The next chapter in space transportation is being written right now in the State of New Mexico. Forward-thinking pioneers are developing both vertical and horizontal launch vehicles using the power of free-market enterprise.
As the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport, Spaceport America is designed with the needs of the commercial space business in mind. Unique geographic benefits, striking iconic design, and the tradition of New Mexico space leadership are coming together to create a new way to travel into space.
When it comes to outer space, New Mexico is bringing it down to earth!
This Final Rule was published in the Federal Register on July 20, 2010, Page 41968. All changes established by this rule are effective October 1, 2010. This rule establishes specific registration expiration dates over a three-year period for all aircraft registered before October 1, 2010, and requires re-registration of those aircraft according to a specific schedule. All aircraft registrations issued on or after October 1, 2010, will be good for three years with the expiration date clearly shown.
‘Twas the night before Christmas all over the place, When we were confronted by an old flying ace. There was icing reported and turbulent air , He said, “File me a flight plan, I gotta get there”.
Outside sat his aircraft all ready to run, And the old man walked out to that P-51. “Bad weather’s no problem,” he silently mumbled, The prop came to life…that big Merlin rumbled.
He eased in the throttle, the roar shook the ground, He taxied on out and turned it around. He went through the run-up and seemed satisfied, Then he said to himself, “I’m in for a ride.”
So he lined it up straight as he poured on the coal, The tailwheel came up as he started to roll. Up off the runway, he sucked up the gear, And that mighty V-12 was all you could hear.
He screamed overhead with a deafening crack, Blue flames flying from each little stack. “He pulled up the nose and started to climb, No ice on that airframe, it didn’t have time.
On top of the weather with the levers all set, He looked up above him and saw a Learjet. “With jet fuel and turbines there just ain’t no class, Gimmee pistons, and props and lots of avgas!”
Now he was approaching where he wanted to go. But the weather had covered the runway with ice and with snow. How will he land it? We just have to guess, because the only way in was a full I-L-S.
Then over the outer marker, he started his run, The ceiling was zero, visibility…none. Still going three hundred and he felt the need, For an overhead break to diminish his speed.
Over the numbers he zoomed, along like a flash, Pulled into his break, we just knew he would crash. Oh, why do they do it on these kind of nights?? Then over the threshold, we saw landing lights.
I’m on a short final with three in the green, And I see enough runway to land this machine.”. Then he tied down that Mustang, and they all heard him say,.. “Next year, I’m stickin’ with my reindeer and sleigh..”.
Twas the night before the cruise in, when all through the garage Not a vehicle was running, not even the Dodge; The spark plugs were removed by myself with care, In hopes that my mechanic would soon be here; My sockets were nestled all snug in their case, With visions of a mechanic all dressed in lace; While in my shop clothes with a matching cap, I had just settled down for a garage floor nap, When out in the driveway there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the floor to see what was the matter. Away passed the Chevy I flew like a flash, Jumped over the Ford but hit the Nash. Hoping it was my mechanic but I didn’t know So I directed my shop light out into the snow, When, what to my wondering eyes did appear, Was my mechanic drinking a beer! With his little red Vette, so shinny and quick, Wasn’t an automatic, it was a stick. More rapid than a street rod with his tools he came, He stumbled and stuttered and he called me by name; The Chevy, the Ford both needed fixin! Along with a Buick once owned by Nixon! From the Harley to 4×4 so big and tall! My mechanic he’d fix them all! He’d fixed cars and boats and things that fly, And little old me I wouldn’t try, So over to the Chevy with the big block he flew, The Ford, the Dodge, he fixed the Nash too. And for a minute I’d thought he made a goof But it was his beer knocked off the roof. Startledand shaken he was turning around, Just in time to see the beer hit the ground. He was dressed in overalls from his head to his foot, His clothes were all covered with grease and soot; With a bundle of tools flung on his back, If you need help again call I’ll be back. His Vette – how sweat and clean, nothing but Cherry! He built it for his wife, think her name’s Mary! So tomorrow is the cruise in and I think I will go, Invited my wife but she doesn’t know; Polished my wheels with a toothbrush like my teeth, This was a tip from a friend named Keith; At breakfast I ate and stuffed my belly, I had coffee and toast with strawberry jelly. Out in the garage grab the wax off the shelf, I waxed two cars all by myself; I polished the Dodge so shinny and red, So off to the cruise in I think I’ll head; A great day for a cruise in and I don’t have to work, An aggressive driver; what a jerk, But who’s at the cruise in nobody knows, I’m off to the Exxon where everybody goes; There’s my friend Tom I’ll give him a whistle, And there’s Joe with a old Ford Edsel. But look at the cars here, man what a sight,
“Happy Cruise -in to all, and to all a good-night.”
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In 2011 Morgan will once again be offering their 3 wheeler from the early 1900s. With a Harley engine and Mazda gear box this car will have the best of both worlds – classic look with modern power train.
Standby. The FAA says it will publish a proposed rule in the next few months that would require a new pilot certificate which must to include your photo.
Terrafugia To Work With AAI Corporation On DARPA Transformer (TX) Project
DARPA has been talking for some time about developing a four person flyable and roadable vehicle it describes as a ‘flying Humvee’, a project with a budget of about $65 million. Terrafugia, the developer of the Transition Roadable Aircraft, or ‘Flying Car’, is the largest subcontractor to one of two winning teams, led by AAI Corporation and comprised of other Textron companies.
While browsing the classifieds on Barnstormers.com I came across an ad for a Kettenkrad for sale. Intrigued I did some research on the net. And if this winter is anything like last year I think I’ll consider one of these as my next vehicle.
Referred to as the “tracked motorcycle” concept, the Kettenkrad was conceived and patented by a German inventor, Heinrich Ernst Kniepkamp, in June of 1939.
The SdKfz 2, better known as the Kleines Kettenkraftrad HK 101 or Kettenkrad for short (Ketten = tracks, krad = military abbreviation of the German word Kraftrad, the administrative German term for motorcycle), started its life as a light tractor for airborne troops. The vehicle was designed to be delivered by Junkers Ju 52 aircraft, though not by parachute. The vehicle had the advantage of being the only gun tractor small enough to fit inside the hold of the Ju 52.
Steering the Kettenkrad was accomplished by turning the handlebars: if little movement was used then the wheel would steer the vehicle, however if they were turned further they would engage the track brakes to help make turns sharper.
The SdKfz 2 was designed and built by the NSU Motorenwerke AG at Neckarsulm, Germany. It was first used in the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941. Later in the war Stoewer from Stettin also produced Kettenkrads under license, accounting for about 10% of the total production.
Most Kettenkrads saw service on the Eastern Front, where they were used to lay communication cables, pull heavy loads and carry soldiers through the deep Russian mud. Late in the war, Kettenkrads were used as runway tugs for aircraft, including jets such as the Me 262. In order to conserve aviation fuel, the aircraft would be towed rather than run the engines while taxiing.
The vehicle was also used in the North African theater and in Western Europe.
The Kettenkrad came with a special trailer that could be attached to it to improve its cargo capacity. Other trailers used by the Kettenkrads could be used for other lightweight vehicles such as the Kubelwagon and the Schwimmwagon (pictured below – the two vehicles on the right).
Being a tracked vehicle the Kettenkrad could climb up to 24° in sand and even more in hard ground, as long as the driver had courage for it.
Only two significant sub-variations of the Kettenkrad were constructed, and production of the vehicle was stopped in 1944, at which time 8,345 had been constructed. After the war the production went on until 1948 or 1949.
Just a week after a group of us earned our seaplane ratings at Jack Brown’s Seaplane Based an Okeechobee man was killed when his amphibious, ultralight airplane plunged into Lake Jessie.
