Airplane Geeks - Episode 244 - Capt. Jeff and the Sock Puppet [ 1:55:36 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (8920)

Jeff Nielsen (“Capt. Jeff”) flies for a major legacy airline and produces the Airline Pilot Guy podcast, subtitled: The View From My Side of the Cockpit Door. Jeff served in the Air Force as a C-141B and T-37 Instructor Pilot, and in his commercial career has flown the B-727 (all seats), the L-1011 (as First Officer) and the “Mad Dog” MD-88/90 (as Captain). In Airline Pilot Guy, Jeff presents news and views from an airline pilot’s perspective, and answers listener questions about airlines and flying.

We talk to Jeff about Porter and the CSeries, B787 batteries, lights in the cockpit (laser beams and St. Elmo’s Fire), being an airline pilot, and many other topics. See the Airline Pilot Guy Facebook page, Jeffs personal Facebook page, and follow him on Twitter as @airlinepilotguy.

The week’s aviation news:

• Porter aims to become Canada’s 3rd national airline
• CSeries Order Could Bring Major Shift In Porter Business Model
• Porter’s CSeries order still faces hurdles
• CSeries on track for first flight in June, says Bombardier
• Drones replace ‘The Right Stuff’: Fighter pilots make way for remote warfare
• Researcher shows how to hack (and crash) a passenger aircraft with an Android phone…
• Aircraft Hacking – Practical Aero Series (pdf)
• Investigators Probe Jet’s Crash Into Sea In Bali

In this week’s Australia Desk:

With Grant off this week due to illness, PCDU team member Ben Jones steps in to help bring us this report.

In the news, Virgin Australia issues a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange announcing it’s acquisition of Skywest is complete and right on cue, the first Skywest Fokker 100 in Virgin colours makes it debut in Perth.

The last RAAF F-111C to fly, A8-109, is transported by road from Queensland to Wollongong in New South Wales to take up residence at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS). The aircraft, now fully decommissioned, has been fully repainted in 1980s era colour scheme.

Further news this week on Australia’s first two F-35 JSF airframes, designated AU-1 & AU-2. Lockheed says they are on schedule to be delivered by 2014, at which point RAAF aircrew can begin training.

The latest PCDU video is now online – Steve’s review of the RAAF KC-30A Multi Role Taker Transport, including footage of refuelling of two 77SQN Hornets over eastern Victoria RAAF Airbus KC30A Multi Role Tanker Transport.

Find more from Grant and Steve at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu. Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124. Australia Desk archives can be found at www.australiadesk.net.

Hurricane at the recent RAF Northolt Night Shoot.  Photo Courtesy of Global Aviation Resource and Gordon Jones

In this week’s Across the Pond segment:

Pieter is joined by Gareth Stringer, his fellow co host on Aviation Xtended and Editor at Global Aviation Resource. They discuss some of the changes made to GAR that have invigorated some of the aviation social media tools and improved quality of the GAR family of products.

Find Pieter on Twitter as @Nascothornet, on Facebook at XTPMedia, and at the Aviation Xtended podcast.

Tiger Moth

Mentioned:

• Betty in the Sky with a Suitcase.
• Lake Hood Seaplane Base.
• Skytrax.
• More Turbulence For Planes Amid Climate Change.
• Weather: Jet Stream Blamed For UK Cold Snap.
• 3D Antarctic Ice Map ‘Clue’ To Climate Change.
• Study Says Climate Change Shrinks Animals.

Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at www.brotherloverocks.com.

Airplane Geeks - Episode 201 - Aerial Robots [ 1:42:29 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (6007)

Guest Chris Anderson founded DIY Drones, a free online community for enthusiasts and builders of fully autonomous aerial drones that perform just like large UAV’s, but use open source software. Chris also co-founded a company called 3D Robotics which sells aerial vehicles, components, and accessories. Chris is the Editor in Chief of Wired Magazine, and he is also the author of the New York Times bestseller, “The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business is Selling Less of More.” Find Chris on Twitter at @DIYDrones.

We talk about converting R/C craft to autonomous unmanned vehicles with autopilots, sensors, and GPS navigation that rival military unmanned systems. Minus the armament, of course. With falling component costs and free open source software, these aircraft are not as expensive as you might think. This fosters a hobby UAV market that acts in a similar way to the early personal computer days when creativity and innovation ran rampant.

Past guest Martin Rottler subs for Rob Mark as co-host. Martin is a pilot and also lectures aviation subjects at The Ohio State University Center for Aviation Studies. Find him on Twitter at @MartinRottler.

The week’s aviation news:

• 4th FW holds historic change of command
• First female 4-star general heads AFMC
• China Is Biggest Emerging Threat To Boeing And Airbus, Says Albaugh
• China’s threat to Boeing, Airbus overblown?
• EPA told to come clean on feedlot flyovers
• EPA defends aerial surveillance on Farmers and Ranchers

David’s Aircraft of the Week is the Bell Boeing V22 Osprey.

In this week’s Australia Desk report:

Qantas profits take a dive and so does their share price, Etihad buys a stake in Virgin Australia and may be looking to increase it, Scoot commences services to Sydney, the fifth & final KC30A tanker is ready for RAAF service while a former RAAF B707 tanker returns to Australian skies with new engines and a new owner

Find more from Grant and Steve at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124.

Mentioned this episode:

• Hobby King
• SparkFun Electronics

Listener links:

• The Radial Rocket
• Boeing 747-8 undergoes extreme testing
• Boeing 747-8F Performs Ultimate Rejected Take-off

Post photo by David M. Vanderhoof.

Opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at www.brotherloverocks.com.

Airplane Geeks - Episode 193 - Just the Geeks [ 1:41:33 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (5365)

This week our scheduled guest was called away at the last minute, so the Geeks go it alone to talk about some of the recent aviation news and discuss a lot of interesting listener mail. Of course, we also have David’s This Week in Aviation history segment, Steve and Grant’s Australia News Desk, and Pieter’s Across the Pond Segment.

The week’s aviation news:

• NTSB releases recommendations for air races
• NTSB Provides Investigative Update and Issues Recommendations to Increase Safety at Air Races
• State Department Seeks Expanded UAV Security Fleet
• Airlines hit record highs for on-time flights, luggage handling
• Live Virtual Constructive technology set to revolutionize air combat training
• Why Doesn’t Snow on the Wings Matter?

David’s aircraft of the Week: the Rockwell Space Transportation Systems OV-103, otherwise known as the Space Shuttle Discovery.

In this week’s Australia Desk report: Steve has a new get rich quick idea as Qantas operates an A330 from Sydney to Adelaide on April 13th partially powered by biofuel, Qantas A380 VH-OQA takes to the skies after 18 months of repairs following its infamous incident above Indonesia in 2010.

Find more from Grant and Steve at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124.

This week on Across the Pond, Pieter talks to Frenchez Pietersz from Aviation Platform about airline news from the Benelux countries of Europe, that’s Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg. With so much to cover we focused this week’s talk on Belgium and Holland, how the KLM Air France merger is developing, and how Lufthansa is challenging them with flights from Brussels.

You can dind Aviation Platform on Twitter as @AviPlatform, on Facebook, and on LinkedIn. Find Pieter Johnson on Twitter as @Nascothornet, on his blog Alpha Tango Papa, and also on Facebook at XTPMedia.

Links from Listener Email:

• Lightning Strike via John Arvin.
• Bush and Arctic Pilot, recommended by Chris.
• DC-3/Dakota Historical Society, Inc. also from Chris.
• Lost In Oscar Hotel, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Piper Cub.
• Space Shuttle Discovery to Fly Over Washington Metro Area April 17 and…
• Shuttle lands here soon, so sorry Houston from Harry.
• RAF sonic boom jets spark resident alarm after helicopter emergency from Ben.
• Squawk codes & Transponders via Tim Robinson.

Permission to use the post photograph has been obtained from the photographer.

Opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at http://www.brotherloverocks.com/.

Airplane Geeks - Episode 188 - The Mach 1.4 UAV [ 1:43:28 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (6260)

Guest Ryan P. Starkey, Ph.D. has been working with University of Colorado students to develop a Mach 1.4 UAV. Propulsion for this very efficient aircraft comes from a 20 pound turbojet that features an afterburner and thrust vectoring nozzle. We talk about the design of the vehicle, possible commercial and military applications, and the timeline for first flight.

Ryan is Assistant Professor and a McAnally Faculty Fellow, as well as Director of the Busemann Advanced Concepts Lab at the University of Colorado Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences. You can also learn more about this project at Starkey Aerospace Corporation.

The week’s aviation news:

• Air Force Aborts Tucano Contract two months after Awarding it!
• UN aviation body says emissions proposal by year-end
• Airport gate crasher charged by feds
• FAA publishes first officer qualification rule
• American Will Join The ‘Premium Economy’ Parade By Selling Extra Legroom Rows

This week’s Australia Desk report was recorded live at the Tyabb Airshow, 70km southeast of Melbourne. Air Australia owes creditors $A90million but had less than $A500,000 in funds when it went bankrupt, Qantas fails in its bit to have to Federal Government change the Qantas Sale Act (1992), Virgin Australia restructures into domestic & international companies, tour operator, Jetset, has an incredible profit increase thanks to the high value of the Aussie dollar, ATC Ben makes a cameo appearance, Grant is horrified that Steve left light beer in his fridge!

Find more from Grant and Steve at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu. Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124.

This week on Across The Pond, Pieter Johnson talks to John Greenway from the Manchester Airport Group about Manchester Airport’s growth and success at becoming the first Aerocity. Manchester has an innovative style to accommodating its customers, has a great Twitter feed and is performing well in a demanding market. Hear how the Airpark (the place for aviation spotters and enthusiasts) homes some of the nations most prized assets, including a Concorde.

You can find the Manchester Airport Group at www.manchesterairport.co.uk and on Twitter as @manairport. See also the Airport City website at airportcity.co.uk. Pieter can be found on Twitter as @Nascothornet or XTP Media’s Facebook Page.

Mentioned in the episode:

• Center for Space Entrepreneurship
• Skippyscage Photography

Links from listeners:

• FAA, airport officials no-shows at hearing
• Photos: Boeing Delivers First 747-8 Intercontinental, Though VIP Buyer Remains a Mystery

Opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at http://www.brotherloverocks.com/.

Post photo by Paul Thompson: Three Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire UK. He liked the picture as they flew towards him at around 500 feet and then went and had a little play ( vertically to about 20000 feet) as it were.

Airplane Geeks - Episode 184 - Vicki Portway - National Air and Space Museum Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (5521)

Guest Vicki Portway is Head of Web & New Media for the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. We talk about the Museum’s online outreach, the fantastic Become a Pilot Day in June, and the Space Shuttle Discovery target arrival of April 17 at Dulles Airport and transfer to the Udvar-Hazy Center April 19, replacing the Enterprise, which goes to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York City.

You can find the National Air and Space Museum on Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, and Twitter. Vicki is on Twitter as sluggernova.

The week’s aviation news:

• Budget Cuts Could Spell End of FAA Contract Towers
• Commercial Drones That Controllers Can’t See Challenge U.S. Air Safety
• TSA Agent at JFK airport stole $5,000 cash from passenger
• AMR wants to cut 13,000 jobs, pensions

David’s Aircraft of the Week is the Supermarine Attacker.

In this week’s Australia Desk report, Steve is back from vacation, Rob Fyfe announces his pending retirement as CEO of Air New Zealand, Qantas announces Carbon Tax related fare rises (Steve vents about the Carbon Tax), Qantas credit rating downgrade, and Grant tries the mood detecting music machine one last time.

Find more from Grant and Steve at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu. Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124.

On Across The Pond this week, Pieter talks to Dave Lees, Managing Director of Southampton Airport in the UK. Dave explains to us how he will make Southampton already one of the UK’s highest performing regional airports, even better.

You can find Southampton Airport on Twitter at @SOU_Airport and at www.southamptonairport.com. Pieter can be found on Twitter as @Nascothornet or XTP Media’s Facebook Page.

Mentioned in the episode:

• U.S. Contract Tower Association
• Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI)
• Aviation Geek Fest 2012
• British airways key to US merger mania
• Jetwhine Tries to Out-Cranky the Cranky Flier

Follow the @AirplaneGeeks on Twitter and on Facebook, send us email at thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com, or leave a message on our listener line: (361) GEEKS01.

Opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at http://www.brotherloverocks.com/.

Airplane Geeks - Episode 183 - Just the Geeks [ 1:28:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (6662)

The Geeks go it alone in this episode, but despite the lack of an aviation guest we manage to have a great time talking aviation.

The week’s aviation news:

• Air Force plans to ground Global Hawk plane, stop production, report says
• Push For 3rd Chicago Airport Still Aloft
• Delta Said to Weigh US Airways Bid in Review of M&A Options
• Delays Worse After JFK Runway Work Done

David’s Aircraft of the Week is the Lockheed Model 10 Electra.

In this week’s Australia Desk report, Grant flys solo this week and covers a few headlines, an overly accurate mood-sensing music system, and some voice mails.

Find more from Grant and Steve at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu. Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124.

In the Across the Pond segment, Gareth Stringer and Tim Robinson talk with Pieter Johnson about aviation news items from Europe. Making the cut this week is the Neuron-UCAV, the RAF buying second hand transport aircraft and the latest idea for runway capacity in the UK.

Pieter can be found on Twitter as @Nascothornet or XTP Media’s Facebook Page.

Mentioned in the episode:

• Crosswind Landings during a storm at Düsseldorf B777,767,757 A330 Sturm Andrea
• The Network for the DC-3

Follow the @AirplaneGeeks on Twitter and on Facebook, send us email at thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com, or leave a message on our listener line: (361) GEEKS01.

Opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at http://www.brotherloverocks.com/.

Airplane Geeks - Episode 177 - Kurt Barnhart, Unmanned [ 1:34:19 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (7533)

Kurt Barnhart is Professor and head of the Department of Aviation at Kansas State University. He’s also Executive Director of the Applied Aviation Research Center which focuses on integrating unmanned aerial systems into the national airspace system. Kurt been a National Association of Flight Instructors’ Master Flight Instructor since 2003.

The week’s aviation news:

• Faster than Concorde: New HyperMach plane could reach four times the speed of sound
• FAA’s Randy Babbitt resigns after drunk driving arrest
• Alec Baldwin should be put on American Airline’s no-fly list and fined for his ‘abusive’ behavior: Flight Attendants Union
• Lost UAV likely malfunctioned, analysts say
• Meigs Field Redevelopment on Hold Years After Airport Closure

In this week’s Australia Desk report: Virgin Australia re-branding completed, Polynesian Blue re-branded as Virgin Samoa, Sydney International Airport to upgrade & reconfigure its terminals, China Southern to increase its presence in Australia & is looking for a more Aussie feel to its services, Scoot looks to fly to Sydney from Singapore while it’s CEO has a possible Freudian slip when talking about the value of low cost carriers. Find more from Grant and Steve at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu. Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124.

This week on Across the Pond, Pieter brings back Gareth Stringer and Tim Robinson for our monthly update on aviation news in Europe. Tim has visisted Dubai for the Airshow and brings back stories on Qatar Aiways and the fights with Airbus over the A350-1000 modifications. Gareth tells us about the next edition of Global Aviation Resource monthly digital aviation magazine and we discuss our favourite photo of 2011 on The Hangar. Find Gareth at www.globalaviationresource.com and Tim at www.aerosociety.com.

Mentioned in the episode:

• HyperMach Aerospace Ltd
• Favourite Photo of 2011
• Heritage Aviation
• Global Aviation Magazine
• America’s First Jet Fighter video

Follow the @AirplaneGeeks on Twitter and on Facebook, send us email at thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com, or leave a message on our listener line: (361) GEEKS01.

Opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at http://www.brotherloverocks.com/.

Post photo: ‘Miss Demeanour’ a Hawker Hunter that features in UK Airshows owned by Jonathon Whaley. Picture is Courtesy of Gareth Stringer and Global Aviation Resource.com.

Airplane Geeks - Episode 175 - Bits and Pieces VIII [ 1:15:51 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (6721)

This is another Bits and Pieces episode. Occasionally, we take holiday weekends off and instead of recording a new episode together, we each contribute a pre-recorded segment and put them all together into a complete episode.

Here’s what we have this time:

Benet Wilson, the new Director of Media Relations for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Benet talks about her new job and provides some information about the AOPA Air Safety Institute. Find her personal site at AviationQueen.com.

David Vanderhoof brings us three interviews from Northrop Grumman about UAVs from the PAX River show:

Walter Kreiter, Director BAMS UAS Business Development.

Tighe Parmenter, Business Development, Navy UCAS Program.

Dion Kolliopoulas on the Firescout.

The Across The Pond segment this week has Pieter looking at his aviation travels. What was his favourite aircraft to fly on, what was the best looking aeroplane that he had flown on, and where in the world is his favourite airport. He also describes the most unusual aircraft he has ever piloted. The full list of aircraft he has travelled on can be found on his blog Alpha Tango Papa.

In the Australia Desk report, Steve likes the current exchange rates, RAAF C-17 acquisition programme progresses, 4 ex-RAAF C130H aircraft gifted to Indonesia, 23 ex RAAF F111 airframes dumped in landfill in Queensland, Qantas CEO death threats investigation dropped by New South Wales police, Qantas social media blunder, Tiger Airways has best on time performance for 2011, Virgin Australia announces $68M loss, CASA announces review of UAV procedures.

Dan Webb brings us some airline news, including the slot swap between Delta and US Airways at Laguarda and Washington National airports, and some results (and speculation) on the recent FAA slot auction.

We received one listener v-mail on the recent tarmac delays at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut. We’ve got that as well as a response from Rob.

Finally, for those who like the outtakes, we have quite a few: a little from this episode, a few from the AusDesk, and past outtakes from Pieter Johnson. We finish up with part of the episode 174 pre-show that gives you a little insight about what actually happens before the show starts.

Mentions:

• Lynda Meeks, Girls With Wings.

Next week we’ll return to our usual format with the full complement of co-hosts and a great guest.

Follow the @AirplaneGeeks on Twitter and on Facebook, send us email at thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com, or leave a message on our listener line: (361) GEEKS01.

Opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at www.brotherloverocks.com.

All post photos by David Vanderhoof.

Airplane Geeks - Episode 168 - Lori from Flightglobal [ 1:27:04 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (5800)

Guest Lori Ranson is the America’s Air Transport Editor at Flightglobal. She knows commercial aviation and lately has been researching distribution. Follow Lori on Twitter as @RansonNote.

The week’s aviation news:

• NASA Awards the Largest Prize in Aviation History to an All-Electric, Super-Efficient Aircraft
• Delta’s Free Wi-Fi Content Could Boost Revenue
• Middle-Seat Syndrome at American Airlines
• Computer Virus Hits U.S. Drone Fleet
• JetBlue adds fourth route from Hartford

This week’s Australia Desk Report is all QF with Steve and Grant talking about the Qantas CEO receiving death threats, Qantas confirming a large Airbus order, and the damaged Qantas A380 returning to the skies.Find the boys down under at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu. Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124.

Recording the start of Desk 168 – Steve attempting to get Grant to stop talking about balloons.

This week on Across the Pond, Pieter talks to Neil Bradon, a Student Pilot, who is doing his initial flying training in Ireland. Neil has taken some time to get the first major stage in his flying training under his belt but we are going to track his progress with regular updates. Neil can be found on Twitter at @pilot_ngb and at www.getmyppl.blogspot.com. You can find Pieter on Twitter at @Nascothornet.

On this week’s Grill the Geeks segment, we seem to have come up with correct answers all around.

Mentions:

• Stuck Mic AvCast
• A380 evacuation test video

Follow the @AirplaneGeeks on Twitter and on Facebook, send us email at thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com, or leave a message on our listener line: (361) GEEKS01.

Opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at http://www.brotherloverocks.com/.

Airplane Geeks - Episode 167 - Kevin Still Creates [ 1:31:37 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (6354)

Author, writer, and pilot Kevin Garrison returns to discuss aviation news and offer the benefit of his years of experience and wisdom. Kevin tells us about the Kentucky Institute for Aerospace Education that seeks to improve student learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and create career pathways in aerospace. Kevin’s books, including Kindle editions, can be found on Amazon.com. His new ebook Fly Like You Mean It will be released soon for the Kindle.

The week’s aviation news:

• Cargolux 747-8F delivery impasse ended, delivery on October 12
• Ruling Favors US Airways
• iPhone App Can Fly Unmanned Aircraft
• F-16 Sale approved for Iraq Lockheed production until 2015

In this week’s Australia Desk Report, Steve and Grant talk about an LSA that crashed into a ferris wheel, three ex-RAAF tankers purchased by Omega Tanker, and Grant gets a carried away explaining the Albuquerque Box Effect. Find them on the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu. Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124.

The Grill the Geeks segment returns and our listeners have little trouble stumping us. Send easier questions!

Mentions:

• Wikipedia: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Follow the @AirplaneGeeks on Twitter and on Facebook, send us email at thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com, or leave a message on our listener line: (361) GEEKS01.

The US Airways A319 post photo taken at Anchorage International (PANC) is from amazing photographer Paul Filmer. Find his work at Skipyscage Photography.

Listener Micah sent along some photos from the Grand Opening of the new terminal at Portland International Jertport PWM in Portland, Maine. The tour by Airport Director Paul Bradbury went behind the scenes through the baggage handling and screening facilities, and the HVAC system, which is geothermal! Paul is a great supporter of plane spotting and set up a free parking area with signs and pictures illustrating the kind of commercial aircraft that fly in and out of PWM.

Opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at http://www.brotherloverocks.com/.