The Flying Blog

They are the beasts of war that have their origin in the 1980s and come as a modification of the fighter jets that reigned in the 70s. Perhaps you might have heard of the F-14s, F-15s or the F-16s common in the US military frontier. They are just a tip of the ice berg of the fourth generation variety. To be precise the models stretch as far as the modified F/A-18, F-CK-1, the Mirage 2000, J-10 and 11, HAL Tejas, JF-17, MiG-29 and the Su-27.

The 70s jet fighters were commended for their long-range missile launch abilities and could engage in fierce dogfight missile warfare given the chance. Maybe they owed their stealth performance to the relax static stability made possible by upgraded digital computers and system integration enhancements.

Enter the 80s and more advancement in computer technology saw this jets give way to the F-series of fighter jets. The avionic technology for this war jets is much different and better. They brace the AESA technology full with digital avionic buses and Infrared Search and Track systems that could smoke out enemy planes from any hide outs. Technology has gone further and has done some improvements on the Fourth generation jets. Aviation engineers brought the integrated avionics systems into the picture and made new weapon advancements as well. These special modifications saw the coming to life of the 4.5 generation jet planes.

Aircraft engineers just seem to come up with complex technology and aviation terms that boggle the mind. But if we have an overview look of the considerations they put in their technology, we might get an idea.

We can begin with the ‘fly by wire’ technology mentioned earlier that is a common feature of the 4^th generation jet planes. The technology was developed to assist in aircraft aerodynamics stability. Simply put, it helps a jet plane get back to its initial altitude and position when it encounters a disturbance that makes It go off its course. It is definitely the answer to the unstableness that was associated with the jets that exhibited negative static stability. Most pilots flying these jets frowned at the ease with which the jets toppled over during turbulence encounters. The planes with positive static stability gave a breath of relief but they only maintained their altitudes all through limiting the pilot’s maneuvering ability. The fly by wire technology was the savior that merged this two to form one powerful jet with altitude flexibilities.

Another mindboggling term is the AESA, the new radar technology that comes with immovable parts and can project a much longer radar beam. The technology made the 4^th generations invincible as far as quick communication between aircrafts and the control towers is concerned. The longer beam projection enables a pilot to throw signals to fellow war mates and even make a clear scan around its radar to detect enemies.

And the AESA technology had to come with another close technology known as the stealth technology. Stealth technology rendered the 4^th generation jets almost invisible to enemies and could not be easily discerned among the thick clouds during warfare. One can just imagine the plight of an enemy plane when a missile flies from the blues and finishes it off!

It started as a rumor that has now been verified and all doubts cleared, the 6^th generation fighter is about to be born. This move has been receiving doubts and disapproval among the military, especially when the technical shortfalls within the existing jet fleet is yet to be resolved. Not to forget that the idea of supersonic speed is yet to settle in the minds of many.

But aviation experts are not waiting for that, they have already launched the project of designing a supersonic engine for the jet. It has been rumored that the engine will be returnable during flight to give the fighter jet a supersonic cruise among the skies. As if that is not enough, the plane will have energy directed weapons and high powered microwave and laser abilities that will maim oncoming enemy missiles. The ammunition will definitely be of the ‘dial an effect’ kind with unparalleled destruction.

And the RADAR technology? Scientist claim that all microelectronic technologies of the jet planes will be combined into one huge integrated sensor to do away with the nose radar technology of the current jet fleet. You might be wondering what purpose this will serve? According to the experts this will be ideal for launching cyber attacks on enemies and also achieve kinetic effects in the process. Speaking of cyber attacks, it has been established that the plane will be fitted with special fibre optics that won’t fall prey of cyber attacks by enemy jet planes. Talk about the hunter never being hunted.

The visuals and command controls that will feature on this mighty jet are unheard of. According to the Northrop Grumman’s Advanced Programs and Technology Division, the pilot will have multiple visuals of the earth’s surface while aboard the plane. Moreover the plane will have the unique ability of generating its own information while airborne and even import information from other planes and fusing it together using off-board sensors.

The radar sensors will also have the ability of detecting areas that were once invisible to the pilot’s radar due to heat or surface curvatures. All this technology is supposed to give the pilot a comprehensive view of the battlefield. Shockingly, the jet will also have a talking system that will be advising the pilot on war strategies during combat. And did I mention that the pilot will also have the option of flying the plane both on board and off board?

All this stuff sounds like pure generated science fiction to many but it is the subject of talk behind the closed doors of the military. Several military officials claim this project to be a rather expensive and unnecessary one and should be written off. The current F-22 and F-35s are said to serve all the purpose required for combat. But scientist don’t seem to hold the same view, building this plane might be the answer to future air dominance.

But all we can do is wait and see what the future has in store, a jet plane with supersonic speed and out of this world specs is too good to be true.

Flying a model aircraft is the most exciting and amazing experience you would ever imagine. It is something you can do alone during your free time or with family and friends. This article gives you tips on how to be a successful beginner to fly the model plane and have the most fun out of it.

It begins with assembling of the model plane. All instructions in the assembly manual should be adhered to for a good finish. Every step for putting together the plane counts so don’t skip any. For the bigger model planes, it is sound advice to have simulation practices right before you start flying them. One can also join an aviation club to learn more about flying model planes. Prior knowledge before flying is always a crucial point.

A properly constructed model aircraft will have the standard weight required, the tricky part is on the balance. The balance must be as accurate as possible to avoid loss of control and unwanted crashes. The centre of gravity of the model is the determinant of the planes flying characteristics. It is approximately located at 1/3 of the wing chord from the edge of the wing. The exact location is often where the wing spar will be found. If the model plane balances its COG, flight balances will also be perfect.

Pre-flight inspections are the next crucial stage before flying your model plane. It is easy to miss a single detail that can make things hectic when your plane is in flight. Always run a check on the wings and tails to ensure they are properly fixed. See if the motor operation is in good shape and the control surfaces are flexible in movement. Check the inside of the plane for any loose parts and ensure the control batteries are not dead. The range check is the crème of it all in the routine inspection. It is your only way of knowing whether your plane can be flown at close range without losing signal with your control transmitter.

Thirdly, you can do a test glide check on the plane. It’s not that vital but it is good to know whether you model aircraft will have a safe landing in case it runs out of power while airborne.

The fourth face is the hand launch of you aircraft. Where the plane is to take off is to be put into consideration. If you are flying your plane on a long grassed area then a hand launch is quite ideal. However a flat concrete surface requires you launch the plane from the ground in case of a failed take off and the model plane crashes. Always have in mind that launching of the model aircraft is always against the wind currents.

Once the aircraft is air borne always keep an eye on it. Watching its movements and how it behaves in air.  The steering tactics should be smooth and gentle all the time. Never do a sharp turn lest your plane crashes.

With all this tips offered enjoy your flight lessons to your level best.

We all marvel at how smoothly a plane flies across the sky and wish we formed part of the cabin crew. Just the thought of being behind the airplane controls and steering the big machine through the thick clouds thrills us. For those with aviation dreams, we might wonder how to acquire that pilot license and what drill we have to go through to get it.

The first step is flight education. You have to be acquitted with everything that goes on both inside and outside the airplane. Flying an airplane looks easy, but the slightest aviation error on your part can end up in one gruesome crash. Flight lesson syllabus covers all knowledge you need as a pilot; Navigation and radio navigation, Meteorology, flight performance and planning, general principles of flight, Communications, Air Law details and Human performance and limitations as far as flying is concerned.

Once you go through this knowledge you will need to sit for a test. In the piloting world they are referred to as written tests. Basically they try to find out how much knowledge you can remember right from when you received your flight lesson orientation. If you test 75% on the exams, you are good to go. You advance to the next part, the runaway.

The encounter with the metal birds begins with an instructor briefing, an orientation of what goes on from take off to landing is given. The instructor gives a crucial talk on takeoff preparations, a highlight of the weather and place to fly the plane, safety tips during flying and how to fly the plane safely to the airstrip.

The student pilot is then taken through an in depth avionics lesson. The instructor stresses a lot on how to use the communication panel, how to communicate with other pilots when flying the plane and how to contact, take and follow instructions from the airplane control tower. This stage is one of the most crucial and takes up to half an hour to be fully comprehended.

Stage one and two having being mastered, the next step is the aircraft inspection. A good pilot needs to know the plane he or she is about to fly. Aircraft checkups are intensively done on a checklist. A pilot checks for oil and fuel levels, oil leaks, proper functioning avionic controls, aircraft tires, the engine propellers, any cuts or damages of any kind. All information given here is always accurate and honest to avoid complications when the plane is in the air.

Once the external checkup is done, the pilot goes inside with the checklist to run the final inspection. Once the routine is completed and all information given is valid, the pilot is now ready to fly. The pilot is allowed to start the engine and wait for permission to be granted from the Air Traffic Controls. When permission is granted, a final check up is done on the plane then it is allowed into the runaway.

When flight lessons end, the student pilot is required to give a report on the day’s proceedings on a log book.

Those who love aircraft collectibles find the most fun in assembling the models from scratch. It gives great satisfaction having a pretty looking model after hours of patiently fixing the tricky pieces together. But most of the assembling materials don’t come cheap and many are turned off by the expensive cost of pursuing their heartfelt hobbies. So how do we get to build our planes without burning our financial pockets?

We can start by finding out what material to use for assembling the model. While wood might appear cheap to use, it is quite brittle and won’t construct a lasting model plane. Balsa wood might come to mind when cheap is mentioned but it will be the last think you will think of if we put durability in the picture.

Plastic is the most ideal material to use. A new arrival in the market is fulteboard. It is corrugated in nature, quite strong and easy to bend and work with anytime. We need not mention about durability because the material scores high points in that category. That said every person with an aircraft construction hobby can smile to the pocket friendliness of fulteboard. Furthermore, fulteboard or corex has a 3mm thickness to it making it more durable and resistant to breakage. The corex option is just what you need if you want to fly your model plane without the worry of smashing it to pieces.

Once the material part is settled, you need to consider the design you will use on your plane. Experts recommend the pusher model as ideal to use. This is because it pushes the aircraft forward as opposed to pulling it. Having the propeller on the backside, as the pusher model has, is a merit too. In those events when your model plane plummets down for a crash, your propeller will be well protected. And the repair pains are solved, unlike having the propeller at the front where its prone to damage if the model hits the ground head on.

The third bit is choosing a good plan for assembling your model plane. Choose a plan that is not too complex to understand. Go for a well detailed plan as well. The internet has a wide range of plans that can be used for assembling your model but a good way is buying the model in stores. Plans bought in stores are originals and will have a lot of information that you can use. Nowadays we even have online courses on aircraft model assembling. Thus no one should think putting together a model aircraft is rocket science. It is just a click away from you.

Lastly, you can now enjoy build your model plane with no fuss or the help of anyone. With a good plan accompanied with a good design and the best material, it becomes easy. It is a do it yourself process that can be done at the comfort of your home. So nothing is stopping you from adding more exquisite model planes to your collectibles.

Private jets are quite costly and consume a lot, financially, in terms of maintenance and fuel. But the ray of hope is that aircraft companies are now reducing the prices and offer advice on how to maintain your jet in a cheaper way. That being cleared let’s see what you should consider before you sign that cheque book.

Before buying your executive jet, it is good to explore the hidden costs that might add up to your final price. Along with the price will come insurance costs, fuel, on board catering and of course, a pilot. You can save yourself the piloting cost by having flying lessons prior to buying a jet. The rest of the expenses can be taken care of by the aircraft company for a fee of 100 to 200 thousand dollars annually. Find the airline company with the best prices and good jets and settle for that.

The next thing to do is to carry out a cost benefit analysis before you settle for your ideal jet. A good way of cutting on cost is by fractional ownership with friends, business associates or companies. You can split the cost of maintaining the jet and the cabin crew with your counterparts. The only problem is that you won’t have full ownership of the jet. If you have the money then claim full ownership. If you have less and still want the convenience that comes with a private jet, then the fractional ownership idea won’t hurt you that much.

The other bit to consider is the flight range you best prefer which goes into determining what kind of plane to buy. Light jets carry a total of 5 to 8 passengers and can go a distance of 2000 miles. They also come cheap at a price of 3 to 8 million at most. For the midsized jets they carry an additional passenger and can go an extra 1000 mile compared to the light jets. They also go for 9 to 16 million at most. The last type are the large executive jets that can carry a maximum of 12 and can go 4000 miles in distance. With this specs you can choose the jet that best suits your needs. An additional tip is to go for the popular models in the aircraft market. Ideal jets are those from companies like Cessna, Gulfstream, Boeing and Learjet. They won’t disappoint you when it comes to good private jets.

Lastly, before you decide on buying it is good to shop online for the best prices. You can also ask around for more shopping ideas or call the aircraft companies of your choice and ask for the specs and prices they have on offer. You can also get a jet broker to help you in closing those deals. They will also come in handy in making sure you don’t get duped on the prices or the model you didn’t desire to buy. If you still have worries on how to maintain your jet and don’t want the daily jet issues, then hire a management company to save you the pain.

With the technological advancement we have today, lessons on flying have been made cheap and accessible. For anyone with the dream and desire of making it big as a pilot several ways can be used to achieve this. Aviation training software is ideal for anyone with a computer, additionally online flight courses are an advantage too. Some may also have the option of buying training programs in stores and aviation companies.

But some will prefer to do it the old fashioned way, which is enrolling in aviation training schools to achieve their flying ambitions. For those with this option, great dedication to attend classes and all programs will often be required. So the aspiring pilot should make sure they get the choice school that will give them an aviation experience that won’t leave eyebrows raised.

The first step to this assurance is doing a research on the aviations schools around. Aviation magazines will be a good place to start the hunting. These magazines often feature top aviation schools and will even give a list of more options to pick from. Asking around is not a bad idea too. Find the right people who have been trained this way for advice, they will be helpful in recommending the ideal colleges to receive your training from. They can even tip you off on the dubious training colleges to avoid.

Once you locate the ideal institution, get an in depth knowledge of the school itself. Find out if the instructors there are qualified and are current with the changing knowledge in the aviation world.  Check out their training courses; if their training plans are well defined and the dates and place where the flight lessons are conducted are clearly outlined .

Next thing is to see whether the school has enough training facility to cater for all students. All facilities should be in good shape and there should be enough for everyone. A good training college should also have flight simulation programs for their students. Simulations are ideal to initiate the best learning process and give a feeling of what it will be like being in the air. Any training institution lacking them is questionable.

Far from simulations, the training school chosen should also be having enough aircrafts to train with. And they should not only be aircrafts but good ones at that with everything working in perfect condition.

A common term used in training colleges is FAA certification. It is the efficiency standards used to evaluate all aviation schools of their performance. Settle for the school with this kind of certification. The services provided are of the highest level and actually take a short time to train new pilots in the field. Some aviation colleges even call in retired aircraft pilots to interact with the students. They give you a one on one on the realities of flying; if you get a school offering this advantage let it be on the top position of your choice list.

Lastly, always do a research on the school’s history and evaluate its performances in the past and the improvements it has undergone since then. It gives you an idea of what to expect from the school.

Owning a private jet is obviously not on the to-do list of many people. It is understandable if you only think of a station wagon, a saloon or a sedan when it comes to private transport. Buying a Boeing is just out of the picture, it is a world only the trillionaires are allowed entry.

But owning a jet is one amazing experience you can ever have. Just think of how much time you can save if you had your own jet at your convenience. Let’s stop and think about it for a second; who likes the flight delays or the arbitrary flight cancelations that frequently occur in the airports? What of the early waking up and hasty packing just to make it to the airport on time and not miss your flight? Need I mention the long airport queues? No one would want that, so getting a private jet might not be a bad idea. If you can wake up when you want and have your plane wait until you are done packing, then get one!

Having your own private jet is a great comfort; a great comfort in that you do away with the cramped seats or jammed seatbelts of public aircrafts. The long queues to the loo can also be avoided if you want; and the ease of Googling in your own privacy away from the roving eyes of other passengers is ensured.

Additionally, just think of how you can carry as much luggage as you want without the worry of extra charges on heavy loads. Airports limit what you can carry by charging heavily on extra weight. It is thus more preferable if you had your own jet that enables you to travel with all the stuff you want.

A private jet has numerous benefits if you bought one. You can fly to any location of your choice anytime without sweating a muscle; a good way of getting to that meeting in the next state on time. With a private jet you are free to make as many stops as you want wherever you want. You can travel as fast as you want and reach any destination at your convenient time. Owning a private jet gives you the liberty of customizing the interior and exterior however you want. Just look at some of the private jets that are sleek and customized with the owner’s initials or full names done in a decorative manner. And the lovely interior that best speaks the owner’s good taste in décor. A private plane gives you the all the prestige you want and elevates your status among you associates.

It is agreeable that private jets don’t come cheap both in cost and maintenance. Fuel for the jet is also costly and the number of times you travel and the destinations you frequent will cost you in gas. So make a plan; strategize on what plane you are going to buy and check the market prices. Surprisingly enough, many aircraft companies are working hard to cut on the prices, operation and maintenance of private jets. The technology advancement in aviation has also helped in bringing the prices down. A beam of hope for anyone who had doubts.

Flying a normal fixed-wing airplane doesn’t sweat a brow once you acquire the appropriate training for the job. But a helicopter is a bit too technical and needs some extra skill on it. Furthermore, helicopter lessons are more expensive than airplane lessons thus a lot of commitment and dedication is required on the part of the learner. If you really don’t want your good money to go down the drain just like that.

Anyone with the whim or dream of flying a chopper must understand if it is the right decision to make. Like said, it doesn’t come cheap so one must know if helicopter lessons are just for basic knowledge or for a lifetime career. It is best advised to go for an introductory lesson which is cheaper if your helicopter lessons are just for the basics. If it’s a career consideration, then choose the best school to train in. The best recommended are the FAA certified schools that provide highly level training at the shortest time possible.

That clarified, we take a look at what it entails. Helicopter lessons have a similar beginning like the fixed wing plane training; a written test must be passed followed with an oral and flight test. The start off age for flying a chopper is 17 years and a previous flying knowledge of choppers gives you a good head start for the lessons. Helicopter lessons are quite longer considering the number of controls on a aircrafts. Additionally, there are different fields of helicopter training; commercial, private and the ATPs. Training differs in cost and intensity so again know what you want before you take up your helicopter flying dream.

Once you get to the helicopter pad, the training is quite different too compared to the fixed airplanes. Huge expertise is required maneuvering the controls in synchrony to balance the blades and rotor outside.  The instructor will lay emphasis on the pedals, the collective and throttle levers and the cyclic control stick. They all are differently located, serve different purposes but all must work in harmony if you are to qualify as a good helicopter pilot.

Practice on how to hover the chopper until you are comfortable balancing it and your confidence with the controls is established. Then learn how to fly the helicopter at different altitudes. It is advisable to first start with low altitudes when you are beginning and slowly increase the height as you become more professional.

Landing the chopper needs skill as well. It is true that It can land on any surface but great balance is highly required on the beginning pilot. Again it is a gradual process, carefully playing with the control to decrease the altitude and at the same time bring the machine to a balanced landing. When the plane lands safely your first step to being a good helicopter pilot is established.

Flying an helicopter may seem more involving and needs a lot of patience to get everything correct. But coming to think of it people’s lives will depend on it in future so it is worth the wait.

A model airplane is a flying or non-flying imitation of real or make-believe aircrafts. They are normally a minimized dimension of the real aircraft and can be made from balsa wood, foam, fibre glass or polystyrene material. Their designs vary from the straightforward glider aircrafts to the accurately built scaled models. They can be either static non-flying models or flying models according to modifications.

The static model aircrafts are commonly used in the commercial arena. They are generally made from injection molded polystyrene, silicon rubber, metal or normal rubber. Successful airline companies often order models of their own aircrafts as a product promotion strategy. They get circulated to travel agencies to market the airline company and win some potential clients. Aircraft manufacturing companies also use them to run aeronautical experiments before building the actual model of the gimmick. Aircraft lovers will also buy them repaint and add to their collectibles. Some static aircrafts come as signature models. Normally they are imitations of the makes that were once used by distinguished pilots and are autographed by the pilot themselves. Kids also find the statics fun to play with, especially the helicopter models or jets that have war designs on them.

The flying model on the other hand is placed in three groups; the free flight, control line and the radio controlled models. The free flights can fly without any external control from the user. They were a common talk in the days of the Wright brothers, right before the modified control lines came to be. The control lines have a cable fixed on them that is used to steer them. The last bit the radio controlled have transmitters on them that are operated from the ground using a remote control with a receiver on it.

The flying models borrow their design from normal aircrafts as well just like the static planes. The difference is the construction method. The flying models are made from metal with a wooden frame inside; balsa preferably. The frame gets covered in fabric which is then doped to form a light and airtight frame. For a lighter model, a thin tissue paper is used in place of the fabric.

Once the flying models are constructed they can be propelled in a number of ways. One is through rubber and gas propulsion. A long rubber band is wound up just before the model is flown. This technique is cheaper to use and is commonly used in kids toys, however it does not have a longer flight span compared to gas propulsion. Propulsion by bas is normally done through compressing the gas and then releasing it to power the plane.

An internal combustion engine can also be used to fly the model plane. Though it has a longer flight span, the engine is quit noisy and require constant maintenance to keep it in good shape. Larger models use glow engines powered by methanol or nitro-methane and castor oil lubrication.

Maybe a good way to curb the noisy engines is by powering the models with electricity whose source is a power battery. The first one of this kind was used in the 1970 but the only demerit was that it was costly to maintain.