Model Airplanes

An industry group representing hobby model airplane enthusiasts since 1936 has asked federal agencies to stop characterizing their members as the irresponsible drone pilots who interfere with aircraft fighting wildfires.

The Indiana-based Academy of Model Aeronautics said in December that it created a “Know Before You Fly” campaign to educate the “legions of new ‘drone’ fliers taking to the skies.

“Our concern is that our members are broad-brushed with a small number of irresponsible people that don’t know the rules,” Richard Hanson, AMA government and regulatory affairs representative, said in a recent telephone interview.

In the letter, the group blamed recent drone confrontations — several which occurred in the skies over San Bernardino County — to enthusiasts who have disregarded public safety.

“Errant consumers flying in an unsafe manner do not represent the organized hobbyist community,” said the letter to the top administrators of the Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

Hanson said drone pilots who interfered with wildfire-fighting efforts in Southern California have been referred to as hobbyists when it is not known who they really are.

“They could be someone hoping to sell their images to a

Article source: http://www.sbsun.com/general-news/20150809/model-airplane-group-seeks-to-restore-image-tarnished-by-drone-pilots

Editor’s note: Before he died in 2005, retired Navy man Frederick L. Ashworth revealed some little-known information about the dropping of the Nagasaki atomic bomb to his friend and neighbor, Ellen Bradbury, who subsequently wrote it down. Ashworth had been the operations officer in charge of the final testing and assembly of the “Fat Man” atomic bomb components, and he was in command of the device while aboard the plane that actually dropped the weapon on Nagasaki. Years later, New York Times science reporter Sandra Blakeslee worked closely with Bradbury to craft the article below from Ashworth’s recollections, and to locate corroborating accounts, interviews, and other support materials. Other observers may disagree with Ashworth’s details and views—especially because so much time has passed since August 9, 1945. But Ashworth’s detailed, in-depth account—recounted here in full for the first time—provides a different view of the Nagasaki mission than much of what was written previously. (For captions to the slideshow above, place cursor on picture.)

Seventy years ago, on August 9, at approximately 3:47 a.m. local time on the island of Tinian, a massive B-29 Superfortress aircraft roared down a tropical airport runway, carrying 13 men and what was then the world’s most destructive weapon—an atomic bomb called Fat Man. It was the second atomic bomb in existence (not counting the test in the Nevada desert about 3 weeks earlier). And it was far more powerful than the first atomic bomb to be used in warfare, which was called “Little Boy” and had been dropped

Article source: http://thebulletin.org/harrowing-story-nagasaki-bombing-mission8592

Sleek and silver, bright and shiny, this recently restored B-29 Superfortress is on exhibit at Heritage Park, the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History’s outdoor exhibit area. It was delivered to the Army Air Forces 70 years ago today. (Dean Hanson/Albuquerque Journal)

Copyright © 2015 Albuquerque Journal

B-29 serial number 45-21748, sporting a new suit of silver paint, gleamed brilliantly in the hot afternoon sun as Jerry Hanks ducked under the big bomber’s nose and took refuge in the shade of one of the plane’s, long, sleek wings.

Restoration of the B-29 Superfortress was completed just last week. It’s on display at Heritage Park, the outdoor exhibit area of Albuquerque’s National Museum of Nuclear Science and History.

When Hanks, restoration coordinator for Heritage Park projects, gets near the bomber, his enthusiasm for the aircraft shines as brightly as the B-29’s paint job.

“The B-29 is a symbol of the greatest generation, an icon of World War II, and it played a major role in ending that war,” Hanks said.

A Bomber Takes A Bow

The restoration of a B-29 Superfortress, a World War II-era bomber, will be recognized at a dedication ceremony from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the National Museum of Nuclear Science

Article source: http://www.abqjournal.com/625567/news/icon-gets-a-facelift.html

Gulfstream’s 7,500-nautical-mile G650ER (extended range) is making its LABACE debut this year, and the Savannah, Georgia manufacturer considers itself the market leader in large-cabin jets in Latin America. The G650ER is capable of reaching just about any city on the globe at Mach 0.85 nonstop from São Paulo–with eight passengers on board. It can also scoot 6,400 nm at Mach 0.90.

Despite challenging conditions since the economic downturn, Gulfstream has raised its fleet numbers in Brazil from 14 (in 2009) to more than 40 this year, and though the company policy prohibits discussing projected sales, senior v-p of international sales for the region Fabio Rebello said he’s confident the fleet will continue to grow.

“The more aircraft we deliver, the more people see them,” Rebello told AIN. And Gulfstream is pleased with the market penetration of its G450/550 and the earlier GIV, GIVSP and GV. But one of the most successful Gulfstreams could turn out to be the midsize G280.

“We’ve had great success with the G280,” said Rebello. “Our presence is growing. The airplane can go from Brazil to the U.S. with one stop, and can travel all around South and Central America, nonstop, at a good speed. It goes Mach 0.80, has a large cabin and its direct operating expenses are very attractive. Owners love the performance and the new technology–autothrottle and autobrakes are standard.”

Speaking of advanced technology, at the EBACE show in Geneva, Switzerland last May, Gulfstream reported that

Article source: http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2015-08-07/650er-makes-labace-debut

Flying model airplanes is no easy task, and for one Helena teenager, it has become a passion.

Reporter Mikenzie Frost shows us how this 17-year-old competes against pilots from across the country.

Flying model planes in competition is nothing out of the ordinary for seventeen year old Jon Garber.

Jon has been flying for the past five years and competes all over the country against people who are usually at least twice his age.

Most recently, he traveled to Indiana for the 2015 National Championships where he beat out more than 40 other pilots.

Jon uses 2D and 3D Computer Aided Design programs making parts for his planes to bring his designs to life.

“Grasping the physics and aerodynamics and everything how you would design an airplane..that was pretty hard,” said young pilot Jon Garber.

Jon doesn’t do it all alone though, he works with the Helena flying tigers club and mentor Jim Loughram who knew that Jon had a special talent.

“Jon has probably one

Article source: http://www.ktvh.com/home/headlines/Teen-Wins-National-Flying-Competition--320830781.html