Number 20 – 14 March 2024

“I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things.” Antoine de Saint-Exupery

de Haviland DH.91 Albatross

The de Havilland DH.91 Albatross was a four-engined British transport aircraft of the 1930s manufactured by de Havilland Aircraft Company Limited. Seven aircraft were built between 1938 and 1939. The DH.91 was designed in 1936 by A. E. Hagg to Air Ministry specification 36/35 for a transatlantic mail plane.

The aircraft was notable for the ply-balsa-ply sandwich construction of its fuselage, later used in the de Havilland Mosquito bomber. Another unique feature was a cooling system for the air-cooled engines that allowed nearly ideal streamlining of the engine mounting. The first Albatross flew on 20 May 1937. The second prototype broke in two during overload tests but was repaired with minor reinforcement. The first and second prototypes were operated by Imperial Airways.

Although designed as a mail plane, a version to carry 22 passengers was developed, with the main differences being extra windows and the replacement of split flaps with slotted flaps. Five examples formed the production order delivered in 1938/1939. When war was declared, all seven aircraft were operating from Bristol / Whitchurch to Lisbon and Shannon.

As normal for the Imperial Airways fleet of the time, all were given names starting with the same letter, and the first aircraft’s name was also used as a generic description for the type overall, as ‘Frobisher class’. This tradition, which came from a maritime and railway background of classes of ships and locomotives, lasted well into postwar days with BOAC and BEA.

The first delivery to Imperial Airways was the 22-passenger DH.91 Frobisher in October 1938. The five passenger-carrying aircraft were operated on routes from Croydon to Paris, Brussels and Zurich. After test flying was completed, the two prototypes were delivered to Imperial Airways as long-range mail carriers. The only significant season of their operation was the summer of 1939, when they were the main type on the two-hour-long London Croydon-to-Paris Le Bourget passenger route.

With the onset of World War II, the Royal Air Force considered their range and speed useful for courier flights between Great Britain and Iceland and the two mail planes were pressed into service with 271 Squadron in September 1940, operating between Prestwick and Reykjavik, but within nine months both were destroyed in landing accidents in Reykjavík. Faraday in 1941 and Franklin in 1942. The five passenger-carrying aircraft were used by Imperial Airways, (BOAC from September 1940) on Bristol–Lisbon and Bristol–Shannon routes from Bristol (Whitchurch) Airport.

Frobisher was destroyed during a German air raid on Whitchurch in 1940, Fingal was destroyed in a crash landing, following a fuel-pipe failure in 1940 at Pucklechurch and Fortuna crashed near Shannon Airport in 1943. The latter accident was found to be due to deterioration of the aircraft’s plywood wing structures. In view of the two surviving aircraft’s vulnerability to similar problems and for lack of spares parts, Falcon and Fiona were scrapped in September 1943.

Those persons who correctly identified this week’s mystery aircraft:
Andrew Peace, Steve Dewsbery, Wouter van der Waal, Danie Viljoen, Righardt du Plessis, Erwin Stam, Johan Skinner, Magiel Esterhuysen, Johan Prinsloo, Hilton Carroll, Selwyn Kimber, Johan Venter, Andre Visser, Rennie van Zyl, Michael Schoeman, Charlie Hugo, Colin Austen, Greg Pullin, Peter Rossouw, Bruce Prescott, Jan Sime, Pierre Brittz, Ari Levien, John Moen, Kevin Farr, Jeffrey Knickelbein, Aiden O’Mahony, Rex Tweedie, Piet Steyn, Barry Eatwell, Bruce Margolius, Karl Jensen, Ahmed Bassa, Dave Lloyd, Mike Transki, (35)

Remembering the Rietbok in history

Yesterday marked the 57th anniversary of the first SAA major accident in our history. The crash of the Vickers Viscount, the ‘Rietbok’ near East London, during the early evening of 13 March 1967. This tragedy sparked many conspiracies and speculation. Air accident investigator Wouter Botes is on his five-year quest to find and recover some parts of the wreck and he will undertake this recovery process early in April. Wouter has already presented his excellent talk to the EAA Chapter 322 as well as other audiences. Wouter says “Let us remember the 25 souls who lost their lives on that fateful evening and just for a moment honour them in thought. They embarked on a journey with their very last thought being that it will be their last. They will not be forgotten.” African Pilot is planning to be present when the first parts of the Rietbok are raised to the surface from a depth of some 47 metres off the coast near East London.

Welcome to our March C208 initial candidates. May you enjoy flying this aircraft.
Email address: sales@simuflight.co.za

16 March
EAA Chapter 322 fly-in breakfast to Brits airfield
Contact Neil Bowden E-mail: airadventuresa@gmail.com

Emergency ADs issued by regulators

Emergency AD by EASA on CFM 56 engines (EASA EAD 2024-0067-E)

European safety regulators have ordered replacement of several components, across a number of CFM International CFM56 engines, after they were potentially damaged during maintenance. The measure follows discovery of evidence that critical engine parts were affected by electrical arcing after an induction heater tool was used. Several parts which were subject to maintenance performed using the same tool could also be damaged, says the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.

It is understood that a third-party shop informed CFM of the situation which involved life-limited parts on 57 CFM56 engines and that the engine manufacturer pro-actively alerted customers ahead of the EASA directive. The shop is working with customers on removing and replacing the affected parts. EASA has formally instructed replacement of the components involved, which include third stage high-pressure compressor disks, high-pressure turbine rear shafts and compressor discharge pressure seals.

EASA has listed the serial numbers of the 57 engines on which the specific components are known to have been fitted. Of these 47 are the CFM56-5B, used to power older Airbus A320s, while the other 10 are -7B engines for the Boeing 737. It has also listed the individual part and serial numbers of the affected components. It is understood that the parts come from an independent maintenance provider.

EASA says the components should be replaced before next flight, stating that any damage to the parts could lead to their uncontained release.

EASA EAD 2024-0069-E

EASA orders inspection of inspections of Rolls Royce Trent RB211-524H-36 and RB211-524H-T-36 engines

European safety regulators have ordered borescope inspections of on all serial number Trent RB211-524H-36 and RB211-524H-T-36 engines fitted to Boeing 767 aircraft. The measure follows a high rate of surges including dual engine surges during climb on a sub-fleet of engines. Subsequent investigation determined that significant loss of affected part (path liner) could be the contributing factor of the reported occurrences. Affected engines must be borescope inspected within 18 to 50 days and or 50 flight cycles after the effective date of the AD, depending on number of affected engines installed on an aircraft. EASA says the engine must be repaired before further flight if the inspection is unsatisfactory as this condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to dual engine shutdown and, consequently, reduced control of an aeroplane.

US National Guard helicopter crashes near US-Mexico border

Three people were killed on 8 March at around 14h50 local time when a helicopter crashed along the US-Mexico border in Texas. According to a Joint Task Force North press release, the helicopter, a UH-72 Lakota, was assigned to the federal Southwest border support mission and crashed while conducting aviation operations near Rio Grande City, Texas. Two National Guard soldiers and one US Border Patrol agent were killed, while another soldier was injured.

An Associated Press report quoted Starr County Judge Eloy Vera to have said that those on board included one woman and three men. Vera said that the injured soldier was in critical condition. The Department of Homeland Security identified those who died as National Guard Chief Warrant Officers Casey Frankoski (28), and John Grassia (30) as well as Border Patrol agent Chris Luna (49). The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

Cartel laughing

Meanwhile, a video clip that allegedly shows Mexican cartel members laughing at the helicopter crash is being circulated on social media platforms. In the video clip, the cartel had been watching the crash via a drone camera. Victorious laughter can be heard when the group witnessed the devastating crash via the drone’s remote screen. According to the US Customs and Border Patrol, the La Grulla region, where the crash occurred, sees frequent cartel activity and is often involved in drug and human smuggling.

50 passengers injured after LATAM Boeing 787-9 suffers a ‘technical problem’

A LATAM Boeing 787-9 operating flight LA800 from Sydney to Auckland suffered what the airline calls a ‘technical problem during the flight, which caused a strong movement.’ Passengers on the flight told the New Zealand Herald the plane went into a nose dive for a few moments, causing as many as 30 people to hit the ceiling. As many as 50 passengers received medical attention from ground medical services in Auckland, with at least 13 being taken to an area hospital, with one person listed in serious condition. Passengers on the flight reported to RNZ that many were not wearing their seatbelts at the time of the unexpected issue, which caused some passengers to fly through the cabin.

The airline reported to the New Zealand Herald that cabin crew were among those affected by the loss of altitude. Passengers told the Herald that the cabin crew were unable to help the victims as they were injured.

‘Gauges went blank’ before 787’s sudden loss of altitude

Brian Jokat, a passenger onboard a LATAM Airlines 787-9 that had a sudden loss of altitude on Monday says the captain told him the ‘gauges went blank’ and he was briefly unable to control the airliner. The airline had previously said ‘a technical event during the flight which caused a strong movement.’ The plane, carrying 263 people, was heading to Auckland, New Zealand, from Sydney, Australia, when the incident occurred. CNN interviewed an American passenger on the plane who said the captain appeared shaken as he surveyed the aftermath of the violent manoeuvre. He said the captain told him the panel quickly came back on and the systems resumed normal operation. The Dreamliner was cruising at 41,000 feet with about an hour left in the three-hour flight when the incident occurred. The plane left Sydney and was headed ultimately to Santiago with a planned stop in Auckland. The flight from Auckland to Santiago was cancelled and rescheduled for Tuesday.

Editor comments: I have made the same comment before, yet many passengers simply do not understand that there are often severe weather situations where if you are not wearing your seat belt, you will be injured when the aircraft flies through weather systems. Always buckle up and remain buckled up throughout the flight.

NTSB investigates Boeing rudder malfunction incident in Newark

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released the preliminary report into the investigation of an apparent rudder pedal malfunction on a Boeing 737-8 in February at Newark Liberty International Airport (KEWR). Since the rudders are a flight control system, federal regulations require the NTSB be notified in the event of a malfunction. According to the report, the servo that activates the rudders may have been adversely impacted by the cold.

What happened

According to the report, the jet operated as United Airlines Flight 1539 had flown from Lynden Pindling International Airport (MYNN) in Nassau, Bahamas, to KEWR in New Jersey. Shortly after touchdown the captain who was pilot flying noted the rudder pedals ‘did not move in response to the ‘normal’ application of foot pressure while attempting to maintain the runway centreline. The pedals remained ‘stuck’ in their neutral position.’ The captain used the nosewheel steering tiller to keep the aircraft near the centreline during the rollout as the aircraft slowed. The steering tiller is controlled by hand and used in the relatively tight quarters of the ramp.

Per the NTSB, the captain asked the first officer to check the function of his rudder pedals. The first officer reported his pedals were not responding. However, the captain then noted that shortly thereafter the rudder pedals began to operate normally. The issue was reported to airline maintenance and the aircraft removed for service. The flight data recorder, which records aircraft performance data, corroborated the pilot’s statements regarding the malfunction of the rudder system. The data showed that during the landing and subsequent rollout the rudder surface position remained near its neutral position even though the force applied to the rudder pedals was increasing. The NTSB noted that ‘about 30 seconds after touchdown, a significant pedal force input was observed along with corresponding rudder surface movement. Afterwards, the rudder pedals and rudder surface began moving as commanded and continued to function normally for the remainder of the taxi.’

The investigation involved the FAA, United Airlines (UAL), Boeing and Collins Aerospace. It was noted in the report that the post-incident troubleshooting and inspection of the rudder control system found no obvious malfunctions with it or any of its components whose failure would have resulted in the restricted movement observed during Flight 1539 and the subsequent test flight that followed the event. ‘As a precaution, the aft rudder input torque tube and associated upper and lower bearings and the rudder rollout guidance servo were removed for further examination by the NTSB systems group,’ the report said. Following the removal of the rudder system components, UAL conducted a second test flight on the airplane and found the rudder control system operated normally.

Component details
According to the information gathered by the NTSB, ‘pilot control of the 737-8 rudder is transmitted in a closed-loop system from the pilots’ rudder pedals in the cockpit through a single cable system, aft rudder quadrant, pedal force transducer to the aft rudder input torque tube in the vertical fin. Rotation of the torque tube provides the command inputs to the two main and standby rudder power control units (PCUs) to move the rudder surface.’

The incident airplane was delivered to the airline in February 2023. The aircraft was configured with ‘a rudder SVO-730 rollout guidance servo that was disabled per UAL’s delivery requirements to reconfigure the autoflight system from CAT IIIB to CAT IIIA capability.’ Investigators stated that although the servo was disabled, it remained mechanically connected to the upper portion of the aft rudder input torque tube by the servo’s output crank arm and pushrod. The rollout guidance servo was removed from the incident airplane and subjected to cold soaking to determine if the cold had adversely affected the torque required to move the servo’s output crank arm. Per the report, at room temperature it was found that the torque to rotate the servo’s output crank arm was within design specifications. After the unit was then ‘cold soaked’ for one hour and the test was repeated, it was found that the torque to move the servo’s output crank arm was significantly beyond the specified design limits.

‘Because the servo output crank arm is mechanically connected to the rudder input torque tube, the restricted movement of the servo’s output crank arm would prevent the rudder pedals from moving as observed during Flight 1539 and the test flight,’ the report said. The NTSB noted the report is still preliminary and the information may change as the investigation continues.

Pilots take a nap while A320 drifts off course

On 25 January the 32-year-old captain of a Batik Air A320 and his 28-year-old FO (and the new father of month-old twins) have been suspended after they both fell asleep and the aircraft drifted off course. The Airbus, with 159 people on board, took off from Kendari, on the island of Sulawesi, for the nearly three-hour  flight to Jakarta. About a half-hour later after reaching cruise, the captain asked the FO for permission to nap in his seat and nodded off for an hour. He woke and asked the FO if he wanted to take a rest but the FO declined and the captain went back to sleep. The FO subsequently ‘inadvertently fell asleep’ according to Indonesian authorities and the two slumbered together for at least 28 minutes before the captain woke up returned the plane back on course.

‘Several attempts to contact BTK6723 had been made by the Jakarta ACC including asking other pilots to call the BTK6723,’ the report by the Indonesian National Transportation Safety Committee said. ‘None of the calls were responded to by the BTK6723 pilots.’ The report also said it had ruled out pilot fitness as a factor but did note that the FO had reported trouble sleeping at home and that he had moved residences the day before the flight.

United Airlines grapples with a string of aircraft incidents

United Airlines is in damage control mode as the carrier has been at the center of scrutiny this week with four separate aircraft mishaps including an engine fire, faulty tyre, runway excursion and most recently, a hydraulic issue. The latest incident came Friday afternoon when a flight departing San Francisco was forced to make an emergency landing in Los Angeles after experiencing issues with the aircraft’s hydraulic system. According to airline officials, the aircraft, an Airbus A320, landed safely and passengers were deplaned. The hydraulic issue followed three other occurrences earlier this week involving Boeing aircraft. Flight 2477, a Boeing 737 Max traveling from Memphis, Tennessee, veered off the side of a taxiway and got stuck after landing at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.

In another bizarre instance, a United Boeing 777 flight departing San Francisco bound for Osaka, Japan, lost a tyre on take-off, which did not injure anyone, but wrecked two cars in an employee parking lot on Thursday. Those emergencies followed Monday’s incident when a Boeing 737 Max flight en route to Florida was forced to return back to Houston after one of its engines caught fire. United said the compressor stall broke after bubble wrap on the field was sucked into the engine on take-off. According to a Bloomberg report, United said it would investigate each incident to determine what happened and learn from them, noting that each event was unrelated to one another. 

American Airlines places an order for up to 133 Embraer aircraft

Embraer has secured a major order for 133 aircraft from American Airlines Group Inc. to meet domestic demand in the United States. American has placed a firm order with Embraer for 90 E175s, with purchase rights for 43 additional jets. The aircraft will be delivered with 76 seats in American’s standard dual-class configuration. The deal, with all purchase rights exercised, is worth more than US$7bn at list price and the firm orders will be included in Embraer’s 1Q24 backlog. The E175 is one of the most popular aircraft in the region, with  837 aircraft sold (including this firm order for 90) and 88% market share since 2013.

American is focused on bringing larger dual-class regional aircraft into its fleet, which will continue to drive connectivity from smaller markets to the rest of the airline’s global network. American expects to retire all of its 50-seat single-class regional jets by the end of the decade and will continue to serve small and medium-sized markets with larger regional jets. Dual-class regional jets are expected to make up American’s regional fleet once the new Embraer E175 deliveries are completed.

Boeing faces criminal probe, says it cannot find door plug removal records

Numerous sources are reporting the Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation into the events leading up to the rapid decompression of an Alaska Airlines MAX 9 over Oregon on 5 January. Alaska Airlines confirmed the probe to the New York Times. “In an event like this, it is normal for the D.O.J. to be conducting an investigation,” Alaska Airlines said in a statement. “We are fully cooperating and do not believe we are a target of the investigation.” Boeing did not comment to the Times.

Meanwhile, Boeing says the manufacturing records it was accused of withholding from investigators in the 737 MAX 9 door plug blowout incident probably never existed. The company came under fire from NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy earlier this week for its lack of cooperation in furnishing documents that are supposed to be kept concerning the actions taken and the people who did the work. “We have looked extensively and have not found any such documentation,” Ziad Ojakli, Boeing executive vice president and the company’s chief government lobbyist, said in a letter to Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wa., obtained by the Seattle Times, adding the ‘working hypothesis: that the documents required by our processes were not created when the door plug was opened.’

The door plug was removed at Boeing’s Renton factory to allow repair of some faulty rivets. The rivet repair records, including photos, were leaked by a whistleblower early in the investigation. That whistleblower also said records show that four bolts required to secure the door plug were not installed, which is at odds with Boeing’s most recent claims. The removal and replacement of the door plug is done by a separate team of workers trained in that operation and the NTSB wants to interview those involved. “We do not have the records. We do not have the names of the 25 people. It is absurd that two months later, we do not have this,” Homendy told a Senate committee hearing. After hearing that, Cantwell, the chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, gave Boeing two days to hand over the documents.

In its preliminary report on the mishap the NTSB, determined the four bolts necessary to prevent the door plug sliding up and out of the fuselage gap were not installed when the finished plane was delivered to Alaska Airlines. On 5 January after several flights in which the aircraft’s pressurisation system detected a leak, the plug blew out as the plane climbed through 16,000 feet on its way from Portland to Ontario, California, as Flight 1282. There were no serious injuries and the crew landed the plane safely back in Portland.

NASA and Boeing release a new image of experimental X-66

Boeing has shared its latest vision of sustainable aviation with a new rendering of the X-66, an experimental aircraft it is building through NASA’s sustainable flight demonstrator project. The aircraft, which is based on a modified McDonnell Douglas MD-90 platform, features diagonal struts, known as Transonic Truss-Braced Wing (TTBW) concept. According to the space agency, it is a distinctive design that, when paired with advancements in propulsion and systems architecture, could slash fuel consumption and emissions by up to 30 percent.  

‘As NASA and Boeing enter the early stages of producing the X-66, the first X-plane specifically focused on helping the United States achieve net-zero aviation emissions by 2050, the team is already picturing what the aircraft will look like soaring above the clouds,’ NASA said in a statement. Boeing began production work in August, when it relocated a MD-90 to its Palmdale, California, facility. According to NASA, the company has removed the aircraft’s engines and begun modifications. Following production, Boeing will also partner with NASA to test and fly the demonstrator aircraft. Flight testing is expected to begin in 2028. ‘The project seeks to inform a new generation of more sustainable single-aisle aircraft, the workhorse of passenger airlines around the world,’ NASA said.

Biden administration proposes five-fold jet fuel tax hike for bizjets

The Biden administration made good on the President’s State of the Union Address promise to raise taxes on business jet operators by raising the federal tax on jet fuel fivefold over the next five years. The White House’s 2025 budget proposal would boost the current tax of 22 cents per gallon to $1.06 by 2030. It is estimated it would raise $1.1 billion over the five years. The proposal also includes a major funding increase for the FAA, including money to hire 2,000 air traffic controllers.

The fuel tax hike is being championed as a fairness issue by the administration. The background documents say business aircraft account for seven percent of FAA airspace workload but the current tax only covers one percent of the revenue into the federal trust fund for aviation and airports. Airline passengers pay a flat $4.50 on each flight and 7.5 percent excise tax on the fare to pay for the other 99 percent. The backgrounder on the State of the Union address said the administration wanted to make private jet operators ‘pay their fair share.’ In the speech itself Biden send he wanted ‘end tax breaks for big pharma, big oil, private jets, massive executive pay.’

Aviation groups responded quickly to the SOTU address and were ready with comments on the budget proposal. NBAA President reiterated his Thursday stance that private aviation is an important business tool and that most of those flying on the jets are mid-level managers doing company business and not their ultra-rich employers. The Biden administration’s sweeping plan would hurt business aviation and the jobs and communities that depend on it and make it harder for US companies to compete in a global economy,” Bolen said.

The National Air Transportation Association hit all of NBAA’s points and also alleged that much of the revenue raised by the aviation fund is diverted to a similar fund for highway projects. “We are concerned that the Biden Administration is failing to account for the billions of business aviation tax dollars that are diverted from the Airport and Airways Trust Fund (AATF) into the Highway Trust Fund (HTF),” said NATA President Curt Castagna. “Such diversion weakens the National Airspace System and could place the safety of the industry at risk.”

SKYCO Leasing orders six H175 helicopters

SKYCO International Financial Leasing Co. (SKYCO Leasing) a state-owned enterprise belonging to China’s Guangdong Province and Airbus Helicopters have signed a contract for six H175 helicopters.

Entrusted by the Guangdong Provincial Government, SKYCO Leasing is in charge of leading the aviation industry development in the province. The versatile H175 helicopters acquired by SKYCO Leasing will be deployed by the Guangdong Government for search and rescue, emergency medical services, disaster relief and other public services missions in China.

On top of the helicopter purchase, the parties have agreed on the reinforcement of Airbus Helicopters’ footprint in China Guangdong Province and the Greater Bay Area in close collaboration with SKYCO Leasing. This includes the joint development of support and services activities and an industrial cooperation setup to lay a solid foundation for the development of general aviation by promoting the reform to open low-altitude airspace. The partnership will also explore an effective business model adapted to the Chinese aviation market that will contribute to regional economic growth.

Robinson Helicopter announces new leadership

Robinson Helicopter announced that Kurt Robinson, President and CEO, will transition to an advisory role and remain on the board of directors effective immediately. Robinson’s former VP of operations, David Smith, has been named as the new president and CEO. Robinson Helicopter enters a new chapter in its 50-year history. The last leadership transition was in 2010 when founder Frank Robinson retired and Kurt Robinson was elected to the role of president and CEO by the board of directors. Smith will become the third leader of the civil aviation company in 50 years.

Smith remains committed to maintaining the company’s reputation for safety and reliability while building on its legacy of innovation and growth. With his experience and a fresh perspective, Smith plans to continue the Robinson culture of excellence and collaboration to drive the company forward with new product development initiatives, enhanced business systems and an expansion of manufacturing capabilities. He understands the importance of staying as a leader in technological advancements in the rotorcraft industry and ensuring that Robinson helicopters are the benchmark for efficiency and performance. Smith’s goal is to bolster relationships with customers, suppliers and partners globally to position Robinson as a preferred choice for civilian rotorcraft solutions.

Smith joined the company in early 2023 as VP of Operations and has almost two decades of experience in aviation and rotorcraft. For most of his career, Smith was with Bell Flight, serving numerous leadership roles across engineering, as programme director for critical product developments and VP of operations modernisation, leading organisational growth and profitability. He has led TRU Simulation + Training Inc., an affiliate of Textron Aviation, to deliver pilot training solutions, including full-flight simulators and flight training devices for business aviation, rotorcraft, commercial air transport and military markets. Smith will begin serving in his new position immediately.

Elvis jet powers on, heads to AirVenture as an RV

The YouTuber who bought Elvis Presley’s 1962 Lockheed 1319 JetStar at auction last year has dismantled the plane to convert it into an RV experience, powering it on for the first time as it gets closer to heading out on the road. James Webb has documented the experience on his YouTube channel Jimmy’s World, shocking audiences when he cut the plane into pieces and showing the journey to take the King’s private jet fuselage and transform it into an on-the-road experience. In the latest update to the long-running Elvis Jet saga, Webb has powered on his converted contraption and is making progress to take the jet RV out on the road.

The JetStar went up for auction in January 2023, selling for about $260,000 on what would have been Presley’s 88th birthday. The original bidder backed out and Webb was able to step in and buy the jet for $234,000. Presley bought the plane on 22 December 1976 for $840,000 ($4.4 million today). The plane sat in the desert at the Roswell International Air Center (ROW) for nearly 40 years until it was placed on auction and purchased by the YouTuber. Webb had the plane evaluated to determine the cost to get Presley’s jet back in the air, only to discover that even if he put in the $5.7 million to repair the plane, the associated airworthiness directive due to the plane’s noise level and lack of any components to muffle the loud jet sounds would make it too loud to legally startup. Despite the disappointment, Webb began looking for a new direction.

Webb has continued to document the process, including taking apart a free abandoned RV. The RV had rotted wood throughout but was the perfect size for the project. The RV was dismantled down to the chassis, meaning the frame and components to make it run like the engine and transmission. Webb broke down the cost of the conversion, including the cost of the plane at auction, transport, RV repairs and dismantling expenses and completing the conversion. The estimated cost to convert the plane into an RV experience is about $331,500, not including the comeback tour once the Elvis jet RV is complete, but millions less than the potential cost to repair the plane. It cost $29,000 to make the thousands of JetStar tags, launched in July of 2023. About 300 tags have been sold for over $100,000. He said selling 700 more would pay for the cost of the project.

Webb has been documenting the ongoing process to combine the dismantled RV with the dismantled jet. The complex process has combined the fuselage with the RV chassis, including combining the wire systems from the chassis through to the plane. With the steering column, transmission, generator and other running electrical components fused, converted and set up, Webb was ready to power it on for the first time. He plugged the power in and turned the key. Cheers ensued as the Jet RV conversion powered on for the first time. Webb checked components like the RPMs and oil and said everything seemed to be in working order. There is still work to be done to complete the project, but Webb said that once it is complete, the Elvis RV experience will be making an appearance at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in July.

Airbus-built EUTELSAT 36D satellite shipped inside the BelugaST to its launch site

The Airbus-built EUTELSAT 36D geostationary telecommunications satellite has been shipped from Toulouse, France to Sanford, Florida, USA, on board an Airbus BelugaST (A300-600ST). Its next step is the Kennedy Space Center, in Florida, where it will be launched into orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 later this month. With the advent of the new BelugaXL, based on the larger A330-200 platform, the A300-600 based BelugaST fleet is now fully available for outsized freight transport services globally.

EUTELSAT 36D is based on the latest generation Eurostar Neo geostationary telecommunications satellite and will provide TV broadcasting (DTH) and government services over Africa, Europe and eastern countries and has a planned lifetime of more than 15 years. Philippe Pham, Head of Telecommunications & Navigation Systems at Airbus, said: “EUTELSAT 36D is the latest milestone of our longstanding partnership with Eutelsat stretching back more than 30 years. It is the 22nd geo satellite we have built for them and will provide extended capacity over Africa and Eurasia.” With 70 physical Ku-band transponders, the all-electric EUTELSAT 36D will assure all the main legacy missions of EUTELSAT 36B, with enhancements to coverage and performance.

It is the fourth Eurostar Neo in orbit. Eurostar Neo satellites combine increased payload capacity and more efficient power and thermal control systems with reduced production time and optimised costs as part of a fully digitalised production process. EUTELSAT 36D combines 18 kW of electric power with a reduced launch mass of approximately five metric tonnes, enabled by Airbus’ EOR (Electric Orbit Raising) capability, reinforcing Airbus’ position as the world leader in electric propulsion.

The Eurostar Neo family of Airbus telecommunications satellites is based on a next-generation platform and technologies, developed with the support of the European Space Agency (ESA) and others, including the Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES) and the UK Space Agency (UKSA). This is the third time that a Beluga transport aircraft is delivering an Airbus geostationary satellite to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Previous missions include HOTBIRD 13G on 17 October 2022 and Inmarsat 6-F2 on 30 January 2023. Airbus’ ability to offer an autonomous European solution is demonstrated by the transport of the Airbus satellites on the unique Beluga aircraft, a true example of pan-Airbus synergies.

SkyDrive initiates production of SKRYDRIVE eVTOL aircraft at Suzuki facility

Japanese electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturer SkyDrive has officially initiated the production of its SKYDRIVE (SD-05) aircraft at the manufacturing plant of Suzuki Motor Corporation in Iwata-city, Shizuoka, Japan. This development marks a significant stride in SkyDrive’s mission to revolutionize urban air mobility. Dedicated to providing safer, more affordable, quieter and emission-free aerial mobility solutions, the company has taken pivotal steps towards achieving this objective. The establishment of Sky Works Inc., its manufacturing arm and the strategic partnership with Suzuki underscore the company’s commitment to innovation. With the capability to manufacture up to 100 eVTOLs annually, SkyDrive is well-positioned to address the increasing demand for urban air mobility solutions.

Tomohiro Fukuzawa, CEO of SkyDrive, expressed, “Partnering with Suzuki, a renowned automotive manufacturer, is a momentous occasion for SkyDrive. It is the beginning of a new phase. We share a goal of quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, making them an ideal partner in our quest to revolutionize urban air mobility.”

In line with its commitment to showcasing the potential of eVTOL technology, the company plans to operate its eVTOL aircraft at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. Established in September 2023 as a subsidiary of SkyDrive for eVTOL aircraft production, Sky Works Inc. operates from Suzuki’s manufacturing plant in Iwata-city, Shizuoka, with a production capacity of up to 100 eVTOLs per year. Nobuo Kishi serves as the President of the company.

Ukrainian drones strike Russian targets

On Wednesday at least seven Russian territories were targeted by dozens of uncrewed drones on marking a second day of apparent Ukrainian strikes within Russia. The Russian Ministry of Defence said at least 58 drones were shot down by air defences overnight and into Wednesday morning.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the two days of attacks on Russian regions were an effort by Ukrainian forces and pro-Ukrainian Russians to prevent the holding of presidential elections. Voting in those elections is scheduled for the coming weekend. “The main goal, I have no doubt about it, is to, if not disrupt the presidential elections in Russia, then at least somehow interfere with the normal process of expressing the will of citizens,” Putin said on Wednesday.

In the same interview with state media, Putin again mentioned Moscow’s readiness to use nuclear weapons if doing so were necessary for state security. The drones shot down on Wednesday targeted locations in Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk, Ryazan and the Leningrad region, Russian military officials said. On Tuesday the ministry said that it had destroyed dozens of other Ukrainian drones in several regions within Russia.

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