March - 2021

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Mar 30
3 min

Leonardo’s Lynx helicopter marks 50 years since its maiden flight

Fifty years ago on 21st March 1971, a bright yellow Lynx prototype (XW835) took off from Yeovil. The now-iconic aircraft piloted by Ron Gellatly, completed two short flights of ten minutes and 20 minutes respectively. In addition to the Chief Test Pilot, his Deputy, Roy Moxam occupied the co-pilot’s seat, and Dave Gibbings flew as the Flight Test Engineer, responsible for instrumentation management, stress data monitoring, and back-up observations. This landmark marks the 50

2,942 views

Garth Calitz

Mar 30
3 min

Large Scale Aerobatics Extravaganza

By Andre Venter The Barnstormers Model Flying Club Airfield situated just off the R21 between Pretoria and Kempton Park hosted the Large Scale Aerobatics Extravaganza from 26 to 28 March. Pilots made their way from all over the country to compete in this exciting format of RC flying. The first LSA Extravaganza was held at Henley Model Flying Club last year and it was decided to make it an annual event. The extravaganza is not only an LSA competition but includes many other ev

2,952 views

Saab Trials 3D-printed Part on Gripen for Battlefield Damage Repairs

Garth Calitz

Mar 30
2 min

Saab Trials 3D-printed Part on Gripen for Battlefield Damage Repairs

Saab has successfully conducted the trial which marked the first time an exterior 3D-printed part has been flown on a Gripen, rather than internal 3D-printed components. The purpose of the trial was to test how additive manufacturing could be used in battlefield damage repair. The test flight took place in the skies above Saab’s facilities in Linköping, Sweden, on Friday 19th March. Gripen was fitted with a replacement hatch that had been 3D#printed using additive manufacturi

2,733 views

Southwest Airlines orders show confidence in the Boeing 737 MAX

Garth Calitz

Mar 30
3 min

Southwest Airlines orders show confidence in the Boeing 737 MAX

The Boeing 737 MAX was grounded worldwide from March 2019 to November 2020, after a malfunctioning flight control system caused two new aircraft to crash in Indonesia and Ethiopia between October 2018 and March 2019, killing all 346 people on board. In the following eighteen months, Boeing redesigned the computer architecture that supported MCAS, while investigations faulted aircraft design and certification lapses. As no deliveries of the MAX could be made while the aircraft

2,477 views

Rolls-Royce reaches milestone as world’s largest aero-engine build starts

Garth Calitz

Mar 30
2 min

Rolls-Royce reaches milestone as world’s largest aero-engine build starts

Rolls-Royce has officially started building the world’s largest aero-engine, UltraFan®, which will help redefine sustainable air travel for decades to come. Work on the first module is underway at our dedicated DemoWorks facility in Derby, UK, and the demonstrator engine, which has a fan diameter of 140 inches, will be completed by the end of the year. The engine is the basis for a potential new family of UltraFan engines able to power both narrowbody and widebody aircraft an

3,181 views

Stellenbosch Fly in and Landing Competition

Garth Calitz

Mar 23
3 min

Stellenbosch Fly in and Landing Competition

By Rob Russell Photos By Rayno Snyman After the forced cancellation of the eagerly awaited 2020 Stellenbosch Air Show and the on-going State of Disaster forcing the Air Show again being cancelled this year, the Stellenbosch Flying club decided to host an open day and landing competition, at the airfield. The day dawned and the Sky Gods presented an almost perfect autumn’s day. It was marred only by the presence of the Cape Doctor, much to the dismay of many aircrew, that dec

2,628 views

USAF ‘Accelerated Path to Wings’ pilot training makes history

Garth Calitz

Mar 23
2 min

USAF ‘Accelerated Path to Wings’ pilot training makes history

Seven Airmen made history as the first “Accelerated Path to Wings” program graduated and they transitioned from students to Air Force pilots during a ceremony March 12. Nicknamed the “XPW” program, the course is part of Air Education and Training Command's current pilot training transformation efforts and consists of students completing an undergraduate pilot training curriculum that only utilizes one airframe, the T-1 Jayhawk. The T-1A Jayhawk is a medium-range, twin-engine

2,561 views

Carb Icing - Prevention is Always Better than Cure

Garth Calitz

Mar 23
3 min

Carb Icing - Prevention is Always Better than Cure

Fuel induction system icing often referred to as “Carburettor Icing”, is the build-up of ice in the fuel induction system and can affect all types of piston engine aeroplanes, helicopters and gyroplanes. Our current weather conditions in the inland regions of South Africa are the perfect recipe for Carb Icing with falling temperatures and high relative humidity. There are three basic types of fuel induction system icing that may affect piston engines: Impact Ice. This is form

1,415 views

Airbus, DLR, Rolls-Royce and Neste Test Study Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Garth Calitz

Mar 23
3 min

Airbus, DLR, Rolls-Royce and Neste Test Study Sustainable Aviation Fuel

A team of aerospace specialists has launched the world’s first in-flight emissions study using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on a wide-body commercial passenger aircraft. Airbus, German research centre DLR, Rolls-Royce and SAF producer Neste have teamed up to start the pioneering ‘Emission and Climate Impact of Alternative Fuels’ (ECLIF3) project looking into the effects of 100% SAF on aircraft emissions and performance. Findings from the study - to be carried out on t

1,161 views

The US Navy Inducts first Modified EA-18G Growler

Garth Calitz

Mar 23
2 min

The US Navy Inducts first Modified EA-18G Growler

Boeing has started a five-year modification program for the U.S. Navy’s EA-18G Growler fleet with the induction of the first jet at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. The modifications are focused on updating the jets’ structural and mission systems architecture, enabling future capability growth for the Navy’s 160 Growler aircraft. Growlers serve a critical role in jamming radar and communications signals of threat forces, disabling their ability to detect and track U.S. and

1,191 views

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980x179_DJA_Flightline Weekly - Apr

Fly Gear 3-2

Top Ecko

Leonardo’s Lynx helicopter marks 50 years since its maiden flight

Large Scale Aerobatics Extravaganza

Saab Trials 3D-printed Part on Gripen for Battlefield Damage Repairs

Southwest Airlines orders show confidence in the Boeing 737 MAX

Rolls-Royce reaches milestone as world’s largest aero-engine build starts

Stellenbosch Fly in and Landing Competition

USAF ‘Accelerated Path to Wings’ pilot training makes history

Carb Icing - Prevention is Always Better than Cure

Airbus, DLR, Rolls-Royce and Neste Test Study Sustainable Aviation Fuel

The US Navy Inducts first Modified EA-18G Growler

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