hr: Jets

If you want to stay updated, see some new aviation innovations or just mingle with fellow aviators or flying enthusiasts, fly to San Jose California and participate in the 2008 Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Expo.

This aviation event will start tomorrow, November 6 and will last until the 9th. The AOPA made sure that the expo will surely make it worthwhile. A bunch of seminars are scheduled for every single aircraft owner and pilot so they can be updated on the latest on general aviation technology and key issues affecting the aviation world.

The second day of the Expo, all the guests and the participants can get a thrill on watching an IMAX presentation, entitled “The Magic of Flight”, which will feature the history of flight starting from the Wright Brothers invention up to the different air shows that we have this year.

Another perk during the Expo is the chance to get into different interactive software and try the Microsoft Flight Simulators to help enhance your flying skills. Not to mention get an in-depth first hand look of various aviation products and services that will be exhibited there.

However, if you are not available to fly over at San Jose this year, you can get view all the latest happenings on the AOPA Expo by visiting their official website.

Photo Credit: AOPA

The latest fuel price cut is encouraging people from the aviation community to go on, celebrate and organize trade exhibits in different parts of the globe.  One of them is the Gulf VIP International Exhibit. It will still be held next year specifically in March at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre. However, the organizers are so excited for this event and are trying to encourage more people to get involved as early as now.

 This Gulf VIP event will not only be about aviation. It will share the spotlight with luxury yachts and elite cars. Organizers promised that there will be a display of several aircraft interiors as this will be a chance for manufacturers to showcase their recent innovations.

The Bahrain Exhibition and Convention Authority teamed up with the Business Conventions International France to come up with this one-of-a-kind luxury essentials event. They are expecting around 150 exhibitors plus hundreds of VIP guests along with thousands of visitors and participants to gather in the 3500 sq. m. venue on March 3-5, 2009.

I suggest you better check out your travel options if you are interested to go to Bahrain next year.

Photo Credit: Gulf VIP

Whenever you see an aircraft may it be an airliner or a private one, don’t you get mesmerized or frustrated on the kind of livery or paint/logo/design scheme we see on them?

They say that one must be careful on how they present their aircrafts because it can either enhance the beauty of it or just plain mock the magnificence of it.  The most popular probably is the one in Air Force One.  Even at a distance the name and color scheme of the paint commands respect and the play of colors totally reflects the country it represents.

Photo Credit: Surclaro

I found some aircrafts with stunning play of colors and designs. Some of these liveries won’t get unnoticed and the owners probably made them as such. There is no better way to advertise a product or service by putting it the your aircrafts.

There are some instances that a livery of an aircraft can create confusion for those in the ground control towers. If the design and paint scheme is a little bit abstract or something out of the ordinary, the controller cannot easily or immediately recognized them while giving taxing instructions just like what happened in the British Airways back in 1997. They only used that livery for just a few years even if they spent around 60 million pounds for it.

Some passengers are quite superstitious and so there was a time that the Brussel Airlines has a letter B on its livery which was made of 13 connecting dots but due to insistent public clamor, the management added another dot.

I am not a superstitious person but who can blame the passengers especially those that are not that comfortable with flying, any help they can get to make them calm during a flight will do.

Photo Credit: planespotting

This coming November 5 - 8, 2008, AVEX Air Show, one of the most exclusive aviation expo and air show in the Middle East, will unfold at the Sharm El Sheikh International Airport in Janub Sina’, Egypt.

The four-day event will gather the who’s who in aviation world and it will no doubt be swarming with ultra high net individuals plus some members of the Royal families.  The Middle East aviation business is booming and so it can be expected that a lot of aviation manufacturing companies will participate and showcase their products.  Apparently as of this writing there are around 80 aviation exhibitors has signed up for the event.

It will be another event wherein one can view different magnificent aircrafts from leading aircraft manufacturers in just one place. Every single flying enthusiast will clear their schedule in the next two weeks just to attend this event.

The first couple of days dubbed as the “trade days” will mainly focus on the business side of the air show and is restricted from public visitors.  This is where negotiations and contracts are solidified.

The last two days is where all the fun begins.  Public visitors are invited to see different international aircraft aerobatic team such as Red Bull’s Flying Bulls, the Egyptian Silver Stars and the Royal Jordanian Falcons will display their spectacular aerobatic skills.

Avex Air Show Teaser Video

If you are interested to go to AVEX Air show and Aviation Expo, and you can’t decide where to stay, you might want to check the following hotels, the organizers of the event are recommending them: Savoy Hotel, Domino Coral Bay Hotel & Resort, Crown Plaza Sharma El Sheikh Hotel, Millennium Sharm El Sheikh Hotel, and Sierra Sharm El Sheikh Hotel.

Photo Credit: Avex06

Who would have thought that the day will come when planes can be flown using electricity charged batteries? Well, someone did and he called it ElectraFlyer-C. He had so much fun proving to every single flying enthusiast at the EAA AirVenture Airshow.

The electric aircraft was built by Randall Fishman. He modified a Moni motor glider into a single seater small aircraft which is powered by electricity via the large battery pack installed inside the plane.

ElectraFlyer-C received its certification for airworthiness last April. After Mr. Fishman showcased his electric aircraft in the EAA event, more flying aficionados are joining him in that vision of the possibility that more electric aircrafts can be developed and built.

It is quieter, no dirt or smelly gasoline, no carbon footprints and most of all it is affordable.  Although, it is still quite implausible to fly bigger planes using batteries but at least it is no longer unthinkable. Right now he is trying to modify it to become a two-seater plane.

To learn more about ElectraFlyer-C, watch this video: ElectraFlyer-C by CNN .

Photo Credit: ElectraFlyer

Most of the light sport aircrafts that are in the market right now are comparably smaller to this new LSA that is slated to be released and delivered to their future owners late next year, The EcoFlyer from Exploreraero.  It has a big cabin space of about 152 cubic feet.  Did it spark your interest?

Yes, you read it right; 152 cubic feet. This 2-seater is quite big for the usual LSA’s you see around.  To those who felt restricted with the limited space, the EcoFlyer is your new best friend.  With that space, this LSA can be your very own fly motor home.  Just imagine the things you can do with the cabin space.  Bring gadgets or gears you never thought you can bring over using your LSA.

One of the advantages of the EcoFlyer is that there is a built-in bed for two persons so you need not fret in leaving your aircraft just to a take nap. It also has adjustable chairs or movable backrest wherein you can arrange it to make the cabin your dining area.

The EcoFlyer just made flying a light sport aircraft more convenient and the good thing is it is only for $100,000.

If you are interested to purchase one, click here to download a PDF copy of the ‘letter of interest’ from the Exploreraero, the makers of EcoFlyer.

Other LSAs in the market:

 Photo Credit: Exploreraero, AMD, Cessna, Flight Design

The latest addition to the ACJ or Airbus Corporate Jet Family is the A318 Elite. It is by far the smallest in size of all ACJ’s but it retains the same comfort advantages that every ACJ is known to have.

Aside from the fact that it is more affordable since it will only cost $48 million, it has shorter range capability and the lesser seating capacity. Airbus made two layouts for the A318 Elite. One is intended for 14 passengers and the other for 18 passengers.

The A318 Elite will complete the type of aircrafts that Airbus can offer its customers. It is a perfect start up jet for start up private aviation companies targeting customers who prefers a mid-size aircraft with the usual amenities that a wide-bodied aircraft has.

If you want the chance to see the inside of an Airbus A318 Elite, go to the AVEX  Airshow this November which will be held in Sharm EL Sheikh international Airport. The organizers will be putting this magnificent aircraft on display. It will be an 18-seater A318 with VIP configured cabin which includes several seating areas, a bedroom with its own bathroom.

Photo Credit: Airbus

To own a private jet has certain advantages to millionaires around the globe but sometimes it is not enough and so a membership from an exclusive club like the Dragon Blaze for the super rich is an additional must-have.

One example is the Chairman of the successful Sterling Group in India, Chinnakannan Sivasankaran or better known simply as ‘Siva’.  He is regarded as a maverick businessman who made it on top by producing and selling computers.

This millionaire already has 3 private jets to his name. He has a BBJ or a Boeing Business Jet for long-ranged flights and a couple of Embraer Legacy 600s for short distance travels.

Just like any other successful businessman out there, he always has a back up plan in everything that he does. The three planes are not enough for his travel needs and so he acquired a membership from an exclusive lifestyle club. The benefits from the $1M annual membership fee include access to four aircrafts and a couple of luxury yachts.

Photo Credit: Cubbie_n_Vegas

Dragon Blaze is just a month old membership club and it recently hosted a special exclusive viewing of a Moecca, a 150 ft luxury yacht to selected Singapore millionaires at the Singapore Grand Prix held last month.

Photo Credit: gTarded

Mr. Siva said that he got the membership in case his three aircrafts are being used by his family especially the BBJ since it is the only aircraft from his fleet that can fly to an international destination.  Although he still sometimes fly via first class in Singapore Airlines, he said that it does not matter if its first class, it is still public transport.

Justified!  Why fly public when you can go private?!

Photo Credit: BusinessToday

As the presidential election in the United States is fast approaching, it is only wise to be informed of what are the opinions and the stand of the two nominees on general aviation issues.

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association or AOPA just released a copy of Senators McCain and Obama’s answers to the set of questions the group prepared for them. We all know that it is quite important that we know what these two nominees think of general aviation and the changes any of them will do when they step up to the White House.

AOPA President Phil Boyer said that instead of endorsing a candidate, they just want answers to a few key questions to certain aviation issues so it can help association members decide on who to vote for this November.

Photo Credit: Micah Maziar  Photo Credit: Elsie esq.

From the 8 questions they sent, it is quite obvious from the answers that Senator McCain has more experience and has a better understanding on the tools needed to overcome certain problems when it comes to aviation since he was a naval aviator and once a chairman for an aviation committee in the Senate. However, Senator Obama on the other hand was equally concerned about the issues concerning general aviation and is also willing to get the community involved in the decision making.

Photo Credit: amsfrank Photo Credit: peggydavis66

To get the full details on how each candidate answered each question, click here.

Photo Credit: Welt

As we all wait for the new light sport aircraft from Cirrus Design to be completed and certified, they gave us a new and better looking aircraft.  Based from the photos released, hot, fiery red replaced the boring yellow color and it gave Cirrus SRS a more fierce sporty edge.

No matter how fast and sturdy the engine running the jet or how advanced the avionics system is, people still look for the right colors and sleek lines.  When it comes to machines like aircrafts or cars, the paint influences the buyer’s preferences.

Aside from the adjustment in colors, there was an improvement with the landing gear, brakes, tail and flaps. They simplified most of them, so it will be easier to manage and replaced some materials which will help in making it sturdier. Cirrus management also said that they are hoping they can deliver the SRS middle of 2009.

If you have $5,000 in your pocket right now, you may be able to reserve a spot on the list of future owners. Hurry up, they are taking orders now.

Photo Credit: Cirrus