CATEGORIES

Dawn of a new era

The revolutionary Ion engine that took spacecraft to Ceres

BUILT TO RACE

Warbirds, fighter aircraft with no real purpose post-World War 2, proved that they were definitely not ready to be sent to obscurity. Collectors had snapped up many of them but some a new career as competitors in the Reno Air Races when they started up again in 1964. However, there was a downside to this for collectors as warbirds cannot fly without spare parts and the Reno racers were using them all.

Aviation in the age of pestilence – a reminiscence

Now is not the time for people like me to start pontificating about the impact of COVID-19 on aviation, because the situation is simply too new, and too fast-moving. It’s incredibly important of-course, but things need to settle down before academics like me should be publishing on it.

COVID-19 Brings Aviation To Its Knees

The rapid and global spread of the Covid-19 virus has dealt a stunning and destructive global blow to the airline and aerospace industries.

Wildlife, Waterfalls, Witchcraft Zambia Has It All!

There is only one place in the world where four countries meet at a single frontier, - a landlocked country with the largest man-made lake in the world, national parks, Africa’s fourth-largest river and a lake where the water temperature never drops below three degrees.

Russian Cruiser Aurora

On the night of 7-8 November, 1917, a salvo was fired giving the signal for the storming of the Winter Palace bringing the Bolsheviks to power in a coup that changed world history. That blank shot came from the protected cruiser Aurora, symbol of the Russian Revolution and the oldest surviving ship of the Russian Navy, having fought during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904 1905, WWI and the Great Patriotic War when her cannons were used to defend Leningrad.

When is a Skylark not a Skylark?

Jeff Whiteley, who then ask a friend to help him restore the disused Skylark

SQUIRRELS on a MISSION

Having lived in South Africa my whole life, I have become used to our amazing road system. It’s normal for me to ride to work on a modern five-lane highway, covering the 40km in no time. I hardly think about it during the short uneventful journey, except when there’s been an accident to foul up the traffic, sometimes for hours. Then I wish I was already in a helicopter zooming overhead to my destination.

Operation Jericho

On 18 February 1944, three months prior to ‘Operation Overlord’, the proposed Allied landings on occupied Europe, a particularly bold daylight raid was carried out by Mosquito fighter bombers of No.2 Group. Their target was the notorious three-story prison situated on the Amiens/ Albert road to the northeast of Amiens in northern France.

Mosi oa-Tunya-(the smoke that thunders)

Dramatic landscape, diverse wildlife, ancient ruins and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. This is Zimbabwe, a landlocked country that has a place in history as much for the discovery of the magnificent Victoria Falls by David Livingstone, as for the legend of King Solomon’s mines, possible burial site of Paul Kruger’s gold.

Former MOD gliders to be used by charity to change lives

Motor gliders used to train thousands of RAF Air Cadets will get a new lease of life and bring joy to people with disabilities and injured ex-military personnel.

Beech Baron 58

Date and time: 17 January 2009 at 1300Z Aircraft registration: A2-AHF Last Point of departure: Private aerodrome north of Thambazimbi, Limpopo Province Next point of intended landing: Wonderboom Airport (FAWB), Gauteng Location of incident site: South-west of Thambazimbi (GPS co-ordinates: S24˚20.361' E027K 05.335' Meteorological information: Visibility good, clouds nil, temperature 28˚C, no wind. Type of operation: Private Persons on board: Pilot + 5 pax No of people killed 0 Pilot age and hours on type: 35 with 65.5 hours on type Total flying hours: 1 670.7 hrs

AMO's Lifeblood of aviation

An aircraft maintenance organization is on the forefront of importance for any company or person within the aviation industry. To short cut or neglect maintenance on any aircraft is irresponsible and a threat to life. AMO’s are expensive, however taking good care of engines and an aircraft, can assist in extending engine life and ensure the safety of pilots and passengers.

Allies are not automatically also personal friends

Goma, in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, is now a relatively safe town but in 2009 it was said to frequently be an area in turmoil, especially as it was close to the Rwandan border where bands of armed rebels had terrorized the inhabitants for years.

The Falcon 6X - Business Jet Will Take To The Skies In 2021

Dassault Aviation’s Falcon 6X has completed its critical design review, meaning the plans are set and manufacturing can begin. The first Falcon 6X is on track to be built by early 2020.

South African 2020 Armed Forces Day

Armed Forces Day is in remembrance of 600 soldiers that died in the sinking of the SS Mendi and all those who have died in armed conflicts representing South Africa

RECYCLED

Do you ever wonder what happens when an aircraft – a really big one like a 747 or an S76 reaches the end of its life? We all know that old aeroplanes go somewhere – but where? I was reminded of this question a few weeks ago when I was visiting an aircraft scrapyard.

PILOT PROFILES

GOOD things come to those who BELIEVE BETTER things to those who are PATIENT BEST things to those who don't give up

Virgin Galactic welcomes SpaceShipTwo Unity to Spaceport America, New Mexico

Virgin Galactic has successfully completed another vital step on its path to commercial service, relocating SpaceShipTwo, VSS Unity, to its commercial headquarters at Spaceport America’s Gateway to Space building.

Heli Expo a big success despite S-76B crash just days prior to event

Many of the 657 exhibiting companies and 18 000 industry professionals were shocked the news of the accident in which Kobe Brant, US basketball hero, and eight others were killed.

Metallic golden flying car (air taxi) parked on a Drone Port 3D rendering image

US divided over chinese drone bans

Aviation AND Travel IN Botswana

For most international visitors, to set foot in Botswana and leaving without experiencing the awe-inspiring Okavango Delta would be an anticlimax! The destination is the draw card and unique selling point to the country’s tourism industry. Several air charter operators fly into the awe-inspiring delta and areas surrounding this incomparable destination

David and Goliath

Warneford’s remarkable achievement

Helicopter Traversing Systems

The last mile connectivity problem

A Favoured Leg

I’m not one for long haul flying yet I work for an airline that operates a few sectors in excess of eleven hours, which is laborious to say the least.

Belgium Says Goodbye To Its Jet Trainers

On 12 January, 2020 the last three Alpha Jet trainers of the Belgian Air Force returned from France to the Beauvechain Air Base in Belgium for the last time. This brings an end to the era of the air force’s successful trainer jet and the joint co-operation with France for advanced jet pilot training. Due to the great success of these aircraft, the Alpha Jet is often called ‘the best trainer jet of Europe’.

Understanding Marine Helicopters

“Why can’t the army Chinooks operate from naval ships?”

The Lithium Challenge

Whatever aircraft type you fly and operate, almost certainly it contains, somewhere, one or more batteries.

SA's Largest airports amongst top tier in Global Punctuality League

Despite considerable upheaval in the local aviation sector in 2019, South Africa’s three largest airports managed to remain in the top tiers of global on-time performance with rankings of second, ninth and tenth in their respective categories.

MAD MAX HAS ARRIVED

While it may share a name with the yesteryear cult movie of the same name, this Mad Max is a huge waterbombing helicopter that was deployed to Australia to help fight the devastating bushfires that have engulfed the country since September 2019.