Boeing's experimental autonomous aircraft (flying car) completes its first test flight
Source: www.theverge.com
Aurora Flight Sciences, a subsidiary of aerospace giant Boeing, said Wednesday that it recently conducted the first test flight of its all-electric autonomous passenger air vehicle. The unpiloted vehicle took off vertically, hovered for a few seconds, and then landed at the company’s test site in Manassas, Virginia. Boeing said that future flights will test forward, wing-borne flight, as well as the transition phase between vertical and forward-flight modes.
It’s a significant step toward a future in which autonomous, electric “flying taxis” zip from skyscraper to skyscraper, bearing passengers and cargo in service of an entirely new form of urban mobility. Boeing is just one of dozens of companies that are pursuing some form of urban air taxi service, but as one of the largest aviation companies in the world, clearly, it has the resources and the engineering prowess to get something in the air sooner than later.
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RCAF Golden Hawks F-86 SabreDuring my many YouTube hours (I live in Surrey B.C, I should go outside more), I came across the video below of a Canadair F-86 Sabre painted “RCAF Golden Hawks” livery. There is far too much available for me to paraphrase so following are several references if you are also interested in learning more on this fascinating group. The Golden Hawks were a Canadian aerobatic flying team that was established in 1959 to celebrate the Royal Canadian Air Force's 35th anniversary and the "Golden" 50th anniversary of Canadian flight, which began with the AEA Silver Dart in 1909. Initially, a six-plane team flying brilliantly-painted metallic-gold Canadair Sabre Mk.5s, was envisioned as performing for only one year, but the Golden Hawks were so popular after their single 63-show season that the team was expanded. In the following year, another plane was added to the team, allowing for a five-plane main formation with two solo jets. The Golden Hawks continued performing for three more seasons, changing to the Mk.6 in 1961, until they were disbanded on 7 February 1964, having flown a total of 317 shows across North America. Click the image below to view the video: |
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For this NetLetter issue, I found the image for the heading image at Jetphotos.com and sent a request to photographer, Mirko Bleuer, for permission to use his photograph. Mr. Bleuer, who lives in Switzerland, generously gave us permission to use his photograph and sent along a few more images from his visit to Canada. |
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| Photographed at Trenton, Ontario |
Photographed at Ottawa / Rockcliffe |
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Additional references: |
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 Our cartoon is by D. Fallwell of CPA from the "Blue Skies" magazine issued April 1979. |
 Flight attendant on Delta Airlines posted this photo with the caption: "Only one paying attention to the safety demo". |
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Found on Facebook - A photo of a certificate issued by Air Canada to Mrs. Linda Lewis confirming that Linda was a passenger on flight 187, December 31, 1969 which was the last commercial airline flight into the twin cities of Fort William and Port Arthur before they merged into the new city of Thunder Bay effective January 1, 1970. The noted captain was W.H. Arem, First Officer J.W. Moanes, stewardesses J. Kucharski and C.M. White. (Have any of our readers ever received such a document? - eds) |
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Update on carry-on bags and Zone 6.
The first two initiatives have been very successful. For example, on Montréal -Toronto flights we have seen a 50 per cent decrease in the number of bags checked at the gate and feedback from customers is positive. The success of these initiatives means effective January 15, 2019, we can return to the zones previously used for non-revenue employee travel, although employees are still encouraged to check luggage when possible and to gate-check bags when flights are full and our agents are asking for volunteers. (Source: ACDaily January 14, 2019) |
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Two of my friends recently left for a 3 week vacation in Mexico, and share this - We have an almost three year old granddaughter, Isannah, that we are leaving behind. She is quite used to meeting with her Nana and sometimes her Papa too, at least a couple of times a week.
So, Nana has taken pictures of them: when we left the house, on the ferry, at the airport watching the planes and as we boarded the plane. You get the idea. Now she is taking a picture on the plane before lift off… the stewardess and everybody around us notices what she is up to... The flight attendant is a Nana too, and she is so tickled with Nana’s plan. She grabs "Sky" and "Chase" and takes them up to the front of the plane and has the 2 pilots pose for a picture in the cockpit with the stuffies. Nana is so happy and the picture is awesome. Anyways I may mention them once in a while, but if you really want to follow along with the adventures of "Sky" and "Chase", you’ll have to get a hold of Isannah, and I’m sure she would be happy to add you to her ‘blog’ as well, LOL. (Many more photos are being sent showing “Sky” and “Chase” posing in various places (ie. on a bus), sitting below a statue, at a supper table and on the beach etc. – eds) |
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 Just a small selection of the many deals by Dargal. |
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14 Night Asia - Celebrity Cruises - Celebrity Millennium - March 16, 2019 From: Inside: $784 Oceanview: $999 Balcony: $1306 Suite: $3999 12 Night Australia/New Zealand/South Pacific - Royal Caribbean International - Explorer of the Seas - March 17, 2019 Sydney; At Sea; At Sea; Lifou; At Sea; Suva; Lautoka; At Sea; Mystery Island; Noumea; At Sea; At Sea; Sydney. From: Inside: $713 Oceanview: $1016 Balcony: $1197 Suite: $1797. Cruises: Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars per person (based on double occupancy). Port charges are included. Taxes & fees are not included. Fuel supplement may be applicable. All rates are subject to change, availability and eligibility. All offers apply to new bookings only, are capacity controlled and may be withdrawn without notice. |
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Viva Wyndham Maya - Riviera Maya, Mexico Marina Fiesta Resort & Spa - Los Cabos, Mexico Resorts: Rates are land only, quoted in U.S. dollars per person per night (based on double occupancy). For more information on these & other Dargal Interline specials: |
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We recently trialed a number of initiatives to ensure our customers have space on board for their carry-on items. These included white carry-on bag tags identifying items that could be placed under seats, refocusing on checking bag sizes pre-security, as well as testing a trial process for boarding employees on non-revenue leisure travel in Zone 6.
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Oh, Canada!
Air traffic controllers in New Brunswick and Newfoundland sent 32 pies to their counterparts in Ronkonkoma, N.Y., on Friday — the evening before the federal government shutdown became the longest in U.S. history. The government went into partial paralysis December 22. Canadian controllers from the east to west coasts have been sending pizzas to their American colleagues. Airport workers at Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport in Montreal have reportedly fed unpaid employees at LaGuardia airport while their Canadian colleagues in Vancouver have phoned in deliveries to air traffic controllers in Seattle. (Source: Microsoft News January 13, 2019) |
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New rules for operating a drone. Transport Canada, on January 9, announced new rules governing the use of small unmanned aircraft, or drones, that introduce basic and advanced categories of drone operations, both requiring owners to register their aircraft and obtain a pilot certificate. (Source: ATW Daily News January 11, 2019) |
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Nationair 1984 - New airline established. Former employees of Quebecair, Nordair and Air Canada have formed a new airline, 'Nationair', headquartered in Quebec City. Operations are expected to commence on December 19, 1984 with two DC-8 aircraft in 252 seat configuration serving southern destinations from Montreal during the winter season and Europe in the spring and summer months. The director of flight operations and the chief pilot are both former employees of Air Canada. (Source: AC "Horizons" magazine October 1984) |
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Photo by Ken Fielding on Flickr |
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Andre Lizotte, former President of Nordair Ltd., has been appointed Chairman of the Board for Nationair, a new Canadian international charter carrier. Andre St. Denis, formerly Air Canada's treasurer and a Nordair director, has been appointed to Nationair's Board. (Source: AC "Horizons" magazine November 1984) (Tragically on July 11, 1991 all perished when their DC-8 crashed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. - eds) |
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The Cape Air Mail. Imperial Airways D.H. "Hercules" City of Karachi, arriving at Capetown on December 21, 1931 with the special Christmas air mail direct from England. The mail left Croydon on December 9, 1931. (Source: Flight archive 1932 page 0055) |
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Heathrow wants to add 25,000 flights a year ahead of third runway. London’s Heathrow Airport has opened an eight-week consultation on its planned expansion that includes a proposal to add up to 25,000 additional flights a year through more efficient use of its two existing runways, ahead of the opening of a third in 2026. (Source: ATW Daily January 8, 2019) |
