Empire of Japan (1943)
Prototype Fighter Interceptor – 1 Built
The Kawasaki Ki-88 was a fighter interceptor designed in 1942 with the intent of intercepting enemy aircraft heading towards vital military locations. The Ki-88 would never see service, as it was cancelled in 1943 after a mockup and partial prototype were constructed. Although considered by many to be the Japanese copy of the American Bell P-39 Airacobra due to the exterior aesthetic similarities, this is only speculation.
The origins of the Kawasaki Ki-88 began in August of 1942 when Tsuchii Takeo, a designer for Kawasaki, responded to a design specification put forward by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service (IJAAS). The IJAAS determined that they needed an interceptor aircraft that would defend important military assets like airfields, gun emplacements, and others. The specification also stated that the aircraft had to be heavily armed, provide a stable gun platform and be easily flyable by new pilots.
Takeo began work on the Ki-88 and chose to use a 37mm Ho-203 cannon as the plane’s primary armament, with two 20mm Ho-5 cannons to complement the Ho-203. The placement of the guns prompted Takeo to place the engine behind the cockpit. Many sources state that this was done to copy the American Bell P-39 Airacobra, but that claim is debated. The P-39 Airacobra was in service at the time the Ki-88 was developed, but saw limited service with the United States. It did however, see service during the Battle of Guadalcanal. The Japanese were certainly aware of its existence and possibly captured an example of the P-39. If they did indeed capture an example, Takeo could have simply copied the gun and engine placement. It is important to note that such a “rear-engine” fighter configuration was a rarity in plane design at the time. Another common theory is that Takeo came to the same conclusion as H.M Poyer (designer of the P-39) did during the planning phase and designed the plane without copying the P-39. Other than the engine and gun placement, the two planes are quite dissimilar.
Takeo completed the Ki-88’s design in June of 1943. A full scale mockup and prototype were in the works in mid/late 1943, and estimated that the prototype would be completed in October of 1943. However, after the mockup and plans were inspected by representatives of the IJAAS, it was concluded that the Ki-88 had no real improvements over other designs of the time, and the top speed was only slightly better than the Kawasaki Ki-61 after calculations. The IJAAS immediately lost interest and ordered Kawasaki to cease all work on it.
The Ki-88 was a single seater, single engine fighter powered by a Kawasaki Ha-140 engine producing 1,500hp while driving a propeller using an extension shaft. The radiator was placed under the cockpit at the bottom of the fuselage. There was an air intake placed beneath the fuselage on the left to provide cooling for the supercharger in the Ha-140.
The Ki-88 used a conventional landing gear, in which the main wheels could be retracted into the wings while the tail wheel stayed fixed. There was a fuel tank in each of the wings, beside the landing gear wells.
The size of the Ho-203 canon prevented Takeo from placing the engine into the nose which led him to place it behind the pilot’s cockpit, much like the American P-39 Airacobra. Moving the engine to the back of the cockpit was a smart move, as it theoretically would have made the plane a more stable gun platform. Under the Ho 203, on both sides of the nose, there were two 20mm Ho-5 cannons.
- Empire of Japan – The Ki-88 was supposed to have been operated by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service, but never did so due to the design being deemed as inferior to the Ki-61 and was thus cancelled.
|Wingspan||40.6 ft / 12.37 m|
|Length||33.4 ft / 10.18 m|
|Height||13.6 ft / 4.14 m|
|Wing Area||8,598 ft² / 27.49 m²|
|Engine||1x Kawasaki Ha-140 (1,500hp)|
|Empty Weight||6,503 lbs / 2,949 kg|
|Loaded Weight||8,598 lbs / 3,899 kg|
|Climb Rate||6 minutes & 30 seconds to 16,404ft (5,000m)|
|Maximum Speed||373 mph / 600 kph at 19,685ft (6,000m)|
|Range||745 mi / 1,198 km|
|Maximum Service Ceiling||36,089 ft / 11,000 m|
|Armament||1x 37mm Ho-203
2x 20mm Ho-5
Performance. Report No. 19b(4), USSBS Index Section 2 (Tech. No. 19b(4)). (n.d.)., Pacific Survey Reports and Supporting Records 1928-1947 Kawasaki Aircraft Industries Company, Ltd. (Kagamigahara, Gifu plant), Dyer, Edwin M. Japanese Secret Projects: Experimental Aircraft of the IJA and IJN 1939-1945. Classic, 2013., Francillon. (1987). Japanese aircraft of the Pacific war. Annapolis, Md: Naval Institute Press., Images: Side Profile Views by Ed Jackson – Artbyedo.com


The continuing growth of air traffic worldwide motivates the need for new approaches to air traffic management that are more flexible both in terms of traffic volume and weather. Free Flight is one such approach seriously considered by the aviation community. However the benefits of Free Flight are severely curtailed in the convective weather season when weather is highly active, leading aircrafts to deviate from their optimal trajectories. This paper investigates the use of ant colony optimization in generating optimal weather avoidance trajectories in Free Flight airspace. The problem is motivated by the need to take full advantage of the airspace capacity in a Free Flight environment, while maintaining safe separation between aircrafts and hazardous weather. The experiments described herein were run on a high fidelity Free Flight air traffic simulation system which allows for a variety of constraints on the computed routes and accurate measurement of environments dynamics. This permits us to estimate the desired behavior of an aircraft, including avoidance of changing hazardous weather patterns, turn and curvature constraints, and the horizontal separation standard and required time of arrival at a pre determined point, and to analyze the performance of our algorithm in various weather scenarios. The proposed Ant Colony Optimization based weather avoidance algorithm was able to find optimum weather free routes every time if they exist. In case of highly complex scenarios the algorithm comes out with the route which requires the aircraft to fly through the weather cells with least disturbances. All the solutions generated were within flight parameters and upon integration with the flight management system of the aircraft in a Free Flight air traffic simulator, successfully negotiated the bad weather.
The different versions of the original document can be found in:


Twenty years ago today, Mae Jemison, physician and NASA astronaut, became the first black woman to travel in space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Jemison has launched 100 Year Starship, an ambitious project to encourage interstellar travel through the exchange of creative ideas. The organization will hold a public symposium in Houston this week.
When Jemison was an undergraduate at Stanford University, her roommate was Linda Lorelle, who went on to become a KPRC-TV anchor. We asked Lorelle, moderator of PBS' "Red, White and Blue," to interview Jemison about her career and space travel. Excerpts follow:


Fri, Jul 05, 2013
Significantly More Than Routes Flying Other Equipment
United flights scheduled on its new Dreamliners are cancelled four times as often as flights using other equipment, according to data reported by FlightAware.com.
Bloomberg News reports that 3.8 percent of the flights to be operated on the carrier's six Dreamliners were cancelled between May 20 and June 26. When the 787 was factored out, United cancelled only about one percent of its flights. United is the only U.S. airline to operate Boeing's new airliner.
The data was compiled without listing causes for the cancellations. United spokeswoman Mary Ryan told Bloomberg that the Dreamliner is "going through a fine-tuning process," adding that the Boeing 777 experienced similar issues when it was first introduced in 1995. She said that the airline anticipates that the Dreamliner will "evolve" into a "highly reliable airplane."
The FlightAware data also indicated that flights on Dreamliners were more likely to arrive late. About 30 percent of 787 flights arrived late by an average of 72 minutes, compared to a 24 percent late arrival rate by other airplanes in United's fleet averaging 63 minutes.
(United Dreamliner image provided by Boeing.)
Also: MU-2 AOA, AMA Responds To Senate FAA Reauthorization, ANN@AEA Live 04/27-0830ET, ANN@AEA Live 04/28-1400ET, ANN@AEA Live 04/29-1100ET A report of a drone possibly colliding w>[...]
Gowdy Brothers Aerospace Looks To The Future Of Non-Recreational UAS Use FAA Airman and Airspace Rules Division announces 5,076 approved Section 333 petition grants. The FAA furthe>[...]
"Working together, we have accomplished a truly incredible amount in the last couple of years. But we’re still really at the beginning of the process. We need to start thinki>[...]
Aero Linx: Alaskan Aviation Safety Foundation The foundation was created to improve aviation safety in Alaska thorough education, advocacy and research. We are a non-profit members>[...]
Common Point A significant point over which two or more aircraft will report passing or have reported passing before proceeding on the same or diverging tracks. To establish/mainta>[...]


ISS astronauts make safe landing in Kazakhstan
Washington: Three members of the Expedition 34 crew undocked from the International Space Station and returned safely to Earth on Friday, making a landing in Kazakhstan.
The trio wrapped up a mission, which lasted for more than four and a half months.
Station Commander Kevin Ford of NASA and Soyuz Commander Evgeny Tarelkin and Flight Engineer Oleg Novitskiy of the Russian Federal Space Agency undocked their Soyuz TMA-06M spacecraft from the space station at 6:43 pm Central Daylight Time (CDT) and landed northeast of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan, at about 10:10 pm.
The astronauts arrived at the station on October 25, 2012, and spent 144 days in space, 142 of which were aboard the orbiting laboratory.
Ford, Tarelkin, and Novitskiy orbited Earth 2,304 times, which amounts to almost 61 million miles.
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Top New Movie
The movie will be based on an Aeroplane hijack where a soldier helps the passenger and fight against the terrorist. But the damage to the flight engine made it very tough to survive the situation.
Watch Yodha (2023) Movie Online for Free
Yodha (2023) Trailer


The Cheapest Return Houston - All Airports to Gold Coast Flights.
Click Here to show all the flights on this route.
These flights have been found in the last 24 hours. Whats this?Prices are from searches made in the last 24 hours and current prices may differ.
Do you need to catch a flight to Houston - All Airports? Check out our domestic flights to Houston - All Airports. If Houston - All Airports is not your closest airport, then here are all our flights to Gold Coast from Australia and flights to Australia.
Did you know...
- Gold Coast has the International Air Transport Association (IATA) code of OOL and Houston - William P. Hobby has HOU.
- The distance between Gold Coast and Houston - William P. Hobby is 13,421 kilometres.
- Gold Coast is 16 hours in front of Houston - William P. Hobby. Read about jetlag before starting this flight.
- The closest hotel to Houston - William P. Hobby airport is The Atlantic Aviation HOU.
Questions and AnswersWhat airlines fly direct to Gold Coast from Houston?
No airlines fly direct between Houston and Gold Coast.


Following up on on Nagpur becoming the country’s international cargo hub Boeing has named Nagpur as the site of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Facility in India.
Here is some part of the news:
We believe that Nagpur will be an excellent location for the Boeing MRO facility because of the tremendous investment being made in the area by both government and private companies,” said Dinesh Keskar, vice president of Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Boeing is committed to helping strengthen India’s air transport infrastructure by investing up to $100 million in this MRO facility.
Boeing agreed to establish an MRO facility and provide training as part of a 68-airplane order placed by Air India in December 2005.
The Nagpur facility will provide a convenient, centralized location for India-based airlines to schedule routine maintenance and overhaul work, and to have repairs completed.
As in a previous case, this news was sent to me by my friend, Vishwajeet!


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Just 25 hours and 25 flights into its airborne test program, the Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) X-35A broke the sound barrier on Tuesday, Nov. 21, continuing an aggressive program of flight-envelope expansion.
Test pilot Tom Morgenfeld lifted off from Edwards Air Force Base at 4:25 p.m. (PST) and took the X-35A to 25,000 feet altitude, achieving a speed of Mach 1.05.
"This is another example of our flight test program exceeding even our own expectations," said C.T. "Tom" Burbage, executive vice president and general manager of the Lockheed Martin JSF program. "All our flights have demonstrated great performance. These results are accomplished by our team's approach to tackle technical challenges up front. This aircraft has allowed us to concentrate on validating those flying characteristics that cannot be adequately proven through modeling and simulation."
Earlier Tuesday, on the X-35A's 24th flight, Morgenfeld made six field carrier landing practice demonstrations, previewing the aircraft's low-speed carrier approach handling qualities in advance of upcoming tests with the second demonstrator, the X-35C. He said controllability in the carrier landing profiles was excellent as he followed glide slope cues from a Fresnel lens on the ground.
With its flight testing complete, the X-35A, which first flew on Oct. 24, will return to Lockheed Martin's Palmdale, Calif., facility to be fitted with a shaft-driven lift-fan propulsion system. It will be renamed the X-35B and will begin ground testing in preparation for its short takeoff/ vertical landing (STOVL) demonstrations.
"In flight-testing the X-35A, we've been gathering information on the STOVL X-35B model since the up-and-away performance is the same," said Harry Blot, vice president and deputy program manager for the Lockheed Martin JSF team. "We also have completed engine runs on the X-35C -- the Navy configuration -- and expect it to take flight by mid-December."
The conventional-takeoff-and-landing (CTOL) X-35A, designed to meet Air Force specifications, is externally identical to the STOVL X-35B, the U.S. Marine Corps/ British Royal Air Force and Royal Navy JSF demonstrator. Consequently, much of the X-35A's flight-test data will satisfy government requirements for the X-35B.
"All three of these aircraft are very close representations of the planes we're proposing for full-scale production. When you see our flight-test data, you're essentially seeing data that the production aircraft would generate," Blot said.
Lockheed Martin, in partnership with Northrop Grumman
For information on Lockheed Martin Corporation
For information on Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, visit: http://www.lmaeronautics.com/
For government information on the Joint Strike Fighter program, visit http://www.jast.mil/
Corresponding photo is available at: http://www.lmaeronautics.com/image_gallery/pr_photos/index.html
SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company
Contact: John Kent of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, 817-763-3980,
or 817-454-0279, or
Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/117281.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 117281


5 December 1956 – A Northrop XSM-62 Snark, 53-8172, N-69D test model, fitted with a new 24-hour stellar inertial guidance system, launches from Cape Canaveral Missile Test Annex, Florida. It wanders off-course, ignores destruct command, disappears over Brazil. It is found by a farmer in January 1983. The Day They Lost the Snark By J.
Harold T. Godfrey, Jr.
Preferred Name: Tom
Date of Birth: January 10, 1932
Highest Military Grade: 0-5 – Lieutenant Colonel
Tom Godfrey flew the F-100 with the 90th Tactical Fighter Squadron out of Bien Hoa AB, Vietnam.


Government not waiting for pilots to return to work: Ajit Singh
18 June 2012
In a virtual warning to the striking Air India pilots, civil aviation minister Ajit Singh yesterday said the government was not waiting for the pilots to return to work but was making plans to move ahead.
Reminding the pilots and other employees that their survival depended on Air India, he said, the carrier would not be able to get public money any more, and they would not be able to survive for too long if the company failed to become competitive.
"We are not waiting. We are making plans. If you take the pilots trained in V-737 or Airbus 320, (in) three to six months they can be trained to fly these planes.
"So, in our plan for revival, when we implement Dharmadhikari report, we have to be very patient and firm at the same time. There will be many such hiccups on the way," he told reporters in Hyderabad on the sidelines of a book release function.
Contending that there were no issues to strike and that the pilots were "ill", he said plans were afoot to induct and train more pilots.
He, however, said the government was ready to listen to the concerns of pilots on their return to work and to address them seriously without being vindictive in any way.


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Earth’s magnetic poles drift over time. This is something that every airplane pilot or navigator knows. They have to account for it when they plan their flights.
They drift so much, in fact, that the magnetic poles are in different locations than the geographic poles, or the axis of Earth’s rotation. Today, Earth’s magnetic north pole is 965 kilometres (600 mi) away from its geographic pole. Now a new study says the same pole drifting is occurring on Mercury too.Continue reading “Mercury has Magnetic Poles that Drift Like Earth’s”


By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 5 Aug: The Space Settlement Design Competition (SSDC) is a worldwide inter-school tournament, where students from across the globe get an opportunity to propose a human settlement that can function in space. It acts as an experience that simulates the aerospace industry, where participants are provided with a task to design innovative space cities that accomplish the requested specifications from the judges.
From 2022 to 2023, the Doon School Team has successfully proposed two different versions of ‘Bellevistat’, a large-scale colony that conducts major industrial operations in cis-lunar space, as well as being able to accommodate an increasing population; ‘Arial’, the first ever significant moon-orbiting settlement that acts as a spaceport for cargo and transportation between spacecraft and lunar landing vehicles, and ‘Alaskol’, the first large business-operating space city on the Earth’s Moon, that acts as a substantial refinery source for lunar materials and provide quintessential services to further-developing communities. Their persevering journey first began when the school achieved qualifiers for the preliminary round, following towards the Indian Nationals Round (INSSDC) as first runners-up and then finally winners. Reaching the Asian regionals Round (ARSSDC), Rohan Taneja was elected as President for the company ‘Dougeldyne Astrosystems’, which came victorious as they were adjudged Winners.
Finally, at the International Round (ISSDC) held at Kennedy Space Centre, Florida, USA from 28th July to 31st July 2023, The Doon School team representing ‘Grumbo Aerospace’ emerged as Runners-up with Rohan Taneja as Vice President of Engineering, Keshav Bagrodia as Director of Operations and Infrastructure, and Tanmay Gupta as Director of Human Factors. The team was escorted and guided by Doon School Master Vratik Upadhyay.


In recent years, there has been significant growth in air traffic to and from The Bahamas. As a result, the government has taken proactive steps to support this growth – notably, with upgrades to several of the country's busiest airports. For example, the Nassau Airport Development Company recently commenced a major rehabilitation project at the Lynden Pindling International Airport. This project will, among other things, include an asphalt upgrade to increase the runway's lifespan.
The Bahamas' flight information region airspace comprises tens of thousands of miles and is subject to significant overflight activity. Moreover, it is one of the most important airspaces and is worth millions in revenue. To further enhance the civil aviation sector, the government is seeking to create a self-funded and sustainable management programme in order to collect overflight fees, while paying the US Federal Aviation Administration a fee for the management of its airspace.
The Bahamian government continues to make progress towards enhancing its aircraft registry and ratifying the Cape Town Convention. For example, the Aviation Steering Committee (ASC) recently presented draft legislation to implement the Cape Town Convention to the Attorney General's Office. The ASC expects this draft legislation to be approved and presented to the Cabinet before the next government budget communication in Summer 2019.
For the first time, The Bahamas has embarked on an ambitious project to develop a national aviation policy to better coordinate and facilitate civil aviation activities to, from and within the country. Further, the ratification of the Cape Town Convention will better position The Bahamas as a key player in the global industry in terms of financing and leasing aircraft and will allow the country to compete in the aviation industry on a global level.
The Bahamas is ripe with opportunity and well positioned in what has become a new global industry within the civil aviation sector. The numerous remote islands in the country afford many possibilities regarding the operation and testing of drones as they become more sophisticated and start to be used for various operations. Drone operators, whether commercial or recreational, must be mindful of privacy, data collection and use and nuisance.
The Bahamian authorities recently embarked on an ambitious project to reform and enhance the country's civil aviation sector. These efforts will enhance the country's standing in the global arena, where aviation is experiencing considerable and dynamic growth. Such growth will benefit not only the country's civil aviation sector, but also its financial services and private sectors.


Expedition 38, the International Space Station’s current group of Cosmonauts, replaced new HD cameras on the exterior and captured some amazing images of Earth from space.
You will feel like you’re actually in space.
Amazing new images of the ringed planet’s mysterious, geometrical monster storm.
The second American to orbit the Earth died today.
At 9:30 PM EDT, watch the live stream here of NASA’s Juno Spacecraft passing through earth’s orbit.
NASA’s 36-year-old spacecraft Voyager 1 has become the first man-made object to make it outside the majority of our sun’s affects. Listen to what it hears here!
Check out a live feed on the rocket launch here!
This morning NASA ended a space walk on the International Space Station early because a leak developed in astronaut Luca Parmitano’s helmet.
NASA’S first astronaut class since 2009 features eight new recruits, four of whom are women — a record for the Administration.
Two American astronauts — a Navy SEAL and a doctor — will venture into space to fix a “serious” leak on the ISS.
The writers of Mad Men could be trading in their designer suits on Madison avenue for space helmets and Florida sand with a new television show.
NASA wants to retrieve an asteroid and bring it closer to earth for research.


Hydrocarbon combustion at it’s finest. Perhaps the pinnacle of gasoline fueled piston aircraft engine technology. 28 pistons going up and down with 7 magneto’s and 56 spark plugs. Notice how the smoke begins to drop off as the piston rings bed in (Wear) with the resulting improved oil control, less smoke . Appears to have been be a very good initial test run.


WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. – The New England Air Museum has announced that three historic WWII aircraft will be on public display nearby the Museum June 24 to 28.
The aircraft includes the B-29 “Fifi” the last fully operational Boeing B-29 Superfortress; Curtiss SB2C Helldiver, and a Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor “Bucket of Bolts.” This event is being run in conjunction with the Commemorative Air Force, which is flying the aircraft into Bradley Airport.
Tickets for this event must be purchased at the Air Museum. Ticket prices are $20 for adults and seniors, and $15 for children ages 4 to 11. Children under 3 are free. The charge for museum members is $7 for the shuttle fee and ramp access. The cost includes admission to the museum, shuttle bus transportation to the aircraft display and ramp access. Visitors will not be allowed to enter the aircraft display area without a museum ticket. The museum will open at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday to Friday and at 8:30 a.m. on the weekend. The last tickets will be sold each day at 3:30 p.m.
This event is being run in conjunction with the Commemorative Air Force, which is flying the aircraft into Bradley International Airport. Aircraft tours will be available for public viewing beginning at 10 a.m. on Wednesday through Friday and at noon on the weekend. “Fifi” will fly at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday only.
Call 432-413-4100 for ticketing information for flights on the aircraft offered through the Commemorative Air Force. All proceeds from this event will benefit the Commemorative Air Force and the New England Air Museum.
The Commemorative Air Force ranks as one of the largest private air forces in the world. The CAF is dedicated to Honoring American Military Aviation through flight, exhibition and remembrance. A non-profit educational association, the CAF has more than 8,000 members and a fleet of 156 airplanes distributed throughout the country to 74 units located in 27 states for care and operation. For more information, visit www.commemorativeairforce.org.
All proceeds from this event will benefit the Commemorative Air Force and the New England Air Museum.
The New England Air Museum is located near Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, CT. For further information call the Museum at 860-623-3305 or visit www.neam.org.


MDA’s RadarSat 2 Data Now Available on DigitalGlobe’s GBDX Platform
DigitalGlobe announced an agreement with MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) to make RadarSat 2 data available on DigitalGlobe’s Geospatial Big Data platform, GBDX, unlocking new applications made possible by the combination of optical and radar satellite data. MDA’s RadarSat 2 satellite collects Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data that gives users the ability to see the Earth both day and night, in all weather conditions. With SAR content on GBDX, users will have ready access to new content and tools in the cloud that cost-effectively unlock object and change detection use cases.
According to DigitalGlobe, the first tool it integrated into GBDX is based on MDA’s radar-based change detection capability, which provides a reliable means to detect changes caused by human or natural activities. RadarSat 2’s broad-area imaging capabilities and ability to see through rain and clouds make it an apt choice for monitoring change over large areas at 5 meter resolution levels or better. Change detection can be applied to a time-lapse image stack, allowing users to determine when the change occurred.
For example, according to DigitalGlobe, RadarSat 2 data could be combined with its optical imagery to monitor illegal logging on a country-wide scale. Users could tap into GBDX to identify all RadarSat 2 images for the areas of interest over a given period of time, run automated change detection to identify candidate areas for illicit activity, and then retrieve high-resolution optical imagery of those areas for closer inspection.
As applied to defense and intelligence needs, new military structures and activities could be identified. In this case, GBDX would compare historical RadarSat 2 imagery with new imagery and automatically detect new man-made structures, which appear as bright spots. Customers could then further assess the structures and activities using high-resolution optical imagery.
“Adding SAR data to the GBDX platform augments our existing 100-petabyte optical imagery library, opening up new use cases our customers have long desired, including the ability to image regardless of clouds or weather on a regular basis,” said Shay Har-Noy, vice president and general manager of DigitalGlobe’s platform business unit.


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MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX: Defense Dept. Contracts for Oct. 9, 2012
W.W. Williams, Albany, Ga., was awarded contract SPRDL1-11-R-0238. The award is a firm fixed price, indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity contract with a maximum $45,144,790 for diesel engines with containers. There are no other locations of performance. Using military service is Army. There two responses to the Web solicitation. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2013 Army Defense Working Capital Funds. The date of performance completion is Oct. 19, 2015. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land, Warren, Mich.
Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $28,620,000 modification to a previously awarded advance acquisition contract (N00019-12-C-0004) to provide additional funds for long lead-time parts, material and components required to protect the delivery schedule of four Low Rate Initial Production Lot VII F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter Conventional Takeoff and Landing aircraft for the Government of Italy. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (35 percent); El Segundo, Calif. (25 percent); Warton, United Kingdom (20 percent); Orlando, Fla. (10 percent); Nashua, N.H. (5 percent); and Baltimore, Md. (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in June 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
The Boeing Co.,St. Louis, Mo., (FA8651-13-D-0050) is being awarded a $10,000,000 cost plus fixed fee contract to provide systems studies, analyses integrations and demonstrations with the unmanned aerial system termed dominator and common smart sub-munition to assess the capabilities of the system in meeting Air Force Research Laboratory requirements. The location of the performance is St. Louis, Mo. Work is expected to be completed by Jan. 25, 2017. The contracting activity is AFRL/RWK, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.


The New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport Management understands that pilot education and cooperation is key to a successful noise abatement program. Compliance with noise abatement procedures is requested unless deviations are made necessary by weather, ATC instructions, clearances, an in-flight emergency or other safety considerations.
The procedures described are not intended to preempt the responsibilities of the pilot-in-command for safe aircraft operations. Recommended procedures are not intended to conflict with instructions from ATC or those which are the exclusive authority of the FAA.
The New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport would like to request that the following Noise Abatement procedures be followed.
* Avoid flying over residential areas when possible.
* Departing aircraft should climb out of V (best rate of climb). Reduce power from takeoff climb power as soon as safe and practical.
* No low altitude, high RPM approaches (dragging it in) on extended downwind, base, and final.
* Utilize VFR runway markings including fixed distance markers 1, 000 ft. past the threshold for flight training.
* No touch and go operations between 5:00 pm and 8:00 am.
* No repetitive flight training operations at airport between 10:00 pm and 7:00 am.
* No more than 8 touch and go's without coming to a full stop or departing the pattern.
* No repetitive flight training operations on Sundays and national holidays.
* No engine maintenance run-ups between 10:00 pm and 8:00 am.


EPISODE 2 | Airline Station Accident Response
The Black Box with Ken Jenkins
Episode 2- Airline Station Accident Response
In episode 2, Ken dissects the station response of a commercial airline in regards to an aviation disaster by taking a deeper look at the highs and lows of how a commercial airline responds to a plane crash on airport property. Retired American Airlines General Manager, Greg Klein, joins Ken in the studio to tell the story of how he and his team responded to the crash of American Airlines Flight 1420 upon landing on June 1, 1999 in Little Rock, Arkansas.
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First officer on missing jet was transitioning to 777-200s
March 10, 2014 -- Updated 0153 GMT (0953 HKT)
- Fariq Ab Hamid, 27, had recently switched to the Boeing 777-200
- He landed it in a flight captured on video last month by CNN
- It was a textbook-perfect landing, the captain said of Hamid's work
(CNN) -- The first officer aboard Malaysia Airlines MH370 when it disappeared early Saturday from radar was transitioning to work on the Boeing 777-200.
Fariq Ab Hamid, a 27-year-old Malaysian, helped fly the plane from Hong Kong to Kuala Lumpur, where he landed it under the supervision of a senior pilot as well as a safety captain, according to CNN aviation correspondent Richard Quest, who was also in the cockpit.
The network was shooting video of the landing for use in a "CNN Business Traveler" program.
"It was interesting to watch the way he brought the aircraft in to land," Quest recalled about the February 19 landing, which the captain described as textbook-perfect.
Questions swirl after airliner vanishes
Are flight recorders 'antiquated?'
International crews search for plane
Hamid, who has 2,763 flying hours, joined Malaysia Airlines in 2007. He had been flying another jet and was transitioning to the Boeing 777-200 after having completed training in a flight simulator.
The airline's first officers are trained to the same standards as the captains, Quest said he was told by airline officials. "The captain was very much in control, but the first officer was flying the aircraft."
The missing plane was piloted by Capt. Zaharie Ahmad Shah, a 53-year-old Malaysian with 18,365 flying hours who joined the airline in 1981.
Today's five most popular stories
Part of complete coverage on
May 28, 2014 -- Updated 2229 GMT (0629 HKT)
What was believed to be the best hope of finding the missing plane is now being called a false hope.
September 8, 2014 -- Updated 1127 GMT (1927 HKT)
The story began as a puzzling news bulletin. A Malaysia Airlines passenger jet with 239 people on board had vanished from radar screens as it was flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
September 5, 2014 -- Updated 1130 GMT (1930 HKT)
The mapping of the main search area for Flight 370 has found parts of the ocean floor that are unusually hard.
August 29, 2014 -- Updated 0800 GMT (1600 HKT)
Brianna Keilar reports on the new developments that will shape the coming renewed search of MH370.
August 29, 2014 -- Updated 0529 GMT (1329 HKT)
Flight MH370 may have turned south earlier than originally thought.
June 25, 2014 -- Updated 0033 GMT (0833 HKT)
Erin Burnett speaks to Miles O'Brien about the latest in the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.
June 18, 2014 -- Updated 1653 GMT (0053 HKT)
Ten experts say that the search for MH370 should move hundreds of miles away from the previous search area.
June 17, 2014 -- Updated 1322 GMT (2122 HKT)
His wife never came home from her flight on MH370, and now K.S. Narendran is left to imagine the worst of possible truths without knowing.
June 9, 2014 -- Updated 1455 GMT (2255 HKT)
Relatives of passengers are launching an effort to raise $5 million for investigations and a "whistle blower" reward.
June 9, 2014 -- Updated 0731 GMT (1531 HKT)
Making sure another plane is never "lost" again is the immediate priority for the airline industry.
May 30, 2014 -- Updated 1536 GMT (2336 HKT)
Was the sound of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 striking the water captured by ocean devices used to listen for signs of nuclear blasts?


American Airlines has sent a brand new Boeing 787-8 into storage. Making the move on March 31st, the aircraft initially flew to the airline’s largest base in Dallas after delivery. There, it spent some time on the ground before being ferried to storage in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Aircraft and flight details
On March 17th, a brand new Boeing 787-8, registered as N870AX, flew from Boeing’s center at Everett to Dallas-Fort Worth per data from Flightradar24. However, the aircraft has yet to operate a revenue passenger flight. After just under two weeks on the ground, American flew the plane to Tulsa, where it was stored along with other aircraft.
Simple Flying reached out to American Airlines to learn more about the aircraft. A spokesperson confirmed that the plane is being stored amid a global decline in demand. Upfront, the aircraft features an enhanced business cabin that will make the ride for passengers more comfortable – at least once the aircraft enters commercial revenue service.
This move is hardly surprising. American has dramatically reduced its current flying schedule and has cut 60% of its overseas capacity this summer. While it is unclear when and where this aircraft will fly, it likely will not take off until next month at the soonest– if then.
Why not delay delivery?
Aircraft deliveries are, by nature, fluid. Paperwork, last-minute delays, and environmental factors can impact when an airline receives a new plane. Airlines do have the option to delay aircraft deliveries– although sometimes it comes with a penalty. However, in this case, it appears that the aircraft was already completed and ready to fly. So, it makes sense for American to take on the new plane and fly it straight to storage along with most other 787s.
New planes are usually exciting for passengers and crew alike. Despite sitting on the ground for a bit, this 787 will be just like new when it comes time to fly passengers. Plus, one bonus for American is that, once the airline resumes more long-haul flying, this can be one of the first aircraft to leave its temporary parking for revenue flights.
The Boeing 787-8
The -8 variant is the smallest version of the 787. It is a suitable replacement for aging 767s. In fact, American has indicated at least one swap on a route to Montevideo, Uruguay, from Miami. Previously flown with a 767, customers will soon see a 787-8 operate the route. The 787-8 will also operate on a new route between Miami and Rio de Janeiro from 2021 to feed a new partnership with GOL.
Three-cabin 787-8s feature Flagship Business, Premium Economy, and Main Cabin (including extra-legroom) experiences seat with a total of 234 passengers. Meanwhile, the 767-300 only seats 209 and does not have a dedicated Premium Economy cabin– only extra-legroom economy.
What do you think about American flying a brand new 787-8 straight to storage? Let us know in the comments!


Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw Multi-Purpose Transport Helicopter
The Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw series of multi-purpose helicopter has seen extensive use with forces from all over the globe.
Authored By Staff Writer; Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com
The Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw was an excellent multipurpose transport helicopter that saw use in various roles on a global scale. The system proved to be a tremendous replacement for the US Army H-5 Dragonfly series and went on to see action in multiple conflicts from Korean onwards. The Chickasaw was noted for its very recognizable appearance, versatility and reliability and served commercial and military roles around the world for decades.
Visually, the H-19 was of a stout appearance. The flight deck sat high above the design just under and forward of the main rotor mast. The crew cabin area was on a lower floor with easy access to ground level through sliding side doors. Passenger accommodation in the cabin amounted to 12 combat ready troops or 8 medical litters. Though the system was generally unarmed, several attempts at an armed version were made, principally by the French though the platform was found to be too underpowered to be of much use as an attack helicopter.
First flight of the series took place on November 10, 1949 with deliveries beginning a year later. A series of major variants appeared throughout her production life that generally revolved around different powerplants and custom conversions. There were also naval variants made available to the US Navy and the Royal Navy.
The H-19 in all forms was produced in other countries under license by Mitsubishi (Japan), Westland (UK) and Sud-Est (France). Operators of the system included a list of countries numbering over 30 (see operators section for the complete listing). In US service, the Chickasaw was later replaced by the H-34 Chocktaw, another Sikorsky design, by the time of the Vietnam conflict (though by this time the H-19 was still being operationally used in some limited numbers). In fact, this Sikorsky follow-up product was a further development of this very H-19 system.


1 JOURNAL OF THEORETICAL AND APPLIED MECHANICS 53,1,pp.27-36,Warsaw2015 DOI: /jtam-pl THE INFLUENCE OF STRUCTURAL FEATURES ON VIBRATION OF THE PROPELLER ENGINE TEST BENCH Wiesław Ostapski, Andrzej Aromiński, Maciej Tułodziecki Warsaw University of Technology, Faculty of Automotive and Construction Machinery Engineering, Warsaw, Poland Thereisafewofdesignconceptsofthe200kWcapacitypropellerenginetestbenchpresented in the paper. Modes and frequencies of vibrations of each design concept are presented. It is done in order to choose the best structural solution for real vibration characteristics of the airplane engine-propeller unit. Keywords: propeller engine test bench, propeller vibration, digital modelling, CAD, construction 1. Introduction The paper concerns the prototype of a propeller engine test bench stand designed for durability tests of airplane piston engines of kw power range(ostapski, 2011b, 2008). The technical dataoftheprototypeenginestobetestedonthebenchhavebeenadopted.itisobviousthatat the beginning of the design process there is no information about the vibration spectrum of the propellershaft,whichisattheproductionprocessatthattime.thebasic3dmodeloftestbench constructional variants are presented in the article. Modes and frequencies of free vibrations are defined in ANSYS environment for both the loaded and unloaded structure and for various design variants. The estimated vibration frequency range for the propeller shaft varies from f=22tof=360hz.insuchacase,thereisnoeasywayforrationaltestbenchconstruction to be completely untuned to the vibration forcing load. This is the reason for introducing the basic model and few its modifications. After first engine tests, it should be possible to separate natural vibrations of the bench and high amplitude vibrations of the engine. 2. Basic model of the propeller engine test bench The design of the test bench should provide stable fixing of the airplane engine together with aspeedreductionunitandthepropeller.themeasurementoftorqueistobedonebymaking useofapendulousfixingofthemainplatformandastraingaugeloadcellmountedtothe extensionarm.themeasurementofthethrustforceistobedonebythestraingaugeloadcell placed between the platform extension arm and the axial regulation of the support platform. The engine mounting platform consists of the base and support that allow for an axial movement and measurement of the thrust force simultaneously with measuring the reaction torque. The engine and reducing gear assembly are mounted on four rubber cushions. The basic 3D model is presented in Fig. 1. The FEM(finite element method) model(rakowski and Kacprzyk, 1993) andthenetworkispresentedinfig.2.thetestbenchmodelwiththeengineofnominalload N=200kWispresentedinFig.3.
2 28 W. Ostapski et al. Fig.1.3Dbasictestbenchmodel Fig.2.FEMmodelofthetestbenchconsistingof100000nodesand250000elements Fig.3.Mechanicalloadfromtheengineatnominaltorque,800Nm 3. Natural frequencies of the propeller engine test bench ThemodesandfrequenciesofthebasicmodelarepresentedinFig.4.Theremainingnine other design variations are presented in Figs The main construction difference is partial or more complex structural rigidity of the bench variations. It is due to adding extra ribs, support members, variable distance between the platform supporting members, and by adding an inertial damper or tension bolts. It results in strong influence on the natural vibration frequencies comparing to the basic model. The results are presented in Fig. 10. Thedecreaseinthenaturalvibrationoftheloadedtestbenchisminimalforthebasicmodel, aspresentedinfig.4.thedecreaseisby1hz.theexceptionaldifferenceisthethirdvibration mode,whichdiffersby5hz.
3 The influence of structural features on vibration Fig. 4. Natural frequencies of the basic model Fig.5.DesignconceptNo.I Fig. 6. Natural frequencies of design concept I The additional ribs of the reducing gear support and the additional stiffening member in the platform extension arm resulted in an increase the vibration frequency by 30 Hz average, see Fig. 6. The additional frame stiffening resulted in a 12 Hz frequency increase in the first vibration mode,seefig.10. VariantNo.IIIisthebasicmodelwithanextramasshangedasshowninFig.11.Thefirst five vibration modes are vibrations of this mass. Next modes are construction vibrations which are significantly lower than in previous variants I and II, especially for the 6th mode. In variant IV(Fig. 11) the extension arm and support(with the thrust force measurement unit) are disassembled. Nothing has changed in comparison to results of model III. But while loaded, the frequencies of vibration modes 7-10(Fig. 10) significantly increased. There is practically no change in the 6th vibration mode frequency, while the first five modes are strictly related to the extra mass added. Theequivalentmasshasbeenreplacedbyatensioningbolt,seeFig.12.Thevaluesofthe firstthreevibrationmodesaresimilartothoseofmodelsiandii.butthefrequenciesofthe 4thand5thmodearelowerby40and50Hz,seeFig.10.
4 30 W. Ostapski et al. Fig.7.DesignconceptNo.II Fig.8.DesignconceptNo.II naturalfrequencies,noload Fig.9.FEMmodel,designconceptNo.III,250000elements Fig. 10. Table with natural frequencies for various design concepts
5 The influence of structural features on vibration Fig. 11. Design concept No. IV(simplified No. III) Fig.12.DesignconceptNo.V Fig.13.DesignconceptNo.VI Fig. 14. Natural frequencies, design concept No. VI, no load
6 32 W. Ostapski et al. Fig. 15. Design concept No. VI natural frequencies, nominal load Theadditionalribsonthereducinggearfixingside(Fig.7)resultedinanincreaseinthe vibrationfrequencybyfewhzforthefirsttwovibrationmodes,andupto25-35hzforhigher modescomparingtovariantv,seefig.15. Thestiffeningoftheframewithribsattheplatformsupportfixings(Fig.16)resultedinan increasebyafewhzofthefirsttwovibrationmodes(fig.18).threehighermodefrequencies decreased by Hz comparing to variant VI. Fig. 16. Design concept No. VII Fig. 17. Design concept No. VII natural frequencies, no load Fig. 18. Design concept No. VII natural frequencies, nominal load
7 The influence of structural features on vibration Fig. 19. Design concept No. VIII(design concept No. VI with an enlarged support distance) Fig. 20. Design concept No. VIII natural frequencies, no load The increasing distance of the platform supporting members(fig. 19) has no influence on the first mode vibration frequency and minimal influence on the second mode. But frequencies ofthe3rdand4thvibrationmodesmovedbymorethan30hztowardhighervalues.the5th mode frequency increased by 17 Hz(Fig. 21). Fig. 21. Design concept No. VIII natural frequencies, nominal load Fig.22.DesignconceptNo.IX(similartodesignVIIIbutwithanextendedsupport)
8 34 W. Ostapski et al. The next modification has been a significant increase in the distance between the platform supporting members(almost twice) in variant IX(Fig. 22). The significant decrease by 15 and 7Hzhasbeennoticedforthefirsttwovibrationmodefrequencies. Fig. 23. Design concept No. IX natural frequencies, no load Fig. 24. Design concept No. IX natural frequencies, nominal load 4. Conclusion The presented design variations except for No. III and IV have significantly higher(by at least Hz) natural vibration frequencies compared to the basic test bench model. For the first torsionalvibrationmode:inthebasicmodelandvariantsi,ii,v,vi.forthefirsttransverse vibrationmode inmodelsvii,viii.inmodelsiii,iv,thefirstfivevibrationmodesofvery low frequency are vibrations of the additional mass. ThetestbenchisdedicatedfortheprototypeengineofN=200kW,turbochargedwith indirect fuel injection with the working range: n = rpm(ostapski, 2008). Fig. 25. Natural frequencies design concepts I-IX
9 The influence of structural features on vibration At that stage, the spectrum and range of the propeller shaft torsional vibration frequencies (especially high amplitude vibrations) are unknown. Rough analysis of the propeller shaft frequencies is stems from estimations based on the working speed range and reduction gear ratio. The configuration of the drive system and number of engine cylinders is taken into consideration. Fig.26.Theenginetestbenchreadyforapracticaltest This range has been estimated according to the previous experiences in the research of multi cylinder airplane engines(ostapski and Ponder, 2004; Ostapski 2011a). The most important arethefirstfourvibrationmodesofthe4thcylinderaswellasthefirstfourvibrationmodes of the propeller shaft. The mentioned range should be extended downwards for measurements of the engine with one nonworking cylinder. For the presumed working speed range andgear ratioofthereducinggeari=2.1,thefrequencyrangeshouldbe22-360hz.thefirstharmonics ofthepropellershaftforspeedn=2800rpmisf1=n/60=46.67hz,thefourthforspeed n=5400rpmisf4=4n/60=360hz.thefirst propeller harmonicfrequencyis:f1s= n/60i=2800/(2.1 60)=22.2Hzandthefourthoneisf4s=4 f1s=88.8hz.accordingly, forthe takeoff enginespeed,thefirstharmonicfrequencyofthepropellershaftisf1s= 5400/(2.1 60)=42.85Hzandthefourthisf4s=4 f1s=171.4hz.halfspeedfrequencies may also appear. Various torsional rigidity of engine crankshafts, reducing gear, propeller shaft assembly, various values of gas pressure inside the cylinder and the propeller characteristic curve have significant influence on the vibration spectrum. It is very likely that torsional vibrations ofthedrivetrainwithsignificantamplitudeswillappearatthefrequencyrangef=22-360hz. For a particular engine, it will be also function of the rotation speed, load, and the combustion process control parameters. Analysis of simulation of vibration modes made on the test bench model using the FEM method shows difficulties with the out-tuning (avoiding mechanical resonance at all natural frequencies) of the test bench and engine torsional vibration frequencies intheoperationalrangeoftheunit.thepresenteddesignvariants(fig.19)maybeagood way for out-tuning the test bench vibration frequencies of maximum amplitudes after first practical tests of the airplane drive assembly. References 1. Ostapski W., 2008, New generation, high output(200kw), multifuel, environmental friendly, aircraft reciprocating engine design and development(in Polish), Development project report number 6ZR62008C/ Ostapski W., 2011a, Analysis of thermo-mechanical response in an aircraft piston engine by analytical, FEM, and test-stand investigations, Journal of Thermal Stresses, 34,
10 36 W. Ostapski et al. 3. Ostapski W., 2011b, Propeller engine test bench project for WSK-PZL-Kalisz S.A.(in Polish), Nr1/TR/WSK/ Ostapski W., Ponder B., 2004, A study of vibrations of high output aircraft reciprocating engine on test bench(in Polish), 20th French-Polish Seminar of Mechanics, Warsaw, Rakowski G., Kacprzyk Z., 1993, Finite Element Method in Mechanical Structures(in Polish), OWPW, Warsaw Manuscript received September 26, 2013; accepted for print June 2, 2014


In the Second World Utter flew the first jet bombers in the world, such as the Arado Ar 234 and the Messerschmitt Me 262. Utter long time concealed his personal UFO sightings.
During his many years as a pilot Utter has often unknown flying objects observed. Thus he once saw some bright lights in the distance. One of the lights flew at high speed to his plane and started near his unit to pulsate. The orb was suspended two minutes, then shot away and disappeared into thin air.
Utter the now deceased, for many years chief pilot of Lufthansa, also once saw a cigar-shaped UFO which he mentioned at the ATC.
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The principles of rocketry were first tested more than 2,000 years ago, but it's only been within the past 70 years or so that we have built rockets to explore space.
Today, rockets routinely loft spacecraft off Earth, sending satellites to low-Earth orbit or cargo to the International Space Station. And with the commercial space industry booming, astronauts now regularly travel to and from the orbiting lab, carrying scientific experiments with them.
New developments have even seen reusable rockets become common, landing back on Earth autonomously, ready to be used again.
There is evidence that rocket technology, or the early fundamentals of rocketry, was used thousands of years ago, as early as 400 B.C., for example.
In an experiment at that time, Archytas, a Greek philosopher and mathematician, showed off a pseudo-rocket: a wooden pigeon suspended on wires. The pigeon was propelled by escaping steam, according to NASA.
Around 300 years after the pigeon experiment, the Greek mathematician Hero of Alexandria is said to have invented the aeolipile (also called Hero's engine), NASA added. This is a sphere-shaped device that sat on top of a boiling pool of water. Gas from the steaming water went inside of the sphere and escaped through two L-shaped tubes on opposite sides. The escaping steam created thrust that would make the sphere rotate.
Further developments in early rocket technology were recorded in the 9th century when Chinese monks developed what is now called "gunpowder," a mixture of saltpeter (potassium nitrate), sulfur and charcoal. Saltpeter was theorized to have life-extending properties and it was that interest in seeking a sort of immortality that helped lead to gunpowder's development, according to ThoughtCo.
"During the Tang Dynasty, around 850 A.D., an enterprising alchemist — whose name has been lost to history — mixed 75 parts saltpeter with 15 parts charcoal and 10 parts sulfur. This mixture had no discernable life-lengthening properties, but it did explode with a flash and a bang when exposed to an open flame," ThoughtCo wrote.
"According to a text from that era," ThoughtCo continued, "smoke and flames result, so that [the alchemists'] hands and faces have been burnt, and even the whole house where they were working burned down."
The first military use of rocket technology was also recorded in China later in 1232 CE, according to Smithsonian Magazine. The Chinese used "flying fire lances" against the Mongol Empire as they moved against the former Chinese capital Kaifeng. (Today, it is a prefecture in Henan province.)
Smithsonian researchers led by Frank Winter, former curator of rockets at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, dug deeper into these early "rockets" and discovered that the lances arose from a more modest device called the "ground rat" in the 12th century, described in a book called Rustic Tales in Eastern Ch’i (Ch’in yeh-yu).
The "ground rat" was a self-propelled device that was more like a firework, "made from a bamboo tube filled with gunpowder that shot about in all directions on the floor," Smithsonian Magazine wrote. "During a royal banquet in the 13th century, the wife of Emperor Li Chung was terrified when a ground rat scurried beneath her chair. The festivities abruptly ended and those responsible for the firework display were imprisoned."
Roger Bacon, a Franciscan English philosopher and monk who dabbled in experimental science, is the first person on record in what some call "Western science" to provide directions for making gunpowder, according to Britannica. In the 1200s, he speculated gunpowder might be useful in warfare, foreshadowing the mixture's future name and use in guns the following century.
Meanwhile in China, the possibilities of this new gunpowder and rocket technology sparked a legend surrounding a public official (called a mandarin) named Wan Hu, around 1500 AD.
"As he sat on a chair, the story goes, forty-seven coolies lit forty-seven black-powder rockets that were attached to it. Wan Hu traveled a short distance and then disappeared in an explosion and a cloud of smoke," William E. Burrows wrote in the first chapter of his Pulitzer Prize-nominated book "This New Ocean."
"If it really happened," Burrows mused in the book, "Wan Hu had the triple distinction of being the first person to ride a rocket, the first to fly on a self-propelled, heavier-than-air device, and the first rocket pilot to get killed during a test flight."
A 2004 episode of the television show "Mythbusters" investigated the rocket chair's possibilities on television.
Rockets in theory and practice
By the 16th century, early rocket technology was regularly used in military skirmishes in Asia and Europe as well as in fireworks displays.
While likely many people were musing on rocketry's potential during this era, we'll highlight just a couple. Austrian Conrad Haas created a "treatise" on rocketry technology, including crewed rockets, in the mid-16th century and the work laid undiscovered by historians until 1961, according to the European Union-funded site "Digital Treasures."
A century later, Kazimierz Siemienowicz, a Polish-Lithuanian general of the 17th century, published his book, The Complete Art of Artillery, which included designs for rockets and multistage rockets, NASA says.
"He published a design for multistage rockets that was to become fundamental rocket technology for rockets heading for outer space," the agency wrote in a brief guide to rocketry. "Siemienowicz also proposed batteries for military rocket launching, and delta-wing stabilizers to replace the guiding rods currently in use with military rockets."
Briefly, parallel developments in science and engineering helped contribute to rocketry's development. Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) first described the property of inertia, which means an object in motion remains in motion while an object at rest remains at rest (outside of something pushing upon it).
Galileo's work previewed the physics pioneered by English scientist Isaac Newton (1642-1727). Newton formulated theories of gravitation and motion that fundamentally redefined how we think about planetary motion and movement through space. Newton's third law of motion, which (simply put) says that every action induces an opposite reaction, underlies the principle of rocketry.
In the early 19th century, Sir William Congreve experimented with numerous rocket designs for military purposes, ultimately coming up with what we today term the "Congreve rocket." Britannica describes the up to 60-pound (27-kg) rocket as stick-guided, meaning that users had a bit of control over its path. Famously, the Americans and the British both used Congreve rockets during the war of 1812; Francis Scott Key's "The Star Spangled Banner" refers to "the rockets' red glare" at the Battle of Fort McHenry.
Meanwhile, French science fiction Jules Verne (1828-1905) envisioned a cannon bringing astronauts to the moon in 1865, just over a century before it actually happened for the first time during Apollo 8 in 1968. It doesn't quite describe rocketry in its modern form, but Verne's vision was influential for rocketry pioneers for generations after its publication.
'Fathers' of rocketry
In the modern era, spaceflight historians often acknowledge three “fathers of rocketry” who helped push the first rockets into space. Admittedly, the term singles out a person who may have been in charge of a large team, and also comes from an era when people were less sensitive about the use of gendered language.
Still, these individuals have a large footprint on the development of rocketry as we understand it today. Only one of the three survived long enough to see rockets being used for space exploration.
Russian Konstantin E. Tsiolkovsky (1857-1935) published what is now known as the “rocket equation” in 1903, which you can read more about in this European Space Agency description of the mathematics. Simply put, the equation concerns relationships between rocket speed and mass, as well as how fast the gas is leaving when it exits the propellant system's exhaust and how much propellant there is.
Robert Goddard (1882-1945) was an American physicist who sent the first liquid-fueled rocket aloft in Auburn, Massachusetts, on March 16, 1926. He had two U.S. patents for using a liquid-fueled rocket and also for a two- or three-stage rocket using solid fuel, according to NASA.
Hermann Oberth (1894-1989) was born in Romania and later moved to Germany; as a Nazi engineer his legacy is complicated given that he worked for an oppressive, racist empire during the Second World War. His studies on multistage rockets were first used for Nazi attacks on Britain using the A4 rocket, better known to us as the V2. The rocket, notes a German museum of Oberth, "utilized 95 of Oberth's inventions and suggestions." Oberth lived well into the space shuttle era, allowing him to see humans fly to space and use early reusable spaceships.
Rockets in early spaceflight
Following World War II, several German and Nazi rocket scientists emigrated to both the Soviet Union and the United States, assisting those countries in the Space Race of the 1960s. In that contest, both countries vied to demonstrate technological and military superiority, using space as the frontier.
The most famous of these engineers was Wernher Von Braun (1912-1977) who was also a Nazi with a complicated legacy. After emigrating to the United States, he became most famous for leading the design of the Saturn V rocket that took people to the moon, and popularizing space travel through Disney productions.
Describing even the early history of rockets and all their milestones is admittedly a book-length endeavor, as it also involves elements such as the so-called Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union that spurred tremendous and rapid developments in rocketry in just a couple of decades.
The history also includes military history in Germany, the Soviet Union and the United States that underlay the development of space technology, along with the ongoing privatization of rocket development in the United States and later, Europe. A short article unfortunately cannot cover all these developments.
To learn more, you can start with Space.com's history of every crewed spacecraft that ever was used. We also recommend the International Reference Guide to Space Launch Systems by Joseph Hopkins Jr., Joshua Hopkins and Steven Isakowitz.
Here is a quick timeline of the first few years of rocketry: A rocket was used for the first time to send something into space on the Sputnik rocket mission, which launched the Soviet satellite Sputnik 1 on Oct. 4, 1957. The United States used a modified Jupiter-C military rocket (called Juno-1) to heft its Explorer 1 satellite into space on Feb. 1, 1958, following an infamous disaster with another, largely untested rocket type.
It took several more years before either country felt confident enough to use rockets to send people into space; both countries started with animals (monkeys and dogs, for example). Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was the first human in space, leaving Earth on April 12, 1961, aboard a Vostok-K rocket for a multiorbit flight. About three weeks later, Alan Shepard made the first American suborbital flight on a Redstone rocket. A few missions later in NASA's Mercury program, the agency switched to Atlas rockets to achieve orbit, and in 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth.
When aiming for the moon, NASA used the Saturn V rocket, which, at 363 feet tall, included three stages — the last one designed to be powerful enough to break away from Earth's gravity. The rocket successfully launched six moon-landing missions between 1969 and 1972. The Soviet Union developed a moon rocket called N-1, but its program was permanently suspended after multiple delays and problems, including a deadly explosion.
NASA's space-shuttle program (1981 to 2011) used solid rockets for the first time to boost humans into space, which is notable, because unlike liquid rockets, they cannot be turned off. The shuttle itself had three liquid-fueled engines, with two solid rocket boosters strapped on the sides. In 1986, a solid rocket booster's O-ring failed and caused a catastrophic explosion, killing seven astronauts aboard the space shuttle Challenger. The solid rocket boosters were redesigned after the incident.
Rockets have since been used to send spacecraft farther into our solar system: past the moon, Venus and Mars in the early 1960s, which later expanded into the exploration of dozens of moons and planets. Rockets have carried spacecraft throughout the solar system so that astronomers now have imagery of every planet (as well as the dwarf planet Pluto), many moons, comets, asteroids and smaller objects. And, because of powerful and advanced rockets, the Voyager 1 spacecraft was able to leave our solar system and reach interstellar space.
Rockets of today and tomorrow
Several companies in many countries now manufacture uncrewed and crewed rockets — the United States, India, Europe, China and Russia, to name a few — and routinely send military and civilian payloads into space. Each of these countries has their own complex history of rocketry across many booster types, which often come with numerous variants for heavier loads or smaller loads, or different celestial destinations.
Meanwhile, crewed spaceflight continues to proliferate. The Russians have used variants of their Soyuz rocket for decades, bringing humans into space across several different versions. NASA now has two streams of rocket providers, one set commercial and one set agency-directed.
For International Space Station missions, the agency is using the SpaceX Crew Dragon system aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, modified from a booster variant used for satellites; the hope is to use In the near-future, NASA also plans to use a Northrop Grumman Starliner spacecraft, which would launch aboard either Northrop Grumman's Antares rocket or United Launch Alliance's Atlas V. Further afield, NASA is also developing a Space Launch System to launch astronauts to the moon and potentially (eventually) Mars, following at least one SLS test launch this decade.
Rocket technology continues to change rapidly in private industry, with milestones often accruing in a period of just months. We'll just point to a few trends. SpaceX and Blue Origin have pioneered the use of self-landing rockets. Numerous companies are launching clutches of satellites on a single rocket, as satellite technology continues to improve and miniaturize. Rockets are getting lighter and more adaptable through 3D printing, more efficient fuels and continued improvements in machine learning (artificial intelligence).
As of early 2022, space tourists and commercial astronauts now have choices of several rocket or spaceplane systems developed by Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic and SpaceX. Space tourism may be the trend to watch for the 2020s and 2030s, although for now it is largely confined to the super-rich.
The most high-profile future rocket system in development is Starship and its Super Heavy rocket, a SpaceX project that is expected to bring NASA astronauts to the moon in the short term and settlers to Mars in the much longer term. The system changes quite rapidly between iterations and as of early 2022, it has yet to achieve a spaceflight. But founder Elon Musk has been committed to the project for many years and regularly shares updates on Twitter in between launches.
"Roger Bacon: English Philosopher and Scientist." Theodore Crowley. Britannica. (2022, Jan. 1). https://www.britannica.com/biography/Roger-Bacon
"Brief History of Rockets." NASA. (2021, May 13.) https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/TRC/Rockets/history_of_rockets.html
"On the Making of Cannons and Missiles." Gabi Rudinger. Digital Treasures. (2021, Feb. 20). https://www.digitaltreasures.eu/on-the-making-of-cannons-and-missiles/
"The Invention of Gunpowder: A History." Kallie Szczepanski. ThoughtCo. (2019, July 3). https://www.thoughtco.com/invention-of-gunpowder-195160
"Dr. Robert H. Goddard, American Rocketry Pioneer." NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. (2017, Aug. 3). https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/about/history/dr_goddard.html
"Congreve Rocket." The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. Britannica. (2014, July 24). https://www.britannica.com/technology/Congreve-rocket/additional-info#history
"The History of Rocket Science." Jimmy Stamp. Smithsonian Magazine. (2013, February.) https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/the-history-of-rocket-science-4078981/
"A Man And An Equation." European Space Agency. (2012, Oct. 14). https://blogs.esa.int/rocketscience/2012/10/14/a-man-and-an-equation/
International Reference Guide to Space Launch Systems, Fourth Edition. Joseph Hopkins Jr., Joshua Hopkins and Steven Isakowitz. (2012, Aug. 27). https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/abs/10.2514/4.475917
"Hermann Oberth." Hermann Oberth Raumfahrt Museum. (n.d.) http://www.oberth-museum.org/index_e.html
"A Pictorial History of Rockets." NASA Marshall Spaceflight Center. (n.d.) https://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/pdf/530422main_Pictorial%20History%20of%20Rockets.pdf
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Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before joining full-time. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House and Office of the Vice-President of the United States, an exclusive conversation with aspiring space tourist (and NSYNC bassist) Lance Bass, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, "Why Am I Taller?", is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University and a Bachelor of History from Canada's Athabasca University. Elizabeth is also a post-secondary instructor in communications and science at several institutions since 2015; her experience includes developing and teaching an astronomy course at Canada's Algonquin College (with Indigenous content as well) to more than 1,000 students since 2020. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday. Mastodon: https://qoto.org/@howellspace


After descending from the Physicsmobile where the Raspberry Pi, quantum tunnelling and other scientific stuff had been discussed we headed to the lecture theatre. At the start of the talk we were told about the early part of Duane “Digger” Carey’s life which included being desperate to get out of school and then going around America on a motorbike.
However, it then went on to how he decided to become a fighter pilot, after talking to a pilot in a bar. To do this he had to go and get a degree to be allowed into fighter pilot training. Having just scraped in by getting the minimum requirement in the maths test, and being well behind his classmates in the first few years, he got a his degree and then in the year between that and being able to start pilot training he went for a masters, even though it normally takes two years, because ‘it felt like the right thing to do’.
He then went through the planes he flew from the A-10 to the F-16. From there he applied for test pilot training, because those were the people selected by NASA for the space program, which is what he had set his sights on. After three and a half years testing the F16 he joined NASA, the mission that he flew into space was to the Hubble telescope (STS-109) on the Space Shuttle Columbia. The very next mission was STS-107, the Columbia Disaster which resulted in the loss of all seven astronauts on board.
During their flight they set a record for the most consecutive days of space walks, at five days and a total of thirty-five hours of EVA. Their mission was to make improvements to the Hubble space telescopes with new instruments and solar arrays. On the mission where both the world’s tallest and the world’s shortest astronauts (on the official picture they stand next to each other). After the work on Hubble was complete, the crew had a day of rest in which Carey and Mission Specialist Mike Massimino made a short film showing the answers to all the important questions their kids might have, such as how and what they eat, how they sleep and of course how they go to the bathroom. However, up until recently it had been classified, since the design of the loo was top secret, even now parts had to be edited out. The film ended with a tribute to the families of the crew of flight STS-107.
The floor was then open for questions, which included a question on whether he thought that the moon landings were faked, and his argument basically said that if it had been faked the KGB would have known and let it out. We then left ascending back into the Physicsmobile for the return journey to school.
By Mat Pardoe


USA: Raytheon Secures SM-3 Interceptor Assembly & Delivery Order
Raytheon Company was awarded a $218,530,196 contract by the Missile Defense Agency to complete the assembly and delivery of 29 Standard Missile-3 Block IB missiles. Launched off U.S. Navy ships, SM-3 interceptors protect the U.S. and its allies by destroying incoming short, medium, and intermediate-range ballistic missile threats by colliding with them in space.
“The three back-to-back successful SM-3 Block IB flight tests have demonstrated the missile’s advanced capabilities and reliability against various threats in a variety of mission scenarios,” said Dr. Taylor Lawrence, Raytheon Missile Systems president. “Combatant commanders around the world are eager to build up their inventories in support of Phase 2 of the Phased Adaptive Approach starting in 2015.”
Final assembly will take place in Raytheon’s new, state-of-the-art Redstone Missile Integration Facility in Huntsville, Ala. Guidance sections and guidance units will be built at the Raytheon Missile Systems Space Factory in Tucson, Ariz.
“The Redstone Missile Integration Facility will prove critical as we ramp up our manufacturing capacity on the path to SM-3 Block IB full-rate production,” said Dr. Mitch Stevison, Raytheon Missile Systems’ SM-3 program director.
About the Standard Missile-3
- The SM-3 does not contain an explosive warhead, but instead destroys the threats using sheer impact, equivalent to a 10-ton truck traveling at 600 mph.
- More than 155 SM-3s have been delivered to U.S. and Japanese navies.
- Raytheon is on track to deploy the next-generation SM-3 Block IB guided missile in 2015.
- SM-3 Block IB will be deployed in both afloat and ashore weapons systems.
Press Release, August 12, 2013; Image: US Navy


This Simulation Shows How Elon Musk Will Cover Our Entire Earth With A Satellite Internet Grid
Elon Musk has a lot of big ideas, but not all of them are feasible. Take for instance how that single-person pod turned out, which he was trying to build to save the Thai boys trapped in the cave.
So, one scientist tried to see if a different Musk idea would work.
When Mark Handley, a professor of Networked Systems in the University College London's computer science department, heard about Starlink, he wondered whether the idea would work at all. Starlink is Musk’s effort to put enough microsatellites into low-Earth orbit to link them, making a grid that could reroute and speed up a significant portion of Internet traffic. He wants to have thousands of satellites in orbit by 2020, but would the system actually work?
And that’s what Handley set out to discover, by creating a detailed simulation of Starlink in a 3D game engine. "I've written network simulators before, but I don’t normally write them in a game engine,” he told Digital Trends. “However, in this case, being able to visualise the motion of the constellation was crucial to understanding what was going on. It’s just so much more intuitive when you can watch it. At the low level of detail of these simulations, the problem is essentially a 3D geometry problem, and a game engine is actually really well suited to exploring such problems."
One of the major problems for Starlink is how to arrange the satellites so they’ll remain in orbit without crashing into each other. Handley says there’s only one configuration that would minimise that risk, so he’s sure is simulation is fairly accurate.
The other thing he wanted to find out though was how Musk planned to mesh the satellites so Internet traffic along them would take the most direct path (and therefore be fastest) after first having to climb over 1,000 km upwards. He also wondered just how much network capacity a grid like this could hold as opposed to traditional systems like optical fiber networks.
So, is there a chance Musk will succeed with Starlink?
"Yes, I think the concept is feasible overall," Handley said. "It's difficult though, and SpaceX is pushing the limits of technology in several areas simultaneously. Their use of phased array wireless links to steer narrow beams to and from the satellites will be pushing the limits of what has been done. This is mostly known technology, but doing it to the degree they’re doing it will be challenging."
In addition, Handley says SpaceX’s use of free-space laser links between satellites is relatively unknown technology. Though the European Space Agency has demonstrated a proof of concept before, Musk’s company will have to do this with thousands of satellites simultaneously, while also maintaining high enough data rates.
"I have confidence it can be done, but it may take some time to really get right," Handley said.


KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — Normally, when NASA launches a space shuttle, there are either six or seven astronauts aboard. So why, on the 135th and final launching of the 30-year-old space shuttle program, will there be only four?
The answer, perhaps not surprisingly, has to do with the Atlantis’ being the last flight: With no spare shuttle available to go and rescue the astronauts in case something goes wrong, the Americans would have to turn to the Russians to retrieve their crew from the International Space Station. The Russian spacecraft — known as Soyuz capsules — hold only three astronauts, so two people would have to fly up and bring home the Americans one at a time.
“This is a very low likelihood case,” said Atlantis’ commander, Capt. Christopher Ferguson of the Navy, during a news conference last week. But the agency’s safety experts have “done an extraordinarily thorough job of making sure we have a good plan to get home,” he said.
The Atlantis is scheduled to leave from here at 11:26 a.m. Friday, making its 33rd flight. But the forecast Wednesday was for only a 30 percent chance of acceptable weather, so the launch could be delayed.
About 1 million spectators are expected to show up.
NASA’s other two orbiters, the Discovery and the Endeavour, have completed their flying careers and are being primped for display in museums.
After the explosion of the Columbia eight years ago, which killed the seven astronauts on board, the space agency carefully drew up plans for what to do if an orbiter reached space safely but could not return.
This time, if there were such a problem, it would be the smaller, three-seat Soyuz capsules that brought the astronauts home. Over the next year, the Soyuzes would launch with a crew of two instead of three, and a shuttle astronaut would take the empty seat on the return trip.