What happened to Air India flight 171?

 Last words, I am losing power and cannot get lift!

The loss of power could be a major mechanical failure, or it could be that the aircraft was too heavy with luggage, more than was expected?

Another factor was how long this Boeing dream liner had to move down the runway to get lift, it seemed to take-off midway thus it had nowhere to go but crash were it did! 

The death toll was 241, with one survivor and on the ground between 42 to 90 may have been burned to death?

The last alternative is that of terrorism and the suspicion of the one survivor who failed to rescue anyone but himself from the aircraft stunned or not!

China cancels all new Boeing orders!

 Something not yet reported in the western-Media?

In the war with tariffs with the U.S.A. the cancellation of Boeing aircraft will be a big blow to Trump and with China and Russia returning to build their own type, spare parts for existing aircraft may be also produced in both countries!

Meanwhile Beijing has the option of now buying the European Airbuses to replace what is being refused and this will change the face of aviation in the far-east for some time to come, if other nations also cancel U.S. military contracts and adapt what they have to new types?

Copyright will be an international issue, but since the new U.S. administration is breaking all the rules anyway, it has opened a door for everyone to follow!

Airbus A320/321Neo's

 With the Embraer E190/95?

They are both moving ahead and taking the Aviation market off Boeing and all of its problems with the 737 MAX-8/9/10, despite them all flying and many are safe to a point many are not and fleets are being stood down over bad build and safety!

But Airbus is filling the market place with their Neo versions of synthetic fuels and other upgrades making the successful A320 into the A321N and this will fill the gap for many Boeing operators?

Embraer of the other hand is fulfilling the Domestic market for a short landing capability and semi-electric powered engines with their new generation of E190/95E and these planes are becoming more popular than the Airbus A319 Baby Bus.

Airbus has now flooded the U.S. with the A330-200/900 and the A220-100/200, something that the former U.S. President Trump tried to stop?

Boeing in trouble Again?

 Boeing 737-MAX-8.

Bad workmanship is believed to be behind the Air Alaska panel blow out that could have seen a child sucked out of the aircraft and killed!

Now over 171 of the type have been grounded for inspection world-wide and all of the type is reporting bad construction, this comes as a blow for the company as it unveils new aircraft the VS-1/2 that incorporates a new thinner wing, the introduction of the Boeing 777X and the re-introduction of the Boeing 747-8.

With sales that are returning to what they once were and the slacking off of its main competition Airbus, despite the improved sales on the A350-1000 and the smaller A220-300 no real new aircraft are coming to the fore?

But now with this manufacturing problem others like Embraer will take the market off the big two?

Gas Powered Aviation = The Future!

 Hydrogen is now a Fact?

Many aircraft manufacturers say, 'That they are now planning for hydrogen powered design along with the wing concepts that will prove to be more economical!

Already there is a push in Europe for such a concept, while Embraer is looking at battery powered helicopter flight with many others?

Airbus is now promoting the A220-100 as a business jet to counter new arrivals from Japan and the far east that will do very well.

Boeing has certified its MAX series into service, after the two tragic losses, Ryanair will be the biggest operator of the type in Europe and outside of the U.S. Many new adaptions are being added to the Boeing 777-10 series and Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner, while Airbus has been busy with its popular A330 and EWB A350-900/1000 series.

Boeing 737MAX Comeback?

New computer control system Solved?

Well this is what Boeing in Seattle is saying, wither it is true is another matter! 

As seen recently with the sad crash in Pakistan, pilots do not seem to have been trained very well in handling their aircraft forgetting to let the wheels down?

It would seem to be a simple mistake, but the problem that is being encountered world-wide with new aircraft is the complexities of needing a degree in computer engineering as well as being a well trained pilot?

The danger is computers are taking away access to the over ride of manual control, since humans can do things still that machines cannot?

The 737MAX series was to be the last of this great line of type entering now into the 21st Century, but with the loss of two aircraft in Indonesia and Ethiopia and the complexities of control being lost in updating pilots to fly them this has caused major delays and a stump in production from building, painting and delivery!

Boeing 737-MAX

Grounded across the globe since Sundays Ethiopian Losses!

One has to wonder why Boeing did not stop the flights of this aircraft, when they knew it was a having technical problems with its computers?

Perhaps one reason is just shear greed and ignorance, that if you sweep it under the carpet it will eventually go away!

Today Britain has stopped over flights of this type, joining China, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, Singapore, Ethiopia, Mexico, Indonesia, Fiji, S-Korea, Thailand, and one U.S. airline, while Canada is considering!

The 737-series has become the worlds workhorse in aviation and is the most common transport aircraft since the 1970's. Only Airbus is now catching up with it A318/9/20/21 types and others airlines have opted for the Embraer series!

New Drone and other Concepts.

Aviation is Changing?

The ApusDuo is perhaps the most interesting concept for a long flight drone, that is not conventional in its lay out looking more like a kite without sails! It has a long duration of flight and can be used for a huge variety of uses, that involve observation more than that of attacking modes.

Nearly every nation has something to offer now in the drone market and they are mostly all the same in shape and concept, which is a bit disappointing?

The other concept is that of Virgin Galactic and the first flight into Space for its ability soon to carry passengers commercially. Not being a drone, but the first passenger bus it is breakthrough for human achievement? 

It now looks like Qatar is to retire its fleet of Airbus A380's and end production in favour of the Boeing 777X, but it will maintain the Airbus A350-900 fleet and hope to see the 1000 series soon certified.

Great advances are being made in engine design and efficiency today over that of size and seating requirements on long distant flying!

Demise of the Boeing 747?

Boeing 747/100/200/SP/300/400 and -8.

The Boing jumbo jet is a sixties baby and was really operational from 1971, it has had a great success world-wide as the first clipper of the skies but is now in demise or is it? It is not clear how many new orders have been placed for either the series 400 or the -8, but the Boeing 777X may be the true replacement since its proceeds a tried and tested 777 class after twenty-four years of service!

Boeing has had stiff competition from Airbus and its A380-800 Super Jumbo, but it to has declined, due to the more popularity of its new Airbus A350-900/1000 XWB extra wide body aircraft. 

Competition is ever on the increase in the aviation world with newer designs and improved technology, many aircraft that are smaller can do the job now of the Jumbos and they are cheaper on fuel consumption? 9/11 terrorism has also played a key factor, but so has Airbus and its popular A330, which is one of the best sized aircraft in the world today?

Canadian Bombardier CS100/300. Part-Two.

N-Ireland Costs.

It looks as if the deal with the DUP has now paid off with the probable closure of the Sydenham Bombardier works and the loss of two-thousand skilled jobs? The British government will not give in to the U.S. now that BAE has laid off workers in connection to its reduced production of Hawk and Typhoon jets, with a slump in the Persian Gulf sales department?

The U.S. will just keep increasing the tax tariffs on Canada, until they are re-assured that the U.S. aviation industry is secured. The one point of a thorn in the flesh is the Belfast plant and the incentives that have been poured into over the years peace-process or none the U.S do not care!

Canada's hope now lies in the world market, but these aircraft are up against similar competition by Brazils Embraer E-170.190/5, Russia's MC-21 and the  Sukhoi Superjet-100/200. Meanwhile both China and Japan are developing similar sized aircraft for their own markets?

Both Boeing and Airbus currently hold the world market in a very large range of aircraft, Boeing 737-6/700, Airbus A321neo, A319/18, that are all similar to the CS100/300?

But what Bombardier has, is that their aircraft meets the replacement criteria for the recently retired Boeing 737-300 series and its short runway ability? This does not mean its a STOL type, but rather it can handle smaller runways and airports, where other aircraft need longer runways?

Perhaps the real truth is U.S. Jealousy over missing a small advantage in the aviation market? AFRICA?

Canadian Bombardier CS100/300. Part-One.

Boeing Lawsuit!

This is the problem that one faces today in the aviation industry and business, that new aircraft types are being penalised by the new U.S. administration if they want to enter the U.S. market? The U.S., China and Russia dominate the world, because of land mass size and difficult environments from cold to hot and mountains to deserts!

The U.S. remains the most busiest air lanes in the world, after Europe and the Far-East, Boeing is perhaps the worlds largest supplier of both civil aircraft to military and its sees Bombardier over the border as serious competition in relation to several of its current models.

The Canadian CS100/300 is a breakthrough for Canada as its first viable Jet airliner, Bombardier is also successful in its business class Jets!. In recent years Swiss Air has seen a potential new market for the Bombardier biz jet in short haul and low seating capacity and the CS100 meets their needs.

Delta Airlines in the U.S. has also seen a gap in the market in relation to seating with the new Canadian jet and this will outdo Boeing in relation to their popular Boeing 737 family, types 600/700/800 and the newer version of the 900/MAX.

The Russian Federation and Syria.

Russia pulls out of Syria!

The five year war in Syria is coming to an end and Russia has achieved the elimination of the Islamic Khalifate's infrastructure. The last few months has revealed why we have Boeing EC-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft flying over SW-Great Britain. 

Russia deployed its whole Sukhoi family from the Su-25 Frogfoot to the latest stealth fighter the Su-34. In between were deployed the SU-32 and the Naval Su-27 Flanker, perhaps because this type never has been used in battle before? 

The powerful Nuclear bomber the Tupolev TU-126 Blackjack was also deployed with devastating consequences on ground elimination of targets, this same aircraft is the main delivery system for Russia's Nuclear cruise missile.

The west still faces many threats from hostile nations and groups and one has to remember that the terrorists who carried out 9/11 in the United States in 2001 said, 'That they would be back to do the same in twenty years time?

Airbus. Part-Two.

The Military Side.

With the ongoing development of the Airbus A400M, there is also the adaption of some earlier models now for in flight refuelling roles and other transport requirements. Airbus is moving into the military market to challenge its U.S. counterparts of Lockheed and Boeing, who have been Kings of transport and a variety of other military aviation roles for well over fifty years. 

Recent orders by N.A.T.O. members of the A400m have been disappointing and many have returned the aircraft and both newer versions of the Lockheed Hercules. Despite a recent accident with an A400M in Spain, Airbus has to push on with it development.

Success in the civil market has been phenomenal, but I wonder will they really do that well in the military. Perhaps the take over of the helicopter construction and market will do them much better with many already well established designs such as the EC-135/45, Tiger,  Cougar/Super Puma family.

Clutha.

One Year On.

After the sad crash of a Eurocopter, now Aerospastial EC-135 in Glasgow last year, there is still no report published on what was the cause of this crash. Eurocopter has meanwhile changed hands, is this a clue to an ongoing problem with the type or just business.

The EC-135 was the development of the Kawasaki-117, which was a great step foward in helicopter design. 

Meanwhile the helicopter is and will remain an essential kit for the emergency service, search and rescue and the military until the Boeing V-22 Osprey and its succesive types become more popular.

The Jumbo Jet.

Boeing 747-100/8.

You could say 'that the Jumbo jet was the King of the skies, because it has had a forty-three year unchallenged stay.' It is only now with the advent of the Airbus A380, that its reign may end?

I say may, because as has been seen many will continue on as cargo and freight usage. Nearly every country on the planet uses or has at one time employed this huge civil aircraft. The U.S. Boeing 747-100 was conceived by the owner of Pan Am, who designed an aircraft that would be the clipper of the sky, that was formerly held by the British Shorts Sunderland flying boat.

The 747 started as the flagship for Pan-Am, but soon everyone wanted one, because of its long haul capability. Even with the introduction of the joint British/French Concorde, the Jumbo held its ground. Later with the -200 series, I think the most of any series built it set it self up.

Many other versions, including military, scientific and the NASA Space Shuttle carrier have been built and next year (2014) we will take a closer look at some of them.

Dreamliner V Airbus A350.

Which is better?

With the continuing problems being experienced by the U.S. Boeing 787-7/8 Dream liner it could be coming to its own demise, when European Airbus A350 roles off the production lines?

The Boeing has seen so many delays and a battery fire problem, that one is suprized that they have bothered to press on with it. Where as the Airbus will probably take the market. 

It would seem that Boeing has placed to much on the 787, while it relies on its sales of the 737 to back up. The other failure I think is its lack to develop the 747 to challenge the Airbus A380. I suppose we will have to waite and see?