German govt, Airbus at odds on plant sales

Germany on Thursday suggested European plane maker Airbus could alter the bidding process for its German plants, but the company said sales talks were advanced and it saw no reason to do so.
Airbus, a unit of European aerospace group EADS is trying to sell all or part of several plants in Europe after delays to its A380 superjumbo rocked the company last year but the process is taking longer than expected.
The German government's aerospace coordinator Peter Hintze told reporters Germany would prefer a domestic solution for the plants and raised the possibility of changing the terms of the sales.
"You should not rule out the possibility that the company could decide to change the design of the tender," Hintze said, adding there were various possible options to aid potential buyers.
One possibility might be for state development bank KfW [KFW.UL] to provide guarantees for the financing of a purchase, he said.
"I see no reason for any change to the sales process," Enders said, insisting talks on the sales were at an advanced stage.
Airbus, which is also cutting 10,000 jobs as part of an overhaul, had originally aimed to choose buyers for the sites by October. Earlier this week, German industrial group Voith AG withdrew from the bidding.
Hintze said the search for a partner for the German plants could take time. "I suspect, I predict that it will all need some time," he said.
He said it was important to ensure quality and sustainability were the deciding factors in the sales rather than speed.

Into space ( Sharing from US Air Force Link )

Into space

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFPN) -- Steven Riddick glances at the aerial regional-scale environmental survey of Mars airplane during a break from testing at NASA's 12-foot low-speed tunnel here. Mr. Riddick is an aerospace technology engineer who is part of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration wind tunnel team. The airplane is being tested for its stability in various wind conditions and validation of its aerodynamics. (U.S Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eric T. Sheler)

AirGroup privatejets

AirGroup privatejets - Private Jet Operators and Charterers

AirGroup privatejets offer a network of a large selection of private jet operators in every size and performance range. We offer efficient service excellence in every area of our international aviation business, both in the air and on the ground. Our network helps us to locate the optimal aircraft for your specific travel requirements and budget, and ensures that every flight meets your individual needs.
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TAILORED PRIVATE JET TRAVEL

Our objective is to supply our clients with individual solutions, tailored to perfectly suit their specific requirements, such as aircraft size, range and travelling comfort. This approach to private jet travelling is unique in terms of flexibility and operational effectiveness as well as guaranteeing you rigorous safety standards and security.
You set the criteria and we will implement your travel wishes with the highest level of professionalism. We will take care of every detail concerning your journey, before during and after the flight. You will receive a reliable quotation detailing all relevant information about your journey.

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ECONOMIC AIRCRAFT MANAGEMENT

Aircraft management and operations are fundamental to the successful implementation of your travel and business plans. Our team of aviation experts will assist you in achieving the most financially rewarding management arrangement, and will handle all your operational considerations. These range from aircraft maintenance to productive aircraft management, including staff recruitment and administrative concerns.
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GmbH Flughafengebäude

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Helicopter - Intro

Helicopter
Helicopter is an aircraft that is lifted into the air and kept aloft by one or two powerful whirling rotors. A helicopter rotor resembles a huge propeller that is parallel to the ground. However, the rotor is actually a rotating wing. The name helicopter refers to the rotor. It comes from Greek words meaning spiral and wing. Nicknames for the helicopter include "chopper," "eggbeater," and "whirlybird."
A helicopter can fly straight up or straight down, forward, backward, or sideways. It can even hover (stay in one spot in the air). Unlike most airplanes, helicopters can take off and land in a small space. In addition, they can fly safely at much slower speeds and lower altitudes than airplanes. However, they cannot fly as fast as most planes. Most helicopters cannot exceed 200 miles (320 kilometers) per hour. At faster flight speeds, the velocity of the rotor blade tips approaches the speed of sound, and it becomes difficult to rotate the rotor. At high speeds, strong vibrations also develop that could damage the blades. Helicopters also use more fuel than airplanes to travel the same distance. In general, helicopters can fly only two to three hours

How Hypersonic Planes Work - Taking Flight

How Hypersonic Planes Work - Taking Flight ( Pt 3 )

As mentioned before, scramjet-powered aircraft don’t carry oxygen onboard. That means that they can’t lift off like conventional spacecraft. The X-43A requires a booster rocket to get it up to a hypersonic speed, at which point it is released and sent flying on its own. This rocket boost is necessary for the scramjet engine to work.

Photo courtesy NASA

Here’s a rundown of how the X-43A test flights work:

1. The X-43A is attached to a Pegasus booster rocket.
2. The X-43A and booster rocket are carried up to about 20,000 feet (6,000 m) by a customized, B-52 aircraft.
3. The B-52 releases the launch vehicle.
4. The booster rocket accelerates to a speed of approximately Mach 5 and flies to an altitude of about 100,000 feet (30,500 m).
5. The X-43A separates from the booster rocket and flies under its own power and preprogrammed control.
6. The X-43A flies over the ocean for a few minutes before splashing down.

Image courtesy NASA

NASA officials say that the scramjet engine would be a major step forward for NASA and would arguably provide a safer, more flexible, less expensive way to get people and cargo to space.

How Hypersonic Planes Work - Living On Air

How Hypersonic Planes Work - Living On Air ( Pt 2 )

The futuristic X-43A prototype looks like a flying surfboard. It’s thin, has a wingspan of 5 feet (1.5 m), measures 12 ft (3.7 m) long and 2 ft (0.61 m) thick and weighs 2,800 pounds (1,270 kg). But the most unique feature of the X-43A is its engine


Photo courtesy NASA
The dimensions and views of the X-43A

The best way to understand an X-43A’s air-breathing engine is to first look at a conventional rocket engine. A typical rocket engine is propelled by the combustion created when a liquid oxidizer and a hydrogen fuel are burned in a combustion chamber. These gases create a high-pressure, high-velocity stream of hot gases. These gases flow through a nozzle that further accelerates them to speeds of 5,000 to 10,000 mph (8,000 to 16,000 kph) and provides thrust. For more information on rocket engines, check out the article How Rockets Work.

The disadvantage of a conventional rocket engine is that it requires a lot of onboard oxygen. For example, the space shuttle needs 143,000 gallons of liquid oxygen, which weighs 1,359,000 pounds (616,432 kg). Without the liquid oxygen, the shuttle weighs a mere 165,000 pounds (74,842 kg).

An air-breathing engine requires no onboard oxygen. The X-43A scoops up oxygen as it flies through the atmosphere. In an Earth-to-orbit mission, the vehicle would store extra oxygen onboard, but less than what a space shuttle requires.

Image courtesy NASA
The air-breathing engine system

The scramjet engine is a simple design with no moving parts. The X-43A craft itself is designed to be a part of the engine system: The front of the vehicle acts as the intake for the airflow, and the aft serves as the nozzle that accelerates the exhausted air.


Photo courtesy NASA
Artist's concept of the X-43A in flight, with the scramjet engine firing

Combustion occurs in the engine only at supersonic speeds because the air has to be flowing at a high rate to be compressed. Rather than using a rotating compressor, like a turbojet engine does, the forward velocity and aerodynamics compress the air into the engine. Hydrogen fuel is then injected into the air stream, and the expanding hot gases from combustion accelerate the exhaust air to create tremendous thrust.

How Hypersonic Planes Work - Introduction

How Hypersonic Planes Work - Introduction ( Pt 1 )

NASA's experimental space plane, the X-43A, set a new speed record for aircraft on November 16, 2004. In the unmanned test flight, the plane reached Mach 10 -- 10 times the speed of sound, or about 6,600 miles (10,600 kilometers) per hour. This flight broke the previous speed record of Mach 7, set in March 2004 by the X-43A in a previous test flight

What sets the X-43A apart from other rocket-powered aircraft is that it is powered by a scramjet engine. Instead of using onboard oxygen to combust the hydrogen fuel, the scramjet scoops up oxygen as it travels through the atmosphere. By eliminating the need for onboard oxygen, cutting the weight of the spacecraft, the X-43A could lead to cheaper Earth-to-orbit space travel.

Photo courtesy NASA