Aviation and Flight

flight tracker

2010-02-09T21:15:00.001-07:00


Track Flights Track Fleets Airport Traffic Flight Alerts Flight Alerts with Twitter City Pair Map MySpace FlightMap Plugin LiveATC Audio Feeds	Flight Planning Flight Plan Filing Pilots Logbook Digital ATIS IFR Approach Charts	GoogleMaps Airport Finder Airport Directory Aviation Weather AIRMETS/SIGMETS METARs/TAFs NEXRAD FAR/AIM Reference Flight Tracking API

F R E E	Free flight tracking, with
	Zoomable flight tracking maps
	3D Interface with Google Earth
	Access past flight history
	Photos, ATC audio feeds, notes

Flightwise is the most advanced free flight tracker on the Internet. Quickly access tracking data for any aircraft or flight on an IFR flight plan with a fast, efficient interface that lets you get to the information you need quickly. Pull up detailed specifics on any of the last 10 flights, or subscribe to our premium flight tracking services for access to our long-term archives with data from as early as November of 2001. Track single flights or entire fleets.

Stay on top of aircraft movements at all times with Flightwise Flight Alerts; with the most extensive capabilities in the industry, users can receive text alerts to their cell phones or email to notify them of departures, arrivals, and even flight plans. Use Twitter to broadcast alerts on aircraft movement. Get beeped everytime an aircraft departs for your facility, or find out when a flight is 15 minutes out. You can even have Flightwise place a voice phone call to alert users and VIP's to aircraft movements.

In addition to the extensive flight tracking features, Flightwise has a number of other features that are all interwoven and tightly integrated, providing an amazing utility for the aviation community. Our free flight planning engine allows users to quickly create and access flight plans online. Store them online and file them whenever you're ready; print out approach charts, get aviation weather including textual Digital ATIS, and you're ready for takeoff.

Click here for additional details.

pilot services / pilot's logbook

Quick Logbook Entry The easiest data entry method, an easy way to make a quick-and-dirty, basic logbook entry. Automatically computes proper hour types (SEL, MEL, SES, etc) based off of tail number.		View/Edit/Add to your logbook Allows you to add, edit and display your online logbook entries. Use this method if your entry requires greater control of the details.
Display Logbook Summary Summarizes logbook entries by Category, Type, Engine Type, and Aircraft Model type.		Download Logbook in MS Excel Allows you to download a copy of your logbook to your computer in the format of a Microsoft Excel worksheet.
Auto-logging Setup BETA Configure which tail numbers or Flight ID's fboweb.com should generate Auto Logbook entries for. What is Auto-Logging?		MyFlightMap NEW Maps out all of the flights you've made in your logbook; great for bloggers!

P-38 Lightning a History

2009-12-31T16:43:00.003-07:00

The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament. Named "fork-tailed devil" by the Luftwaffe and "two planes, one pilot" by the Japanese, this unique aircraft was used in a number of different roles including dive bombing, level bombing, ground strafing, photo reconnaissance missions, and extensively as a long-range escort fighter when equipped with drop tanks under its wings.

The P-38 was used most successfully in the Pacific Theater of Operations and the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations as the mount of America's top aces, Richard Bong (40 victories) and Thomas McGuire (38 victories). In the South West Pacific theater, the P-38 was the primary long-range fighter of United States Army Air Forces until the appearance of large numbers of P-51D Mustangs toward the end of the war. The P-38 was probably the quietest fighter in history, the exhaust merely whispering out of the turbo exits. It was extremely forgiving, and could be mishandled in many ways, but the rate of roll was too slow for it to excel as a dogfighter. The P-38 was the only American fighter aircraft in active production throughout the duration of American involvement in the war, from Pearl Harbor to VJ Day.

Design and development

Lockheed designed the P-38 in response to a February 1937 specification from the United States Army Air Corps. Circular Proposal X-608 was a set of aircraft performance goals authored by First Lieutenant Benjamin S. Kelsey (later Brigadier General) and First Lieutenant Gordon P. Saville (later General) for a twin-engine, high-altitude interceptor aircraft having "the tactical mission of interception and attack of hostile aircraft at high altitude." Kelsey recalled in 1977 that he and Saville drew up the specification using the word "interceptor" as a way to bypass the inflexible Army Air Corps requirement for pursuit aircraft to carry no more than 500 lb (227 kg) of armament including ammunition, as well as the restriction of single-seat aircraft to one engine. Kelsey was looking for a minimum of 1,000 lb (454 kg) of armament. Specifications called for a maximum airspeed of at least 360 mph (580 km/h) at altitude, and a climb to 20,000 ft (6,100 m) within six minutes; the toughest set of specifications USAAC had presented to that date. The unbuilt Vultee XP1015 was designed to the same requirement, but was not advanced enough to merit further investigation. A similar single-engine proposal was issued at the same time: Circular Proposal X-609, in response to which the Bell P-39 Airacobra was designed. Both proposals required liquid-cooled Allison V-1710 engines with turbo superchargers and tricycle landing gear.

The Lockheed design team, under the direction of Hall Hibbard and Clarence "Kelly" Johnson, considered a range of twin-engine configurations including both engines in a central fuselage with push-pull propellers.

The eventual configuration was rare in terms of contemporary fighter aircraft design, with only the Fokker G.1 and later Northrop P-61 Black Widow having a similar planform. The Lockheed team chose twin booms to accommodate the tail assembly, engines, and turbo superchargers, with a central nacelle for the pilot and armament. The nose was designed to carry two .50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns, with 200 rpm, two .30 in (7.62 mm) Brownings, with 500 rpm, and an Oldsmobile 37 mm (1.46 in) cannon with 15 rounds. Clustering all the armament in the nose was unlike most other U.S. aircraft which used wing-mounted guns with trajectories set up to crisscross at one or more points in a "convergence zone." Guns mounted in the nose did not suffer from having their useful ranges limited by pattern convergence, meaning good pilots could shoot much farther. A Lightning could reliably hit targets at any range up to 1,000 yd (910 m), whereas other fighters had to pick a single convergence range between 100 and 250 yd (230 m). The clustered weapons had a "buzz saw" effect on any target at the receiving end, making the aircraft effective for strafing as well.

The Lockheed design incorporated tricycle undercarriage and a bubble canopy, and featured two 1,000 hp (746 kW) turbo-supercharged 12-cylinder Allison V-1710 engines fitted with counter-rotating propellers to eliminate the effect of engine torque, with the superchargers positioned behind the engines in the booms. It was the first American fighter to make extensive use of stainless steel and smooth, flush-riveted butt-jointed aluminum skin panels. It was also the first fighter to fly faster than 400 mph (640 km/h).

Lockheed won the competition on 23 June 1937 with its Model 22 and was contracted to build a prototype XP-38 for US$163,000, though Lockheed's own costs on the prototype would add up to US$761,000. Construction began in July 1938 and the XP-38 first flew on 27 January 1939 at the hands of Ben Kelsey. Kelsey proposed a speed dash to Wright Field on 11 February 1939 to relocate the aircraft for further testing. General Henry "Hap" Arnold, commander of the USAAC, approved of the record attempt, and recommended a cross-country flight to New York. The flight set a speed record by flying from California to New York in seven hours and two minutes, but was downed by carburetor icing short of the Mitchel Field runway in Hempstead, New York, and was wrecked. However, on the basis of the record flight, the Air Corps ordered 13 YP-38s on 27 April 1939 for US$134,284 apiece. (The initial "Y" in "YP" was the USAAC's designation for a "prototype" while the "X" in "XP" was for "experimental".) Lockheed's Chief test pilot Tony LeVier angrily characterized the accident as an unnecessary publicity stunt. According to Kelsey, the loss of the prototype, instead of hampering the program, speeded the process by cutting short the initial test series. The success of the aircraft design contributed to Kelsey's promotion to captain in May, 1937.

Want To Read More

Manufacture of the YP-38s fell behind schedule, at least partly due to the need for mass-production suitability making them substantially different in construction than the prototype. Another factor was the sudden required facility expansion of Lockheed in Burbank, taking it from a specialized civilian firm dealing with small orders to a large government defense contractor making Venturas, Harpoons, Lodestars, Hudsons, and designing the Constellation airliner for TWA. The first YP-38 was not completed until September 1940, with its maiden flight on 17 September.[23] The 13th and final YP-38 was delivered to the Air Corps in June 1941; 12 aircraft were retained for flight testing and one for destructive stress testing. The YPs were substantially redesigned and differed greatly in detail from the hand-built XP-38. They were lighter, included changes in engine fit, and the propeller rotation was reversed, with the blades rotating outwards (away) from the cockpit at the top of their arc rather than inwards as before. This improved the aircraft's stability as a gunnery platform.

Welcome to History Flight

2009-12-26T10:57:00.066-07:00

Fly In Professionally Restored World War II Aircraft & Help Fund the Search for America's 78,000 MIAs from WWII.

Relive history by taking to the skies with History Flight, Inc.-- a 501c3 Non-Profit foundation committed to keeping World War II aviation history alive by operating three of the most important aircraft of WWII and offering clients the chance to actually fly aboard a B-25 bomber or actually fly the AT-6 or N2S Stearman under the guidance of our certified flight instructors. No piloting experience required!

History Flight, Inc. operates our flagship North American B-25H Mitchell medium bomber alongside our North American AT-6 Texan advanced trainers and our Boeing N2S Stearman biplane primary trainer. All take part in an annual regional barnstorming tour to bring warbird rides to local communities across the United States.

All proceeds from our flights go directly to fund our ongoing research and recovery expeditions dedicated to bringing our Missing in Action servicemen home from their burial sites in remote battlefields of WWII. To date, History Flight, Inc. has helped find over 200 MIAs from locations in the Pacific Theater.

We invite you to explore our site and learn more about our activities and how you can join us to preserve the past!

Big MIA News!
October 2009 - The 2010 National Defense Authorization Act responds directly to History Flight MIA research on Tarawa!

Over the past several years, History Flight has directly supported and participated in archival and field research aimed at locating the mass gravesites of hundreds of U.S. Marines who were killed on the island of Betio during the battle of Tarawa Atoll during WWII.

Although the deaths of these Marines were properly recorded, along with details of their temporary burial locations, subsequent events obscured the locations of several mass gravesites, and following the war the remains of many of those interred on Betio were never recovered and returned to the U.S. Having located the grave sites of over 200 U.S. Marines on the island, the History Flight team submitted a 400-page report to senior members of the Department of Defense with the objective of having DoD effect the recovery of these Marines.

So we are pleased to see the following language in the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act:

Title V, Subtitle E, Section 541 of the Act states that Congress "...acknowledges the dedicated research and efforts by persons to identify, locate, and advocate for the recovery of remains from Tarawa;" and " ...encourages the Department of Defense to review this research and, as appropriate, pursue new efforts to conduct field studies, new research, and undertake all feasible efforts to recover, identify, and return remains of members of the Armed Forces from Tarawa.

You can read all of Subtitle E by clicking here.

2010 TOUR DATES
Our 2010 Barnstorming Tour schedule is now ready! We'll be visiting locations in Florida from January through March, and between then and October, we'll be spending time in at least the following: Atlanta, Houston, Charlotte, Dallas, Raleigh, Long Island, Denver, Indianapolis, Chicago/Milwaukee/Racine, Oshkosh, Pittsburgh, Hartford, and Philadelphia! Check the schedule for information and to book flights.

What are you waiting for? The amazing experience of actually flying aboard authentic World War II aircraft is now available with History Flight, Inc!

Choose from our wide selection of flight packages to fit your excitement level and budget. From the nostalgic Boeing N2S Stearman basic biplane trainer, to the thrilling North American AT-6 Texan advanced trainer, up to the powerful North American B-25H Mitchell medium bomber - we have an aircraft and a package that's guaranteed to create memories that will last a lifetime!

In packages for the N2S Stearman and AT-6 Texan - all participants have the opportunity to fly the aircraft under the supervision of your instructor -- no pilot experience needed!

Our flights are available from convenient locations at various airports in the United States as part of our annual barnstorming tour program. If you are interested in seeing if History Flight, Inc. will be flying to a runway near you, check our current schedule by clicking here! We also offer flight experiences from the beautiful Florida Keys, where our home base is located.

Our flight packages aren't just a fantastic way to experience living World War II aviation history; they are also an important fundraising tool in our mission to fund and support ongoing research and recovery of the graves of Missing in Action servicemen from World War II. Each flight significantly contributes to our ongoing efforts -- learn more by visiting Our Objectives.

We look forward to having you as our guest soon! Keep 'em Flying and take a History Flight with us today!

Our Warbird Flight Packages Browse All Packages

The Intro Flight
The best way to get a taste for flying an actual World War II trainer!
Available on the N2S Stearman and AT-6 Texan. (15 min flight)
Learn More...

The Barnstormer

A fantastic flight package that gives you the flying and all of our most popular add-on options in a bundle of true warbird excitement!
Available on the N2S Stearman and AT-6 Texan (30 min flight with add-ons)
Learn More...

The ULTIMATE Barnstormer
The full, premium package for the true warbird lover! Get a full hour of flight, plus all our options including aerobatics and in-flight video for the ultimate World War II flying experience!
Available on the N2S Stearman and AT-6 Texan (60 min flight with add-ons)
Learn More...

The Bomber Crew - B-25H Mitchell
A fantastic experience flying on one of the world's rarest WWII bombers - the only H-Model B-25 flying today! An amazing opportunity for you to fly as one of the crew for a 30-minute mission that will transport you back to 1943! Learn More...
(30 minute flight - up to 6 passengers per flight)

Sign Up For a Flight!
If you require the assistance of our staff or have any questions or comments, please connect with us here.
Call us toll-free to find out more
or book your flight today!
1-888-743-3311

History of the North American B-25H Mitchell

General History - The B-25 Mitchell
The B-25 was made immortal on April 18, 1942, when it became the first United States aircraft to bomb the Japanese mainland. Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle, sixteen Mitchells took off from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet, flew 800 miles (1287 km) to Japan, and attacked their targets. Most made forced landings in China. They were the heaviest aircraft at the time to be flown from a ship at sea.

The B-25 was designed for the United States' Army Air Corps before the Second World War. The North American company had never designed a multi-engine bomber before. The original design had shoulder-mounted wings and a crew of three in a narrow fuselage. The USAAC then decided its new bomber would need a much larger payload -- double the original specifications. North American designers dropped the wing to the aircraft's mid-section, and widened the fuselage so the pilot and co-pilot could sit side-by-side. They also improved the cockpit. The USAAC ordered 140 aircraft of the new design right off the drawing board. There were at least six major variants of the Mitchell, from the initial B-25A and B-25B, with two power-operated two-gun turrets, to the autopilot-equipped B-25C, and the B-25G with 75mm cannon for use on anti-shipping missions. The British designated the B-25Bs as the Mitchell I, the B-25C and B-25Ds as the Mitchell II, and their B-25Js, with 12 heavy machine guns, as the Mitchell III. The US Navy and Marine Corps designated their hard-nosed B-25Js as the PBJ-1J. In the end, the B-25 became the most widely used American medium bomber of World War Two.

After the war, many B-25s were used as training aircraft. Between 1951 and 1954, 157 Mitchells were converted as flying classrooms for teaching the Hughes E-1 and E-5 fire control radar. They were also used as staff transport, utility, and navigator-trainer aircraft. The last B-25, a VIP transport, was retired from the USAF on May 21, 1960. Approximately 25 B-25 Mitchells remain flying today thanks to dedicated groups and museums keeping them flyable.

About Our B-25H - S/N 43-4106

Manufactured in the North American Aviation factory in Englewood, California in 1943, s/n 43-4106 was the #2 prototype of the "H" model, of which 1,000 were built. This particular B-25H served stateside until 1947, when it was declared surplus and the government sold it to the Bendix Corporation. Bendix used it for 10 years as a test aircraft, in the development of new jet fighter landing gear systems.

After Bendix sold the aircraft off, the aircraft went through several owners. It eventually ended up on the auction block in 1969 where an Illinois farmer placed the winning bid of $3,500 and picked up the bomber for a steal. He then flew it to his farm in Plainfield, IL where it became nothing more than a static display - a makeshift toy for the local kids to play on when no one was looking.

Ten years later, a dedicated group of aviation enthusiasts found the bomber in sad condition and were eager to bring the derelict piece of history back to life. The group from outside Chicago, IL bought the B-25H, and after two engine failures, was able to finally fly the bomber off the farm in 1981. From there, the group embarked on a full restoration of the aircraft, bringing all systems back to WWII condition. Even the solid nose with the unique 75mm cannon was reinstalled, making it the only flying H-model B-25 in the world. After a 10 year restoration, the aircraft soared once again and has operated as a fully-flyable warbird since then. History Flight, Inc., through the help of generous donors, was able to purchase the aircraft in June 2009 and will now offer guests the opportunity to fly aboard the world's last B-25H.

About the Markings and "Barbie III"

As the B-25H 43-4106 never served in combat, the restoration group sought to find a fitting combat veteran B-25H to paint the aircraft when finished. Their choice was the B-25H "Barbie III" as flown by Lt. Col. Robert T. "R.T." Smith in 1944. Lt. Col. Smith was one of the first pilots as part of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) or otherwise known as the "Flying Tigers" protecting China with the Nationalist Chinese Air Force before the United States entered WWII. After the AVG disbanded in 1942 and returning stateside for a time as the Commanding Officer of the 337th Fighter Squadron, 329th Fighter Group in California, Smith volunteered to return to the China-Burma-India Theater of the war with the 1st Air Commando Group. While there he commanded the group's B-25 Mitchell squadron in low-level attack and bombing missions. His aircraft, the "Barbie III" was named in honor of his wife, Barbara Bradford, who he married shortly before he departed for the CBI in June 1943. Lt. Col R.T. Smith flew a total of 55 combat missions in the aircraft over Burma and was awarded the Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Silver Star upon returning from the war.

Aircraft Specifications

Specifications: North American B-25H Mitchell

Engines:
Two Wright R-2600-13 turbo-supercharged radials of 1,700 hp each (takeoff power)

Empty Weight: 19,600 lbs.

Max Takeoff Weight: 33,500 lbs.

Wing Span: 67 ft. 7 in.

Length: 51 ft. 0 in.

Height: 15 ft. 9 in.

Maximum Speed: 275 mph at 13,000 ft

Ceiling: 24,800 ft.

Range: 1,350 miles

Armament:
14 .50-cal. machine guns and one 75mm T13E1 cannon plus 3,200 lbs. of bombs

Crew: Five

History Flight, Inc. - a 501c3 Non-Profit Foundation - 5409 Overseas Highway #101 - Marathon, FL 33050 - Phone: 888-743-3311

Copyright 2009 History Flight, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

For reservations and gift flight certificates, email info@historyflight.com or call us toll free at 1-888-743-3311
Please report any errors or changes to the website by contacting webmaster@historyflight.com.

Note: Flying Dates are subject to change due to weather, aircraft maintenance and schedule demands/

To Educate...To Honor...To Inspire

Fly The Boeing 787 Dreamliner - FSX/FS2004

2009-12-23T18:43:00.011-07:00

Fly The Boeing 787 Dreamliner - FSX/FS2004

More than 400 of Boeing's newest generation aircraft are scheduled to bring fast, long range and economical flight to the world's major airlines.

With a range of up to 8000 nautical miles, it will wisk 300 passengers in comfort at at a speed of Mach .85

The team of Tolga and Turgot Piskin has modeled the new Boeing 787 for Microsoft Flight Simulator X and FS2004. Graphic artist Ed Knapp has reproduced the many liveries of the airlines both real and vitrual that fly them. Software engineer Peter Jacobson has modeled a custom FMC for ease of flying this new aircraft.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner gives you the opportunity to pilot one of the biggest and most exciting new passenger airliners in the world. With more than 400 of them on order now from airlines around the world, the Boeing 787 looks to be a true "next generation" aircraft. Although not scheduled to enter service until 2008, Boeing’s latest offering will carry 300 passengers up to 8000 miles at Mach .85. Its high-tech design will also make it the most fuel efficient jetliner in the world.

Designed with painstaking attention to detail, the developers of this Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004/FSX compatible expansion pack had their top designer, the legendary Tolga Piskin, spend hour upon hour recreating the immersive feel of this aircraft’s superb cockpit. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner benefits from a strikingly handsome outer body, but this package’s real pièce de resistance is the full 3D virtual cockpit. The specialised instrumentation includes a customised Flight Management Computer (FMC) which is virtually identical to the real thing along with complete easy-to-follow documentation to learn how to use it.

The FMC works with Flight Simulator’s built in Flight Planner and allows you to fly virtually hands-off except for taking off and landing. This package also includes a series of flights for you to pilot which represent authentic passenger routes and schedules.

Included liveries:

* Boeing House Colors
* Icelandair
* AllNippon Airways
* Sucaba
* Transload VA
* Lynx Airways VA
* Air Florida VA
* Pinellas VA
* Air Tampa VA
* LSA VA
* West Wind Airlines VA
* Fly UK VA
* Noble Air VA
* Atlantic Skies VA
* Boeing 787 Paint Kit with blank textures

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is produced under license from Boeing Management Company. 787 & Boeing are among the trademarks owned by Boeing.
Watch a Video of Fly the 787 Dreamliner

Fly The Boeing 787 Dreamliner - FSX/FS2004

Microsoft Flight Simulator X (DVD)

Media format: DVD-ROM
Platform: Windows XP / Windows Vista

Standard Edition includes:

* 2 DVD
* 18 airplanes
* 40 high-detail airports (16 new to Flight Simulator)
* 28 high-detail cities
* 30+ structured missions

Flight Simulator X is the culmination of nearly 25 years of the landmark Flight Simulator franchise and its most significant addition to date. The 10th addition to the highly successful “Flight Simulator” franchise, Flight Simulator X will immerse players in a beautifully rich and realistic world, offering a completely new and innovative gaming experience with dozens of new aircraft to choose from, including the AirCreation 582SL Ultralight and Maule M7-260C Orion with wheels and skis. Gamers of all ages, types and skill levels will experience firsthand what it is like to be an aviator traveling the globe either alone or online with others.

Features

Immersive world.
Flight Simulator X offers players a rich and innovative gaming experience with new technological advancements, incredible graphics and added realism including weather, time of day and seasons. Pilots can watch moving cars and detailed buildings in cities below; traffic on highways; indigenous houses, farmland and livestock; and wildlife in its natural habitats.

Mission-based gameplay.
With the addition of new mission-based gameplay, players will have a specific purpose as their world comes alive for the first time with automobile traffic, moving boats and ships, and animal life. With more than 50 new missions to choose from, aviators can build their skill levels and engage in even more stimulating gameplay than before. Players can choose to compete in the Red Bull Air Race or bring relief materiel to the Congo, keeping track of their progress on each mission.

New aircraft.
Flight Simulator X will enable pilots to fly the aircraft of their dreams, from the DeHavilland DHC-2 Beaver floatplane and Grumman G-21A Goose to the AirCreation 582SL Ultralight and Maule M7-260C Orion with wheels and skis. Players will be amazed at the details — such as shaded rivets, reflective paint, and glint from glass and chrome — as they view the world from 100 feet to 1 million feet.

Connected world.
Through increased online gameplay capabilities, “Flight Simulator X” offers players a connected world where they can choose whom they want to be, from air-traffic controller to pilot or co-pilot, as they interact with other aviators from around the globe by chatting in real time via headset and keyboard.

Interactive airports.
More than 24,000 airports feature AI-controlled jetways, fuel trucks and moving baggage carts, allowing players to explore their hometown or venture to a favorite far-off city.

Title: Flight Simulator X
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: ACES Studio
Format: DVD for the Microsoft® Windows® XP and Windows Vista™ operating systems
ESRB Rating: “E” for Everyone
Availability: Holiday 2006

FAQ

Q: What’s new in “Microsoft Flight Simulator X”?
A: Many of the new features in “Flight Simulator X” are based on requests from our loyal community who have provided creative input into our decision process. Therefore, we are excited to bring our fans the most revolutionary addition to the “Flight Simulator” franchise yet. We take full advantage of Windows Vista and the latest Windows gaming hardware to create a beautifully rich and immersive 3D world for aviation fans, young and old, to explore and experience. The new enhancements extend beyond the look and feel of the planet—the advances in graphics will benefit the aircraft as well, and fans will be amazed at the new level of detail in the models and the realistic effects like sun glint off the glass and chrome, reflective paint, and even shaded rivets on the fuselage. For the more gameplay-minded, we are adding a new mission-based element to give fans a more objective driven experience with a sense of progression and skill development. We are also improving the multiplayer technology to allow the community to connect in new ways. This is just the beginning and, in the coming months, we look forward to sharing more information about “Flight Simulator X” as we lead up to launch at the end of the year.

Q: Will “Flight Simulator X” require Windows Vista?
A: No. While “Flight Simulator X” will not require Windows Vista, it will be optimized for the latest in Windows gaming hardware and fans will get the best experience by running on Windows Vista.

Q: What type of computer hardware will I need to run “Flight Simulator X”?
A: While we are still determining exact hardware requirements, we do know that it will run on a wide range of configurations because we want to make “Flight Simulator X” accessible to a wide range of fans.

Q: Will “Flight Simulator X” ship on DVD only?
A: Yes, for the first time “Flight Simulator” will ship on DVD only in order to provide the highest level of detail and realism for the product and we do not plan to offer a CD-based version.

Q: Will aircraft from FS2004 be compatible with “Flight Simulator X”?
A: Backward compatibly with existing 3rd party content is and has always been a priority for us, and we attempt to test as many add-ons as possible in order to provide the greatest level of compatibility.

Q: What are the types of aircraft featured in “Flight Simulator X”?
A: We will offer a range of aircraft to support a wide variety of flying experiences and many of the aircraft will be tied to specific mission-based experiences. Our basic fleet is merely the starting point because we are going to make it easier to download additional aircraft created by the many accomplished add-on developers in the community.

Q: How many airports are included in “Flight Simulator X?”
A: We have included more than 24,000 airports in “Flight Simulator X” and the coverage extends to every continent. We also focused a select number of high-detail airports and added a new level of “interactivity” that the add-on community will certainly expand upon.

Q: What new partners or endorsements will “Flight Simulator X” carry?
A: We are not quite ready to shine the spotlight on our new partners and endorsements, but they will be taking center stage in the months leading up to our launch.

Watch a Video of Flight Simulator X

Second Boeing 787 Dreamliner Completes First Flight

2009-12-23T18:08:00.009-07:00

EVERETT, Wash., Dec. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The second Boeing (NYSE: BA) 787 Dreamliner, ZA002, completed its first flight today. The all-new airplane, which features the livery of the Dreamliner's launch customer, ANA (All Nippon Airways) of Japan, took off from Paine Field in Everett, completed a two-hour flight and landed at Boeing Field in Seattle.

"We are delighted that the second Dreamliner is in the livery of our launch customer, ANA," said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. "We are honored by the airline's support and look forward to delivering ANA the first production airplane next year."

Captain Randy Neville was at the controls for the flight, with Chief Pilot Mike Carriker operating as co-pilot. Neville and Carriker took the airplane to an altitude of 13,000 feet (3,962 m) and an airspeed of 200 knots, or about 230 miles (370 km) per hour. The airplane took off at 9:09 a.m. PST and landed at 11:10 a.m. PST.

This is the second of six 787s being used in the airplane's flight-test program. Each of the airplanes will be used for a specific set of tests, with this airplane focusing on systems performance. Like its predecessor, ZA001, the airplane is powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines.

"We would like to convey our sincere congratulations to the Boeing team for its achievement of this milestone, and we look forward to the delivery into our fleet next year," said Shinichiro Ito, president and CEO of ANA.

B-52 50th Anniversary

50 Years of Exceptional Service Span Cold War to Enduring Freedom

April 15, 2002, marks the 50th anniversary of the first flight of the B-52 Stratofortress, a milestone in Boeing and aviation history.

The B-52 was America's first long-range, swept-wing heavy bomber. Now entering its sixth decade of service, it continues to be an important element of the U.S. Air Force bomber fleet. No bomber in U.S. military history has been called upon to remain operational as long as the B-52.

With a 185-foot wingspan, a length of more than 160 feet and a gross weight of more than 480,000 pounds, the B-52 earned the nickname BUFF, short for Big Ugly Fat Fellow.

Originally designed as a long-range, high-altitude nuclear bomber, the B-52 has upgraded its operational capabilities to meet changing needs.

Employees built a total of 744 B-52s, in eight different production versions, at Boeing facilities in Seattle and Wichita, Kansas. Of these, only the H model remains in service today. The last B-52H - tail number 61-040 -- rolled off the Wichita assembly line on June 22, 1962.

Over the years, Boeing has made major modifications to the B-52 fleet and expects to perform additional improvements to assure the Stratofortress will be a viable part of the U.S. bomber fleet well into the century. B-52s have been modified for extended-range flights, low-level flight, the launching of cruise missiles and delivery of precision-guided conventional bombs. Most of the modifications have been made -- and will continue to be made -- at the Wichita Development and Modification Center, part of the Boeing Military Aerospace Support business.

For the first 10 years of its operational service, the B-52's principal role was as a nuclear deterrent in the Cold War against Soviet communism.

It first entered combat in the skies over Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, when it was used to strike targets with conventional weapons. B-52s again saw action in 1991 during Operation Desert Storm, striking troop concentrations, staging areas and fixed installations. The aircraft demonstrated its flexibility during Operation Allied Force in the Balkans, where it first launched conventional cruise missiles, then transitioned to deliver general-purpose bombs. Today, in Operation Enduring Freedom, B-52s fly in support of U.S. and coalition forces, hitting ground targets with precision-guided munitions.

About 10 years ago, after the Gulf War, stories began circulating about grown-up children of B-52 pilots who were flying B-52s. More recently the stories say that current Air Force B-52 pilots are the grandchildren of early B-52 pilots. No matter that the Cold War the B-52 was designed to fight ended long ago. The role of the Stratofortess as a heavy bomber continues, as do the stories of BUFF's amazing adventures and the direct and proud lineage of those B-52 pilots.

Boeing B-1 With FIDL Avionics Upgrade Completes 1st Phase of Flight Test

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., Dec. 18, 2009 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] has successfully completed the first phase of flight test for a B-1 bomber upgraded with new digital avionics. The B-1 Fully Integrated Data Link (FIDL) flight test plan for Phase 1 concluded Oct. 16; it included nine sorties performed by the U.S. Air Force at Edwards Air Force Base.

"This upgrade replaces 25-year-old avionics processing, displays and keyboards," said Eric Vanderslice, B-1 FIDL program manager for Boeing. "Those old systems have very limited functionality. It also changes the configuration of the limited display space that helps the crew perform the aircraft's mission. We are going from bulky cathode-ray-tube screens to higher-functioning flat-panel displays, giving crews more situational awareness and more space."

Phase 1 included observations of how the crew acclimated to the new configuration; temperature and vibration tests on the new hardware; and functionality tests of all the display-related software upgrades, including the new moving maps. An 8-inch by 10-inch flat-panel display shows a picture of the terrain below that changes as the aircraft moves, much like a GPS system does in a car. B-1 crews will enter their destination and flight path before departure in order for the moving map to provide a continuously updated display of the route.

Now that Phase 1 testing is complete, the B-1 aircraft will go to Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., for programmed depot maintenance. The remaining software flight-test objectives (emphasizing data link functionality) will be performed during Phase 2, which is scheduled to begin at Edwards in April 2010 and run for 10 months. The Air Force is expected to award a contract in November 2010 for the production of FIDL installation kits for the service's entire B-1 fleet.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32 billion business with 70,000 employees worldwide.

Carrier Strike Force

2009-12-21T21:26:00.013-07:00

Media format: CD-ROM To Purchase: Carrier Strike Force - FSX/FS2004
Compatibility: Microsoft Flight Simulator X / 2004

Carrier Strike Force continues the excitement of aircraft carrier operations.

You'll take the seat on board new aircraft and fly from three new carriers. On board the Charles de Gaulle, the powerful catapult gets your mighty Rafale M airborne in just a few hundred feet. And during recovery, you'll want your tailhook to catch the steel cable to bring your muscular aircraft to a screeching halt. Fly the new F-35 JSF and the Harrier in vertical flight from the HMS Illustrious and USS Bonhomme Richard.

Carrier based flight is the ultimate challenge in aviation and in Carrier Strike Force you can climb into the cockpit of three super detailed high performance aircraft from around the world and land or take-off from the deck of moving aircraft carriers!

Carrier Strike Force has a truly impressive fleet of aircraft that will keep you on the edge of your seat and a set of 6 exciting missions plus a further 6 open-ended practice missions for users of Flight Simulator X to complete.

HMS Illustrious, or “Lusty” as she is known by her crew, is the second of three Invincible Class aircraft carriers and features the AV-8B II Plus Harrier aircraft similar to that on the front cover. 4 Gas Turbine Olympus engines power “Lusty” making her a marinised version of Concorde, with a top speed in excess of 30 knots.

The USS Bonhomme Richard is an amphibious assault ship with a primary mission of embarking, deploying and landing elements of a Marine force in amphibious assault operations by helicopter, landing craft, amphibious vehicles or combination of theses means. In this package you will be landing a F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter on her decks.

Charles de Gaulle was commissioned in September 2000 and is a 38,000t, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, constructed at Brest in Brittany. Following sea trials in 1999, she had the deck lengthened by 4.4 metres and can operate a fleet of up to 40 aircraft including the Rafale M fighters included in this package.

New technology has meant that the aircraft carriers in Carrier Strike Force actually move, presenting the flight simmer with a real challenge to land the aircraft on a moving deck. The carriers are strategically based around the world.

Each aircraft is dressed in authentic paint schemes and with beautifully rendered graphics, including animated flight control surfaces and accurate flight models.

For this add-on you'll have all military new equipment:

* USS Bonhomme Richard
* French Charles de Gaulle
* British HMS Illustrious
* F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike FighterTM
* AV-8B II Plus HarrierTM
* Rafale M

Highlights of Carrier Strike Force

* FSX - moving carrier - you'll takeoff and land from a moving surface
* FSX - super-accurate launch and recovery using 3WireX technology
* FSX - five great missions and six open ended mini training missions
* FSX - maverick missle
* Aircraft Carriers - USS Bonhomme Richard, HMS Illustrious, Charles de Gaulle

Carrier Strike Force incorporates the same new technology found in our bestselling Flight Deck 5 package. You'll operate from moving aircraft carriers with super accurate catapult launch and recovery system*. You'll experience the thrill of authentic deck operations with AI traffic on and above the carrier. You'll see why cable recovery on the short flight deck is both thrilling and nerve-wracking.

With five previous release of our world-reknown Flight Deck Series we have the know-how and experience to bring you the excitement of aircraft carrier-based flight.

* Moving carrier, catapult/recovery operations using 3WireX, missions and mini-missions available for FSX only;
Static carrier, simplified catapult/recovery operations and 200 pre-saved flghts for FS2004.

Launch
It's launch time on the Charles de Gaulle. Taxi into position over the catapult. The launch team connects you. The steam is flowing and the catapult armed. Shove the throttles forward. Release the brakes. The catapult slams you to the back of your seat.

Recovery
Returning to the Charles de Gaulle, you'll descend, fly past the carrier, turn a quick base and lower your flaps. Quickly lose some speed and then turn final to line up with the deck. Drop your gear and tailhook. Don't loose too much height. The LSO gives you the green. Hold steady. Over the edge hit the deck and give it full power.
Aviation Pilot Headset HS-1

Fly these exciting FSX missions

All missions are top quality - just like our highly regarded Mission Series (Mission: Blackhawk and Mission: Combat Force) and Flight Deck 5 add-ons. They feature exciting action and narration.

* Mig Crisis - You're on maneuvers in F-35 in the north pacific with the carrier task force when a new break away rouge state claims territorial waters of your route and sends out 4 Mig aircraft towards the carriers
* Mig Thunder 1 - The Charles de Gaulle carrier is under attack by 4 unidentified Mig aircraft off of South America.
* Mig Tunder 2 - The Charles de Gaulle carrier is under attack by 4 unidentified Mig aircraft off in the Mediterranean.
* Mig Thunder 3- The Charles de Gaulle carrier is under attack by 4 unidentified Mig aircraft off of a desert coast of Africa.
* Joint Mission Training - Fly the F-35 on maneuvers from the Charles de Gaulle along side the UK HMS Illustrious and the USS Bonehomme Richard.
* HMS Illustrious Training - Joint practice naval amphibious operations with the US navy and Marines at Cape Wrath bombing range

Practice Missions – these missions are open-ended. You come in for a landing and can fly around and try again if you want. There are no rewards given.

* Charles De Gaulle operations in Hawaii
* Charles De Gaulle operations in Indian Ocean
* Charles De Gaulle operations in Philippines
* Charles De Gaulle operations in Suez Cana
* HMS Illustrious operations in New Orleans
* HMS Illustrious operations in the Panama Canal

Watch a video of Carrier Strike Force

To Purchase: Carrier Strike Force - FSX/FS2004

Boeing 747-400 (Virgin Atlantic) DVD Video

2009-12-21T19:13:00.006-07:00

To Purchase : Boeing 747-400 (Virgin Atlantic) DVD Video

Join Virgin Atlantic on a flight from London Heathrow International Airport, to San Francisco, USA

In this comprehensive look at the mighty Boeing 747-400 you join Captain Alan Carter, First Officer Allan Rattigan and First Officer John Cullom. Our journey begins at London Heathrow International Airport (EGLL), in the crew despatch office for pre-flight preparations.

Journey preparations

Captain Alan Carter takes you through a detailed look at the preparations for our journey. This includes route information, weather, alternate airports, fuel and NOTAM information. We then proceed to our aircraft (G-VXLG) for the walk round followed by meeting the other flightdeck crew members. We then follow the departure brief, pushback, engine start and taxi. Our departure is a Wobun Two Foxtrot using runway 27R.

Multiple camera angles

During the takeoff on flight VS 19, you will see multiple camera angles showing the externals of the departure, forward view of the runway etc. Once established in the cruise Captain Alan Carter (Pilot Flying) gives you a guided tour of the B747-400 flightdeck. Systems include the Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS), Engine Indication and Crew Alerting System (EICAS), a detailed explanation of the engine start procedure and information on electrics, hydraulics, air conditioning etc.

Follow Air Traffic Control

First Officer Allan Rattigan also explains the takeoff performance calculations and how they are arrived at, guides you around the overhead panel and introduces you to the Flight Management Computer (FMC). First Officer John Cullom also shows you around the Mode Control Panel (MCP). We then follow the descent and approach brief for our Golden Gate Four arrival into San Francisco International Airport (KSFO) using runway 28L. During our flight you will be able to follow our Air Traffic Control, briefings and checklists.

Captain Alan Carter

Alan born in England in 1963. After completing his "A" levels, whilst also training for his PPL at school, Alan attended the Oxford Air Training School and completed his CPL/IR. Then when he was just 19 he was given a job by Dan Air Services as a co-pilot on the BAe 748 twin turboprop, based in Newcastle and later at London Gatwick.

Transfer to Boeing 727

Alan operated both scheduled and charter passenger flights as well as freight contracts around the United Kingdom and Europe. Three years later Alan transferred onto the Boeing 727 aircraft operating charter flights throughout the Mediterranean.

Joining Virgin Atlantic

Alan remained on the Boeing 727 until November 1989, his last flight was into Berlin's Tegel airport the night the wall came down. He then left Dan Air and joined Virgin Atlantic on the Boeing 747-100/200 fleet as a co-pilot. Alan was promoted to Captain in 1994 at the age of 30. In February 1996 he was transferred to the Boeing 747-400 fleet.

Virgin Atlantic Airways

Virgin Atlantic was founded on 22 June 1984 and has become Britain's second largest long haul airline serving 20 destinations.

Innovative Service

The airline's aim is to provide the highest quality and innovative service at excellent value for money for all classes of air travellers. Now based at London's Gatwick and Heathrow airports, it operates long haul services from Heathrow to New York (Newark and JFK), Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, Miami, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Athens, Johannesburg, Shanghai, Chicago and Delhi. Virgin also operates the following services from Gatwick to Boston, Orlando, Barbados, St Lucia, Antigua, Newark and Athens. Virgin Atlantic also operates a service from Manchester airport to Orlando.

This is a Plantinum Collection Title!
Each Platinum Collection program offers the following exciting features:

Digital Stereo Audio - Experience stereo audio of the highest quality. All the audio for the Platinum Collection programmes is recorded using the latest digital audio recorders to bring you crystal clear audio enjoyment.

Digital Video - The Platinum Collection range of programmes are all shot on digital video tape to ensure the highest quality pictures available. ITVV have always been at the forefront of modern technology to bring you the very best in quality aviation viewing.

Digital Editing - The Platinum Collection are all edited "in-house" using ITVV’s own digital edit facilities, like-minded aviation enthusiasts and professionals which brings the added advantage of been able to take time to ensure you get to see what is of real interest and on DVD jump right to the part you want instantly!

Multi-Camera Shoot – Every programme in this range has been recorded using a minimum of six, full broadcast, digital cameras to ensure the very best in viewing. By utilising so many cameras we are able to bring you the variety of shoots that you would expect from an ITVV programme - the next best thing to being there!

Air Traffic Control - Listen into the air traffic control at the most important phases of our flights - again using digital audio you can hear the actual audio that the pilots themselves hear.

Join the flightdeck crew - By bringing you this wide variety of pictures along with stereo audio you will feel as though you are actually a part of the flightdeck crew! Witness the tension as the aircraft is rolling down the runway or on the approach into land.

To Purchase:Boeing 747-400 (Virgin Atlantic) DVD Video

Flight Tales - FSX

2009-12-21T11:31:00.006-07:00

Flight Tales - FSX
Media format: CD-ROM
Compatibility: Microsoft Flight Simulator X
Compatible with Microsoft Flight Simulator X

"Mayday, mayday! Double engine failure!" - "Captain, two green, one red, left main gear stuck!" - "Hang on, this is going to be a tough one!"...

Since the very first Flight Simulator every simulator pilot dreamed of scenarios like these. Extreme emergency situations, crucial rescue maneuvers, thrilling aerobatics: that's what makes PC-flying fun. With the new Flight Simulator such situations can be rendered much more realistic and thrilling than before. With the popularity of FSX default missions we decided to develop an Add-On with emergency missions, relaxed scenic flights and challenging head-to-head air races. The Mission Pack - Flight Tales I include 10 missions full of challenges for inexperienced as well as advanced pilots.

Take part in the Flight Tales 1, discover a lot of details, challenge your flight skills and earn lots of rewards. The default missions that are included in FSX are only a introduction to what missions could do, when you see these you know that the mission engine is capable of a lot more.

Features:

* 10 missions with different skill levels
* many additional objects and details
* detailed briefings
* many rewards

Missions included:

* Anchorage Postman Fly the weekly mailman tour and collect mail on several small airstrips on your way to Anchorage.
* Awakening Beaver The Beaver has been rested in the hangar for months. Now it's your turn to wake her up. Have you ever tried taking off from a runway with floats?
* Birthday Surprise Be your nephews most favorite uncle and visit him on his birthday. Fly through the Swiss mountains and pray for good weather.
* Black Forest Rally The Black Forest is a lovely landscape in southern Germany. Take off with your friends and don't forget your camera.
* Bright Skies Soaring with a glider is pure flying fun. Australia is a paradise for gliders. Relax and enjoy the flight or get a thrill by doing aerobatics.
* Tutorial Helpful information for flying missions
* French Distraction France, the famous Cote d'Azur. Approaching Nice airport with a A321 - no problem! Are you sure?
* Monaco Trophy The Principality of Monaco is also well known because of the Formula 1 race. But hey, why not do an air race?
* Only 60 Minutes The North Sea is a quite stormy sea. It won´t be surprising when there`s an emergency. Fly an SAR helicopter to rescue souls.
* Peruvian Rain Peru - the Andes, heavy rain, an old Dakota and people awaiting your humanitarian help. Are you up to the task?
* The Great Waldo Pepper Do you know the famous movie with Robert Redford? Astound the spectators by flying thrilling stunts at the air show of Oshkosh.

Conclusion by Avsim
"After reading this review, it should come as no surprise when I say that I had a blast inspecting this product. Each of the missions offered something that I liked, even those that took me outside of my comfort zone. I believe that this package is a good investment, not only because of the endless hours of entertainment it offers, but also because each mission invites you back for more, even after successful completion. Having replayed each mission several times, I continue to find new things that I missed before. There’s even a few trophies out there that continue to elude me....In closing, my input on this package is simple. If you enjoy the new mission feature in FSX and would like to add more adventure, purpose, and excitement to your simming routine, than you need to set course for Aerosoft’s website. Tune to FSX Mission Pack – Flight Tales 1, and you will be on course for hours upon hours of challenging entertainment.

Conclusion by flightsimx
"So, what else can I say about this great package, The missions are challenging, but there really is something for everyone, from the barnstormer, to the rescue pilot through the heavy iron pilot like me. Every mission comes with detailed charts, briefing and even designer notes for you to browse afterwards. All in all, a superb package only ever so slightly let down by a few thick accents, but for little more than €20’s it really represents great value. After all, how much fun can you really have at that price. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with a DC-3 in Peru, and it’s raining."

Tower Simulator

2009-12-21T10:37:00.008-07:00

Tower Simulator
Media format: DVD-ROM

Experience the thrill of Air Traffic Control!

Tower Simulator puts you in the controller's chair high atop a major or complex airport to choreograph the movements of incoming and outgoing air traffic.

Tower Simulator takes you into a world of authority and responsibility in which the lives of thousands of passengers depend on your ability to make split-second decisions.

As a tower controller, you handle realistic aircraft take-offs and landings, as well as aircraft ground movements through breathtaking out-the-window and radar views.
Runways, taxiways, aprons, flight paths, obstructions and airport structures are all under your control !

Highlights
Ground and Tower simulation
Photorealistic renditions of several worldwide airports
Multiple views, including out-the-window tower view, Air and Ground Radars
Realistic aircraft take-off, landing and moving along airport grounds
For beginners and experts, from free simulation to Career mode
Digitized pilots communications
Actively overlooked and supervised by licensed professionals
Based on actual FAA and European regulations
Advanced modern graphics and simulation technology
User configurable traffic rate, time of day, weather, etc.

Watch a video of Tower Simulator

Tower Simulator meets the two most important training criteria
for a high-fidelity ATC tower training environment :
Highly realistic scenario generation
Adjustable time of day, weather and seasonal conditions.

Tower Simulator is a stand alone program which does not require any other simulator to work.

Handle living airports !

60+ airplanes models from general aviation up to the most recent airliner (including Airbus A380, cargo movement aircraft,...)
300+ airlines flying according to their actual timetables
Advanced aircraft behaviors based on manufacturers' flying characteristics and official aeronautical procedures
Ground traffic to reflect daily activity level with service vehicles moving according to the traffic: pushback, fuel truck, luggage trucks,â€¦ before, during and after the aircraft arrival
Multiple events to evaluate your ability to make split-second appropriate decision
Gate assignments for airlines in order to match living world used gates
Life road traffic in the airports vicinity
Aircraft lights based on real circumstances.

Tower Simulator is definitely YOUR simulation!
Simulation suited to beginners and experts :
* Adjustable complexity level
* Assigned path can be made visible on the ground
Floating and resizable windows: air radar, ground radar, arrival & departure printable strips
Reward calculated according to airport difficulty, number of aircraft handled, user's level
Score and salary depending on statistics, rewards, earnings, career, mistakes,â€¦
Implemented regulations based on FAA and European guidelines
User-friendly interface
Complete in-depth manual with detailed official procedures description and airport charts
Multilingual installation : English, French, German, Spanish.

Customize Tower Simulator with controller's name and picture, time schedule, callsign, airlines, gate assignments, repaintable airplanes,...

Challenge yourself in a living environment !
Airports ranked by handling difficulty level, from the island airport to the world's busiest airport
User ruled airport lighting for runways, taxiways, parking areas
Multiple views: tower, radar and 'binocular' to easily locate and control further aircraft, vehicles,...
Male/female digitized pilots voices with various accents
Dynamic sound experience featuring Doppler effects
Realistic environment with beautiful sunset, sunrise, moonlight,...
Challenging and adjustable conditions: rain, snow, thunderstorms, fog, and time of the day
Realistic clouds movements

True-to-life photorealistic airports
AIRPORTS COUNTRY CODE
Orange County, CA USA KSNA
Chicago O'hare, IL USA KORD
Princess Juliana St-Maarten TNCM
Paris Charles de Gaulle France LFPG
Munich Airport Germany EDDM

Tower Simulator
Media format: DVD-ROM

Flight Simulator Mikoyan MiG-29

2009-12-21T10:14:00.008-07:00

AFS Design - MiG-29 Fulcrum - FSX/FS2004

Media format: CD-ROM
Compatibility: Microsoft Flight Simulator X / 2004

The Mikoyan MiG-29 is a 3th generation jet fighter aircraft designed for an air superiority role in the Soviet Union. Developed in the 1970s by the Mikoyan design bureau, it entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1983, and remains in use by the Russian Air Force as well as in many other nations. NATO’s reporting name for the MiG-29 is "Fulcrum", which was unofficially used by Soviet pilots in service. It was developed to counter new American fighters such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon, and the F-15 Eagle.

Technical data of the Mig-29:

Crew: 1
Power Plant: Two Klimov/Sarkisov RD-33 turbofans
Thrust: 22,200 pounds
Wingspan: 36 feet and 5 inches
Height: 15 feet and 6.25 inches
Length: 56 feet and 10 inches
Weight (empty): 24,030 pounds
Maximum Speed: Mach 2.3, 1,520 mph
Ceiling: 18400 meters
Cruise range: 905 nm
In-Flight Refueling: No
Internal Fuel: 4000kg
Payload: 4000kg
Sensors: Slot Back radar, IRST,RWR, Balistic bombsight

The AFS-design Mig-29 product features the following:

* Detailed outside and interior model inclusive animated virtual cockpit
* Highly soluble textures with surfaces reflecting
* Extensive light effects (e.g. Navigation and landing lights)
* Numerous animations (e.g. canoby, move in gear with spring system)
* Animation of all tax flaps (e.g. airbrakes and spoilers)
* Realistic flight dynamics (inclusive different trim steps for optimal trim)
* Formation flight model with three Mig-29
* Complete functioning autopilot
* Avionics for radio navigation
* Engine animation inclusive thrust reversing and afterburner
* Completely functioning virtual cockpit from view of the pilot
* modified Scenery military airfield Rostock - Laage

The AFS-design Mig-29 product features the following liveries:

* Germany "Bundeswehr Luftwaffe" Airforce
* German Democratic Rebublic ( GDR ) National Peoplearmy ( NVA )
* Russia Airforce
* Russia Airforce with special repaint
* Repaints from Poland, Hungary and Slovakia Airforces
AFS Design - MiG-29 Fulcrum - FSX/FS2004

Researching aviation schools

2009-12-12T21:37:00.017-07:00

Your best friend flies the red-eye from Boston every week. Your mom gets on the plane to visit her grandkids. No matter who it is, your friends and loved ones are flying the friendly skies every day thanks to high-flying professionals with aviation training. Are you concerned about safeguarding their freedom and well-being? Of course you are. That's why now is the perfect time to position your aviation career for takeoff.

Of course, no one knows how to handle the guts of a plane without being taught. That's where quality aviation training from top-notch aviation schools comes in. You can earn a hands-on degree in airframe and power plant maintenance, airline/travel, aviation maintenance, avionics, professional flying, quality control, and other hot aviation careers.

As an airframe and power plant technician, it's your job to keep planes, jets, helicopters, and other crafts in optimum flying condition. Or, with a degree in avionics, you'll learn about, design, and implement the latest technologies to power an aircraft.

Plus, job opportunities for aviation careers are favorable for highly trained technicians. Employment in the aerospace industry is expected to rise above recent levels in the next few years, which is not surprising in a country that's forever on the go. And, national defense keeps the industry booming, too.

In addition, many aircraft plants pay tuition and related costs for their employees' college education or aviation training at aviation schools. That way, it's possible to work and get trained at the same time, which can provide you with more skills and more money in less time. Who wouldn't want that?

• Airframe and Powerplant

Every day, thousands of planes, jets, and helicopters are flown all over the world, and it is the responsibility of airframe and powerplant (A&P) technicians to keep them in safe flying condition. When it comes time to hiring, employers know they can count on Redstone College graduates. If you want a job working with exciting aviation technology, then you should choose our 18-month-long A&P Program*. By the end of your training, you'll have top-notch skills and a diploma or degree — things that you'll need as you pursue your new career in the aviation industry.

• Avionics

Today's powerful jets and helicopters don't run on duct tape; they use the very latest technologies. And electronics and avionics professionals are the people who understand, design, and implement these technologies. Our Advanced Electronics Technology Program

(Avionics) can be completed in 17 1/2 months and includes focused, hands-on training. You'll work in classrooms, on computers, in labs, and inside a full-size Boeing 727 cockpit to learn how to apply your practical knowledge to the real world. By the end of the program you'll have top-notch skills, an associate of occupational studies degree, and be well on your way to a new career that'll provide you with all the challenges and excitement you're looking for.

Aviation Training

Maybe you’ve wanted fly planes since you were six. Or maybe you saw Leonardo DiCaprio in the “Aviator” and dreamed of becoming a modern day Howard Hughes. Whatever the case, you need one thing before you can pursue your dream – aviation training.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the U.S. Armed Forces has always been the go-to source for trained pilots of civilian jobs. This is because military pilots gain extensive experience on jet aircraft and helicopters, making them better suited for civilian pilot jobs.

However, you don’t need to sign up to the military to become a pilot. Aviation training is available through 600 flight schools across the country, including some colleges and
universities. Increasingly, many airlines are requiring at least two years of college – although a college degree is preferred – to become a pilot. As the number of college-educated pilot applicants increases, many airlines are making a college degree a requirement for a job. However, the BLS says that some small airlines will hire high school graduates.

Before you decide on an aviation training school, you may want to decide which type of aircraft you’d want to fly since different license ratings are required for different aircrafts. For instance, those wishing to transport passengers and cargo must have a commercial pilot’s license with an instrument rating issued by the FAA, while helicopter pilots must hold a commercial pilot’s certificate with a helicopter rating.

An additional requirement in your aviation training will be completing a certain amount of hours of flight experience. A bonus to attending aviation training at a college or university is that the hours of flight experience required can be reduced through certain flight school curricula – just be sure its approved by the FAA.
Aviation training will also require you to be in top physical condition. You must pass a strict physical examination to ensure good health, 20/20 vision with or without glasses, good hearing, and no physical handicaps that could impair their performance. And just because you can fly high doesn’t mean you aviation training won’t require written exams – be prepared to answer questions on the principles of safe flight, navigation techniques, and FAA regulations.

Start a Career in Today's Hottest Aviation Industries

* Aviation Visit the Pilot Shop
* Airframe & Powerplant
* Avionics
* Aircraft Mechanics
* Aviation Maintenance

Aircraft Purchase Agreements

2009-05-26T14:44:00.002-07:00

by: Greg Reigel
Aircraft Purchase Agreements

© 2004 Reigel & Associates, Ltd./Aero Legal Services. All rights reserved.

Why Use An Aircraft Purchase Agreement?

It always surprises me when a potential aircraft buyer is unsure of whether he or she should use a purchase agreement when buying an aircraft. Most of these individuals have purchased homes and no doubt used a purchase agreement in such transactions. Yet, many of these same individuals would spend the same amount of money to purchase an aircraft, and often times a great deal more money, without the protection of a written aircraft purchase agreement.

Aircraft purchase agreements should be used in almost every aircraft sale transaction. First, the law in most states requires that a contract for an amount greater than $500.00 be in writing in order for it to be enforceable. This is called the statute of frauds. Although exceptions to this legal doctrine exist, complying with the law is usually safer than hoping you will be able to take advantage of an exception.

Further, using an aircraft purchase agreement can also help avoid confusion and misunderstandings. If the agreement clearly explains how the transaction will happen, when it will happen and what is included in the deal, the greater the likelihood that the buyer and seller will each know the other party's expectations and the less chance for surprises or misunderstandings.

What Terms Should Be Included?

The number and complexity of the terms that should be included in an aircraft purchase agreement will often times be dictated by the type and value of the aircraft being purchased/sold. Although by no means inclusive, the following terms provide a good place to start.

Identify the Parties. The agreement should identify who is selling the aircraft and who is buying the aircraft. Although this sounds simple to do, it isn't always clear who is the seller and who is the buyer. It is very common for aircraft to be registered in the name of a corporation or limited liability company. In that case, the individual with whom you are negotiating is not the owner of the aircraft and should not be listed as the seller. The registered owner of the aircraft should be identified as the seller.

The buyer on the other hand, can be an individual or a corporation or limited liability company. If an individual is the buyer, that person will be listed and upon registration will be the record owner of the aircraft. To fully take advantage of release and indemnity language discussed in greater detail below, the seller may also want to consider having an individual buyer's spouse execute the purchase agreement.

If a corporation or limited liability company will be registering the aircraft, the purchase agreement should identify that entity as the buyer. Alternatively, an individual can sign an agreement as the buyer and, as long as the agreement allows the buyer to assign his or her rights under the agreement, that individual may still assign the agreement to a corporation or limited liability company prior to closing. The corporation or limited liability company then becomes the buyer and can close on the transaction without the individual ever entering the chain of title. From a liability perspective, this can be important.

Identify the Aircraft. The aircraft purchase agreement should identify the aircraft with as much detail as possible. At a minimum, it should include the make, model, N-number and serial number for the aircraft. Ideally, a list of all avionics, logbooks, handbooks, additional equipment and any accessories should be included. Also, if the seller intends to retain certain items, those items should be specifically identified and excluded from the transaction. By taking the time to detail exactly what is and isn't being sold, you will prevent misunderstandings at delivery.

Purchase/Sale Price. The agreement should specify how much is being paid for the aircraft. If the buyer will be giving the seller a deposit or earnest money, that fact should be included. Also, what happens to the deposit when it is given to the seller? Will the money be placed in escrow or simply held by the seller? If an escrow agent is not involved, the buyer will need to obtain some assurance that his or her deposit will not simply disappear into the seller's pocket making the buyer's recovery from the seller difficult or impossible if the transaction does not close. The agreement should also state under what conditions the seller must refund the deposit to the buyer.

The buyer's method of payment should also be stated. Is it a cash transaction or will financing be involved? If financing is involved, the buyer may want to include language that makes the transaction contingent upon the buyer obtaining financing on terms acceptable to the buyer. That way, if the buyer isn't able to obtain satisfactory financing, the buyer will not be forced to complete the purchase on financially unacceptable terms.

Will other consideration be given to the seller, such as a trade? If so, to the extent that it is possible, the item(s) to be traded to the seller should be identified with the same amount of detail used to describe the aircraft being purchased. This will help avoid later confusion.

Documents. The agreement should include a statement about which documents the seller will sign and deliver to the buyer at closing. Usually this includes a Bill of Sale (FAA Form 8050-2) and a signed current Registration Form (FAA Form 8050-3).

Pre-purchase inspection. In most transactions, the buyer will want to have a pre-purchase inspection performed on the aircraft. The purchase agreement can specify who will perform the inspection, what qualifications that individual must possess and where the inspection will take place. Also, the buyer should make the agreement contingent upon the buyer's satisfaction with results of the inspection. Although the buyer is usually responsible for the expenses associated with a pre-purchase inspection, the agreement should address which party is responsible for what expenses related to the inspection.

Warranties. It is possible to include a variety of warranties in the purchase agreement representing certain conditions of the aircraft (e.g. warranties of airworthiness, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose etc.). However, due to space limitations most of these warranties will not be discussed here.

From a buyer's perspective, the warranty of title is probably most important. This warranty ensures that the buyer receives title to the aircraft free and clear of any liens or mortgages. Although the buyer will still want to obtain a title search of the FAA Registry's records for the airplane, having the warranty of title included in the purchase agreement will help to minimize the risk of any unrecorded liens or interests in the aircraft.

Most sellers will want to include a disclaimer in the purchase agreement stating that the buyer is purchasing the aircraft "As-is". This language is intended to limit the seller's responsibility for any defects or unknown conditions in the aircraft. If the buyer is having a thorough pre-purchase inspection performed by a qualified mechanic familiar with the specific aircraft, inclusion of this disclaimer in the purchase agreement is probably not a great concern for the buyer.

Choice of Law/Venue. If the transaction involves a buyer and seller from different states, it may be prudent to include language in the purchase agreement that governs what law applies to the transaction and where any disputes would have to be resolved.

Waiver and Release of Liability. The seller will want waiver and release of liability language in the purchase agreement to limit potential liability for injury or damage sustained by the buyer arising out of the buyer's use of the aircraft. The language should be in bold, all caps letters to make sure it is obvious and not buried in the fine print of the purchase agreement.

Waiver and release of liability language will not release a seller from responsibility for the seller's intentional acts or gross negligence. Nor will it prevent possible claims from third-parties who are injured or damaged by buyer's use of the aircraft or from the buyer's minor children. However, it will prevent the buyer, and the buyer's spouse if the spouse has signed the purchase agreement, from suing the seller if a defect in the aircraft causes an accident that results in injury or damages.

What Remedy Does An Aircraft Purchase Agreement Give You?

First, an aircraft purchase agreement is not a 100% guarantee that a buyer or seller will not be sued. In this litigious world, I don't know that such a guarantee is possible. Further, the purchase agreement alone does not make anyone do anything. If a buyer or seller does not want to comply with his or her obligations, the purchase agreement will not change that. However, the purchase agreement will give you the ability to go to court and have a judge make the non-performing or "breaching" party comply with his or her obligations.

If the purchase agreement is drafted clearly and with sufficient detail, it may be possible to have the court specifically enforce the agreement (e.g. make the breaching party do what the purchase agreement says he or she is supposed to do). An example would be where a buyer refused to complete a transaction even though the seller and the aircraft complied with all of the terms of the purchase agreement. In this case, a court could force the buyer to purchase the aircraft.

Alternatively, the court may award money damages for losses incurred by the non-breaching party. An example of this is when a seller refuses to return a deposit even though the buyer has complied with all of the terms of the purchase agreement and has a right to return of the money. In this situation, a court could enter a judgment against the seller in the amount of the unreturned security deposit.

Conclusion

An aircraft purchase agreement is a valuable tool to ensure that each party to an aircraft purchase transaction receives what is expected. It prevents confusion and misunderstanding and provides security that a party will have recourse if the other party to the transaction fails to perform as required. With minimal up-front time and expense, both buyers and sellers can protect their interests and maximize the likelihood of an uneventful closing and purchase.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Greg is an aviation attorney, author and holds a commercial pilot certificate with instrument rating. His practice concentrates on aviation litigation, including insurance matters and creditor's rights, FAA certificate actions and aviation related transactional matters. He can be reached via e-mail at greigel@aerolegalservices.com or check out his website at www.aerolegalservices.com.

Sample:

AIRCRAFT DELIVERY RECEIPT

As of this ___ day of _______________, 20___, __________________________ (hereinafter referred to as "Buyer") accepts delivery at _______________________________________ Airport, of the aircraft described below: That certain ____________________________________ model aircraft bearing United States Registration Number N__________ and manufacturer's serial number _____, together with two ______________________________________ model engines, bearing manufacturer's serial numbers __________ and __________, and all other appliances, data, parts, instruments, appurtenances, accessories, furnishings, or other equipment or property installed on or attached to said aircraft and engines as well as loose equipment and the aircraft documents associated with the above, as defined in that certain Aircraft Purchase Agreement (the "Agreement") by and between Buyer and Seller, dated the ___ day of _______________, 20___, all of which shall be hereinafter referred to collectively as the "Aircraft".

Buyer has inspected the Aircraft and all Aircraft Documents, as defined in the Agreement.

The Aircraft is accepted as meeting the terms and conditions of the Agreement this ___ day of ________________, 20___.

BUYER:

ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED:

SELLER:

Legal Disclaimer

We're pleased to provide this sample agreement as a courtesy to our clients and their professional advisors. While every effort has been made to provide comprehensive, accurate, current and useful agreements, forms and documents, Exeter 1031 Exchange Services, LLC does not warrant or guarantee the information, content or accuracy, nor provide any legal opinion or representation on the agreements, forms or documents in any way.

AIRCRAFT OWNERSHIP: IS THE TIME RIGHT?

2009-05-23T17:20:00.001-07:00

by: Pat Redmond
In the hours and days immediately following the tragic attacks on America of 9/11, there was much speculation about the effects on the general aviation industry. While the events of September 11, 2001 have had a significant impact on the economy as a whole, sales of personal aircraft in Michigan have experienced a surprising boost. Certainly, the convenience of personal transportation has played a major role in this increase as airport lines and security have become more time consuming. The reduction of flights resulting from the airline cost-cutting have limited flexibility for the business person and affected the productivity of companies relying on commercial transportation.
These factors alone can't explain surge of people joining the flying community for more than just pleasure. Rebates, low and 0% interest rates, training allowances, and yes, even the IRS played a role in creating an environment that has introduced more people to the benefits of aircraft ownership and had an effect similar to that seen after the passage of the General Aviation Revitalization Act of 1995.

The IRS is here to help you? Well, believe it or not, a new tax law passed earlier this year represents a renewed attempt by our nation's leaders to jumpstart the economic recovery. The bill applies to new airplanes acquired after September 10, 2001, and before September 11, 2004, and provides tax savings from economic stimulus provisions included in the Internal Revenue Code designed to encourage investment in capital assets. Visit your local airport and you're sure to see plenty of forty and fifty year old aircraft operating for both business and pleasure. Even prior to the new tax law, Congress recognized that capital investment is an important part of our economy, and therefore allowed a five year depreciation of these assets. To further encourage investments, they do not require the depreciation to be spread evenly over the five years, but through a concept know as "double declining balance," greatly accelerate depreciation during the first two years of ownership. Now with the additional incentives of 30% bonus depreciation on new airplanes, tax deferral opportunities are greatly expanded.

So how might a business person benefit from these new changes? First of all, the impact of these depreciation changes greatly reduce net cash investment for the purchase of a new airplane. Specifically, an operator in the 40% tax bracket who can successfully write off his aircraft ownership expense may have no cash investment in the airplane during the first four years. Additionally, when properly structured, many taxpayers have an opportunity to convert personal use into business use. The Internal revenue code provides an optional method of taxing an individual for personal use of an aircraft which many times amounts to less than 10% of the actual deductions flowing from the investment. Consult your tax professional prior to purchasing your new airplane or ask your Aircraft Dealer for the name of an Aviation Tax Specialist to set up your purchasing entity.

And you say you're not a pilot? Local aircraft dealers like Suburban Aviation, Inc. in Lambertville, Michigan will actually teach you to fly your new airplane and even reimburse your expenses when you purchase a new Cessna airplane from them. Most of today's pilots learned to fly in a Cessna airplane and the majority of these pilots continue to experience the freedom and flexibility that flight offers in one of Cessna's many single engine models. For 75 years, Cessna has been the leader in general aviation aircraft providing a safe and reliable alternative to commercial airlines and the automobile.

So if your business can benefit from improved efficiency and tax savings, why not consider a company airplane? There are few tax saving opportunities as effective as fully depreciating an aircraft on a five year accelerated basis, and with today's interest rate environment, a well-structured transaction often results in little or no after tax cash flow holding costs during the early years of ownership. Of course, arriving at your meeting on time and with all your luggage can also be pretty convincing!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Pat Redmond, helps business owners who are tired of long lines and baggage claims, fly their way to freedom! Enjoy dinner with your family tonight! To learn more about the General Aviation Business, sign up for more FREE tips like these, visit her site at http://www.airplanenoise.com

Aircraft Mechanic's Liens In

2009-05-23T17:19:00.000-07:00

by: Greg Reigel
Aircraft Mechanic Liens In Minnesota

By Gregory J. Reigel

© 2004 Reigel & Associates, Ltd./Aero Legal Services. All rights reserved.

If you provide storage, repair, maintenance or other services to aircraft, you have the ability to assert a lien on that aircraft and retain possession until you have been paid. This is commonly referred to as a mechanic's lien.

What isn't as commonly known is that, in Minnesota, you don't necessarily lose your lien rights if you no longer have possession of the aircraft. The situation arises when an owner pays you with a check and leaves with the aircraft. Later, the bank dishonors the check. Now what?

Under Minnesota Statute § 514.221, you can re-assert your mechanic's lien against an aircraft by filing a verified statement and description of the aircraft and the work done or material furnished. The Statement must be filed with the "appropriate office under the Uniform Commercial Code." This would be the FAA's Aircraft Registry in Oklahoma City, OK.

The verified statement must include N-number, make and model of the aircraft, amount owed for the services and date of last work. The statement must be signed in ink, with title if on behalf of a corporation or limited liability company and must be accompanied by the $5.00 filing fee.

Also, if the owner of the aircraft is located in Minnesota, you may want to file the statement with the Secretary of State. Although it is not necessary to perfect your lien, it will provide notice to anyone who doesn't know to check with the Aircraft Registry.

This is called "perfecting" your mechanic's lien and must be done within 90 days after you provide the work, materials or service. Once perfected, you now have a lien on the aircraft.

Perfection secures the amount you are owed with the aircraft. You then have several options. First, in order to sell the aircraft, the owner will need to pay you and obtain a release before the owner can give a buyer clear title to the aircraft.

Second, you also have the ability to repossess and foreclose on the aircraft. This means you can force a sale of the aircraft and then receive payment out of the proceeds of the sale. Any excess money is given to the owner.

Under the first option, you run the risk of having to wait until the owner attempts to sell the aircraft. The second option gives you more control, but is also more costly than simply waiting. However, under either option you are definitely in a better position to get paid than you would be without the lien.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Greg is an aviation attorney, author and holds a commercial pilot certificate with instrument rating. His practice concentrates on aviation litigation, including insurance matters and creditor's rights, FAA certificate actions and aviation related transactional matters. He can be reached via e-mail at greigel@aerolegalservices.com or check out his website at www.aerolegalservices.com.

Advanced Aviation Gadgets

2009-05-23T17:18:00.014-07:00

Seattle, Washington, and one of the biggest companies in the area is, of course, the Boeing Corporation. They have a testing field located outside the city that is almost as big as Sea-Tac Airport. The aviation giant recently announced the development of the Skyhook JHL-40.

The Skyhook is a terrific looking aircraft with eight engines. Four of them are vertical rotors that can give some extra lift, allowing the airship to lift 40 tons. The other four engines are directional propellers to control the precise movement of the Skyhook.

What I would give to live close to Boeing again as they develop this advanced airship. Not only is it a quantum leap over the Goodyear Blimp, but very environmentally friendly. The Skyhook has a reduced carbon footprint, and does not disturb the landscape like an airplane or helicopter.

It can also transport cargo and crew 200 miles without refueling in adverse environments such as the Arctic. Boeing is very confident that this airship will have a great influence on the logging industry, hence the concept graphic of it lifting tall trees.

Personally, I think this Skyhook is very cool overall, and reminds me of Victorian visions of the future, when we believed that our skies would be full of airships. I can’t wait for the day when I see it fly over my head. I just hope I believe the guy that says: “Look, it’s the Skyhook blimp!”

Pilot USA BluLink Cell Phone to Aviation Headset Adapter

BluLink enables you to use your Bluetooth cell phone and any music source wirelessly in the cockpit. You can use your existing general aviation, helicopter or BOSE panel mount aviation headset with BluLink. No more tucking your cell phone under your headset or using cell phone adapters with various cords and additional adapters. The BluLink will work with any cell phone with Bluetooth.

The BluLink is great for filing a flight plan, checking weather, calling for fuel, getting a clearance at an uncontrolled field, calling for a taxi.

Just use a mobile phone with music streaming capability or add a Bluetooth dongle to your portable music player. Make sure the Bluetooth enabled phone or adapter has Bluetooth
A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) and Bluetooth AVRCP (Audio/Video Remote Control Profile). These Bluetooth technologies allow the device to work with BluLink.

Battery life: Approximately 15-20 hours
Battery type: 2 AA alkaline batteries
Standby time: Over 100 hours
Weight: 4.2 oz. (including batteries)
Bluetooth Profiles: Handsfree, Headsets, A2DP, AVRCP
Bluetooth Specifications BT 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) List Price: $260.00
Our Price: $249.00

CH Products Flight Sim Yoke USB

Command the skies with the king of flight simulator controls, the Flight Sim Yoke USB. This one of a kind yoke offers features that will allow you to fly with the realism you've come to expect from CH Products. The Flight Sim Yoke USB provides 5 axes of control including, pitch, roll, throttle lever, propeller lever, and mixture lever. It also features 20 button functions, including 2-way gear switch, 2-way flaps switch, 8-way hat switch, two 2-way rocker switches, and 4 push buttons. Pilots around the world applaud the comfortably placed prop, throttle and mixture levers. It's the closest thing you'll get to sitting in your own cockpit.
Product Features

* Designed for use with flight simulator games
* 5 axis of control including, pitch, roll, throttle lever, propeller lever, and mixture lever
* 20 button functions including, 2-way gear switch, 2-way flaps switch, 8-way hat switch, two 2-way rocker switches, and 4 push buttons
* 7 foot cable: easy setup
* Compatible with Windows 98, 2000, XP, Me, iMac, or Mac (with USB port)

Technical Details

* Model: 200-615
* Item Package Quantity: 1
* Hardware Platform: PC, Mac
* Input Device: Yoke
* Form Factor: External
* Connectivity Technology: Wired
* Button Quantity: 20
* Minimum system requirements: Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows 2000, Apple MacOS 8.6 or later, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition, Microsoft Windows XP
* Warranty: 3 years warranty

CH Products Pro Pedals USB

Get the most out of your flight simulator with the Pro Pedals USB Flight Simulator Pedals. These responsive pedals deliver a smooth, highly realistic flying experience where you control the plane's rudder with your feet rather than a joystick. These pedals let you feel accurate forward and backward sliding motion for rudder input to control yaw axis. Pressure-sensitive heel-toe motion gives you terrific feedback for differential toe braking control. Gain better, more realistic control of your virtual aircraft and take simulated flight to the next level.

Pro Pedals USB can also be used for driving simulation games.
Pro Pedals feature a realistic forward and back pedal motion for flying, as well as a pivot movement for driving games. They're a great companion to CH Product's line of joysticks and flight yokes. For flying, Pro Pedals work as rudders and toe brakes, while for driving they give you extra support and power to accelerate or brake. They're made to withstand the toughest competitor. Designed with rugged, durable components, Pro Pedals will last longer and endure more wear-and-tear than ordinary pedals on the market. Hook Pro Pedals up with your favorite CH Products joystick and take off!

Features
• Sliding motion of forward/backward gives rudder input for the "yaw" axis.
• Heel-toe motion gives differential toe braking control.
• Three axes of control
• Plane or car simulator control
• Seven foot cable
• USB interface
• Toe Brakes tested and fully functional in the "Fly!" flight simulator (PC Version), Microsoft Flight Sim 2000-2004

ADDRESSING SAFETY WITH NEW AVIONICS

2009-05-23T17:11:00.000-07:00

by: Pat Redmond
"How safe is it?" Along with "How much does it cost?" this is a question we often hear when someone is considering flight training as an option for depleting his or her discretionary income. Our industry has experienced a marked reduction in overall accidents and statistically, a 27.8% reduction in the most recent 7 years! During this same time period General Aviation fatal accidents dropped 32.6% to just over 1 fatality for every 100,000-flight hours.
Of these accidents, 80% are either partially or completely pilot induced, with weather related accidents and controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accounting for the majority of fatalities.

So what is the industry doing to address the issue of pilot errors?

Bendix/King has taken the bull by the horns and addressed this challenge with several new avionics products, and Cessna has taken the next step by including the Bendix/King advanced avionics package in their aircraft.

Situational Awareness: With its moving map and IFR approach capability, the KLN94 GPS provides added safety through increased situational awareness. This GPS with its full color screen is as easy to operate, as it is to view.

Weather: Bendix/King Data Link Weather features a state-of-the-art data link system to bring textual and graphical weather to your cockpit with a high speed, high bandwidth system. With the KDR 510, weather information (including METARs, TAFs, and PIREPs) is automatically updated and displayed on your KMD 550 (multi-function display) in your cockpit. For a small monthly fee, you can also receive NEXRAD radar and additional weather products that promote additional weather avoidance capability.

Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT): The KMH 880 Multi-Hazard Awareness System combines traffic and terrain avoidance features in one unit. Combined with the KDR 510 and displayed on the KMD 550, you can have all the situational awareness available to ensure an up-to-the-second picture of your flight situation.

Workload Reduction: The KMD 550 Multi-Function Display (MFD) lets you spend less time looking at your instruments and more time flying your aircraft. The system gives you the information you need without added clutter, all while reducing the time required to manage each safety system. Along with its capability to display traffic, weather, terrain and moving map information, the KMD 550 also provides a wealth of reference information to the pilot including airports, NDBs, intersections, VORs, special-use airspace, victor airways, rivers, roads, lakes, cities and towers. When interfaced to the KLN 94, the KMD 550 can also display holding patterns, procedure turns and DME arcs for even greater situational awareness. Most importantly, this MFD is simple to use and sports a bright, razor-sharp display!

So, how much safer can General Aviation become? It seems to me that the sky's the limit! Who would have guessed that today's General Aviation aircraft would have these capabilities? And I suppose the question follows . . . "What else is possible?" Link: http://bendixking.com

About the Author
Pat Redmond, Brighton, Mi usa
airplanenoise@airplanenoise.com
http://www.airplanenoise.com

10 Best Ways to Justify Your Airplane Purchase

2009-05-23T17:02:00.000-07:00

by: Pat Redmond
For those of us who've caught the "aviation bug" finding a way to justify the purchase of an airplane becomes an all consuming mental task. Make this task simple by choosing the appropriate reasons from the list below:

1. The airplane will make money for me.
This one actually works! Learn about leasebacks and/or using your airplane in your business by visiting: http://www.airplanenoise.com/answers_to_why.htm
2. My business will benefit from my increased productivity when I fly instead of drive.

Save time and money by flying yourself! You can avoid hours at the security gate and layover time by flying yourself. Most regional trips will be completed in a fraction of the time you'd spend driving or flying commercially. Learn more by clicking the link: http://www.airplanenoise.com/business_justification.htm

3. The airplane will keep my family together.
Many people find their children off to college and their parents staying in the south. A personal aircraft allows you to stay in contact and maintain the relationships that are so important to you. After all. . . is there anything more important than our relationships with our family and friends?

4. Learning to fly provides a new challenge.
Most of us have dreamed about flying since our childhood. What's preventing us from taking that step? Life's too short to procrastinate!

5. I can vacation every weekend!
No doubt, every weekend can be earmarked for a new destination. Start with you own state, and expand to other states. Visit museums, recreation areas, friends . . . the sky's the limit! Start with this list: http://www.airplanenoise.com/great_trips.htm

6. I can make an airplane payment instead of an IRS payment!
With minimal business use (30%), your airplane purchase may be a depreciable asset. New tax laws significantly increased the tax benefit to owners. Learn more by downloading a FREE audio TeleClass at: http://www.airplanenoise.com/download_teleclass.htm
7. I can enhance my children's educational experience.
Children learn more from an experience rather than sitting in a classroom or reading a book. Trips to Washington D.C., Niagara Falls, Gettysburg, PA, Kitty Hawk are all great reasons to fly the family. Re-live your childhood at the same time.

8. Flying as therapy?
Well, believe it or not, some people fly for its therapeutic benefits. Life's problems seem to disintegrate as altitude increases. Try it next time you're feeling overwhelmed by life's challenges!

9. An airplane is a terrific status symbol.
If status is what you're looking for. . . you can't beat an airplane. Not only are pilots looked up to, but when it's your own airplane. . . "You've arrived!" No one even needs to know that the airplane is generating a positive cash flow.

10. I just WANT one!
Sometimes we just need to satisfy our desires!
"I'm worth it."
"I've worked hard and this is my reward."
"I only live once!"

I know you can add to this list!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About the Author

Pat Redmond, helps business owners who are tired of long lines and baggage claims, fly their way to freedom! Enjoy dinner with your family tonight! To learn more about the General Aviation Business, sign up for FREE aircraft purchase tips and tools, visit her site at http://www.airplanenoise.com

What dreams will come!

2009-05-23T16:57:00.002-07:00

by: Seamus Dolly
As the pioneers of aviation took to the air (not skies), in their human powered mechanical contraptions, what must have been said and thought?

Complicated pulleys and chain systems enclosing a lunatic, perhaps!

Or overly optimistic cyclists with designs above their head, even.

Yet they left us with the beginnings of international and inter-planetary travel, its' destinations, physical and figurative.

What of the scientists and chemists, self-sent to the grave through misadventure and experiment?

And their journals, which were and are hard copy legacies unbound by the limiting confines of the grave? Something was learned, in the big picture!

A spark of madness, as it seemed, was the ignition source for technological explosions.

Original computer models had lighting sequences, which was something, but couldn't have evolved without enthusiasm, imagination, finance and time, into what it is today. At that point in history, it couldn't have happened elsewhere on the planet, in the same way and speed. The formula for advancement would have been incomplete. Indeed, it couldn't have happened at that rate, without mass optimism and lots of people pulling in the same direction.

You see, something hypothetical or seemingly ridiculous can be some thing brilliant. The first aviators understood that a bird held no magical power, whatever about altitude. If these men couldn't fly, well then they would have learned new engineering techniques, along the way.

What dreams will come for the generations of today's' prosperous societies where children can access resources to overcome relatively minor learning disabilities, opposed to the aggressive and ignorant resources that successfully placed previous generations in the back of the schoolroom? The visual vantage point that it offered hardly compensated for hearing loss or impairment perceived as indifference.

What of the premature or "early" babies now breathing air where it always was, but previously too young to attain it? Or the thousands of people whose real lives were initiated "IN VITRO" (in glass)? New people that wouldn't have been, is the result.

Likewise with those having hearts incapable of the pumping cycles expected for life, some thirty years ago. Not new people with more life, is the result.

The "borrowed time" cliché is now redundant, somewhat ridiculous and a primitive view.

Modern medical procedures have made time it seems, with the clock of yesterday being wound with the hand of today.

Blindness and its' confederates have been "blind-sided" by cutting and therapeutic tooling and processes, initially designed to produce coherent light. The laser is lighting the way with eyesight improved beyond its' so called natural state of efficiency, with respect to age. Glasses and contact lenses are dispensed to the recycle bin, and rarely missed, where the finance exists.

Bone marrow and the life liquid that it generates is not necessarily confined to its' original "coil", in life, and has helped many to further appreciate their terrestrial experience.

Organs, once seemingly, having sole ownership, are transferable to no little extent. It is the thought of life that is really yours and is less transferable, though not completely.

Non-life threatening cosmetic conditions such as simple "over-bites" or incisor/molar misalignment must be a thing of the recent past. Look around and count them up. This corrective procedure helped many overcome their personal and previously stigmatised, physical appearances.
Botulinum toxin or botox is commonplace as a signal blocker. Apparently, all muscular control is no longer essential, not that it ever was, but where specific muscles are paralysed, more favourable effects can occur. A "frown", whether the result of intense and prolonged concentration, or simply, "the way it is", can essentially, be neutralised.

Incidentally, botox was first used to treat "lazy eye" in 1980.

These two things alone, dental and facial configuration and re-configuration, dramatically change the outward appearance and is life-changing to those involved, whether it should be or not. That supermodel you know, for example, may not be in their present position without some intervention.

Democracies (whatever their downside), are increasing (Europe), bringing security and hope to generations of war-weary and impoverished countries. Belonging to something bigger must help in forgetting internal or local squabbles. Someone said that there was never a war between democracies, presumably, because deals can always be done where commerce is the key.

Once an idea has been "set", these days by groups and earlier by somewhat isolated individuals, it is inevitable that they will come to fruition in the same or similar form. Those "rough" men in their contraptions didn't or couldn't envisage more modern contraptions, leaving the confines of EARTH for they had some of what it takes, but not all.

It is to decide and deliver the idea that is the most difficult thing these days, for if it is accepted by just a handful of people, then commitment is made, and conviction remains. Genetic engineering will drive on, whether we all like it or not. Behind closed doors or openly in the cities' plazas, the idea is set.

Isn't it this flexibility that makes us a unique and successful species and isn't it exactly what removed us from the caves and the clutches of carnivores?
The plains of the Serengeti have been replaced by the pleasures of palaces (relatively). The vastness of the imagination becomes the legends of history the possibilities of people, and the clutches of carnivores are substituted with the comfort of couches.

Retractors are the obstacle and protractors, the removers!

About the Author

Seamus is at www.CountControl.com

What Happens When a Pilot gets a DUI/DWI?

2009-05-23T16:50:00.000-07:00

by: Stuart Simpson
Your worst nightmare as a pilot - a DUI. Will this end your career as a pilot? What if you are the lawyer representing a pilot? Is this a simple DUI case or will it end your law career with a malpractice lawsuit? I know these questions can light up your eyes to why a pilot is different when they get a DUI.

First, pilot or not, you have to follow your state laws. Keep in mind your time frame for appeals or administrative hearings. You could probably get your driver's license back under an occupational license during your suspension. Even if its your first offense, you better be on your toes if you want to keep flying.

Second, pilots fall under another set of rules from the FAA. They are the FARS (Federal Aviation Regulations). Do you have to report to the FAA now or later? Can I just put it on my FAA First Class Medical Certificate? Can I just call the CFI (certified flight instructor) at the local FAA office FSDO (Flight Standards District Office)?

Your most important resource (lawyer or pilot) is Section 61.15 of the FARS. Section (e) states that you must report "not later than 60 days after the motor vehicle action". It lists the things you must submit to the FAA, Civil Action Security Division in Oklahoma City, not your local FSDO. This is very serious as section (f) states "Failure to comply with paragraph (e) of this section is grounds for . . .(2) Suspension or revocation of any certificate, rating, or authorization issued under this part."

In summary, what do you do? If you are convicted of a DUI/DWI, it must be reported on your medical application. You also have to notify the FAA in Oklahoma City within 60 days of the conviction. Do NOT contact the local FSDO, as this is NOT incompliance with the FARS. Do this quick or face a suspension for a non-reporting violation.

Drinking and Driving is bad. Drinking and flying is worse. Both can end careers, lives and marriages. They can even take innocent victims. Also, if you have two separate incidents within a 3-year period, then the FAA can deny an application or revoke/suspend a pilot's license. You can avoid all of this by not drinking and driving.

About The Author

Stuart Simpson collects information on DUI and DWI at:
http://www.dwi-dui-attorney.com/

When Bad Things Happen To Good Aircraft Buyers: Recognizing

2009-05-23T16:33:00.000-07:00

Whether you are purchasing your first aircraft or the latest in a succession of aircraft, as an aircraft buyer you need to proceed with caution. If you don't, after the seller has left with your money, you may have unanswered questions: Do I really own the aircraft? Have I missed any skeletons hiding in the closet that threaten my continued ownership and possession of my aircraft? What happens when someone else claims they own or have a prior interest in my aircraft?

To answer these questions, first we need to discuss what the FAA requires for an aircraft purchase transaction. Then we will talk about some of the problems/issues that an unwary buyer could face. Finally, we will address some of the steps an aircraft buyer can take to ensure that he or she will be the legitimate and undisputed owner of the aircraft being purchased.

Recording Purchase Transactions With The FAA. When you purchase an aircraft, you receive an FAA Form 8050-2, Aircraft Bill of Sale showing the transfer/sale of the aircraft from the seller to you, the aircraft buyer. The bill of sale must then be recorded with the FAA along with an FAA Form 8050-1, Aircraft Registration Application. (Unfortunately, Form 8050-1 is not available online, but must be obtained directly from the FAA or your local FSDO). Additionally, for the most part, all interests in aircraft, whether a security interest, lien, mortgage or judgment, must also be recorded with the FAA Registry in Oklahoma City in order to be valid and the first recorded interest usually has priority over interests recorded at a later date.

Failure to timely and properly comply with these filing and recording requirements can result in problems for the aircraft buyer. What types of problems can happen? Although a variety of such problems exist, two specific ways in which an aircraft buyer can find himself or herself in trouble are when a seller fails to convey title to the buyer or when a seller fails to convey "clear" title to the buyer.

Seller Fails To Convey Title. In this situation, the aircraft buyer does not become the actual owner of the aircraft. The seller may not necessarily intend for the aircraft buyer not to take title to the aircraft. Rather, the seller's failure to convey title to the aircraft buyer is inadvertent or unknowing. One such situation occurs when the bill of sale contains errors. Potential errors can include when the person signing the bill of sale does not have authority to sign on behalf of the corporation or limited liability company that owns the aircraft, when the aircraft is incorrectly identified on the bill of sale or when the person signing the bill of sale does not have capacity (e.g. a person signing the bill of sale is a minor, mentally insane or incompetent).

Unfortunately, situations also arise in which the seller's actions are intentional and result in the aircraft buyer not receiving title to the aircraft. This can happen when a seller sells an aircraft twice and the second buyer actually records his or her bill of sale before the first buyer. A similar result occurs if the seller forges the bill of sale or if the aircraft is subject to judicial proceedings (such as bankruptcy, receivership, probate, conservatorship or dissolution of marriage), and the court has not authorized the sale.

Seller Is Unable To Convey Clear Title. In this situation, the bill of sale may be valid and convey title to the aircraft to the aircraft buyer, but that aircraft may be subject to the interests of some other third-party. Such prior interests can include judgment liens, tax liens, mechanic's liens and various other liens and security interests. These prior interests would likely be recorded before the buyer's bill of sale. It is also possible, in some limited circumstances, to have an unrecorded, possessory lien against an aircraft. (Unrecorded, possessory liens make a strong case against purchasing an aircraft sight unseen without confirming the location of the aircraft and lack of claims by the party in possession if other than the aircraft seller).

What To Do? With such potential problems lurking in the shadows, what can/should an aircraft buyer do? Well, one answer is to hire an aviation attorney to assist you with the transaction. An aviation attorney will be familiar with the filing and recording requirements of the FAA and will make sure that the bill of sale and aircraft registration application are completed accurately, properly and filed in a timely manner. An aviation attorney will also be able to perform due diligence on your behalf including a title search and name searches for the seller to discover any judgments, liens, bankruptcies or security interests. He or she can also help you resolve any title defects that may be discovered during due diligence.

An aviation attorney may further help you obtain an affidavit from the seller affirmatively stating that the seller is not aware of any judgments, liens or encumbrances affecting the title to the aircraft. This may assist you in pursuing or asserting a fraud claim against the seller if a title issue arises which you can show the seller was aware of when the affidavit was signed.

Another way to protect yourself is to buy title insurance for your aircraft. The aircraft title insurer will ensure your documentation is accurate and filed in a timely manner and it will also perform the same types of title and name searches an aviation attorney would perform on your behalf. However, the title insurer may or may not be able to assist you in resolving any title defects and won't be able to provide you with any legal advice regarding the purchase transaction.

The bottom line is that you as an aircraft buyer need to proceed with caution and perform due diligence when purchasing an aircraft. Although this may seem like added cost in the short term, in the long run these steps can save you the large expense, and possible loss of your aircraft, that can result from title defects or third-party claims against your aircraft.

As always, fly safe and, when you are purchasing an aircraft, buy smart.

About the Author

Greg is an aviation attorney and holds a commercial pilot certificate with instrument rating. His handles aviation litigation, including insurance matters and creditor's rights, FAA certificate actions and aviation related transactional matters. He can be reached via e-mail at greigel@aerolegalservices.com or check out his website at www.aerolegalservices.com.

When Weather Diverts You. . .

2009-05-23T15:20:00.002-07:00

by: Pat Redmond
It's part of flying, and there's nothing you can do about it. . . perhaps.

You're trying to get to your destination, or maybe you're trying to get home. You look at the weather and no matter how you plot out your time, direction of flight, and other options, you're staying put!

Blessing or curse?

I guess it depends what you'd like to make of it.

Flying home from OshKosh I met up with a couple stranded at the Mason County Airport (LDM) in Ludington,Michigan. If I were to be stranded anywhere, Ludington would be my dream! Beautiful sandy beaches on Lake Michigan have made this town one of the busiest resort towns in Michigan.

Again, blessing or curse?

This couple called over 40 hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts only to find all of them sold out! Once again they reviewed their options. Fly to Ann Arbor for a better position in the morning, sleep in the plane, make use of the comfortable lounge furniture in the terminal lobby?

The adventure continued. . .

A call from a local Bed and Breakfast revealed that there was one room they hadn't discovered. They'd have to share a bathroom, and there was no air conditioning, but there was a "bed" and a "breakfast!"

It turns out that this couple had also spent the night in Ludington on the way over to OshKosh when weather prevented them from flying across the lake.

Of course, I haven't heard the ending to this story yet, but If I wrote my own ending it would go something like this:

"After checking into the Bed and Breakfast, we walked down to the beach where we watched the boats and fishermen enjoy the evening as if nothing else in the world mattered. We realized we were getting hungry after the events of the day and found a cozy little seafood restaurant with a stunning view of the lake.

Before it was too late, I made a phone call to work letting them know I wouldn't be back on Monday or maybe even Tuesday! I was told to take my time and advised not push it if weather was an issue. How good can this get?

The room was just fine, and the breeze blowing through the open window was far more comfortable than a noisy room air conditioner.

After some interesting conversation and a tasty breakfast, we headed back home and didn't worry too much about weather.

If we had to stop again we'd have one more adventure to add to our journal and maybe another day or two off work!

Link: http://www.airplanenoise.com/great_trips.htm

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Pat Redmond, Brighton, Mi usa
airplanenoise@airplanenoise.com
http://www.airplanenoise.com
Pat Redmond, helps business owners who are tired of long lines and baggage claims, fly their way to freedom! Enjoy dinner with your family tonight! To learn more about the General Aviation Business, sign up for more FREE tips like these, visit her site at http://www.airplanenoise.com