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Introduced to the public in late 2022, the next-generation B-21 Raider flying-wing bomber has flown. The B-21, of which 100 are expected to be produced, is eventually destined to replace both the B-2 Spirit and the B-1 Lancer. The B-21's much anticipated first flight started with a departure from Northrop's development center at Plant 42 in Palmdale, California. Samson Sky followed up on its recent testing with its longest voyage to date, sending their Switchblade prototype up for more than 6 full minutes aloft. The development is great news for the youthful ‘flying car’ program, and so far one of the few designs that se
Starlink Constellation Swells to 5,000 Satellites in Burgeoning Global Network
A Falcon 9 rocket tendered 23 more Starlink satellites to the cold of space after a successful launch from Cape Canaveral just past midnight on November 8th. The launch was the 11th for the particular rocket used, or at least the 1st stage. The equipment had previously launched a bevy of client packages, including “SES-22, ispace’s HAKUTO-R Mission 1, Hispasat Amazonas Nexus mission, and CRS-27”. Now, with the most recent mission completed, the rocket has successfully delivered 7 Starlink payloads too. Overall, the launch makes for the 80th for SpaceX in 2023, with more than 1,000 metric tons delivered into orbit.
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More History Gone to Dust in Another Hangar Blaze
The Orange County Fire Authority said a fire had destroyed a large World War II-era hangar once used to house military blimps, sadly admitting the best way to combat the blaze was to let it burn out of its own volition. The Fire Authority said the fire died down after the facility collapsed around 1 in the morning on November 7th, a somewhat speedy end to the all-lumber hangars. Each was 17 stories high, 1,000 feet long, and 300 feet wide, making them some of the largest wooden structures in the region. The hangars currently belong to the US Navy, having passed through to Marine Corps operation after the war until 1999.
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1-3/4 Miles Visibility; Mist; Broken Ceiling At 400 Ft Above The Ground
On October 25, 2023, at 1829 central daylight time, a Lancair 320 airplane, N320P, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate for multiengine land airplanes with commercial privileges for single engine land airplanes. He held type ratings for B-737, DC-9, CV-640, and CV-600 airplanes. He also held a flight instructor certificate with single-engine airplane, multiengine airplane, and instrument airplane ratings.
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