General Aviation Thread

[ngatimozart]

Sorry, but I have to fault your comparison and praise for the Belfast. While the AN-12 and C-130 were/are designed as tactical airlifters the Belfast was a heavy lifter. more comparable to the C-124 Globemaster II (including it's removable upper floor) and C-133 Cargomaster. Both which began production nearly a decade earlier. And the AN-22 which began production shortly after the Belfast. Frankly, as Shorts was beginning production of it's practically archaic design Lockheed was putting the C-141 into service.

Yep, the Poms weren't the most advanced in all categories after the war. The Belfast was one, the Handley Page Hastings was another. It was a four engined transport similar to the DC-4. However it was a tail dragger and in RNZAF service was known as the best three engined aircraft that RNZAF ever had because one engine was always falling over. Maintenance wise if there was a hard way of doing something the Poms would find it and make it SOP. Same with their vehicles as well. Their fighters after the war were pretty dismal as well with only three that were really good, Hunter, Lightning, and Harrier. In the bomber category the Vulcan, Victor, Canberra and Buccaneer were they only four really worthwhile ones. Transport wise, the HS Andover C.3 springs to mind and that's it.

 

[Ananda]

Enough effidence not only from Western Sources, but pro Russian onlines forums talk on Russian Airliners already grounded more Aircraft. Thus it is expected some of them will be canibalise to keep others running. The Video seems indicating some surprises on the canibalisation happen to the new ones, but actually it is expected.

The latest generation like A350 actually will be harder to find replacement parts from Black or Grey markets. Even those who can rebuild some Airbus or Boeing parts, will be those on 90's tech like 737NG, A320CEO, A330CEO etc. Those with relatively less electronics and more mechanical controls compared to latest gen A320NEO, A330NEO, let alone highly sophisticated A350.

Russia have big problem with wide bodies replacement. Despite all talks by Rostec to revive IL-96 I don't see they have enough resources to revive old USSR design as they have invest much for SSJ-100 and MC-21.

Russian sources shown after 2014 they already prepared 2 version of MC-21 as western parts MC-21 300 and Russian parts MC-21 310. All they can hope is to fly as much as possible of those Airbus and Boeing in their inventories before Rostec can curn out more Russian parts version of SSJ-100 and MC-21. After that they better hope for the best on their join endevour with China on Wide Body CR929.

 

[Redlands18]

Pacific Airshow dates announced - Australian Defence Magazine
The dates for the first Pacific Airshow Gold Coast(Australia) have been announced for 18-20 Aug 2023. First announced in April, this show will be held over the Gold Coast beaches, with the ADF showing strong interest. It will be a companion event to the one held at Huntington California, organised by the same group.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

Enough effidence not only from Western Sources, but pro Russian onlines forums talk on Russian Airliners already grounded more Aircraft. Thus it is expected some of them will be canibalise to keep others running. The Video seems indicating some surprises on the canibalisation happen to the new ones, but actually it is expected.

The latest generation like A350 actually will be harder to find replacement parts from Black or Grey markets. Even those who can rebuild some Airbus or Boeing parts, will be those on 90's tech like 737NG, A320CEO, A330CEO etc. Those with relatively less electronics and more mechanical controls compared to latest gen A320NEO, A330NEO, let alone highly sophisticated A350.

Russia have big problem with wide bodies replacement. Despite all talks by Rostec to revive IL-96 I don't see they have enough resources to revive old USSR design as they have invest much for SSJ-100 and MC-21.

Russian sources shown after 2014 they already prepared 2 version of MC-21 as western parts MC-21 300 and Russian parts MC-21 310. All they can hope is to fly as much as possible of those Airbus and Boeing in their inventories before Rostec can curn out more Russian parts version of SSJ-100 and MC-21. After that they better hope for the best on their join endevour with China on Wide Body CR929.

Its is weird that they cannibalize the latest delivered A350, it would be more logic to start to do it with one of the first delivered.

Russia seriously want to revive the Il-96 design and are really planning to have the first flight of the Il-96-400M happen in end 2022, which is in development since 2017.

ОАК обсуждает с "Аэрофлотом" вопрос поставки Ил-96-300 и Ил-96-400М - ТАСС

Ил-96-400М пока находится в разработке

tass.ru

Like you already said, Russia is at the moment economically under pressure, and its logic to have doubts about if they have the financial resources to support this Il-96-400M and the last years they also have not built any new Il-96. But due to the embargoes Russia is now forced to reuse their latest widebody design, and some years ago they developed succesfully the Il-476 / Il-76MD-90A.

For the narrowbodies i expect Russia will stop with the production of the SSJ-100 because of the high amount of foreign parts, but they want to restart the Tu-214 production with the plan to have the first new Tu-214 flying in 2023.

Первые Ту-214 для коммерческих полетов появятся в 2023 году - ТАСС

Генеральный директор ОАК Юрий Слюсарь сообщил, что самолет будет достаточно комфортным для пассажиров

tass.ru

The MS-21 is ofcourse much more advanced than the Tu-204/214, but it also has more foreign components. The PD-14 is now approved to be used on the MS-21-310, but it takes at least 3 more years to replace the other foreign parts.

Мишустин рассказал о планах по импортозамещению узлов и агрегатов МС-21

Авиапром РФ в течение 2-3 лет планирует завершить импортозамещение узлов и агрегатов МС-21, на эти цели выделено более 60 миллиардов рублей, заявил... РИА Новости, 07.04.2022

ria.ru

 

[Terran]

Enough effidence not only from Western Sources, but pro Russian onlines forums talk on Russian Airliners already grounded more Aircraft. Thus it is expected some of them will be canibalise to keep others running. The Video seems indicating some surprises on the canibalisation happen to the new ones, but actually it is expected.

The latest generation like A350 actually will be harder to find replacement parts from Black or Grey markets. Even those who can rebuild some Airbus or Boeing parts, will be those on 90's tech like 737NG, A320CEO, A330CEO etc. Those with relatively less electronics and more mechanical controls compared to latest gen A320NEO, A330NEO, let alone highly sophisticated A350.

Russia have big problem with wide bodies replacement. Despite all talks by Rostec to revive IL-96 I don't see they have enough resources to revive old USSR design as they have invest much for SSJ-100 and MC-21.

Russian sources shown after 2014 they already prepared 2 version of MC-21 as western parts MC-21 300 and Russian parts MC-21 310. All they can hope is to fly as much as possible of those Airbus and Boeing in their inventories before Rostec can curn out more Russian parts version of SSJ-100 and MC-21. After that they better hope for the best on their join endevour with China on Wide Body CR929.

Statements made by Russia regarding the CR929 have at the moment caused questions as to its fate. The Comac half of CRIAC has produced new aircraft in the form of the ARJ21 and C919 but heavily infused with off the shelf western technologies that wouldn’t be available to the Joint RussoSino CRIAC. Which would likely cause issues. Basically Russia has a small civil aviation demand relative to China. Trying to Russify CR929 with more Russian systems might be an option in the long run but the Russian Aviation industry will have to basically start from scratch to gap fill. Sino-ification of the 929 seems more likely long term but again from scratch. In either case it has place the CR929 in doubt.
China seems to want to try and Offer Comac to the international market but loading it with Russian systems would restrict access to such or use in airspace outside perhaps China, Russia, Cuba, Iran and the DPRK. It would likely drag out certification and systems designed Development testing cycles would likely mean actual production of 929 starting around the early to mid 2030s. Rather than mid to late of this decade. With likely a very high cost point to boot.

 

[Ananda]

Trying to Russify CR929 with more Russian systems might be an option in the long run but the Russian Aviation industry will have to basically start from scratch to gap fill. Sino-ification of the 929 seems more likely long term but again from scratch. In either case it has place the CR929 in doubt.

Question on how to compromise between Russia and China is in my opinion the biggest hurdle, rather then on how much if any western components will be include. The ego between Russian Aerospace and their Chinese counterpart, somehow I see resemblences between French against German or UK ego's competition or even bigger.

Russia must realise how much their tech possition in Aerospace is not same a decade ago against China. They need China market and Capital to survive. However China must also realise how Russia still have advantage over them on experiences in wide bodies production and engine tech. If they can not compromise on their ego, then the prospect on CR929 or further collaboration in aerospace will be moot.

The MS-21 is ofcourse much more advanced than the Tu-204/214, but it also has more foreign components. The PD-14 is now approved to be used on the MS-21-310, but it takes at least 3 more years to replace the other foreign parts.

This is going to be the problem not only for Russian but also for Chinese. China now must already see what happen to the aerospace project that relies on much of Western components, base on what happen to Russia. They must know what happen to Russia sooner or later will happen to them also. Taiwan issue is just the latest string on 'competition' policies that US (and collective west tailing along US) going to put China into it. This is just part of realities of latest Geopolitical momentum, and consequences of multipolar globalisation.

Using Western components will increase marketabilities due to mostly components supply chain that western OEM already build for decades in the global market. To compete Russia and China must know they have to build their own supply chain environment especially for non western market.

Face it, the realities now no Chinese or Russian aerospaces products can compete in Western market. Good news is (for both of them) the rising trajectories of Non Western market is increasing, and that's where they can get some hope to be still competitive.

However the key is that both of them need to be collaborative. Just like Euro's nation already see with Airbus that the only way to be competitive against US is to be good in collaboration. Fail on that, and most likely both of China and Russian civilian aerospace products will not able to break outside their own domestics (or at most only to handfull 'friendly' states).

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

I didn't expect that the production of the Pilatus PC-6 will end this soon.
Pilatus planned to end the production some years earlier, it planned in 2018 to close the orderbook from summer 2018 and to roll off the last one in early 2019 while parts production will continue for at least 20 years.

The production was slightly extended, but now, after the production of more than 600 (Turbo) Porters, the last PC-6 is being prepared for delivery. The machine is HB-FBE (MSN 1019) which had its first engine run at Stans, Switzerland, on 16 August 2022. On completion it will be delivered to Smart Aviation in Indonesia as PK-SNF, it will be the last one of five ordered by Smart Aviation.

The final Pilatus Turbo Porter

The final Pilatus Turbo Porter Many of the younger generation of our readers may not even have been born when the prototype of the Pilatus PC-6 Porter, HB-FAS, made its first fligh...

www.scramble.nl

 

[Ananda]

didn't expect that the production of the Pilatus PC-6 will end this soon.

PC-12 trajectory in the market basically in my opinion expediate Pilatus own decision to close PC-6 line. Both single engine turboprop. PC-6 rugertness advantage diminishing with improving infrastructure globally, thus just matter of time for Pilatus to concentrate to PC-12.

Failing China-Russia aircraft project highlights woes in relationship

Conflicting interests expose weaknesses in the ‘’no-limits” friendship between China and Russia and may doom a key joint aircraft project.

www.gisreportsonline.com

This is interesting assesment on CR929 prospect. Question right now back to China realistic assesment. This analyst think Europe can still be potential partner for China aerospace ambition, compare to US. Personally I have big doubt on that in the future. Euro also going to defend Airbus, and China has ambition to challange the duopolly. Why Euro want to help China on that ?

Besides, Euro zone suppliers still part of Collective West. Thus the real question is wheather China can expect in future Euro zone will treat them differently compare to US increasing restrictive treatment on high tech cooperation ?

It is all back to both China and Russia ego. If they don't collaborate, then the chances for either of them to provide challange toward the Duopolly will be smaller. Even if both of them able to set asside their ego and collaborate, still it will be a huge endavour.

Ironically, the chances of their collaboration basically depends on Collective West treatment to China. Pushing China, and China closing in to Russia will going to be more intense.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

Many people, also some members of Defencetalk, predict that large turboprops with a capacity of more than 70 passengers, do not have a future.
Embraer thinks different about that.

Embraer dtarted with the idea of developing a new large turboprop in 2019, and over the years they made changes in the design and configuration.
Now it looks like a mixture of a BAC 1-11 and an Embraer E175, but than with turboprop engines, and Embraer claims that the NGTP will be more fuel efficiently than current turboprops like the ATR72 and DHC-8-400.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

This happened during an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-900 (N293AK, built 2018) from Seattle-SeaTac to San Diego. It returned safely in Seattle. Quite spectacular.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1561964457630351360

And this happened on 24 August. The passengers onboard this Airbus A320-232 (XA-VAJ) from Viva Aerobus discovered that the righthand V2527-A5 turbofan had an afterburner function installed. Flight VB518 was on its way from Guadalajara to Los Angeles.
Looks beautiful.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1562360190091108352

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

A mysterious privatejet crashed in the Eastsea during a remarkable flight.
The Cessna 551 departed yesterday around 15:00 from South-Spain and made some strange course corrections. Intercepting NATO-jetfighters, couldn't see anyone in the cockpit or passengers cabin.

Privéjet neergestort in Oostzee na vreemde vliegroute

Er zouden vier mensen aan boord van het vliegtuig zijn geweest. Volgens de Duitse krant Bild gaat het om een piloot, een man, een vrouw en dochter.

nos.nl

NAVO Eurofighters volgen Cessna 551 boven Oostzee, Cessna crasht voor kust Letland

VILNIUS, 4 sept (Reuters) - Een Cessna 551 privévliegtuig is zondagavond neergestort voor de kust van Letland, zei de reddingsdienst van Zweden, nadat de

tpo.nl

Private Cessna aircraft crashes off coast of Latvia

A private Cessna plane crashed off the coast of Latvia on Sunday evening, Sweden's rescue service said, after NATO scrambled jets to follow its erratic course.

www.reuters.com

 

[swerve]

East Sea in Dutch, German, Danish & Swedish (& oddly, Finnish - "Itämeri" - though it's south & west of Finland), Baltic Sea in English. Polish, Latvian, Lithuanian & Russian.

West Sea (logically) in Estonian.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

So the Cessna 551 is owned by a German businessman who had its headquarter in Keulen/Köln.

Slachtoffer neergestorte privéjet was Duitse zakenman

Het toestel stortte gisteravond na een vreemde vliegroute neer in de Oostzee.

nos.nl

The wreckage is found, but the search for the people onboard is ongoing.



Aeroflot orders 323 Russian aircraft, this mega-order is set to include 73 Sukhoi Superjets, 210 Irkut MC-21s and 40 Tupolev Tu-214s.

This order of own made Russian aircrafts was to be expected, but not the huge size. Aeroflot not only needs an enormous budget, but i also have my doubts about the SSJ100 because of the amount of foreign components and it will take the Russian aerospace industry maybe three decades to build 323 airliners.

Aeroflot orders 323 Russian aircraft

Aeroflot orders 323 Russian aircraft The mega-order is set to include 73 Sukhoi Superjets, 210 Irkut MC-21s and 40 Tupolev Tu-214s, and is part of the company’s “main priority”: th...

www.scramble.nl

 

[kato]

So the Cessna 551 is owned by a German businessman who had its headquarter in Keulen/Köln.
The wreckage is found, but the search for the people onboard is ongoing.

The Latvian Navy found and collected human remains yesterday evening which have not been identified so far.

East Sea in Dutch, German, Danish & Swedish (& oddly, Finnish - "Itämeri" - though it's south & west of Finland), Baltic Sea in English. Polish, Latvian, Lithuanian & Russian.

The Finnish term is due to 600 years of being ruled by Sweden.

 

[Redlands18]

The Latvian Navy found and collected human remains yesterday evening which have not been identified so far.

What Golfer Died in a Plane Crash? The Tragic Tale - Flawless Golf
Sounds very similar to what happened to US PGA Golfer Payne Stewart in 1999, the aircraft failed to pressurize and Stewart and 5 others on board died, likely of hypoxia.

 

[swerve]

The Latvian Navy found and collected human remains yesterday evening which have not been identified so far.


The Finnish term is due to 600 years of being ruled by Sweden.

Yes, but it's still a bit of an oddity given the relative locations of the countries, & the fact that such adoptions of names isn't universal. The Irish Sea is the Irish Sea in all the languages around it, but the Bristol Channel has different names in English & Welsh despite the centuries of political unity, & the English Channel has different names in English & Cornish.

 

[swerve]

What Golfer Died in a Plane Crash? The Tragic Tale - Flawless Golf
Sounds very similar to what happened to US PGA Golfer Payne Stewart in 1999, the aircraft failed to pressurize and Stewart and 5 others on board died, likely of hypoxia.

Something similar happened to Emiliano Sala, an Argentinean footballer being flown from France to the UK to in a hired plane to take up a new job, but in that case it seems to have been carbon monoxide rather than hypoxia.

The maintenance standards of private aircraft & air taxis aren't necessarily up to those of airliners in developed countries.

 

[Ananda]

This is already few days old. Forgot to put it here. Not really an aviation thing, it could also be hover taxi in future. It could also be something on Military usage in future.

Still it is already officially have price tag. I believe the video on the debut being posted sometime ago. USD 777K still a reasonable price for an expensive toys for those in top 0.1%.

 

[ngatimozart]

This is already few days old. Forgot to put it here. Not really an aviation thing, it could also be hover taxi in future. It could also be something on Military usage in future.

Still it is already officially have price tag. I believe the video on the debut being posted sometime ago. USD 777K still a reasonable price for an expensive toys for those in top 0.1%.

Does it come with blasters?

 

[Ananda]

Does it come with blasters

Alas, the blasters were losts taken by some hyperactive Ewoks, when they do trials in Endor .

It is a cool toys nonetheless..if you can afford a Ferrari La Ferrari..