Vintage Aviation News

DECEMBER 29, 2024

On this day in aviation history, December 29, 1939, the first prototype of the Consolidated B-24 Liberator made its first flight. In time, the Liberator would become the most widely produced American heavy bomber of WWII, with 18,188 examples being built between 1939 and 1945. While it served in virtually every operational theater of WWII, the Liberator’s post-war legacy was overshadowed by the Boing B-17 Flying Fortress, and only a handful remain in existence today.

Tail

Aerotime

DECEMBER 29, 2024

On the evening of December 28, a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 737-800 made an emergency landing at Oslo Torp Sandefjord Airport (TRF) after experiencing hydraulic failure shortly after takeoff from Oslo-Gardermoen Airport (OSL). The aircraft registered PH-BXM was conducting flight KL1204 to Amsterdam-Schiphol International Airport (AMS), carrying 176 passengers and six crew members.

Runway

AV Web

DECEMBER 29, 2024

Skyryse says it’s a major step closer to certification for its “universal operating system for flight” with “the world’s first fully automated hover at the swipe of a finger in a fully-conforming production aircraft.” The company’s Skyryse One, a chieved a stable hover Dec. 19 with the single command on a touchscreen, although it had previously been done numerous times in a test article.

Pilot

Aerotime

DECEMBER 29, 2024

An Air Canada Express flight operated by PAL Airlines from St. John’s International Airport (YYT) faced a landing gear failure upon arriving at Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) on December 28, 2024, leading to delays and a temporary airport closure. The incident occurred around 9:14 p.m. local time when Flight AC2259, a de Havilland Dash 8-402Q aircraft registered C-GPNA, landed on runway 23.

Runway

Simple Flying

DECEMBER 29, 2024

A new video has emerged online reportedly showing a new (and unorthodox) Chinese military drone flying. The drone is said to be the Wuzhen-9 (or WZ-9), meaning "Divine Eagle", and is suggested to be an Airborne Early Warning aircraft. The new drone comes amid a flurry of new end-of-year Chinese military aircraft reveals that include two advanced fighter jets.

Jet

Aerotime

DECEMBER 29, 2024

The Italian Ministry for Business has approved the sale of Piaggio Aerospace and Piaggio Aviation to the Turkish aerospace firm Baykar Technologies. This decision concludes a challenging period for Piaggio Aerospace, which entered extraordinary administration in December 2018. Government-appointed extraordinary commissioners reported in June 2023 that 18 expressions of interest (EOIs) had been submitted for the purchase of Piaggio Aero Industries and Piaggio Aviation. “The market is sendin

Simple Flying

DECEMBER 29, 2024

Houston Hobby Airport (HOU) has become synonymous with convenience, efficiency, and luxury when it comes to private and semi-private aviation. Located just seven miles from downtown Houston, the airport is a hub for those seeking seamless travel experiences. From business executives in the energy sector to leisure travelers, Hobby Airport caters to the diverse needs of its clientele with world-class infrastructure, exceptional service, and strategic advantages.

Jet

Simple Flying

DECEMBER 29, 2024

Asia Pacific Airlines has been ordered by the U.S. Department of Labor to pay over $2 million in wages, damages, and legal fees after it was determined that the airline fired a pilot for repeatedly raising safety concerns over engine maintenance practices. The airline contends this ruling and has stated it will formally appeal the decision.

Pilot

AV Web

DECEMBER 29, 2024

I’m going to miss the internal combustion engine. Ease up climate change deniers. I’m not discussing that. I’m simply reporting the facts and the fact is that for all intents and purposes the technology that propelled we Boomers through just about every significant moment of our lives will eventually be replaced by a soulless stator and armature.

Knot

Simple Flying

DECEMBER 29, 2024

The United States Air Force still has around 200 Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II (aka Warthogs) remaining in service. These are spread out over around 10 bases around the country (including Air National Guard Bases). Additionally, Warthogs are deployed to various other bases around the United States and abroad for a range of missions (including exercises and combat deployments).

The Aviationist

DECEMBER 29, 2024

Unconfirmed accounts from two pilots, including the one shot down, described how the F/A-18F was engaged while recovering on the USS Truman and another missile was launched at a second aircraft. As already reported, on Dec. 22, 2024, anF/A-18F Super Hornet, embarked aboard USS Harry S. Truman, was shot down in what the U.S. Central […] The post Lets Examine the Pilots Accounts Emerged After the Friendly Fire Incident Involving the F/A-18 Over the Red Sea appeared first on The Aviationist.

Pilot

Simple Flying

DECEMBER 29, 2024

What is the safety record of the Marine Corps' Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion heavy-lift cargo helicopter ? Many people have noted the mishap record of the MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor , and it seems fair to evaluate the safety record of the Osprey of the Marine Corps other heavy-lift rotary wing platform, the Super Stallion. As of the time of writing (December 2024), the last CH-53E mishap occurred just a week ago when a Super Stallion assigned to the Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466 was destroye

Lift

Photographic Logbook

DECEMBER 29, 2024

Twenty Years of Adventure Twenty years ago, I became an aircraft owner. It was not something that I dreamed of even as a student pilot and two decades on, I sometimes struggle to grasp the reality of it. I did not visit many new places in 2024, but my time machine returned me to many favorites. I flew for pleasure, for work, for family, and for fellowship, with the Warrior taking me to a scientific conference in Philly, to a funeral in Michigan, to Boston on a family vacation, to a family gather

Instrument Meteorological Conditions

Simple Flying

DECEMBER 29, 2024

It was September 21, 2005. JetBlue flight 292 departed Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, California bound for John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. The Airbus A320-232 (registration N536JB) departed at 15:17 local time with 140 passengers and crew onboard. The captain was Scott Burke, and the first officer was David Razler, and four cabin crew members were onboard.

Cabin Crew

The Aviationist

DECEMBER 29, 2024

Originally intended for long-range heavy bomber escort missions over Japan during World War Two, the F-82 arrived in service too late but did see action in the next war in Korea. First Blood from the Last of Her Kind On Jun. 25, 1950, a peaceful Sunday was suddenly interrupted when 90,000 North Korean troops stormed […] The post The North American F-82 Twin Mustang: A Forgotten Fighter of the Forgotten War appeared first on The Aviationist.

Simple Flying

DECEMBER 29, 2024

William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) has reopened Runway 4-22 after closing it for maintenance in May. It was reopened on 23rd December, just before Christmas. Hobby is the second airport in Houston and is mostly served by Southwest Airlines. In 2023, two private aircraft collided at Houston Hobby. No one was injured, but the airport suspended operations for a few hours.

Runway

One Mile at a Time

DECEMBER 29, 2024

Link: Apply now for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card or Capital One Venture X Business In general, I recommend earning transferable points currencies with your credit cards whenever possible, to give you the most flexibility if youre looking for travel rewards. Capital One has one of the major transferable points currencies, and two cards are particularly lucrative the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card ( review ) and Capital One Venture X Business ( review ).

Airline

Simple Flying

DECEMBER 29, 2024

In early-December, I was invited by Icelandair to Reykjavk to welcome the companys brand-new Airbus Airbus A321LR. This was the airlines first Airbus aircraft ever, marking a significant transition away from its exclusively-Boeing fleet. The new Airbuses are set to replace the airlines Boeing 757 fleet, making my return journey to London even more relevant.

Airline

The Aviationist

DECEMBER 29, 2024

The contract comes after Lockheed Martin said in October that it was internally funding the F-35 production line while negotiations for Lots 18 and 19, which had been ongoing since 2023, were underway. The Pentagon has awarded Lockheed Martin an undefinitized contract, worth $11.8 billion, to produce as a part of Lot 18 a total […] The post Lockheed Martin Awarded Undefinitized Contract for 145 F-35s Worth $11 Billion appeared first on The Aviationist.

Simple Flying

DECEMBER 29, 2024

Taiwanese flag carrier China Airlines has been in the news of late, following its launch of fifth-freedom flights from Melbourne to Auckland as an extension of its existing route from Taipei to the Australian city. As Simple Flying reported at the start of the month , these services are a productive way of using the time between flights that would otherwise be spent with the aircraft sitting unused on the ground.

Airline

Airline Geeks

DECEMBER 29, 2024

Delta plans to expand its Boeing 717 network next summer. The Atlanta-based airline has roughly 80 717-200s in its fleet.

Airline

Simple Flying

DECEMBER 29, 2024

Authorities in the last few hours have confirmed that all 175 passengers and four crew members were killed in Sunday morning's tragic crash at South Korea's Muan International Airport. Jeju Air, meanwhile, has rejected claims that the accident was down to a lack of proper maintenance. The company's Chief Executive Officer has already said in a press briefing this morning that he takes full responsibility for the event, "regardless of the cause" and bowed in apology.

AV Web

DECEMBER 29, 2024

This beautiful piece of cinematic art by Hemlock Pictures features a Who’s Who of the aircraft restoration elite. It’s the full length Emmy Award-winning documentary so buckle up for about an hour. The post Best Of The Web: The Restorers appeared first on AVweb.

Simple Flying

DECEMBER 29, 2024

In 1984, Norman Ralph Augustine, an aerospace industry businessman who had previously served as the Undersecretary of the Army, published a series of algorithms that showed how the cost of developing new fighter jets for the United States Air Force had continued to grow astronomically over time. These equations, which were eventually dubbed Augustine's laws, were the output of a series of famous studies, highlighting the exponential growth of operating and development costs for US fighters.

Jet

AV Web

DECEMBER 29, 2024

There’s scant support among respondents for ATC privatization. The post Last Week’s Poll Results: Keep Public ATC appeared first on AVweb.

Simple Flying

DECEMBER 29, 2024

Finland is an interesting market when it comes to the world of modern European commercial aviation for a number of reasons. While the bulk of the country's air traffic is concentrated through Helsinki Vantaa Airport (HEL) in the capital city, it is also a large enough nation to have a reasonable domestic market. Helsinki has also served as a connecting hub for passengers traveling to Asia with flag carrier Finnair.

AV Web

DECEMBER 29, 2024

Do you fly with an angle of attack indicator? Do you fly with an angle of attack indicator? Yes I have but not regularly No What's an angle of attack indicator? The post Poll: Do You Fly With An Angle Of Attack Indicator? appeared first on AVweb.

Simple Flying

DECEMBER 29, 2024

There is no doubt that Boeing had a tumultuous 2024, which included the Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 door plug blowout and the subsequent scrutiny from stakeholders, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the 52-day strike by its machinists, further derailing the companys recovery ambitions.

Airline

One Mile at a Time

DECEMBER 29, 2024

If you stay at luxury hotels with any frequency, odds are that at some point youve stayed at a hotel that claims to offer butler service. Sometimes its offered for all guests, while other times its offered to guests in certain room categories. In this post I wanted to talk about that in a bit more detail, because I dont have all the answers, and Im curious how others approach this kind of service The basics of hotel butler service When luxury hotels offer butler service, obviously the intent is

Approach

Simple Flying

DECEMBER 29, 2024

The final full week of 2024 has been one of mourning for many after two aircraft were destroyed in fatal accidents that killed 217 people. Aviation remains one of the safest forms of transport despite the heavy and tragic loss of life over the last few days. We have summarized some of the events of the week that ended with todays horrific Jeju Air disaster.

Airline

One Mile at a Time

DECEMBER 29, 2024

Most major hotel groups, like Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott, offer a mobile check-in option through their apps. The question is, should you use this, and if so, whats the benefit to doing so? I dont actually have a terribly strong opinion about this, but a reader asked me, so Ill share my take, and am curious to hear how others approach this. Maybe its an opportunity for me to evolve my stance.

Approach

Simple Flying

DECEMBER 29, 2024

Plane spotters at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) have alleged a Delta Air Lines flight came scarily close to a charter flight when departing from the Californian airport's runway.

Runway

One Mile at a Time

DECEMBER 29, 2024

The JW Marriott brand will be expanding to Greece. While plans for this property were first announced in March 2024, theres an update. The hotel is now bookable, so we know when it will open, and how much a stay will cost. Details of the JW Marriott Crete, Greece The JW Marriott Crete Resort & Spa is now accepting reservations for stays as of August 1, 2025.

Simple Flying

DECEMBER 29, 2024

A PAL Airlines de Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 turboprop, operating under Air Canada , skidded off the runway and caught fire upon landing at Halifax International Airport (YHZ), narrowly avoiding disaster.

Runway

One Mile at a Time

DECEMBER 29, 2024

Marriott Bonvoy is the worlds largest hotel loyalty program. An OMAAT reader who is a new Platinum member just asked me what he can realistically expect in terms of upgrades, and if members are supposed to ask for them at check-in, or how theyre assigned. I figure this is a topic worth covering here, and I certainly welcome the takes of others. Marriott Bonvoys elite suite upgrade policy While Marriott Bonvoy has five elite tiers, status really starts to get valuable with Platinum status and abo

Approach

Simple Flying

DECEMBER 29, 2024

United Airlines has begun using Language Learning Models (LLMs) and artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT, to inform customers about the status of their flights, which has resulted in a 6% boost in customer satisfaction.

Airline

Simple Flying

DECEMBER 29, 2024

The aviation industry is heavily regulated, with airlines required to follow strict maintenance programs overseen by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States. Each airline must establish a Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program, which includes routine inspections, known as checks, to ensure aircraft safety and airworthiness.

Airline