Wednesday, December 29, 2010

The Heydays of Propeller Airliners (1941-1958)

The greatest positive contribution of WW II was that it changed air transportation dramatically.

New technology led to advanced piston-engine aircraft and new solutions were made available to the problems of navigation and air traffic control.

A few large airlines like TWA and Pan American continued to dominate. Air traffic grew steadily, as it reduced the travel time. Lower fares due to competition made air travel available to an increasing number of people and the flights' quality continued to improve gradually.


Pictured above, is Lockheed Super Constellation (nick named "Connie"). This was a propeller-driven aircraft, powered by four 18-cylinder radial engined R-3350 by Wright Engine Corporation. This aircraft was built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation USA between year 1943 to 1958 at Burbank California. Air India used these aircraft extensively till 1970.

Total 856 aircraft were manufactured in four models ranging from C69 to C121, all distinguished by a unique triple-tail design and a dolphin-shaped fuselage. The Constellation was used as a civilian airliner and as military air transport, including Indian Air Force. It had the privilege of being Air Force one (Aircraft for U.S. President D D Eisenhower.

IN315, an Indian Navy L1049G (former Air India L1049E VT-DHM 'Rani of Ellora') Super Constellation is on display at the Naval Aviation Museum at Dabolim in Goa.

Franklin Roosevelt was the first president to fly while in office. He flew to the 1943 Casablanca Conference in Morocco to plan the Allies' European strategy in World War II. Air travel for VIPs became preferred mode of transportation over ships due to threat from submarines.

The photo above shows first crew of first Presidential VIP Aircraft "Air Force One", C-87 Liberator Express. Below, President Roosevelt inside the first "Air Force One".



  • Some Facts:

    US railway had reached peak length between 1920 & 1930s.
  • While airplanes contributed to a decline in rail travelers, automobiles made railways in the US virtually a museum piece.
  • In 1955, for the first time, more people in the United States traveled by air than by train.
  • By 1957 airliners had replaced ocean liners as the preferred means of crossing the Atlantic.
  • The 60s saw decline of railways in the USA.
  • For today's US children of most of the major US cities, railways (in the US the call it "rail road") can be seen in Museums only. For a 10 minute joy ride in rail coach drawn by a steam loco (that burns Furnace Oil instead of coal), they pay $10 (Rs 480/-).
  • ----- V S Saxena. Any question? Please email me at

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Hypersonic aircraft North American X15

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Spiroil tipped wing tip technology

Imagine an improvement in aerodynamics that might just have the potential to transform aviation.

Ultimately we have got the thing.


Spiroid tipped wing technology has the potential to save airlines a lot of fuel. Rather than the blended winglet, which has become the standard for all new Boeing 737s coming off the line, a Spiroid tipped wing differs by curving over to create a loop at the end of the wingtip.

According to Aviation Partners, "The Spiroid eliminates concentrated wingtip vortices, which represent nearly half the induced drag generated during cruise."

The technology isn't new. In fact, Dr. Louis Gratzer, Vice President of Technology for Aviation Partners has held the patent on the Spiroid tipped wings since 1992. When the winglets first flew on a Gulfstream II, Aviation Partners yielded a 10% improvement in fuel burn.

In a short-haul environment, a 10% improvement with Spiroid tipped wings could be the stepping-stone to the next-generation in fuel efficiency.

For example, the new Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan has touted a 12-15% improvement in SFC (specific fuel consumption). Pratt & Whitney has always affirmed that the 12-15% improvement is separate from whatever gains in efficiency are delivered through aerodynamic refinement of the aircraft.

The coupling of these two technologies could deliver fuel burn improvements up to 22-25%, exceeding even the most optimistic of forecasts without radical changes in engine technology or aircraft configuration that might be required with an unducted fan or blended wing body for example.

From an aerodynamic standpoint, Clark added that the Spiroids are compatible for any swept wing aircraft. Testing on a Falcon 50 will begin in 3-4 months to further validate the technology.

"We need to get out and do the full flight test realm. We don't know what they are going to do in icing and in flutter," said Clark.

Following the Falcon 50 Spiroid flight tests later this year, Clark wants to test the technology on a Boeing 777. On the longer-range 777s, this would require the removal of the raked wing tips. Boeing's raked winglets provide a 5.5% improvement in fuel burn over the original 777-200/200ER/300 aircraft.

Boeing has estimated that for every 1% improvement in fuel burn, the 777 would gain 75 nm in range, 10 more passengers or 2,400 pounds of cargo.

A doubling in wingtip efficiency with Spiroids could open the door for new routes for airlines. The famed 'Kangaroo Route', the non-stop flight between Sydney and London could finally be in reach. The 777-200LR is able to make the journey one-way, but the route has never been economically viable because of the prevailing winds that limit payload capacity. A 4.5% improvement in fuel burn could, once and for all, open up the route.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

California, Past and Present

California, Past and Present

RICH CALIFORNIA

State of California is located on the western coast of USA, bordering with Mexico. So rich is this state that if this were a country, it would rank among the ten largest economies in the world, with a GDP similar to that of Italy and it would be the 35th most populous countries in the world.

POPULATION
California is the most populous (36,961,664) and area-wise third largest state in the US.

HISTORY
1770-1799 (Late 18th century):
California, known as Alta California, is ruled by King of Spain.

1821
Monarch of Mexico wins and rules California.

1846
Group of American settlers in Sonoma declares independence of California. Resulting in Mexican-American War.
Sonoma Californians win. Mexicans surrender California to the US and California becomes a state of USA.

Gold Rush 1848–1855:

Gold is discovered by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill, Coloma, California. News of the discovery brings over 3 lac people from America and all over the world. Gold-seekers are called "Forty-niners" (reference to 1849). While most of them Americans, the Gold Rush attracts tens of thousands from Mexico, Europe, Australia and China. Gold finders, known as prospectors retrieve gold from streams and riverbeds using simple techniques like panning or straining through a mesh or cloth. Gold worth billions of $ is extracted, which leads to great wealth for many. However, majority of the seekers either die due to epidemics or victimization of the more powerful "lords of the wild". They return home with little more than what they had.

By the year 1849, effects of Gold Rush are visible. San Francisco grows from small shanty settlement to metropolis. Roads, churches, schools and other towns spring up throughout California. A state constitution is written and just two years later.

1850 California becomes a state. New methods of transportation are developed as steamships come into regular service. Railroads are built. Agriculture animal husbandry and ranching expands throughout the state to meet the needs of the settlers.

Negative Effects of Gold Rush: Native Americans are attacked and pushed off their lands. Gold mining causes environmental harm. While most of the newly arrived are Americans, Gold Rush attracts tens of thousands from Latin America, Europe, Australia, and China. At first, the prospectors retrieve gold from streams and riverbeds using simple techniques, such as panning. More sophisticated methods of gold recovery are developed which are later adopted around the world. Gold worth billions of today's dollars is recovered, which leads to great wealth for a few. However, many return home with little more than what they had started with.

The effects of the Gold Rush are substantial. San Francisco grows from a shanty town to a boom-berg. Roads, churches, schools and other towns are built throughout California. A state constitution is written. California becomes a state. A system of "staking claims" is developed, as at the beginning of the Gold Rush, there was no law regarding property rights in the goldfields. Gold Rush also shows negative effects: Native Americans are attacked and pushed off their lands. Gold mining causes environmental harm. The economic boom causes San Francisco to grow from a den of goons and robbers to a world-renowned boomtown.

EARLY 20th CENTURY
Key developments in the early 20th century included the emergence of Los Angeles as center of the American entertainment industry and growth of a large, state-wide tourism sector. In addition to California's prosperous agricultural industry, other important contributors to the economy include aerospace, petroleum, and information technology.


ETHNIC GROUPS
Immigrants from Punjab and Gujarat: Late 50s saw inflow of Indians from Punjab and Gujarat. Hard working Punjabi farmers and fertile land of California made a wonderful combination. The Gujaratis dominate Motels and liquor business. In addition to dominant English speaking people, a large number of population of California speaks Spanish. During WW I and WW II, Russian intellects migrate to USA. California welcomes them and most of them were accommodated in California. Mexicans, Koreans and the Chinese found great opportunities for manual labour and during the 50s, an influx of both legal as well as illegal population from these countries was seen.


FIVE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES
In addition to English and Spanish, three more recognized languages of the State of California are Russian, Gurmukhi (Punjabi) and Mandarin (Chinese). Most of the official forms, notifications and application forms originating from California State are published in all these 5 languages.



NATIVE INDIANS
California has an amazing diversity of Native Indian (Red Indians) cultures. They are: Wiyot in the North, Yokuts in the Central Valley and Diegueno in the south.

GEOGRAPHY
Large Cities: Sacramento (Political Capital), San Francisco (Commercial Capital) Los Angeles (Hollywood), San Diego and San Jose. Topographically California ranges from the Pacific coast in the West, to Sierra-Nevada mountain range in the east (home of the Grand Canyon) to Mojave Desert in the Southeast and the Redwood–Douglas Fir forests in the Northwest. The center of California state has one of the most productive agricultural areas in the world.

GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY
Like India, California is the most geographically diverse state in the in the US. It has the highest (Mount Whitney) and lowest (Death Valley). Almost 40% of California is forest. A high amount for a relatively arid state borders state of Arizona. No wonder, the diverse weather of California state, (from scorching heat of June to freezing winters of January) is as diverse as its culture that bears much of similarity to India.


SILICON VALLY AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
This write up will not be complete without the mention of invaluable contribution by young engineers from India and China, to America's Silicon and Information Technology. In 1998-99, large number of Indians and Chinese boys and girls, who had just completed their Engineering, were picked up by employment agencies and brought to California, initially to program computers and computer aided equipment connected from the US to the rest of the world, to function flawlessly as the year 1999 crossed over to 2000. The work done by these young programmers and engineers was well rewarded when everything passed over smoothly on the night of 31 December 1999.

Intel, the largest manufacturer of computer chips needed innovators to enhance capabilities of their chips and found Indians and Chinese engineers as their best bets. Thus a new breed of computer programmers, architects and engineers from half way across the world found a haven, where their skills and capabilities could be best utilized.

Southern part of San Francisco in Northern California, popularly known as Silicon Valley, is home to many of the world's largest computer technology companies including Apple, Adobe, Agilent, Cisco, eBay, Face Book, Google, HP, Hot Mail, Intel, Microsoft, Netflix, Oracle and Yahoo to name a few.

The term Silicon Valley originally referred to the region's large number of silicon chip innovators and manufacturers, but eventually came to refer to all the high tech businesses in the area. Despite the development of other high profile technical and economic centers throughout the US and the world, Silicon Valley of California continues to be the leading hub for high profile technical innovation and developments in software and hardware technology, accounting for 1/3 of all of the venture capital investment in the United States. Geographically, Silicon Valley comprises of Santa Clara valley including the city of San Jose and adjacent areas, the Southern Peninsula and the Southeastern Bay of California.

It would not be inappropriate to nomenclature California as "brain of the world."

V S Saxena
Rocklin, California
16 August 2010

California, Past and Present

RICH CALIFORNIA
State of California is located on the western coast of USA, bordering with Mexico. So rich is this state that if this were a country, it would rank among the ten largest economies in the world, with a GDP similar to that of Italy and it would be the 35th most populous countries in the world.

POPULATION
California is the most populous (36,961,664) and area-wise third largest state in the US.

HISTORY
1770-1799 (Late 18th century):
California, known as Alta California, is ruled by King of Spain.

1821
Monarch of Mexico wins and rules California.

1846
Group of American settlers in Sonoma declares independence of California. Resulting in Mexican-American War.
Sonoma Californians win. Mexicans surrender California to the US and California becomes a state of USA.

Gold Rush 1848–1855:
Gold is discovered by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill, Coloma, California. News of the discovery brings over 3 lac people from America and all over the world. Gold-seekers are called "Forty-niners" (reference to 1849). While most of them Americans, the Gold Rush attracts tens of thousands from Mexico, Europe, Australia and China. Gold finders, known as prospectors retrieve gold from streams and riverbeds using simple techniques like panning or straining through a mesh or cloth. Gold worth billions of $ is extracted, which leads to great wealth for many. However, majority of the seekers either die due to epidemics or victimization of the more powerful "lords of the wild". They return home with little more than what they had.

By the year 1849, effects of Gold Rush are visible. San Francisco grows from small shanty settlement to metropolis. Roads, churches, schools and other towns spring up throughout California. A state constitution is written and just two years later.

1850 California becomes a state. New methods of transportation are developed as steamships come into regular service. Railroads are built. Agriculture animal husbandry and ranching expands throughout the state to meet the needs of the settlers.

Negative Effects of Gold Rush: Native Americans are attacked and pushed off their lands. Gold mining causes environmental harm. While most of the newly arrived are Americans, Gold Rush attracts tens of thousands from Latin America, Europe, Australia, and China. At first, the prospectors retrieve gold from streams and riverbeds using simple techniques, such as panning. More sophisticated methods of gold recovery are developed which are later adopted around the world. Gold worth billions of today's dollars is recovered, which leads to great wealth for a few. However, many return home with little more than what they had started with.

The effects of the Gold Rush are substantial. San Francisco grows from a shanty town to a boom-berg. Roads, churches, schools and other towns are built throughout California. A state constitution is written. California becomes a state. A system of "staking claims" is developed, as at the beginning of the Gold Rush, there was no law regarding property rights in the goldfields. Gold Rush also shows negative effects: Native Americans are attacked and pushed off their lands. Gold mining causes environmental harm. The economic boom causes San Francisco to grow from a den of goons and robbers to a world-renowned boomtown.

EARLY 20th CENTURY
Key developments in the early 20th century included the emergence of Los Angeles as center of the American entertainment industry and growth of a large, state-wide tourism sector. In addition to California's prosperous agricultural industry, other important contributors to the economy include aerospace, petroleum, and information technology.

ETHNIC GROUPS
Immigrants from Punjab and Gujarat: Late 50s saw inflow of Indians from Punjab and Gujarat. Hard working Punjabi farmers and fertile land of California made a wonderful combination. The Gujaratis dominate Motels and liquor business. In addition to dominant English speaking people, a large number of population of California speaks Spanish. During WW I and WW II, Russian intellects migrate to USA. California welcomes them and most of them were accommodated in California. Mexicans, Koreans and the Chinese found great opportunities for manual labour and during the 50s, an influx of both legal as well as illegal population from these countries was seen.


FIVE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES
In addition to English and Spanish, three more recognized languages of the State of California are Russian, Gurmukhi (Punjabi) and Mandarin (Chinese). Most of the official forms, notifications and application forms originating from California State are published in all these 5 languages.

NATIVE INDIANS
California has an amazing diversity of Native Indian (Red Indians) cultures. They are: Wiyot in the North, Yokuts in the Central Valley and Diegueno in the south.

GEOGRAPHY
Large Cities: Sacramento (Political Capital), San Francisco (Commercial Capital) Los Angeles (Hollywood), San Diego and San Jose. Topographically California ranges from the Pacific coast in the West, to Sierra-Nevada mountain range in the east (home of the Grand Canyon) to Mojave Desert in the Southeast and the Redwood–Douglas Fir forests in the Northwest. The center of California state has one of the most productive agricultural areas in the world.

GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY
Like India, California is the most geographically diverse state in the in the US. It has the highest (Mount Whitney) and lowest (Death Valley). Almost 40% of California is forest. A high amount for a relatively arid state borders state of Arizona. No wonder, the diverse weather of California state, (from scorching heat of June to freezing winters of January) is as diverse as its culture that bears much of similarity to India.

SILICON VALLY AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
This write up will not be complete without the mention of invaluable contribution by young engineers from India and China, to America's Silicon and Information Technology. In 1998-99, large number of Indians and Chinese boys and girls, who had just completed their Engineering, were picked up by employment agencies and brought to California, initially to program computers and computer aided equipment connected from the US to the rest of the world, to function flawlessly as the year 1999 crossed over to 2000. The work done by these young programmers and engineers was well rewarded when everything passed over smoothly on the night of 31 December 1999.

Intel, the largest manufacturer of computer chips needed innovators to enhance capabilities of their chips and found Indians and Chinese engineers as their best bets. Thus a new breed of computer programmers, architects and engineers from half way across the world found a haven, where their skills and capabilities could be best utilized.

Southern part of San Francisco in Northern California, popularly known as Silicon Valley, is home to many of the world's largest computer technology companies including Apple, Adobe, Agilent, Cisco, eBay, Face Book, Google, HP, Hot Mail, Intel, Microsoft, Netflix, Oracle and Yahoo to name a few.

The term Silicon Valley originally referred to the region's large number of silicon chip innovators and manufacturers, but eventually came to refer to all the high tech businesses in the area. Despite the development of other high profile technical and economic centers throughout the US and the world, Silicon Valley of California continues to be the leading hub for high profile technical innovation and developments in software and hardware technology, accounting for 1/3 of all of the venture capital investment in the United States. Geographically, Silicon Valley comprises of Santa Clara valley including the city of San Jose and adjacent areas, the Southern Peninsula and the Southeastern Bay of California.

It would be appropriate to nomenclature California as "brain of the world."

V S Saxena
Rocklin, California
1 Octobert 2010

Sunday, September 26, 2010

How sad! UN showing India, a downtrodden country

It is disgusting to see UN's milestones website at http://www.un.org/Overview/milesto4.htm

They are still showing India as a downtrodden country.

Countries like Bangala Desh where there is poverty to the the depth of the earth and
Cambodia, with complete absence of law and order are given the impressions of flourishing nations.

What our representatives at the UN are doing for this negative publicity?

Excepts from UN Website

http://www.un.org/Overview/milesto4.htm

The website shows

1. Photo of a dust clad Indian boy carrying bricks on his head to earn a living.

2. Bangladeshi soldier teaching de-mining to a Cambodian in Cambodia.

3. A Cambodian girl holding UN flag.

Will any one please raise a voice for this disgusting negative publicity of India and forward it to person(s) who matter at the UN?

--------------------------------------

Difference between Parasailing and Paragliding

I always mixed Parasailing and Paragliding till yesterday (25th September 2010), when I myself did parasailing at Lake Tahoe (California) USA.

I found the following answer:

Parasailing, also known as parascending, is a recreational activity where a person is towed behind a boat attached to a specially designed parachute, known as a parasail. The harness attaches the pilot to the parasail, which is connected to the boat, or land vehicle, by the tow rope.

Paragliding is a recreational and competitive flying sport. A paraglider is a free-flying, foot-launched aircraft. The pilot sits in a harness suspended below a fabric wing, whose shape is formed by its suspension lines and the pressure of air entering vents in the front of the wing. Paragliding can be powered by a small engine with a propeller.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Smithsonian

This is a year by year compilation of information collected after my ambitious and most desired visit to
Home
Washington DC, on 8 September 2010.
This is a knowledge based data, you may like to store in your keep-sake mail.

1903
1903 Wright Flyer
Milestone: First Successful Airplane
Date of Milestone: December 17, 1903
Aircraft: 1903 Wright Flyer
Pilot: Orville Wright
----------------------------
1926
Goddard Rockets
Milestone:
First Successful Liquid-Propellant Rocket
Date of Milestone: March 16, 1926
Rocket: Goddard 1926 Liquid-Propellant Rocket
Engineer: Robert H. Goddard
Artifact Location: Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum, Milestones of Flight Gallery
---------------------------------------------------------------
1927
Spirit of St. Louis
Milestone:
First Nonstop Solo Transatlantic Flight
Date of Milestone: May 21, 1927
Aircraft: Ryan NYP "Spirit of St. Louis"
Pilot: Charles A. Lindbergh
Aircraft Location: Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum, Milestones of Flight Gallery
--------------------------------------------------------------
1942
XP-59A
Milestone:
America's First Turbojet Aircraft
Date of Milestone: October 1, 1942/October 2, 1942
Aircraft: Bell XP-59A
Pilot: Robert M. Stanley/Col. Laurence C. Craigie
Aircraft Location: Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum, Milestones of Flight Gallery
--------------------------------------------------------------
1947
Bell X-1
Milestone:
First supersonic aircraft.
Date of Milestone: October 14, 1947
Aircraft: Bell X-1 "Glamorous Glennis"
Pilot: Capt. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager, USAF
Aircraft Location: Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum, Milestones of Flight Gallery

----------------------------------------------------

1957
Sputnik
Milestone: SPUTNIK
First Artificial Satellite
Date of Milestone: October 4, 1957
Spacecraft: Sputnik 1
Mission Operated by: USSR
Spacecraft Location: Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum, Milestones of Flight Gallery
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1958
Explorer 1
Milestone:
First Successful United States Satellite
Date of Milestone: 1958
Spacecraft: Explorer 1
Operated by: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Spacecraft Location: Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum, Milestones of Flight Gallery
-------------------------------------------------------------
1959
X-15
Milestone:
First winged aircraft to achieve Mach 4, 5, & 6 and to operate at altitudes above 30,500 meters (100,000 feet)
Date of Milestone: Test flights in 1959
Aircraft: North American X-15
Operated By: NASA
Aircraft Location: Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum, Milestones of Flight Gallery

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1962
Mercury Friendship 7
Milestone:
First American to orbit the Earth.
Date of Milestone:
February 20, 1962
Spacecraft:
Mercury "Friendship 7"
Astronaut:
John H. Glenn Jr.
Spacecraft Location:
Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum, Milestones of Flight gallery
-----------------------------------------

1962
Apollo 11 Command Module "Columbia"
Milestone: First Manned Lunar Landing Mission
Date of Milestone: July 16-24, 1969
Spacecraft: Apollo 11 Command Module "Columbia"
Astronauts: Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, and Michael Collins
Aircraft Location:
Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum, Milestones of Flight Gallery
-------------------------------------

1962
Mariner 2
Milestone:
First Spacecraft to Study Another Planet
Date of Milestone:
December 14, 1962
Spacecraft:
Mariner 2
Mission Operated by:
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Spacecraft Location:
Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum, Milestones of Flight Gallery

----------------------------------------------

1969
March 25, 1969
Aircraft: Boeing 747 (Not displayed at the Museum)
Mission Operated by: Boeing Aircraft Company USA


Milestone:
The first Boeing 747-100 was flown for the first time at 11:34 AM on February 9, 1969. The subsequent problems have their roots in the early days for the construction of the Boeing 747's. The aircraft construction business in the early 1970's was extremely difficult. In fact, one wag wrote in the Seattle Times, "Would the last person to leave Seattle please turn out the lights!" Boeing was under pressure to cut costs. According to my sources, to cut the costs Boeing discovered that it could purchase aluminum parts from a plant in the USSR (now Russia). The Russians could produce the aluminum to the exacting specifications of the Boeing engineers and did so for the first fifteen planes. Then Russia decided that it was not profitable to make the aluminum to the Boeing specifications and decide to cheat. The Russians produced an inferior product but sent it to the USA as meeting all of the requirements. It was not until Boeing had made 686 planes including the 747-100's. the 747-200's and some 747-300's, that it realized what had been going on. Boeing knew there was a problem and designed the necessary modification to remedy the situation. Boeing was a major source of export revenues for the USA and the planes were in big demand since commercially they were very successful. The problem was discovered in the early eighties when there was over a thousand planes flying passengers and freight all over the world. In fact, to shut down over six hundred planes would be a disaster for world commerce apart from the loss of prestige, national pride, and competition from the Europeans who were developing the now equally famous Airbus.

1972
Lunar Touchrock
Milestone:
One of a collection of rocks returned from the Apollo manned missions to the Moon.
Date of Milestone: 1972
Artifact: Lunar Basalt returned by Apollo 17 Astronauts
Artifact Location: Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum, Milestones of Flight Gallery
------------------------------------------------------------

1976
Viking Lander
Milestone: VIKING LANDER
First Spacecraft to Operate on the Surface of Mars
Date of Milestone: July 20, 1976
Spacecraft: Viking Lander
Operated By: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Spacecraft Location:
Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum, Milestones of Flight Gallery
--------------------------------------
1987
Pershing II & SS-20

Milestone: Weapons eliminated under first International Treaty to control nuclear arms.
Date of Milestone: INF Treaty signed December, 1987
Artifacts: Pershing II and SS-20
Operated by:
United States (Pershing II) and U.S.S.R. (SS-20)
Location:
Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum, Milestones of Flight Gallery
--------------------------------------
1999
Breitling Orbiter 3 Gondola
Smithsonian Institution
photograph
Milestone:
First Nonstop Flight Around The World by Balloon
Date of Milestone:
March 21, 1999
Vehicle:
Breitling Orbiter 3 Gondola
Artifact Location:
Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum, Milestones of Flight Gallery

On March 1, 1999, Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones lifted off from the Swiss alpine village of Chateau d’Oex in the Breitling Orbiter 3 balloon. On March 21, 1999. 19 Days, 21 hours and 55 minutes later, they landed in the Egyptian desert after traveling 45,755 kilometers (28,431 miles) and completing the first non-stop flight around the world in a balloon.

Pressurization: Cabin pressure dropped as the balloon climbed. At 10,000 meters (33,000 feet), the cabin pressure was raised to atmospheric pressure at 3,000 meters (10,000 feet).

Temperature: Burners maintained the cabin temperature at 15 °C (59 °F).
Solar panels: Solar panels beneath the gondola recharged the onboard lead batteries that provided electrical power.
Instrumentation: The forward cockpit contains the controls and instruments needed to monitor and operate the aircraft and systems. The crew used satellite-based systems to communicate and navigate.

Gondola:

Weight, empty:2,000 kg (4,400 lb)
Fuel:Propane
Manufacturer:Cameron Balloons, Bristol, England, 1998
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2004
SpaceShipOne
Milestone: First privately developed, piloted vehicle to reach space.
Date of Milestone: June 21, 2004
Spacecraft: SpaceShipOne

Artifact Location:Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum, National Mall building, Milestones of Flight Gallery

Launched from its White Knight mothership, the rocket-powered SpaceShipOne and its pilot ascended just beyond the atmosphere, arced through space (but not into orbit), then glided safely back to Earth. The flight lasted 24 minutes, with 3 minutes of weightlessness.

With SpaceShipOne, private enterprise crossed the threshold into human spaceflight, previously the domain of government programs. The SpaceShipOne team aimed for a simple, robust, and reliable vehicle design that could make affordable space travel and tourism possible.

Records and Awards: SpaceShipOne won the $10 million Ansari X-Prize for repeated flights in a privately developed reusable spacecraft, the Collier Trophy for greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in 2004, and the National Air and Space Museum Trophy for Current Achievement. Its three record-setting flights:

• 100 kilometers (62 miles) altitude*; Mike Melvill, pilot; June 21, 2004.

• 102 kilometers (64 miles) altitude; Mike Melvill, pilot; September 29, 2004.

• 112 kilometers (70 miles) altitude; Brian Binnie, pilot; October 4, 2004.

* The official boundary of space defined by the Fédération Aéronautique International.

Gift of Paul G. Allen, Microsoft co-founder and sole investor in SpaceShipOne

Unique Design Features

• Three-person vehicle for suborbital spaceflight.

• Lightweight composite structure with twin swept wing-tail booms.

• Hybrid ascent rocket, burning both solid and liquid propellants

• Wings that pivot up (feather) for stable, safe reentry.

Credits

Investor and philanthropist Paul G. Allen funded the project.

Aeronautical engineer Burt Rutan, Scaled Composites, designed the vehicle.

Pilots Mike Melvill and Brian Binnie , Scaled Composites, became the first pilots to earn FAA commercial astronaut wings.

SpaceShipOne, N328KF

White Knight and SpaceShipOne

SpaceShipOne is carried aloft to 15 kilometers (50,000 feet) by its mothership, White Knight.


SpaceShipOne in Flight

Released from White Knight, SpaceShipOne gets a rocket-powered boost into space.

Candies Floating Inside Cockpit

Candies float inside the cockpit during the time in space.


SpaceShipOne Feathered Wings

In space, the pilot raises, or feathers, the wings for the coasting suborbital arc and initial descent. This brakes the spacecraft for reentry into the atmosphere.


SpaceShipOne Flight Profile

SpaceShipOne suborbital flight profile.

Pilots Brian Binnie and Mike Melvill

SpaceShipOne pilots Mike Melvill (right) and Brian Binnie.


Burt Rutan and Paul Allen

Investor Paul G. Allen and designer Burt Rutan with SpaceShipOne.

View from SpaceShipOne

View from SpaceShipOne. Photo by pilot Brian Binnie.

Courtesy of Discovery Channel and Vulcan Productions, Inc.



How was it?

Regards,

V S Saxena
Rocklin: CA. (USA)



First Day of Blogging

Hello Friends,

This is my first try at blogging. I have recently retired and have a lot of free time. I am very interested in various aspects of aviation. This is my attempt to share my knowledge with all my friends and family about aviation and everything else.

Vijay Saxena