For the past several years, NASCAR race cars have had their windshields covered with thin laminate films that can be removed easily during a race for increased visibility. The same technology will soon be applied to U.S. Army Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters flying in Iraq and Afghanistan. “”A lot of technology comes from the armed […]
Discovery Wings deployed, becomes the Military Channel
Discovery Wings Channel, a favorite among aviation enthusiasts since its debut in July 1998, has signed up for active duty. The cable channel becomes the Military Channel Jan. 10. The revamped channel will feature “”a dramatically broadened programming mission,”” according to channel executives. New programming is designed to take viewers “”behind the lines”” to tell […]
Want to own a piece of the Concorde?
Just a year ago, a Hungarian businessman paid £320,000 for a Concorde nosecone at a Bonhams Auction. Now the only remaining “”spare”” flown nosecone is up for sale on eBay with a reserve of just £24,500 pounds — less than 10% of last year’s winning price. The eBay nosecone is believed to be the last […]
A toy shop for all ages
Carl and Joy Proetschel didn’t have much luck when they tried to find gifts for a young son whose third word was “airplane.” “We found things here and there, but it took a lot of looking and there just wasn’t one good source,” Joy said. “After a lot of frustration, Carl said, ‘Why don’t we […]
‘My First Log Book’ – a gift for all ages
My First Log Book, with “…and Activity Book” as a too-easily-overlooked subtitle, is one of those great ideas for children who fly, whether via general aviation or the airlines. Not only does it encourage children to write about their travels and the things they observe along the way, but it includes activities such as mazes […]
Fowl play
Forget breaking eggs to make an omelet. When you’re trying to break the sound barrier, you can — accidentally — wipe out an entire flock of chickens. That’s what happened May 18, 1953, when Jacqueline Cochran, flying an F-86 Sabrejet out of Edwards Air Force Base, became the first woman to break the sound barrier. […]
Are this season’s shows really that bad?
A Covallis, Ore., man got more than he bargained for when his parents gave him a flat-screen Toshiba television. He knew the set came with a built-in VCR, DVD and CD player, but what he didn’t know was that the TV was sending out a signal identical to that of an Emergency Locator Transmitter. The […]
To infinity and beyond
How do Americans feel about space travel? A new study on space exploration found that 69% support the space program, according to Dittmar Associates, which interviewed 1,000 people across the country. Some highlights of the study: – About 65% approve of returning to the moon, but just 18% support sending humans to Mars. – International […]
Eclipse flies United
Eclipse Aviation has formed a strategic relationship with United Airlines to provide training. The idea is to provide “a level of professional training normally available only to airline pilots,” according to Eclipse CEO Vern Raburn. Originally, Eclipse had intended to develop its own training program, but concluded that United could “translate airline style training into […]