Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

This link is to 'Wired Science' where you will find a very cool 10 minute (or thereabouts) doco about UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) as created by amateurs and enthusiasts and with a look at UAV research being done by NASA.

http://www.pbs.org/kcet/wiredscience/video/163-diy_uavs.html

This stuff is fascinating - if a bit Uber-Nerdy!

The Elusive Dream

The Minijet, the Weejet, and other good ideas that went nowhere.

http://www.airspacemag.com/issues/2008/february-march/personal_jets.php

Love the 'Weejet' if only for its name!!

Making Comments

Hiya,

A few folk have enquired about making comments on this blog - more specifically, how to make comments. It couldn't be easier...

At the bottom right of each article you'll see a spot where it says '0 comments'. Click there. That is the spot where you can add your own comments and read other comments that have been left before. Of course, if a comment has already been left then the link will show '1 comment' or '15 comments'.
When clicked, a new window will open for you to add your comment. You can choose to leave a comment under various methods of identification. Probably the quickest way is to select 'Name/URL' and enter your name in the name window- don't worry about the URL part unless you want other viewers to navigate over to your web site - in which case, enter your full web address in the URL window.

Right then - now you know how - bring those comments on...!

Speed and Angels

Coming to a TV or a cinema near you, Speed and Angels, a new indy documentary about fighter pilots. Directed by Peyton Wilson, the story follows two Navy officers, Jay and Meagan, through flight school, dogfights in Nevada, aircraft carrier landing exercises, and eventually the harsh realities of the Iraq war. Top Gun references may be obvious, but accurate. Meagan (callsign: Slick) decided at 12 that she wanted to be a fighter pilot after seeing Top Gun with her dad. Be sure to check out the video clips!

http://www.speedandangels.com/

Virgin Jet to use Biofuel

Here's an interesting article concerning the experimental flight of a Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747-400 using a blend of traditional kerosene and biofuel. In the current climate, it's good to see some attempts being made to reduce the fuel load of the aviation industry and its contribution to climate change.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/05/MN6VUQIL9.DTL

Fly-In to HVGC

DO NOT MISS THIS!!!

On Sunday the 17th of February, 2008, the flying sub committee has organised, in conjunction with the Hunter Valley Gliding Club, a fly in to the HVGC airfield at Warkworth.
The members of the HVGC have organised a fun day of gliding and a BBQ.

For more information about the HVGC go to their website at...
http://www.hvgc.com.au/

Directions to the HVGC are here...

http://www.hvgc.com.au/map.php

Be there at 10am and be prepared for an awesome day!!!

Is this the future?

To get the ball rolling, here are a couple of links to some amazing web pages that I came across lately...


The world’s first electric aeroplane…

http://www.apame.eu/AA%20Projects.html

And check out the Pal-V – ‘Personal Air and Land Vehicle’…

http://www.pal-v.com/

especially the video footage on the ‘Publication/Press’ page. Love the way it takes those corners!!

Perhaps the ultimate LSA?

Welcome!

Hi and welcome to 'Power, Attitude, Trim', an occasional blog about the Royal Newcastle Aero Club and also about aviation in general and anything else interesting that might catch my eye.
Occasionally, I'll post info about what is happening with the RNAC and I welcome your comments.

I'll also use this blog for aviation issues that are maybe not appropriate for the RNAC newsletter and also for me to ramble on about anything that takes my fancy.
Please note that the views expressed on this blog are exclusively my own and, unless expressly stated, are in no way representative of the views of the RNAC board, its staff or its members. Also, inflammatory or inappropriate comments will be deleted from this blog.