Good day all
Some excellent news!!! If you recall a fundraiser was held earlier this year for Ruben Bamberger Read article here. He was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of cancer, requiring special medical procedures. His latest test results came back earlier this week and are negative of leukaemia cells. Thank again to the aviation community for all the support it has made a massive difference in this young man’s life.
KITTY HAWK RV FLY-IN
Kitty Hawk will be hosting the annual RV Fly-in on Saturday 15 September, everyone is welcome (not only for RV’s), a breakfast buffet will be available for only R50 per person. The Classic Car Club will also be paying Kitty Hawk a visit come join for a day of fun with good people.
AAD EXPO 2018
With less than week to go before the largest Aerospace and Defence Expo in the Southern Hemisphere kicks off at AFB Waterkloof there is a notable increase in SAAF activity in the skies above Pretoria. Please register for the trade days HERE and tickets are available for the public airshow days HERE
RED BULL AIR RACE
The Red Bull Air Race returns to its Austrian roots for the sixth race of the season as it lands in the stunning town of Wiener Neustadt. Just as the tension begins to build and the World Championship enters the final few races of the season, the Red Bull Air Race returns to Austria – to a brand new location, Wiener Neustadt. South Africa’s own Patrick Davidson will be competing in the challenger series and after his course record and brilliant second plcae in Kazan Russia last month the expectations a high for yet another great result. Give it Hell Patrick!!!
SECUNDA SPEED RALLY
There are only fourteen places left out of thirty for the Secunda Speed Rally, the rally will be a fresh take on rally flying and promises to be fast and exciting.
Entry Fee: R1200 per Aircraft
This is a handicap based speed race
Test Flight slots for handicaps available 4th & 5th October
Rally Format:
Distance of course +/- 120 nm
Course map will be provided 20 min prior take-off
No plotting required – course details on the map
This will be a full throttle race against your handicap
This format is a trial run in planning for PTAR 2019
Organiser – Christoff La Grange
Contact chairman@sapfa.co.za Tel: 083 357 6951 christoff@aviationjunction.org.za
BOEING SEES POTENTIAL FOR MORE 737 PRODUCTION RATE HIKES
Boeing is considering ramping up 737 production further in 2020 despite struggling with significant supply chain problems this year, Boeing chief executive Dennis Muilenburg said on 12 September.
Muilenburg also insists that Boeing is recovering from its current supply chain bottlenecks and predicts that 737 deliveries will accelerate in the remaining months of 2018."All of the market signals are telling us the market could support a production rate higher than 57 per month," said Muilenburg when asked about a possible 2020 production hike."We are taking a close look," he adds, citing growing worldwide demand for air travel. "It's pretty clear to me the opportunity is there."
Muilenburg made his comments during a Morgan Stanley investor conference.
Earlier this year, Boeing boosted 737 production from 47 to 52 aircraft monthly, and plans another hike to 57 aircraft monthly in 2019.
Supply chain problems, however, have slowed Boeing's deliveries, with the company handing over just 29 737s in July and 48 in August.
Muilenburg and others have attributed the slowdown to delays in the delivery of components from engine maker CFM International and fuselage manufacturer Spirit AeroSystems."There has been a bit of a challenge with some of our supply chain," Muilenburg said.
Production has been further complicated because the 737 line currently manufactures both 737NGs and 737 Max, Muilenburg added.However, he insists that Boeing is addressing the problems, noting the company has hired another 600 workers.
Boeing's 737 deliveries in September should be similar or "a little better" than August's 48-aircraft rate, and Boeing will hand over more than 52 aircraft monthly during the fourth quarter, Muilenburg predicted."Our recovery actions are taking hold and being effective," he says. "We are confident we can get our arms around it."Boeing still expects to meet its goal of delivering a total of 810-815 commercial aircraft in 2018, Muilenburg said.
VIRGIN GALACTIC INTENDS TO TAKE SPACEFLIGHTS TO ITALY
Nicola Zaccheo, Sitael CEO, Vincenzo Giorgio, Altec CEO, and George Whitesides, Virgin Galactic CEO, signed at Sitael headquarters a framework agreement that intends to bring Virgin Galactic spaceflights to Italy.
The agreement comes after two years of business discussions, government regulatory analysis, studies on potential operations and market assessment and the signature was witnessed also by the founder of Virgin Group Sir Richard Branson, the founder of Angel Group Mr. Vito Pertosa, the President of the Italian Space Agency Mr. Roberto Battiston, the Italian Minister Ms. Barbara Lezzi, the President of Apulia Region Mr. Michele Emiliano, the President of the Aeroporti di Puglia Mr. Tiziano Onesti and the Commercial Officer of the U.S. Embassy in Rome Todd Avery.
Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Group founder, said "From the Renaissance to modern space science, Italy has always been a natural home to great innovators and breakthrough ideas which have shaped the human experience. I believe Italy’s vision which has led to this collaboration with our Virgin space companies, will provide a real impetus as we strive to open space for the benefit of life on Earth. This partnership could see Virgin Galactic launch the first person in history into space from Italian soil - and in fact from any European territory. Together, we will help to expand opportunities for science, industry and the millions of people who dream of experiencing space for themselves."
In September 2016 Altec – a public-private company owned by the Italian Space Agency and Thales Alenia Space – signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Virgin Galactic. In August 2017 the U.S. Department of State approved a Technical Assistance Agreement for the development of a plan for ultimate construction of an Italian spaceport, that will provide the infrastructure for future Virgin Galactic suborbital flights. Virgin Galactic’s operational headquarters remains at Spaceport America in New Mexico, the world’s first purpose built commercial spaceport.
Earlier this year, following in-depth analysis of potential locations, the Italian aviation authority ENAC designated the Taranto-Grottaglie Airport as the future home for horizontally-launched spaceflights in Italy.
Sitael, the largest privately-owned space company in Italy with headquarters in Puglia region, is partnering with Altec and Virgin Galactic in order to define the framework that will lead the spaceflight operations from Grottaglie Spaceport.
The agreement signed today envisions a dedicated space vehicle system, built by Virgin Galactic’s sister enterprise The Spaceship Company, being positioned at the future Grottaglie Spaceport, which will integrate significant technological and industrial contribution from Sitael and the rest of Italian Aerospace industry, pending regulatory approvals.
The space vehicle would be utilized by customers like the Italian Space Agency as a science platform for high-frequency space research, as well as private individuals to experience space. This dual nature will drive innovation, spur industrial development, STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), as well as promote further investments and economic growth in Puglia and Italy as a whole.
Representatives of Italian Government and Puglia Region together with leadership of the U.S. Embassy in Rome were present to show their support for the plan, highlighting the strategic relevance of the project for both US and Italy.
Virgin Galactic is the world's first commercial spaceline. Founded by Sir Richard Branson and owned by the Virgin Group and Aabar Investments PJS, Virgin Galactic and its sister companies-Virgin Orbit and The Spaceship Company--are opening access to space to change the world for good. To revolutionize human spaceflight, Virgin Galactic is testing the SpaceShipTwo VSS Unity, a reusable space launch system. The number of customers who paid to reserve places to fly on SpaceShipTwo is already greater than the total number of humans who have ever been to space throughout history. SpaceShipTwo and its carrier aircraft, WhiteKnightTwo, are manufactured and tested in Mojave, California by Virgin Galactic's manufacturing wing, The Spaceship Company. Commercial operations will be based in New Mexico at Spaceport America, the world's first purpose-built commercial spaceport. To learn more or to apply to join Virgin Galactic's talented and growing team, visit virgingalactic.com.
The Spaceship Company is Virgin Galactic’s aerospace-system manufacturing sister organization. Headquartered in Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California, it is building and testing a fleet of WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft and SpaceShipTwo reusable spaceships that, together, form Virgin Galactic’s human spaceflight system. Like many Virgin companies across the world, its team of over 500 talented and dedicated engineers, technicians and professionals are drawn together by a willingness to disrupt and challenge the status quo and deliver innovative aerospace solutions to our customers’ needs. The Spaceship Company has a straightforward name: as you would expect, we build spaceships. But we also do much more. The Spaceship Company’s extensive capabilities encompass preliminary vehicle design and analysis, manufacturing, ground testing, flight testing and post-delivery support. The Spaceship Company team is uniquely positioned to offer end-to-end aerospace development with thousands of years of cumulative experience in design, manufacturing, and testing.
