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Paris: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh known as on French President Emmanuel Macron right here on Tuesday and the 2 leaders mentioned stronger India-France defence and strategic ties throughout their “very warm and productive” assembly.
Singh arrived in France on Monday for an official handover ceremony of the primary Rafale fighter jet acquired by the Indian Air Drive (IAF).
In the course of the assembly at Elysee Palace right here, the official base of the French President, Singh welcomed France as an “important strategic partner” of India.
The assembly was described by the ministry of defence as “very warm and productive”.
“The meeting demonstrated the depth of India-France bilateral partnership, especially in the defence sector, that has significantly strengthened in recent times. Both leaders resolved to take the relationship to the next higher level,” mentioned an announcement issued by the ministry after the 35-minute assembly.
“Singh thanked President Macron for his strong support to further intensifying the strategic partnership between the two countries and for his support to the Make in India initiative,” it added.
He additionally expressed condolences on the demise of former French President Jacques Chirac on behalf of the Indian authorities.
“We have a multi-dimensional relationship with France and the ties are progressing on all fronts. The talks today are part of a comprehensive defence dialogue between the two countries,” mentioned Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar, who’s a part of the ministerial delegation to France.
Singh additionally held discussions with France’s Armed Forces minister Florence Parly. Admiral Bernard Rogel, Defence Advisor to the French President, was additionally current on the assembly.
After the talks, Singh will probably be flown to Merignac, a suburb of the south-western French city of Bordeaux, the place he’ll take part in a tour of the power of Rafale producer Dassault Aviation earlier than a symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony for the primary Rafale fight jet.
Preparations have additionally been made for a standard Shastra Puja, or weapons’ worship which types a part of Dussehra celebrations and this 12 months additionally marks Air Drive Day – IAF’s 87th anniversary.
“Greetings to all IAF personnel and their families on the 87th IAF Day,” Singh tweeted.
“The IAF is the shining example of exemplary courage, fortitude, determination and impeccable service to our nation. These men and women in Blue have the ability to touch the sky with grit and glory,” he mentioned.
Singh is scheduled to fly a sortie within the Rafale jet following the Shastra Puja performed by him, which can conclude with the normal breaking of a coconut earlier than the brand new plane.
“He will also perform the Shastra Puja on the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami and fly a sortie in the Rafale fighter aircraft,” a spokesperson of defence ministry mentioned.
Members of the highest army brass of France in addition to senior officers of Dassault Aviation may also be current on the ceremony.
India had ordered 36 Rafale fighter jets from France in a deal value Rs 59,000 crore in September 2016. Whereas the formal handover ceremony takes place this week, the primary batch of 4 Rafale jets will fly to their residence base in India by Could 2020.
All 36 jets are anticipated to reach in India by September 2022, for which the IAF has been reportedly endeavor preparations, together with readying required infrastructure and coaching of pilots.
The Rafale is a twin-jet fighter plane in a position to function from each an plane provider and a shore base. The producers describe it as a totally versatile plane which may perform all fight aviation missions to attain air superiority and air defence, shut air assist, in-depth strikes, reconnaissance, anti-ship strikes and nuclear deterrence
“In the defence sector, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is our longest standing export customer and has been flying Dassault aircraft since 1953. The acquisition contract for 36 Rafale signed in 2016 and the modernisation of the Mirage 2000 I/TI are a continuation of this historic partnership,” Dassault Aviation mentioned in an announcement.
The Rafale jets meant for India are anticipated to return with sure bespoke modifications for the IAF and have been awaited as a vital enhancement to India’s Medium Multi-role Fight Plane fleet.
The primary Rafale jet will include tail quantity RB 001, with RB denoting the initials of Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Bhadauria who performed a key position in placing the deal for the jets in his earlier position as IAF deputy chief.
The handover ceremony will probably be adopted by the annual Indo-French Defence Dialogue between Singh and French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly again in Paris on Tuesday night.
On Wednesday, the minister is scheduled to deal with CEOs representing main French defence business enterprises. As a part of a wider ‘Make in India’ message, Singh will invite them to take part within the DefExpo to be held in Lucknow from February 5 to eight subsequent 12 months.
Additionally learn: All about Rafale fighters, the game-changing dream machines IAF will get tomorrow
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South Korea launched its first domestically constructed area rocket on Tuesday within the nation’s second try, months after its earlier liftoff failed to put a payload into orbit.
A profitable launch would enhance South Korea’s rising area ambitions but additionally show it has key applied sciences to construct a space-based surveillance system and larger missiles amid animosities with rival North Korea, some consultants say.
The three-stage Nuri rocket carrying what officers name a functioning “efficiency verification” satellite tv for pc blasted from South Korea’s solely area launch heart on a small island off its southern coast at 4pm. Reside TV footage confirmed the rocket with a nationwide flag rising into the air with vivid flames and above thick white smokes.
Officers are to announce the outcomes of the launch later Tuesday.
Within the first try final October, the rocket’s dummy payload reached its desired altitude of 700km (435 miles) however did not enter orbit as a result of the engine of the rocket’s third stage burned out sooner than deliberate.
If Tuesday’s launch is profitable, South Korea would turn out to be the world’s Tenth nation to put a satellite tv for pc into area with its personal know-how.
South Korea, the world’s Tenth-largest financial system, is a essential provider of semiconductors, cars and smartphones on world markets. However its area improvement programme lags behind that of its Asian neighbors China, India and Japan.
North Korea positioned its first and second satellites into orbit in 2012 and 2016 although there is no such thing as a proof that both one has ever transmitted spaced-based imagery and information again residence. These North Korean launches invited UN financial sanctions as a result of they had been considered as covers for testing the nation’s banned long-range missile know-how.commentary
Because the early Nineties, South Korea has despatched a slew of satellites into area, however all from abroad launch websites or aboard a rocket constructed with the assistance of overseas know-how. In 2013, South Korea efficiently launched a satellite tv for pc for the primary time from its soil, however the first stage of its launch automobile was manufactured by the Russians.
After Tuesday’s liftoff, South Korea plans to conduct 4 extra Nuri rocket launches in coming years. It additionally hopes to ship a probe to the moon, construct next-generation area launch automobiles and ship large-scale satellites into orbit.
South Korean officers mentioned the Nuri rocket has no navy functions.
The switch of area launch know-how is strictly restricted underneath a multilateral export management regime as a result of it has navy functions. Consultants say ballistic missiles and area launch automobiles share related our bodies, engines and different parts, although missiles require a reentry automobile and different applied sciences.
“Should you put a satellite tv for pc on the highest of a rocket, it might turn out to be an area launch automobile. However in case you mount a warhead on it, it turns into a weapon,” mentioned Kwon Yong Soo, a former professor at Korea Nationwide Protection College in South Korea. “If we reach Nuri’s launch, it is actually significant as a result of we additionally succeed within the check of a long-range rocket that can be utilized to construct a long-range missile.”
Lee Choon Geun, an honorary analysis fellow at South Korea’s Science and Expertise Coverage Institute, mentioned it is troublesome to straight use Nuri as a missile as a result of it makes use of liquid fuels that have to be saved at an especially low temperature and require for much longer fueling time than stable fuels. He mentioned North Korean long-range missiles additionally use liquid fuels, however extraordinarily poisonous ones which might be maintained at unusual temperatures and want sooner fueling time than Nuri’s.
This 12 months, North Korea has test-launched about 30 missiles with potential ranges that place the US mainland and its regional allies like South Korea and Japan inside putting distance.
Kwon mentioned Nuri’s profitable Nuri launch would show that South Korea additionally has the potential to ship a spy satellite tv for pc into orbit.
South Korea at present has no navy reconnaissance satellites of its personal and relies on U.S. spy satellites to watch strategic amenities in North Korea. South Korea has mentioned it might launch its personal surveillance satellites quickly.


‘Apollo 13’ held over at Rhodes Center
“Apollo 13: Mission Control” has added four additional performances at the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts. The new shows are Thursday, February 7 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, February 8 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, February 9 at 10:30 a.m. and Sunday, February 10 at 2 p.m.
The show opened last week to rave reviews and sold-out shows. Based on the ill-fated April 1970 NASA mission to the moon, “Apollo 13: Mission Control” tells the story of three American astronauts trapped 200,000 miles from Earth fighting for their lives. Reynolds Place inside the Milton Rhodes Center is being transformed into an authentic replica of Mission Control complete with retro computer consoles to transport audience members back in time and place to Houston in 1970.
Audience members seated in Mission Control must make the critical decisions necessary to bring the astronauts home safely. One lucky member of the audience will be selected to serve as one of the Apollo 13 astronauts and taken off stage to participate in a unique, once-in-a-lifetime theatre experience as astronaut Jack Swigert.
Remaining audience members act as Mission Control specialists and interact with the three astronauts aboard Apollo 13, whom they watch on display screens from Mission Control. Seating is limited to 180 guests for each performance of “Apollo 13: Mission Control.”
Ninety-nine of the seats are at the authentic computer consoles, and the remaining seating is in the non-participatory “press gallery.”
Computer console tickets are $46.50 for adults, $36 for seniors (62 and over) and $24.50 for children (12 and under). Tickets for the press gallery are $22 each, and a Family Four-Pack of tickets for the computer console area is $118. For more information or to purchase tickets to “Apollo 13: Mission Control,” visit www.Apollo13Live.com.
Tickets also are available by calling 336-747-1414 or in person at the Milton Rhodes Center, 251 North Spruce St.


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One of Dubai’s famed Jetmen killed in a crash in November failed to deploy the emergency parachute attached to the winged engines strapped to his back, an investigation found.
Investigators from the General Civil Aviation Authority gave no explanation why Vincent Reffet, 36, of Annecy, France, didn’t use his parachute in the fall during a training flight in the desert.
Describing Mr Reffet as an “experienced professional skydiver” and jetwing pilot, the investigators said a video from the November 17 crash appeared to show him lose control and go into a backflip, hovering some 240 metres above the ground.
Such backflips are common when wearing the wings and recoverable if the pilot thrusts forward through the flip, the report said.
The investigation could not determine why the pilot did not[deploy his chute]
General Civil Aviation Authority
Mr Reffet had experience coming out of those flips, but at higher altitudes, Associated Press reported, citing the findings.
“The risks of the 800-feet hover was discussed during the pre-flight briefing and, as a risk mitigation, it was decided to abort the flight and to deploy the pyro-rocket emergency parachute should the jetwing become uncontrollable,” the report said.
“The investigation could not determine why the pilot did not choose this mitigation action.”
Video from a camera attached to Mr Reffet’s helmet showed the parachute only deployed after he crashed to the ground. Prior to that, his hands moved as though he thought he could enter again into a hover, the report said. The jetwing showed no mechanical problems before or during the flight, investigators said.
The training flight was to simulate a take-off from the ground, a triangular flight and a jet-powered landing on a 800-foot platform, the report said. A helicopter at that altitude was to simulate the platform, but investigators found no sign it played a part in the crash.
Flight sponsors XDubai did not comment on the report, nor did Jetman Dubai, for whom Reffet flew.
Reffet had BASE-jumped off the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, setting a world record. He earlier earned gold medals while competing as a free-flying skydiver and competed as an extreme athlete.
Jetman Dubai, founded by Swiss adventurer Yves Rossy, sees its athletes zip across the sky with a four-engine, carbon-Kevlar wing strapped to their backs. The wings can fly 50 kilometres, have a maximum speed of over 400 kph (248 mph) and can reach an altitude of 6,100 meters (20,000 feet).
In 2015, Reffet and Rossy flew alongside an Emirates Airbus A380 double-decker jetliner over Dubai.


The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a marvel of modern aviation. Boasting innovative features such as active gust suppression, hybrid laminar flow control (HLFC), and a “no-bleed” electrical architecture that reduces the need for traditional pneumatic systems, the Dreamliner family is among the most comfortable, fuel-efficient, and quietest commercial airliners ever built.
Composites receive much of the credit. That’s because the 787’s wings, tail, doors, and one-piece fuselage section contain approximately 32,000 kg of carbon-fiber-reinforced-plastic (CFRP) composite—80 percent by volume and 50 percent by weight. According to its manufacturer, the Dreamliner “makes greater use of composite materials in its airframe and primary structure than any of Boeing’s previous commercial airplanes.” CNC Lathe
Impressive as that may be, composite use in aircraft is nothing new. In 1932, Amelia Earhart made aviation history by flying a Lockheed 5B Vega alone across the Atlantic Ocean, one of the first aircraft constructed from laminated layers of glue and plywood (which also is a type of composite). She called it her “Little Red Bus.” Fifteen years later, Howard Hughes’ Spruce Goose’s one and only flight was made possible through Duramold, a phenolic-based composite material developed during World War II.
Since then, CFRP and other composites are taking the pilot’s seat in aircraft design—for good reason. They are lighter than aluminum, stronger and more flexible—unlike metal, composites can absorb tremendous impacts without denting. And thanks to composites’ ability to assume practically any shape, aircraft designers have far greater design freedom than would otherwise be possible.
Because of this, industry leaders seek to increase composite use well beyond existing levels, and to manufacture future aircraft more sustainably and quickly. For instance, the Carbon Fiber Technology Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratories is focused entirely on carbon-fiber innovation and the scale-up of emerging technologies. And NASA’s Hi-Rate Composite Aircraft Manufacturing project aims to construct composite-rich aircraft like the Dreamliner six times faster than possible with today’s layup and molding technologies.
They have their work cut out for them. Achieving these goals will require significant investments in manufacturing technology, well beyond what’s currently available (and, as you’ll see, is already quite impressive).
CFRPs are abrasive and prone to splintering and delamination. The end mills, drills, and routers used to cut them must not only be wear resistant but have geometries able to cleanly shear composite fibers without separating the individual layers.
Kyle Matsumoto, the “resident expert on aerospace fastener applications” at OSG USA Inc., St. Charles, Illinois, explained that holemaking in composite materials can be particularly problematic. Traditional drill geometries tend to lift the individual layers during tool entry, then push them away upon breakthrough. And since the fibers are apt to bend and pull out during drilling operations—especially as the tool dulls—holes often end up undersized.
OSG has developed a line of cutting tools that help alleviate such composite woes. Matsumoto said that ultra-fine crystalline diamond coatings, when applied to carbide drills and end mills using chemical vapor deposition (CVD), make the tools freer cutting and more wear resistant than their uncoated counterparts, often providing up to 10 times the life and far cleaner machined surfaces besides.
Dirk Dietsch of M.A. Ford Mfg. Co., Davenport, Iowa, offers similar solutions. Dietsch, the regional business manager for the Great Lakes region, said the company’s 239-series carbide router—also with a CVD diamond coating—is licensed by Boeing. In fact, one of the OEM’s suppliers uses the tool to trim flash and cut windows in Dreamliner fuselage components.
Dietsch is quick to note that not all composites are bound for aerospace use; the automobile industry has also begun using this game-changing material in passenger vehicles, and for the same reasons. “We have a customer in Israel that’s making composite bodies and substructures for Chevrolet Corvettes and Camaros, and the bed on the GMC Denali pickup is also carbon fiber.
These and many other manufacturers are doing whatever they can to take weight out of their products, and CFRP is a great way to do that.”
Iscar USA of Arlington, Texas, recognizes this, and has responded by establishing a CFRP machining with part and process development. Its capabilities include the design and grinding of special tools, a Kistler system to measure cutting forces, and high-speed cameras and high-resolution microscopy to analyze the machining process.
National product manager for holemaking Patrick Cline ticked off a number of composite-specific cutting tools, among them the SUMOCHAM replaceable head drill, SOLIDMILL burrs and end mills, and ADU-ready (automated drilling unit) tools for fastener hole drilling. As with the other cutting tool providers listed here, CVD diamond is one of Iscar’s go-to coatings for combating wear, as is DLC (diamond-like carbon) coating and the use of polycrystalline diamond (PCD) segments brazed to a carbide substrate.
A range of innovative geometries is available as well, each designed to reduce the fraying, chipping, and splintering nastiness described earlier. “I should also mention that we offer uncoated cutting tools, but these are primarily for prototype and low-volume work,” said Cline. “Composites are very abrasive and will destroy the edge on an uncoated drill or insert fairly quickly, which is why we generally recommend a diamond coating or, for production quantities, PCD tooling. It’s the most expensive of all cutting tool materials, but is well worth the price.”
Dave DenBoer, aerospace industry specialist at Sandvik Coromant US, Mebane, N.C., is in complete agreement. He began machining 787 Dreamliner components in 2005 for a well-known aerospace company and is currently part of the manufacturing application support (MAS) group at Sandvik Coromant’s Precorp facility in Spanish Forks, Utah, which pioneered the development of PCD-veined cutting tools. He and his colleagues spend their days helping customers make composite machining faster and more predictable, working to avoid expensive failures.
“For example, achieving clean breakout on the backside of a drilled hole can be challenging in any material, whether it’s titanium, aluminum, or composite,” said DenBoer. “The good news is that we make a wide variety of tools in this facility that do extremely well in this and other applications. We also spend a lot of time developing the proper speeds and feeds for different composite materials, which is just as important as tool geometry to achieving proper breakout without the risk of delamination.”
This last part is critical, he added, since a single delaminated hole can cost upwards of $5,000 to repair. Further complicating matters are the different types of composites, each with a unique combination of resin and fiber types, shapes, orientations, and concentration levels. There are also additives such as aluminum and silicon (which make composites even more abrasive) as well as complications like “lightning strike,” a copper mesh on the outside of the fuselage that prevents damage during lightning storms.
“The composite world is already huge and new materials are coming along all the time, which is why it’s critical to use the correct combination of cutting tool and machining parameters,” DenBoer said. The last thing any manufacturer wants to do is change an end mill in the middle of a 45-ft-long wing spar or fuselage component. That’s why we spend so much time on process development, and is why we strongly recommend PCD-veined tooling for many of these applications.”
Developing effective cutting tools and process parameters for composite materials is challenging work, but no less so than designing the CNC machinery, fixturing, and toolpaths needed to machine the components.
That’s the job of Jim Cunov, chief engineer for aerospace at PAR Systems LLC, a Shoreview, Minn.-based manufacturer that engineers, builds, and integrates custom equipment for a range of industries and applications, aerospace composite machining among them.
“On the aerospace side, we offer machines that perform conventional milling, drilling, trimming, and sawing operations using diamond cutting tools and high-speed spindles,” said Cunov. “But we also provide abrasive waterjet cutting for cured composites, often in the same machine. Most of these are gantry-style CNCs and many are quite large—for instance, we’ve built equipment that processes the upper and lower covers for Airbus A350 wings, which at the time of installation, were the largest composite panels in commercial aerospace.”
Cunov has spent nearly four decades at PAR. During the first half of his career, he struggled to understand why customers were seemingly unable to present him with parts that met the required geometric accuracy. “A stringer might be out of true or a panel have some slight warp to it, and I found myself asking how they expected us to cut good parts when they weren’t at the nominal shape to begin with,” he said. “After a lot of head pounding, we finally realized it’s the nature of composites. The parts are big, they have spring to them, and they move slightly during the curing process. We knew that we’d better find a way to fix it ourselves.”
He and his team did exactly that. Using vision systems and laser profilometers, PAR is able to map a composite component’s physical location and contours and then morph the CNC toolpath to match the geometry.
“This allows us to produce good parts even when the layup doesn’t meet the nominal condition,” Cunov explained. “We call it adaptive machining.”
A key piece of this adaptive machining strategy is workholding. For example, PAR uses a series of robots to grip a stringer along its entire 20-30’ [6-9 m] length. After mapping it as described, locational information is sent to the system controller that then morphs the tool paths to accommodate the actual location and contour of the part as it is held by the robots. This arrangement also allowed PAR to accommodate a complete family of stringers, machining close to 900 different part numbers with the same configurable robotic fixture.
Some of those composite parts may have come from a machine built by Electroimpact Inc. in Mukilteo, Wash. A manufacturer of aerospace tooling, fiber layup machinery, and advanced automation systems, Electroimpact is another composite machining solution provider that uses robots to great effect. Robotic systems lead Russ DeVlieg described one example of this, a patented technology that uses six-axis articulated arms to perform aerospace milling and drilling operations. They call it the Accurate Robot.
Aurora Flight Sciences in Bridgeport, W.V., a Boeing company, has two such robots. They’re named Parker and Ackley, both part of its flexible robotic composite manufacturing cell. In addition to “milling a couple hundred different composite parts,” the system also does in-process robotic inspection and automated part handling.
“Robot use in the aerospace market is definitely increasing,” said DeVlieg. “Aside from cutting and inspection, aircraft components are often assembled by robots. We have robots that climb along the outside of the fuselage while a human works inside, drilling holes and attaching threaded fasteners as a team—robots touch pretty much every surface on a modern airliner.”
These are impressive feats, yet Burton Bigoney, project manager at Electroimpact, said it’s too soon to discount traditional CNC machine tools. “Our robots are extremely capable, but once you cross a certain threshold in terms of part size or accuracy requirements, or move into metallic structures, you need large, dedicated machine tools. That’s why we recently built a huge gantry-style milling machine for one of our customers, and we’re also developing some composite trim and drill machines.”
When asked why an aerospace OEM wouldn’t use off-the-shelf machine tools and robots for this type of work, Bigoney offered several reasons. Chief among these is Electroimpact’s extensive experience with large metallic and composite aerostructures, followed by high-speed clamping systems, precision countersinking abilities, and in-machine vision systems to locate reference features for assembly. “We developed these types of technologies for our riveting machines long ago, and are now able to leverage them on our robots and machining equipment,” he said.
DeVlieg seconded this. “Looking at the whole package, it’s something that maybe a handful of integrators can take on and actually succeed with. And off-the-shelf robots, specifically, don’t have the positional accuracy needed for this type of work.”
Electroimpact is probably best known for its automated tape laying and fiber placement equipment. Andrew Purvis is a project manager for this area, and noted that even here, robots are on the rise. He pointed to the company’s new scalable composite robotic additive manufacturing (SCRAM) system as a perfect example: a continuous-fiber-reinforced 3D printer that enables the tool-less rapid fabrication of aerospace-grade integrated composite structures.
Wood Cutting Band Saw “SCRAM is yet another instance where we’ve combined multiple processes into a single hybrid manufacturing system,” Purvis noted. “In this case, we can print a tool using a water-soluble thermoplastic, then deposit fiber-reinforced tape or engineering-grade polymers like PEEK [polyetheretherketone] and glass or carbon-fiber materials on top of and around that tool. SCRAM can also stop and drill or mill features at any time during the build,” he continued. “When done, the tool is dissolved and the part is ready for assembly. And because there are six axes of motion, we can deposit material in whatever position provides optimal strength and stiffness. It’s one of the first true 3D printers, but one that also has subtractive capabilities. It’s unique to the industry.”


THE HISTORY OF THE HURRICANE
This year the Royal Air Force celebrates its Centenary Year and, having spent a combined 34 years in the RAF, Al and I thought we should create a Windswept beer that commemorates the achievements and collaborations of the last 100 years as well as supporting the future of the organization through the excellent work of the RAF Benevolent Fund.
We have produced a beer that echoes the strong affiliation that exists between the RAF and the US Airforce that has resulted in the success we have seen with air power over the last 100 years.
The new beer blends traditional British malt base with New World hops to create a tropical fruit salad of a beer. With pineapple, mango and tangerine on the nose, and ripe stone fruits on taste; Hurricane is a big, smooth, fruity IPA.
To help with the naming of the beer we turned to Baz Dale (Wg Cdr Retired and Director of RAF Benevolent Fund Scotland) for inspiration. After a few beery conversations and some historical research, it was clear that the Hurricane was an aircraft that had been hidden in the shadow of the Spitfire for too long! Contrary to popular belief, it was the Hurricane’s stability, turn around time and numbers, not the Spitfire’s speed, agility and grace, that gave the RAF the edge in the Battle of Britain.
The Hurricane Beer launched on 1st May 2018 and we will donate 5p to the Fund from every pint sold in celebration of 100 years of flying excellence in the RAF.
For those of you who are still reading and would like to know a little more, below is a short history of the Hurricane. If you have any related stories or knew someone who flew the Hurricane we’d love to hear from you!
THE UNSUNG HERO OF WW2
The Hurricane first flew in Nov 1935 and was the first RAF fighter with retractable undercarriage.
During the Battle of Britain, the average numbers in Fighter Command were 1326 Hurricanes as opposed to 957 Spitfires and there were 32 Hurricane Squadrons and only 19 Spitfire Squadrons. Hurricane had a wooden frame and canvas covering that made it easier to fix and had a significantly faster turn round time than Spitfire, 9 minutes vs 26 minutes. This meant the Hurricane could be back in the air faster than the Spitfire, which resulted in it flying significantly more missions during that crucial time in 1940. The majority of German aircraft shot down during the Battle of Britain were destroyed by Hurricanes!
The Hurricane could be equipped with rockets and 40mm cannon and this versatility resulted in a multi role capability serving as a fighter, night fighter, fighter-bomber and catapult fighter.
As well as the Battle of Britain, Hurricanes, also affectionately known as Tank Busters or flying can openers, are famous for defending Malta until Spitfires arrived in 1942. They fought in Norway, France, Greece, Malta, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Italy, India and Burma amongst other places.
The last squadron to operate Hurricane was No 6 Squadron (now flying Typhoons out of RAF Lossiemouth) in post-war Palestine.
Pilots who flew both in general preferred to fly the Spitfire, due to its greater power and lighter controls but, with its tighter turn and more stable firing platform, the Hurricane was often preferred for combat.


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Aimed at those who consider themselves “young at heart” and are aged 8 years and upwards, 50Fifty Gifts has come up with a remote controlled helicopter with a difference. This model for would-be ground based aeronautical pilots is the UFO Space Messenger. As its title indicates, this helicopter has the capability to deliver messages during its flight through the air.
The UFO Space Messenger kit consists of the helicopter unit and a hand-held remote control device. A Philips screwdriver will come in useful when removing the items from the packaging and also when you need to open and close the battery compartment on the remote control to insert the six AAA batteries required for providing power. No prizes for guessing that this is another of those products that does NOT include batteries. You are informed about the lack of batteries on the box.
Looking more like a lunar landing module that the generally accepted appearance of a helicopter, the Space Messenger does not look like it could withstand too much damage. The Space Messenger’s outer shell is constructed of plastic with an occasional wire and various electronic elements. The unit stands on four spindly legs (these are important and I will return to them a little later) which can spin around as does most of this craft. Mounted on top of a section containing the main motor, is the unit’s rotor blades and a stabiliser bar. Enclosing the rotor blades and stabiliser is a frame that contains the two display LED panels that produce your in-flight message as they spin around. The Space Messenger has dimensions of 82 x 105mm (H x W) and weighs just 13g.
The remote control unit is more substantial with dimensions of 30 x 126 x 54mm (D x L x W) and weighs 145g (batteries included). Constructed of black plastic with white labelling, the remote control features six buttons that provide the means to create your message. There are buttons for Demo and Reset plus cycling backwards and forwards through the alphabet and moving between the seven character positions allowed for the message. Note there is no display screen for viewing the message. A single throttle stick allows you to control the Space Messenger as it ascends and descends. There also lights indicating power and charging status positioned either side of the on/off switch.
Located on the front of the remote control is a flip-out arm that needs to be linked to the Space Messenger when you need to recharge its internal Li-poly battery. Charging the Space Messenger can take around 30 minutes and this will give you between 5 and 6 minutes of flight and message construction time.
Remember those four spindly legs mentioned earlier – it is now time to return to them and explain their major importance which is not just to hold the Space Messenger upright. When creating your message of up to 7 characters (maybe text speech could help out), both the Space Messenger and remote control unit needs to be turned on. Unlike the Tini-copter reviewed recently, the brief instruction pamphlet supplied with this product does identify the location of the on/off button on the Space Messenger.
With both units turned on, you need to apply full throttle which, in normal circumstance, would send the Space Messenger flying upwards but not if you are holding onto its legs. You can then use the buttons on the remote control to change the message that is generated by the spinning frame and its LED panels. This is not an operation that should be left to young children and even a single adult might struggle to keep a grip on the Space Messenger while using the remote control buttons to create a message. The end result might look impressive but you have to ask yourself whether the effort was worth it especially if you need to keep changing the message. You also have very limited control over the Space Messenger when you let it loose to flying.
This is one of those toys that I feel will quickly be assigned to the cupboard and will rarely see the light of day – even if it is dad who hides it away from sight. 50Fifty Gifts have priced this toy at £25.
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Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport welcomed another new airline this weekend with Aviastar-TU, a Russian cargo airline based principally out of Ramenskoye Airport, Moscow. Aviastar-TU is one of DHL’s global airline partners, operating cargo flights primarily in Russia, Europe and into China. Aviastar-TU currently operates 4 Tupolev 204-100 and 3 Boeing 757-200 aircraft all configured for cargo operations.
Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport, previously known as Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport is a privately constructed and owned Airport, situated 25 minutes from Toowoomba’s CBD and around a two hour drive west of Brisbane. The airport was built by Wagners, a locally based company specialising in civil and construction works. It began commercial operations in 2014. The airport features a 2,870 x 45m runway and is capable of handling aircraft up to B747-8 size.
This particular 757 joined the Aviastar-TU fleet in January 2019 after a passenger to freight conversion in Texas. The aircraft previously flew for American Airlines as N690AA.
The flight operated by Boeing 757-200 VQ-BBU touched down at Wellcamp from Surabaya, Indonesia just before 8.30pm Saturday 21st September. According to information obtained by The Aviation Studio, the flight was an Australian government charter and upon arrival was unloaded within 90 minutes, with the crew being cleared by Border Force officials from Brisbane, enabling them to enjoy a relaxing night in Toowoomba.
VQ-BBU departed Wellcamp on Sunday 22nd September at 11.40am for Clark International Airport, Philippines as TUP2709.
Wellcamp Airport continues to see growth in the cargo market. Along with the weekly Cathay Pacific Cargo 747-8F service, there was also a recent An-12F charter and in the past Qantas have operated Airbus A330 charter flights directly to China. Airport officials continue to talk to other airlines in efforts to establish more frequent cargo and passenger services out of the Airport.


The wings of a plane generate lift―the force necessary to propel the aircraft upwards into the sky. But what other function do a plane's wings serve?
The answer is: holding the fuel tank
Wings are generally positioned near a plane's center of gravity. The interior of an aircraft's wings is ideal for storing fuel tanks as there is sufficient space and their positioning means that the expenditure of fuel has minimal impact on the plane's center of gravity.
The weight of fuel loaded into the wings increases the downward force on the wing. This downward force helps ease the upward load on the wing base when lift is generated during flight. Accordingly, wing fuel tanks play a part in reducing stress on the wing root.
The HondaJet features natural laminar flow wings developed independently by Honda. Naturally, the aircraft's fuel tanks are located inside these wings. The HondaJet's natural laminar flow wings not only increase flight speed and contribute to greater fuel efficiency, but also have a higher wing thickness ratio* than other models of the same class, allowing a larger volume of fuel to be carried.


SpaceX’s Friday night rocket launch in California
Wow! Talk about some Friday night lights! A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lit up the evening sky over Southern California last night (Dec. 22) in a dazzling display that was visible to potentially millions of spectators and set Twitter abuzz with sightings.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched into space from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base north of Los Angeles at 5:27 p.m. PST (8:27 p.m. EST/0127 GMT) — just 30 minutes after sunset — carrying 10 Iridium Next communications satellites into orbit. The mission was a success, with all 10 satellites reaching their intended orbits. But it was the jaw-dropping views of the Falcon 9 streaking into space that stole the show, leaving an ethereal glowing plume in its wake as it soared into orbit.
“Caught off guard and had no idea what was happening at first …must say it was one of my life’s coolest moments!!!,” said Michelle Snyder, who watched the launch from the Hotel del Coronado in Coronado, California. She sent in the video shown above. “A forever memory with my daughters and parents who were in town visiting for the holidays. FOREVER MEMORY!!!
From a southbound lane of the Interstate-5 freeway in Irvine, the launch wowed my 9-year-old daughter Zadie, who marveled at seeing the Falcon 9’s first stage separate from its upper stage (“I saw first stage separation? I saw stage separation!”) as we drove to meet relatives for the holidays. Her final say on the launch: “That is beautiful!”


Mini Drone Syma X20s/X20
Mini drone Syma x20s it can realize 3D tumbling 360°rolling in four directions with 4 LED lights.
One Key Take off & Landing, one press automatically taking off or landing, rc quadcopter will take off or go back to the position where it took off.
- With gravity control mode, you can control the drone with single hand.
- With fixed high hover, auto block the height, free to control, easy to fly.
- With Headless Mode,no need to adjust the position of aircraft before flying
6-Axis gyro quad-rotorcraft flight, strong stability,can easily implement various flight movements, stronger wind resistance, easier to control.
- 4 Channel which can do ascend, descend, forward, backward, left sideward fly, right sideward fly and rolling 360°.
The creatively designed LED lights are fitted for night flight possibilities, leaving a beautiful landscape in the night sky and amazing selfies to be taken on daylight.
Up / down / left turn / right turn / forward / back / left side fly / right side fly / one key take off / one key landing / 360 degrees rolling / hover / gravity control mode
Brand Name: Syma
Item NO.: X20-S / X20
Color: White, Black
Frequency : 2.4G
Transmitter Battery: 4 x AA battery(Not included)
Controlling distance:About 25 meters


At Keres Dynamics, we recognize a number of customers were concerned with the military drop test results of the P320. While SIG addressed the issue with their upgrade program, we wanted to design our parts to be as light or lighter than the factory upgraded triggers but with the same strength and reliability. In our research, we came upon Tennalum® 7068-T6511 aluminum. Tennalum® gives our parts greater strength than 4130 chromoly steel, but with the lighter weight of aluminum. By comparison, Tennalum® is nearly 250% stronger than 6061 aluminum, but only 1/3 the weight of 4130 steel. This made Tennalum® an ideal choice to achieve our design and performance goals while maintaining the light weight necessary to meet or exceed the drop test standards placed on the P320® for service. Because of this material selection, we are able to manufacture a feature-rich trigger that is 1/2 the weight of the factory trigger, but just as strong.


PALMOILMAGAZINE, BRUSSEL – On September 13, 2023, Members of the European Parliament (MEP) reached a consensus on a new regulation aimed at enhancing the terms and conditions for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) within the European Union (EU).
This regulation, integral to the ReFuelEU initiative and encompassed in the Fit for 55 packages, is designed to achieve a minimum reduction of 55 percent in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and strive for net-zero emissions by 2050. This decision marks a significant step forward in supporting a more sustainable source of aviation fuel.
Following the adoption of the initial regulation draft in July 2022 and the announcement of a political agreement on the ReFuelEU proposal in April 2023 by the European Parliament, the official approval now imposes an obligation on airports and aviation fuel suppliers across the continent.
They are required to ensure that a minimum of 2 percent of aviation fuel is designated as ‘environmental’ by 2025, with a phased increase up to 70 percent by 2050.
As Palmoilmagazine.com quoted from Ethanol Producer, the regulation would determine kinds of source to be used in aviation fuel. Synthetic fuel, biofuel from agricultural and forest residue, algae, natural waste, used palm cooking oil, certain vegetable fats, and jet fuel from gas and plastic wastes that were recycled would be taken as ‘environmental’. Unfortunately, palm oil and soybean are not qualified in ‘sustainable’ criteria and banned to be used in the program.
ReFuelEU program would cover the introduction of aviation performance label that would start in 2025. Every airline company can market their label that shows carbon track per passenger and efficient CO2 per kilometer. This is about to deliver information for them about environmental performance from the aviation operated by many airlines.
Meanwhile, palm oil industries particularly in Malaysia responded that they have side products, for instance, palm oil mill effluent (POME) and palm oil fatty acid distillate (PFAD), as the sources for sustainable aviation fuel.
Though some protection lobbies are against palm oil use in aviation industries globally, including aviation test proposed by Boeing, SAF would be used as fast as it could by using palm oil side products as the materials. (T2)
FOLLOW MORE NEWS AT GOOGLE NEWS.


Swiss International Airlines will fly from Budapest to Geneva and back from now on. With this destination the flights from Budapest to Switzerland have increased to three. Next to Geneva Swiss Air is also flying to Basel and Zurich. The launching of this flight was well planned for the beginning of this years Ski season. Most Hungarians still go to Austria for skiing but Swiss Air accepts ski lagguage free of charge.
The flights will go 4 times a week from Budapest airport to Geneva and back. With around 100.000 HUF the flights are quiet expensive so it worth checking if Malév or EasyJet are flying cheaper. Except from these three there are no other airlines flying from Budapest to Switzerland.


82 &215; 10 10 km）的位置。 它與其姊妹船旅行者1號基本上設計相同。. "In a historical sense, the old idea that the solar wind will voyager 小鴨 just be. Voyager 2, currently some 11. jpg 1,760 &215; 2,227; 776 KB Voyager 2 on closest approach to Saturn. Voyager 2 emerged from behind Saturn (as seen from the Earth) in August 1981. &0183;&32;The wealth of data captured by NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft when it flew by Uranus some 34 years ago holds secrets that are reminding scientists of why we need to go back to the ice giants. La voyager 小鴨 sonda Voyager 2 della Nasa risponde dallo spazio interstellare: i responsabili della missione le hanno inviato un segnale e la sonda ha confermato di aver ricevuto la "chiamata" ed ha eseguito.
5-35 MeV from Cosmic Ray Subsytem (CRS) data collected during calibration roll maneuvers for the magnetometer instrument when Voyager voyager 小鴨 2 (V2) was in the inner heliosheath. If so this would extend coms link for maybe months or. It is the first time the craft has been contacted voyager 小鴨 since March.
Den er identisk med sitt s&248;sterromskip Voyager 1. Welcome to a world where your currency is Miles and your rewards are exceptional! NASA started a refresh of the dish's electrical cabling, power supply, and cooling systems in March. jpg 1,500 &215; 1,177; 517 KB. Voyager 2 passerte forbi planetene Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus og Neptun og var den f&248;rste romsonden med detaljerte bilder av voyager 小鴨 de. De Voyager 2 vormt samen met Voyager 1 de Voyagermissie van de NASA. &0183;&32;NASA launched the Voyager 2 space probe in August of 1977. 8 billion kilometers) from home.
Voyager 2: Nasa finally gets in contact with 50-year-old spacecraft from 12 billion miles away. The gowen record, includit tae communicate wi extraterrestrials, is ablo the heich-gain antenna. Voyager 2 is currently around eighteen billion seven hundred ninety-eight 小鴨 million kilometers from Earth. Deze &233;&233;n keer per 175 jaar voorkomende. Adam Smith Voyager 2 ban đầu được sắp đặt kế hoạch để trở th&224;nh Mariner 12, voyager 小鴨 một sự mở rộng của c&225;c t&224;u vũ trụ thuộc chương tr&236;nh Mariner. Στο πλαίσιο της αποστολής αυτής λήφθηκαν σχεδόν 19.
Eigenlijk waren de Voyagers ontworpen voor het Marinerprogramma. Voyager 2 image showing the southern hemisphere of Triton. La Voyager 2 devolvi&243; una se&241;al confirmando que hab&237;a recibido la "llamada" y ejecut&243; los comandos sin problemas. Techniškai mašina tvarkinga, uždėtos žieminės padandos, kasdien mašina yra eksplotuojama.
S&245;iduauto Chrysler Grand Voyager 2. &0183;&32;Voyager 2 in Launch Vehicle PIA21727. &0183;&32;As Voyager 2 is heading southwards compared to Earth's orbital plane, only a dish south of the equator can send the probe a sufficiently powerful signal. &0183;&32;We present anisotropy results for anomalous cosmic-ray (ACR) protons 小鴨 in the energy range $\sim[FULLTEXT]. 947 MB) JPEG (633. At this distance, the spacecraft has begun to move out of our solar system into interstellar space, a region of space where the Sun’s magnetic field stops affecting its surroundings.
7 billion miles 小鴨 (18. The agency has revealed that it sent commands to the probe on October 29th using the recently upgraded Deep Space Station 43 dish in Canberra, Australia. Voyager 2 er en 815 kg tung ubemannet amerikansk romsonde i Voyager-programmet som er sendt for &229; utforske de ytre delen av Solsystemet og videre. According to NASA's mission status page, the craft is currently. NASA'nın 1977 yılında uzaya fırlattığı Voyager 2, yıldızararası uzaydan D&252;nya'ya "Merhaba" dedi.
Η κοντινότερη 小鴨 προσέγγιση ήταν 278. This is voyager 小鴨 its first contact with home since last March. Το Βόγιατζερ 1 πήρε τις πρώτες φωτογραφίες προσεγγίζοντας τον Δία τον Ιανουάριο του 1979. The agency has revealed that it sent commands to the probe on October 29th using the. It's since spent nearly four decades making voyager its way out of the massive bubble called the heliosphere which voyager 小鴨 is. Radio communication has not been possible because the Deep Space Station 43 (DSS43) in Australia is undergoing an.
&0183;&32;Parduodu Chrysler Voyagerautomobilį. voyager 小鴨 Kebulas turi trūkumų:. Its encounter with Saturn and Titan sent it on a hyperbolic trajectory out of the solar system, traveling at 17 km/s (38,000 mph; 61,000 km/h) which is much faster than escape velocity.
" There is no mention of upgraded power output or sensitivity but you would have to assume they are better. The measurements illustrate that even “beyond the heliopause the sun can still modify the interstellar medium—it’s not a brick wall,” says William voyager 小鴨 Kurth who, along with fellow University of Iowa scientist Donald voyager 小鴨 Gurnett, recently published a paper on the probe’s findings. It is now in voyager an extended mission. NASA is back in contact with Voyager 2 after almost eight months of silence. One of them, which is used to talk with Voyager 2, hasn't been replaced in over 47 years. Voyager 2 pu&242; dialogare solo con questa antenna a causa della sua posizione: nel 1989, per compiere un sorvolo ravvicinato di Tritone, luna di Nettuno, la sonda ha oltrepassato il polo nord del pianeta e, rispetto al piano dei pianeti, la traiettoria seguita l’ha fatta deviare verso sud.
The scan platform had been moving feverishly—pointing here and there among the rings, moons, and the planet itself during the all-too-brief moments of close approach. Launched in 1977, Voyager 2 has followed its sibling Voyager 1 out beyond the bounds of the solar system and into interstellar space. Voyager 2, one year ago Tuesday, became the second spacecraft in history to reach voyager 小鴨 interstellar voyager 小鴨 小鴨 space, described as the area between the stars. De vier buitenplaneten stonden toen op voyager een lijn. Doing so required a. A stuck scan platform is a maddening predicament: knowing that the spacecraft is flying past wonders that have never. Voyager 2 is only the second man-made craft to reach interstellar space, achieving the feat in late.
Voyager 2 is on a joint mission with another craft, Voyager 1, to provide scientists with a unique view of our own Solar System, looking at it from the outside in. στις 5 Μαρτίου 1979. It's also using more power, so engineers turned off a. Its twin did so in.
The large, pinkish colored south polar cap is at the bottom of the image. This area exhibits a voyager plethora of unusual morphologic features, including. Engineers have also upgraded heating and cooling equipment, power supply equipment, and other electronics needed to run the new transmitters.
Romsonden ble voyager 小鴨 skutt opp 20. 1聲道高級音響組;中間部份可拆卸，出門. Eesti suurim ostu-m&252;&252;gi kuulutuste andmebaas. It is identical in form to its sister ship, Voyager 2.
august 1977, og er fremdeles i funksjon. NASA just made contact with Voyager 2 for the first time since March thanks to a key technology voyager 小鴨 upgrade. Voyager 1, its extendit buims deployin instruments (richt) an RTGs (left).
At 2,700 km diameter, Triton is Neptune's largest satellite. 5 billion miles from Earth, is back online and resuming its mission to collect scientific data on the solar system and the interstellar space beyond. Ο Βόγιατζερ 2 (Voyager 2, Ταξιδιώτης 2) είναι μία μη επανδρωμένη διαπλανητική διαστημοσυσκευή, που εκτοξεύτηκε στις 20 Αυγούστου 1977, στο πλαίσιο του Προγράμματος Βόγιατζερ για την εξερεύνηση των εξωτερικών πλανητών voyager 小鴨 του. Voyager 2, a space probe launched in 1977, becomes only the second human-made object to enter the space between the stars. This image was made using about a dozen Voyager 2 frames. Deze missie werd in het leven geroepen om gebruik te maken van voyager 小鴨 de zeldzaam voorkomende onderlinge positie van de vier grote buitenplaneten eind jaren zeventig en tachtig. The problem began on Saturday, January 25, when the Voyager 2.
Hier sollte eine Beschreibung angezeigt werden, diese Seite l&228;sst voyager 小鴨 dies jedoch nicht zu. 우주에 있는 보이저 2호의 모습. North of the cap the surface is generally darker and redder in color. Η τροχιά του.
8 120kW mahtuniversaal 336000km m&252;&252;gikuulutus asukohaga Maardu. &0183;&32;Voyager 小鴨 2 is the voyager 小鴨 main priority voyager for receiving new plans because it's collecting more data with an instrument that isn't working voyager 小鴨 on Voyager 1. We use a new technique to derive for the first time the radial component of the anisotropy vector from CRS data.
8 voyager kB. Da allora, Voyager 2 ha 小鴨 mantenuto questa direzione e al momento, ad una distanza voyager 小鴨 di oltre 18 miliardi di. As a frequent flyer, you already know that South African Airways Premier Rewards Programme can.
This link also has a real-time interactive visualization of Voyager 2's position. &0183;&32;The Voyager 2 spacecraft left Earth in 1977 and is now about 11. The latest data comes courtesy of the Plasma Wave Science instrument aboard Voyager 2, now 11 billion miles away.
voyager 小鴨 It was just contacted by Deep Space Station 43 in Canberra, Australia voyager 小鴨 testing upgraded voyager hardware. 8 110kW mahtuniversaal 447300km m&252;&252;gikuulutus asukohaga Tartu. The instructions were part voyager 小鴨 of a test for new hardware, including a radio transmitter voyager 小鴨 that hadn’t been replaced in 47 years — before. The maintenance effort also saw the installation of 小鴨 a new X-band frequency cone that improved the facility's sensitivity. La llamada a Voyager 2 fue una prueba de un nuevo hardware instalado. Voyager 2 is voyager 小鴨 only the second spacecraft in history to do so voyager following its sister spacecraft, Voyager 1.
voyager 小鴨 jpg 649 &215; 699; 67 KB Voyager 2 is encapsulated. Voyager voyager 小鴨 2 gezegenimizden 18 milyar kilometre uzaktaki voyager 小鴨 voyager 小鴨 yolculuğuna devam ediyor. Voyager 1 was launched on Septem, to study the outer planets of the Solar System. 임무 정보 관리 기관 : NASA: 임무 유형 : 접근 통과 voyager 小鴨 COSPAR ID:A 발사일 : 1977년 小鴨 8월 voyager 小鴨 20일: 발사체 : 타이탄 IIIE/센타우르: 발사 장소 : 케이프커내버럴 LC-41 접근 천체 : 목성, 토성, 천왕성, 해왕성: 임무 기간 : 불확실 (보이저 성간 임무 수행 중) 웹사이트. Voyager 2 voyager 小鴨 CRS Data Full Resolution: TIFF (538. 1 kB: Voyager Interstellar Mission: 3840x2160x3: PIA22924: Voyager 2: Hello Interstellar Space, Goodbye Heliosphere Full Resolution: TIFF (8. T&224;u vũ trụ Voyager 2 được ph&243;ng đi ng&224;y 20 th&225;ng 8 năm 1977, từ Mũi Canaveral, Florida, Hoa Kỳ tr&234;n một t&234;n lửa ph&243;ng Titan IIIE/Centaur, trong. &0183;&32;NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft has reported a significant increase in the voyager density of space outside our known solar system.
旅行者2号（英語： voyager 小鴨 Voyager 2 ）是一艘於1977年8月20日發射的美國太空總署無人星際太空船，截至年依然正常運作，是有史以來運作時間最久的太空探測器。 截至年8月28日止，航海家2號正處於離太陽121. voyager 小鴨 Continue reading “What Voyager 2 Learned After Spending a. Now Voyager 2 has been in interstellar space for one year, and five new papers are presenting the scientific results from that one year. Suddenly, the platform jammed. The Voyager 2 spacecraft after an epic 41-year journey finally crossed the boundary that marks the end of the voyager 小鴨 solar system and entered interstellar space in November. NASA is upgrading its Deep Space Network satellite dish, which sends commands to Voyager 2, a space probe about 11 billion miles away. According to the studies released Monday, the spacecraft has left the heliosphere, or the bubble of particles and magnetic fields created by the sun, and is well beyond Pluto's orbit. Voyager 1 's research team.
-> 六人行 第三季 小鴨
-> 三生三世十里桃花 電影 bilibili


This section explains what happens during the flight of a water rocket. The diagram below shows a
graphical representation of a typical water rocket flight profile. From launch to landing (in this case:
The pink line is thrust. The water is pushed out of the rocket by the expansion of the compressed air
inside it. As the air expands, the pressure drops, and thus the thrust wears off. When all the water
has been expelled, the remaining air bursts from the rocket at close to the speed of sound, and the rocket
is depressurerized in milliseconds. After this, there is no more thrust for the rest of the flight.
As thrust is produced, the rocket accelerates upwards (blue line) due to Newton's 3rd law of motion.
Even though the thrust decreases, acceleration actually increases. This is because the rocket
looses weight as the water is lost, and according to Newton's 2nd law, acceleration equals force divided
This acceleration obviously causes the rocket to pick up speed (green line). Water rockets can reach very
high speeds very fast. In this example, about 45 m/s (162 Km/h) in 0.7 seconds - and this is a pretty slow
rocket compared to so many others!
As the speed increases, the rocket climbs off the launchpad and gains altitude into the air (red line).
"Burnout" is a term from pyrotechnic rockets that actually burns their fuel. In water rockets, the
term is used for the point in time where the rocket is emptied, and thrust goes to zero. In the diagram,
this happens at 0.7 seconds.
At this point the rocket is at it's fastest upwards speed, and biggest upwards acceleration, but it has only
climbed about 10 meters. As the burnout happens, there is a discontinuity in the acceleration (blue line,
dashed). The acceleration does not go to zero, but becomes negative. This negative acceleration is the
combined effect of gravity(-1g; -9.8m/s2; 32ft/s2) and drag caused by air-resistance on the rocket. Therefore,
the rocket begins to slow down (green line).
Upwards Coast Phase
In this phase, there is only two forces acting on the rocket: drag and gravity. Gravity is constant and acts
downwards from the center of mass of the rocket. Drag is proportional to the square of the airpeed of the
rocket, and acts towards the rear from the aerodynamic center of the rocket. See the
stability section for in-depth explanations of these terms.
Apart from the square of the airspeed, drag is also proportional to the size of the rocket - namely its
cross-sectional area - and its coefficient of drag (Cd), which is a measure of the aerodynamic efficiency
of the rocket. The better the streamlining, the smaller the Cd, and the less speed it will loose.
As the rocket's vertical velocity (green line) goes to zero, the rocket reaches its highest point - the
apogee. Now, if the rocket was going perfectly vertical, it would come to a stop before falling down again.
But no rocket i have ever seen has been going vertically - it is almost impossible that some small gust of
wind, assymmetry or other factor has not caused a slight veer in the rocket's flightpath. Therefore, the
rocket will still have some forward speed (dark green line).
At this point, the rocket's speed is at its minimum, and and acceleration crosses the 1g-mark because the
drag now begins to slow the rocket's descent, not its ascent.
Downwards Coast Phase
This is very similar to the upwards coast phase: The only forces are drag and gravity. But now, drag acts
upwards, and not downwards, because the rocket is travelling downwards. As the rocket picks up speed in
its fall towards the ground, the drag-force increases, and starts offsetting the force of gravity.
(blue line goes towards zero, green line curves). If allowed to fall for enough time, these forces
would equalize and the rocket would reach its terminal velocity.
In this case, it does not reach terminal velocity, because it touches down before it has the chance.
The downwards coast phase ends when the rocket reaches the ground. In the rocket used in the diagram,
there is nothing to slow it, so it crashes into the ground at about 34m/s (122Km/h) *AUCH*
Usually some contraption - mainly a parachute - is used to slow down the rocket, so it does not
destroy itself and anything it hits during touchdown.


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Be on the forefront of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) operation, policy, safety, and application. UAS are finding expanding commercial and public application across many industries including construction, agriculture, environmental monitoring, security, delivery, and more. Demand for licensed operators is growing rapidly!
With this certificate you will not only build strong technical understanding through classroom and online instruction, but also gain experience via flight labs. Hands-on, interactive flight instruction will build full competence to manage flight operations for UAS multi-rotor platforms.
This Program is Perfect For
Anyone who intends to fly a UAS for commercial purposes. This is intended for entry-level operators who want an overview of UAS operation, policy/regulations, and history.
What You Will Learn
By the end of the program students will:
- Have a basic understanding of UAS history, current UAS trends, and indications of future UAS industry policy.
- Be knowledgeable of applicable industry standards and current applications in civilian fields.
- Be able to pass the Federal Aviation Administration’s Unmanned Aircraft General (UAG) Written Exam, a prerequisite for the FAA Remote Pilot Certificate.
- Be able to pass the AUVSI Trusted Operator Program (TOP) Level 2 Practical Flight Assessment for Remote Pilots.
To earn the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Certificate you must successfully complete the online, classroom, and flight components of the course.
The certificate program is open to anyone interested in this rapidly growing field of aviation. A required online component is available up to two weeks prior to the first in-class meet date. Plan to spend about eight hours in the online learning system prior to your first in-person class, and eight hours following your final classroom session.


Join us for Sky4.0 project final webinar: SOFT SKILLS for Industry 4.0 in Aviation – implementing CHANGE on the 1st of July 2021 at 11:00 CET (Poland, Spain), 10:00 Portugal, and 12:00 Turkey. For 3 years, the Sky4.0 Erasmus+ project has aimed to help aeronautical meeting the challenges of Industry 4.0 by improving the soft skills of their human resources. Now we would like to share the project results with you and your company or school!
The project partners and guests will be presenting and discussing our three main outputs:
1) INDUSTRY 4.0 Soft Skills Text & Work Book:
- Training Curricula for trainers and teachers
- Information & Training Packages for current aviation industry workers
2) INDUSTRY 4.0 Soft Skills Students Text & Work Book
- Sky 4.0 Lessons and Moodle interactive courses for future aviation industry workers
3) INDUSTRY 4.0 SOFT SKILLS WHITE PAPER with guidelines for the aeronautical companies and schools
Join trainers, HR managers, aviation companies representatives, current and future aviation industry workers and learn first-hand, how these skills will support you and your professional path in aviation. Let’s learn the basic steps to get ready for Industry 4.0 by improving: Critical Thinking, Cognitive Flexibility, Intellectual Curiosity, Change Adaptability, Analytical Thinking, and Initiative.
Please register for our event when Sky 4.0 Team will be hosting you online from Poland! The registration is open until the 29th of June.
REGISTER HERE: https://forms.gle/78c9Uy6y3ydKbnDJ7


Taiwan has acquired 32 F-16V Warthog jets from the US and unveiled the first example of the new model during a ceremony in the capital, Taipei.
The F-16V “Pace” Warthog is a series of upgraded F-16A/B fighters. The acquisition comes amid continuing tensions with China and its military threats over the self-ruled island, which Beijing claims as its own.
China is Taiwan’s only remaining major military rival. The two countries fought a brutal civil war that ended with the Chinese mainland’s civil war victory in 1949.
“By purchasing new F-16s, today the government of the Republic of China has demonstrated to the world a big step in strengthening Taiwan’s defence capabilities. Such a move will help prevent the situation from destabilising and gravely affecting international peace and stability,” the president, Tsai Ing-wen, said.
“The F-16V is an advanced generation of F-16 aircraft. The upgrade of those aircraft will extend their combat effectiveness and adaptability to meet the 21st century’s various military and security challenges.”
The F-16V added vertical take-off and landing technology that enables the aircraft to be used as close-in air defence aircraft, with its multi-functionised sensors providing improved forward air defence, early warning, surveillance and electronic warfare capability.
The aircraft can be equipped with a number of new types of missiles, including early warning, heat-seeking missiles, a stealth takeoff and landing system, long-range air-to-air missiles and a video and photography-recording system.
US military officials said the F-16V would initially replace 13 F-16C and D aircraft in the Taiwanese air force’s fleet of F-16A/B aircraft. The service’s total fleet size of F-16 A/B and F-16C/D models will remain unchanged at 40.
According to Washington, its Taiwan Act, signed by former president George W Bush in July 2015, permits the sale of weaponry to Taiwan in order to enhance its defences.
China has pressured Washington in the past to abandon its arms sales programme to Taiwan, a diplomatic and military ally that Beijing claims as its own territory, and has threatened to attack if Washington moves against the island.
China is also uncertain over the US’s future stance towards China following the presidency of Donald Trump. In 2018, the US began its first sale of weapons and military equipment to Taiwan since Barack Obama was in the White House.


Status of Original Painting – For Sale
All prices are in Canadian dollars
Size: 10 x 21 inches
Medium: Watercolour on 300 lb Arches
After a strenuous 30-minute hike to ascend 800 feet along a forested path in Burgoyne’s Cove, you’re rewarded with splendid, peaceful, beautiful greenery – and the scattered skeletal remains of an enormous war plane. What you see in this painting are remnants of its massive tail section. In other parts of the valley, you’ll find engines, landing gear, wings, and other splintered parts from the main cabin.
On March 18, 1953, the fatal flight left a US Air Force base in the Azores, bound for South Dakota. The plane was a Convair RB-36H-25 Peacemaker – the largest ever piston-engine aircraft and bearing the longest wingspan (70 meters) of any combat aircraft. Despite its Peacemaker name, these B-36 bombers were the primary means for delivering nuclear weapons until B-52 planes entered service in the mid-1950s.
The fateful reconnaissance mission was to test whether aircraft could approach North American defenses without being detected. The crew were ordered to fly without radar, using only their sextant for navigation, and the altimeter to maintain about 500 feet of altitude as they crossed the Atlantic toward Newfoundland. Navigational radar was to be turned on an hour before landfall so that they could climb to a safe altitude over Newfoundland’s mountainous coastline. However, the weather was so dismal and overcast that the navigator could not make use of the sextant to check their true position. Strong tailwinds rather than forecasted headwinds caused them to unknowingly reach Newfoundland 90 minutes ahead of schedule. During the crew’s last minutes, the plane flew straight and level at 800 feet with a groundspeed of 202 knots, through sleet, drizzle, fog, and visibility of less than 1/8-mile. The B-36 Peacemaker slammed into an 896-foot cliff at Burgoyne’s Cove and broke apart, creating a large fireball, scattering wreckage over a mile, and killing all 23 crewmembers on impact.
That same night a Boeing SB-29 Superfortress search and rescue plane took off from the Ernest Harmon Air Force Base at Stephenville in Newfoundland to search for survivors. It too failed to return from its mission, crashing beyond the runway in the fog and killing all eleven crewmembers. Despite an extensive search and dredging of St. George’s Bay, the wreckage of that plane was never found.
The B-36 Peacemaker wreckage was deemed unrecoverable and left behind as a memorial for the crewmembers. One propeller blade is mounted atop the cliff, overlooking the wreckage below, and bearing all the names of the crew. The site is frequented by locals and tourists who comment on the beauty and peacefulness of the scenery, and the solemn, sobering nature of the wreckage.
This was an unusual subject for me to paint. I’ve written before how my artistic eye is drawn to images that contain contrasts of shapes, textures, colors, and natural versus artificial elements. This painting takes the contrast of nature and man-made to an extreme. The plane broke apart against the immovable force of nature but in turn reduced all surrounding greenery to ashes. In the ensuing decades, is nature winning the battle? Much of the wreckage has been pierced, absorbed, or hidden by the lush trees and undergrowth that regenerated upon scorched ground. And yet, the yellow-orange undergrowth recalls the heat of the original inferno, while many ribs of that broken vessel defiantly persist. Even its tail number (51-13721) remains visible after all these years.
My thanks to Lisa Samways for taking the main reference photo. I was in there with camera slung around my neck, and so I needed one of my photos to recreate sections obscured by my presence.


My son's humour is the same as mine and I'm sure he won't mind me sharing some of these one liners with you that he had on one of his previous blog's.
'If the enemy is in range, so are you.'
'It is generally inadvisable to eject directly over the area you just bombed.'
- US.Air Force Manual -
'Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword, obviously never encountered automatic weapons.'
- General MacArthur -
'You, you, and you ... Panic. The rest of you, come with me.'
- Infantry Sgt.-
'Tracers work both ways.'
- Army Ordnance Manual-
'Five second fuses last about three seconds.'
- Infantry Journal -
'Any ship can be a minesweeper. Once.'
- Naval Ops Manual -
'Never tell the Platoon Sergeant you have nothing to do.'
- Unknown Infantry Recruit-
'If you see a bomb technician running, try to keep up with him.'
- Infantry Journal-
'Yea, Though I Fly Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I Shall Fear No Evil. For I am at 50,000 Feet and Climbing.'
- Sign over SR71 Wing Ops-
'You've never been lost until you've been lost at Mach 3.'
-Paul F. Crickmore (SR71 test pilot)-
'The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.'
'If the wings are traveling faster than the fuselage it has to be a helicopter -- and therefore, unsafe.'
- Fixed Wing Pilot-
'When one engine fails on a twin-engine airplane, you always have enough power left to get you to the scene of the crash.'
-Multi-Engine Training Manual-
'Without ammunition, the Air Force is just an expensive flying club.'
'If you hear me yell;"Eject, Eject, Eject!", the last two will be echos.'
If you stop to ask "Why?", you'll be talking to yourself, because by then you'll be the pilot.'
-Pre-flight Briefing from a Canadian F104 Pilot-
'What is the similarity between air traffic controllers and pilots?
If a pilot screws up, the pilot dies; but If ATC screws up, .... the pilot dies.'
-Sign over Control Tower Door-
'Never trade luck for skill.'
'Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a person on the ground incapable of understanding or doing anything about it.'
- Emergency Checklist-
'The Piper Cub is the safest airplane in the world; it can just barely kill you.'
- Attributed to Max Stanley (Northrop test pilot) -
As the test pilot climbs out of the experimental aircraft, having torn off the wings and tail in the crash landing, the crash truck arrives.
The rescuer sees the bloodied pilot and asks,'What happened?'
The pilot's reply: 'I don't know, I just got here myself!'
I'm sure if you have been in the forces these will seem funnier.


When future generations look back at the development of China’s ambitious space program, 2020 will likely be remembered as the year China completed its own satellite navigation network, freeing it from dependence on the US-run Global Positioning System (GPS).
The Chinese system is called the Beidou Navigation Satellite System (Beidou means Big Dipper), and now includes 24 satellites. Project director Ran Chengqi said at a press conference in December that the Beidou system should be completed by the first half of 2020 with the launch of two more satellites.
The Beidou program is now in its third phase, the first of which dates back to 2000. Ran said while its current iteration should be complete by June, the system as a whole will likely not be fully operational until 2035. Nonetheless, the progress represents a tremendous achievement in China’s space program.
China joins a club of only three countries that have satellite navigation systems — the other two are the US with GPS, and Russia with its Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS). The breakthrough will relieve China of a political concern that the US could cut off China’s access in the face of developing geopolitical tensions.
It also gives China an immense leg up in developing future technologies dependent on navigation and 5G, such as self-driving cars. A project integrating Beidou navigation with 5G to guide autonomous vehicles is already underway in Wuhan.
China’s satellite system comes after years of notable accomplishments in space. The country last year became the first to land a rover on the far side of the moon. Since its first manned space mission in 2003, China has launched several space station prototypes, and hopes to soon send a rover to Mars.
The Beidou navigation system is performing better in 85% of the world's major capital cities Read More
After successfully growing the first ever seedlings on the moon, China has ambitious space plans for the near future - including missions to Mars Read More


Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need to hire a Professional, Certified Commercial Drone Pilot for my project?
Just keep in mind that anyone who hires an unlicensed drone pilot can be fined up to $11,000 per instance by the FAA. The drone pilot can also be fined $1,100 per instance.
Do you have a license?
Yes, all of our drone pilots are certified as Part 107 operators of unmanned aircraft by the FAA.
Do you have insurance?
Yes. We have liability insurance with up to $1,000,000 in coverage on our drone missions with the ability to increase for mission specific requirements.
Can weather affect your shooting schedule?
We have the ability to fly with wind gusts in excess of 20+ mph. We will not fly in inclement weather or rain therefore we do suggest also scheduling a rain date.
Can you provide High-Definition aerial images and video?
We can capture 20MP images and 4k/30fps video.
How does the quality of your mapping images compare with Google Maps or Google Earth?
Our mapping quality far exceeds that of Google Maps and Google Earth. Mapping missions performed by our drones can provide orthomosaic imagery at 2cm/pixel. That is an increase in resolution of 10-15 times better than Google's satellite imagery which can provide a maximum resolution of 20-30 cm/pixel.
Can you do monthly construction progression photos and video?
Yes. We have weekly, bi-weekly and monthly construction progression packages with a wide range of additional add-ons as needed such as a 360 panorama, an orthomosaic image, or a 3D model and various video clip options. Contact us for rates and packages.
Can you also provide Interior photography?
Yes. Many of our real estate clients appreciate that we also provide interior photography along with our Real Estate Showcases.
Do you offer any discounts or specials?
Yes, new customers will receive a 20% discount on their initial drone and aerial imaging solutions project on Long Island.
Can you fly indoors?
Yes and we can also acquire many interior shots via other stabilized handheld equipment.
How do you deliver my finished product?
We usually use an online file sharing service to deliver files. However, we can send them to you on a provided DVD, USB stick, or even upload videos to YouTube.


This week on Call it Classical:
The Planets by Gustav Holst. Performed by the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Charles Dutoit
- Mars, the Bringer of War
- Venus, the Bringer of Peace
- Mercury, the Winged Messenger
- Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity
- Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age
- Uranus, The Magician
- Neptune, The Mystic
The Planets have influenced the music in many space related movies, such as Apollo 13. Pluto is not included as it had not been discovered at the time.
Chamber Concerto In D by Antonio Vivaldi – Movement 2, Largo on Guitar
Mercury, Mars, Venus, Saturn and Jupiter are all in a straight line. They can be seen in the East just before sunrise. More information can be found in this New York Times article.
There may be a new 9th planet. Science Friday Interview.
Last week was the 30th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger Explosion.
Monday was the 13th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Colombia Disaster.


Police Message about Drone Flying
Police had a few complaints regarding drones being flown in public areas such as Playing Close.
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones have long crossed over from just being used in the military and specialist commercial sphere. They can now be seen in homes. Remote controlled aircraft used to be a niche hobby. It took time to build them and skill to operate them. Today drones are cheap, quick to get in the air and you can operate them on a Smartphone or tablet. Across the world, rules are being drawn up or refined to deal with the potential dangers. But they are already being flouted.
If you have a drone please be aware of the rules and guidelines set by the Civil Aviation Authority before you take off.
PCSO Wesley Smith
Mon 20 Apr 2015, 15:34 · Link


It has been almost 20 months since NASA's 2020 Perseverance Rover landed on Mars carrying the PyroScience FDO2 optical oxygen gas sensor as part of the Mars Oxygen In Situ Resource Utilization Experiment (MOXIE) unit which is the first demonstration of successful native resource harvesting and utilization on another planet.
This test-scale system is designed to produce oxygen by solid oxide electrolysis of carbon dioxide found in the Martian atmosphere and allows scientists and engineers to evaluate the implications for larger-scale oxygen production systems for future space missions. Since the beginning of this experiment, MOXIE has successfully completed seven oxygen production cycles, creating oxygen at a rate of 6g/hour which is comparable to a small tree.
Since transporting oxygen to other planets is a challenging task, in situ production will be a critical factor for creating a sustainable habitat for human exploration of space. Playing multiple roles here, oxygen is not only important for providing astronauts with breathable air, but it is also required as propellant to eventually send rockets back to Earth.
With any type of production, measuring its output for quantity and quality control is a significant component. That is where the PyroScience FDO2 oxygen sensor comes in providing robust and reliable long-term oxygen measurements inside MOXIE's solid oxide electrolysis assembly.
We are thrilled that the FDO2 oxygen sensor was selected for this unique experiment and look forward to continuing to support future space exploration endeavors.


KINGSTON, OK — Dee Angle was identified by Oklahoma State Police as the man that was killed in a plane crash in Kingston, Oklahoma on Wednesday, January 28th, 2015. The news article said that the accident happened sometime Wednesday afternoon.
Dee Angle died when the plane he was flying crashed for reasons currently under investigation. Authorities said that the plane was seen crashing into Lake Texoma at a 45 degree angle for reasons currently under investigation.
Angle was pronounced dead after the accident.
Officials from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the National Transportation Safety Board are handling the accident investigation.
Scene of the Accident
While many people may blame pilots for these kinds of accidents, there is always the possibility that the plane was the cause of the accident. Well, if the plane suffered from some kind of catastrophic failure or malfunction before the accident, then the NTSB investigation may uncover it. Unfortunately, due to the NTSB’s massive backlog of cases, it could take them a year, or even a year and a half to find. This can eradicate up to 75% of the time families have to make a claim, should one be necessary after the investigation. To possibly get more answers, faster, surviving family can have their own investigation conducted by people not burdened with thousands of other cases.
— Grossman Law Offices


Since our childhood days, nothing has caught our fancy like space films. We were always in awe of astronauts and their heroic deeds as they ventured out to remote parts of the universe.
Here we are presenting seven Astronaut movies from Hollywood and Bollywood. The list may not be complete, but we hope these films will surely give you an idea of some of the most daring explorations by scientists.
7. Antariksham 9000 KMPH
Antariksham 9000 KMPH belongs to the rare crop of Tollywood flicks that explored space travel. Directed by Sankalp Reddy, this movie narrated a gripping story of an ex-space scientist (Varun Tej), who is brought back to fix an Indian satellite, Mihira which has lost connection from the Space station.
6. The Right Stuff (1883)
This classic Hollywood film narrated the lives of the seven pilots handpicked for the ambitious Project Mercury, the first human spaceflight programme by NASA. Told in wry humour, this rare movie was a combination of mythmaking, adventure, melodrama and some stunning visuals.
Two astronauts (Sandra Bullock & George Clooney) forge a strong bond in space when disaster strikes. The movie is a dare-devil adventure of the duo’s desperate efforts to survive. They have to overcome the challenge of oxygen shortage and venturing into the space for survival.
4. Mission Mangal
This Bollywood movie is a dramatic account of ISRO scientists who have sacrificed personal lives to make India’s Mars Mission a reality. A stellar performance from the cast of Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan, Taapse, Sonakshi Sinha, Kirti Kulhari, Nithya Menen ensured that it was received well at BO. But the movie did receive criticisms for taking lot of liberties and highlighting Akshay.
3. 2001: A Space Odyssey
Considered as an all-time classic, this cult movie by Stanley Kubrick still remains an enigma to film buffs. This movie narrates man’s journey to Jupiter in the face an existential crisis and is considered as a classic for its special effects, theme and treatment. For this film, Kubrick bagged an Academy Award for his direction of visual effects.
Directed by Christopher Nolan, it is a futuristic movie on man’s quest to find a new home for humanity. This movie is a testimony of man’s iron will against all odds, as they search for new and hospitable planets. This film bagged Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
1 Apollo 13
This sci-fi drama narrates the gripping story of the Apollo-13 crew. Astronauts Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks), Fred Haise (Bill Paxton) and Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon) come face to face with death when an oxygen tank explodes. This movie is dare-devil take on their lives as Nasa aborts its lunar mission.


WELCOME TO GFK WINGS, LLC.
Earn your wings here!
ABOUT GFK WINGS, LLC.
At GFK Wings, we will help you earn your wings!
GFK Wings is a Part 61 flight school operating in partnership with Avflight Grand Forks to provide quality instruction and aircraft rental for the Greater Grand Forks area. Our knowledgeable staff and highly trained flight instructors will help guide you through your training. All in your aircraft or ours.
Build Your Hours
Our aircraft are available for rental from any properly rated pilot. If you are interested in renting, please stop by our office to pickup a renter packet and schedule a checkout flight with one of our instructors.
Earn Your Wings
We provide professional flight instruction for any type of certificate or rating. Whether you want to become a professional pilot or fly for fun, our flight instructors are ready to help you achieve your dream!
PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE
The First Step
A Private Pilot Certificate allows anyone to operate an aircraft with passengers and baggage. Whether you want to fly for leisure or make a career out of flying, this certificate is your first step. Ask one of our instructors about the requirements to get a Private Pilot Certificate.
The Next Step
An Instrument Rating allows a pilot to fly in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) or under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). This greatly opens up the weather conditions you can fly in. This rating will not only increase your aviation resume, but it will make you a significantly safer pilot.
COMMERCIAL PILOT CERTIFICATE
Begin Your Career
A commercial pilot may be compensated for flying. Training for this certificate focuses on a better understanding of aircraft systems and a higher standard of airmanship.
FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR RATINGS (CFI/CFII)
Advance Your Career
A Flight Instructor Rating allows you to share your piloting skills and passion with someone else. Our Flight Instructor program is focused on creating a safe and professional teacher of flight. Are you ready to get paid to share your love of aviation?
2006 Cessna 172S G1000 Skyhawk
The Cessna Skyhawk is the ultimate training aircraft and the most popular single-engine aircraft ever built. Our aircraft are equipped with a Garmin G1000 glass cockpit which is the most advanced avionics suite offered in a general aviation aircraft.
PIPER ARCHER TX
N705ND and N719ND
Our fleet of 2 Piper Archer's offer the ideal modern training platform. The 180-HP Lycoming Engine paired with the state of the art Garmin G1000NXi is a fantastic platform for Students, Instructors and Renters.
N705ND - 2018 PA-28-181
N719ND - 2016 PA-28-181
October 1, 2023
Hourly Rate: $135/hr
Prepaid Block Rate
10 Hours: $133/hr
20+ Hours: $130/hr
Piper PA28 Archer
Hourly Dry: $146/hr
Prepaid Block Rate
10 Hours: $144/hr
20+ Hours: $141/hr
Instruction: Flight and Ground: $56/hr
Limited Checkout: $135
(special restrictions apply)
Discovery Flight: $185 (one flight)
20 minute ground/30 minute flight (est)
Discounts on Fuel for Students/Renters
Aircraft must be dispatched through Aircraftclubs.com online Only.
MEET YOUR NEW INSTRUCTOR
ARE YOU READY TO GET STARTED?
Schedule Your First Flight Today!
GFK Wings offers all prospective students the option join one of our flight instructors for a discovery flight.
A discovery flight includes 30 mins of ground instruction to answer any questions you may have and a 30 minute flight where you will be at the controls.
A discovery flight costs $175. Contact one of our flight instructors to schedule your first flight today!
To schedule with one of our instructors, it is best to reach out to them individually. If you have any general questions, please use the form below. We looks forward to hearing from you!
2403 Air Cargo Dr
Grand Forks, ND 58203


Aerospace & Defense Consulting
We have extensive and diverse experience in aerospace manufacturing including aircraft, spacecraft, rotorcraft, UAVs, subsystem components, and spare part manufacturing. Our Lean MRP practice is born out of our aerospace industry experience and lends itself particularly well to managing job shop manufacturing so prevalent in the industry.
Many of the challenges that aerospace manufacturers face are well known to us. Altemir Consulting is familiar with operating within an ISO-9001, FAA, FAR, and ITAR regulatory framework while managing complex material bills of materials (BOMs), production requirements, and earned value cost reporting in the context of a highly loaded multi-site manufacturing environment.
Look to Altemir Consulting to address your operating improvement goals anywhere within the manufacturing supply chain.
Explore the Possibilities...
We welcome inquiries from all businesses, small and large, that are eager to move to the next level. Feel free to contact us to discuss your specific needs at no obligation.


Chinese space program
Chinese space program
The space program of the People's Republic of China is about the activities in outer space conducted and directed by the People's Republic of China. It involves the capacity to enter and return from space and ability to engage in space exploration, utilization and governance.
The technological roots of the Chinese space program trace back to the 1950s, when, with the help of the newly allied Soviet Union, China began development of its first ballistic missile and rocket programs in response to the perceived American (and, later, Soviet) threats. Driven by the successes of Soviet Sputnik 1 and American Explorer 1 satellite launches in 1957 and 1958 respectively, China would launch its first satellite, Dong Fang Hong 1 in April 1970 aboard a Long March 1 rocket making it the fifth nation to place a satellite in orbit.
After half a century of development, China today has one of the most active space programs in the world. With space launch capability provided by the Long March rocket family and four spaceports (Jiuquan, Taiyuan, Xichang, Wenchang) within it border, China conducts either the highest or the second highest number of orbital launches each year. It operates a satellite fleet consisting of a large number of communications, navigation, remote sensing and scientific research satellites. Its range of activities have expanded from low Earth orbit to the Moon and Mars.
China is also one of the three countries with independent human spaceflight capability.
Currently, most of the space activities by China are managed by the China National Space Administration (CNSA). Major programs include China Manned Space Program, BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, Chinese Lunar Exploration Program, Gaofen Observation and Planetary Exploration of China.
In recent years, China has conducted a considerable amount of world-class space missions, including Chang'e-3, Chang'e-4, Chang'e-5, Tianwen-1 and Tiangong Space Station. In the near future, China is steadily pursuing advanced projects like crewed missions to the Moon, space telescope, counterspace capabilities, quantum communications, orbiter and sample-return missions to Mars, and exploration missions throughout the Solar System and deep space.
Mission and principles
According to the white paper China's Space Program: A 2021 Perspective released by the Chinese government in 2022, the mission of China's space program is described as:
• To explore outer space to expand humanity's understanding of the earth and the cosmos;
• To facilitate global consensus on our shared responsibility in utilizing outer space for peaceful purposes and safeguarding its security for the benefit of all humanity;
• To meet the demands of economic, scientific and technological development, national security and social progress;
• To raise the scientific and cultural levels of the Chinese people, protect China's national rights and interests, and build up its overall strength.
The white paper also stated the principles of China's space program to ensure a high-quality space industry, which is subject to and serves the overall national strategy:
• Innovation-driven development
• Coordination and efficiency
• For peaceful purposes
• Cooperation and sharing
Early years (1950s to mid-1970s)
Qian Xuesen, the forefather of Chinese space program
The space program of China began in the form of missile research since the 1950s. After its birth in 1949, the newly founded People's Republic of China were in pursuit of missile technology to build up the nation's defense for the Cold War while most of
Its industry were destroyed or heavily damaged during the decade-long wars. In 1955, Qian Xuesen , the world-class rocketry scientist, returned to China from the United States. In 1956, Qian submitted a proposal for the development of China's missile program, which was approved in just a few months. On October 8, China's first missile research institute, the Fifth Research Academy under the Ministry of National Defense, was established with less than 200 staff, most of which were recruited by Qian. The event was later recognized as the birth of China's space program.
To fully utilize all available resources, China kick-started its missile development by manufacturing a licensed copy of two Soviet R-2 missiles, which were secretly shipped to China in December 1957 as part of the cooperative technology transfer program between the Soviet Union and China.
The Chinese version of the missile was given a code name "1059" with the expectation of being launched in 1959. But the target date was soon postponed due to various technical difficulties.
Meanwhile, China started constructing its first missile test site in the Gobi desert of Inner Mongolia, which later became the famous Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center , China's first spaceport.
After the launch of mankind's first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957, Mao Zedong decided during the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party on May 17, 1958, to make China an equal with the superpowers (Chinese: "我们也要搞人造卫星"; lit. 'We too need satellites'), by
Adopting Project 581 with the objective of placing a satellite in orbit by 1959 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the PRC's founding.
This goal was soon proven to be unrealistic and later adjusted to the development of sounding rockets first.
Mao Zedong inspecting a T-7M rocket after its successful launch
The first achievement of the program was the launch of T-7M, a sounding rocket that eventually reached the height of 8 km on February 19, 1960. It was the first rocket developed by Chinese engineers.
The success was praised by Mao Zedong as a good beginning of an indigenous Chinese rocket development.
However, due to ideological differences in Marxism, the friendly relationship between the Soviet Union and China soon turned to confrontation. As a consequence, all Soviet technological assistance was abruptly withdrawn after the 1960 Sino-Soviet split, and Chinese scientists continued on the program with extremely limited resources and knowledge.
It was under this harsh condition that China successfully launched the first "missile 1059", fueled by alcohol and liquid oxygen, on December 5, 1960, marking a successful imitation of Soviet missile. The missile 1059 was later renamed as Dongfeng.


Constructed by the RAAF in 1943, the No 211 Radar Station on Charlie’s Hill was one of twenty radar installations along the North Queensland coastline. These operated to provide early warning of approaching enemy aircraft during World War II. When visiting this historic site, igloos of reinforced concrete which provided bomb-proof protection for the radar equipment can still be seen.
- Charlies Hill Road, Inkerman, Home Hill
- (07) 4783 9800


India-Russia space mission in 2015
MUMBAI: An Indian cosmonaut will first go on a Russian space mission in 2015, prior to the Indian manned mission in 2017, Alexey M Mzareulov, deputy consul-general of the Russian Federation, announced here on Wednesday night. He made the announcement at the 50th anniversary celebrations of the first human space flight by Yuri Gagarin, organized by the Russian Centre for Science & Culture, which saw many American diplomats.
Isro and the Russian agency Roskosmos will build the spacecraft for the mission in 2015. If it is successful, India will become the fourth nation after Russia, the US and China, to send a manned mission into space, he said.