Tag Archives: warbird

AirplaneGeeks 342 Arsenal of Democracy Flyover

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:19:01 — 36.2MB)

Arsenal of Democracy Flyover

A massive Washington DC warbird flyover to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, United Airlines customer service, the GA alphabet organizations talk current issues, an FAA forecast for GA, China looks to build airport infrastructure, and ADS-B prices drop.

Guest

Peter Bunce is President and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), an international trade association that represents over 85 manufacturers of general aviation airplanes, rotorcraft, engines, avionics, components and related services such as repair station operators, aviation training facilities, and others.

Peter Bunce

Pete is also a member of the Arsenal of Democracy Executive Committee that is planning to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, (VE Day) with a massive Washington DC warbird flyover on May 8, 2015.

Pete has been President and CEO of GAMA since April 2005. He and the GAMA staff travel all over the world engaging regulators, policymakers, and elected officials to promote general aviation and advance the interests of GAMA’s international membership.

An active pilot with more than 6,000 hours, Pete has flown military fighter and training aircraft (F-15s and A-10s) as well as civil piston, turboprop and business jet aircraft. He holds an FAA airline transport certificate and seaplane rating and serves on the board of directors of the Recreational Aviation Foundation, Veterans Airlift Command, America’s Warrior Partnership, and the Air Care Alliance. Pete also serves as co-chair of the NextGen Institute and is a member of both the FAA’s NextGen Advisory Committee and MITRE Corporation’s Aviation Advisory Committee.

News

Another Big United Customer Service Failure

Ill passengers and the airline’s response made this United flight rather unpleasant for some.

JetBlue, Southwest top-rated carriers for customer experience

JetBlue and Southwest Airlines deliver the best customer experience in the U.S. airline industry, according to the 2015 Temkin Experience Ratings, an annual ranking of companies based on a survey of 10,000 U.S. consumers.

General Aviation Groups Air Concerns at HeliExpo

Leaders from seven GA associations met as a panel during Heli-Expo 2015. Participating were:

  • Matt Zuccaro, President of Helicopter Association International
  • Melissa Rudinger, senior vice president, government affairs, AOPA
  • Jack Pelton, CEO, Experimental Aircraft Association;
  • Peter Bunce, President, General Aviation Manufacturers Association;
  • Greg Principato, president, National Association of State Aviation Officials;
  • Thomas Hendricks, president and CEO National Air Transportation Association; and
  • Ed Bolen, president, National Business Aviation Association.

They talked about rotorcraft certification, privacy protection under ADS-B, and fuel taxes not being used for runway improvements.

FAA Forecast Fact Sheet–Fiscal Years 2015-2035

The GA fleet is forecast to grow by only 0.4% per year. The fixed-wing turbine aircraft fleet is projected to grow at 2.2% per year, and rotorcraft growth is 2.5%, but these are offset by 0.6% decline per year in fixed-wing piston aircraft.

China mulls building general aviation airports in 2,800 counties

China has some 2,800 counties, but currently only 78 currently are served by general aviation aircraft. If they all had a GA airport, 280 billion yuan ($44.7 billion) of economic value would be generated.

ADS-B Prices beginning to Drop

FreeFlight Announces Low-Cost ADS-B Out System

Good news for aircraft owners, all of whom must install ADS-B Out by Jan 1, 2020.

Mentioned

  • DESIGN, BUILD, TEST Trailer – A documentary film that will follow a community of experimental test pilots in the Mojave Desert as they race to prepare themselves and their planes for the Mojave Experimental Fly-In.

Bonus

A380 over Max Trescotts Car

An A380 flys over Max Trescott’s car. Can you guess which car belongs to “Max West”?

Credit

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

 

Episode 318 Listener Survey Results

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:43:25 — 47.4MB)

Oceana Airshow Geico Flight / Honor Flight

Results from our listener survey, the B787 battery issue, Air Traffic Control Center vulnerability, historic aircraft, flying a float plane, and air-to-air photography.

News

Boeing, FAA Don’t Understand 787 Battery Shortcomings, Japanese Say

After the Boeing 787 experienced Lithium Ion battery problems, Boeing made some changes designed to reduce the chances of thermal runaway, and to better manage the situation should it occur. But the root cause for the problem was never determined. By Christine Negroni in her Flying Lessons blog.

Illinois man accused of torching air traffic center was being transferred to Hawaii

A disgruntled FAA contractor posted a suicide note on Facebook, brought a can of gasoline into the Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center, and set the place on fire, affecting more than 2,000 flights. The man was found by paramedics as he attempted to end his life with a knife.

Allen vs Jackson to restore or recreate the battle for collections

Paul Allen (co-Founder of Microsoft) and Peter Jackson of (Lord Of The Rings Fame) are both amassing huge warbird collections.  They are being painstakingly restored by Allen and  completely recreated from scratch by Jackson using original plans.  The article questions if flying these on of a kind aircraft is worth the risk.  Also does creating a “Clone” of an original demean the original and cloud the historical significance.

Flying a Seaplane

Rob’s been learning to fly a float plane.

David’s Report

Geico Skytypers Blue Angels

The Geico Skytypers were invited by the Blue Angels to do a formation flight, and they wanted to David to take some air-to-air photographs. David relates that adventure.

David in Texan

At the Naval Air Station Oceana Air Show, David spoke with Kenneth Hess, the Public Affairs Officer for the Chief of Naval Operations, Energy and Environmental Readiness Division. They discussed biofuels and goals of the Navy to reduce energy consumption. Ken mentions the free Energy Warrior app, which lets you discover what the Navy is doing to lead change and increase combat capability. You also learn facts about U.S. oil dependence, and what America’s Navy is doing about it.

Also at Oceana, David spoke with air show and event announcer Ric Peterson about what it takes to be an announcer.

The Australia News Desk

WONZ DH.83 Fox Moth

In one of the shortest AusDesks of all time, Grant chats briefly with Errol Cavit and Zac Yates after the recent Wings Over New Zealand Forum meet-up at Ardmore Airport near Auckland.

WONZ Two Seat Spitfire

In addition to Grant scoring a flight in a de Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth, there were plenty of amazing aircraft (including a 2-seat Spitfire) and excellent presentations during the day (plus some beer at the end).

Across the Pond

Ascender © Bristol Spaceplanes

Ascender © Bristol Spaceplanes

Pieter looks at the UK Government Review of commercial spaceplane certification and operations: Technical Report [PDF], as well as the recent news on MOM, MAVEN and Rosetta.

Mentioned

Airbus helps develop first supersonic biz jet

Rand Peck Aviation Photography

AIR14 – The pilots’ view

Plane Spotting: U.N. Brings Rare Jets to NYC

Melanoma Incidence Is Much Higher for Flight Crews

Credit

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

Episode 218 – The Restorers

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (46.1MB)

B-25 Miss Mitchell

Adam White (Director) and Kara Martinelli (Producer) from Hemlock Films create aviation films. In 2003, the documentary film The Restorers was produced with 8 short stories about people restoring planes. That was followed by the movie Red Tail Reborn with the Red Tail Squadron of the Commorative Air Force. Since then, the orginal Restorers begged to become a television series, and the pilot episode follows the “Miss Mitchell” B-25 from the Minnesota CAF chapter to the 68th Dolittle Raiders reunion.

Miss Mitchell B-25 engine runup

We talk about Adam and Kara’s passion for aviation and how they came together. Adam says, “warbird restorations connect people to their past.” We also touch on the old Cleveland air races, mentioning Bob Odegaard (who sadly passed away last month) and his Super Corsairs. Adam and Kara self-funded the pilot (which has aired on PBS), and are they looking for additional investors so they can film more episodes and look for a television channel to pick up the series.

Find more at the The Restorers site, the Hemlock Films site, on Facebook and YouTube, and on Twitter.

The week’s aviation news:

 

Rob at APS training

Rob at APS training

 

Rob in the Extra 300:

Rob attended an upset prevention and recovery media day with Aviation Performance Solutions and he gives us his observations from the event. APS provides upset recovery training in an Extra 300 that teaches pilots about flight situations they wouldn’t encounter in the usual training.

David’s aircraft of the week is the Bristol 152 Beaufort.

In this week’s Australia Desk report:

Airservices Australia under investigation after a Virgin Australia 737 is “lost” for 30 minutes en route from Sydney to Brisbane, US Navy EA18G “Growlers” arrive at RAAF base Amberley in Queensland to begin training RAAF crews in preparation for the type’s introduction in 2018, sad news with the loss in Queensland of aviation identity Des Porter and five passengers following the crash of his classic DeHavilland Dragon in poor weather.

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.

In this week’s Across the Pond segment:

Pieter continues our behind the scenes look at the Royal Navy Historic Flight. This week we get to talk to Chief Engineer Howard Reed about the rebuild of the Swordfish and what it takes to get it and then keep it air worthy. For more see Royal Navy Historic Flight and Fly Navy Heritage Trust.

Find Pieter on Twitter as @Nascothornet, on his blog Alpha Tango Papa, on Facebook at XTPMedia, and at the Aviation Xtended podcast.

Mentions:

Rob in the Extra 300

Rob in the Extra 300

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

Episode 194 – The Aeroscholar

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (49.6MB)

Guest Steve Harris is currently a senior at the University of Michigan in Aerospace Engineering and writes the Aeroscholar blog. He’s also the president of the UofM Student Chapter of The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and is a member of the Jet Engine Team of Michigan. Steve is starting to pursue a private pilot’s license, he has taken students on a tour of the top aerospace companies in southern California, he attends the Aerospace Sciences Meeting every year, and through the AIAA he lobbies for the aerospace industry in Washington D.C. Steve Tweets as @Aeroscholar.

The week’s aviation news:

David’s aircraft of the Week: the Aérospatiale SA 315B Lama.

No Australia Desk news report this week, but you can still 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 again to Rohit Rao from AeroBlogger about developments in India with the focus on airlines. There’s more news from Kingfisher and the guys look at some of the new airlines starting up in the region. Find Rohit on Twitter as @TheAeroBlogger.

Find Pieter Johnson on Twitter as @Nascothornet, on his blog Alpha Tango Papa, and also on Facebook at XTPMedia.

Links from Listener Email:

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 David Vanderhoof

 

Episode 176 – Greg Morris Flys Warbirds

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (46.6MB)

Gauntlet Warbirds

Greg Morris is Chief Pilot at Gauntlet Warbirds, a warbird, aerobatic, and tailwheel training center with headquarters at Aurora Airport, just west of downtown Chicago. They are on the web at http://www.gauntletwarbirds.com/.

He has been flying for fifteen years, and instructing in warbirds and aerobatic aircraft for the past ten. He holds a current low level aerobatic waiver in the L-39 and T-6 and is a FAST rated formation pilot.

Greg has flown the FM-2 Wildcat, Extra 300, Su-29, Pitts S-2B and S-2C, Lazer Z-200, Cap-10B, Great Lakes, T-34, T-6, T-28, Ju-52, and is rated in the L-29 Delfin and L-39 Albatros.

A graduate of the University of Southern California with a degree in aerospace engineering, Greg was designated a Master CFI-Aerobatic by the National Association of Flight Instructors and the IAC in September 2005. Greg has been published in the International Aerobatic Club’s Sport Aerobatics magazine and Warbirds of America’s Warbirds magazine writing about maneuver technique, how to get started flying warbirds and safety and risk management. He is a regular presenter at Oshkosh.

The week’s aviation news:

In this week’s Australia Desk report: Steve gets his instructor rating…for trains, doubts raised over new Qantas Asian airline, PCDU code share activated!….David gets serious with the light saber, RAAF KC-30A aerial refuelling trials begin, a little air to air refuelling history lesson, Army MRH90 helicopter contract comes under scrutiny. 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 his Across the Pond segment, Pieter Johnson highlights the change in European Air Law which will make pilots work longer hours and he gives thanks for their so far excellent flying safety record. He also says thanks for a few other things too! Find Pieter on Twitter as @Nascothornet.

The Grill the Geeks questions this week are both great and goofy, and both Dan and David have Grill the Listeners questions.

Mentioned in the episode:

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/.

Episode 62 – The Youngest Airplane Geek

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (36.0MB)

Evan from www.evanflys.com

Evan, from the Evan Flys website, joins Dan, Rob, and Max to prove that airplane geeks come in all sizes and ages. Evan has a passion for aviation, especially warbird aviators and airshow performers. In fact, he’s interviewed a number of them, he can be heard on Flight Line Internet Radio, and he writes a monthly column for Atlantic Flyer magazine.

Follow the @AirplaneGeeks on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/airplanegeeks, send us email at thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com, or leave us voice mail at (812) 757-4252.
This episode’s opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. Visit his site at http://www.brotherloverocks.com/.

Follow the @AirplaneGeeks on Twitter, send us email at thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com, or leave us voice mail at (812) 757-4252.

This episode’s opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. Visit his site at http://www.brotherloverocks.com/.