Pilot Terminal Blog

Space enthusiasts around the world waited to see todays unveiling of space bound White Knight Two.  Deep in the Mohave desert, hanger doors peeled back to reveal the worlds largest all carbon-composite aircraft, named White Night Two.  Richard Branson and Burt Rutan were stationed inside the craft waving to the crowd through the ships windows.  Although the space aircraft, Space Ship Two is only 70 percent complete, the program is completely funded by a private company, Virgin Galactic.  For $200,000 you can also be a participant in a space flight, where you will ride White Night Two to an altitude of 50,000′.  At that point Space Ship Two would fire its hybrid rocket and take you to an altitude of 62 miles above the earth (327,000′).  Over 250 people have put deposits down to take this ride into space.

Virgin Galactic Rollout

Animation of Space Flight

 White Knight Two Assembly

Virgin Galactic Promotional Trailer 

FINALLY some good news for the aviation industry.  The FAA has recently announced new terms to the FAA Medicals.   Pilots who have not yet turned 40 years of age now have 5 years between medicals if they are operating under 3rd class priviledges.  As of July 24th, a third class medical lasts five years.  First class priviledges are extended from 6 months till 12 calendar months. AOPA stated that it reactivates medicals that expired on the day the new regs came into effect.  Even before the new regulations came into existence you can renew your medical the day before you turn 40 and the pre-40 rules apply.  Example:  If you renew your medical the last day of your 39th year, you can operate for 5 years under 3rd class priviledges.  Outgoing AOPA President Phil Boyer stated that, “This is welcome news for the GA industry.”  “AOPA supported the FAA’s move that makes it easier and more affordable for younger pilots to fly.”

AOPA Article

The FAA has approved Micro AeroDynamics vortex generators for the tapered wing series of the Piper Dakota’s.  The new STC covers PA-28-151, PA-28-161, PA-28-181, PA-28-201T, PA-28R-201, PA-28R-201T, and the PA-28-236.

Flight test have shown that the Vortex Generators provided a nine percent decrease in stall speed, a faster roll rate and increased stability in slow configurations.  The vortex generators allow the boundary layer of air to adhere to the aircraft longer in high angle of attack and slow speed configurations.

The VG’s are made of aircraft grade aluminum and can be painted to match the color scheme of your aircraft.  They can be applied in one day and cost around $1,450.  The VG’s are glued on with Loctite Depend and are 1″ by 1/4″ high.

Micro AeroDynamics claims that there is no top end speed loss, but generally there is a 1-3% loss of top end cruise speed with VG kits.

What checklist to follow when a F16 intercepts your aircraft.

Chaff - Check,  Anti-Missile Lock - Verified,  Spare UnderWear - Check, Ammo - Locked and Loaded, After Burner - Standby, NASA forms - check.

An F16 intercepts a Pilatus PC-12 and a Beech Premier while flying legally in a MOA in Arizona.

This will definitely make for some interesting hanger talk.

ACTUAL INTERCEPT PROCEDURES

By one of the narrowest margins in Red Bull history, Arizona native Kirby Chambliss, pilot of the Red Bull Aircraft, won the Detroit Red Bull Air Race title with a final race time of 1:12.08 beating runner up Paul Bonhomme by a mere 0.15 seconds. Austrian pilot Hannes Arch and Mike Mangold came in third and fourth place.

Certification of Aircraft and Airmen for the Operation of Light-Sport Aircraft;  Modifications to Rules for Sport Pilots and Flight Instructors With a Sport Pilot Rating

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to amend its rules for sport pilots and flight instructors with a sport pilot rating. The FAA believes these changes are necessary to address airman certification issues that have arisen since regulations for the operation of light-sport aircraft were implemented.  These changes would align the certification rrequirements for sport pilots and flight instructors with a sport pilot rating with those requirements currently applicable to other airmen certificates.

DATES: Send your comments on or before August 13, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments identified by docket number FAA 2007 – 29015 using any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for sending your comments electronically.

• Mail:  Send comments to the Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12 – 140, Washington, DC 20590–0001.

Proposed Rule Changes

1. Replace sport pilot privileges with aircraft category and class ratings on all pilot certificates 

2. Replace sport pilot flight instructor privileges with aircraft category ratings on all flight instructor certificates

3. Remove current provisions for the conduct of proficiency checks by flight instructors and include provisions for the issuance of category and class ratings by designated pilot examiners

4. Place all requirements for flight instructors under a single subpart (subpart H) of part 61

5. Require 1 hour of flight training on the control and maneuvering of an airplane solely by reference to instruments for student pilots seeking a sport pilot certificate to operate an airplane with a maximum airspeed in level flight with maximum continuous power (VH) greater than 87 knots calibrated airspeed (CAS) and sport pilots operating airplanes with a VH greater than 87 knots CAS

6. Remove the requirement for persons exercising sport pilot privileges and flight instructors with a sport pilot rating to carry their logbooks while in flight

7. Remove the requirement that persons exercising sport pilot privileges have an aircraft make-and-model endorsement to operate a specific set of aircraft while adding provisions for endorsements for the operation of powered parachutes with elliptical wings and aircraft with a VH less than or equal to 87 knots CAS

8. Remove the requirement for all flight instructors to log at least 5 hours of flight time in a make and model of light-sport aircraft before providing training in any aircraft from the same set of aircraft in which that training is given

9. Permit persons exercising sport pilot privileges and the privileges of a student pilot seeking a sport pilot certificate to fly up to an altitude of not more than 10,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) or 2,000 feet above ground level (AGL), whichever is higher

10. Permit private pilots to receive compensation for production flight testing of powered parachutes and weight-shift-control aircraft intended for certification in the light-sport category under § 21.190

11. Revise student sport pilot solo cross-country navigation and communication flight training requirements

12. Clarify cross-country distance requirements for private pilots seeking to operate weight-shift-control aircraft

13. Revise aeronautical experience requirements at towered airports for persons seeking to operate a  powered parachute or weight-shift-control aircraft as a private pilot.

14. Remove the requirement for pilots with only a powered parachute or a weightshift-control aircraft rating to take a knowledge test for an additional rating at the same certificate level

15. Revise the amount of hours of flight training an applicant for a sport pilot certificate must log within 60 days prior to taking the practical test

16. Remove expired ultralight transition provisions and limit the use of aeronautical experience obtained in ultralight vehicles

17. Add a requirement for student pilots to obtain endorsements identical to those proposed for sport pilots in §§ 61.324

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Videos

• ROOKIES 2009

  ROOKIES 2009 2008-11-19 23:14:29

  
  
  
  2008 11 19
• BEST OF 2008

  BEST OF 2008 2008-11-09 19:25:26

  
  
  
  2008 11 09
• NICK & FRANK'S SEASON REVIEW

  NICK & FRANK'S SEASON REVIEW 2008-11-07 20:04:23

  
  
  
  2008 11 07
• NICK & FRANK'S RACE SUMMARY, PERTH

  NICK & FRANK'S RACE SUMMARY, PERTH 2008-11-03 08:31:33

  
  
  
  2008 11 03
• INTERVIEWS PERTH

  INTERVIEWS PERTH 2008-11-03 08:30:29

  
  
  
  2008 11 03

Photos

• FOUR ROOKIES FOR 2009

  FOUR ROOKIES FOR 2009 Four new pilots from four countries and four continents will join the Red Bull Air Race World Championship in 2009.  At age 24, Canada’s Pete McLeod will be the youngest ever pilot in the high-speed, precision flying race, while the three other rookies - Japan’s Yoshihide Muroya (35), Australia’s Matt Hall (37), Germany’s Matthias Dolderer (38) - are all also younger than reigning World Champion Hannes Arch (41) who joined in 2007.

  
  
  
  2008 11 19
• LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER SPECTACULAR SEASON

  LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER SPECTACULAR SEASON The Red Bull Air Race World Championship completed its fourth and most successful season with a spine-tingling finale in Perth that saw Austria’s Hannes Arch take the crown as the first European title winner ahead of perennial runner-up Paul Bonhomme of Britain. The groundwork is being put in place for an even more exciting campaign in 2009 after the 8 thrill-filled races in 2008...

  
  
  
  2008 11 10
• BONHOMME WINS PERTH, ARCH CROWNED CHAMPION

  BONHOMME WINS PERTH, ARCH CROWNED CHAMPION Britain’s Paul Bonhomme scored a stylish victory in the final race of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship in Perth on Sunday in front of a crowd of more than 200,000 spectators while Hannes Arch was crowned 2008 World Champion...

  
  
  
  2008 11 02
• PERTH: LIVE FROM THE RACE

  PERTH: LIVE FROM THE RACE 15:05 - What a fantastic end to a fabulous 2008 World Championship. Bonhomme, the dominant pilot of the first half before getting knocked down by second-year sensation Arch in rounds 5 to 7, achieves a dazzling victory in the 8th and final race of the year. Had Arch finished 7 pegs down the ladder today in 10th rather than 3rd, Bonhomme would be celebrating the World Championship right now rather than his 4th season win. Now both Arch and Bonhomme can go home as winners.

  
  
  
  2008 11 01
• AUSTRIAN ARCH WINS CHAMPIONSHIP

  AUSTRIAN ARCH WINS CHAMPIONSHIP Austria’s Hannes Arch clinched the Red Bull Air Race World Championship today with a dazzling first place finish in Qualifying for Sunday’s season finale in Perth that guarantees him at least eighth place and the minimum of one point he needs. Arch, who has an insurmountable 9-point lead over Britain’s Paul Bonhomme, is the first European to win the title...

  
  
  
  2008 11 01

History

The Red Bull Air Race World Series, established in 2003 and created by Red Bull, is an international series of air races in which competitors have to navigate a challenging obstacle course in the sky in the fastest possible time. Pilots fly individually against the clock and have to complete tight turns through a slalom course consisting of specially designed pylons, known as “air gates”.

The races are held mainly over water near cities, but also at airfields or natural wonders. They are accompanied by a supporting program of show flights. Races are usually flown on weekends with the first day for qualification then finals the day after. The events generally attract large crowds and are broadcast, both live and taped, in many nations.

At each venue, the top nine places earn World Series points. The air racer with the most points at the end of the series becomes Red Bull Air Race world champion. The 2005, 2006 and 2007 series were won respectively by the American pilots Mike Mangold, Kirby Chambliss and Mangold again.

Format

In earlier seasons, 2005 and 2006, pilots first ran two qualifying rounds to determine starting order, with the fastest time starting last. The race was then run over two rounds, and the combined time of both rounds determines the winner. Starting in 2007, a new knock-out format was introduced which was modified for 2008.

During the first day, pilots run two training rounds then two qualification rounds. The times of the last training session determine flight order for both qualifying rounds, slowest racing first. The best time from either qualifying run counts. Twelve pilots with the fastest times continue on to race the second day. The lowest four who made it through qualifying race for ninth place and one World Series point in the aptly named “Point One” round. The top eight, or “Super Eights” are seeded based on qualification times then race head-to-head. Winners from the Super Eight round race again in the semifinals while losers are ranked 5th through 8th based on their time. From the semifinals, the pilots either head to the final to determine the winner and runner-up, or to the consolation final to settle third and fourth places.

Based on the pilot’s place at each event, World Series points are awarded. First place receives nine points, second place receives eight, on through ninth who receives one. The pilot with the most points after the final event in the season is the Red Bull Air Race World Series Champion.

The rules are simple, pilots must pass through each of the air gates correctly while completing the required aerobatic manoeuvre. Three different gate types require a specific manner of crossing. Blue gates must be crossed in level flight, red gates must be crossed in “knife-edge” or vertical flight, and the slalom gates as their name implies.

Penalties are incurred for violations of the rules.

3 seconds penalty

• Incorrect passing of a gate
  • Too high
  • Incorrect level (horizontal) crossing or knife (vertical) angle
  • Incorrect knife direction
• Incorrect turning manoeuvre

A plane slices through a pylon, resulting in a penalty

10 seconds penalty

• Touching a gate

Disqualification

• Dangerous flying
  • Any form of dangerous flying
  • Flying too low
  • Crossing the crowd line
• Not flying the course
  • Course deviation
  • Not executing prescribed aerobatic manoeuvre

Aircraft

The competitors use high-end aerobatic planes such as the Zivko Edge 540X, the MXR Technologies MX2, and the Extra 300, all of which are equipped with Lycoming engines.

The series has begun to see competitors develop enhanced versions of their aircraft to better performance, and thus times. For example, Michael Goulian is flying a modified Extra which uses lighter composites and a more highly tuned Lycoming engine. However, the safety implications of engine or airframe failures mean that performance tuning by individual teams, as is commonly done in other motorsport events, is limited in scope in the series.

Red Bull Air Race ONLINE Game!

Detroit Race Schedule

Qualifying Day (Saturday, 31st May)
  • 11:00 Doors Open Hospitality Areas
  • 12:00 Doors Open Spectator Tickets Areas
  • 13:00 Side Acts
  • 14:00 Qualifying 1
  • 14:40 Results, Analysis, Interviews, Side Acts
  • 15:00 Qualifying 2
  • 15:40 Results, Summary, Interviews, Highlights of the Day
  • 17:30 Doors Close
  • 17:00 – 18:00 Dedicated Pit Lane Walk for High Flyer’s Lounge and Business Class Race Club guests at the Red Bull Air Race Temporary Runway (to be confirmed)

Race Day (Sunday, 1st June)
  • 11:00 Doors Open Hospitality & Spectator Tickets Areas
  • 12:30 Side Acts and Track Introduction
  • 14:00 Point One round
  • 14:15 Super Eights
  • 14:40 Results, Analysis, Interviews, Side Acts
  • 15:00 Semi Finals
  • 15:40 3rd place fly-off
  • 15:50 Final
  • 16:15 Award Ceremony
  • 18:00 Doors Close

GREAT BRIT TAKES SECOND RACE OF SEASON IN SAN DIEGO

Britain’s Paul Bonhomme defeated American Mike Mangold in San Diego on Sunday in a dramatic showdown in the final between the two best Red Bull Air Race pilots of the last two seasons. Kirby Chambliss of the United States grabbed third place by beating Hannes Arch of Austria in the Third Place Fly-Off.
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