Photo Credit: FlyGuy92586

The Beechcraft King Air Jet Series.

The King Air Series is divided into two families. Models 90 and 100 are called King Airs. Models 200 and 300 was originally named as Super King Airs but later on the Hawker Beechcraft Corp. dropped the name “Super”. It was the very first aircraft in its category that continues to be in production since its inception back in 1964.

They also produced a military version of the King Air. Government used them for VIP transport giving them a designations such as VC-6A, T-44A Pegasus and the most common used military version, U-21.

The VC-6A, a Model B90 was purchased by the United States Air Force to serve primarily as the official presidential aircraft of then President Lyndon Johnson whenever he flies over to Bergstrom Air Force Base and his family ranch in Texas. The said aircraft is on display in the US Air Force National Museum.

Many military and government of different nations around the world have been using their aircraft for VIP transport or medical missions.

In his new movie, Valkyrie, he plays a real life character of a German military officer, Col. Claus Graf Schenk von Stauffenberg, who attempted to assasinate Hitler.

Photo Credit: clared23

He was so excited with this role as he is to take control of a historic double-decker aircraft. He is still an amateur pilot but he earned great remarks from his co-pilot, Thomas Schuttoff who is the Director of Tempelhof Aviators Pilot Training School in Berlin. Mr. Schuttoff even told the media when he was asked of Cruise flying skills, that there are so many who can fly a plane but Tom has the soul of a flyer.

 
Photo Credit: Armchair Aviator

They got to know each other when he started filming the movie. During one of their flights, Tom only made one mistake and that is when he pressed the wrong button when he was telling the training director about the wonders of the aircraft. The whole tower heard his comments.

The Stearman Aircraft Company of Wichita, Kansas introduced this aircraft at the height of the Depression. A lot of variants were developed and a lot of flying enthusiasts during that time preferred to use them.

Today, they are a popular choice for those who love to restore aircrafts and you usually can find them included in different air shows.

It is capable of flying you in many places in the world as it is one of the first ultra-range business aircraft that can fly non-stop at 6,500 nautical miles. This bizjet is manufactured by Gulfstream Aerospace and also being used by the US air Force and US Coast Guard with the designation of C-37A. It had its maiden flight back in 1995 and got its certification in 1997.

Photo Credit: Cubbie_n_Vegas

This is a 16 seater jet that has a state-of-the-art avionics system provided by Honeywell Plainview Primus Epic System that includes a satellite-based GPS or Global Positioning System, autopilot, enhanced vision systems and weather radar. It is powered by 2 Rolls Royce BR710A1-10 turbofan with a maximum speed of Mach 0.885 and a baggage compartment colume of 226 ft”.

Aside from the military, the aircraft also was purchased by the National Center for Atmosperic Research for their private and public research needs.

Many Russian flying enthusiasts were delighted to know that Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company completed the maiden flight of their new Sukhoi Superjet 100 or SSJ100 this month. They have been waiting for this jet to be finished and certified for so long already. They were hoping that it would boost Russian aviation industry.

Photo Credit: Leonid V. Kroujkov (Sukhoi Mak Jet, another jet made by Sukhoi Aircraft Co)

Veteran pilot Alexander Yavlontsev was the appointed test pilot for the aircraft. He was happy to announced to everyone that it was just like flying Airbus of Boeing jets. He flew the jet for an hour and 15 minutes with an alitude of 1,200 meters.

This regional jet can seat around 75-95 passengers with a speed of Mach .08 and is powered by two Saturn PowerJet SAM146 turbofans. Those airlines who already made their orders will have to wait for the next couple of years to have the jets delivered. There are some lucky ones who are going to received their ordered aircrafts late this year.

Price: USD$27.8M

It is good to know that more aircraft manufacturers are spending time and money in research and development of biofueled jets. Our generation may not benefit from it yet but whatever little they may have achieved today will definitely be a great help to our future generation.

This year alone we saw a few aircraft companies and manufacturers who made some test flights powered by biofuel.

Photo Credit: Cubbie_n_Vegas

Green Flight International was the first to take a flight powered entirely by biofuel. Virgin Atlantic’s London to Amsterdam flight a few months back had one engine of Boeing 747 depending solely on biofuel. Airbus also have its A380 aircraft flown with one engine powered by GTL or Gas to Liquid system.

Amidst the pat on the back that these companies got from the environmentalists there are some that says biofuel may not be the solution to the emissions since there are those who feel that biofuel production itself is so expensive and will not really clean our air.  There are also those who feel that these experiments might just be a start of a better way for us to fly.

Whatever the case may be, it is still very commendable that there are people who are funding these experiments. It may not be biofuel or hydrogen fuel cells or diesel who can give us the right fix but it is good to know that we are heading to the right direction, researching for an alternative fuel to power our aircrafts.

Light Sport Aircraft or LSA are aircrafts that has a maximum gross takeoff of not more 600 kg or 1,320 lbs, has the capability of an airspeed of 120 knots or 222 kph in level flight, has a single reciprocating engine, can be a single or two seater plane with a fixed landing gear. Basically, they are ultralight aircrafts that are very easy and simple to operate.

Photo Credit: Armchair Aviator

Here’s a list of some light sport aircrafts not more than USD$100,000:

• Fox Apollo - $66,950: 325 nm, 550 lbs, with a Rotax 912 ULS95 kts
• EuroFox Rollison - $68,950: 600 nm, 591 lbs, with Rotax 912 ULS 110 kts
• Sportster Warner Aerocraft - $79,995: 540 lbs, with Continental O-200 110 kts
• S-7LS RANS - $85,000: 341 nm, 500 lbs, with Rotax 912 ULS 95 kts
• Virus SW Pipistrel - $88,066: 680 nm, 607 lbs, with Rotax 912 ULS 120 kts
• Patriot 150 AMD -  $90,000: 560 nm, 525 lbs, with Continental O-200 107 kts

They are mostly used for recreational flying or training. One important reminder for those who are planning to purchase these type of aircraft, they must be inspected by a certification repairman and must have a standard FAA, LSA and A&P rating.

The Brazilian Aerospace conglomerate are celebrating its 25th year in three continents, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

They made their presence felt in these continents back in 1983 as they opened up an office in Le Bourget Airport in Paris, France. It is their second facility outside of Brazil. Their first one was the facility in the U.S back in 1979.

Photo Credit: Andrei Dimofte

Their first customer was the French Navy and Air Force. Embraer  manufactured and delivered military aircrafts in 1982. Then by 1986 they were introducing new commercial aircrafts, the ERJ 145 Family of Jets. They supplied  business and military jets for different countries in these continents. Then by 2004 Polish and Alitalia Airlines were the first to get interested with the Embraer’s E-Jets family which can seat 70-120 passengers.

They are currently the fourth largest yearly delivery of commercial aircraft and has a backlog of orders amounting to USD$18.8 billion. Their 2007 revenue was around USD$5.245 billion. Today, they continue to provide aircraft enthusiasts different types of jets for the military, commercial, agriculture and general aviation.

For a complete list of their aircrafts, go and visit: Embraer.

They had an impressive run in 2007 having delivered 1,274 aircrafts on that year. This year, they will manufacture and deliver more aircrafts despite the continuing fuel price hike.

Photo Credit: FlyGuy92586

They have a fleet that matches all the consumers’ needs and requirements. Their entry to the world of VLJs or very light jets via their Cessna Citation Mustang is impressive. Their bizjet, the Citation Columbus is truly magnificent and the ever popular Cessna Skyhawk is still in production. 

During the eighth annual European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition or EBACE they took an order for 88 aircrafts totaling USD$750 Million. They are for 70 Citation business jets, 14 Caravans and 4 single engine pistons. Aircraft companies such as JetAlliance, Russian Air Taxi operator Dexter and Air Alliance are among those who ordered from Cessna.

Today, Cessna Aircraft Company is truly the world’s largest manufacturer of general aviation aircrafts.

After the succesful stint of their ERJ regional jet platform, the Embraer Aerospace Conglomerate decided to enter the business aircraft market by introducing the Embraer Executive Jets in 2001.

Photo Credit: gTarded

The first one to be developed, manufactured and released in the market was the Legacy 600. It was fitted with three seating areas, a well structured galley, a  baggage compartment and comfortable lavatory area. It is powered by an AE 3007 A1E Rolls Royce engine.

It has one of the best avionics system which makes it easier for the pilots to handle the aircraft. One of the main advantage when you have a Legacy is that you have one of the biggest cabin volume in cubic ft matched only by Gulfstream 450 but not in price. 

It gained certification in Brazil, Europe and United States in 2003. Now, more than 75 Legacy jets are in operation in different countries.

For specs with photos, check this site: Legacy600.

This is not to be morbid or anything but after watching the movie entitled, “The Bucket List” of Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, I thought right away that there is no other way they could have finished the list without the help of a private jet. Well, they could have but not in style.

Photo Credit: Cubbie_n_Vegas

Two terminally ill men went on a road trip with a wish list using a private jet. The comfort and convenience of flying private make their journey in fulfilling their wish list before they hit the bucket more memorable and less pathetic.

The movie is one best example why the best way to travel around the world while you are on a very limited time is thru private jets. Activities such as sky diving, conquering the Pyramids, and safari adventure in Africa will only be achieved if you fly private especially if you are old and sick. The comfort that it gives a passenger is unmatched. Just imagine if they took commercial flights. I do not think they will last that long and they would not have enjoyed their journey as they did in the movie.