willedoo

I thought the spaceshuttle would have the time to climb record.:D. All jokes aside Willie- that is a very good question.I dont know either. AEnglish Electric Lightning I reckon would have been up there in its day.

http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/lightning/memories.php

Not sure but you would be pulling some g...

Was reading an article about last Thursday, 27th October, being the 25th anniversary of Viktor Pugachev setting the record for time to climb to 3000m in 25.4 sec. In 1986 he set the climb records for 3, 6, 9 & 12 thousand metres in an Su 27, beating the previous US held F15 records by a couple of seconds, and are still unbeaten. I remember reading somewhere that the initial rate of climb record is held by a Mig 29. Question is, I was wondering if anyone knows how the initial rate of climb record is determined; have looked around & can't find anything. My first guess is that it would be measured from initial point of take-off, possibly to a given altitude, or within a certain time. Also can't find anything about time to climb to altitude records, whether they are from point of take-off, or a set, horizontal low level flight to gain speed first. Just curious.

Cheers, Willie.

Experimental carrier based drones:

http://www.innovationnewsdaily.com/x-47b-drone-cruise-flight-2305/

A couple of photos taken today of the Wikner Ford Special built by Australian pioneer aviator, Captain Geoff Wikner. Currently at the Queensland Transport Museum.

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Thanks, Michael, that's an amazing story. Just to survive 286 missions in F100's is a feat in itself.

Cheers, Willie.

The antonov 2 is a fun aircraft to own, and yes it requires lots of money to keep it up and running.. Currently CCE is the only an2 airworthy in AUS,, YNT is having issues with the CofA process however i believe its almost completed.We have based CCE at Lilydale in Victoria for a few months to avoid the QLD storm season, and we will be conducting adventure flights ex yarra valley in it. more info can be found on our website..

www.an2.com.au

Cheers, Willie.

Th

There are 2 An-2's on the Aussie register, VH-CCE and VH-NYT. Cant find a photo of YNT, but here's one of CCE "Big Bird".http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/076162.html

 

Peter

A note from the pilot's handbook reads: "If the engine quits in instrument conditions (blind flying when you can't see the ground) or at night, the pilot should pull the control column full aft (it won't stall) and keep the wings level. The leading-edge slats will snap out at about 64 km/h (40 mph), and when the airplane slows to a forward speed of about 40 km/h (25 mph), the airplane will sink at about a parachute descent rate until the aircraft hits the ground."

Cheers, Willie.

An absolutely classic aircraft... But the maintenance on them... Jeezzzuus... It'd make ya wallet weep...

Cheers, Willie.

Looks like there might be a few cheap AN-2's coming on the market. UTair has been banned from operating their 47 AN-2's which form a large part of their cargo fleet. They've fallen victim to the current overhaul of the Russian domestic aviation industry. Utair operates more than 100 passenger jets, including more than 40 Boeing 757 & 737 types with plans to buy 10 more 767's next year. As well they have around 60 passenger turboprops, 340 helicopters worldwide & a small cargo fleet. Apart from the AN-2's, they have 7 other cargo planes, made up of 4 AN 26's and 3 AN-74's. Doesn't seem to be any problems with the rest of the fleet.

There hasn't been any reason in the English speaking news as yet as to why they were banned, whether it's to do with their age or some other issues. They're a good safe old aircraft given adequate maintenance. I like the idea that they can fly at 30 kts under full control. There appears to be a good demand for them as privately owned, collectable classics, so they should be able to get rid of them easily. Fairly cheap to buy, but I'd guess they'd cost a fair bit to run & maintain.

Cheers, Willie.

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20111024/168059564.html

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Running up the Cyclones on the restored Swiss Constellation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7p_FB19wbA&feature=related

Just wondering if there would be any interest in having a propliners sticky in the aviation history/nostalgia section.

Cheers, Willie.

Never seem to get tired of the sound of Twin Cyclones or Twin Wasps.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xb0nNf7xT-E[/ame]

Cheers, willie.

Came across a story in the local paper this week about an early Ford racing car which is on loan the the Queensland Transport Museum at Gatton for the next six months. The owner bought it complete, but dismantled for 14 quid, 53 years ago, and it wasn't until 1994 that he was informed of it's history. Turns out it was the first racing car built in Australia in 1922 by Australian aircraft designer, Captain Geoff Wikner, to try to attract backers for his aviation ventures.

Not knowing anything about Geoff Wickner, I did a bit of reading up and it sounds like an interesting story. He migrated to England in the early 30's and in partnership as the Foster Wickner Aircraft Co. Ltd., built the Wicko. Ford pops up here again as the early models had a modified Ford V8 engine, re-engined later with a 90hp Cirrus Minor. Production ceased at the start of the war, and in 1946, he bought a Halifax, loaded it up with people and flew it to Australia. Seems like he built a couple of planes in Australia before he moved to England - the Wicko, and the Wicko Lion.

Here's a Queensland Air Museum link which has a photo of a replica, and one of the Wikner Ford Special as well:

http://www.qam.com.au/aircraft/wicko/VH-UPW.htm

Another link to his account of the flight to Australia in the Halifax:

http://www.wicko.com/wickowalzingmatilda.htm

There's been a biography written as well, looks interesting:

http://www.ozatwar.com/books/foth.htm

Cheers, Willie.

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A couple of videos from S&S Turbine Services, in Canada. They overhaul industrial turbine engines & work on old F4 Phantom & Starfighter J79 turbojets, converting them to LM1500 turbo-shafts mainly for power generation. They have a lot of Youtube videos which are quite interesting to watch for anyone into these old engines.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Or6mIaSWZ8g&feature=relmfu

Hello Jay,

Things like that are a bit hard to track down in genuine form. Any old control sticks are usually snapped up by collectors or simpit builders. They're not cheap either. I can PM to you a couple of links if you like, one is ex RAF British stuff, the other American. They are worth keeping an eye on as they sometimes have control sticks, but not often. The British bloke currently has a Vampire column with no grips. An alternative would be to build a replica like the simpit builders do, but it takes a lot of time & you'd probably have to find someone who does cold-cast resin work to mould & cast the grips.

Here's a photo of one in the UK available. He bought it for an RV8 project & never used it. He has other RV8 stuff for sale as well. He was told it was a Mustang stick, but it's actually from an F86 Sabre.

Cheers, Willie.

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Tues 11th OctVolga-Dnepr Airlines, Fl VDA2154, Descending to YPPH.

 

Antonov AN124. ( AN-124-100 ),

 

 

Reg RA-82046, Time 0624 Hrs.

 

( Singapore - Perth )( SIN - PER )

 

 

 

--------------------------

 

Malaysia MAS Fl 6204, Crossed Descending to YPPH,

 

( 225.0 NM ,SE of YPPH ).

 

Altitude Fl 420 ( 42000 Ft) Speed 424 Kts,

 

Tracking at 290.0 Degrees.

 

Reg 9M - MPS . Time 1546 Hrs.

 

( B772, Boeing B777- 2H6ER ).

 

( Melbourne - Perth - Kula Lumpa ).

 

( MEL - PER - KUL ).( CARGO )

 

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Cheers, Willie.

Yes it was good mate.9 years on the f111. Then 2 years on Royal Saudi Airforce Tornados I worked for British aerospace, now BAE systems. I do miss the F111. But the tornado was a lot more fitter freindly.

Good shots mate. We when i was a teccy in the RAAF, we used similar Jacks.Just bigger on the F111. Only every saw one nearly come of the jacks because we where doing flight control rigging and the flight computors where on.Someone bumped a Gyro the access panel was off, Gyros are very sensitive.The jet nearly bounced off the jacks.We always chained off the horizontal stabs during Hydraulic testing.If it hit someone, it would try and drive them into the concrete(3000Psi) Tornado was (4500PSI). General though the jacks are very good once the locking ring on top off the jack is locked off. When we where in position.We would lock off the ring and relieve the pressure of the jack.

I was curious about it, sometimes things look worse than they really are & photos never tell the full story. It must have been an experience working on an icon like the F111, all history now, sadly.

Cheers, Willie.

A while back, I posted a link with some similar photos of the carrier based Mig 29's under construction:

http://theaussieaviator.net/threads/indian-carrier-based-mig-29s.33513/

It looks a bit hairy the way they have them propped up with jacks, but I suppose it's safe.

cheers, Willie.

Just a link to a news article on developments at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant.

If you keep scrolling down the page, there's quite a few expandable construction photos of the SU-30MK fighter destined for Malaysia and India, and the Yak-130 trainer/light attack aircraft.

Cheers, Willie.

http://www.ruaviation.com/docs/3/2011/8/11/39/

Well, Well, Well.... Welcome everyone. You will find The Aussie Aviator a very friendly site with a large number of varied and valued opinions, welcome aboard !

 

Michael Coates

I'm only a fairly recent member, but I've found that the outstanding attractions of TAA are the friendliness, respect for each other, and dedication to all things aviation of the many and varied members. And you're right, the opinions are many and varied, as are the topics of interest, which is probably TAA's biggest strength. Just to express an opinion, I would say that without Glenn as the site owner and main driver, it would not exist, and as members we all need to support the site and Glenn in whatever way we can. Second to that, TAA can continue it's legacy as a very friendly and dedicated aviation forum if we continue that respect for each other and each other's opinions, combined with the inherent passion for aviation that all members and guests would, without a doubt, have. The big picture with this site seems to be a combined interest in aviation, doesn't matter what type, it's all here. In the few months that I've been a member here, I've learnt more from member's posts than I have from a swag of books.

Cheers, Willie.

Cockpit video of a Belarus Transavia Ilyushin 76 flight from Antarctica to Cape Town, landing at night. It really shows up the characteristic high pitched whine of the D30KP engines. Not sure what got them banned in the EU and other countries, whether it's the noise of the fans, or the decibels coming from the core engine at full power.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJBrRms_3fA&feature=related