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SpaceX and NASA are targeting May 27 for Falcon 9’s launch of Crew Dragon’s second demonstration mission (Demo-2) from historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley will be the first two NASA astronauts to fly onboard the Dragon spacecraft as part of the Demo-2 mission to and from the International Space Station, which will return human spaceflight to t

Platinum Fighter Sales Has A Deal For You...

Life is not fair... every now and then, we see a note about an aircraft for sale... and we want it... we want it bad... but none so much as a Corsair. And... its just so happens that a stunning 1951 Chance Vought F-4U-5N Corsair has hit the market. Bu. Num 123168, VH-III... with a price tag of $3,450,000 (plus tax...). It's got an interesting pedigree. According to PFS, "Built in 1951 for the US Navy. Its US Navy history is currently being researched. Bu. Num 123168 was delivered to the FA Hondurena in March 1956 as FAH603. In 1979 the Honduran Military decided to sell all their aging fleet of seven remaining Corsair Fighters. An American company, Hollywood Wings Inc., acquired these, all the spare

Members of NASA's Perseverance Rover Mission Work From Home

From the moment the mission began in 2013, the women and men working on what would become NASA's Perseverance Mars rover knew they'd encounter unexpected challenges on their way to Mars. After all, no NASA mission to the surface of the Red Planet has done otherwise. But with its launch period opening on July 17, the team, like much of the rest of the world, is pushing forward with its mission-critical work while putting the health and safety of their colleagues and community first. The mission has not paused because Mars won't, either. Owing to planetary alignment, the only time to launch a large payload to Earth's second closest planetary neighbor occurs just three weeks out of every 26

Union Repping Alaska, Frontier, Spirit, and United Demand DoT Mandate Masks

And... just when you thought it might soon be safe to fly the friendly skies again... comes a Flight Attendant's Union demand for masking all passengers. A letter to SecTrans Elaine Chao and HHS Secretary Alex Azar by Sara Nelson, International President of The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) is the latest move to seek government control over what we do and how we do it... no matter how well intended it appears to be.

U.S. Space Force Organizes, Trains, And Equips Space Forces

Eighty-six graduates from the United States Air Force Academy celebrated receiving their diplomas April 18 and moved directly into the U.S. Space Force, marking the first infusion of commissioned personnel into the new service since its creation last year. Vice President Mike Pence was in attendance at the event and congratulated the entire graduating class. “Two years ago, President Trump laid out a bold vision for American leadership in space,” said Pence.  “Last December, the president made that vision a reality when he put his signature on a historic law that created the six branch of our armed forces, the United States Space Force. I am proud to stand here toda

Klyde's Recipe For Insanity... Virus, Win10, Boredom

FMI: www.klydemorris.com

Sandia Introduces The SI-11X Electronic Course Deviation Indicator

Sandia Aerospace introduced the SI-11X Electronic Course Deviation Indicator (e CDI) at EAA AirVenture 2019 in Oshkosh, WI. The SI-11X Electronic Course Deviation Indicator is a panel mounted device that displays lateral and vertical needles from a typical navigation receiver or GPS navigator. The non-certified SI-11X CDI is currently intended for the experimental aircraft market. All information is displayed on a color 3.5” diagonal LCD display in traditional aerospace symbology. The SI-11X displays left/right course deviation for

Starlink Is Targeting Service In The Northern US and Canada in 2020

On Wednesday, April 22 at 3:30 p.m. EDT, or 19:30 p.m. UTC, SpaceX launched its seventh Starlink mission. Falcon 9 lifted off from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Falcon 9’s first stage previously supported Crew Dragon’s first flight to the International Space Station, launch of the RADARSAT Constellation Mission, and the fourth Starlink mission. Following stage separation, SpaceX landed Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship, which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. Falcon 9’s fairing previously supported the AMOS-17 mission. The Starlink satellites deployed in an elli

Re-Configuration Of Aircraft Approved By Transport Canada To Support Airlift Of Freight During COVID-19 Pandemic

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited and Jazz Aviation have confirmed that Jazz will be the first operator for the recently approved Dash 8-400 Simplified Package Freighter. Under the agreement, Jazz has ordered the Service Bulletin and conversion kits for up to 13 Dash 8-400 aircraft. De Havilland Canada will be the exclusive supplier of all future Dash 8-400 aircraft Simplified Package Freighter modifications for Jazz's fleet. "We are delighted to be the first operator for the Dash 8-400 Simplified Package Freighter and congratulate De Havilland Canada and Transport Canada on offering this sound solution," said Randolph deGooyer, P

Some Won't Extend Beyond Current Stay-At-Home Restrictions

The FAA is granting drone flight waivers to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an agency official, but some won't extend beyond current stay-at-home restrictions. FAA safety liaison Rachel Carlstrom spoke during a video conference — sponsored by AUVSI's North Carolina chapter and media company MarketScale — and said various efforts within the Integration Pilot Program (IPP) are proving helpful during the COVID crisis. One example she cited is Wing's deliveries of food and supplies in parts of Virginia, which enable people to stay home. Another is the Chula Vista, California, police force's Homeless Outreach Team, which has used a DJI to reach otherwise inaccess

The Airplane Struck The Tops Of 75 Ft- To 90 Ft-Tall Trees Bordering The Airport Perimeter

On April 9, 2020, about 2100 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Arion Aircraft LLC Lightning LS-1 airplane, N81DJ, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Mount Pleasant Regional Airport-Faison Field (LRO) Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. The pilot and the flight instructor were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The student pilot, who had recently purchased the airplane, and the flight instructor departed Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) Myrtle Beach, South Carolina about 2015. A review of preliminary air traffic control (ATC) communicatio

The First Will Be Deployed At Florida HQ, KTIX.

USATS is set to welcome the first of two UH-60A Black Hawk helicopters to KTIX on May 15th, 2020. The newly refurbished UH-60A will be the first based at USATS' Titusville HQ and training campus in Florida. The addition of the two Black Hawks will complement the existing fleet of 8 European based USATS Black Hawks, further reinforcing USATS' commitment to training leaders in the aviation industry. USATS is currently offering a wide variety of training on types such as the Black Hawk, Huey II, R22, R44, A109, MD902, MD500/530, Bell206 and Schweizer S300 to name just a few.

AD 2020-09-01 Affecting AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, and AS355N

The FAA has published the fact they have superseded Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2008-24-04 for Eurocopter France (now Airbus Helicopters) Model AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, and AS355N helicopters. AD 2008-24-04 required repetitively inspecting the lubricating pump and checking the magnetic chip detector plug (chip detector) and the main gearbox (MGB) oil-sight glass. This new AD retains the requirements of AD 2008-24-04 and allows the option of altering the MGB oil flow distribution as a terminating action for the inspections. This AD was prompted by an alteration developed by Airbus Helicopters of the MGB oil flow distribution that corrects the unsafe condition. The action

Aero Linx: United States Space Command The USSPACECOM mission is to deter aggression and conflict, defend U.S. and allied freedom of action, deliver space combat power for the Joint/Combined force and develop space forces to advance U.S. and allied interests in, from and through the space domain. One unified team with combat ready forces prepared to fight for and preserve U.S. and Allied space superiority. USSPACECOM forces are comprised of one warfighting team of multiple Joint, Combined, Inter-Agency, and Civilian members with a singular focus on providing localized, regional, and theater space combat power to the National Command Authorities (NCA).  Our overriding objective is the establ

Aero Linx: Close Parallel Runways Two parallel runways whose extended centerlines are separated by less than 4,300 feet and at least 3000 feet (750 feet for SOIA operations) for which ATC is authorized to conduct simultaneous independent approach operations. PRM and simultaneous close parallel appear in approach title. Dual communications, special pilot training, an Attention All Users Page (AAUP), NTZ monitoring by displays that have aural and visual alerting algorithms are required. A high update rate surveillance sensor is required for certain runway or approach course spacing.

"Since flight attendant ability to practice social distancing is challenging in the aircraft cabin and on most other forms of public transportation, it is essential that we wear masks as often as possible so long as COVID-19 remains a threat to public health. In addition, passengers on all modes of public transport should be encouraged to wear masks in the short term and mandated by emergency regulation as soon as practicable. This will further minimize risks to themselves, the public transport workforce on which they are reliant, and our healthcare infrastructure, which must cope with the surge of infected patients unless we curb the spread. Seven U.S. states now require wearing masks in public." Source: From a letter to SecTrans Elaine C