Yak 54

The airlines are huge users of fuel. Fuel costs are higher than even the cost of the aircraft. Surcharges are up to the highest point in the history of the airlines along with the fuel costs at an all time record cost. Airline tickets and airlines live and die on their ability to number one fill up planes and number two, manage their fuel costs. Discount Airlines have been able to keep flights full in order to order to cover costs and keep prices low, but are hurt in quarterly earnings every time fuel prices increase. When fuel prices stay high, you often see massive downward spirals and negative sector rotations in Airline Stocks. Again it is all about the cost and flow of fuel. It is of interest...

A few weeks ago the Israeli court has made its final rule in the case of El-Al versus Israir and has determined that the "Open skies" policy of the ministry of transportation is valid, thus opening the Israeli skies for carrier competition on the Tel Aviv (TLV) New-York line which has so far been exclusive for El-Al flights. Just after the court verdict, Sabina Biran - Israir C.E.O spoke about this change on several interviews and promised that the new opportunities for Israir will result in lower prices and better service for all passengers. In the following weeks, Israir did introduce lower priced tickets for as low as 550$ for a ticket from Tel-Aviv to New York which used to cost 590$ at its...

The dictionary defines a helicopter as an "aircraft that flies by means of horizontally rotating blades." It is derived from the Greek words helix, meaning spiral, and pteron, meaning wing. Helicopters may be used for military or civil purposes, including transportation of troops, infantry support, firefighting, business transportation, medical purposes and police surveillance. Aviation pioneers like Jan Bahyl, Louis Breguet, Emile Berliner, and Igor Sikorsky designed the first successful helicopters, with Juan de la Cierva introducing the first practical autogiro in 1923, which became the platform for the modern helicopter. Raúl Pateras de Pescara, an inventor from Argentina, demonstrated...

Gulstream has a new member of their private business jet class, the Gulfstream G650. Still in production, this beautiful private jet will have an ultra-large cabin and ultra-long range, according to Gulfstream. If you're one to fly long distances and your time matters, the Gulfstream G650 might be just the plane. It will be capable of traveling 7,000 nautical miles at 0.85 Mach or 5,000 nautical miles at 0.90 Mach, which makes it the fastest, farthest flying private jet for Gulfstream. And airline congestion, plus poor weather conditions, aren't an issue with the G650, which will climb to 51,000 feet-safely avoiding it all. By the way, the maximum operating speed of 0.925 Mach makes the G650 the...

Everyone, at one point or the other, starts disliking flights, when we were kids it was so much fun, but now it looks like the worst few hours we can spend, and on long flights it is almost a catastrophic, spending hours in that very small space, and without much free movement or quality breathing air can make some people really edgy. However there are a few things that you can do to try and combat these long hour flights, and the boredom that comes with them, as well as take care of yourself while flying, here are a few things we thought can help. Before the Flight Pack early! Prepare everything days before your flight. Determine early the things you should place into your hand carry. To avoid...

Many people have deep rooted fears of flying. Some people even refuse to ever put a foot on a jet plane and instead choose to drive very long distances instead if they have to be somewhere. The ironic thing about avoiding flying on a large plane is that you are statistically far more likely to die in a car accident, especially if you are travelling great distances in short amounts of time as when traveling. The only time when fear of flying is actually rational is when flying in small aircrafts. While it is very unlikely that you will be in an accident while traveling on a large plane, if you frequently take out or ride in small aircrafts, the likelihood of a serious injury or death is relatively...

There are many reasons why finding a homebuilt aircraft for sale may be preferable to building an experimental airplane on your own. Many people prefer them to professionally built certified planes as well and as such they have become one of the most popular segments of the aviation industry. However, building one of these crafts is not for everyone. It takes a huge commitment of time, money, and effort that leads many people to simply abandon the project before they can finish. Buying these craft outright is often the best route to take as it saves a lot of time and effort. One of the best reasons to buy a homebuilt aircraft for sale is the price. It is usually the case that the finished product is...

The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is the most popular plane that Cessna has ever produced. The first prototype of the 172 was flown in 1955 and production began for the craft in 1956. The normal cruising speed for a fixed-gear 172 ranges from about 105 to 125 knots, depending on the engine and vintage. The Cessna 172 was a new idea by Cessna which they were hoping would be popular with the public. The plane was an overnight success though, with sales reaching 1,400 in its first year, 1956. The official production estimate of the Cessna 172 Skyhawk is between 35,000 to 43,000 aircraft. The basic Cessna 172 Skyhawk remained in production until being replaced by the Cessna 172A in early 1960. The 172A introduced...

Due to the different time zones that vary from country to country the health of travelers is badly affected. In order to cope up with this difference try out the following procedures. When your arrive during the daytime follow these set of rules: 1) Adjust your watch as per the local timing. 2) Follow a protein-based diet that will keep you active and fresh. 3) Enjoy the mild sunrays in the morning. 4) Do some light exercises such as light stretches and walk a little distance to be energetic. 5) Take a short nap if you really feel exhausted say for about 20 minutes or less. Do not go to your bed too early or possibly be awake until 8 or 9 p.m. If you have arrived during the nighttime you must try to...

In the twenties, the first aircraft plans offered for sale to the amateur market were for the Baby Ace airplane. There was limited interest for building planes at home during the 30s depression years. The 40s were all about the war, and countless thousands became pilots during World War II. When these pilots came home after the war, many of them wanted to have an airplane of their own to fly. In the fifties amateur aircraft building gained much popularity. In 1953 the EAA or Experimental Aircraft Association was founded. Up until 1950, home-built aircraft were either wood or steel tube and cloth. Without the regulatory restriction the aircraft manufacturers had to work under, home-built design and...

Back in the day, if you wanted to have fun flying, you found an old Super Cub or Champ and took to the sky. Airport coffee shops were the rage, and were well attended on weekends. Three Chicago-area pilots, doing corporate flying in Twin Beeches, decided that there had to be some way to squeeze more fun out of flying. Most private pilots were happy just to log a few hours every weekend, but Charles Roloff, Carl Unger, and Bob Liposky had something more extreme in mind. That is how they invented the Breezy aircraft. A friend of theirs had a pair of wings from a crashed Piper PA-12. They scrounged a tail section and a nose wheel fork from elsewhere. Unger was an expert welder so they set about...

Are you like so many other pilots that think night flying is more difficult than flying in the day time? Flying under the stars is much cooler and safer in my opinion. The air is almost always smooth and the lights from the cities are stunning, and if the moon is out it seems like there is a flashlight shining on the grounds features. If you are not that big on flying at night then you should at least become current and make it your goal to stay current for the remainder of your flying career. To become current you must do three takeoffs and three landings within 90 days, that's easy! If you are willing to put more time into it that would be a lot better in the long run for you. I would recommend if...

Flight data recorders and cockpit voice recorders. Flight data recorders are housed in a crush-proof container located near the tail section of the aircraft. The tape unit is fire resistant, and contains a radio transmitter to help crash investigators locate the unit under water. Inspection and operational checks include:a. Check special sticker on front of flight data recorders for the date of the next tape replacement, if applicable.b. Remove recorder magazine and inspect tape for the following: (1) broken or torn tape, (2) proper feed of tape, and (3) all scribes were recording properly for approximately the last hour of flight.c. Conditions for tape replacement (as applicable): (1) There is less...

Booking airline tickets online is gaining in popularity. Its easy, instant, and can get you the best deals if you know how to. The internet is a thriving marketplace for anything a person needs and there are websites that specialize in selling discounted airline tickets such as The advantage of such sites or directories that feature tickets from multiple airlines is that the websites have in place advanced technology that will even combine tow different airline flights to get you the best possible air fare. All a customer needs to do is fill a simple form outlining his travel plans and instantly the website will feature multiple options to select from. The main advantage of online booking is that...

Locust Plagues are a real problem for mankind and are so huge and ominous that nothing seems to be able to stop them. We have tried to use chemicals, pesticides and other insecticides to stop them but they just keep on going and eating. It takes days for them to die, but it does not even seem to slow them down. Worse off in many nations especially in Africa, they have a tradition of eating them. Why? Well mostly out of necessity, after all once the locusts have eaten up your season's crops, what is left to eat anyway? Now then aerial firefighting has also evolved a long way and maybe not as evolved as the Locust Swarms, but humans are getting a pretty good handle on how to fight wildfires and forest...

Flying into the future is Boeing's new Dreamliner, renamed as the 787. Lightweight, fast and efficient this 50% build composite aircraft looks to break all records, including sales records. The Boeing company, the premier airline manufacturer in the Solar System in the present period has already secured orders for over 250 of these state-of-the-art, leading edge, envelope busting birds. Alas, but not so fast says their inferior, junior rival and government subsidized European Union competitor. Airbus waiting until the Friday before the three-day Columbus Weekend to formally announce that it is launching the A350, a bird made to compete with the 787 in an answer to the 250 lost sales to The Boeing...

The future of the airship looks to be likely to come in the form of the hybrid airship, so called due to its mix of aerodynamic lift and traditional helium lift gas that will allow them to carry significantly larger payloads than conventional airships. Helium lift gas provides anywhere from 30% to 80% of the aircrafts lift with the remaining lift being provided by wings or an aerodynamic body shape, like conventional aircraft. The hybrid airship will have to use a short runway (unlike conventional airships) but will offer huge savings in fuel compared to jet powered transport and passenger aircraft. An Atlantic crossing in an airship would most likely take about two days, but the cost savings...

So many people are afraid to fly. Some believe this is due to the fear of falling. This fear is a real innate human fear - in fact when little babies are born there are really no noticeable innate tendencies that they know. When baby horses are born they instinctively know to get up and run. Dolphin babies start swimming with in minutes. Human babies as soon as they can see they are afraid of heights. It has been documented that if you put a baby on a glass table they are scared, so being afraid to fall is innate. So flying in a small airplane and being afraid to fly are definitely real human fears, but they need not be and they are completely conquerable. If you are afraid of flying, they there are...

When most people think of air travel a plane is the first thing that comes to mind likely followed by a helicopter. What many people do not realize is that the hot air balloon is credited with being the first form of successful flight in terms of transporting human beings through the air. The first successful flight of a hot air balloon carrying a person occurred in Paris, France back in November of 1783, over 120 years before the December, 1903 flight of the Wright Brothers in the first airplane. Whereas the invention of the airplane is credited with the Wright Brothers ballooning has the Montgolfier Brothers. It was the efforts of Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Etienne Montgolfier that resulted in the...

Nowadays it is easy to find a really cheap airplane ticket online. It is also very convenient. Online ticket agencies often offer cheaper rates than usual, and the buying process is quick, easy, and convenient. However, to avoid unpleasant surprises and high ticket prices, it is important to take the following facts into account before making a reservation. 1. Book early If possible, make sure you book your tickets at least 21 days before your departure. Prices tend to fluctuate all the time, but most of the time if you buy early - you will increase your chances of getting a really cheap airplane ticket. 2. Pick good dates Flying on weekdays is usually cheaper than flying on weekends. It is...

The clothes we wear and the things we use create and maintain a person`s status in society. You might think it is simplistic to form an opinion about someone according to his (or her) clothes or the things he (or she) can afford. In many countries it is normal for quite wealthy people to buy clothes or use services that would not be classified as luxury purchases. But in other countries it is still important to use prestigious goods and suitable things to gain the best opinion of the society or business partners. As business is becoming more and more global, it is important to take into consideration the variety of traditions in different countries. So if you understand that the private jet will...

Every aircraft is a compromise. It is either built to fly fast or slow to land in tight distances and carry more weight. It is a jet or propeller driven craft. It costs a lot with high tech materials or it is simplistic and has less performance. Aircraft are built for many reasons, each one maybe more or less important for its intended purpose. Some aircraft are made to slightly change in flight to serve a niche or a couple of niches better than comparable type aircraft. As we learn more about our options of materials in aerospace we learn of was to incorporate multiple uses and still maintain safety at low airspeeds and efficiency at high speeds. I propose an inflatable wing camber modification...

The Aerial Fire Fighting Industry uses a system called AFF Automated Flight Following System. It works from a satellite. We are noticing an increase in robotic flying machines, which are called UAVs Unmanned Aerial vehicles. These aerial vehicles use tele-robotics. Soon we will be able to have many aerial unmanned vehicles fly in swarms keying of one in five, ten or even a hundred aircraft. Some of this technology is being tested now and some even in the Middle East battlespace; the "Sandbox." We need to take these systems already in use for several decades and merge them together into the net-centric model. Having the simple scaled down version of the Automated Flight Following systems to be used...

Hydraulic systems troubleshooting varies according to the complexity of the system and the components in the system. It is, therefore, important that the technician refer to the troubleshooting information furnished by the manufacturer. (1) Relief valves repair... lack of pressure in a system can be caused by a sheared pump shaft, defective relief valves needing repair, regional aircraft control valves, the pressure regulators, unloading valves stuck in the "kicked-out" position, lack of fluid in the system, the check valves installed backward, or any condition that permits free flow back to the reservoirs or overboard. If a system operates satisfactorily with a ground test unit but not with the...

For many, owning a private aircraft is about status-with convenience being important too. Because aircraft ownership is a sizable investment and because many wisely look before they leap, fractional ownership is very popular. Here's how it works. With fractional ownership you purchase an "interest" in the aircraft. An aviation company, as part of its overall aircraft fleet, operates the aircraft. As a fractional owner you have use of the aircraft basically on demand. Of course, you can't use it a million times a year. With your investment comes a limit of flying hours. Generally, if you plan to fly 200 hours or less annually, fractional ownership can be a good option for you. Also, as an owner, you...

When traveling with children on an airplane, being prepared is the best way to overcome the stress and frustration that can accompany air travel. While most kids behave when on long flights, if your child is prone to tantrums, you may want to consider another mode of travel. Keeping your children in their seats and as quiet as possible when on a flight is your responsibility. In order to get the best deals possible on a flight, it is always best to book them a few months in advance. This way, you will be able to book the correct number of seats that are close to each other. Many airlines allow you to choose your seats when booking in advance, so choose seats that are next to each other so you can...

The advancements in science and industry in that last 100 years have left us humans somewhat baffled. You will often hear it said that in the last century, we as human beings have made more accomplishments than at any other time in recorded history. But did it all get a little big, a little to fast? It seems that these days' people tend to be more afraid of different things and as humans; we seem a lot more 'phobic' than our recent ancestors. I don't for one minute think that we have evolved into complete phobic beings, but more like the world, science and industry have all evolved and left us behind, thus creating loads of new unnatural scenarios to intimidate us. I believe that one of these...

The international terrorist sponsoring state of Iran claims to have a new fighter plane and they call it; The Saegheh. The pictures show this aircraft to be a two-seater fighter plane although the Iranian News Agency called IRNA has put out a lot of bogus information in the past and it is hard to sift through what is real and what is misinformation. We know Arab leaders that are fundamentalists to exaggerate their abilities in wartime. Saddam Hussein is a perfect example of how Arab leaders misrepresent their technologies in warfare. It is a giant bluffing game, unfortunately they are saying that this fighter plane; The Saegheh, which means thunder or lightning has stealth capabilities, as well as...

Hypoxia is a family of conditions characterized by a lack of oxygen in the body's tissues. The hypoxia may encompass the general body, or a specific area, such as the brain. In all cases, it can be dangerous or deadly, because without oxygen, the human body cannot function. In extreme cases, Hypoxia can produce a situation where increased levels of carbon monoxide prevent oxygen from reaching the cells. This can lead to an actual metabolic poison thus preventing the cell from getting enough oxygen. For pilots in particular, hypoxia occurs during an increase in altitude because reduced atmospheric pressure results in fewer molecules in the air they breathe. A medical device is required for pilots to...