Airplane Geeks Podcast

Qatar Airways 787 Dreamliner Jon Ostrower, Aerospace Beat Reporter for The Wall Street Journal returns as our guest. We talk with Jon about the Boeing press briefing in Tokyo where they annoyed the NTSB over 787 battery issues. Jon attended the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading (ISTAT) Americas Conference and we get his impressions from that event, including industry concern about the sustainability of the huge narrowbody order volume in light of uncertainty about the future economic situation. We discuss Airbus progress on the A350 widebody (will we see it for the Paris Air Show?) and a larger Bombardier CSeries that starts to encroach on 737/A320 class airliners. Their test aircraft strategy employs a bit of concurrent flight testing. We also talk about the operating economics of old aircraft versus the new fuel efficient planes. Follow Jon on Twitter as @JonOstrower, visit his Facebook page and his photos on Flicker. The week’s aviation news: FAA releases final list of tower closures NTSB scolds Boeing over public comments on 787 batteries Controller Praised for Saving Hypoxic In this week’s Australia Desk: The Regional Aviation Association of Australia calls for more assistance from Canberra for the increasingly struggling regional sector…but receives a less than favourable response from Canberra Fiji Airways (formerly Air Pacific) launches the first of three new A330s, which will replace its ageing fleet of B747-400s Grant speculates about the LionAir’s possible plans to enter the Australian market A minor fire in the Melbourne ATC Centre causes an evacuation and delays in the skies over south eastern Australia during the week, Find more from Grant and Steve at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu. Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124. Australia Desk archives can be found at www.australiadesk.net. In this week’s Across the Pond segment: In memory of Sub Lieutenant Derrik Armson, Barracuda Pilot in the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. See Naval Air History and follow @navalairhistory. Find Pieter on Twitter as @Nascothornet, on Facebook at XTPMedia, and at the Aviation Xtended podcast. Ryan’s Su-30MKK Flanker G 1:72 scale model Mentions: A-4 Skyhawk Association Airline Pilot Guy Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at www.brotherloverocks.com.

Jack Pelton’s Cessna 195 Guest Jack Pelton is with Aviation Alliance LLC, a new venture created to remanufacture Cessna 421s as the Aviation Alliance Excalibur. He’s the retired Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer for Cessna Aircraft Company. Currently, Jack is serving as Chairman of the Board and acting President/CEO for the Experimental Aircraft Association. We talk with Jack about remanufacturing aircraft and how older airplanes like the 421 could be victims if 100LL goes away, and how Aviation Alliance has set up the business to utilize the services of other companies. Also we discuss the numnber of open leadership positions at aviation associations, lithium ion batteries, how AirVenture is looking for this year, the effects of sequestration, current drivers for business aviation, and even Jack’s antique airplane collection. The week’s aviation news: Revealed: Pilot of Air France jet that crashed in Atlantic Ocean killing 228 people had just ONE HOUR sleep before flight Principato to Leave ACI-NA Why the 787 battery fix will work In this week’s Australia Desk: Airport news from Australia: a new airport, a new runway, and a new lounge. Also attendance at the Avalon airshow. Find more from Grant and Steve at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu. Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124. Australia Desk archives can be found at www.australiadesk.net. Mentions: Business Jets and ATC User Fees: Taking a Closer Look. Girls With Wings, Inc. Flying the Feathered Edge Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at www.brotherloverocks.com.

flybe at Southampton Airport Robert W. Poole, Jr. is the founder of the Reason Foundation, a free market think tank that conducts public policy research. He has been a long time advocate of air traffic control system reform. We talk to Bob about the recent World ATM Congress in Madrid and the ATC Global 2013 conference in Amsterdam where his presentation Why Not Call it “Privitization”? being delivered by Graham Lake. Bob reflects on how Nav Canada, the Canadian civil air navagation services provider, represents a good model for others, the challenges faced in the U.S. and how the budget situation affects aviation. Who is going to take action? The Government? Industry? The Reason Foundation offers two newsletters, the Airport Policy and Aviation Security Newsletter and the Air Traffic Control Reform Newsletter, which are available at no charge upon request. Also, be sure to visit reason.tv for a variety of topical videos. The week’s aviation news: NTSB releases interim factual report on JAL 787 battery fire investigation and announces forum and investigative hearing Airports can make case to keep their control towers open Congressional Republicans challenge LaHood on FAA furloughs Air Traffic Control Newsletter #100 Backlash from airline employees over move to allow knives on U.S. planes In this week’s Australia Desk: Former Qantas & Australian Airlines Chief Executive, James Strong, dies at age 68 Tiger Airway/Virgin Australia deal further stalled by the ACCC CASA considering changes to the Civil Aviation Regulations to facilitate UAV operations better, and based on weight Qantas considering purchasing 747-400F freighters Qantas profit increases party on the back of 787 compensation from Boeing Find more from Grant and Steve at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu. Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124. Australia Desk archives can be found at www.australiadesk.net. In this week’s Across the Pond segment: In the last of our mini series episodes from Southampton Airport we look at how social media is being used to coordinate all of the airports activities and programmes when we talk to Marketing Manager Vicky Parkes. We are also delighted to see the recent news that Southampton Airport, branded as ‘The airport you can Breeze Through’ has smashed its targets for getting passengers through security with passengers waiting less than 5 minutes 98.2% of the time, and less than 10 minutes 99% of the time in 2012. We would like to thank Lucy Calvert for all of her support in producing this mini series. Useful Southampton links: Southampton Airport email newsletter Southampton Airport on Twitter Southampton Airport on Facebook Southampton Airport on YouTube Southampton Airport Blog Find Pieter on Twitter as @Nascothornet, on Facebook at XTPMedia, and at the Aviation Xtended podcast. Volunteer/Pilot Chelsea Tugaw explains preflighting Upper Limit’s R22  Mentions: 3 On Your Side: Thrown Off United Flight For Taking Photo London helicopter crash pilot decided to pick up client despite warnings The Aviation Hall of Fame of New Jersey Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at www.brotherloverocks.com.

F-22 at Australian International Airshow 2013 (Avalon) by Mick Harriet Baskas writes the monthly At the Airport column for USA Today, as well as occasional features at NBCnrews.com and MSN Travel. She also manages the collection of online Airport Guides at USA Today. We talk about the recent Travel Goods Show in Las Vegas and some of the products of interest to air travelers. Also, things airports have been doing to increase the experience like better restraurants and bars with broader appeal, a liquor store in baggage claim, and even free land lines that are advertiser supported. Rob even learns something interesting he didn’t know about Chicago’s O’Hare Airport! Rob even learns something interesting he didn’t know about Chicago’s O’Hare Airport! Find Harriet’s blog at Stuck at the Airport and follow her on Twitter at @hbaskas and @stuckatairport. The week’s aviation news: JetBlue unveils first A320 with sharklets JetBlue Airways and Airbus Reach Agreement to Retrofit the Airline’s Airbus A320 Fleet with Sharklets JetBlue entry to Google Glass contest suggests airport usage Pentagon says to resume F-35 flights In this week’s Australia Desk report: Recorded at the end of the final day of Avalon 2013 – The Australian International Air Show. We talk to Eamon Hamilton, Public Affairs Officer for Air Lift Group, Royal Australian Air Force, about the Air Show from the RAAF perspective. We also include a brief discussion about the F-22 Raptor display over Avalon, the first time this aircraft has been displayed in Australia skies, and include a clip from our interview with the display pilot, Major Henry Schantz. Find full Avalon 2013 daily video and audio coverage at www.planecrazydownunder.com. Find more from Grant and Steve at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu. Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124. Australia Desk archives can be found at www.australiadesk.net. Southampton Airport Fire & Rescue In this week’s Across the Pond segment: On the Southampton Airport miniseries this week we talk to the airport Fire Service. What are their capabilities, strength and how do they stay alert for the 1.7 million passengers that travel safely through the airport every year. Find Pieter on Twitter as @Nascothornet, on Facebook at XTPMedia, and at the Aviation Xtended podcast. Westland WS51 Dragonfly at the Helicopter Museum by Bob Mentions: Flashback Fridays: Farewell to a Friend, the post on Nuts About Southwest about the loss of Brian Lusk. Excerpt from the interview with Brian Lusk on the Airplane Geeks Episode 156, originally published July 19, 2011. Lauda Air Flight 004 Glory Hole: When You Lose Everything You Love, Your Final Flight May Be Your Best, by Captain Terry Reece Sopwith Triplane at the Aero Space Museum of Calgary Air France Flight 296 | Airbus A320 Crash Piaggio Reveals Unmanned Avanti Singapore’s leap into the space industry LOT 787 parked at ORD by Scott Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at www.brotherloverocks.com.

Guest Alan Klapmeier, the CEO of the Kestrel Aircraft Company talks with us about his single-engine turboprop Kestrel. We discuss the Kestrel’s capabilities, features and design objectives, and choice of the Honeywell TPE331-14GR engine. Also, the status of the program and when first flight is expected. We have an interesting conversation about form versus function in airplane design and what composite construction allows designers to do. This aircraft features a glass cockpit with side-stick that creates an unusual amout of room. Attention was given to how the pilot and the plane interact together – presenting information rather than data so pilots can be decision makers instead of processors of data. That has an impact on safety, but also comfort. Alan also collects diecast model airplanes and has a collection that could easily be called giant. Follow @KestrelAircraft on Twitter. The week’s aviation news: Small plane crashes in eastern Georgia, killing 5 United Airlines grounds Dreamliners through June 5 F-35s grounded as precaution after crack found in engine blade David’s Aircraft of the Week is a bit of a surprise. It’s the Sopwith Triplane! In this week’s Across the Pond segment: We continue with the Southampton Airport mini-series this week and look at what’s required to keep the airport terminal clean and tidy by talking to Operations Manager Karren Pattar from Amey. Southampton achieved platinum in the 2012 Loo of the Year Awards (LOYA). Find Pieter on Twitter as @Nascothornet, on Facebook at XTPMedia, and at the Aviation Xtended podcast. Rob talks with David Parker Brown about Aviation Geek Fest 2013. Mentions: Spoof of American’s new ad about the Merger Feb 2013 El Centro Photocall Clip by Stephen Tornblom Japan Identifies Oil Leak, Cockpit Cracks in 787 Dreamliner 50 Tales of Flight: From Biplanes to Boeings, an eBook by Owen Zupp A Yank in the Luftwaffe – A World War 2 suspenseful thriller in France, an eBook by Robert V. Ricard, illustrated by Stephen Ricard Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at www.brotherloverocks.com.

Photo courtesy of The Helicopter Museum Industry analyst Henry Harteveldt returns as our guest. Henry is now with Hudson Crossing. Previously, he was Chief Research Officer and Co-Founder of Atmosphere Research Group, and before that he was with Forrester Research. We talk with Henry about the merger of US Airways and American Airlines, including labor relationships, maintenance, competitive effects, the merging of company cultures, and other steps necessary before the deal is done. We also touch on airline brand loyalty and airline fees. The week’s aviation news: Airbus Abandons Plan to Use Controversial Batteries in New Jet Service Cuts May Follow Merger of Airlines Air Force increases projected KC-46 flying hours, crew ratio Cirrus ramps up Hiring in Duluth for VisionJet This week David takes a break from his Aircraft of the Week segment and gives his views on budget sequestration, a means of budget control used under the Budget Control Act of 2011. In this week’s Australia Desk report: We’re joined by Ben Ippolito, a PCDU team member and Air Traffic Controller, to discuss future changes to air traffic management in Australia and the news that authorities are looking at ways to better integrate civil and military systems. Find more from Grant and Steve at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124. Australia Desk archives can be found at www.australiadesk.net. In this week’s Across the Pond segment: This week we visit the world’s largest dedicated helicopter museum. With over 80 aircraft from all parts of the world its a wonderful place for all Avgeeks and certainly a hidden gem of a museum. For more, see The Helicopter Museum website, The Helicopter Museum on Facebook and @HeliCollections on Twitter. Find Pieter on Twitter as @Nascothornet, on Facebook at XTPMedia, and at the Aviation Xtended podcast. Mentions: FAA Directive Sheds Light On Emirates Engine Shutdown Lowest flyby ever, Argentinian FMA IA 63 Fighter plane’s incredible fly-by caught on camera Life as an Airline Pilot Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at www.brotherloverocks.com.

Two U.S. Navy North American RA-5C Vigilantes, David’s Aircraft of the Week We welcome Lynda Meeks and Jodi Brommer to the podcast. Lynda is Executive Director of Girls With Wings, Inc. and has been our guest in the past. Jodi is an avid listener and former US Navy Seabee. She also served as a convoy 240B gunner in Iraq, with 143 missions. Taking advantage of the GI Bill, Jodi is continuing her education and helicopter training. Since both Lynda and Jodi have flown them, we talk about flying helicopters. Jodi is now training in the Bell 206, having gotten her private in the R-22, and instrument rating in the R-44. Lynda is moving to Hong Kong to become an Airbus simulator instructor for an airline. Girls with Wings continues on, in fact they are in their Spring scholarship session for flight training right now. We talk about the non-profit Institute for Women Of Aviation Worldwide and the Women of Aviation Week with events planned for March 4, 2013, which you can follow at Twitter hashtag #woaw2013. The iWOAW is an independent consortium of businesses and organizations that seeks to foster diversity and thus growth in the air and space industry. The week’s aviation news: Concessions Likely To Get US Air-AMR Off The Ground Google to Begin Work on Their Own Private Airport in San Jose Google execs’ jet fleet could head to San Jose Airport as $82 million general aviation facility proposed 787 Completes first battery test flight: Flightaware track Americans Confident Humans Will Walk on Mars Within Two Decades David’s Aircraft of the Week is the North American A-5/RA-5C Vigilante. In this week’s Australia Desk report: Virgin Australia & Tiger Airways still facing Australian Consumer & Competition Commission concerns over their merger leading to an airline duopoly in Australia. Qantas announces that it’s pushing ahead with 787 procurement an anticipates no delays…just as Boeing announces production delays. Qantas and British Airways deny any tension over recent route network changes. Air Pacific is searching for a new CEO as David Pflieger announces his impending departure. Aviation Australia, a Brisbane based training organisation, looks to Asia for new business. The RAAF marks 10 years of C130 operations in the Middle East. Find more from Grant and Steve at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124. Australia Desk archives can be found at www.australiadesk.net. In this week’s Across the Pond segment: Pieter relates the initial findings from the Red Wings Tupolev Tu-204 crash while attempting to land at Moscow Vnukovo on December 29, 2012. Then he asks Rob for his thoughts on why this happened. It’s a story about landing gear compression, reverse thrusters that could not be deployed, and brakes that couldn’t stop the aircraft. For more, see: Crashed Tu-204 powered forward as pilots tried reversing thrust and TU-204 Plane crash-lands into Moscow highway. Find Pieter on Twitter as @Nascothornet, on Facebook at XTPMedia, and at the Aviation Xtended podcast. Rob at SimpleFlight.net Rob Mark provides a clip from the SimpleFlight.net show: JetWhiner & AirplaneGeek at Heart! Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at www.brotherloverocks.com.

F-22 by Ian Kershaw This episode we feature contributions from our listeners: comments, feedback, news items, links, and more, from email and recordings. You’ll hear about the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, USAF Museum lecture series recordings, good aviation books, Institute for Women of Aviation Worldwide, stories of aviation as first love, the F-22 Raptor and the YF-23, the F-35 performance bar, aviation’s carbon footprint, fear of flying, personal electronic devices inflight, a petition to change an airport name, privacy invasion by drones, an Iranian fighter (perhaps), and thoughts on aviators we have lost. The week’s aviation news: US Air Force hopes to upgrade aggressor F-16s Report: FAA slow to implement new airline-safety regulations Boeing 787 grounding persists; Airbus comfortable with A350 batteries Failure Modes Featured In 787 Battery Reassessment NTSB’s Hersman Reportedly a Top Candidate for Transportation Secretary Move Past LaHood… and the Sooner the Better Cessna c-190 by David Vanderhoof David’s Aircraft of the Week is the Cessna C-190/195. In this week’s Australia Desk report: Grant has been in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this week as a guest of Malaysia Airlines as they formerly joined the One World alliance. He met and spoke with a number of high ranking airline officials including Qantas CEO Allan Joyce, and recorded some interviews with a number of them. For this edition, he calls in from the business class lounge at Kuala Lumpur International Airport as he wait to board his flight for the return trip to Melbourne. In this report: Q quick interview with the CEO of OneWorld, Bruce Ashby The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission gives the green light for Virgin Australia’s purchase of Sky West The federal government is selling the fleet of former Royal Australia Navy Sea King helicopters as parts, retaining on example for preservation at the Fleet Air Arm Museum at NAS Nowra, New South Wales. Find more from Grant and Steve at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124. Australia Desk archives can be found at www.australiadesk.net. YF-23 on taxiway In this week’s Across the Pond segment: We return to Scotland to talk to Ian Grosz about his passion for flying the J4 Auster. A taildragger with not too much performance buts lots of personality. See @AusterPilot on Twitter and The Auster Diaries. Jodi and Bell Long Ranger Mentions: aviationweek.com/787 for continuing stories on the 787 fleet grounding National Museum of the US Air Force – Museum Podcasts Institute for Women Of Aviation Worldwide (iWOAW) This Is What Regret Looks Like To The US Air Force Pentagon lowers F-35 performance bar Your Biggest Carbon Sin May Be Air Travel Disruptions: Fliers Must Turn Off Devices, but It’s Not Clear Why Do Electronic Gadgets Really Affect an Airplane’s Instruments? Interference from Electronic Devices Eve Cogan Flight of the Drones Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at www.brotherloverocks.com.

We talk with Major Brandon “Cain’n” Abel, and Major John “Manson” Appelt, Experimental Test Instructor Pilots from the USAF Test Pilot School. Greg Morris from Gauntlet Warbirds joins in. The USAF Test Pilot School is a 48 week program for classes of 20-24 students. Graduates go on to test and evaluate weapons systems as test pilots or test engineers. We talk with Cain’n and Manson about the selection process for admission into the School, the variety of aircraft flown at the School, and what a flight test mission involves. The week’s aviation news: NTSB Chairman says ‘We have not ruled anything out’ in investigation of Boeing 787 battery fire in Boston Pinnacle Airlines To Move HQ, Hundreds Of Employees To MSP $550,000 from state helped to lure Pinnacle airline jobs Stunt pilot who has shared runways with motorcyclists is now under FAA investigation for Lancaster Airport fly-by Chicago Meigs Field (CGX) is Dead … Really David gives us a debrief on the Airpigz.com meetup at the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum in Washington, D.C. and at the Udvar-Hazy Center next to Dulles. In this week’s Australia Desk report: Qantas experiences teething problems with its new alliance partner as their booking system allocates premium economy seats on Emirates aircraft – a class not available with that carrier. Tiger Airways profits slip as they await a ruling by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission on their proposed takeover by Virgin Australia. Jetstar Japan takes delivery of two new A320s. The first former RAAF C-130H to be gifted to Indonesia (formerly A97-006) takes to the skies following deep maintenance in preparation for the transfer. The USAF confirm they are sending two F-22 Raptors to this year’s Australian International Air Show (Avalon), and unlike their last visit in 2011, this time they’ll be putting on an aerial display. Grant is heading to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this week as a guest of Malaysia Airlines to cover their launch into the One World Alliance. Find more from Grant and Steve at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124. Australia Desk archives can be found at www.australiadesk.net. In this week’s Across the Pond segment: Naval Air Historian Matt Willis joins us to discuss his new book on the Fairey Barracuda a mono wing fleet air arm torpedo bomber from the second world war. Designed to be a mulit functional aircraft, the ‘Barra’ suffered reputational challenges from its perceived weaknesses. However, it proved itself many times and flew well into the ‘50’s. Not a single complete airframe is left of the 2,600 Barracuda’s built but there is a project being delivered by the Bluebird team and supported by the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton to recreate a lasting memory to this both beloved and sometimes sneered upon aircraft. To Pieter, it is of course the chariot on which his father flew the majority of his fleet air arm missions and activities and therefore remembered with a little more fondness than others. Matt can be found at www.navalairhistory.com and on Twitter @NavalAirHistory. Matt’s published books include: Blackburn Skua and Roc and Junkers Ju 87 Stuka. Naval History Links: Fairey Barracuda Wreckage and Recollections Barracuda Rising From the Wreckage The Royal Navy Historic Flight In Memorium: Aviation Loses a Great Man and a Better Friend by Phil Derner, Jr. A Great Aviation Geek Is No Longer Here Plane that crashed in Antarctica may have turned too early Mentions: Adventures of Cap’n Aux Jetstar pilot mobile txting stuff up uncovered in ATSB inquiry Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at www.brotherloverocks.com.

  David Parker Brown from the Airline Reporter.com blog returns as our guest. We talk about the grounding of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet, the new American Airlines livery, and using personal electronic devices on flights. David is organizing the Aviation Geekfest in Seattle February 16 and 17, 2013 with lots of exciting activities planned for the event. Also find Airline Reporter.com on Twitter as @airlinereporter and on Facebook. The week’s aviation news: All Boeing Dreamliners Are Grounded World-Wide Lithium Batteries Central to Boeing’s 787 Woes FAA airworthiness directive requires 787 battery system modification FAA Grounds all Boeing 787s. Now What? Scott Spangler Takes the Left Seat at Jetwhine.com Pilots at Memphis-based Pinnacle Airlines overwhelmingly approve concessionary contract Amazon has high hopes as FAA mulls guidance for PED use during takeoff and landing FAA To Pilots: No Personal Devices Elegant ditching of a Cessna 310 (although possibly in embarrassing circumstances) NTSB photo of Lithium Ion battery David’s Aircraft of the Week is the The Martin 167 Maryland bomber. In this week’s Australia Desk report: Qantas reduces its 787-8 order by one airframe (not related to the current AD issues) while their management is still managing to upset the their international pilots, BAE Systems to test their Taranis stealth UAV in the remote Outback areas of Australia, HNZ takes delivery of three new AW109SP helicopters for use on a ten year contract with mining company Rio Tinto, and the federal government blocks a bid by a local municipal government to have a second airport built in their area. Find more from Grant and Steve at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124. Australia Desk archives can be found at www.australiadesk.net. In this week’s Across the Pond segment: We find out this week why North Sea Helicopter Pilot Ian Grosz intends giving something back to aviation in the form of Take Off a scholarship programme focused at youngsters in Scotland. Follow @Austerpilot on Twitter. AN-12 arriving in Calgary by Ian Kershaw Mentions: B-52 flight, 50 years ago in Maine, led to key safety changes On Gratitude and Flying from the Bill Next Best Blog SAS captain uses whiskey to deice wings of aircraft The music in Pieter’s recordings: The music for both Across The Pond, Xtended and my segment on PCDU is performed by a UK band called WhiteHarts. If you would like to see where they are on the internet you can go to my Blog – AlphaTangoPapa.Blogspot.com and see the very large credit to the band along with the links to their website presence. Not saying no one has ever been there but its quite prominent on the front page below the Airplane Geeks logo. The link to me, is that my son Anthony played Bass for WhiteHarts for a while. They no longer play as WhiteHarts but all still play in some format or other. The guy singing the track I use in ATP which is called ‘Seven’, is Joe Bernie. The track I use on Xtended (called ‘Epic’) is now exclusively Xtended’s to use and has not yet been published by the band (and I think unlikely to be). The guitar infills I sometimes use you are correct are by one of my brothers, although since being involved in an road traffic accident, he is no longer able to play, which is very sad as he was very talented. And finally I am a drummer (in the very distant past) so you never know, there might one day be a percussion insert! Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at www.brotherloverocks.com.

Steve Tupper, aka Stephen Force, produces the Airspeed podcast and is the man behind the Acrocamp aerobatics documentary. He’s is an aviation lawyer, a private pilot, and serves as a Civil Air Patrol Major and search-and-rescue pilot. Steve tells us about the Civil Air Patrol and it’s missions: airforce assigned inland search and rescue with a fleet of 550 single engine piston aircraft, aerospace education, and the cadet program. We talk about Acrocamp, which brought together a diverse group of pilots to learn aerobatic aircraft. Also, the Acrocamp documentary movie, and what aerobatics does to pilots. Follow Steve on Twitter as @StephenForce and also see his facebook page. The week’s aviation news: Boeing Fire Spotlights Hazard of Plug-in Cars, Laptops Dreamliner plane review ordered by US regulators Eclipse Hopes To Build USAF Trainers Chinese investors acquire Enstrom Helicopter David’s Aircraft of the Week is the Antonov AN-12 NATO “CUB,” the C-130 of the East. In this week’s Australia Desk report: Grant is off this week, so Steve is flying – or podcasting – solo. A China Southern student pilot makes an emergency landing at Mangalore, 75 miles north of Melbourne, after the starboard wheel fell off his Piper Warrior in flight. After a bringing the aircraft to a stop, the pilot walked away un-harmed. Virgin Australia spent the week switching over to its new Sabre booking system, and was mostly praised for its handling of a very challenging process. Their domestic airline code has also changed from DJ to VA. In defence news, the Chief of Air Force, Air Marshall Geoff Brown announces the re-activation of 35SQN, better known as “Wallaby Airlines”, as preparations for the introduction of the C-27J Spartan continue.” Find more from Grant and Steve at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124. Australia Desk archives can be found at www.australiadesk.net. Wasatch Mountains by listener Jodi In this week’s Across the Pond segment: Our Mini Series continues from Southampton Airport this week.Continuing our look behind the scenes we go back to talk to Dan Townsend about some innovative solar powered LED lighting being used for aircraft movements signalling and upgrades to the lighting on the aircraft stands. Find more about Southampton Airport at SouthamptonAirport.com and their blog, and follow them on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. Todd Erickson’s father with the Champ, now and then Mentions: When Thunder Rolled: An F-105 Pilot over North Vietnam Palace Cobra: A Fighter Pilot in the Vietnam Air War Thunder Tales Biofuels could lead to mass hunger deaths: U.N. envoy Must the poor go hungry just so the rich can drive? Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at www.brotherloverocks.com.

Trevor Smith from Desertpilot.com with the 1942 Champ Guest Richard Aboulafia is Vice President, Analysis at Teal Group. We look at some of the major aviation developments from 2012 and look ahead to what we can expect in 2013. We discuss narrowbody orders and the need for efficient aircraft in order to compete. With narrowbody technology on a plateau, it’s the efficiency of the engines that drive the economics. China and Russian commercial aircraft prospects are covered as is Chinese military aviation. Also, prospects for general aviation in the U.S., the retirement of the Space Shuttles, the growth of commercial launch capability, and what that means for aerospace. As for Boeing, Richard says watch the promptness of the 787-10 launch, and the 777X. Meanwhile Airbus is physically establishing itself on U.S. soil to mitigate exchange rate vulnerability, maybe put pressure on the unions, and help their prospects for the next military competition. F-35 partner country concerns with price and delivery, airframer reluctance to take on commercial risk, and program vulnerability in times of budget crunch. Also watch the Korean FX3 fighter competition between the F-35 and the F-15. Even the USAF tanker resurfaces with issues getting the new hangars for them. See Richard’s personal site at RichardAboulafia.com. The week’s aviation news: APA Pilots Opposing USAir Merger AMR Sees US Airways Merger Review Concluded Within Weeks Delta to own Memphis-based Pinnacle David’s Aircraft of the Week is the Aeronca 7AC Champion. In this week’s Australia Desk report: Looking forward to upcoming issues for 2013, the Qantas/Emirates tie up is going ahead as the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission gives its approval, while Virgin faces an uphill battle to get it’s buy out of Tiger Airways & Sky West approved. ADS-B will factor in the news in 2013 as Australian carriers who operate above FL290 are required to use install equipment and use it by mid December, and the LSA (RA-Aus) sector is facing an interesting period as CASA exercises its oversight powers and grounds up to 1,000 aircraft. Find more from Grant and Steve at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124. Australia Desk archives can be found at www.australiadesk.net. In this week’s Across the Pond segment: This week on Across The Pond we return to Southampton Airport in the UK to continue with a new mini series focusing on behind the scenes. Last year we spoke to Dave Lees, Managing Director who gave us his strategy for growth and customer service at the airport and who has now kindly allowed us a behind the scenes look at some of the areas we don’t normally see. This week we talk to Dan Townsend, Airport Assurance Manager who tells us all about their innovative and world leading technology used for avian control. Find more about Southampton Airport at SouthamptonAirport.com and their blog, and follow them on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. Must attend events: AirPigz National Air And Space Museum MeetUp January 25-27, 2013 (Washington DC) Aviation Geek Fest 2013 Mentions: Desert Pilot: I got My Tailwheel endorsement! Desert Pilot: Some pics of Flying the Champ Deaf Pilots Association Gulfstream reveals new supersonic aircraft, inlet designs in patent filings Airplane Geeks The missing Episodes TheSRQPilot on YouTube A Skycrane dipping at the Fern Lake Fire, Colorado by Paul Filmer Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at www.brotherloverocks.com.

Engine Alliance GP7200, center cut sketch This week we bring you a collection of segments: Max has a conversation with Mary Ellen Jones, President of the Engine Alliance, a 50/50 joint venture of General Electric and Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corp. EA produces the GP7200 engine for the Airbus A380. Max talks to Mary Ellen about the formation of EA and how two fierce competitors can come together in a joint venture. We look at who manufactures which parts of the engine, how they are integrated, and how the engine is maintained. We also touch on Mary Ellen’s involvement with the Connecticut Airport Authority, and how she is trying to improve the experience at Connecticut’s airports. [Starts 3:24] Find Engine Alliance on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. First Operational F-35B Joint Strike Fighter David, Rob, and Max had the opportunity to speak with Major Aric Liberman, an F-35B pilot with Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, Arizona. We talk about the F-35, being part of the future, and engine performance. The Major compares the F-35B to previous generation tactical fighters like the F-18, and touches on the level of automation, and F-35 stick and throttle controls. [Starts 24:46] See First F-35B Delivery to MCAS Yuma on YouTube, and Pratt & Whitney Congratulates U.S. Marine Corps for World’s First F-35B Lightning II Operational Squadron. The segment from our commercial pilot and flight instructor teammate Rob Mark is about the realm of flight instruction. It’s actually about not learning to fly, to be more precise. In this piece, Rob tells us about how two different people influenced his life in aviation. One man nearly convinced him to stop flying forever, while the other saw a spark that convinced Rob not to give up on a dream. This is an Airplane Geek’s tale called … “The Day I Quit Flying.” [Starts 52:17] In this week’s Australia Desk Report, Grant attempts to recover from his New Years celebrations as the boys present an abridged version of their interview with Mac “Serge” Tucker, a former RAAF F/A18 pilot and Fight Combat Instructor who has recently publish a book talking about his experiences. They cover the importance of USAF exchange postings for RAAF pilots, his concerns about the introduction of the F-35 into Australian service, and his thoughts on the increasing use of un-manned aerial vehicles. [Starts 1:07:40] Mac’s book is called “Fighter Pilot – mis-adventures beyond the sound barrier with an Australian Top Gun.” The full interview is featured in episode 96 of Plane Crazy Down Under. Farnborough Air Sciences Trust In his Across the Pond segment, Pieter visits the Farnborough Air Sciences Trust (FAST). Described in the Sunday Times as one of the Top Ten Geeky Holiday Spots on the Planet, FAST is dedicated to maintaining the memory of all of the fabulous aviation and aerospace innovations and developments throughout Farnborough’s history. [Starts 1:21:35] Listener Ian Kershaw provides a brief review of the book “Vulcan 607″ by Rowland White. [Starts 1:45:29] Amber Nolan Finally, Max interviews Amber Nolan, a travel writer who is trying to visit all 50 U.S. states by hitch hiking rides on General Aviation aircraft. [Starts 1:47:59] Support her adventure on Facebook, Twitter, or her website. Rio’s famous Copacabana beach (and Sugarloaf mountain) taken on departure from Santos Dumont by Dima from Dima’s Corner Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at www.brotherloverocks.com.

de Havilland DH82 Tiger Moth David White is Air Boss for the Waterloo Ontario Air Show and a Board Member of the North East Council of Air Shows. We talk to David about what it takes to produce an air show and what the Air Boss does. Also, how the performers are booked and what they require. David discusses the impact of military demo team cutbacks driven by budget concerns, and the state of civilian jet teams. We discuss the role of the International Council of Air Shows (ICAS), who it’s members are, and what issues it faces. David can be found flying his 1975 177 Cardinal RG. In 2009 he flew with a friend in an open cockpit de Havilland DH82 Tiger Moth from Ontario to the East Coast and back in one week to celebrate the 100th anniversary of powered flight in Canada. Follow @WaterlooAirShow on Twitter and Facebook. David White’s 1975 Cessna 177 Cardinal RG The week’s aviation news: Airline mergers haven’t raised fares, report says Aviation perspectives: Airline mega-merger impact on the US domestic airline industry Fuel Control Malfunction Caused F-18 Crash CF-18 Crash Alberta International Airshow (video) The Story of the Week: “The Flight Before Christmas,” written by David Vanderhoof. In this week’s Australia Desk report: The Australian Government is enquiring with the US Government about the potential cost of purchasing additional F-18F Super Hornets for the RAAF – up to 24 more aircraft. The new Air New Zealand boss is talking of further strengthening ties with Virgin Australia. Meanwhile, Virgin Australia is increasing funding to Tourism Australia and hints at a possible corporate HQ relocation to Sydney. Qantas begins retiring its Rolls Royce powered B767s as VH-ZXB, formerly British Airways G-BNWF (cn 24338) is placed into storage in the USA. Find more from Grant and Steve at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124. Australia Desk archives can be found at www.australiadesk.net. In this week’s Across the Pond segment: This week we celebrate 100 Across The Pond segments by asking some of our guests back onto the show to see what the number 100 means to them from an aviation perspective. Appearing are: @Gareth_Stringer, @AviPlatform, @FlightLevel150, @KarlenePettit, @Pilot_NGB and @DLopezSalazar Find Pieter on Twitter as @Nascothornet, on his blog Alpha Tango Papa, on Facebook at XTPMedia, and at the Aviation Xtended podcast. Mosquito in action at the Pearl Harbor Air Show, Ardmore, Auckland, New Zealand by Ian Allen Mentioned: A silent message from Ian Kershaw GA Fly-by-Wire: Diamond Says Three Years Brazil announces construction of 800 airports The Untold Story of the Concorde Disaster Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at www.brotherloverocks.com.

Guest Adam Smith is Senior Vice President of the AOPA Center to Advance the Pilot Community, through which AOPA will consolidate all its efforts to expand the pilot community. That’s a two part task: first to stop the decline in the pilot population, and second to try and grow the pilot community. We talk to Adam about the pilot shortage: Is it real? Is it here now? Also, what does the declining pilot population do to the critical mass necessary to support the aviation infrastructure? Adam also talks about how the “mental state of depression” over the decline in the number of pilots may not be warranted, and it certainly isn’t healthy. He notes that we are all marketers for aviation and this isn’t something that AOPA is going to solve for all of us. Also that the role of government advocacy is to keep from adding burdens, like user fees. Part of the plan for the Center includes the launch of a flying clubs initiative to improve the flight training experiece, and grow a national network of flying clubs. AOPA’s Benét Wilson has a new regular feature on flying clubs and if you’d like to have your flying club profiled, please email Benét at Benet.Wilson@aopa.org. Also be sure to visit the AOPA Flying Clubs page. The week’s aviation news: American Airlines pilots approve new labor contract Longer hours, shorter pay, but demand for pilots is high F-35s scrapped by Conservatives as audit puts true cost past $30-billion Tories misled Canadians on F-35, opposition MPs charge Lockheed relocating 560 jobs from Georgia to Fort Worth Branson Airport Hopes for $23 million in Loans A.I.G. Agrees to Sell Most of Leasing Unit to Chinese Investors In this week’s Australia Desk report: Following last week’s geographic confusion on the show, we provide a correction, then its on to the news…. The RAAF’s 5th and final KC30A tanker has been delivered although its still not on home soil yet, Tiger Airways loses its CEO to Jetstar, and local companies are urging the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to allow expanded usage of un-manned aerial systems in Australian skies. Find more from Grant and Steve at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124. Australia Desk archives can be found at www.australiadesk.net. In this week’s Across the Pond segment: We go down to South Africa with Editor of Aircraft.co.za, Danie Heath to find out who are the main airline players and where they operate from. Danie tells us about the capacity for new low cost carriers and how the South African aircraft manufacturing industry is still very active. Look for Aircraft.co.za on Facebook and Twitter. Find Pieter on Twitter as @Nascothornet, on his blog Alpha Tango Papa, on Facebook at XTPMedia, and at the Aviation Xtended podcast. Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at www.brotherloverocks.com.