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Aviation: The Invisible Highway Movie coming soon

We just found out about this new documentary and wanted to share the trailer.  It is about how the airplane has changed the world and how we move around in it.  Many take aviation for granted, how you thought about how amazing it is that we can be on the other side of the world in less than half a day?

It was filmed in 18 countries across all 7 continents. This latest aviation movie is scheduled for release in 2015. It was written by Brian J. Terwilliger and narrated by Harrison Ford.

Some of you may know that Harrison Ford is a pilot, too. He has a license to fly fixed wing aircraft and helicopters.

We’ll definitely be watching for this movie in 2015!

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Cessna 172 makes emergency landing on Quebec highway

A few months ago a Cessna 172 experienced engine problems and was forced to make an emergency landing on a Quebec highway.

The footage is from an onboard camera that films the entire landing. The pilots did a great job and no one was hurt in the incident.  The plane touched down on highway 10.

The pilots immediately establish a glide an execute successful forced approach, in traffic.

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Antonov 225 at Toronto Pearson Airport: Photos

The largest aircraft in the world, the Ukrainian built Antonov 225, tail number ADB 3452, made it’s first ever appearance at Toronto Pearson International Airport on November 18, 2014.  It was delivering mining parts from Doncaster, Sheffield, England (DSA/EGCN)  via Keflavik, Iceland (KEF/BIKF) and Goose Bay (CYYR).  It departed YYZ on November 19, 2014.

Images courtesy of Andy Cline.

Antonov 225 on takeoff
Antonov 225 on takeoff

Seeing this aircraft is always a spectacle. Conceived in the chillest years of the Cold War, it was originally designed to transport space shuttles for the now defunct Soviet space shuttle program.

This airplane, currently the only one of it’s kind, is nicknamed Mriya, which means “dream” in Ukrainian.

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The 225 makes a the jumbo jet 747 look small in comparison and can carry twice as much as a 747 freighter.  It’s dimensions are impressive: it’s nearly a football field long from nose to tail (84 meters) and from wingtip to wingtip (88 meters).

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It has a maximum takeoff weight of 1.32 million pounds – that’s 640 tonnes –  and is equipped with six ZMKB Progress Lotarev D-18T turbo fan jet engines, each capable of 51,590 pounds of thrust.

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It requires six crew to fly the plane, and holds 300,000 kg of fuel and cruises at 800 km /h – that’s 432 knots!  The service ceiling is 11,00 meters (36,000 feet).  It’s landing gear system features 32 wheels, some of which are steerable.

The landing gear of the 225. Image from Wikipedia.
The landing gear of the 225. Image from Wikipedia.

 

The plane requires a runway that is over 9800 feet (2.9 km) to land, and at maximum weight, that runway needs to be 11,000 feet (3.3 km).

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There was only one of these aircraft ever built! Apparently, there is a second one that is being built, and is reportedly 60-70% complete.

It is amazing that an aircraft of this size can fly through the air. An amazing feat of engineering.

Watch the Antonov land at Manchester.

 

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Landing Gear Collapses on Air Canada Express Dash-8 Aircraft in Edmonton

On November 6, 2014 on a routine flight from Calgary, Alberta (YYC) to Grande Prairie, Alberta (CYQU), a Air Canada owned Dash-8 blew a tire on takeoff from YYC.

Due to unfavourable landing conditions at YYC, presumably strong crosswinds, the pilots announced they would divert to Edmonton International and carry out an emergency landing.

Upon touchdown the right landing gear collapsed sending the propeller into the tarmac, destroying it, then the prop broke off and cut into the fuselage of the airplane and injuring a passenger that was seated in that row.

Four passengers were injured in the incident. Of the four passengers admitted to the hospital for treatment, one remains in medical care for observation.

The aircraft sustained serious damage. The De Havilland Canada Dash-8 aircraft registered C-GGBF, manufactured by Bombardier, first flew in 2013.   Officials say the aircraft will likely return to service in a few months.

Image Courtesy of CTV News Edmonton
Image Courtesy of CTV News Edmonton

There were 71 passengers onboard the Air Canada Express flight.

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One of the most dangerous takeoffs in the world

This BAe 146 Avro is not taking off from a ‘normal’ airport.  It’s not normal to have ground proximity sensors going off during this sequence of flight, but given the circumstances, there is good reason why they do.  Bhutan’s Paro airport has a field elevation of 7,200 feet and the peaks around there top out at 18,000 feet.

It is considered one of the world’s most challenging airports to operate in.  Due to the challenge because of the surrounding terrain and lack of ILS, the airport is only open from sunrise to sunset under VFR flight rules only.

Runways 15 and 33 are just over 6,500 feet long (2000 meters).  Operating out of La Paz, Bolivia also has it’s challenges due to high altitude flying, but lacks the terrain hazards.

It’s enough to give any pilot a serious dry mouth.

Apparently, as of 2009, only eight pilots in the world are certified to land at this airport!

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Flying Is Freedom

Great video from American pilot from his experiences flying over a two year period.

Footage is from Wyoming, Utah, Montana and Idaho.  Watch while he flies through some canyons, follows rivers, weaves through gorgeous mesas and other beautiful landscapes! Thanks “Ranch Pilot”!