTONE, JUPITER, JUNO II, PERSHING, PERSHING 1A, and PERSHING II operations on the Eastern Range. It concludes with the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty signed on 8 December 1987 and the dedication ceremony that followed the final INF Treaty inspection at Cape Canaveral in May 2001. The history of Army missiles at the Cape has been a rich one, and we do well to acknowledge and remember it.
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Space vehicle tests prepare for landing of Mars rock samples in Utah
HILL AIR FORCE BASE — NASA engineers are testing a landing system that will bring Mars rock samples to Earth, dropping them on the Utah Test and Training Range.
A series of Mars Sample Return Earth Entry System drop tests conducted March 1-3 at the UTTR were a success, according to a NASA news release last week.
The orbital descent vehicle was outfitted with sensors and dropped from a helicopter at 1,200 feet above ground, giving it time to reach the intended landing speed.
The vehicle, referred to for this testing phase as the Manufacturing Demonstration Unit, “was very stable during descent — it didn’t wobble around a lot, and it landed successfully, in the sense that there was no structural damage and it survived impact as expected,” said Jim Corliss, the return system program’s chief engineer.
The program, being planned by NASA and the European Space Agency, proposes to return samples collected by NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover and land them at UTTR inside the reentry vehicle.
The March drop tests were a follow-up to tests at the UTTR with a smaller, less-detailed unit last year. The vehicle used this time was described as a full-scale unit, 1.25 meters wide, made of fabricated materials.
It’s important for the vehicle to land in a particular orientation, Corliss said, and the drop tests indicated the full-scale vehicle was stable during final descent, landing on its nose as engineers intended.
Further tests will be conducted this year. But Mars rocks won’t be landing in Utah anytime soon. A mission timeline shows the sample return lander and Earth return orbiter will be launched from Earth in 2026 and 2027, respectively. Samples would be returned to Earth in 2031.
The program envisions landing the vehicles at Mars’ Jezero crater, where Perseverance is collecting samples. A sample retriever rover, about the size of a golf cart, will load the samples onto the retrieval lander. The lander then will be loaded onto the Mars Ascent Vehicle, which will carry the lander and samples into orbit, for loading into a European Space Agency craft that will take the payload to Earth.
Thomas Mullican, a Hill AFB spokesperson, said the Air Force assisted NASA with the planning, execution and control of the testing. UTTR is managed by Hill and the Air Force.
The $1 billion, 12,500-square-mile UTTR is described by the Air Force as the U.S. military’s only location capable of supporting overland testing of cruise missiles. Crews also conduct air-to-air-combat, air-to-ground inert and live practice bombing, and gunnery training. Other agencies use the UTTR as well, such as when obsolete rocket motors from Northrop Grumman are detonated.
UTTR has a $30 million annual operating budget. About 200 military and civilian personnel are assigned there.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story incorrectly reported the dates of the testing.


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On this day in 1977 NASA launched the Voyager probes (1 and 2) to explore the outer solar system. These spacecraft are, in my opinion, one of humanity’s most impressive technological accomplishments. Unlike anything here on Earth, they are artefacts that shall endure long after we as a species have ceased to exist; a testament to the space-faring aspirations of a band of primates on a tiny planet in the corner of the Milky Way. The Voyager probes are marvels of scientific ingenuity and wonderful tributes to the foresight of the engineers and scientists that built them. They are pioneering scientific instruments that revolutionised our understanding of the outer planets and their moons, time capsules and timeless interstellar messengers.
After making several important discoveries about the properties of Jupiter and Saturn and their moons, and capturing the beautiful Pale Blue Dot image, Voyager 2 continued on to Neptune and Uranus whilst Voyager 1 was set on an interstellar escape trajectory and is currently approaching the edge of our solar system. At 118 astronomical units (AU) it is the furthest man-made object from Earth and is likely to pass through the heliosheath into the interstellar medium sometime between 2012 and 2015, at which point humanity will officially become an interstellar species.
The Voyagers remain in working order, albeit with many of their instruments offline, an impressive 34 years after launch. They still remain in radio contact with Earth and commands transmitted at light speed take approximately 16 hours to reach the probes. These weak tracking signals are 20 billion times more feeble than the electrical current passing through a standard digital watch. If Voyager 1 avoids collision (with micrometeorites and space debris) it will continue to wander through interstellar space forever and it is unlikely to be overtaken by any other conventional human spacecraft or probe. It will be 40,000 years before the lonely Voyager passes near another star when it comes within 1.6 light years of the enigmatic M-type star AC+79 3888 in the constellation Camelopardalis.
In around 5 and a half billion years from now the Sun will have ballooned into an enormous red giant and possibly consumed all of the inner planets, including the Earth. Humans will either have gone extinct or left the ageing Solar System long before our decaying Sun enters its final death throes. Even then, it is possible that somewhere in deep space the lonely Voyagers will continue to obediently sail through the depths of space and time on a mission lasting an eternity; a mission with no end and no more formal objectives. The probes will not decay in the vacuum of space and their form and technology will be preserved indefinitely, long after their instruments have stopped working.
It is also possible that in the very distant future the Voyager probe may be intercepted by an advanced alien civilisation, or even future humans or our descendants. It is with this remote eventuality in mind that the scientific team behind the probes, lead by Carl Sagan, attached the Voyager Golden Record (VGR) to the spacecraft. The VGR contains sounds and images designed to depict the diversity of life on Earth as well as the location the origin of the probes. The significance of the VGR as a message from humanity to the Universe was not underestimated by the scientific team or the leaders of the world at that time. An image included in the VGR is a message from the then U.S. President Jimmy Carter:
“This is a present from a small, distant world, a token of our sounds, our science, our images, our music, our thoughts and our feelings. We are attempting to survive our time so we may live into yours…”
Voyager 1 is therefore much more than just a spacecraft, it is an interstellar time-capsule and a messenger to the stars. Perhaps someday it will be the oldest surviving relic of a lost civilisation with great aspirations and a demonstrable foresight able to appreciate the scale of the Universe. The Voyager probes are as close to art as science can get. They are truly wonderful, eternal symbols of the best intentions of our species and the universalist philosophy of science.
Fly on Voyagers, fly on.
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