1 a formation of aircraft in flight
2 an instance of traveling by air; "flying was still an exciting adventure for him" [syn: flying]
3 a stairway (set of steps) between one floor or landing and the next [syn: flight of stairs, flight of steps]
4 the act of escaping physically; "he made his escape from the mental hospital"; "the canary escaped from its cage"; "his flight was an indication of his guilt" [syn: escape]
5 an air force unit smaller than a squadron
6 passing above and beyond ordinary bounds; "a flight of fancy"; "flights of rhetoric"; "flights of imagination"
7 the path followed by an object moving through space [syn: trajectory]
8 a flock of flying birds
9 a scheduled trip by plane between designated airports; "I took the noon flight to Chicago"
1 shoot a bird in flight
2 fly in a flock; "flighting wild geese"
3 decorate with feathers; "fledge an arrow" [syn: fledge]
- flīt, /flaɪt/, /flaIt/
- (obscure or slang): Wayward, opposed.
- Note: Nowadays we refer to people being flighty instead.
- The act of flying.
- Birds are capable of flight
- An instance of flying.
- The migrating birds' flight took them to Africa.
- A collective term for doves or swallows.
- A journey made by an air craft, eg a balloon, plane or space
- The flight to Paris leaves at 7 o'clock tonight
- The act of fleeing. (It
is noun version of flee).
- take flight
- A set of stairs or an escalator. A series of stairs between landings.
- A floor which are reached to by stairs or escalators.
- How many flights is it up?
- A feather on an arrow or dart used to help it follow an even path.
- A paper plane.
- : The movement of a spinning ball through the air - concerns its speed, trajectory and drift.
- The ballistic trajectory of an arrow or other projectile.
- A aerodynamic surfaces designed to guide such a projectile's trajectory.
- Act of fleeing of a refugee or a fugitive.
- An air force unit.
- Several sample glasses of a specific wine varietal. The pours are smaller than a full glass and the flight will generally include three to five different samples.
act of flying
instance of flying
- Italian: volo
- Russian: полёт
group of doves or swallows
- Italian: stormo
journey made by an aircraft
- Italian: volo
- Portuguese: voo
- Russian: полёт
- Swedish: flight
act of fleeing
- French: fuite
- Italian: fuga
- Portuguese: fuga
- Swedish: flykt
set of stairs
- Italian: rampa
floor of building
- Italian: piano
feather on an arrow
See alsoAppendix:Collective nouns
Flight is the process by which an object achieves sustained movement either through the air (or movement beyond earth's atmosphere, in the case of spaceflight) by aerodynamically generating lift, propulsive thrust or aerostatically using buoyancy.
Forces for flight
Forces relevant to flight are
These forces must be balanced for stable flight to occur.
The stabilization of flight angles (roll, yaw and pitch) and the rates of change of these can involve horizontal stabilizers (i.e. 'a tail'), ailerons and other movable aerodynamic devices which control angular stability i.e. flight attitude (which in turn affects altitude, heading).
Animal flightThe most successful groups of living things that fly are insects, birds, and bats. The extinct Pterosaurs, an order of reptiles contemporaneous with the dinosaurs, were also very successful flying animals. Each of these groups' wings evolved independently. The wings of the flying vertebrate groups are all based on the forelimbs, but differ significantly in structure; those of insects are highly-modified versions of structures that form gills in most other groups of arthropods. See also Bird flight.
Bats are the only mammals capable of true flight. However, there are several gliding mammals which are able to glide from tree to tree using fleshy membranes between their limbs; some can travel hundreds of meters in this way with very little loss in height. Flying frogs use greatly enlarged webbed feet for a similar purpose, and there are flying lizards which employ their unusually wide, flattened rib-cages to the same end. Certain snakes also use a flattened rib-cage to glide, with a back and forth motion much the same as they use on the ground.
Flying fish can glide using enlarged wing-like fins, and have been observed soaring for hundreds of meters using the updraft on the leading edges of waves. It is thought that this ability was chosen by natural selection because it was an effective means of escape from underwater predators.
Most birds fly (see bird flight), with some exceptions. The largest birds, the ostrich and the emu, are earthbound, as were the now-extinct dodos, while the non-flying penguins have adapted their wings for use under water. Most small flightless birds are native to small islands, and lead a lifestyle where flight would confer little advantage. The Peregrine Falcon is the fastest animal in the world; its terminal velocity exceeds 370 km/h (199 mph) in a dive.
Among living animals that fly, the wandering albatross has the greatest wingspan, up to 3.5 meters (11.5 ft); the great bustard has the greatest weight, topping at 21 kilograms (46 pounds).
Mechanical flight is the use of a machine to fly. These machines include airplanes, gliders, helicopters, autogyros, airships, balloons, ornithopters, and spacecraft. Gliders provide unpowered flight. Another form of mechanical flight is parasailing where a parachute-like object is pulled by a boat. In an airplane lift is created by the wings; the shape of the wings of the airplane are designed specially for the type of flight desired. There are different types of wings: tempered, semi-tempered, sweptback, rectangular, and eliptical. An aircraft wing is sometimes called an airfoil, which is a device that creates lift by differences in pressure.
Religion, mythology and fictionIn religion, mythology and fiction, human or anthropomorphic characters sometimes have the ability to fly. Examples include angels in the Hebrew Bible, Daedalus in Greek mythology, and Superman in comics. Other non-human legendary creatures, such as some dragons and Pegasus, are also depicted with an ability to fly.
The ability to fly may come from wings or other visible means of propulsion, from superhuman or god-like powers, or may simply be left unexplained.
The study of flightLeanardo Da Vinci is one of the best-known early students of flight. He made many prototypes of parachutes wings and ornithopters.
- See how it flies: a new spin on the perceptions, procedures, and principles of flight
- 'Birds in Flight and Aeroplanes' by Evoluntionary Biologist and trained Engineer John Maynard-Smith Freeview video provided by the Vega Science Trust.
flight in Arabic: طيران
flight in German: Fliegen (Fortbewegung)
flight in Spanish: Vuelo
flight in French: Vol (animal)
flight in Indonesian: Terbang
flight in Italian: Volo
flight in Hebrew: טיסה
flight in Japanese: 飛翔
flight in Polish: Lot (lotnictwo)
flight in Portuguese: Vôo
flight in Romanian: Zbor
flight in Russian: Полёт
flight in Simple English: Flight
flight in Slovak: Let
flight in Finnish: Lentäminen
flight in Swedish: Flygning
flight in Contenese: 飛翔
AWOL, Brownian movement, French leave, a mass of, a world of, abandonment, abscond, absence without leave, absquatulation, acciaccatura, advance, aeronautics, aeroplane, air arm, air corps, air force, air service, air speed, aircraft, airlift, airline, airliner, alienation, altitude peak, angular motion, appoggiatura, arabesque, army, arrow, arrowhead, ascending, ascent, astronautics, autism, autistic thinking, automatic control, aviation, avoidance mechanism, axial motion, backflowing, backing, backward motion, ballooning, barb, beat a retreat, bevy, blame-shifting, blast-off, blind flying, bobtailed arrow, bolt, bolting, break, breakout, bunch, burn, burnout, cadence, cadenza, career, ceiling, celerity, charm, chested arrow, climbing, cloth yard shaft, cloud, cloud-seeding, clutter, coloratura, commercial aviation, compensation, contact flying, course, covey, cruising, current, dart, decamp, decampment, decompensation, defense mechanism, deliverance, delivery, depart, departure, dereism, dereistic thinking, descending, descent, desert, desertion, disappearance, disappearing act, dismiss, dispatch, disperse, displacement, dissociation, division, downward motion, drift, driftage, ebbing, egress, elopement, embellishment, emergence, emigration, emotional insulation, end of burning, escadrille, escape, escape into fantasy, escape mechanism, escapism, evacuation, evasion, excursion, exit, exodus, expatriation, expedition, extrication, fantasizing, fantasy, fastness, feather, fioritura, flee, fleeing, flit, flock, flocks, flourish, flow, flurry, flux, flying, forward motion, freeing, fugitation, gaggle, general aviation, getaway, gliding, going, grace, grace note, ground speed, hail, haste, hasty retreat, hegira, hive, hop, host, hurry, ignition, immigration, impact, in-migration, incidental, incidental note, instantaneousness, intermigration, isolation, issuance, issue, jailbreak, jam, jump, knots, lam, large amount, launch, leak, leakage, leaving, legion, liberation, lift-off, light out, lightning speed, long mordent, lots, many, masses of, migration, miles per hour, mob, mordent, mounting, muchness, multitude, murmuration, negativism, nest, numbers, oblique motion, ongoing, onrush, ornament, out-migration, outlet, overcompensation, pack, parting, passage, passing, pilotage, plague, plane, plunging, plurality, pralltriller, precipitation, prisonbreak, progress, projection, promptitude, promptness, psychotaxis, put to flight, quantities, quarrel, quick exit, quickness, quite a few, radial motion, random motion, rapidity, rationalization, reed, reflowing, refluence, reflux, regression, release, remigration, removal, rescue, resistance, retirement, retreat, retrogression, riddance, rising, rocket launching, roulade, round pace, rout, rpm, ruck, run, running away, rush, sailing, sailplaning, scape, scores, scramming, send away, send off, send packing, set, setting-free, shaft, shoal, shoot, shot, shove off, sideward motion, single mordent, sinking, skedaddle, skedaddling, skein, slip, snappiness, soaring, sociological adjustive reactions, solo, speed, speediness, split, spring, squadron, stampede, sternway, strategic air force, stream, sublimation, subsiding, substitution, swarm, swarming, swift rate, swiftness, tactical air force, take flight, test flight, throng, tidy sum, traject, trajectory, trajet, transmigration, trek, trend, trip, turn, upward motion, velocity, velocity peak, vent, volley, walkout, watch, wing, winging, wish-fulfillment fantasy, wishful thinking, withdraw, withdrawal, worlds of


Thursday, January 19, 2023
Mackay and Whitsunday Life
Whitsunday Coast Airport is thrilled to announce that new airline, Bonza, is about to make its maiden voyage to Whitsunday shores following its successful partnership with the Sunshine Coast based company.
Bonza announced this week that it has been granted its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and now that they have received the final tick of approval they are making preparations for tickets to go on sale.
Whitsunday Regional Council Chief Operating Officer for Aviation and Tourism, Craig Turner said he is excited to finally be able to announce the news.
“Bonza’s first flight will be from the Sunshine Coast to the Whitsundays,” he said.
“We will put on a big welcome for them, their CEO and owners, and it will be an unbelievable showcase of our region to the rest of the world.
“Tickets are going on sale soon and we would love to see a flight land sometime in January.”
Bonza, Australia’s only independent low-cost carrier, announced that its initial route map will include 17 destinations and 27 routes – 93 per cent of which are not currently served by any other airline and 96 per cent of which currently have no low-cost carrier.
Whitsunday residents will soon be able to travel direct to the Sunshine Coast, Newcastle and Toowoomba.
Sunshine Coast flights will be coming to the Whitsundays three times a week and there will be flights to Newcastle twice a week.
Once more aircraft become operational, direct flights to Toowoomba will be introduced twice weekly.
Tim Jordan, Chief Executive Officer of Bonza said this is an historic moment for Australian aviation.
“The excitement for what we are about to deliver is palpable and the timing couldn’t be better,” he said.
“Demand for domestic travel is high and Aussies deserve for travel to be a basic right for many, not a luxury for the few. This has never been truer with today’s cost of living challenges.”
• The inaugural Bonza flight will be landing in the Whitsundays
• The first flight is expected to arrive by the end of this month
• Bonza is Australia’s only independent low-cost carrier
• One-hour flights are expected to cost as little as $50
• Bonza will fly from the Whitsundays to Sunshine Coast, Newcastle and Toowoomba direct
Whitsundays announced as first Bonza destination


Operational Restructure of Base at Galiwin'ku
8th July, 2020
Gove Airport, NT – Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) would like to inform its customers and partners that as of 17th July, 2020, MAF aircraft and staff at Galiwin’ku (Elcho Island airport) will be relocated as the office will be temporarily closed.
MAF will continue to service the community of Galiwin’ku primarily through the RPT service during this time; Charter flights can be secured when booked in advance. Customers are encouraged to call the MAF bookings office at Gove on (08) 8987 2777.
We thank you for your patience and apologise for any inconvenience during this time.
All media inquiries to be sent to [email protected]


Air Travel in Sri LankaBack
If you are looking to travel around Sri Lanka with a touch of elegance and luxury, consider taking an internal air transfer, either via seaplane or helicopter. Air taxis are the easiest way to traverse the country – quick, comfortable and minimal fuss – and help you to avoid uncomfortable long drives, so you can spend more time exploring this beautiful island instead of being on the road. We work with a range of trusted suppliers, all of whom are entirely reputable and have been established for many years. They offer daily scheduled flights, special charters and scenic tours. Enjoy sweeping views of the stunning landscape below and hop across Sri Lanka in a matter of minutes. Baggage weight limits will apply and flights can only be confirmed upon full payment. Cancellation terms are stringent and each airline has its own terms and conditions that must be adhered to. For more information, contact one of our Travel Consultants.
Daya Aviation offers a range of domestic flights in Sri Lanka, including charter services for corporate travel or leisure activities. They have the most high-tech helicopters currently in operation in Sri Lanka (the Airbus EC130T2), so you can travel in the utmost comfort and style.
Simplifly is a well-established, comprehensive internal airline in Sri Lanka which has been active for many years, offering flights via helicopter, seaplane and plane depending on your requirements.
Air Senok (or Senok Aviation) offer clients state-of-the-art helicopters – Eurocopter aircrafts, manufactured in France, which are referred to as the ‘next generation’ of the helicopter industry. These helicopters are fully air-conditioned and have luxurious leather interiors.
Established in 2005, IWS Aviation offers a wide range of options for internal air travel in Sri Lanka, including chartered flights to various island locations as well as helicopter tours and domestic services.
Helitours is the commercial arm of the Sri Lanka Air Force and is one of the leading domestic flights providers in Sri Lanka, offering transfers between all of the airfields within the country since 1972. They also offer helicopter transfers and some scheduled flights.


Radi-N2 & You: Exploring neutron radiation on Earth and in space
Get your class involved in a current International Space Station research project!
Let’s Talk Science, in partnership with the Canadian Space Agency and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, is excited to offer the “Radi-N2 & You” Action Project.
Educators and students can monitor neutron radiation levels in their classroom and compare their results to CSA astronaut David Saint-Jacques on board the International Space Station!
Suggested lessons and curriculum alignment are included.
To participate in the project, visit ExploreCurioCity.org


HITB LAB: Responsible Aviation Research & Disclosure
Date: 17th Oct – ThursdayTime: 14:00-16:00Location: Ballroom C
This brief workshop aims to provide the attendees with the resources and knowledge necessary to engage in any type of Aviation cyber security research avoiding the most common pitfalls committed by most researchers when targeting aviation systems. Attendees will receive a crash course covering the most important topics to address Aviation research in a secure, responsible and safe way. The most important Aviation regulations and standards for cyber security research will be introduced and the key parts highlighted in order to help researchers any trouble as outcome of their investigation. Going more technical, the researches attending will be given then all types of resources to engage in data links and avionics cyber security research avoiding the most common mistakes made when addressing those technologies: the lack of proper context and a comprehensive view of the entire system-of-systems that is an aircraft. Finally, the proper means to report the vulnerabilities found and the special aviation circumstances to be taken into account will be explained to help the researchers to disclose the result of their work in a responsible way with the full support and credit of the aviation industry.
It is possible to perform all types of Aviation cyber security research and to report the results while getting proper credit and recognition from both, the Aviation industry and the cyber security community, it just has to be done properly and in this workshop attendees will learn how.


We work with aerospace companies from the initial design with our Early Stage Qualification (ESQ®) services to support them through the complex nature of qualification testing of aerospace components and deliver against airframe manufacturers’ imposed qualification milestones. Our ESQ expertise from testing thousands of different products every year and our industry leading capacity allows us to help companies mitigate the risk of failing to meet critical deadlines such as safety of flight, and of receiving punitive measures for late delivery.
TRaC is UKAS accredited to BS EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005, signatories to SC21 and has the largest capacity for aerospace EMC and environmental testing in the UK, testing over a thousand aerospace products each year across six testing centres. We are also able to deliver a unique range of wider testing and validation often required by aerospace manufacturers during qualification, such as:
- Indirect Lightning Testing
- High Intensity Radiated Field (HIRF) Testing
- Altitude Testing
- Engineering Simulation & Finite Element Analysis
- Explosive Atmosphere
This makes TRaC the natural choice of testing partner for aerospace companies when they are looking to develop and take their products to market.
Our expertise in testing and validation helps the entire supply chain demonstrate the durability and effectiveness of its products in the challenging aerospace environment in which they will be asked to operate, and ensures that products qualify against aerospace test standards, such as:
- RTCA DO-160
- DEF STAN 59-411
- DEF STAN 59-41
- DEF STAN 00-35
- MIL-STD 461
- MIL-STD 704 series
- MIL-STD 810
To learn more about how our testing and validation services for aerospace products can add value to your design and testing, email your specification and requirements to email@example.com, enter your details into the blue form or call us on the number in the top right corner of this page.
Image: Copyright Eurofighter - Bundesheer Markus Zinner


Working with DJI Creative Studio, and led by VFX Supervisor Julien Brami, the Zoic team helped create DJI’s latest launch video, “Run Free, Take Flight,” celebrating the release of the new “Mavic,” DJI’s first foldable, fully portable aerial camera system.
To achieve the best results with “Run Free, Take Flight,” Zoic provided project supervision from pre-production to shoot and on through delivery, creating a spot that sought to capture the glamour and adventure found in the product itself.
Starting with technical pre-vis, Zoic created an upfront plan to help block the on-set action. Once on location, Zoic was there to execute this preparation, guide the production where needed, and aid the DJI team in capturing the plates needed for the eventual, seamless transition from live-action drone to the CG, animated version.
With the CG drone build, the excitement of a product launch asserted itself. Leading up to the release, the Zoic modeling and lighting teams maintained pace with an ever changing product, improvements being made up to the final unveiling – always ensuring the drone was the very best it could be, and always staying within the tight launch schedule.
As the product launch necessitated, the Zoic team was built to match, responsive and collaborative with DJI’s evolving needs. They ensured a timely response and execution of the latest updates, until the very last moment.
For DJI’s new Mavic, the DJI team created the most advanced drone you could ever fit into your backpack or purse.
Zoic sought to create a spot to match.


The first step in a journey is often the hardest. So, it’s worth taking a moment to celebrate that NASA has just taken the essential first step on the path toward establishing a permanent presence in deep space.
Amid a backdrop of blue skies and white clouds, the Orion spacecraft plunged into the Pacific Ocean on Sunday a few hundred kilometers off the Baja Peninsula. That brought an end to the Artemis I mission, a 25.5-day spaceflight that showed NASA was about to start returning humans to deep space again.
This has not happened for half a century. At times, it seemed like it might never happen again. But now, that’s for sure is happening.
NASA’s progress toward the moon, and perhaps one day Mars, has been lethargic at times. The political process that has led NASA to this point in recent decades has been messy and driven by narrow ham projects. But on Sunday, it is undeniable that the process has brought NASA, the United States, and dozens of other countries participating in the Artemis program to the point where the program of human exploration of deep space is very real.
It’s been a long time.
The last Apollo mission ended this month, in 1972. For a while, US presidents and the space agency were content to focus human exploration in low Earth orbit, with US space shuttle development and plans to build a large space station.
But eventually, some people are starting to get worried. On the 20th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing, in 1989, President George Bush announced the Space Exploration Initiative, a far-reaching commitment to human exploration of deep space. The plan was to complete a space station, and then, by the end of the century, humans on the Moon would begin building a base there.
What happened next wasn’t particularly pretty. Some people at NASA, including Administrator Dick Trulli, weren’t entirely on board with Bush’s idea. They were concerned that the lunar plans might disrupt the space station. Infamously, NASA conducted and leaked a 90-day study that suggested Bush’s plan could cost half a trillion dollars or more. Since Congress had no appetite for such a budget, the moon plans died.
They would have hibernated for nearly a decade and a half before President George W. Bush brought them back. Like his father, Bosch conceived of a bold plan to return humans to the Moon, where they would learn how to operate in deep space and then fly to Mars. This became the Constellation Program.
This vision was well received in the space community, but then three bad things happened. New NASA Administrator Mike Griffin has chosen a particularly large and expensive structure — the Ares 1 and Ares 5 rockets — to return humans to the Moon. International partners have been largely ignored. And then neither the President nor Congress fought for the full funding the program would need to survive.
Constellation was years behind, and over budget, when President Obama rescinded it in 2010. At that point, Congress stepped in and bailed out the Orion spacecraft, which had launched in 2005, and put together a design for a new rocket, the Space Launch System. . The development of these programs has faltered for most of the past decade, consuming more than $30 billion, with no clear destination. That changed in late 2017 when Vice President Mike Pence announced that NASA would land humans on the moon.
This led to Artemis being drafted in 2018 and 2019. It was far from perfect, but more than functional. Moreover, it has built on past failures. Whereas the Constellation Program had a purely governmental structure, Artemis increasingly leaned into commercial spaces. Artemis also sought to build international cooperation from the outset, through a series of bilateral agreements known as the Artemis Accords. And as of this year, the program is fully funded.
“Fifty years ago we went as a country, as a government,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said Sunday after the Orion landing. “Today we go not only with international partners, but with business partners. It is the beginning of a new beginning.”
Myriad technical challenges remain for the Artemis program, including development and testing of the SpaceX spacecraft, and Axiom’s work on spacesuits capable of operating in the lunar environment. These two contracts, which were awarded in 2021 and 2022 respectively, will likely require time and patience to bear fruit.
None of this will happen quickly. Artemis II is unlikely to fly before 2025, and the actual moon landing mission won’t come until later in the decade, possibly in 2027 or 2028.
But taking the long view is useful here. The other two deep space programs failed after Apollo because they lacked political support, funding, or both. Artemis is different. It has political support and funding. Remarkably, nearly every aspect of space policy—the White House, Congress, international allies, traditional aerospace, commercial space, and the space defense community—has aligned with the broad goals of Artemis.
This kind of support hasn’t existed for a program like this since the 1960s, and for the Apollo program. This enthusiasm was crystallized in the crucible of the national tragedy that followed the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. There was nothing quite like that unifying event for Artemis. Instead, elements of this program have had to survive through four different, fiercely opposed administrations, from Bush to Obama to Trump to Biden.
“You see a nation riven by partisanship,” Nelson said. “It just doesn’t exist here. NASA is not partisan. Rs and D’s alike come together to support us.”
Surprisingly, then, the policy is in order. Now it comes to the technical implementation. Engineering is tough, but at least it’s based on reason, unlike space politics. Artemis I has proven to be technically successful. Do you think SpaceX can’t build a rocket to land on the moon? Or that NASA-designed Axiom can’t manufacture spacesuits to keep lunar dust out?
Sure, they can, and they will.
Lack of coordination?
NASA is also taking steps to address one of the last major issues with Artemis, the lack of coordination. Johnson Space Center in Houston is responsible for Orion and astronaut training. Marshall Space Flight Center in north Alabama builds the SLS rocket and manages development of the lunar lander. Kennedy Space Center launched missions.
As a result, many outside organizations and consultants have criticized NASA for not having a “program office” to coordinate the myriad elements that will go into the Artemis mission.
For example, NASA’s Office of Inspector General recently stated, “Unlike the first manned flights to the moon under the Apollo program, NASA does not have a NASA program general manager overseeing the Artemis missions or a prime contractor, as in the space shuttle program, As a leading system integrator. The concern is that without this official, the program will lack coherence and experience an internal struggle for influence.
However, such an office is already coming. Mike Sarafin, a NASA chief engineer who successfully served as mission director for Artemis 1, will become “mission development director” for Artemis 3. In an interview, Sarafin said the Artemis program office is still in the development stages, and that he doesn’t want to discuss details yet. However, it appears that its role will involve overall planning and coordination of the complex journey to the surface of the moon – bringing together the SLS rocket, Orion spacecraft and human landing system software under one roof.
Sarafin appears to be an excellent choice to lead the development of Artemis III. He’s guided the Artemis I mission through countless delays, overcoming challenges with liquid hydrogen fuel, and not one but two hurricanes in the weeks before the mission finally took off. However, through all of this, he and his team have brought home a spacecraft in great shape that met or exceeded all of its goals with its splashdown Sunday.
Another criticism of Artemis is that he simply repeats the Apollo program. If Artemis fails after a few missions, that criticism is well deserved. However, given a broad base of support for what’s happening today, NASA now has a credible path forward to not only exploring the lunar south pole, but learning to live and work in deep space, and eventually sending humans into the depths of the sun. System.
“There we did the impossible, we made it possible,” Nelson said of Apollo. “Now, we’re doing it again but for a different purpose. This time we’re going back to the moon to learn how to live, work and make.”
The greatest success imaginable for Artemis will be that he enjoys the permanence not enjoyed during the age of Apollo. In light of the success this weekend, such a future is in front of NASA. They and their partners just need to keep executing as brilliantly as they have for the past month.
#Heres #NASAs #Artemis #mission #rare #awesome


Professional Asteroid Search Projects
Dedicated Asteroid Projects:
- Spacewatch - Robert McMillan. Research Professor at Lunar & Planetary Laboratory. Original asteroid search project. Min instruments are 1.8-m and 0.9-m telescopes at Kitt Peak.
- Near-Earth Asteroid Tracking (NEAT)—Elinor Helin. At JPL. Operations at two sites: Palomar & Haleakla
- Lowell Near-Earth Object survey (LONEOS)
- Lincoln Laboratory’s Near-Earth Asteroid Search (LINEAR)
- Catalina Sky Survey—Steve Larson. Research professor at Lunar & Planetary Laboratory. One of half-dozen prominent asteroid search projects nationwide. Main instruments are 0.76-m Schmidt on Mt. Bigelow, and 1-m telescope in Siding springs, Austl.
- Bisei Spaceguard, Japan
- Pan-STARRS—NEO search project at University of Hawaii. Building four 1.8-m telescopes. First light for first telescope early 2006. forerunner to LSST.
- Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Archive—Zelko Ivezic, University of Washington. Astronomer working on asteroid discovery and classification using SDSS data. Has authored or co-authored main papers on SDSS asteroid science results.
- Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST)


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Apr 12, 2023
The US Air Force Is NOT Ready For War with China
China has threatened to invade Taiwan, and some say it could invade as soon as 2027. The US is Taiwan's largest ally, and President Joe Biden has said multiple times that the US would defend Taiwan militarily if China invades. However the US Air Force isn't ready for war with China. In this episode of America Uncovered, we look at the Air Force's shortage of planes and pilots, why the Air Force is struggling to get enough of both, and how it's is planning to fill the gap.
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Maj. Pat Houtman and his crew were flying over Afghanistan on a mission in November 2004 when they came under intense enemy fire. The C-130 transport plane was holding 10 passengers and a full cargo load. Houtman and his team immediately took evasive action to get the C-130 transport plane out of danger and to safety. Houtman was flying the plane low, which is necessary for many of the missions in Afghanistan Ė because of the rugged terrain, it can be difficult to locate soldiers on re-supply missions. The details of Houtmanís and his teamís actions remain largely classified for security purposes. On Sept. 10, 2006, Houtman was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the nationís oldest military aviation award.


Although it’s common knowledge that NASA has been aggressively studying Mars, recent news has revealed that the space agency is also interested in sending drones to assist in the study of Venus.
Transport Canada announced that it plans to change the rules around operating drones, both for commercial and recreational use.
So you want to turn your drone hobby into a business. Great! Here's what you need to know to get started.
Commercial operation is defined as “any payment, consideration, gratuity or benefit, directly or indirectly charged, demanded, received or collected by any person for the use of an aircraft.” In other words, using your drone to make money.
Drones may be a relatively recent phenomenon, but that hasn’t stopped Skyasky Inc., a drone flight school, from opening the country’s first drone museum in Osaka, Japan.
For the first time ever, footage has been taken of narwhals to show how their tusks help them feed — although it might not be exactly what you're picturing.
How drones are using sensory and photographic data to create efficiencies in mining
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), better known as drones, can be used in a wide variety of ways for both personal and commercial use.
It's true that nobody is allowed to fly their drone in a national or provincial park without a special exemption. But don't take it too personally — flying any aircraft in a national or provincial park is prohibited, and drones just happen to fall into that category.


Air Force Day Parade at Swartkop on 30 January 2009
The South African Air Force will be celebrating its 89th birthday on 30 January 2009. Although Air Force day is annually commemorated on 01 February, which is the actual day the Air Force was established in 1920, the main reason for this years’ deviation is the fact that 01 February is on a Sunday.
For this years’ celebrations, the Chief of the Air Force, Lieutenant General Carlo Gagiano decided to follow the same pattern as for 2008, i.e. to have both a formal parade, fly pasts and demonstrations included, as well as a family day fanfare for informal interaction for those who are not officially involved in the proceedings.
For this purpose, an area will be demarcated for those who are not officially involved in the proceedings, to enjoy the day in typical picnic fashion, providing for their own comfort, e.g. food, beverages, sun block/ shades, chairs etc. Members of the public are also welcome to join in on the informalities should they wish to spend the day at Swartkop Airfield in Thaba Tshwane.
In the unlikelihood of adverse weather conditions on the day, the event will be redirected to take place at 28 Squadron’s no 14 hangar. Should this happen, only the Ceremonial Squadron, officially invited guests and recipients of awards and trophies will participate.
Air Force Day Parade 2009 is scheduled to commence at 10h00 on 30 January 2009.
Entrance to the premises for members of the public will be via Trichardt Road (northern gate to Swartkop Airfield).
(Published with permission of the Administrator: www.saairforce.co.za)


AP-1 As the crew completes their first orbit of Earth after launch, they talk about the beauty of the planet below. The crew debates the color of the moon before, and after, they fire Columbia’s engines to enter lunar orbit. After entering lunar orbit, the crew is amazed at the lunar terrain as they fly 60 miles above the back side of the moon and await Earthrise and to resume communications with Mission Control. They prepare to depart for the lunar surface in the lunar module Eagle, he, in the command module Columbia, bids them farewell … and tells them to take it easy. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin liftoff from the Moon to rejoin Mike Collins in lunar orbit.


Aerostat Surveillance Systems
The Persistent Surveillance Systems -Tethered provide a persistent surveillance and situational awareness capability that enables the warfighter to find, fix, track, target, and engage direct or indirect fire threats. PSS-T systems also provide force protection support by extending communications networks beyond line of sight.
Send customized acoustic detection locations to queue camera systems to areas of responsibility, thereby focusing surveillance efforts on areas of concern.
Full Motion Video
Provide the battle commander Full Motion Video (FMV) capability in support of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations worldwide.
Designed and optimized for tracking targets against difficult radar clutter conditions. Accurately and reliably detect and track land, maritime and air targets of interest from platforms such as aerostats, towers, UAVs and mobile vehicles. Provide a 360° wide-area persistent situational awareness to land, air and maritime missions.
Raid towers are tailor able to provide the optimum platform height for a given mission or tactical situation. The tower and trailer variants are mobile, easily emplaced, and utilize Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) technology and Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) generators. The different configurations make raid towers extremely versatile in support of full spectrum operations.


The California-based aerospace manufacturing company SpaceX has got the permission to build the Mars spaceships and rockets at the port of the Los Angles. As per the latest reports, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has said at his 2018 State of the City speech that SpaceX is soon going to start manufacturing the big Mars spaceships that will carry humans to the Red Planet.
During a live broadcast, Garcetti said, “Today, I am pleased to officially announce that SpaceX will start production development of the Big Falcon Rocket in the Port of Los Angeles. This is a vehicle that holds the promise of taking humanity even deeper into the cosmos than ever before.” He further added that if the current year has taught them anything then that is to think big and to go after something unreachable. “We have the confidence to look up to the stars, and the guts to realize our dreams,” Garcetti said.
Last year SpaceX CEO showed his Big Falcon Rocket (BFR) to the world and made the space community aware of its capability. Musk said that his company would soon start building the BFR rockets in order to colonize Mars. Musk said that the BFR spaceship will be launched in two parts and will carry 100 people and 150 tons of cargo into space. The 16-story spaceship will be boosted by a 19-story booster. At the SXSW conference in Austin last month, Musk had informed that the construction of the first BFR rocket has already been started. “We are building the first ship, or interplanetary ship, right now, and we’ll probably be able to do short flights, short up and down flights, during the first half of next year.”
Musk got the confidence to start building the BFR spaceship after the successful launch of its Falcon Heavy rocket. Musk has also planned to use the BFR rockets for travel purposes on Earth. He said that the BFR rocket will travel across the globe with lightning speeds and will fly people from New York to Shanghai in half an hour. As per the deal will the Port of Los Angeles, SpaceX will get up to 200,000 more square feet to work. The company will get a vacant dormant building which will be further renovated and upgraded to start building the big Mars spaceships. As per the reports, SpaceX will not have to pay the rent for the facility for more than two decades.


New airline WOW Air takes flight to Europe’s cities in 2012. Photo credit: WOW Air.
Iceland’s latest airline WOW Air is preparing to launch in spring 2012.
The airline will start flying from London-Stansted to Iceland’s main airport at Keflavik three times a week from June 1, 2012.
One-way WOW Air fares are starting from £68 each way and include a baggage allowance of 20 kg per passenger.
The airline will also fly two 168-seat Airbus A320s from Iceland to 11 other European cities including Copenhagen, Warsaw, Krakow, Berlin, Stuttgart, Cologne, Zurich, Basle, Paris, Lyon and Alicante.
“We are a new and fresh business and will focus on passenger comfort,” says Gudmundur Arnar, chief marketing officer at WOW Air.
“We believe customers will feel it is a fun experience traveling with us, while also enjoying low fares to one of the world’s most fascinating destinations.”
This winter, the company reports that Iceland’s tourist industry is booming with a 12 per cent increase in UK tourists in 2011, compared to 2010. In January 2012, statistics showed a 53.7 per cent increase in UK visitor numbers, especially to the Iceland’s Northern Lights displays in years.
Currently, WOW Air has launched a recruitment campaign for cabin crew which has been met with a strong response by candidates in Europe.


Aviation Technologies, Inc. has been recognized by the US Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration and has been awarded the 2017 Award of Excellence "Diamond Award" for participating in the FAA Aviation Maintenance Technician Awards Program.
For your convenience, we provide scheduled and unscheduled maintenance 7 days a week.
Our individually selected, factory trained technicians have the technical knowledge and the field experience
to help with all aspects of your maintenance and inspection needs.
From minor maintenance—to comprehensive inspections—every job is completed to the highest quality standards.
Annual & 100 Hour Inspections
Tip Tank Installations
Routine & Preventative Maintenance
Airframe & Engine Mount Refurbishing / Replacement
Engine Monitor Installations, such as JPI & Insight
ALTIMETER & TRANSPONDER CERTIFICATION (FAR 91.411 and 91.413)
Experienced Aircraft Performance Strakes Installer


Knowledge Transfer Highlights 2019
CERN is home to some of the world’s most complex scientific instruments, used by physicists to probe the fundamental structure of the Universe. The technologies developed to operate these instruments – and, in general, to pursue CERN’s fundamental mission – have applications in areas beyond particle physics. CERN’s Knowledge Transfer (KT) group works proactively to maximize the dissemination of these technologies and the impact of CERN in society, by actively scouting for opportunities to accelerate innovation and work with leading industries in the medical field, aerospace, cultural heritage and industry 4.0. In the Knowledge Transfer Highlight you can learn more about some of the success stories of 2019.


CTech’s Airborne SATCOM Solution designed especially for UAVs, mainly consists of a ground and air segment and provides a robust satellite communication capability to the platform with a continuous, all weather and rangeless communication capability. Because of its broadband data transmission capacity, it enhances the mission success through a continuous real-time link for Command & Control, high definition video transmission and other high throughput data transmission demanded by relevant data sources on board.
CTech provides end to end SATCOM solution for UAVs. The solution consists of tracking antenna, RF components and modem on the air platform and paired equipment on the ground segment. CTech SATCOM solution uses GEO Satellites to maintain full-duplex communication link. The uplink maintains real-time control and data where as the downlink transfers payload to the ground segment. Embedded video encoder in the modem allows HD and SD video transmission simultaneously.


Just four days after Roy Hild was deployed overseas, he was part of an 11-man crew sent up in a B-29 bomber on a short search mission.
It was the start of 30 missions that the North Platte resident and Air Force pilot was part between April 15 and Aug. 6, 1945, the majority of which were bombing raids in Japan during World War II.
“They didn’t let us sit around a lot,” Hild said recently while sitting in his living room.
He has a copy of the mission list noted by a bombardier for a crew that Hild served with, the 458th Bombardment Squadron. The group was part of the brigade that flew B-29 Superfortress planes, which were used for high-altitude strategic bombing and low-altitude incendiary bombing during the war.
“We hit Tokyo several times and cities just west of there,” said Hild, 99, who celebrated his 75th wedding anniversary with his wife, Lily, in September.
Each mission would take off and land at the home base in Guam, last about 15 hours and use roughly 6,000 gallons of fuel.
The crew flew 13 missions in June 1945 alone — fire raids on 10 Japanese cities.
“Every time we went up, they shot at us,” Hild said, “but we were lucky. We had a few moments; they knocked out our hydraulic line one time.”
The mission list from a fire raid over Tokyo and Honshu on May 23-24 notes that it was an intense risk as the plane was momentarily caught in the Japanese searchlights at night and was fired on.
Another note from a raid on Osaka and Honshu says the B-29 was “nearly rammed by a Tony,” the Allies’ nickname for a Japanese fighter aircraft.
“I don’t remember ever being scared (for a mission),” Hild said. “It was almost like going to work. It was a military assignment and it was what you did.
“You didn’t really think much of it,” Hild said. “You took off on the mission and just hoped that hoped that you would make it back. We didn’t have much opposition from the Japanese most times. The guys flying those B-17s and B-24s in Germany and Africa had it a lot tougher than we did.”
One of the B-29s that Hild was a crew member on — the “Sentimental Journey” — is housed at the Pim Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona. He has taken a pair of trips to see the plane, and his former crew has had about a dozen reunions over the years.
Hild was drafted on June 12, 1942. His training took him from boot camp at Fort Warren in Cheyenne, Wyoming, to airplane mechanic school in Lincoln, and to propeller specialist school in Jefferson Barracks, Missouri.
Pilot training then took him from Phoenix, Arizona, to Lancaster, California; Marfa, Texas; and Jamestown, North Dakota.
Hild earned four aviation medals and Distinguished Service and Good Conduct medals during his service. He had an offer to be a pilot for United Airlines after the war, but declined.
“I thought I wouldn’t be flying a lot in the United States and instead they would have me going overseas or somewhere else,” Hild said.
Instead, he landed a job with Pearson Appliance in 1946. Nine years later he started his own business, Hild Service Co., and Lily was office manager. In 1962 he formed a partnership, Coen-Hild LP Gas Co. Roy became the sole proprietor in 1975 and that company became Hild Propane Co., Inc., in 1991.
He retired in December 2017 after 72 years in the workforce.
As he looked around at the mementos and artifacts of his military career, he said one thing stands out from his service:
“That I was able to wear the uniform,” Hild said.


Pro flight simulator
The Professional flight simulator program is designed to look and feel like the actual deal. It comes to a modeled digital world much much like the actual world with landmarks and numerous sorts of land types corresponding to mountains and fields all powered by an amazing tool called the Google Map program.
Though it is only a game, users would really feel the accuracy of the graphical interface within the game as well as how the elements would affect the player. Some patrons, found in proflight simulator review sites, have commented that players would be capable of really feel the stress in using an airplane on a sizzling sunny day as well as to fly on windy and wet skies.
Because the program relies on an actual time world, users would not only be capable of choose the climate of their choice but in addition the scenery. This may be great particularly to those who want more out of their simulations.
In keeping with a pro flight simulator assessment, users are allowed to select the kind of plain that they’d be using. The models of the aircrafts are actually primarily based on real plains and models. There are over 100 varieties of planes available for users and there are more added each time.
The additional planes could be shared through community updates given by the programmers of the software. The digital planes would then be capable of fly over 20,000 types of airports and over 100 varieties of traffic brought about by different commercial planes.
Nonetheless, much because the success of this program, there would also be a draw back to it. The use of this program is nothing much like utilizing an actual life airplane. Customers would only be capable of really feel how to experience a plane however they’d not be capable of learn the basics of flying one.
Benefits and drawbacks of Pro flight simulator
Aside from the flying half, users would also be not be capable of really feel how to begin and take off an airplane since each varieties of plane has a unique kind of management manifold. Because of this each flight could be really different. Some proflight simulator reviews declare that the software program software would only confuse the person for the reason that users would suppose that the control for a concord is very similar to Migs.
All in all, the Pro flight simulator program is only efficient relating to entertainment purposes and not for actual flight training. The program would be capable of train the users on how to fly a plane
below sure situations as well as on how each flight on totally different terrains would really feel like but it could not educate the users on how to really experience a plane.
For those web sites that would nonetheless declare that this program could be very efficient, they could just be a pro flight simulator rip-off sites.


Is a glass cockpit
in your future?
in the Garmin G1000
is now available at:
Anniversary of the Douglas DC-3
Tuesday July 27, 2010 - "It was a long shot but we did it anyway." - Dan Gryder
Twenty-six DC-3s were stacked tightly together for photo-journalist purposes on the historic Monday morning flight. More than 240
media representatives were present at Rock Falls with film, photo, video, audio, and documenatry crews.
We started 52 engines at
12:22 pm on Monday. What a sight! The flight crews had been prebriefed with a formation PDF. They received their formal formation flight briefing
from 8:30 to 10:30 am. Twenty-six DC-3s taxied out for takeoff at 12:30. Of the 26, one returned to the ramp for a maintenance problem. Another
DC-3 aborted his takeoff, and one DC-3 made it
in the air but had to return to Rock Falls with an oil temperature problem. This left 23 airplanes flying towards Airventure with all systems GO!
The flight maneuvered on to a 40 mile
final for a Show Pass down runway 09 at Airventure. With the Herpa DC-3 as lead and coming over top, the order was given: "This is it boys, tighten her up, lights on,
After passing directly over Airventure, the flight broke for landing on 5 second breaks and formed a single ship line of 23 DC-3s perfectly spaced with gear down,
100 knots, and landing checks complete. The continuous perfect conga line was cleared to land on Runway 18 and all aircraft were down and clear in a record 16 minutes and
34 seconds. Congratulations and credit to the expert airmanship of these fabulous Douglas pilots and owners!
My old friend. This song's for
you. 'Cause a few simple verses - was the least that I could
do. To tell the world, that you were here. Because the love
and the laughter will live on long after. All of the sadness
and the tears. We'll meet again. My old friend.
The Last Time
is an organization created for
the sole purpose of reuniting flying
examples of the Douglas DC-3 and the
people associated with them, for one
last time. The goal of the organization
is to celebrate this aircraft and these
Twenty-six DC-3/C-47 aircraft converged
at Rock Falls, Illinois for a weekend
long celebration. And over 15,000 guests
visited the airport to see these
historic airplanes and meet their crews.
It was a wonderful reunion where old
friends met and new friendships
developed. It is unlikely that such a
gathering will ever occur again.
you, friends, for getting together for
The Last Time.


International Workshop Looks Into Thunderstorms and Lightning Discharges
Dr. Tai-Yin Huang, Assistant Professor of Physics at Penn State Lehigh Valley, is co-coordinator with Dr. Norma Crosby from the Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy, of an international workshop entitled, "Workshop on Coupling of Thunderstorms and Lightning Discharges to Near-Earth Space," to be held from June 23-27, 2008, at the University of Corsica, Corte, France.
The workshop goals are twofold: 1) to better understand and identify the effects of thunderstorm processes on the atmospheric composition and dynamics; and 2) to investigate the effects of the various physical processes that couple thunderstorms to the Earth’s upper atmosphere and ionosphere. The workshop will consist of invited tutorials, contributed talks, and an interactive poster session.
The workshop is partly sponsored by Penn State Lehigh Valley, the Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy, the University of Corsica, the National Science Foundation, the European Space Agency, the Human Spaceflight and Exploration Directorate, the Topical Team on the Atmosphere-Space Interaction Monitor (ASIM) and the French National Space Agency (CNES) in the context of the TARANIS (Tool for the Analysis of RAdiations from lightNIngs and Sprites) mission. For more information about the workshop, visit http://www.oma.be/TLE2008Workshop/ or contact Dr. Tai-Yin Huang at firstname.lastname@example.org or call 610-285-5100.


Please note! The jet packs are out of order. It will remain to be seen if new stock will arrive. We recommend looking for old jet packs for purchase in order to obtain one.
Orders are currently being accepted for the jet pack system. Before we can sell jet packs, we must meet any F.A.A. requirements. This process could take one to two years to complete. During this time we will be improving on the safety features, and operating systems. One issue that must be taken into account is the weight of the pilot. The jet pack with a seven gallon tank of fuel can lift a maximum of of 208 lbs. The final production model will increase this weight to about 224 lbs. The other factor is weather and altitude of the place of operation. For example, if you are in Boulder Colorado, the lift will be reduced due to the air being thinner there than say, Rhode Island.
If you are interested in purchasing a Jet pack, you must meet the following criteria.
1. Be a legal citizen of the United States of America, and pass a back ground check. Foreign orders must be authorized by the U.S. government, and the government of the purchaser.
2. You will be required to attend a one week training course on the operation of the jet pack. The course will include lecture, and actual flight instruction.
3. Jet packs will be sold as first come first serve. A $100,000 deposit will be required to reserve your position on the order list. At present, the total price for the jet pack will be $200,000. If the orders grow too rapidly, the price will increase to keep the orders down to a reasonable level. However, if you reserve a jet pack at a set price, you will retain that price.


As an example, an optical instrument inside a spacecraft must meet a number of requirements:
- Be robust enough to withstand the static and dynamic loading due to launch and ground handling
- Function after exposure to extreme temperatures
- Meet optical requirements in the presence of any dynamic, static, or thermal operating loads by minimizing distortions and relative displacements
- Be designed such that its requirements for prelaunch adjustment, calibration, and testing can be met in the context of the larger system
- Be lightweight enough to meet mass requirements
To achieve these objectives, an instrument’s design progresses through various phases that involve both analysis and test. ATA is experienced in working as a tightly integrated multidisciplinary engineering team to provide analysis and test services for ground, air, and space-based opto-mechanical systems throughout the entire design cycle to validate that the instrument design can meet its intended functionality under the operational and survival environments. This support includes initial definition of dynamic and thermal environments, analysis-driven design to optimize both structural and optical performance, and testing to correlate analytic models and qualify subsystems for their operational/qualification environments.


The synopsis for this grant opportunity is detailed below, following
this paragraph. This synopsis contains all of the updates to this
document that have been posted as of
updates have been made to the opportunity synopsis, update information
is provided below the synopsis.
If you would like to receive notifications of changes to the grant
me change notification emails
The only thing you need to provide for this service is your email
address. No other information is requested.
Any inconsistency between the original printed document and the disk
or electronic document shall be resolved by giving precedence to the
Funding Opportunity Number:
Feb 09, 2012
Feb 09, 2012
Original Closing Date for Applications:
Mar 23, 2012
Current Closing Date for Applications:
Mar 23, 2012
Apr 22, 2012
Funding Instrument Type:
Category of Funding Activity:
Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Expected Number of Awards:
Estimated Total Program Funding:
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement:
Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Additional Information on Eligibility:
Proposals will be accepted from higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, or consortia of organizations and institutions serving higher education. Institutions may only submit two (2) proposals total to the categories in this solicitation. Each funded proposal is expected to address innovative, meaningful, and enduring research and technology development activities that utilize the unique microgravity environment of the ISS in a STEM-related context.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Office of Education, in cooperation with the Human Exploration Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD) and the Johnson Space Center (JSC) Office of Education, invite proposals in one of seven (7) areas within the ISS NLEP portfolio. Three (3) “General” categories open for proposals to include: 1) new ground-based educational activities/experiments not requiring ISS upmass, 2) new flight-based or on-orbit experiments that require ISS upmass capability; and 3) new educational experiments utilizing a facility that simulates the ISS microgravity environment. The four (4) “Specific” areas open for proposals are: 1) flight experiments that can be conducted in “1 unit” (1U) NanoRacks payload modules onboard the ISS; 2) mission planning proposals to recommend an appropriate mission planning support for the Amateur Radio on ISS (ARISS) school contacts program using appropriate software and hardware; 3) proposals to provide engineering/project management support for the High Schools United with NASA for the Creation of Hardware (HUNCH) project; and 4) proposals will be solicited to develop new applications for the ISSLive! Internet educational experience using existing real-time ISS telemetry. Organizations eligible to respond to this CAN are higher education institutions, non-profit organizations, or consortia of organizations and institutions serving higher education. Each funded proposal is expected to address innovative, meaningful, and enduring STEM-related educational activities that utilize the unique microgravity environment of the ISS. Proposals must be submitted electronically. Proposers can use either NSPIRES (see URL above) or Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov ) for proposal submission.


by Alex Polimeni
Missile warning, GPS navigation, secured communications, and intelligence gathering; all of these share one commonality— they are essential to America’s national security.
The United States Space Force was formed late last year following increased hostility from other nations in space including China and Russia.
Space has become an increasingly contested environment. The United States relies on a plethora of defense satellites, spanning through multiple orbits. Orbits thought to be safe and out of reach. However, anti-satellite weapons have rapidly advanced, and pose an extreme danger to American assets.
According to an NPR report, countries including China, Russia, and India all have demonstrated anti-satellite capabilities through test launches.
Yet, as most Americans are not aware of these critical space-based assets, they could not even picture life without these unique capabilities. These satellites orbit overhead, in the shadow of the public eye. The satellites of the United States Space Force support every warfighting domain; including land, sea, air and space.
Daily life is intertwined around satellites owned by the Space Force. All GPS navigation satellites are controlled by the United States Space Force. If GPS satellites were to go offline, the financial system would crash, public navigation would be hindered, the power grid would be affected, military aircraft would have no sense of navigation, and more, according to an article from The Atlantic. Furthermore, GPS guided bombs and missiles would be rendered useless, according to a 60 Minutes interview with Bridger General Bill Cooley, the Commander at the Air Force Research Laboratory located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.
In addition to the well-known GPS satellites, America relies on several other constellations, or groups of satellites, to monitor the globe for missile launches, provide secured communications, and more.
“Our Military Services have created the world’s best space capabilities,” said Mark Esper, secretary of defense, at a signing in the Pentagon. “Now is the time for the U.S. Space Force to lead our Nation in preparing for emerging threats in an evolving space environment.”
He added that this new service will help guarantee we are in a position to defend our national interests and outpace potential adversaries.
Before the United States Space Force, a command within the U.S. Air Force was responsible for the defense of military assets in space. Referred to as “the Air Force Space Command,” in the earliest days, there was no need to defend these satellites, they were safe, and out of reach in orbit.
As America continued to keep the pace, Russia and China increased aggression in space. The Russians have closely maneuvered military satellites near U.S. commercial satellites. Anti-satellite weapons are within range of nearly all Earth orbits. Space is now a warfighting domain.
“Let me be very clear, we do not want a conflict that extends into space, but one way to keep that from happening is to make sure that we’re prepared for it and [can] fight and win that conflict if it were to occur,” said John Raymond, general of the U.S. Space Force, to the House Armed Services Committee.
A drastic reorganization is underway in the United States space Force, as resources and airmen are moved from AFSPC.
Air Force bases that have had a large space mission will be transferred to the USSF, and be renamed accordingly. The Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is planned to be renamed to the “Cape Canaveral Space Force Station” sometime at the end of the month. The Vandenberg Air Force Base, America’s west-coast launch site, will also be renamed, according to an article by Spaceflight Now.
The USSF will still be under the supervision of the Department of the Air Force, but will be funded separately, and will have a Joint-Chief of Staff directly advising the President, significantly elevating the space mission.
Space is the next frontier – but also the next battlefield. With America’s reliance on space-based assets, it is paramount that we are ready and willing to counter aggression on orbit. Life would not be the same without these satellites. Without space, it would be akin to going back to pre-industrial warfare. These missions absolutely save lives, so we must be ready to protect our spacecraft at all costs. America’s military-might depends on space.


LOT Flight Academy with brand new Tecnam Aircraft
Tecnam has become an aircraft partner by delivering two of three Tecnam Aircrafts for LOT Polish Airlines flight training school – LOT Flight Academy.
Initial deliveries were for one Tecnam P2008JC’s and one Tecnam P2006T Twin. Next Tecnam P2008JC will be delivered to LOT Flight Academy within next few days.
LOT’s selection of Tecnam followed a most rigorous selection and intensive evaluation process involving all leading General Aviation manufacturers.
Tomasz Skomorowski, LOT Flight Academy Head of Training said, “We were delighted with the way Tecnam responded to our challenging tender requirements. Of course the Tecnam aircraft speak for themselves, be it in terms of reliability and low operating costs. However, we found Tecnam’s in-service reputation, support and professionalism in particular, reinforced our decision to choose them as our partner in our new LOT Flight Academy venture”.


I checked; there were no Sky Girls. :(
Having visited the Singapore Airshow ’08 on the 24th February, which was a Sunday, and promising to blog about it after my exams (Yeah I finished my last paper on Wednesday, hurrah!), I thought I’d try to do it without delay when it’s still pretty fresh in my memory. ^^;
Practically thousands queuing at Pasir Ris MRT for their shuttle bus.
Queuing up for the bus was nearly 2 hours.
Plenty of delays to go around, but not as bad as Saturday’s.
That guy holding up the blue sheet is a real gentleman,
shielding his family from the sun while getting baked himself.
Fly-by. The actual term for this manoeuvre escapes me.
The first flight performance was by Singapore’s very own Black Knights; it’s their first comeback after 8 years and also featuring a full squadron of F-16 Fighting Falcons. They don’t really look black to me though…
Mirror flying… Top Gun style?
Classic cupid manoeuvre but nonetheless awesome. Hmm where have I seen that before… Sky Gir-
Flight of the giant.
Before the A380 came on its solo flight, there were smatters of other aerobatic displays as well. There were the F/A-18 and F-16 from the USAF, the M-346 from Alenia Aermacchi and T-50 from the Korea Aerospace Industries. However I couldn’t get to snap them down cause they totally can’t be seen on my digital camera, a lousy Nixon Coolpix S3.
Some photographic footage of the graceful giant. A380s give me the feeling that humans made flying whales.
The RAAF Roulettes in a tight formation.
IMO, these quiet little planes had by far the best performance
for the flight displays. Even better than the Black Knights.
The RAAF Roulettes piloted the Pilatus PC-9 models, which were single-engine, low-wing tandem-seat turboprop training aircrafts. The other fliers, the F/A 18 and F-16 did pretty good as well. The more impressionable scenes were their low speed hover passes. You could almost feel the gasps from the onlookers. But IMO the F-22’s was more impressive ^^;
After the various performances, the focus turned to the static display. The military vehicles were the most prominent, at the front of the exhibition, with the Primus tank sticking out of the bunch with its Howitzer gun.
Your drill is the drill that will pierce the heavens!
AH-64 Apache Longbow from McDonnell Douglas.
The F-35 Lightning II, developed under the Joint Strike Fighter programme by the US and UK.
Initially I had not expected the F-35 to be included in the static displays. Personally I was expecting more of the F-15s and F-16s, and perhaps the F/A-18, so this came as a pleasant surprise when I investigated the sleek twin tail stabilisers that protruded from the crowd. The F-35, produced by Lockheed Martin, Nothrop Grumman, and BAE Systems under the JSF Programme, is a single-seat, single-engine, stealth-capable military strike fighter, a multi-role aircraft that can perform close air support, tactical bombing, and air-to-air combat. With Singapore in as a partner in the JSF Programme, we may be seeing the F-35 in our airforce… Perhaps after 2015.
Also in the photo is the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile(JASSM ), a high-precision stealth missile for use at stand-off ranges. The AGM-158A was developed by Lockheed Martin, which won them the JASSM contract in 1996.
The FireScout UAV by Northrop Grumman.
The Global Hawk UAV, also by Northrop Grumman.
USAF B1-B Lancer.
The American Lancer is a supersonic strategic bomber, and also the last of variable sweep-wing aircrafts to remain in the US military inventory after the F-14 Tomcats were retired from service in 2006.
The F-16 Fighting Falcon. RSAF’s if I’m not wrong.
USAF F-15 Strike Eagle.
USAF F/A- 18 Hornet.
The C-135, not sure if it’s the Stratotanker or the Stratolifter variant.
The C-130 Hercules.
From the left, the FireScout, the F-35, and the engines of the F-35.
Left two are photos of the Lancer( and the useful information board), and the C-135.
The following photos will be those of the tanks and combat vehicles from Singapore’s Ministry of Defence(MINDEF). I wanted to take close-ups of the A380, and several of the Gulfstream jets, but my camera’s batteries didn’t last. The C-130 Hercules was the last one =(
It seems that I’ve missed the Chinooks out on that day; I didn’t manage to spot it. What a waste.
Pegasus on the top; Light Strike Vehicle(LSV) below.
The Primus tank used in SAF. I was hoping to be able to see the Paladin Howitzer though.
Singapore’s very own Mortar Tracked Carrier.
Top-left, the newly received German-built Leopard 2A4 MBT. Top-right, the Bionix II,
and the Track Maintenance Task Vehicle at the bottom.
Hero of the day cleaning up the shit people left.
Despite a heavy schedule, I still feel that the Singapore Airshow was really worth all the trouble. However due to overwhelming response from the public, there was really really bad congestion and a lot of waiting. The queue for shuttle bus at Pasir Ris went twice around the MRT Station. It got much worse closer to noon. A 2 hour wait for a shuttle bus and approximately another 30 minutes on the bus itself, not to mention another delay in attempting to get through the congested road to the exhibition centre because an aircraft was on tow(?!). And it was worse on Saturday.
Fortunately I arrived minutes before the flight programme started, so I managed to catch the flight performance. Not to mention some home-made sushi to go along as well ^^;
Hours spent on editing the photos, resizing them to the current 800 x 600 resolutions, and uploading them one by one up onto WP so it took me much longer than I had expected. Especially when I’m researching the names of some aircrafts I’m not all too familiar with meanwhile. End up actual hours spent on the photos and post > hours spent in the airshow LOL
Processing of the photos are just some simple auto-leveling with Adobe CS2, and a few were leveled manually. Not very good at photography(especially while getting baked) with a hot(yeah the sun) camera, but I do hope you’d enjoy taking a look at these photos.
p.s. Sunburnt =/
p.p.s. ToHeart2 AnotherDays and Choukou Sennin Haruka official launch today! :3


Feel Like Flying? Stony Hill has partnered with Drone Tours St. Lucia to provide the most exciting techno tour on the island. Experience the thrills of flying our Drones and our heart throbbing 3D Interactive First Person Views. Ever wonder what it feels like to get a bird’s eye view of a magnificent garden estate? Come see our DroneTours and walk away with photos and videos that you have recorded while flying as well as a professional photos of you piloting our Drones against some of the breathtaking backdrops right here at Stony Hill.


The Supreme Court is questioning whether a Wisconsin airline can be held liable for reporting one of its pilots as mentally unstable and potentially armed. Federal authorities pulled the pilot off a flight on which he was a passenger, but found no cause for concern.
The justices on Monday heard Air Wisconsin’s appeal of a $1.4 million defamation judgment in the case of veteran pilot William Hoeper. The dispute centers on the immunity Congress promised airlines in a post-9/11 law aimed at encouraging them to report possible security threats.
Three courts in Colorado found that the law did not shield Air Wisconsin from Hoeper’s lawsuit after a jury determined that statements made by an airline official in a report to the Transportation Security Administration were defamatory.


A technology demonstration aircraft, the British Aerospace EAP, first flew on 6 August 1986; the first prototype of the finalised Eurofighter made its first flight on 27 March 1994. On 25 May 2011 the 100th production aircraft, ZK315, rolled off the production line at Warton. , From January 2011 the Qatar Air Force evaluated the Typhoon, alongside the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, the McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle, the Dassault Rafale, and the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, to replace its then inventory of Dassault Mirage 2000-5s. "Euro-fighter goes supersonic on maiden flight: First test flight of EAP aircraft in Lancashire.  The procurement totals were as follows: the UK 232, Germany 180, Italy 121, and Spain 87.  The Eurofighter bears a strong resemblance to the EAP.  Another measure to reduce the likelihood of discovery is the use of passive sensors (PIRATE IRST), which minimises the radiation of treacherous electronic emissions. , The 160th, and last, Typhoon (ZK437) was delivered to the RAF on 27 September 2019. In 1984, France reiterated its requirement for a carrier-capable version and demanded a leading role. , In 2000, the UK selected the Meteor from MBDA as the long range air-to-air missile armament for its Typhoons with an in-service date (ISD) of December 2011.  The Spanish MoD put the cost of their Typhoon project up to December 2010 at €11.718 billion, up from an original €9.255 billion and implying a system cost for their 73 aircraft of €160 million. ", "BAE Systems Unveils Digital Striker II Helmet-Mounted Display System with Superior Tracking, Night Vision Capabilities", "Trials of advanced fighter pilot helmet prove successful", "Farnborough 2016: Colour comes to Striker II HMD—IHS Jane's 360", "BAE to study common weapon launcher for Typhoon", "Eurofighter: new aerodynamics set for 2014 test flight", AEROSPACE June 2014, section "In The Typhoon's path" by Joe Coles, Flight-test of Eurofighter aerodynamic upgrades completed (July 2015), "FARNBOROUGH: Typhoon brews up radar storm", "Finmeccanica Demonstrates Air-to-Ground Mode 5 Reverse-IFF Capability with Italian Typhoons", "ILA: Eurofighter to upgrade Typhoon engine to lift sales", "EuroDASS unveils plan for new Typhoon DASS/EW suite", "Airbus proposes ECR/SEAD Eurofighter, emphasises German requirement | Jane's 360", https://www.dw.com/en/germany-approves-billion-euro-purchase-of-38-eurofighter-jets/a-55513389, "Spain joins France and Germany in race to build Europe's next combat jet", "UK looks to extend Eurofighter Typhoon's fatigue life. This saw the Typhoon name formally adopted, initially for export aircraft only. The UK produced two designs; the P.106[N 1] was a single-engined "lightweight" fighter, superficially resembling the JAS 39 Gripen, the P.110 was a twin-engined fighter. The production aircraft are now operational with the partner nation's air forces.  According to these order levels the workshare split should have been 39/24/22/15 UK/Germany/Italy/Spain, however Germany was unwilling to give up such a large amount of work.  In March 2005, United States Air Force Chief of Staff General John P. Jumper, then the only person to have flown both the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Raptor, said: The Eurofighter is both agile and sophisticated, but is still difficult to compare to the F/A-22 Raptor. The fly-by-wire system is described as "carefree", and prevents the pilot from exceeding the permitted manoeuvre envelope.  The protracted contract negotiations pushed the ISD to August 2012, and it was further put back by Eurofighter's failure to make trials aircraft available to the Meteor partners. Spanish Air Force twin seater Eurofighter Typhoon from ALA-11 ba. , Eurojet is attempting to find funding to test thrust vectoring control (TVC) nozzles on a flight demonstrator. In MTT mode the system will scan a designated volume space looking for potential targets. , The Typhoon also carries a specially developed variant of the Mauser BK-27 27 mm cannon that was developed originally for the Panavia Tornado.  With the introduction of the block 5 standard, the R2 retrofit programme began to bring all Tranche 1 aircraft to that standard. The UK cut its orders from 250 to 232, Germany from 250 to 140, Italy from 165 to 121 and Spain from 100 to 87. The Eurofighter Typhoon is a highly agile aircraft, designed to be a supremely effective dogfighter in combat. The UK, Italy and Spain supported the Ferranti Defence Systems-led ECR-90, while Germany preferred the APG-65-based MSD2000 (a collaboration between Hughes, AEG and GEC-Marconi). ", "Eurofighter fleet passes 500,000 flying hours", "FARNBOROUGH: BAE wins 10-year Typhoon support deal", "UK to drive down Typhoon operating costs to match F-16", "Eurofighter Unveils Major Upgrade Package", "Budget pressures halt Eurofighter Tranche 3B talks, says Cassidian boss", "Middle East Customers Funding Eurofighter Upgrades", "Russian / PLA Low Band Surveillance Radar Systems (Counter Low Observable Technology Radars)", "Eurojet pushes thrust-vectoring technology for Typhoon.  The workshare split was therefore UK 37.42%, Germany 29.03%, Italy 19.52% and Spain 14.03%. More than 550 Typhoon jets have been sold to the UK, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, Oman and Saudi Arabia as of 2019. The Eurofighter Typhoon is unique in modern combat aircraft in that there are four separate assembly lines. Aircraft deliveries will begin in 2020.  On 1 September 2002, No.  In Turin on 2 August 1985, West Germany, the UK and Italy agreed to go ahead with the Eurofighter; and confirmed France, along with Spain, had chosen not to proceed as a member of the project. The AIS physically comprises two essentially separate units: the Attack Computer (AC) and the Navigation Computer (NC). 12 (B) Squadron would stand as a joint RAF/Qatari Air Force squadron, with the Qatari crew temporarily operating Typhoons to prepare them for their own Typhoon deliveries in 2022.  In December 2006, it was reported in The Guardian that Saudi Arabia had threatened to buy Rafales because of a UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigation into the Al Yamamah defence deals which commenced in the 1980s. 3 (F) Squadron Typhoon F2s took over QRA responsibilities from the Panavia Tornado F3 on 29 June 2007, initially alternating with the Tornado F3 every month.  The ECA project collapsed in 1981 for several reasons, including differing requirements, Dassault's insistence on "design leadership" and the British preference for a new version of the RB199 to power the aircraft versus the French preference for the new Snecma M88. The consortium is keen to make use of the engine's growth potential to boost thrust by around 15% as well as improve fuel efficiency and range. Using the "war" setting, dry thrust increases by 15% to 69 kN per engine and afterburners by 5% to 95 kN per engine and for a few seconds, up to 102 kN thrust without damaging the engine. , The UK's first Typhoon Development Aircraft (DA-2) ZH588 made its maiden flight on 6 April 1994 from Warton. ", "Eurofighter Typhoon—Luftüberlegenheitsrolle", "There's No Way The F-35 Will Ever Match The Eurofighter In Aerial Combat", "EJ200 Engine Powers Eurofighter Typhoon in Four Major European Air Forces", "Eurojet pushes thrust-vectoring technology for Typhoon", "CSAF: Raptor, Eurofighter complementary. 1 (F) Squadron stood up at RAF Leuchars, joining No. Eurofighter GmbH and NETMA today signed the Quadriga contracts that will support the continued modernization of the German Air Force’s Eurofighter Typhoon fleet. ", "Marte-ER Integration On Typhoons Eyed For India.  R2P was applied to eight German Typhoons deployed on Red Flag Alaska in 2012. The Air Staff Target (AST) 403 specification in 1972 led to the P.96 conventional "tailed" design presented in the late 1970s. The Eurofighter Typhoon is a single-seat fighter plane under the Modern Military section. , The first Spanish production Eurofighter Tifón to fly was CE.16-01 (ST001) on 17 February 2003, flying from Getafe Air Base. The share of the production work was divided among the countries in proportion to their projected procurement – BAe (33%), DASA (33%), Aeritalia (21%), and Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA (CASA) (13%). L'Eurofighter Typhoon, il cui prototipo era designato EFA (European Fighter Aircraft), è un aeroplano militare multiruolo (Swing Role) di quarta generazione avanzata, bimotore, con ruolo primario di caccia intercettore e da superiorità aerea. , In November 2019 Airbus proposed a SEAD capability for the aircraft, a role which is currently performed by the Tornado ECR in German service.  Later production aircraft have been increasingly better equipped to undertake air-to-surface strike missions and to be compatible with an increasing number of different armaments and equipment, including Storm Shadow and Brimstone missiles. "3 European Countries Plan Jet Fighter Project. This page was last edited on 18 December 2020, at 15:48.  On 22 December 1997 the defence ministers of the four partner nations signed the contract for production of the Eurofighter.  West Germany continued to refine the TKF-90 concept.  This move also reflected the switch from two-seat trainer to single-seat pilot training and greater use of training simulators. The ACA was to be powered by a modified version of the RB199. MBB and Aeritalia signed up with the aim of producing two aircraft, one at Warton and one by MBB.  In 2015, BAE was awarded a £1.7 million contract to study the feasibility of a common weapon launcher that could be capable of carrying multiple weapons and weapon types on a single pylon.  The conversion to AESA will also give the Eurofighter a low probability of intercept radar with improved jam resistance. ", http://eurofighter.airpower.at/technik-daten.htm, "Bundesheer—Waffen und Gert—Eurofighter EF 2000", "Israeli Smart Bomb Closes In on Service Debut", "UK MoD funds further development of Spear 3 missile", "Kongsberg's JSM missile to be added to Eurofighter Typhoon weapons package", https://www.baesystems.com/en-be/download-en-be/20180730081352/1434615927425.pdf, "The Secret Behind A Good Fighter Weapons System", Typhoon FGR4 on the Royal Air Force website, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eurofighter_Typhoon&oldid=994982672, Articles lacking reliable references from June 2016, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2019, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from April 2012, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2020, Articles to be expanded from January 2020, Articles lacking reliable references from July 2020, Aircraft specs templates using more performance parameter, Aircraft specs templates using afterburner without dry parameter, Articles with German-language sources (de), Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Pro Eurofighter der Tranche 1 also 47,3 Mio. While canards generally have poor stealth characteristics from side because of corner to hull, the flight control system is designed to maintain the elevon trim and canards at an angle at which they have the smallest RCS. ", Martin-Baker responds to Eurofighter seat reports, "Eurofighter jet crashes at Spanish base, killing pilot", "Lear Jet crashes after colliding mid-air with Typhoon combat plane over Germany", "Typhoon accident during arrival to CIAF", "Eurofighter pilot killed during air show crash in Italy", "Se estrella un avión Eurofighter en la base aérea de Albacete tras participar en el desfile del 12 de octubre", "Eurofighter Typhoon DA4 arrives at Duxford. Boeing's Troubled 737 MAX: Poised for a Comeback? An addition to this mode, STT Ident allows for visual identification of the target, the resolution being superior to CAPTOR's. ", "India and the Rafale, Anatomy of a Bad Deal. , On 22 October 2008, the first RSAF Typhoon made its maiden flight at Warton. , On 3 December 2015, six Typhoon FGR4s deployed to RAF Akrotiri to support operations against ISIL.  However, the simultaneous West German requirement for a new fighter had led by 1979 to the development of the TKF-90 concept. Chuter, Andy. The aircraft was known as Eurofighter EFA from the late 1980s until it was renamed EF 2000 in 1992. The FCS system is able to detect a developing low-speed situation and to raise an audible and visual low-speed cockpit warning. The P.96 design had little potential for growth, and when it entered production, it would se… , The first flight of a Eurofighter equipped with a "mass model" of the Captor-E occurred in late February 2014, with flight tests of the actual radar beginning in July of that year. , With the confirmed retirement date of March 2019 for RAF Tornado GR4s, in 2014 the UK commenced an upgrade programme that would eventually become the £425 million Project Centurion to ensure the Typhoon was able to assume the precision strike duties of the ageing Tornado.  Tranche 1 aircraft could drop laser-guided bombs in conjunction with third-party designators but the anticipated deployment of Typhoon to Afghanistan meant that the UK required self-contained bombing capabilities before the other partners.  The ESM-ECM and MWS consists of 16 AESA antenna array assemblies and 10 radomes. The Storm Shadow and KEPD 350 (Taurus) cruise missiles, together with the Meteor Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air missile flight trials have been successfully completed by January 2016. FlightGlobal.  Realizó su primer vuelo el 27 de marzo de 1994,  entrando en servicio el 8 de abril de 2003 en Alemania. One major external difference was the replacement of the side-mounted engine intakes with a chin intake. XI (F) Squadron of the RAF, which stood up as a Typhoon squadron on 29 March 2007, had taken delivery of its first two multi-role Typhoons.


Air travel is possibly one of man’s greatest inventions. It’s given us the ability to maintain connections across the planet & travel to distant parts exponentially quicker than a few centuries ago. As the industrial revolution continues & technological advancements & innovations spring upon us at the speed of light, mankind stands on a fragile precipice. Our thoughtless plundering of resources clubbed with a penchant to pollute our singular home has led us to a brink where climate change has become so severe, it could adversely alter life as we know it.
With estimates that air travel will potentially double by 2050, serious conversations need to be had & drastic measures taken, to reduce the impact flight has on the environment. To be specific, we must strive to curb & eventually (decades down the line), stop carbon emissions.
One such tactic being deployed, which is currently still in a nascent stage of application, is the use of ‘Sustainable Aviation Fuel’ or SAF.
What is Sustainable Aviation Fuel?
First utilized in the year 2008, Sustainable Aviation Fuel is a type of fuel whose chemistry is extremely similar to jet fuel, but it is produced from sustainable raw materials, commonly referred to as ‘feedstock’. As a safe, tested & proven alternative to traditional jet fuel, it’s estimated to reduce the amount of carbon emission across its lifecycle of use by around 80%.
In comparison to conventional fossil base jet fuel, SAF is produced from renewable & sustainably sourced waste and residual waste materials such as:
- Corn grains, oil seeds
- Used cooking oils, fats and grease
- Forestry & Agricultural residues like wood mill waste
- Solid municipal waste
- Wet waste (sludge and manure)
- Packaging, paper, textiles
- Algae & fast-growing plants
This process effectively recycles the carbon already present in the atmosphere while generating minimal amounts of carbon emissions. In addition, SAF also aids in reducing emission of air pollutants such as particulates & sulfur in the regions around airports by 90%.
Important Aspect of SAF:
Sustainable Aviation Fuel is also referred to as ‘drop-in’ fuel, due to its ability to seamlessly mix with traditional jet fuel without any difficulties. With absolute ZERO changes required in the design of expensive jet engines, infrastructure, storage, or the supply to and from airports, SAF can be blended in a ratio of up to 50% with conventional jet fuel and subsequently harnessed to power all types of flight.
Current State of SAF within the Aviation Industry:
SAF has propelled over 250,000 flights across the globe. Despite that, it accounts for a measly 0.1% of the aviation fuel market. A major reason for this is the immense cost of production which can range anywhere from 2 to 6 times the cost of widely used jet fuel. Being that SAF is a relatively novel idea being put to use, availability of feedstock combined with fewer production facilities & lesser developed technology can account for this cost difference.
Major airlines are signing or are on the verge of finalizing agreements with SAF suppliers in order to build more production plants. The transition to sustainable alternatives of fuel for aviation is only a matter of time but to expedite this process, government support is definitely required & incentive policies need to be rolled out. This will allow for large investments in research & development of state-of-the-art technology to manage the entire SAF ecosystem as well as to identify a new generation of renewable sources of feedstock.
Meanwhile the entire aviation industry looks to grab opportunities to reduce negative impact on the environment through more efficient aircraft design, optimizing cross-country flights, monitoring emissions & moving towards electrification of fleets across continents.
The MARKETSANDMARKETS SUSTAINABLE AVIATION CRYSTAL BALL EVENT scheduled for the 25th of July 2022 aims to discuss the future of the aviation industry, its biggest challenges, innovations, current trends & anticipated developments.
CLICK HERE TO EXPLORE THE VIRTUAL EVENT!
REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE HERE!


Blue Origin and its “National Team” partners Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Draper have delivered their full scale lunar lander mock-up to NASA. The space agency will use the engineering prototype to simulate how it could get “crew, equipment, supplies and samples off and on the vehicle” in future moon missions, according to the press release.
While not a full prototype, the 40-foot-high mock-up does include the descent element based on Blue Origin’s Blue Moon cargo lander and BE-7 LOX/hydrogen engine. It also carries the ascent element developed by Lockheed Martin, including avionics, software, life support hardware and crew interfaces. Some of that tech is from Lockheed Martin’s human-rated, deep-space Orion vehicle that’s supposed to fly on NASA’s Artemis I and II moon test missions.


DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced Drone
The DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced Drone is loaded with technologies to help first responders enforce the law, discover and rescue victims, and battle fires by leveraging the practical benefits of drone technology. In addition, it can check power equipment, structures, and even the environment in minutes, rather than hours or days. All of this is possible because of the Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced’s small size, long-lasting battery, ability to fly missions swiftly, high-tech dual thermal and visual cameras, and a slew of additional capabilities.
Dual Thermal and Visual Cameras
The dual thermal and visual camera is at the heart of the Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced’s capability in industrial, governmental, and scientific applications. Not only can these cameras be flown to highly difficult-to-reach areas rapidly, but if the mission is perilous, they are equipped with significant zoom capabilities, including up to 4x lossless and 32x digital zoom on the visual camera and up to 16x zoom on the thermal camera. Temperatures of objects and the surroundings may be reliably estimated and examined with the thermal camera to within 3.6°F.
Dual Vision and Long Transmission
With twin cameras comes the Dual Vision function, which lets you switch between visible and thermal cameras with a single swipe. You may even see the same film with both cameras in split-screen mode. These real-time views from the Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced may be safely and conveniently delivered to your remote from up to 6.2 miles away.
While flying near people and in danger, it’s critical that the drone doesn’t exacerbate whatever problems it’s been dispatched to examine. As a result, DJI outfitted the Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced with an omnidirectional obstacle avoidance system comprised of sensors embedded into the drone’s chassis and directed in all directions (forward, backward, both sides, above, and below).


Unified Field was part of the developer preview program for the Leap Motion Controller and we considered using it for the Kennedy Space Center Exhibit. The official Leap Controller didn’t launch until the Summer of 2013 around the time the museum opened, so we weren’t able to use it there. Since then I created a demo by hooking it up to the Shuttle Landing Simulator I developed for Kennedy, and we set it up for our Unified Field booth at the 2013 ASTC tradeshow in Albequerque, New Mexico.
Users can advance through the interface by “tapping” their finger, originally there was a joystick with a button for this application. The shuttle flight path is controlled by moving one’s hand in the same manner an airplane would fly.


Simtec AG develops, manufactures and sells air data systems. Among Simtec products are complete air data systems, air data computers, pitot-static probes, multi-hole probes, AOA and AOS probes.
Simtec AG develops technical software to support tactical data-links, flight-test operation and financial services.
Simtec AG is the nominated dealer for Hemisphere GNSS's high-tech GPS products in Switzerland.
Simtec develops and manufactures high-quality and fully self-contained, heated and unheated multi-hole air data systems, pitot-static probes and flow vanes. The products sense static and dynamic pressure, angle of attack, angle of side-slip and air temperature. Simtec's products are all Swiss Made. Simtec operates its own wind-tunnels and calibration laboratories.
Swiss Air Data Systems are used on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), drones, aircraft, helicopters and for flight testing.
Simtec AG is an EN9100:2018 certified company. EN9100 is technically equivalent to AS9100D and JISQ 9100:2016, a widely adopted quality management standard for the aviation, space and defence industry.
Swiss Air Data System products can be found at www.swiss-airdata.com.
The development of customized technical software for the aerospace and financial sector is Simtec's strength. A diversified knowledge in this area helps us finding an adequate solution for your company.
In cooperation with the flight test center of armasuisse, Simtec developed and maintains a software to compute the weight and balance and performance data of complex military aircraft like the F/A-18C/D, F-5E/F and other aircraft operated by the Swiss Air Force. The software assists the flight test engineers in their daily work to plan and conduct test flights with an intuitive user interface. Some details can be found at WAB-Software.
For the Swiss Air Force Simtec developed a tactical Link-16 line-of-sight visualization and message processing software. See LOS-Software for details.
Details of the NATO Combined Network Design Guide software can be found at CNDG-Software.
The Icasim Wertschriftenverwaltung (financial software) can be found at www.wertschriftenloesung.ch.
Simtec provides high quality services in the area of technical software development and associated consulting. From the planning and definition phase up to the integration and support phase - Simtec is your reliable and flexible partner.
Simtec AG is the nominated dealer for Hemisphere GNSS's high-tech GPS products in Switzerland. Hemisphere GNSS is a leader in high-performance satellite positioning with a strong technology foundation and a relentless focus on innovation. Hemisphere’s innovative GNSS solutions are focused on marine, land survey and mapping, construction, and agriculture. Hemisphere is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA, with a product development, marketing, and sales facility in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
As Hemisphere GPS' dealer, we are able to provide you with following products:
Please do not hesitate to contact us. We will be happy to provide you with general and technical information as well as data-sheets. You can also get technical information and data-sheets directly from the Hemisphere GNSS Homepage.