Yak 54

Being a tail gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress was a lonely existence, much like the ball turret gunner. The gunner sat at the very tail end of the plane in a tight location always looking to the rear. In addition to being the gunner he was also the eyes for the rest of the crew and could give a heads up on approaching enemy aircraft. The earlier model flying Fortress did not have a gun in the rear position and relied on the waist guns to cover the rear. At the time the waist guns were in a bubble and could be depressed further to the rear, but it became apparent that a dedicated rear gun was needed. They first tried a powered turret but it did not work out, a real person would be needed[..]

Probably the coolest innovation in recent Experimental Aircraft History in the new millennium is the new Bede Corporations BD-10 Personal Fighter Jet, with unheard of performance and sporting a 2800 lbs of thrust jet engine. Imagine owning your own little fighter plane aircraft? The BD-10 website has several videos to watch, and any aviation enthusiast like myself will surely get a kick out of it. The climb rate is over 12,000 feet per minute and it is more comparable to an F-16 than a homebuilt aircraft, even though it is a bit of both. That is to say it has the aerodynamic technology of a modern fighter aircraft and can be built in your garage like a Q-2, Lanceair or Vari Eze. In fact[..]

-> Aer Lingus is based in Dublin Airport from which it flies routes around Ireland, Europe and North America. The airline dates back as far as 1936 when West Coast Air Services established the airline under the Air Navigation and Transport Act of 1936. The name 'Aer Lingus' is a phonetic translation of Aer - Loingeas which translates from Gaelic to 'our fleet.' The Government of Ireland own 85% of the company with much of the remainder being in the hands of the unions who represent the workers of Aer Lingus. In recent developments the government has approved the privatisation of the airline. The Government will still retain a share of the airline to ensure Irish interests are best served[..]

"body"> Knowing where to find really cheap airline tickets is the first step to shopping for the best airfares online but once you've overcome this little hurdle on your race to getting really cheap airline tickets you'll need to know how to book the cheapest airfares. Let's say you've found a great website that offers really cheap airline tickets online - like or hotwire.com, you'll need to know when you'll find the best airfares and how to gain from those airline ticket bargains. Here are two secrets to finding really cheap airline tickets online: Using the Alternate City strategy: The average airfare for a round-trip from Chicago to Paris might cost you about $1000 during winter[..]

Without a doubt, scheduling a trip on a plane is one aspect of planning a vacation that most people falter in. Few people realize exactly how to get the best rates when trying to book a flight, and they often lose money by not planning properly. For that reason, we've written this article to help inform you about exactly what you should do and what you should not do when you are planning to take a trip on an airplane. As soon as you've decided where you want to go, it is of utmost importance to make the plane reservations as soon as possible. The best discounts for airlines are usually given to those who book more than 21 days in advance of the flight. To get a good rate, ensure that[..]

If you've ever been up early on a clear summer morning, you may have had the privilege of seeing a brightly colored hot air balloon floating gently in the air. This balloon is the oldest man-made flight technology in existence. It is believed that the earliest type of it was a floating lantern built by the Chinese in the early part of the 3rd century. The first clearly recorded manned flight took place in 1783 in France. Today it is still used as a means of transportation, but mostly for pleasure. Yet, despite the thousands of years of history, many people still don't know how a hot air balloon works. They work on one of the most basic of scientific principles: warmer air rises in cooler[..]

I travel a lot and there is always the question of how to get to the airport, should I leave my car there or take a cab. The question of whether I will I ask a friend to drive me the airport if I have a 7 am flight is always a difficult question to answer. I've found that there are a number of places where you can leave your car nearby airports that can make airport parking quite easy. They will shuttle you over to the airport after you park and get you when you return. For instance if you are going to Fort Lauderdale Airport there is the Airport Park N Go which is 1.2 miles from the airport. They offer free transportation and luggage assistance to and from the terminals.Another option[..]

Helicopters are expensive; therefore, it is important for organizations to make a decision only after reviewing the product thoroughly. Many helicopter sales companies offer a complete range of helicopter brokerage services to assist a client in either selling or purchasing a business helicopter. However, when choosing a helicopter brokerage agent, one must conduct a through check of the company's sales and marketing team, and choose a company that has vast experience in the global aircraft sales and acquisition arena. Most helicopter sales companies not only offer a wide selection of new and used helicopters but also provide custom completions services, new products, maintenance,[..]

The term 'aerospace' is uses to refer to the Earth's atmosphere above our planet. In other words, this is the part of atmosphere through which commercial, personal and military vehicles fly. Aerospace is often used to refer to the research, designing, manufacturing, operation and maintenance of vehicles that can fly. Defense, on the other hand, is a military action that is concerned with the protection of the country against an attack. Therefore, the term 'aerospace and defense' refers to the use of flying vehicles and aircrafts to protect the borders of a country against an offense. The Aerospace and Defense (A&D) industry is a critical business area that is more than just a business.[..]

The basics If you are working in aviation, chances are you have seen an ICAO Flight Plan. It is a strange looking document showing clearly its origins in a world where clattering teletype machines were considered modern communications means. The double chevrons pointing left indicate "carriage return" and the three dashes above each other indicate line feeds... Yes, the ICAO form is a hybrid of text parts and instructions to the old teletype machines (and the modern computers that have replaced them) as to how the information is to be formatted on displays and hard copies of the plan. When transmitted via the Aeronautical Fixed telecommunications Network (AFTN), the plan takes the form[..]

Due to the high cost of buying a commercial plane, it comes as no surprise that most people would rather build their own plane. Ultimately this means that you will have to decide early on whether you will build a traditional airplane or a home built jet aircraft. Most individuals are satisfied with a single engine, propeller driven airplane, while other more adventurous souls would rather build a craft that utilizes the jet engine. The following is a comparison of the two different projects to help you decide which would best suit you. First, we will look at propeller driven planes which are built by amateurs much more often than home built jet aircraft. When building an airplane, one[..]

The Cessna Citation Excel, Model 560XL, is a turbofan-powered small-to-medium sized business jet built by the Cessna Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kansas. Several jets in the Citation family, which includes the Excel, the Citation XLS, the Citation XLS+ and the Citation Sovereign, precede it. The Excel project was originally announced in October, 1994, and the prototype aircraft debuted on February 29, 1996. Similarly to its main inspiration, the Citation X, which enjoyed great popularity by the time it was introduced in the market, the Citation Excel broke from the traditional image of the Citation line by using a new combination of technologies and designs. It represented a chance to[..]

There are many choices for aircraft detailing when it comes to aviation uses. One product we like after tying them all out was a product by Alcoa Corporation. The product is distributed by CLB Enterprises at Alcoa Corporation for aluminum polish in all aspects of detailing. We used this on some museum pieces and noticed the ease of use as we polished out an all aluminum T-33 the trainer version of the F-80 Korean War Vintage "Shooting Star." It took approximately 22 man-hours with Alcoa's Aluminum Polish to complete this project. We bid the job at 40-hours because generally that is what it would take with other brands. My company, the Aircraft Wash Guys, has plenty of experience with[..]

I got my start working in the flying industry while attending Ramapo College of New Jersey in the early 1980s. At that school, they had posted an opportunity to work as a "co-op" student for an airline based at EWR (Newark Airport, NJ). PEOPLExpress Airlines was the name and they needed students to handle reservations at their Haynes Avenue facility, which was really the UAL building. For $5.00 per hour I took the bait and worked from February to August 1984. The job was tedious, the phone system antiquated, the company was a calamity. Still, it was fun and I enjoyed my occasional trips over to the old North hangar to watch aircraft take off.[..]

The Lockheed L-1329 JetStar is a business jet produced from the early 1960s through the 1970s. It originated as a private project attempting to win a United States Air Force contract that was later dropped. Lockheed then decided to continue the project for the business market. The first JetStar prototype first flew on September 4, 1957. Two prototypes were initially constructed using Bristol Siddeley Orpheus turbojets; one of these was experimentally re-engined with a set of four Pratt & Whitney JT12 in 1959, implying a later selection of the JT12 for production aircraft. The first of these prototypes flew in the mid 1960's. The JetStar was the first business jet to enter service[..]

Sometimes it can seem the fares have increased again every time you go online to book a plane flight. Still, with gas prices rising rapidly, there's no doubt that it's still often cheaper to fly than drive. This article looks at some of the things you can do when booking a flight to make sure you get the best value for your money. As soon as you know you need to travel, get online and make your bookings. The earlier the better. Many airlines offer cheaper rates if you book more than 21 days in advance. If you can travel on a weekday you'll probably find a cheaper fare, and the same applies if you stay away for a Saturday night. Check out a site that compares the airfares from a[..]

The Embraer aircraft corporation of Sao Paola, Brazil has made a name for itself in recent years by designing and manufacturing regional jets. The first of these jets, the Embraer 145 made its first flight in 1995. The ERJ-145 is a 50 passenger jet powered by two rear mounted Rolls Royce turbo fan engines. It has a wing sweep of approximately 22 degrees and has a T-tail configuration. The operational success of the ERJ-145 and its similar competitors such as the Canadair Regional Jet and the airlines' desires for a larger model brought about the "E" series of jets from Embraer. The Embraer 170 is the base model "E" jet. It's a narrow body airliner powered by two General Electric CF-34[..]

If you have de-ice boots on your aircraft you realize that for them to last you will need to keep them in new condition. In days gone buy aviators and aircraft mechanics have used all sorts of things to keep them in mint condition. This is especially serious if you park your aircraft out doors for any length of time. Like tires the rubber in de-ice boots gets old and checks. I can remember as a young man cleaning aircraft in trade for flight time often using floor wax on the de-ice boots. It worked well indeed. I distinctly remember one day using floor wax and then having to climb onto the aircraft and sat on the well saturated de-ice boots I had just coated with lots of Floor Wax. The[..]

Many new pilots who are looking for their first airplane to purchase turn to the plane that they used for training. For many pilots that plane would be the Cessna 172. It is probably the most common airplane that is used for training in the United States and perhaps the world. With the popularity of this single engine plane it is no wonder that new owners set their sights on buying a Cessna 172. The new pilot will often look for a used Cessna 172 as their first purchase. Because the Cessna 172 is the most popular light weight aircraft manufactured there is a great inventory of the pre-owned Cessna 172 on the market. And although the resale value has remained high for the plane there are[..]

Many major airlines offer various discount airfare rates to motivate travelers to fly with them. Travelers can usually garner a fare deal from these offers. Many websites like [ provide information about special fares, and discounts of various airlines. It is best to visit the airlines exclusive website to gain such information. Major airlines provide discount fares most often for their frequent flyers. Often, booking in advance is a sure way to receive a decent discount fare on a flight. United Airlines, for example, offers 10% off mid-week couch fares when tickets are booked seven days in advance. Advance booking of 30 days or more qualify for discounted rates on most 'no frills'[..]

The other day I met one of the ground transportation directors for a major US airport. In fact this airport is the number one location for foreign airlines coming into our country. You can imagine the issues that occur with all these different people speaking different languages showing up in one place. We got to talking about airport safety and how many times problems happen on the ground and how many accidents there are. Very similar to driving most accidents happen in parking lots for pulling out of a parking lot. With aircraft is similar as most aircraft accidents happen on the ground. We got to talking about all the aircraft accidents which happen on the ground and then we[..]

All the various types of materials commonly used in airframes, their applications, and their advantages and disadvantages, common airframe manufacturing methods... They all need to be subject to testing and quality standards. The materials used in structural areas of airframe construction must have adequate strength with minimum weight, in other words a high strength-to-weight ratio (SWR). This is not the only consideration, however. Stiffness of the material is often as important as its strength, and other factors need to be considered as well. The material must be consistent and predictable in its properties, so that we know what behaviour to expect from it. All materials vary slightly[..]

When fuel costs are so high, people favor flying to driving. If the distance to be traveled is over 500 miles it often makes sense to fly. If the distance is over 1000 miles then it definitely makes sense to fly to save fuel. In fact unless you really need a car once you get there and unless you will be staying for a long time or taking quite a bit of luggage, driving makes little sense. Some of us may be setting our sights on destinations which are not close to large airports, meaning we will need to jump onto a commuter airline to complete the trip, which does raise the cost. Still, it is hard to beat the trip on cost if you are paying $2.35 per gallon. If you are traveling to a busy[..]

The Cessna 175 Skylark offers an affordable, reliable route to private plane ownership and good examples can be picked up at prices no more than the average family saloon car. You do not often come across these sturdy light aircraft yet they are one of the models in the Cessna line up that truly has stood the test of time. The Cessna 175 Skylark is a four-seat, single- engine, high-wing airplane that was produced between 1958 and 1962 by the Cessna Aircraft Company. It was designed to fill a niche between the lower powered Cessna 172 Skyhawk and the heavy-duty Cessna 180 and 182 Skylane. Skylark was the name given to the deluxe versions of the 175 from 59-62. The basic airplane was sold[..]

As the economy slowly falls, many people are trying to take advantage of the situation by purchasing helipads in their backyards. But are such helipads really required? Are they simply waste of money or can they really prove to be advantageous? Although you might not use this helipad very frequently, and think that it is simply a waste of space, imagine what would happen in case a member of your family fell sick suddenly. Although you can take him or her by road to a hospital, would you want to risk being stuck in traffic in such a situation? This is where a helipad is of great use as it can be the difference between a patient making it to the hospital or not. During such emergencies,[..]

With the tremendous growth of tourism in recent years, there are quite a few options for cheap flights to Spain. There has been an increase in discount airlines to some of its local airports, with more discount airlines now flying into Spain. When taking advantage of these cheaper flights, though, you will have to sacrifice some of the conveniences that you may be accustomed to receiving with the larger, higher priced airlines. Discount airlines offer lower priced fares to many locations throughout Spain. There is a greater choice of lower priced fares from airports in Europe from rather than from the United States, but you may be able to find lower fares nonetheless. Some of the[..]

As any aircraft is superseded, military conversions can significantly extend their useful lives. A number of air forces acquired the Airbus A310 as VIP aircraft and troop and/or freight transports. The only one to buy a brand new aircraft was the Royal Thai Air Force, which took delivery of a VIP-configured A310-300 for use by the Royal Flight on 5 November 1991. The Canadian Forces boosted their strategic airlift capability with five ex-Wardair/Canadian Airlines International A310s in 1992/93. Redesignated CC-150 Polaris, the five aircraft were delivered in a 194-seat passenger configuration, but four were subsequently converted by Sogerma in Bordeaux to a passenger/cargo combi layout.[..]

Over the years, calculating the cost to own an airplane is one of the most frequently asked questions I receive. There are a lot of different cost factors that go into owning an airplane. The purchase price is just one piece of the entire cost of the airplane ownership pie. Other pieces include taxes, hangar or tie down costs, fuel, oil, insurance, ramp fees, engine reserves, routine maintenance, inspection items and subscriptions to name a few. The following article will help you determine what costs are involved in owning an airplane and how to plan your finances accordingly. Keep in mind the following article offers a generic estimate on how to calculate the ownership costs of most[..]

It is not uncommon for individuals to want to take their pet with them, wherever they go. This is especially true when it comes to dogs. It's not uncommon to see these canine friends sitting beside their owners when in a car. It's debatable whether it's the car or the owner that the dog is attracted to at this time. It would seem that dogs love to be on the go especially if it can be with their master. When it comes to private pilots they have to have been known to take their dogs on a flying trip with them. It's very important though to have a good idea of how the dog is going to respond when in the air. It has to be remembered that if the dog becomes frightened it can become a serious[..]

Suvarnabhumi Airport, the new Bangkok International Airport, aviation hub and gateway to Thailand was raised from the boggy Nong Ngu Hao or Cobra Swamp in an effort that took 43 years. Location of Suvarnabhumi Airport Located to the south-east of Bangkok in Bang Phli district, Samut Prakarn province, Suvarnabhumi Airport is barely 500 m beyond the Bangkok city limits and about 35 km from the city center. The Bangkok - Chonburi Motorway runs two km to the north of the airport before crossing into Samut Prakarn and then on to Chonburi and the seaside resort of Pataya. The other main road to the north of the airport is Soi Sukhumvit 77 which leads on the the main Sukhmvit Road at On Nut.[..]

There are a number of dangerous situations for helicopters and other aircraft that use rotors. One such situation is known as retreating blade stall. This is where the rotor blades traveling away from the direction of flight enter a stalled condition. This is caused by a combination of fairly low airspeed, and/or the angle of attack being too large. Retreating blade stall is what limits the speed at which helicopters are able to fly, even the fastest helicopters can only fly at around 200 knots. Rotor blades travel in a circular movement, and so some of them will be traveling in the direction of travel (advancing) and some will be moving away (retreating blade). The majority of[..]

The Piper Aircraft Company has come up with a new version of the PA-32 called the Piper 6x and it is having great success on the market. This is a great aircraft for those unpaved runways in Africa, Australia, and South America. Many runways are not paved in those areas and this is a plane that can handle those situations. You also don't need a long runway for the Piper 6x because it can handle the 2,100 foot strips with room to spare. This is a plane that is easy to handle and fun to pilot. It has a wonderful 300 horsepower engine for those special needs. The Piper 6x can carry big loads at good speeds for any destination. It does not care where it lands. It likes hard strips and soft[..]

If you are getting tired with the same old vacation destination where all you can see are structures, architectures, statues, and paintings, then it is about time to bring yourself to something different. It is about time to visit the exotic and tropical island of the Philippines. The Philippines is culturally diverse with different languages and color. You suddenly begin to realize that there is more to the Philippines than it more than 7,000 glittering islands in the Pacific. Taking you to the far eastern side of the world would bring you the one of the most enchanting places you would ever see with several islands waiting to be explored at minimal prices. Craving for something[..]