Geared turbofan engine

Flight International has published Civil engines: Pratt & Whitney gears up for the future with GTF. This look at the Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan engine describes how the engine works and the differences compared to a conventional turbofan jet engine. It's accompanied by a number of good photographs and drawings.

You can also find a little information on Wikipedia, but at this moment the Flight piece is more informative.

Restoring a Catalina

The Catalina Flying Memorial is an initiative to acquire, restore, and bring to Australia a Catalina amphibious aircraft. These were designed in the 1930’s and only a few still exist in the world. A 1945 model PBY6 aircraft has been acquired that was last used as an aerial fire-fighting water bomber in Portugal.

You can learn about the progress of this initiative, and about these aircraft in general, at the newly updated Catalina Flying Memorial Ltd website.

The group has passed this on to Thirty Thousand Feet:

Following the unfortunate events of last month, it was decided to replace both engines in situ before attempting any more flying. It was originally planned to overhaul the engines after the aircraft arrived in Australia and before taking any passengers. Although this option is costly, “new” engines will naturally add to the value of the aircraft.

While we have put out our feelers in the search for new engines, any assistance would be greatly appreciated. We need two Pratt & Whitney 1830-92 radial engines and, of course, money with which to purchase and install them. So if you can help with our search and/or the provision of funding, please contact Philip Dulhunty ((02) 9870-7277, e-mail Philip@dulhunty.com).

Help them out if you can!

Exceptional aviation photos

If you want to see some really good commercial and military aircraft action photography, you need to know about le Cirque Volant.

This e-magazine is for aviation photographers, enthusiasts, and spotters around the world, and publishes aviation images taken by amateur photographers. The magazine contains high quality aviation photographs, in-depth photographic articles about specific aircraft, and articles about aviation photographers and technique.

Download the December 2007 issue (6.7M .pdf) now!

The outlook for 2008

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released their 2008 Industry Outlook (110k .pdf), and the financial forecast is not optimistic. The IATA has changed their projection for 2008 industry profits to be almost 11 percent below 2007 levels. Previously, they projected a 39 percent increase in profits, so the swing is rather large.

Two factors have caused the IATA to change their forecast: the "credit crunch" and increased fuel prices. (In 2007, fuel represented almost 30 percent of airline operating costs!)

While industry profits of $5.6 billion in 2007 and $5.0 billion in 2008 might sound like a lot, it's best to keep the following in mind: According to IATA data, between 2001 and 2006 the industry lost $42.0 billion. (Press reports that complain about the lack of food and other service on flights while the airlines enjoy high current profits leave this out.)

IATA is an international trade body representing over 240 airlines comprising 94% of scheduled international air traffic.

Airport Watch Program

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has an Airport Watch Program that was created in conjunction with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

[The] Airport Watch Program... uses the more than 650,000 pilots as eyes and ears for observing and reporting suspicious activity. The Airport Watch Program includes warning signs for airports, informational literature, and a training video to teach pilots and airport employees how to enhance security at their airports.

Features of the Program include locking up aircraft and facilities, and watching out for forced access, misuse of aviation lingo, and videotaping of aircraft and hangars. Security resources for general aviation pilots are also provided.

National Aviation Hall of Fame class of 2008

The National Aviation Hall of Fame has announced the four 2008 inductees.

The Class of 2008 is: Col. Clarence E. “Bud” Anderson, USAF (Ret.), veteran WWII triple ace and experimental test pilot; Herbert D. Kelleher, co-founder, former CEO, and Executive Chairman of Southwest Airlines; the late William A. Moffett, architect of naval military aviation; and Sean D. Tucker, champion aerobatic air show performer and instructor.

The ceremony will take place July 19, 2008. See the NAHF press release for more details.

Airspeed - The First Two Years Aloft

Stephen Force of the Airspeed podcast has just written a book titled, Airspeed - The First Two Years Aloft based on, well, the first two years of the podcast. It's available in either paperback or electronic formats from LuLu.

The book includes most of the highlights of the last two years, including some interviews transcribed for the first time. And it also includes the full text of several of the most popular episodes, such as First Solo and Why I Fly. There's also additional explanatory material in several of the chapters.

As described in LuLu:

Essays, rants, ruminations, and the Big Dream from the first two years of Airspeed, the Internet's premier aviation features podcast. Strap in for an aerobatic ride in a Pitts S-2C, a skydive run with the US Army Golden Knights, a balloon flight, and training with the author from the cockpit of a Cessna 172. Also includes the widely-praised essays "Take your Kids to the Airport" and "Why I Fly," as well as the introspective and inspiring "First Solo" and the epic aviation poem "Fingers in the Airport Fence Entwined (The Ballad of Jimmy Short)." Strap into the right seat and pitch for best climb with Stephen Force.

Chapters include:

Intro Flights
Ballistic Recovery Parachutes
BFR Complete - On to the Instrument Rating!
Steely-Eyed Missile Man John Aaron
Take Your Kids to the Airport
So You Want to Be an Astronaut - Part 1: Qualification
So You Want to Be an Astronaut - Part 2: Selection
So You Want to Be an Astronaut - Part 3: Ruminations
GA IS No Threat
Steely-Eyed Missile Man Captain REFSMMAT
A Ride with the US Army Golden Knights
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds
Test Pilot: You
Balloon Ride with Dave Emmert
So Long, One-Eight!
The Technicolor Yawn and You
First Solo
Hey, Don!
Upside Down with My Hair on Fire
Why I Fly
Fingers in the Airport Fence Entwined

Check out the book and support the aviation podcast cause!

http://www.lulu.com/content/1389586

Email and web surfing on your flight

PC World has some great information about the coming availability of wireless Internet access on commercial airlines.

American Airlines plans to offer U.S. coast-to-coast in-flight broadband Internet access using any device that has 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi capabilities.

Alaska Airlines will have a satellite-based 802.11b/g Wi-Fi connection for laptops, smart phones, and PDAs. You'll have "access to the Internet, e-mail and VPNs, as well as stored in-flight entertainment." The system gets to the internet through an antenna on the aircraft.

Virgin America will offer an "air-to-ground broadband Internet connection for 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi enabled devices." Through the airline's Red Inflight Entertainment network, you'll have seatback access to instant messaging services like MSN messenger, Google talk, Yahoo! messenger, and AIM.

JetBlue is about to conduct a trial that gives passengers "free e-mail and instant-messaging service on one of its Airbus A320 planes starting on Dec. 11. Run through a partnership between JetBlue, Yahoo! and Research in Motion, the trial will allow passengers with Yahoo! e-mail accounts, as well as Blackberry users, to access e-mail and send instant messages. Blackberry users will have to connect to the network through Wi-Fi, however, as the FCC doesn't allow mobile calls to take place on planes."

Details at How Four Airlines Plan to Connect Fliers to the Web.

Fledging Eagle, The Politics of Air Power

Stamford House Publishing tells Thirty Thousand Feet about the publication of "Fledging Eagle, The Politics of Air Power" by Mark Andrews:

Fledging Eagle, The Politics of Air Power is a captivating perspective of military aviation, from the first powered flight to the present day. Mark Andrews’ exacting analysis provides a fascinating slant on the evolution of military aviation and it’s effect on the 20th Century. It is centred around a long running argument outlining whether the overriding role of air power should be strategic in its own right or serve to support the activities of armies and navies as a tactical device.

The author shows how the military aviation policies that were developed by the various great powers were shaped not only by geography and technology, but also by powerful personalities and their prejudices, with politics and vested interests also playing a significant part. The insights are penetrating with famous names from the past, shown in a fascinating perspective.

This is a refreshing read for anyone with a special interest in modern military history. The book will appeal to both professional and amateur military historians, especially those with a link to the Royal Air Force.

Books can be ordered via the Stamford House Publishing website: www.stamfordhousepublishing.co.uk. It is due for publication in January 2008.