Tag: Aircraft

A tongue-in-cheek look at an Air Force veteran

  Here’s what its creator terms “A Hastily Created Documentary on the A-10 Warthog“.  I had to laugh.  It’s only about 3 minutes long, but it’s fun. A few grunts of my acquaintance, who relied on the Warthog to pull their butts out of trouble in the sandbox over several tours, also laughed as they… Continue reading A tongue-in-cheek look at an Air Force veteran

Technology changes the game – air warfare edition

  Strategy Page notes that (relatively) cheap virtual reality (VR) technology is revolutionizing how combat pilots are trained and made combat-ready. New technology has made flight simulators a lot more effective and cheaper. Until a decade ago, a realistic combat flight simulator cost about as much as the aircraft it was simulating. While that did… Continue reading Technology changes the game – air warfare edition

Saturday Snippet: The early days of air mail

  Dean C. Smith was an American aviation pioneer, one of those responsible for setting the standards for the nascent U.S. Postal Service’s air mail service.  He also flew in Antarctica with the Byrd Antarctic Expedition of 1928–1930.  Later, he served as an executive with a number of American aircraft companies during and after World… Continue reading Saturday Snippet: The early days of air mail

A terrorist drone attack inside the USA

  I’ve been warning about the threat of terrorist-operated drones (unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAV’s) for almost a decade.  Some have shared my concern;  others have been scornful, dismissive or downright rude about it.  Nevertheless, as technology marches on, drones have become the weapon of choice for criminals in various fields, and unidentified drones have… Continue reading A terrorist drone attack inside the USA

When cellphone technology collides head-on with aircraft safety

  Ever since 5G wireless technology was developed, aircraft and aviation instrument manufacturers have warned that its frequencies are dangerously close to those previously reserved for aviation technology.  With the pending opening of the frequency spectrum to allow more space for 5G cellphones and other hardware, this is becoming a very real risk.  Flight Global… Continue reading When cellphone technology collides head-on with aircraft safety

Is Southwest Airlines a harbinger of future resistance?

  We’ve discussed the weekend meltdown in Southwest Airlines’ flights, but there isn’t much “official” comment apart from attempts to deny the obvious.  Two industry observers have now weighed in with “informed” commentary.  The first was published in And magazine. The White House has pressed the airlines to adopt vaccine mandates using the leverage of… Continue reading Is Southwest Airlines a harbinger of future resistance?

I suspect a former fighter pilot was flying that bird!

Courtesy of The Drive, we find this video of a McDonnell Douglas MD-80 freighter aircraft taking off from Lynden Pindling International Airport at Nassau, capital of the Bahamas.  I think the pilot must have been a former fighter jockey who missed the fun and games of his younger days! If there had been any passengers… Continue reading I suspect a former fighter pilot was flying that bird!

Not a successful VIP transport

  The Mexican Navy and its Marines operate a number of Russian-built Mil Mi-17 helicopters to support its anti-narcotics missions.  One of them was tasked last week to survey hurricane damage in the state of Veracruz.  Its passengers included the Veracruz Minister of the Interior. However, its takeoff from the town of Agua Blanca was… Continue reading Not a successful VIP transport

An “accidental” mid-air collision – or something potentially more dangerous?

  I’ve been warning for some time (as far back as 2014) that terrorists might seek to use small unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, to collide with aircraft and cause a crash.  Although several such collisions have been reported, so far there’s been no evidence of terrorist involvement – but then, there hasn’t been any… Continue reading An “accidental” mid-air collision – or something potentially more dangerous?