New Coast Guard Patrol Plane – Airplanes
The first HC-235A maritime patrol plane for the United States Coast Guard has rolled off the production line in Spain. This is a newly designed airframe from EADS CASA, located in Seville. The HC-235A is the first aircraft developed as part of the Coast Guard’s Integrated Deepwater System (IDS) program. By 2017, EADS CASA will deliver 36 of these aircraft to the Coast Guard.
Space Shuttle Ready for Countdown
The space shuttle Discovery is ready for a July 1 launch, according to NASA. With its overhauled external fuel tank and additional safeguards built into the aircraft, the Discovery is significantly different from previous shuttles. NASA hopes that the newest version of the shuttle is much safer than the Columbia and Challenger, both of which experienced catastrophic failure that resulted in the deaths of all on board.
China Develops New Fighter Airplane Prototype
China has successfully tested the latest version of the FC-4, known as the Xiaolong “Fierce Dragon“, a single-seat, single-engine fighter plane. The Xiaolong is an air-to-air and air-to-ground attack fighter aircraft with a maximum speed of Mach 1.6. It has a maximum flying range of 2,175 miles. Military aviation experts believe the FC-4, jointly developed between China and Pakistan, is more likely to be used by Pakistan’s air force than China’s. Reports of how many planes Pakistan will purchase vary, but have been as high as 200. China announced earlier this year that it has increased its defense spending over last year by 14.7%.
Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner Moves Forward – Airplanes
Boeing has announced that they’ve released twenty-five percent of the documentation needed for manufacturers to begin building their new 787 Dreamliner. The largest of the aircraft’s pieces, the wing skins and fuselage can now be built. Final design plans have yet to be completed.
Restoration Begins of Hangar 37 at Pearl Harbor – Airplanes
The Pacific Aviation Museum has begun restoration of Hanger 37 on Ford Island at Pearl Harbor. Their goal is to complete it before the December 7, 2006 grand opening.
Solar-Powered Airplane on the Horizon
For the last two years, a company has been developing what is likely to become the world’s first solar-powered airplane. Based in Switzerland, SolarImpulse has a team of 25 experts including pilots, electrical engineers, aeronautical engineers, and meteorologists. Their goal is to enable the airplane to fly even in darkness using solar power collected in daylight and stored in wing-mounted solar cells. Their idea is that the plane will fly solely on solar power and be emissions-free. It will also be able to fly continuously for days at a time. The company believes that once the necessary technology is developed, the plane can circumnavigate the planet in one flight. The SolarImpulse aircraft will be constructed using composite materials and have room for just the pilot. It will cruise at almost 40,000′. SolarImpulse expects the plane to be ready for its first test flight sometime after 2008.
Spring Flying Begins in the Far North – Airplanes
I live at a latitude that’s north of 60 degrees. Winter held its grip on us even longer this year than usual. It’s only been in the last few weeks that the ice has melted on the lakes. Several times a day now I watch float planes pass overhead. Many of them are seasoned bush pilots who make a hard living hauling people and supplies into and out of various camps. Others are simply pilots who live for those moments of flying.
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