Fly Inn Keiheuvel July 31st 2010 (Balen, Belgium) photo report
August 8, 2010 by Marcel van Leeuwen · Leave a Comment
I’m visiting the small grass strip airfield ‘Keiheuvel’ (Balen, Belgium) on invitation of Robby Cijntje one of our air-show friends. It is the first Fly inn after the fatal accident in 2006 at the last Fly inn.
Verhees Delta taking off from Keiheuvel, Photo: M. van Leeuwen
Today we planned to shoot as many pictures of the visiting aircraft as we can, ánd make prints to give away in the ‘goodybag’ on departure. It turns out that Robby spent most of the day behind the computer making the prints and myself taking the pictures needed. Every now and then Robby took the car, drove to the landing strip to pick up the memory cards, and return to the clubhouse for more printing…
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Click the photo to view the report:
Remainder of 2010 Canadian CF-18 Demo Team shows cancelled
August 2, 2010 by Rob Vogelaar · Leave a Comment
Winnipeg, Man. – The remainder of the 2010 air show season for the Canadian Forces CF-18 Demonstration Team, which comprises eight air show venues across North America, has been cancelled today.
Insufficient time to nominate and fully prepare a substitute pilot has made the continuation of the 2010 show season untenable. Air shows at which the Demo Team was scheduled to perform are:
- Wetaskiwin Air Show: Wetaskiwin, Alta., August 6-7
- Abbotsford International Airshow: Abbotsford, B.C., August 13-15
- Windsor International Air Show: Windsor, Ont., August 21-22
- Val d’Or Air Show: Val d’Or, Que., August 28-29
- Canadian International Air Show: Toronto, Ont., September 4-6
- Nova Scotia International Air Show: Shearwater, N.S., September 11-12
- California International Airshow: Salinas, CA, October 2-3
- San Francisco Fleet Week: San Francisco, CA, October 9-10
The 2010 Demo Hornet jet crashed and was destroyed on July 23 during a practice session for the Alberta International Airshow in Lethbridge, Alta. Captain Brian Bews, the demo pilot from 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron based at 3 Wing Bagotville, Que., successfully ejected from the aircraft and is currently recovering from the back injury he sustained during the ejection sequence. He is expected to make a full recovery, but is not expected to fly for several months.
“It is unfortunate we will not be able to finish the season,” said Brigadier-General Richard Foster, Acting Commander 1 Canadian Air Division, “but we simply cannot and will not rush the preparation of another demo pilot. The well-being of our pilots and their safety will always be the deciding factors in such decisions.”
The exact cause of the crash is unknown at this time. A Flight Safety investigation is currently underway.
Source and photo: Canadian Armed Forces
Photo report published of Dutch Air Force open days at ‘Gilze Rijen’ AFB
July 8, 2010 by Marcel van Leeuwen · Leave a Comment
The yearly open days of the Dutch Air Force took place on 17, 18 and 19 June this year.
Due to our schedule we attended the air show on Friday the 18Th of June, not such a lucky choice, the Thursday before, and the Saturday after the weather was much better for photographing but we managed to shoot some nice pics this year.
Click the photo to go to the Photo report at zap16.com.
ILA Berlin 2010 Photo report published on zap16.com
June 21, 2010 by Marcel van Leeuwen · Leave a Comment
We visited the ILA Friday June 11th and Saturday June 12th.
Friday was a hot day with a lot of dust storms in the afternoon due to strong winds and the big building site of the new airport being built behind the show grounds.
Saturday started out with sun a good conditions turning into rain and wind in the beginning of the afternoon, we made a report of some 70 photo’s of these two days.
All photo’s are owned by the Z.A.P.P. group.
Fighting the Red Baron
June 3, 2010 by Rob Vogelaar · Leave a Comment
Friday 4th June, 9pm on Channel 4
By the end of the war in 1918, a new and terrifying form of warfare had been devised, the skies had been turned into battlefields and the cost to aviation pioneers had been enormous.
In this film the Red Arrow pilots fly original WWI aircraft, and carry out the key challenges the plane took on in the course of WWI: photo reconnaissance, artillery ranging and bombing missions; all leading to a final classic dogfight in replica period aircraft kitted out with camera guns.
The pilots’ flying skills are tested to the limit for an exhilarating and surprising experience. They find that all aspects of modern aerial warfare, from surveillance to artillery ranging, were already being refined by their pioneering counterparts almost 100 years ago.
Their journey charts the historical ‘big-bang’ moments of the race for aerial supremacy and reveals how, in just four years of war, aircraft were transformed from flimsy flying machines to the warplanes recognisable today.
Source: Channel 4
Photo: Rob Vogelaar, ZAPP Group
Canadian Forces Demo Hornet Launches Its 2010 Show Season
May 28, 2010 by Rob Vogelaar · Leave a Comment
BAGOTVILLE, QC – The Canadian Forces CF-18 national demonstration jet will be dazzling audiences across North America as it launches its 2010 air show season starting this weekend at the Jones Beach Air Show in New York.
Captain Brian Bews of 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron based at 3 Wing, Bagotville, Quebec, is this year’s Demonstration Pilot. “I am incredibly excited to be chosen as this year’s demo pilot,” he said. “It’s a pretty small group that gets to fly Hornets and a significantly smaller group that is chosen to be demo pilots. It’s a huge honour to represent Canada for 2010.”
In tribute to the Canadian Navy, the Air Force will adopt the Canadian Navy Centennial (CNC) as it’s theme for the 2010 air show season. “We are looking forward to celebrating the Navy’s Centennial,” said Major-General Yvan Blondin, Commander of 1 Canadian Air Division in Winnipeg. “It is a proud moment for every Canadian.”
The demonstration jet’s tails have been specially painted to mark this important milestone. Featuring classic Canadian Air Force and Navy motifs and a striking paint design, the CNC theme is featured on both tails, rendered in freehand airbrush and paint gun murals in subdued blues. The tri-colour Royal Canadian Navy Roundel from the 1950s is featured on the fuselage.
“Knowing the type of outreach achieved by this Demo Team, we couldn’t ask for a better partner,” said Rear-Admiral Tyrone Pile, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific.
Jones Beach NY
Saturday, May 29, 2010 – Sunday, May 30, 2010
CFB Borden ON
Saturday, June 5, 2010 – Sunday, June 6, 2010
Quebec City
Saturday, June 12, 2010 – Sunday, June 13, 2010
St Georges QC
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Charlo NB
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Summer leave
Monday, July 5, 2010 – Sunday, July 18, 2010
Dawson Creek BC
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Lethbridge AB
Saturday, July 24, 2010 – Sunday, July 25, 2010
Wetaskiwin AB
Saturday, August 7, 2010 – Sunday, August 8, 2010
Abbotsford BC
Friday, August 13, 2010 – Sunday, August 15, 2010
Windsor ON
Saturday, August 21, 2010 – Sunday, August 22, 2010
Val d’Or QC
Saturday, August 28, 2010 – Sunday, August 29, 2010
Toronto ON
Saturday, September 4, 2010 – Monday, September 6, 2010
Shearwater NS
Saturday, September 11, 2010 – Sunday, September 12, 2010
Salinas CA
Saturday, October 2, 2010 – Sunday, October 3, 2010
San Francisco
Saturday, October 9, 2010 – Sunday, October 10, 2010
Source and photo: Canadian Armed Forces
Boeing X-51A WaveRider Breaks Record in 1st Flight
May 27, 2010 by Marcel van Leeuwen · 2 Comments
May 26, 2010 — In its first flight attempt, the Boeing [NYSE: BA] X-51A WaveRider today successfully completed the longest supersonic combustion ramjet-powered flight in history — nearly three and a half minutes at a top speed of Mach 5.
The unmanned aerial vehicle was released from a U.S. Air Force B-52H bomber off the southern California coast around 10 a.m. today. It flew autonomously for more than 200 seconds, powered by its Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne supersonic combustion ramjet (scramjet) motor, as it transmitted telemetry data to ground stations. Something then occurred that caused the vehicle to lose acceleration. At that point, the X-51A was terminated as planned.
“The technology proven today is something The Boeing Company has worked on for the past seven years,” said Alex Lopez, vice president of Advanced Network & Space Systems, a division of Boeing Phantom Works. “It is thrilling to be a part of history and advance hypersonic science to the next level. Boeing is looking forward to transitioning the technology to operation in the near term, but for now, we are exhilarated.”
Even before analyzing the terabytes of telemetry data transmitted by the X-51A during flight, Air Force officials called the test an unqualified success.
“We are ecstatic to have accomplished many of the X-51A test points during its first hypersonic mission,” said Charlie Brink, X-51A program manager with the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. “This gives us huge confidence. We built four test vehicles to get a successful flight, and we hit many of our goals right out of the gate, the first time around.”
The X-51A was carried aloft under the left wing of an Air Force Flight Test Center B-52H Stratofortress that took off from Edwards Air Force Base. It was released while flying at approximately 50,000 feet over the Point Mugu Naval Air Warfare Center Sea Range. Four seconds later, a solid rocket booster from a U.S. Army tactical missile accelerated the X-51A to about Mach 4.5 before it and a connecting interstage were jettisoned. The X-51A’s engine ignited on a mix of ethylene and JP-7 jet fuel. After a short period, the X-51A ran exclusively on JP-7 jet fuel. The flight reached an altitude of about 70,000 feet and an approximate speed of Mach 5.
Onboard sensors transmitted data to both an airborne U.S. Navy P-3 Orion and to ground systems at Point Mugu, Edwards, and Vandenberg Air Force Base before the X-51A was terminated. The team will review the data from today’s test before scheduling additional flights with the three remaining test vehicles.
“This is a new world record and sets the foundation for several hypersonic applications, including access to space, reconnaissance, strike, global reach and commercial transportation,” said Joe Vogel, Boeing director of Hypersonics and X-51A program manager.
Boeing Phantom Works, a division of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, performed the overall air vehicle design, assembly and testing for the X-51A’s various components. The X-51A program is a collaborative effort of the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, with industry partners Boeing and Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne.
The vehicle’s fuel-cooled engine design serves both to heat the JP-7 to an optimum combustion temperature and to help the engine itself endure extremely high operating temperatures during the long burn.
Program officials noted that while development of the vehicle’s engine and the test program are complex, controlling costs has been a key objective. The team has adapted existing proven technologies and elected not to build recovery systems into the flight test vehicles.
Source and pictures: Boeing
2010 Royal Air Force Solo Hawk Display
May 17, 2010 by Rob Vogelaar · 1 Comment
The 2010 Royal Air Force solo Hawk Display is flown by Flt Lt Tom Saunders, a Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) from No. 208 (R) Squadron, 4FTS RAF Valley.
The Hawk Display exists to promote the Royal Air Force at home and overseas. In 2010, Flt Lt Saunders is scheduled to attend over 45 air shows in front of an estimated 5 million spectators.
The special paint scheme which has been applied to the two display aircraft celebrates 50 years since the formation of Number 4 Flying Training School at RAF Valley. Since 1960, RAF Valley has been home to the sole advanced flying training school for fast jet pilots from which students move on to their front line Operational Conversion Units.
The 2010 RAF Hawk Display display dates are now available! The online calendar will also be kept up to date with planned transits and more detailed timings where available.
Source: RAF
Photography: Corporal Paul Oldfield/RAF/MOD Crown Copyright 2010.
Royal Air Force Museum Launches National Photography Competition
May 14, 2010 by Rob Vogelaar · 2 Comments
Today the Royal Air Force Museum launches a national photography competition as part of its calendar of activities to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Accordingly, it is inviting members of the public to submit photographs taken at various Battle of Britain events that will be taking place around the country this summer.
Paul Hudson, Head of Marketing, at the Royal Air Force Museum states:
‘During the course of summer 2010 organizations who are part of the Royal Air Force Family, will be holding a series of events, ranging from air shows to historic weekends, in order to commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of those members of the Royal Air Force who fought so hard to protect our freedom during the summer of 1940.
The Museum would like members of the public who are attending such events to help us document this summer’s commemorative activities by submitting their photographs via the Museum website so that we may create an electronic archive of this year’s events for future generations.’
To participate in this competition, all that people have to do is to attend one of the 70th anniversary events listed on the Royal Air Force’s website, and then send their best images online to the Museum. The competition is open to all UK residents and has two categories; one for best image taken by a child and one for best image taken by an adult. Prizes will be awarded for each winning photograph with each image being displayed at the Museum as part of the Museum’s annual RAF Photographic Competition Exhibition in January 2011.
| EVENT | DATE | LINK |
|---|---|---|
| Battle of Britain Memorial Flight & RAF Today Airshow at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford | 15/16 May | Imperial War Museum Duxford |
| RAF Cosford Airshow at RAF Cosford, West Midlands | 13 Jun | RAF Cosford Air Show |
| Biggin Hill International Air Fair at Biggin Hill | 26/27 Jun | Biggin Hill International Air Fair |
| RAFA Battle of Britain Parade at Cardiff | 30 Jun | Royal Air Force Association |
| Battle of Britain ‘Explore History’ Event at Imperial War Museum, London | 1 Jul | Imperial War Museum London |
| RAF Waddington Airshow at RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire | 3/4 Jul | RAF Waddington Airshow |
| Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire | 17/18 Jul | Royal International Air Tatoo |
| Re-enactment of Churchill’s ‘The Few Speech’ with Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Flypast at Cabinet War Rooms, London | 20 Aug | Churchill War Rooms |
| RAFA Classical Music Concert at Chartwell House | 4 Sep | Royal Air Force Association |
| IWM Duxford ‘Battle of Britain’ Air Show at Imperial War Museum, Duxford | 4/5 Sep | Imperial War Museum Duxford |
| RAF Leuchars Airshow at RAF Leuchars, Fife | 11 Sep | RAF Leuchars Airshow |
| RAF Bentley Priory Heritage Open Days at RAF Bentley Priory, Middlesex | 9/12 Sep | The Bentley Priory Battle of Britain Trust |
| Unveiling of Sir Keith Park Memorial at Waterloo Place, London | 15 Sep | The Sir Keith Park Memorial Campaign |
| Battle of Britain Sunday Parade and Flypast – open to the public (In association with Battle of Britain Service in Westminster Abbey – ticketed event) at Westminster | 19 Sep | |
| ‘The Royal Air Force in Concert’ – Dates/Box Office.
The Sage, Gateshead – 0191 443 4661 International Centre, Harrogate – 0845 130 8840 Symphony Hall, Birmingham – 0121 780 3333 Bridgewater Hall, Manchester – 0121 780 3333 Theatre Royal, Norwich – 01603 630 000 Colston Hall, Bristol – 0117 922 3686 Barbican, London – 0207 638 8891 The Anvil, Basingstoke – 01256 844244 Cliffs Pavilion, Southend – 01702 351135 Ipswich Regent, Ipswich – 01473 433 100 Royal Theatre, Nottingham – 0115 989 5555 Lighthouse, Poole – 0844 406 8666 Congress Theatre, Eastbourne – 01323 412000 |
23 Oct 24 Oct 28 Oct 31 Oct 7 Nov 21 Nov 24 Nov 25 Nov 26 Nov 27 Nov 2 Dec 4 Dec 5 Dec |
RAF Music Services – Concert Diary |
Source: RAF
Picture: Rob Vogelaar, ZAP16 Group
Battle of Britain Tribute at International Air Tattoo
May 6, 2010 by Rob Vogelaar · 1 Comment
RAF and Air Tattoo team up for flagship Battle of Britain tribute
Dogfights, a stirring international flypast and a moving ‘missing man’ formation of aircraft are among a string of memorable set pieces being planned by organisers of the Royal International Air Tattoo and the Royal Air Force, to mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain in July.
A wide range of historic aircraft, including Hurricanes, Spitfires and Messerschmitts, will join many of their modern-day equivalents for a unique aerial commemoration at RAF Fairford on July 17-18.
A dramatic flypast of modern aircraft representing many of the nations that took part in the historic conflict will form the centrepiece of tributes in the air whilst on the ground, a Battle of Britain airfield will be recreated, bringing to life the atmosphere during Britain’s ‘finest hour’. Visitors to the Battle of Britain Village will be invited to step back in time as re-enactors recreate the sights and sounds of England in 1940, complete with a static display of historic aircraft, military vehicles and period entertainment.
A team from the Royal Air Force has been working alongside Air Tattoo organisers to stage the RAF’s flagship commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain this summer.
Military chiefs from many of the countries that took part in the Battle of Britain will be attending, including France, Germany and Italy, along with veterans including Wing Commander Bob Foster, Chairman of the Battle of Britain Fighter Association.
Air Tattoo Chief executive Tim Prince said it was important that the ‘international’ aspect of the Battle of Britain was not overlooked.
“Many people believe the Battle of Britain was fought simply between people from two nations – England and Germany – but pilots and aircrew from 17 nations took part in total. We believe the bravery and sacrifice of all those who took part should be recognised.”
The Air Tattoo, which is held in support of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, is Europe’s largest airshow and attracts around 300 aircraft from across the globe. This summer’s event will feature a range of exciting aircraft including the Red Arrows, a US Air Force F-22 Raptor and an RAF Harrier. In addition to the seven-and-a-half hour flying display, visitors can enjoy a large static aircraft park plus a wide range of ground-based activities including a concert stage, fairground rides, and the interactive Tri@RIAT area for youngsters. All under-16s go free and parking is free.
Source: RAF
Boeing-built Orbital Test Vehicle X-37B Begins 1st Flight
April 23, 2010 by Rob Vogelaar · Leave a Comment
CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla., April 22, 2010 — Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced the successful launch of the Boeing-built Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV), also known as the X-37B, for the U.S. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office. The OTV was launched on an Atlas V rocket into a low Earth orbit today at 7:52 p.m. Eastern time from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 41.
“The X-37B has the potential to bring to space the flexibility that unmanned systems provide warfighters and combatant commanders today,” said Dennis Muilenburg, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “With the ability to be launched into space and then land on its own, the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle is an example of the kind of innovation that Boeing has been doing for decades to advance aviation, space systems, and now unmanned systems. Close teamwork between the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, the United Launch Alliance Atlas team, and the 45th Space Wing at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station made this launch a success.”
The vehicle will be used to demonstrate a reliable, reusable unmanned space test platform for the Air Force. Program objectives include space experimentation, risk reduction, and concept-of-operations development for reusable space vehicle technologies.
“The Orbital Test Vehicle combines the best of aircraft and spacecraft to enable flexible and responsive missions,” said Paul Rusnock, Boeing vice president of Experimental Systems and program director for the X-37B. “This first flight will demonstrate the readiness of the X-37B to begin serving the Air Force as it continues to investigate ways to make space access more routine, affordable and responsive.”
Boeing’s commitment to this space-based unmanned vehicle spans a decade and includes support to the Air Force Research Lab’s X-40 program, NASA’s X-37 program, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s X-37 approach, landing and test vehicle (ALTV) program.
Boeing program management, engineering, test and mission support functions for the OTV program are conducted at Boeing sites in Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, and El Segundo, Calif.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world’s largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $34 billion business with 68,000 employees worldwide.
Souce and pictures: Boeing
Boeing F-15K41 Successfully Completes 1st Flight
April 22, 2010 by Marcel van Leeuwen · 1 Comment
ST. LOUIS, April 22, 2010 — Boeing [NYSE: BA] on April 19 conducted the first flight of F-15K41, the first of 21 F-15K Slam Eagles the company is producing under the Next Fighter II contract for the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF). The aircraft, flown by Boeing test pilot Steve Schmidt, took off from Lambert St. Louis International Airport at 2:36 p.m. Central time and landed at 3:44 p.m.
The F-15K is an advanced variant of the combat-proven F-15E. Equipped with the latest technological upgrades, it is extremely capable, survivable and maintainable. The F-15K enables the ROKAF to change its focus from the short-range defense of the past half century to a broader regional view that considers the omnidirectional threats it may face in the future. The aircraft’s service life is planned through 2040, with technology insertions and upgrades throughout its life cycle.
Boeing completed delivery of the 40 Next Fighter I F-15K aircraft in October 2008.
Source: Boeing
