MartinW

Issue the other day. A drone was confiscated, flying over Wimbledon. This was as a result of the increased security in the UK after the recent terrorist activity in Tunisia. http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jun/27/police-tighten-wimbledon-security-after-terrorist-attacks

This must be the guy.

Then I love, respect, admire and adore you. You truly are an advanced being. Cats should rule the world! Some say they do.

I heard about that. Linear motors I believe. Not sure if the linear motor version will provide a shorter takeoff run, but I recall they are supposed to be less stressful for the airframe, as it's graduated acceleration. I guess the limiting factor in terms or takeoff length is the pilots G tolerance. 4G I think it is for an F18.

Awesome machine isn't it? Built to carry horrendous nuclear weaponry, but we can still admire it for it's beauty and technical achievement. Of the three V Bombers the Vulcan was the most technically advanced. Last time I saw the Vulcan was at Fairford. My son and daughter, even though they aren't aviation enthusiasts, absolutely loved the display. It was the highlight of the show for them.

Legal action is being considered against pilots and model, and so it should be. Same thing happened in 2014 and the pilot was sacked. you would think the idiots would have got the message. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3140721/Shamed-pilots-sacked-letting-busty-model-cockpit-selfies-fly-plane.html Sorry the link is courtesy of the Daily Fail, it's not my usual port of call.

I agree. A noncustodial sentence would be appropriate. Changing the subject for a second... a tourist the other day decided to mess with a Queens Guard outside Buckingham palace. The guard aimed his rifle at the stupid tourist and said, "stand away from the Queens Guard!" Luckily the tourist did as he/she was told, otherwise the tourist would have been promptly arrested. Seems tourists [and some Brits] aren't aware that the Queens Guard are the real deal, real soldiers.

Some very nice close ups gents. Nice high quality video. Acceleration and deceleration must be immense. Is it me, or are the steam catapults more powerful these days and therefore shorter?

I know we are, that's why I said I agreed.

I kind of agree. Reminds me of the guy suffering from a mild form of autism, who hacked into US military computers looking for UFO info, highlighting that their security was garbage. Embarrassed them you see. What did they do.... accused him of destroying hundreds of thousands of dollars of equipment [nonsense] and did everything in their power to lock him up for life.

Not a good analogy. Lasers can temporarily blind pilots and lead to considerable loss of life. It's very dangerous. Landing a gyro copter, safely, where we shouldn't isn't dangerous, just embasrrasing to the authorities. I do agree that the individual should be punished, but hopefully with a modicum of common sense.

Bet you do and don't know it. There's a version of Flash in Chrome. Safer version though so don't panic.

A few years Wayne. The E-Fan is 2017. E-Fan 4.0 hybrid electric 2019. E-Thrust, a Proposed 90-seat regional jet based on the principles of the E-Fan after that. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus_E-Fan The Diamond DA-36 E-Star 2 isn't far off either.

You are right not to be convinced yet. It's early days, these aircraft are merely concept demonstrators. The batteries weigh something yes, minus the weight of a couple of hefty internal combustion engines and fuel tanks. And if direct drive, minus the weight of a transmission. It's the advent of improved lithium-polymer batteries that's making hybrid and electric aircraft viable. True, an electric car or aircraft charged from the mains will probably derive it's power from coal fired power stations. Even so, that's still more efficient, as internal combustion eng

The X-plane demonstrator will be a Tecnam P2600T light piston twin modified with a distributed electric propulsion wing. Credit: NASA

http://aviationweek.com/technology/nasa-electric-propulsion-x-plane-just-first-step

Chaps, just to warn you, Adobe have released an emergency update for Flash! They've discoved a flaw that could be exploited by hackers.

Of course the Daily Fail had to get something wrong. It was an Ultralight.

Yes that's correct. This is nothing to do with aircraft systems being hacked. It was ground based computers issuing flight plans that were hacked. 1400 passengers effected. Their systems were good, state of the art, so it is a wake up call to other airliners that may suffer as a result of similar vulnerabilities. Computer systems are fantastic things, but they do bring with them a multitude of creative ways nefarious groups can cause havoc. And it doesn't stop at airlines of course. Almost everything is computer controlled these days, from the food that's delivered to the supermark

Don't worry Brett I have a solution for you... In a car you can switch off traction control, EBD etc. I'll get Diamond to design the system like a car for you. I'll get them to add a "scary button". Hit the button and all flight envelope protection will be off!!! The DA42 FBW job also eliminates turbulence and gusts, that will be off too.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-33219276

The blue arrows flying fast and low over water always does it for me. Just love that transonic vapour cone. Some refer to it as a Prandtl–Glauert singularity but actually such a thing is invalid. No infinite pressure, no singularity.

I regard this as a positive development. Yes, there are some that regard fly-by-wire negatively. However, how many lives have been saved by fly-by-wire? How many accidents have been averted? There are probably many incidents where fly-by-wire has intervened that have never been reported. Given the number of accidents associated with general aviation, I'm all in favour. General aviation has always seemed archaic to me, the aircraft are expensive but relatively primitive. Seems crazy to me that in the 21st century we fly around in our Cessna's, or equivalent, and have to do something as basic

Seems Diamond are developing fly-by-wire for their twin engine DA42. Flight envelope protection. The aircraft will be able to autoland, and an electronic parachute. Here's the video... http://www.diamond-air.at/about-dai/research-projects.html

Bonkers those guys. This is still my favourite though.... Number 4 in the top ten. The low flying mirage F1 at 3:13 The last of the three was ultra low. Some nice old birds as well. I mean all of us love the Buccaneer. Some planes can fly low and fast. Some planes can fly low and stable. The bucanner could fly low fast and stable.