June 6, 2012
Hot Trailer: Robert Zemeckis-Directed ‘Flight’
"The way you landed that plane is nothing short of a miracle."
It's been over a decade since we've seen a live-action film from Robert Zemeckis (after Beowulf, The Polar Express and A Christmas Carol became the director's focus), and ironically enough, that film was Cast Away, which followed Tom Hanks trying to survive on a desert island after a plane crash. Now the director is back to live-action filmmaking with a film that has a plane crash being prevented as the catalyst for a powerful drama starring Denzel Washington. The first trailer is here and it is quite something, quite a lot to take in, yet looks fascinating and quite good.
Skymark Airlines to put instructors on jets
Skymark Airlines Inc. has promised to place instructors on some flights from mid-June to supervise pilot performance following a series of safety lapses.
The airline made the pledge in a remedial plan presented Tuesday to the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry, which had issued an admonition over six incidents between February and May and ordered the airline to take corrective measures.
In April, a Skymark airplane landed on an unauthorized runway at Ibaraki Airport, while a flight in February landed at Miyako Airport in Okinawa Prefecture after making an approach below the designated minimum altitude.
Meanwhile, the consumer affairs center in Tokyo lodged a protest Tuesday with the airline over its notice that passengers should file complaints with its customer center or public consumer affairs centers as it would no longer accept them aboard flights.
Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp
In April, a Skymark airplane landed on an unauthorized runway at Ibaraki Airport, while a flight in February landed at Miyako Airport in Okinawa Prefecture after making an approach below the designated minimum altitude.
Meanwhile, the consumer affairs center in Tokyo lodged a protest Tuesday with the airline over its notice that passengers should file complaints with its customer center or public consumer affairs centers as it would no longer accept them aboard flights.
Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp
Cirrus SR20: Jakub Tabędzki and Adrian Napieralski first solo flights at Poznań-Ławica Henryk Wieniawski Airport, Poland
It was long awaited moment at Aero Poznan. For the first time PPL(A) pilot students have soloed at Poznan Lawica airport flying Cirrus SR20. Their name’s are Jakub Tabędzki and Adrian Napieralski. Congratulations to Jakub (and his instructor Piotr Buchowski) and Adrian (and his instructor Włodzimierz Chrenowicz) !
Hang Glider In Shock Trauma - Ridgely Airpark (KRJD), Caroline County, Maryland
PHOTO BY Abby Andrews
PHOTO BY Abby Andrews
A hang glider is in Shock Trauma in serious condition after making a hard landing in a field in Caroline County.
It happened Wednesday during a special event at the Ridgely Airport, according to a spokesman at the state police barrack in Easton.
The pilot went down in a tall wheat field after his equipment didn't flare properly.
He was part of the East Coast Hang Glider Championship, a national hang gliding competition, according to a co-owner of Highland Aerosports in Ridgely. The company puts on the annual event.
Adam Elchin tells WBAL Radio News that the pilot suffered a brain injury.
There were more than 20 gliders taking part in the competition. Other gliders landed in the area, according to Elchin. The injured pilot was the only one to have a bad landing.
He adds that in eight years of the company hosting the championship, this is the first time a pilot has needed medical attention.
Sources:
http://www.wbal.com
The pilot went down in a tall wheat field after his equipment didn't flare properly.
He was part of the East Coast Hang Glider Championship, a national hang gliding competition, according to a co-owner of Highland Aerosports in Ridgely. The company puts on the annual event.
Adam Elchin tells WBAL Radio News that the pilot suffered a brain injury.
There were more than 20 gliders taking part in the competition. Other gliders landed in the area, according to Elchin. The injured pilot was the only one to have a bad landing.
He adds that in eight years of the company hosting the championship, this is the first time a pilot has needed medical attention.
Sources:
http://www.wbal.com
Beech 35-A33, N334Z: Aircraft on takeoff, struck a fence and went into a field, Gardner Municipal Airport (K34), Kansas
MIKE RANSDELL
A Beechcraft 35 Bonanza went down shortly after takeoff this afternoon near the Gardner Municipal Airport in southern Johnson County.
Photo Courtesy: Johnson County Sheriff's Office
GARDNER, KS (KCTV) - A plane went down with two people on board near the Gardner Municipal Airport, an official with the Johnson County Sheriff's Department said Wednesday.
The plane went down just before 1 p.m. near 183rd Street and U.S. 56 Highway.
When sheriff's deputies arrived on scene, they found a airplane that ended up about 200 yards south of the airport's runway in a field.
Two people were on board the single-engine Beechcraft airplane. One person had minor injuries, but neither was taken to the hospital.
The Johnson County Sheriff's Office said investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration are looking into the cause of the crash.
"We really don't know a lot," said Tom Erickson, spokesman for the sheriff's office. "We know it went through the fence in this field 200 yards from the airport. The FAA is here to take over the investigation to find out why it crashed."
The plane wound up about 150 yards from Debbie Gardner's home.
"I was just sitting in there watching TV," said Debbie Gardner, whose last name is the same as the airport she lives near. "My aunt called and said, 'That makes another plane in our yard.'"
A glider hit the fence behind her residence last year.
"It's something different besides the cows," Debbie Gardner said.
Her husband, Mike Gardner, said he is glad that no one was seriously injured in either crash.
"We've lived here 14 years and the planes come in and out a lot," he said. "They have been as low as the tire touching the trees. You can count the rivets on the planes sometimes."
The plane went down just before 1 p.m. near 183rd Street and U.S. 56 Highway.
When sheriff's deputies arrived on scene, they found a airplane that ended up about 200 yards south of the airport's runway in a field.
Two people were on board the single-engine Beechcraft airplane. One person had minor injuries, but neither was taken to the hospital.
The Johnson County Sheriff's Office said investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration are looking into the cause of the crash.
"We really don't know a lot," said Tom Erickson, spokesman for the sheriff's office. "We know it went through the fence in this field 200 yards from the airport. The FAA is here to take over the investigation to find out why it crashed."
The plane wound up about 150 yards from Debbie Gardner's home.
"I was just sitting in there watching TV," said Debbie Gardner, whose last name is the same as the airport she lives near. "My aunt called and said, 'That makes another plane in our yard.'"
A glider hit the fence behind her residence last year.
"It's something different besides the cows," Debbie Gardner said.
Her husband, Mike Gardner, said he is glad that no one was seriously injured in either crash.
"We've lived here 14 years and the planes come in and out a lot," he said. "They have been as low as the tire touching the trees. You can count the rivets on the planes sometimes."
Master Deputy Tom Erickson PIO
Johnson County Sheriff
Gardner, Kan. – Just before 1:00 p.m. today, June 6, 2012 deputies responded to the area of 183rd Street and U.S. 56 Highway to investigate a reported airplane crash. Deputies discovered an airplane which had come to rest in a field about 200 yards south of the Gardner Municipal Airport runway.
There were two people on board the single engine Beechcraft. One person received minor injuries. Neither person was transported to the hospital.
Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration responded and are looking into the cause of the crash.
http://flightaware.com/photo
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 334Z Make/Model: BE35 Description: 35 Bonanza
Date: 06/06/2012 Time: 1845
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: None Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Substantial
LOCATION
City: GARDNER State: KS Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT ON TAKEOFF, STRUCK A FENCE AND WENT INTO A FIELD, GARDNER, KS
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
# Crew: 2 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
OTHER DATA
Activity: Pleasure Phase: Take-off Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: WICHITA, KS (CE07) Entry date: 06/07/2012
Gulfstream GVI (G650), N652GD: Accident occurred April 02, 2011 in Roswell, New Mexico
NTSB Identification: DCA11MA076
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, April 02, 2011 in Roswell, NM
Aircraft: GULFSTREAM GVI, registration: N652GD
Injuries: 4 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators traveled in support of this investigation and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On April 2, 2011, about 0934 mountain daylight time, a Gulfstream GVI (G650) airplane, N652GD, was substantially damaged after impact with terrain during takeoff at Roswell International Air Center Airport (ROW), Roswell, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight. The two flight crewmembers and the two technical crewmembers were fatally injured. The flight had originated from ROW about 0700 for a local area flight.
The airplane was operating under a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Experimental Certificate of Airworthiness and was performing a take off with a simulated engine failure to determine take-off distance requirements at minimum flap setting.
Wingtip scrape marks beginning on the runway approximately 5,300 feet from the end of the runway lead toward the final resting spot about 3,800 feet from the first marks on the runway. Witnesses close to the scene saw the airplane sliding on the ground with sparks and smoke coming from the bottom of the wing, and described the airplane being fully involved in fire while still moving across the ground. The airplane struck several obstructions and came to rest upright about 200 feet from the base of the airport control tower. Several airport rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) units responded quickly and fought the fire.
The report was submitted to the National Transportation Safety Board. The NTSB is still investigating the crash and their final report isn’t expected until this fall.
NTSB Identification: DCA11MA076
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, April 02, 2011 in Roswell, NM
Aircraft: GULFSTREAM GVI, registration: N652GD
Injuries: 4 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators traveled in support of this investigation and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On April 2, 2011, about 0934 mountain daylight time, a Gulfstream GVI (G650) airplane, N652GD, was substantially damaged after impact with terrain during takeoff at Roswell International Air Center Airport (ROW), Roswell, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight. The two flight crewmembers and the two technical crewmembers were fatally injured. The flight had originated from ROW about 0700 for a local area flight.
The airplane was operating under a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Experimental Certificate of Airworthiness and was performing a take off with a simulated engine failure to determine take-off distance requirements at minimum flap setting.
Wingtip scrape marks beginning on the runway approximately 5,300 feet from the end of the runway lead toward the final resting spot about 3,800 feet from the first marks on the runway. Witnesses close to the scene saw the airplane sliding on the ground with sparks and smoke coming from the bottom of the wing, and described the airplane being fully involved in fire while still moving across the ground. The airplane struck several obstructions and came to rest upright about 200 feet from the base of the airport control tower. Several airport rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) units responded quickly and fought the fire.
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, April 02, 2011 in Roswell, NM
Aircraft: GULFSTREAM GVI, registration: N652GD
Injuries: 4 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators traveled in support of this investigation and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On April 2, 2011, about 0934 mountain daylight time, a Gulfstream GVI (G650) airplane, N652GD, was substantially damaged after impact with terrain during takeoff at Roswell International Air Center Airport (ROW), Roswell, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight. The two flight crewmembers and the two technical crewmembers were fatally injured. The flight had originated from ROW about 0700 for a local area flight.
The airplane was operating under a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Experimental Certificate of Airworthiness and was performing a take off with a simulated engine failure to determine take-off distance requirements at minimum flap setting.
Wingtip scrape marks beginning on the runway approximately 5,300 feet from the end of the runway lead toward the final resting spot about 3,800 feet from the first marks on the runway. Witnesses close to the scene saw the airplane sliding on the ground with sparks and smoke coming from the bottom of the wing, and described the airplane being fully involved in fire while still moving across the ground. The airplane struck several obstructions and came to rest upright about 200 feet from the base of the airport control tower. Several airport rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) units responded quickly and fought the fire.
SAVANNAH, Ga. — Gulfstream Aerospace released a report of their
findings on the crash of a Gulfstream G650 test flight in April of 2011.
Four Gulfstream employees lost their lives when the plane went down over New Mexico.
The report includes a probable cause of the crash and safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.
An excerpt from the report states that, “Gulfstream accepts full responsibility for the accident.”
The report was submitted to the National Transportation Safety Board. The NTSB is still investigating the crash and their final report isn’t expected until this fall.
Gulfstream released a report on the crash of a Gulfstream G650 test flight in April of last year
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, April 02, 2011 in Roswell, NM
Aircraft: GULFSTREAM GVI, registration: N652GD
Injuries: 4 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators traveled in support of this investigation and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On April 2, 2011, about 0934 mountain daylight time, a Gulfstream GVI (G650) airplane, N652GD, was substantially damaged after impact with terrain during takeoff at Roswell International Air Center Airport (ROW), Roswell, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight. The two flight crewmembers and the two technical crewmembers were fatally injured. The flight had originated from ROW about 0700 for a local area flight.
The airplane was operating under a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Experimental Certificate of Airworthiness and was performing a take off with a simulated engine failure to determine take-off distance requirements at minimum flap setting.
Wingtip scrape marks beginning on the runway approximately 5,300 feet from the end of the runway lead toward the final resting spot about 3,800 feet from the first marks on the runway. Witnesses close to the scene saw the airplane sliding on the ground with sparks and smoke coming from the bottom of the wing, and described the airplane being fully involved in fire while still moving across the ground. The airplane struck several obstructions and came to rest upright about 200 feet from the base of the airport control tower. Several airport rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) units responded quickly and fought the fire.
Piper PA-22-135, N3431A: 2nd emergency landing in two days doesn't go as planned - Bangor Township, Michigan
Photo from Van Buren Co. Sheriff
Pilot William Lawson force landed this plane in Van Buren County, fixed it, then crashed it the next day. He was hospitalized for injuries. (June 6, 2012)
BANGOR TOWNSHIP, Mich. - The same plane and pilot that force landed on Tuesday crashed on take-off Wednesday, injuring the
72-year-old pilot.
William Lawson of Decatur made an emergency landing in a Van Buren County corn field Tuesday afternoon, then went home to get tools to fix the aircraft before authorities arrived on the scene.
Lawson, who has had a license for 50 years, told them he was flying from Decatur to an airport in South Haven when the single-engine plane developed mechanical problems and started sputtering. The department said Lawson could see his destination several miles away, but landed in the filed because he didn't think the plane would make it.
He repaired the plane and on Wednesday tried to fly it out of the field. But deputies said the plane began sputtering and then stalled. He was only about 25 feet off the ground, and when he touched down, the small plane flipped onto its top.
Lawson was taken by ambulance to an area hospital for treatment of a possible fracture and facial cuts.
The FAA will investigate the incidents.
William Lawson of Decatur made an emergency landing in a Van Buren County corn field Tuesday afternoon, then went home to get tools to fix the aircraft before authorities arrived on the scene.
Lawson, who has had a license for 50 years, told them he was flying from Decatur to an airport in South Haven when the single-engine plane developed mechanical problems and started sputtering. The department said Lawson could see his destination several miles away, but landed in the filed because he didn't think the plane would make it.
He repaired the plane and on Wednesday tried to fly it out of the field. But deputies said the plane began sputtering and then stalled. He was only about 25 feet off the ground, and when he touched down, the small plane flipped onto its top.
Lawson was taken by ambulance to an area hospital for treatment of a possible fracture and facial cuts.
The FAA will investigate the incidents.
http://registry.faa.gov/3431A
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 3431A Make/Model: PA22 Description: PA-22 Tri-Pacer
Date: 06/05/2012 Time: 1700
Event Type: Incident Highest Injury: None Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Unknown
LOCATION
City: VAN BUREN TWP State: MI Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT FORCE LANDED IN A CORNFIELD, VAN BUREN COUNTY, MI
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
# Crew: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Landing Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: DETROIT, MI (GL23) Entry date: 06/06/2012
June 5, 2012
Atlantic City International Airport, New Jersey: Police K-9 honored at KACY
EGG HARBOR TWP. -- There was a lot of barking and celebrating Monday at Atlantic City International Airport.
He was the leader of the pack in 2006, when he went into service as Atlantic City International Airport's first full time K–9.
His name is Ike and he was the airports dedicated K–9 for five years until 2011.
Now that he is retired, he is being honored for all that he has done to protect us.
"It's just really nice to have these animals recognized," said his handler Sgt. Paul Whittaker.
Sgt. Paul Whittaker has been Ike's handler for 10-years and says he has a personality of his own and had become a fixture at the airport.
"A lot of times they die in the line of duty or they pass away quietly. And he has meant a lot to a lot of people," Whittaker added.
Many of those people came out to a ceremony Monday afternoon, where Ike and his handler were presented a plaque that will proudly hang in the airport's passenger terminal.
Sgt. Whittaker says he is honored by the plaque, and adds that a lot of hard work went into earning it.
"Its not just a nine to five job. You are taking care these dogs 24/7," Whittaker explained.
Ike is crossed trained as a patrol and an explosive detection dog and was responsible for not just passengers in the terminal, but also the inspection of all commercial vehicles coming into ACY.
"A one man show and he did a very critical job for the TSA and the airport," said one airport official.
Ike's handler says while he is now enjoying his well earned retirement, he still has a part–time job.
"He is just guarding my house right now. So he is living comfortably," Whittaker joked.
ACY now has four full time K–9's working at the airport.
Source: http://www.nbc40.net
June 3, 2012
Morristown Municipal (KMMU), New Jersey: Federal Aviation Administration gives $400G to airport
The Federal Aviation Administration has awarded more than $400,000 in funds to improve Morristown Municipal Airport.
Sens. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) announced the funding that provides for $266,000 to remove line of site obstructions and $150,000 in funds to conduct a Wildlife Hazard Assessment to identify the wildlife species (birds, deers, etc.) that might interfere with airport activities and what might be done to control their impact.
Source: http://www.mycentraljersey.com
Sens. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) announced the funding that provides for $266,000 to remove line of site obstructions and $150,000 in funds to conduct a Wildlife Hazard Assessment to identify the wildlife species (birds, deers, etc.) that might interfere with airport activities and what might be done to control their impact.
Source: http://www.mycentraljersey.com
Woodbine Municipal (KOBI), New Jersey: Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Blimp to Visit Airport
WOODBINE - Mayor William Pikolycky is pleased to announce the Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (Horizon BCBSNJ) Blimp will be visiting the Woodbine Municipal Airport during its summer 2012 Follow Us tour.
The Horizon blimp is flying throughout New Jersey from May 24 through September 12 and will dock at Woodbine during its visits to Southern New Jersey.
On its Follow Us Tour, the airship invites onlookers to tag along as it visits the state’s beaches, stadiums, health fairs, festivals and landmarks.
The Follow Us Blimp Tour will showcase Horizon BCBSNJ’s community outreach initiatives. It is in these neighborhoods where Horizon BCBSNJ can be found conducting health screenings at local schools; encouraging baseball fans to walk their way to better health; helping seniors get the most from their benefits with the “Blue to you” van; and opening a new retail center to interact with individuals one-on-one.
While the blimp is in the air, you can go online or use your smartphone to get more information on its travels by liking Horizon BCBSNJ’s Facebook page, following Horizon BCBSNJ on Twitter, or “checking in” on Foursquare.
This year’s blimp tour is also supporting more than 50 New Jersey-based charitable organizations. Blimp rides are donated to non-profits and auctioned off as a way to raise funds. Last year, Horizon BCBSNJ donated 50 blimp rides that raised nearly $45,000 for New Jersey charities.
“We are glad to host the Blimp at our airport once again, and encourage everyone to come out and see,” added Mayor Pikolycky.
Source: http://www.capemaycountyherald.com
On its Follow Us Tour, the airship invites onlookers to tag along as it visits the state’s beaches, stadiums, health fairs, festivals and landmarks.
The Follow Us Blimp Tour will showcase Horizon BCBSNJ’s community outreach initiatives. It is in these neighborhoods where Horizon BCBSNJ can be found conducting health screenings at local schools; encouraging baseball fans to walk their way to better health; helping seniors get the most from their benefits with the “Blue to you” van; and opening a new retail center to interact with individuals one-on-one.
While the blimp is in the air, you can go online or use your smartphone to get more information on its travels by liking Horizon BCBSNJ’s Facebook page, following Horizon BCBSNJ on Twitter, or “checking in” on Foursquare.
This year’s blimp tour is also supporting more than 50 New Jersey-based charitable organizations. Blimp rides are donated to non-profits and auctioned off as a way to raise funds. Last year, Horizon BCBSNJ donated 50 blimp rides that raised nearly $45,000 for New Jersey charities.
“We are glad to host the Blimp at our airport once again, and encourage everyone to come out and see,” added Mayor Pikolycky.
Source: http://www.capemaycountyherald.com
Atco, New Jersey: Where old aircraft go to die - or live again as props
Andy Wade with a pile of airplane parts . He calls the aircraft "our trophies, and they all have a story to tell."
RON CORTES
By Edward Colimore
Philadelphia Inquirer
A rusty locomotive stands like a sentry at the front gate. It was once used at Lakehurst in the 1930s, operating near the mooring tower for Nazi Germany's doomed airship, the Hindenburg. Next to it is a 1928 Graham-Paige motorcar with running boards, straight out of a Bonnie and Clyde gangster movie.
But it's what is inside the fence - beyond the 80-year-old gasoline pumps, old tractors, ladders, wagons, and lawn mowers - that sets Wade Salvage apart from other scrap dealers.
The place is a graveyard for military and civilian aircraft, with fuselages, wings, and engines resting atop mountains of other scrap metal.
The proprietor, Andy Wade, is South Jersey's mogul of scrapped planes and helicopters, called upon recently to provide props for first responders staging an elaborate drill.
He knows each aircraft and rattles off their stories as he wanders through canyons of refuse at his Atco, Camden County, yard. He has about 100 aircraft spread over his 10-acre Waterford Township site off Jackson Road in the Pine Barrens.
"You know how hunters have trophies," said Wade, 50, of Atco. "These are our trophies, and they all have a story to tell.
"We put Sanford and Son to shame; we make them look like amateurs," he said of the former TV sitcom junk dealers. "We put the 'P' in American Pickers," he said, referring to the TV series about buying antiques and collectibles.
Wade comes by his Hollywoodish banter naturally.
Some of his planes and engine parts have "starred" in movies, including the Steven Spielberg-produced Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen in 2009, and The Invasion with Nicole Kidman in 2007. They've also been in the 1995 movie Twelve Monkeys with Bruce Willis and the 1983 film Eddie and the Cruisers with Tom Berenger.
In April, parts of one of Wade's passenger planes were rented for $35,000 to simulate a crash site at the Atco Raceway, where municipal, county, state, and federal officials drilled under realistic conditions that included mock casualties. He hauled over the fuselage of a passenger plane to the raceway.
"We're a one-of-a-kind operation because of our mix of aircraft," said Wade, smoking a cigar while strolling amid his "trophies."
"I've never studied crash sites," he said, "but I've cleaned up enough that I know what's what."
Over his shoulder was the nose of a C-130 cargo plane emblazoned with the letters USAF, along with A-7 Corsair, F-4 Phantom, and A-4 Skyhawk fighter jets, all from the Vietnam War.
Nearby was the yawning mouth of a Korean War veteran, a F-86 Sabre jet with now-defanged machine-gun channels on either side of the cockpit.
The planes are shorn of their wings for transport to Wade's yard.
Trees and vegetation have grown up around some of the aircraft, creating scenes like those seen in the Hollywood movies Raiders of the Lost Ark and Romancing the Stone. The controls and instrument panels in the cockpits are open to the elements and deteriorating but still spark the imagination.
"If we don't feel [an aircraft] has any static-display or training use," Wade said, "then we will cut it up for scrap-metal value, which is what we purchased it for in the first place."
His more-intact aircraft are kept at Atco, but parts of them could also be held at his other yards, in Deptford, Monroe Township, and Philadelphia.
Most of the planes and copters are purchased from the military, said Wade, who doesn't expect to run out of them anytime soon. Thousands of planes across the country are due to be "timed-out" - judged obsolete because of metal and parts fatigue - in the next couple of years.
"I'm a preferred airplane chopper in this region," said Wade who searches out aircraft at bases in New Jersey and across the country. "We chop them on the runway and bring the parts here.
"At the Atco yard, we separate the parts, according to the metals, and package them so they can be sent to whoever is going to get them," he said. "They could go to companies that buy aluminum, stainless steel, nickel, or copper."
Wade and nephew Gregory Sharp have had some close calls during the dismantling. Though the fuel is supposed to be drained and armaments and explosives removed, mistakes happen.
The military "declares they are safe before they go up for sale," Wade said. "They go through inspections before we get a 'burn permit' to chop them up with a torch or saw. But we've had three blow up on us."
He said he was sawing through a Korean War-era reconnaissance jet in 1982 when he cut into an extra fuel tank that had been forgotten.
"It blew up on my left side and I had third-degree burns from my knees to my head," Wade said. "I was in shock more than anything else. I got mad later."
"There it is," he said, pointing to the reconnaissance aircraft, next to the large fuselage of an open Convair 880 passenger plane.
Sharp, 43, of Indian Mills, also has been injured. He was cutting up the cockpit of an RB-57 bomber jet in 1986 when the explosive charges for the ejector seat suddenly blew the canopy and blasted a stainless-steel bolt - like a bullet - into his upper right arm.
"This is definitely an unusual job," he said, pointing to a deep scar and then indulging in some sly humor.
"I had a lady come in here one day and I said, 'What do you got?'
"I've got my husband's organs," she said, according to Sharp.
"It was an electric pipe organ," he said with a laugh, pointing to it on the ground next to the office.
Beyond a coffin, cars from the last 80 years, and tires is a long line of planes, including Douglas DC-3 propeller-driven airliners. "We chopped up about a dozen of them and we have enough parts for about three," Wade said.
Also amid the collection is an operating Army truck; another Convair 880 passenger plane - this one believed to have been flown by billionaire Howard Hughes - and an armored car from the army of former Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega.
"My father and grandfather owned this property, so we've had it a long time," said Wade, who has never married. "I plan to die in this yard. It's my pride and joy."
Source: http://www.philly.com
But it's what is inside the fence - beyond the 80-year-old gasoline pumps, old tractors, ladders, wagons, and lawn mowers - that sets Wade Salvage apart from other scrap dealers.
The place is a graveyard for military and civilian aircraft, with fuselages, wings, and engines resting atop mountains of other scrap metal.
The proprietor, Andy Wade, is South Jersey's mogul of scrapped planes and helicopters, called upon recently to provide props for first responders staging an elaborate drill.
He knows each aircraft and rattles off their stories as he wanders through canyons of refuse at his Atco, Camden County, yard. He has about 100 aircraft spread over his 10-acre Waterford Township site off Jackson Road in the Pine Barrens.
"You know how hunters have trophies," said Wade, 50, of Atco. "These are our trophies, and they all have a story to tell.
"We put Sanford and Son to shame; we make them look like amateurs," he said of the former TV sitcom junk dealers. "We put the 'P' in American Pickers," he said, referring to the TV series about buying antiques and collectibles.
Wade comes by his Hollywoodish banter naturally.
Some of his planes and engine parts have "starred" in movies, including the Steven Spielberg-produced Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen in 2009, and The Invasion with Nicole Kidman in 2007. They've also been in the 1995 movie Twelve Monkeys with Bruce Willis and the 1983 film Eddie and the Cruisers with Tom Berenger.
In April, parts of one of Wade's passenger planes were rented for $35,000 to simulate a crash site at the Atco Raceway, where municipal, county, state, and federal officials drilled under realistic conditions that included mock casualties. He hauled over the fuselage of a passenger plane to the raceway.
"We're a one-of-a-kind operation because of our mix of aircraft," said Wade, smoking a cigar while strolling amid his "trophies."
"I've never studied crash sites," he said, "but I've cleaned up enough that I know what's what."
Over his shoulder was the nose of a C-130 cargo plane emblazoned with the letters USAF, along with A-7 Corsair, F-4 Phantom, and A-4 Skyhawk fighter jets, all from the Vietnam War.
Nearby was the yawning mouth of a Korean War veteran, a F-86 Sabre jet with now-defanged machine-gun channels on either side of the cockpit.
The planes are shorn of their wings for transport to Wade's yard.
Trees and vegetation have grown up around some of the aircraft, creating scenes like those seen in the Hollywood movies Raiders of the Lost Ark and Romancing the Stone. The controls and instrument panels in the cockpits are open to the elements and deteriorating but still spark the imagination.
"If we don't feel [an aircraft] has any static-display or training use," Wade said, "then we will cut it up for scrap-metal value, which is what we purchased it for in the first place."
His more-intact aircraft are kept at Atco, but parts of them could also be held at his other yards, in Deptford, Monroe Township, and Philadelphia.
Most of the planes and copters are purchased from the military, said Wade, who doesn't expect to run out of them anytime soon. Thousands of planes across the country are due to be "timed-out" - judged obsolete because of metal and parts fatigue - in the next couple of years.
"I'm a preferred airplane chopper in this region," said Wade who searches out aircraft at bases in New Jersey and across the country. "We chop them on the runway and bring the parts here.
"At the Atco yard, we separate the parts, according to the metals, and package them so they can be sent to whoever is going to get them," he said. "They could go to companies that buy aluminum, stainless steel, nickel, or copper."
Wade and nephew Gregory Sharp have had some close calls during the dismantling. Though the fuel is supposed to be drained and armaments and explosives removed, mistakes happen.
The military "declares they are safe before they go up for sale," Wade said. "They go through inspections before we get a 'burn permit' to chop them up with a torch or saw. But we've had three blow up on us."
He said he was sawing through a Korean War-era reconnaissance jet in 1982 when he cut into an extra fuel tank that had been forgotten.
"It blew up on my left side and I had third-degree burns from my knees to my head," Wade said. "I was in shock more than anything else. I got mad later."
"There it is," he said, pointing to the reconnaissance aircraft, next to the large fuselage of an open Convair 880 passenger plane.
Sharp, 43, of Indian Mills, also has been injured. He was cutting up the cockpit of an RB-57 bomber jet in 1986 when the explosive charges for the ejector seat suddenly blew the canopy and blasted a stainless-steel bolt - like a bullet - into his upper right arm.
"This is definitely an unusual job," he said, pointing to a deep scar and then indulging in some sly humor.
"I had a lady come in here one day and I said, 'What do you got?'
"I've got my husband's organs," she said, according to Sharp.
"It was an electric pipe organ," he said with a laugh, pointing to it on the ground next to the office.
Beyond a coffin, cars from the last 80 years, and tires is a long line of planes, including Douglas DC-3 propeller-driven airliners. "We chopped up about a dozen of them and we have enough parts for about three," Wade said.
Also amid the collection is an operating Army truck; another Convair 880 passenger plane - this one believed to have been flown by billionaire Howard Hughes - and an armored car from the army of former Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega.
"My father and grandfather owned this property, so we've had it a long time," said Wade, who has never married. "I plan to die in this yard. It's my pride and joy."
Source: http://www.philly.com
June 2, 2012
Air India pilot’s son expelled for midair stunt
NEW DELHI: An Air India commander's son got his student pilot license (SPL) cancelled by the Rae Bareli-based Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Udaan Academy (IGRUA) and will be expelled from the institute for flying his trainer aircraft extremely low to click pictures.
The aircraft crashed a few months ago near Rae Bareli. Luckily, the IGRUA student, who was flying solo, survived. But a probe later revealed the indiscipline that made the DGCA take an unprecedented action on Friday. "The student was on an unauthorized flight, flying dangerously low and clicking pictures; a combination of these factors led to the plane getting entangled in high tension wires and crashing. He could have crashed into a building which would have led to a loss of many lives. His SPL is being cancelled and IGRUA will be asked to expel him. Discipline in pilots has to start at a very early stage," DGCA chief Bharat Bhushan said.
"Such instances of indiscipline happen once every three to four years and unless the strictest action is not taken, they won't stop," said IGRUA director VK Verma.
A few years back, a student pilot had flown his trainer aircraft very low over a lake in Gondia to get the 'thrill' of making a splash over the water body. While doing this stunt, his aircraft crashed on the embankment of the lake. He was let off after a corrective training and allowed to proceed with the course.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
"Such instances of indiscipline happen once every three to four years and unless the strictest action is not taken, they won't stop," said IGRUA director VK Verma.
A few years back, a student pilot had flown his trainer aircraft very low over a lake in Gondia to get the 'thrill' of making a splash over the water body. While doing this stunt, his aircraft crashed on the embankment of the lake. He was let off after a corrective training and allowed to proceed with the course.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Thousands in Attendance for Rockford Airfest 2012
ROCKFORD (WIFR) -- All eyes were on the skies at the Chicago-Rockford International Airport Saturday afternoon as Rockford Airfest 2012 dazzled the thousands in attendance.
"The extraordinary planes they get out here and the formations they can make..it's just an awesome thing that Rockford can have right here in our own backyards. I think it's a great thing and we need to come out here and support it”, says Rockford resident Kathy Beck.
More than 25 aircraft are on display while several others will be performing for the huge crowds this weekend. Rockford is also hosting some of the rarest planes in the nation including the MQ-1 Predator drone, used to help combat terrorism in the Middle East. U.S. Air Force General Raymond Johns, who was named honorary chairman at this year's show, says Airfest is a great showcase of the military's aviation efforts.
"This is a great public event. We get to take the military services focused on aviation: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and come our and be with the public. It's an opportunity for them to appreciate what our military has been doing and also show what capabilities our military has for the nation”, says Johns.
Organizers are expecting record breaking attendance at this weekend's event, a major improvement from last year considering only 60-thousand people attended -- tallying one of the lowest crowd totals in Airfest history.
"I'm thinking it's going to be a record breaker for us today. Of course last year was disappointing with the Blues having to cancel not only our show but seven other shows but again, you couldn't ask for a better picture perfect day”, says RFD’s Director of Economic Development Mike Dunn.
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels will headline next year's event.
Source: http://www.wifr.com
How Duck Lake Fire was discovered: Michigan Department of Natural Resources pilot spots a curl of smoke
Courtesy Photo | Michigan DNR
Dean Minett was the first to spot the Duck Lake Fire, in his role as a fire detection pilot for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
This aerial shot shows the 11-mile-long Duck Lake Fire approaching Lake Superior.
(Photo Courtesy of Michigan DNR/Air 4 Pilot Dean Minett)
Air tankers on loan from Minnesota capture water from inland lakes to
fight the Duck Lake Fire in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
(Photo Courtesy
of Michigan DNR/Air 4 Pilot Dean Minett)
This aerial shot shows the 11-mile-long Duck Lake Fire approaching Lake
Superior.
(Photo Courtesy of Michigan DNR/Air 4 Pilot Dean Minett)
(Photo Courtesy of Michigan DNR/Air 4 Pilot Dean Minett)
More equipment is readied to battle the Duck Lake Fire.
(Photo Courtesy of Michigan DNR/Air 4 Pilot Dean Minett)
~
(Photo Courtesy of Michigan DNR/Air 4 Pilot Dean Minett)
~
Upper Peninsula residents hear the eerie sound of helicopters headed to
fight the Duck Lake Fire. More than 91 firefighters and equipment from
as far away as Minnesota are battling the Duck Lake Fire.
(Photo courtesy of Newberry radio station Eagle 96.7)
(Photo courtesy of Newberry radio station Eagle 96.7)
Smoke is seen for miles from the Duck Lake Fire that started Wednesday
and continues into the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
(Photo courtesy of Newberry radio station Eagle 96.7)
(Photo courtesy of Newberry radio station Eagle 96.7)
Fire rages in north of Newberry in the Upper Peninsula.
(Photo Courtesy of Michigan DNR/Air 4 Pilot Dean Minett)
(Photo Courtesy of Michigan DNR/Air 4 Pilot Dean Minett)
This May 25 satellite image shows the broad smoke plume of the Duck Lake
Fire pushing east across Whitefish Bay and into southern Ontario. This
eastward push of the fire and the smoke was caused by winds shifting to
the west-northwest this morning behind a cold front.
More than 91 firefighters and equipment from as far away as Minnesota
are battling the Duck Lake Fire. This aerial shot shows the 11-mile-long
Duck Lake Fire approaching Lake Superior.
(Photo courtesy of Newberry radio station Eagle 96.7)
(Photo courtesy of Newberry radio station Eagle 96.7)
More than 91 firefighters and equipment from as far away as Minnesota
are battling the Duck Lake Fire. This aerial shot shows the 11-mile-long
Duck Lake Fire approaching Lake Superior.
(Photo courtesy of Newberry radio station Eagle 96.7)
(Photo courtesy of Newberry radio station Eagle 96.7)
Michigan DNR fire detection pilot Dean Minett was flying his Cessna
182 back from Sault Ste. Marie on Wednesday, May 23, to make a fuel stop
at Newberry Airport.
His plan: Gas up and head back out to scan the remote eastern Upper
Peninsula forests for any flare-ups in the wake of several lightning
strikes in recent days.
The fire danger this time of year is heightened anyway, but the mild
winter and months of drought meant the ground held little moisture. All
you'd need is a lightning strike, a little wind and next thing you know,
you could have a serious wildfire.
Minett, a former ambulance pilot who's had his license for 46 years,
is meticulous about the maintenance of his dependable single-engine
Cessna. Even though it's a 1975 model, it looks like it's five years
old. New leather seats. A flashy color scheme. It represents the DNR
well, he says.
And it's modified to help him do his job. The high wings, allowing
good ground visibility, have been lengthened and reshaped so he can fly
slow and low to the ground. "It's about as close to a helicopter as you
can get," he chuckles.
That capability is crucial to Minett's job in detecting fires, directing ground crews and documenting the fire patterns.
His photos and videos of various fires are studied by the DNR and
sometimes released to the media. Detail guy that he is, Minett has been
bugging the DNR to get an HD/high resolution camera so he can provide
better images. But it hasn't been a priority in these tight economic
times.
The plane's design allows him to swoop in so he can see if there are
any two-tracks or ways to get ground crews into backcountry that is
thick with pine and undergrowth. In constant radio contact, Minett tells
them to turn here, go around that pond, head toward 10 o'clock -
whatever it takes to get the crews to a fire scene.
Firefighters call him their eyes in the sky. His ability to survey
the landscape is a huge improvement over the fire towers of old.
"About 95 percent of fires are spotted by aircraft," Minett said.
"Some may argue with me on that. But early detection is the name of the
game. We're detection pilots. My aircraft does not have any contact with
the fire. But our communication is paramount. And if we don't have
ground troops, we're just a pretty airplane up there flying around."
What Minett didn't know on May 23 is that he would soon face a fire
where early detection and all the fire-fighting manpower in the world
simply wouldn't make a difference.
On this Wednesday, he was within 30 miles of Newberry when he saw a
curl of smoke. He knew he had enough gas to check it out, but when he
got within five miles, he saw a more serious looking situation to his
left near Duck Lake.
Using GPS, he called in to dispatch in Marquette using his ID - "Air
4" named after his DNR District 4 in Luce County - and reported the
first fire's location. He told them he was headed to the second fire to
check it out. It looked more serious - flames 8 to 10 feet high in a
stand of pines amid a marshy area "in about the most inaccessible place
in the eastern UP."
Once Minett locates and sizes up a fire, his next job becomes tactical - recommending how much equipment may be needed and getting the crew in there to fight it.
From above, he told crews what roads to turn down in the remote area
and confirmed they'd need to unload the bulldozer and force their way
in. It took two hours to get the crew to the fire site.
"The last size-up I heard on the radio - and I always like to hear
this - is 'Yeah, we've got a line all the way around this." The fire
stood at about 2 acres and the crew signaled they no longer needed air
support.
On Thursday, the temperature hovered around 80 and the relative
humidity was low. The wind was picking up. When Minett got up in the
air, he immediately started checking for lightning strikes and all
looked good. But he radioed that Duck Lake was putting up a lot of
smoke. Three firefighters were dispatched to widen a trail to get in
more equipment.
He headed to another nearby fire, the Seney Fire, that ground crews
had been working for a few days. They wanted to ensure it didn't jump a
drainage ditch over M-28 north of Seney Refuge.
Minett spent some time directing them where they needed to do battle,
and then turned back to check on the Duck Lake trio around 2 p.m. He
didn't like what he saw. "I could see a smoke plume 20 miles out in hazy
sky. That's bad."
The firefighters were trapped - the fire blew across their trail and
their only obvious egress would be to swim a pond created from a beaver
dam. Minett got them to safety by pointing them to an open area.
And then all hell broke loose.
The hot southerly wind picked up embers into the tops of jack, red
and white pine trees and the fire started crowning, moving at a pace of
1.5 to 2 miles an hour north. That doesn't sound fast, considering
prairie fires can move 10 miles an hour and overtake people trying to
escape. But for a forest fire, that speed is rare; the Duck Lake Fire
will be remembered for its speed and heat.
As he approached the fire at one point, "I could feel the radiation a
half mile away, so I knew I didn't want to get any closer ... They
asked me about bringing in fire bombers, but those guys, they wouldn't
be able to get close enough to do anything and they wouldn't put
themselves into that kind of danger."
As it raced north, it was only about a mile wide, and Minett took
comfort in thinking Pike Lake, ringed by quaint cabins and year-round
homes, would be spared.
But about 8 p.m. the winds took a destructive shift out of the west,
pushing the fire past the Big Two-Hearted River and into Little Lake
Harbor. And the eastern flank fingered out and burned several Pike Lake
properties.
By 9 p.m. the fire had raced more than 11 miles north, scorching 21,135 acres. Only Lake Superior could stop it.
"This is one of those fires that you couldn't go in and attack when
it's flying like that. You evacuate the people. You get 'em out and you
get 'em to safety. Then you have no option but to watch it. It's kind of
like the Titanic: You could do nothing about it. You watch this thing
and monitor it until it kind of collapses. And then you bring in the
firebombers."
On Friday, Minett and a DNR manager took an air tour of the fire.
They saw large patches of black and large patches of green south of Pike
Lake. From County Road 414 north, "it's as black as you can paint a
picture." As they flew above the beach rimming Lake Superior, they
spotted a piece of driftwood - still burning.
Rainbow Lodge at the mouth of the Two-Hearted, a destination for
sportsmen and for generations of families who would go there every year
for their up-north fix - gone, along with 137 homes, garages and other
buildings in the fire zone.
"It's gut wrenching when you get up around Rainbow Lodge," said Minett. "When I saw that, it looked like the pictures you see of Hiroshima.
It's just ashen remains. No structures left. This was like it went
through a ceramic kiln. There's a bulldozer there, and it melted the
engine block, and on the ground you could see this molten mass of
aluminum run 20 feet down the hill."
Fires are hot. This fire was beyond hot, rivaled perhaps by the 1980 Mack Lake Fire, which records show produced an estimated 3 trillion BTUs of energy, about the same as nine Hiroshima bombs.
The DNR, Michigan State Police, Luce County Emergency Services
Management and others started assembling equipment and people to fight
what some call a "career fire."
Minett's role was elevated to directing the air fleet and guiding the "troops."
On Friday, Air 3, a DNR plane out of Escanaba, flew in to join the
fight. Two CL215s - tanker planes that can scoop up 1,500 gallons at a
time - arrived from Minnesota. On Sunday four Blackhawk helicopters
arrived from the Air National Guard based in Grand Ledge, ready with
buckets that can hold 760 gallons a shot. Also part of the "air show": A
heavy Helo - the big daddy - from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
with its 2,600-gallon capability.
The operation has the intricacy of a military attack, but not the luxury of planning. Minett spent the next several days flying above the aircraft, telling them what sector most needed their watery loads. An "attack pilot" closer to the action would tell colleagues how to approach the dump area - hitting the fire on the upwind side or banking in on a curve downwind to avoid the smoke. Then he'd tell them that the next bucket should be dumped a wingspan to the right or left.
All this happens with multiple aircraft in a "daisy chain." Minett
ensures they're at a safe distance from one another and yet get the job
done.
When not directing the air show, he'd swoop closer to document the
fire with photos and videos. Many would be featured by news outlets in
the coming days. Evacuees and area residents lept on those photos,
hoping to see if their property was pictured or if their favorite
campground was untouched.
He was bothered by the quality of the photos and video he shot. He'd
set the camera wrong at one point. And darn, he wished he'd had that
high-def camera he'd been requesting.
Media and others asked to go up with him on fly-arounds but he
wouldn't allow it. "I've tried in the past. People say, 'Oh I can handle
it,' but one hour into the mission they're finding their breakfast
again. I carried bags for just that reason."
Plus, he needed to focus on the task at hand, especially when he's
500 feet above the trees, flying with one hand, controlling the throttle
with his knee and holding the camera with his other hand.
"It's almost a comical scene but it's the only way that I can get
this done," Minett said. "Some pilots would say, 'Oh my goodness, this
guy is an accident waiting to happen.' But my one goal is to get back in
the evening."
When he touched down each night, his Cessna smelled like a campfire, even though he'd done all he could to avoid the smoke.
Two days ago, as he directed the Blackhawks fighting flames by Little
Lake Harbor, he was scouring the area and blinked at what he saw near
Bodi Lake, an area of more cottages east of the fire scene. "I can't
believe my eyes. I see a curl of smoke out there and it's already
involved, right in the middle of red pine and jackpine fuels."
He immediately radioed the Blackhawks to leave Little Lake and dip
out of Bodi Lake, and douse the freshly rising smoke. "These guys were
there within 60 seconds. They made a swimming pool out of the place,"
Minett laughed.
It took him an hour and a half to direct ground crews to the remote
spot, where they verified it was a lightning strike. The fire area was
only 50 feet in diameter. Water lay all over the access road.
He thinks about that incident. If he'd been at the south end of the
fire, it's possible the smoke could have flamed into something much more
serious. It reminds him to be ever watchful, even as the Duck Lake Fire
now is 71 percent contained and the DNR feels comfortable enough to let
evacuees return to check their residences today.
There will be more fires that Minett will spot, although he'll
remember this one. He'll get the troops in and he'll do that balancing
act of steering, throttling and shooting images so the DNR and the
public know what firefighters are facing.
But next time, it'll be easier. A new HD camera arrived Thursday.
Aviosuperfice Bore Chienti - Corridonia (MC) 27 Maggio 2012 - - Decollo Cessna 340A MULTIALI
Aviosuperfice Armando Di Tullio - Bore Chienti di Corridonia (MC) - Raduno ultraleggeri . Diretta radiofonica curata da Roberta, Lucrezia e Gabriella per Radio Studio 7 e Studio 7 TV di Macerata
Decollo Cessna 340 alla giornata di presentazione del Consorzio MULTIALI presso l'aviosuperficie di Bore (Corridonia, MC) 27 maggio 2012.
June 1, 2012
Remembering Capt. John "Jay" Brainard
Army Capt. Jay Brainard and his wife, Emily. "Jay was my best friend,
the love of my life, and my hero," she said in an interview on Thursday
NEWPORT, Maine (NEWS CENTER)-- The family of Army Captain John "Jay" Brainard is remembering him as a man who loved his family, the outdoors and the military. Brainard died earlier this week when the apache helicopter he was piloting crashed.
Each picture that Ben sees of his brother "Jay" brings back another special memory that the two brothers shared.
"One of my greatest memories of my brother is when he went with me on my first airplane ride ever. It was in a De Havilland Beaver in Greenville. We went up there, my brother got to fly with me on my first airplane ride ever," Ben said.
Captain John "Jay" Brainard flew apache helicopters in the army.
On Memorial Day, Ben, got a call from his mom that he will never forget, telling him that his brother died.
"I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe it. I still don't believe it. It's still not real. It's still not real," Ben said.
Ben said John, "Jay" loved his family very much, but he also loved the outdoors and going on adventures. So it came as no surprise that "Jay" joined the military, and it did not take him long to climb up the rankings.
"He was an Apache helicopter pilot and he made the rank of captain shortly after going to his first base in Germany," Ben said.
Ben said he and his brother talked about living in Maine and growing old. Now he will have to do the living for the both of them, and remember the good times they shared while he was alive.
"I would tell my brother that I love him, and give him the biggest hug. I could honestly say I'd of given my life to just get one hug from my brother. Just to be able to tell him one more time I love him more than anything. Always have," Ben said.
Story and video: http://www.wcsh6.com
Witnesses used water hose to put out pilot on fire
Witnesses sprang into action to help a Bluetown pilot escaping a fire that destroyed his cropdusting plane.
Wilfredo Castro-Zamora will never forget a fire that destroyed a cropdusting plane and left it's pilot burned.
It all happened at an airfield off U.S. Highway 281 and Muñoz Avenue just outside Bluetown around 10:45 a.m. Friday.
Castro-Zamora he came from Ccoahuila to buy a used plane from the pilot.
The plane had just landed and was getting ready to take off for another mission when the engine caught fire.
Castro-Zamora said the pilot came out of the cockpit on fire.
That's when Castro-Zamora and others sprang into action.
“I
ran with the water hose,” Castro-Zamora said in Spanish. “I put out the
fire on him and I tried to put out the fire on the plane but there
wasn’t enough water pressure.”
La Feria firefighters arrived at the scene and extinguished the fire.
Fire Chief Rick Garcia said investigators are still trying to determine what caused the blaze.
"As
per the witnesses, they lifted a panel inside the aircraft when they
realized smoke coming from the fuel silage from in there somewhere and
then it just caught fire,” Garcia said.
Castro-Zamora said the flames and black smoke stretched more almost 100 feet into the sky.
“Flames and black smoke,” he said in Spanish. “A tire exploded when the oil caught fire. A black smoke was coming out.”
Castro-Zamora said nobody else was injured in the accident.
The Cameron County Fire Marshall’s Office is investigating the incident.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials said they will also be investigating.
Source: http://www.valleycentral.com
Source: http://www.valleycentral.com
Ultralight force landed near Hagerstown, Maryland (With video)
HAGERSTOWN, MD - There was a small aircraft that crashed on Castle Hill Road.
A witness on the scene tells police the pilot was making a left bank turn and lost altitude.
He was transported to Meritus Medical Center with what appeared to be minor injuries.
It happened around 9 p.m. and Castle Hill Road was closed for some time.
.
Watch Video: http://your4state.com
A witness on the scene tells police the pilot was making a left bank turn and lost altitude.
He was transported to Meritus Medical Center with what appeared to be minor injuries.
It happened around 9 p.m. and Castle Hill Road was closed for some time.
.
Watch Video: http://your4state.com
FAA IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: UNREG Make/Model: ULTR Description: UNREGISTERED ULTRALIGHT
Date: 06/01/2012 Time: 0012
Event Type: Incident Highest Injury: Minor Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Unknown
LOCATION
City: HAGERSTOWN State: MD Country: US
DESCRIPTION
UNREGISTERED ULTRALIGHT FORCE LANDED NEAR HAGERSTOWN, MD
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
# Crew: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 1 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Landing Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: BALTIMORE, MD (EA07) Entry date: 06/01/2012
City auctions off airplanes abandoned at Meriden Markham Municipal Airport (KMMK), Connecticut
Officials at the Meriden-Markham Airport auctioned off two airplanes Friday afternoon. The planes, which sold for a combined $6,050, were left abandoned at the airport.
MERIDEN — One airplane enthusiast traveled all the way from Madison, Wis., to take part in an airplane auction at Meriden-Markham Airport Friday afternoon.
At home in Wisconsin, Dave Godec plans to build a 1949 Piper Clipper from an empty frame. The plane went through a tornado in Illinois years ago and he has been working to restore the aircraft. Last month, he was shocked to read a story online about the exact same plane, in good condition except for lacking a motor, up for auction.
“When I saw the airplane I just about died,” Godec said. “This is the airplane I’d like to build.”
Airport officials found two airplanes that were left abandoned at the airport and the city decided to auction them off. Neither plane had an engine. The Clipper was otherwise in very good shape. The 1978 Piper Tomahawk, on the other hand, was mostly just a shell that could be sold off for scrap metal.
“It’s kind of a strange thing to have abandoned airplanes,” Interim Airport Manager Ron Price said.
More than a dozen people milled around the hangar before the auction, peering through the cockpit and checking the controls of the Clipper. Godec placed the initial bid at $500 and stayed with it as four other pilots went back and forth with bids.
Godec ended up with the winning bid of $5,700 for the Clipper. Now he has five days to pay and transport the aircraft, Price said, though he told Godec he was welcome to lease space at Meriden-Markham Airport.
“That would be a bit of a commute,” Godec joked.
Since he was in the process of building his own plane, Godec already has a working engine and prop that will work with the one he purchased Friday. He plans to continue working on the other plane, but will fly this one in the mean time.
“I’ve liked this plane for years,” Godec said of making the trip out for the auction.
What makes the Clipper attractive, Godec said, is its responsive controls and it being relatively inexpensive to fly, yet still capable of flying at 110 miles per hour.
Without an engine in the plane, Godec was planning to have the aircraft shipped back to Wisconsin on a trailer. He said he should be able to get all the certifications to be ready to fly within two to three months.
Unlike the Clipper, the Tomahawk was in a state of disarray. The engine and all sorts of other internal parts were scavenged from the aircraft already and birds had taken up residence in one of the wings.
New Britain resident Kevin Ross had the winning bid on the Tomahawk at $350.
“We’ll use what parts we can and the rest is just scrap metal,” Ross said. “That’s about it.”
Wayne Barneschi from the Trail of Terror placed a few bids on the Tomahawk but was outbid. Since the plane is destined for scrap, he and Ross talked about possibly incorporating pieces of the old plane into the seasonal Halloween attraction.
“When I saw the airplane I just about died,” Godec said. “This is the airplane I’d like to build.”
Airport officials found two airplanes that were left abandoned at the airport and the city decided to auction them off. Neither plane had an engine. The Clipper was otherwise in very good shape. The 1978 Piper Tomahawk, on the other hand, was mostly just a shell that could be sold off for scrap metal.
“It’s kind of a strange thing to have abandoned airplanes,” Interim Airport Manager Ron Price said.
More than a dozen people milled around the hangar before the auction, peering through the cockpit and checking the controls of the Clipper. Godec placed the initial bid at $500 and stayed with it as four other pilots went back and forth with bids.
Godec ended up with the winning bid of $5,700 for the Clipper. Now he has five days to pay and transport the aircraft, Price said, though he told Godec he was welcome to lease space at Meriden-Markham Airport.
“That would be a bit of a commute,” Godec joked.
Since he was in the process of building his own plane, Godec already has a working engine and prop that will work with the one he purchased Friday. He plans to continue working on the other plane, but will fly this one in the mean time.
“I’ve liked this plane for years,” Godec said of making the trip out for the auction.
What makes the Clipper attractive, Godec said, is its responsive controls and it being relatively inexpensive to fly, yet still capable of flying at 110 miles per hour.
Without an engine in the plane, Godec was planning to have the aircraft shipped back to Wisconsin on a trailer. He said he should be able to get all the certifications to be ready to fly within two to three months.
Unlike the Clipper, the Tomahawk was in a state of disarray. The engine and all sorts of other internal parts were scavenged from the aircraft already and birds had taken up residence in one of the wings.
New Britain resident Kevin Ross had the winning bid on the Tomahawk at $350.
“We’ll use what parts we can and the rest is just scrap metal,” Ross said. “That’s about it.”
Wayne Barneschi from the Trail of Terror placed a few bids on the Tomahawk but was outbid. Since the plane is destined for scrap, he and Ross talked about possibly incorporating pieces of the old plane into the seasonal Halloween attraction.
“I’ll have to check it out,” Ross said to Barneschi.
As with Godec, Ross was making plans to haul the plane away after going over the paperwork with Price Friday afternoon.
Plane Catches Fire in Bluetown, Texas (With Video)
A single engine crop duster caught fire in Bluetown Friday.
The La Feria Fire Department says the fire started at around 11 this morning. Witnesses say the pilot is from Mexico and just came back from crop dusting.
The pilot shut off the plane and remained in the cockpit while workers checked out the plane before it took off to do more crop dusting.
"They lifted a panel inside the aircraft and saw smoke coming from the fuselage, from there somehow it caught fire."
These two witnesses saw the plane and the pilot catch fire.
"The pilot ran saying his body was on fire."
Wilfredo Zamora tried to put out the flames on the pilot.
"I sprayed him with water and also the plane."
The pilot suffered burn injuries to his arms and face.
Shortly after the La Feria fire department arrived and put out the remaining flames on the plane. The cause of the fire is still unknown. At this time condition of the pilot is also unknown.
Watch Video: http://www.kveo.com
3 killed in helicopter crash near Terrace, British Columbia
An A-Star 350 BA helicopter is seen on the Bailey Helicopters website. It's unclear what model of chopper went down in Friday's crash. June 1, 2012.
(Bailey Helicopters Ltd.)
Three people are dead after a helicopter crashed west of Terrace, B.C. Friday morning in an area called Sleeping Beauty Mountain.
The Joint Rescue and Coordination Centre in Victoria has confirmed there were no survivors in the crash, which occurred just after 9 a.m. during a training flight.
The victims' identities have not been released.
Search crews were dispatched to the area after the helicopter sent off an automated crash beacon, but had trouble accessing the site due to difficult terrain.
Officials say weather conditions were poor at the time of the crash.
The chopper is owned by Bailey Helicopters of Fort St. John. The company has yet to issue a statement.
The Joint Rescue and Coordination Centre in Victoria has confirmed there were no survivors in the crash, which occurred just after 9 a.m. during a training flight.
The victims' identities have not been released.
Search crews were dispatched to the area after the helicopter sent off an automated crash beacon, but had trouble accessing the site due to difficult terrain.
Officials say weather conditions were poor at the time of the crash.
The chopper is owned by Bailey Helicopters of Fort St. John. The company has yet to issue a statement.
Cuba Heads for the Skies
Cuba Gooding Jr. and Anthony Hemingway reveal their determination to make sure the real life heroes of their latest film, 'Red Tails,' were proud of their efforts.
In cinemas June 6
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In cinemas June 6
Inspired by the true story of World War II's first African American fighter squadron, Red Tails is a thrilling action-packed film with the most realistic dogfights ever to hit the screen.
Executive Produced by George Lucas, Produced by Rick McCallum and Charles Floyd Johnson, Written by John Ridley (Three Kings) and Aaron McGruder (The Boondocks) and Directed by Anthony Hemingway (The Wire), Red Tails tells the tale of the heroic 332nd fighter group of the U.S. Army Air Corps who overcame racial discrimination to become one of the most distinguished squadrons in World War II.
In cinemas June 6
Executive Produced by George Lucas, Produced by Rick McCallum and Charles Floyd Johnson, Written by John Ridley (Three Kings) and Aaron McGruder (The Boondocks) and Directed by Anthony Hemingway (The Wire), Red Tails tells the tale of the heroic 332nd fighter group of the U.S. Army Air Corps who overcame racial discrimination to become one of the most distinguished squadrons in World War II.
In cinemas June 6
Fantastic voyage: Flying boat drops in for Icelandair’s 75th anniversary
A RESTORED flying boat has taken off from Scotland on an international voyage to mark an airline anniversary.
One of the few airworthy Catalinas in operation flew from Prestwick airport in Ayrshire yesterday destined for Iceland where it will be displayed at the Reykjavik Air Show.
The Second World War aircraft is similar to those which operated Iceland’s first international air link – to Largs Bay in 1945.
The former submarine-hunting plane, G-PBYA, was en route from its current base at Duxford near Cambridge to take part in Icelandair’s 75th anniversary celebrations.
The plane, which has a hull at its base allowing it to land in water, was bought from the Royal Canadian Air Force and restored by Plane Sailing, a team of British pilots and engineers.
http://www.scotsman.com
http://www.scotsman.com
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