Video: Bombardier CSeries Twinjet Gets Paint - And First Flight Coming Soon

 
 My previous post shared a video showing the homebuilt Gee Bee Q.E.D. that's expected to make its first flight here before long... and here's another aircraft (tho a very different one) that's expected to venture into the wild blue yonder very soon; the Bombardier CSeries twinjet airliner. The CSeries has been in development since 2004 and is actually big enough (110 - 135 seats) to compete with the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A318/A319. It's definitely got both those legacy narrow-body airliners beat on looks! The CSeries is a really good looking airplane in my opinion, especially with those nice big fans on the fronts of those Pratt & Whitney PW1000G geared turbofan engines.

 This video gives a nice look at many of the details of the CSeries as it's being transformed from the raw to wearing some first-flight paint. And that first flight could take place about any day now. It's easy to think 'whatever' at the first flight of a new airliner, but imagine how many people have been involved in the design and manufacturing process... I'm sure this first-flight is a very big deal to the thousands of people who have worked very hard to get to this point!

 The sales order book has been a bit slow to fill in for the CSeries, but it looks like it's at 177 sold currently. If the airplane performs as claimed, with significantly reduced operating expenses compared to the competition, I would think the future would be pretty bright for this advanced Canadian twinjet.

Video screenshot showing the first Bombardier CSeries heading into the paint shop

Video: Building The Gee Bee Q.E.D. Replica (And First Flight Coming Soon!)

 Back in May I posted a pic and a link to more pix of the amazing Gee Bee Q.E.D. replica being built by Jim Moss out in the pacific northwest. This recently released high-quality video shares so many more details about the project, and the team of builders that have come together to make it all possible. Both the size and the workmanship on this airplane are amazing! The video is almost 20 minutes long but it's worth every minute. If you don't have the time right now to watch it all, check out the engine start up sequence that starts at 12:30, and the high-speed taxi test that starts at about about 16:50... but seriously, find the time to watch the whole video.

The incredible QED replica out in the sunshine and firing up the big 1,425hp radial!

 The first flight is hoped to take place sometime this fall, but it won't happen until everything is truly ready. Given the size and relatively complexity of this replica, which has over twice the the horsepower as the one-and-only original Gee Bee Q.E.D., this is definitely not an airplane where you wanna rush the first flight in any way.

 It's interesting to note that this replica differs from the original in that it has the much bigger engine, a slightly larger fin and rudder to deal with that extra horsepower, and the landing gear is set further apart to give much better ground stability. That wider gear has also caused the wingspan to increase 2 feet over the original as well. This must be one of the most beastly homebuilt airplanes ever built. Wow!

 Stay tuned for first flight info.

Video screenshot: Big, beautiful beast of an airplane! Replica Q.E.D. from Jim Moss & crew

Video screenshot: wide angle view of the Q.E.D. from a wing mounted camera

Video screenshot: high-speed taxi test... looks like it's right of the Rocketeer!

EAA Founder Paul H. Poberezny: September 14, 1921 ~ August 22, 2013

EAA founder Paul Poberezny passed away August 22, 2013 at the age of 91

 Experimental Aircraft Association founder Paul H. Poberezny passed away on Thursday August 22, 2013 at Evergreen Retirement Village in Oshkosh, Wisconsin after battling cancer.

 His life-long dedication to sport flying and to the knowledge and encouragement to build your own airplane will live on through the work of the EAA, and the through the world's greatest aviation event known as Oshkosh.

 If you love Oshkosh as I do, then you ultimately have Paul to thank for it. His vision and leadership skills brought the EAA from a small group of homebuilt airplane enthusiasts in his garage in Hales Corners (Wisconsin) to a worldwide organization that has fostered sport flying like none other.

 Oshkosh, the annual fly-in and convention for the members of the EAA reflects the common-sense spirit of Paul with a focus on great aviation fellowship and personal responsibility.

 My prayers go out to the family and friends of Paul Poberezny after his passing.

Video: The Antique Airplane Association Fly-In! (Aug 28 - Sept 2, 2013)

2013 Antique Airplane Association Invitational Fly-In: Aug 28-Sept 2
(must be a member, or join the AAA on-site)

 I was at the 2012 Antique Airplane Association fly-in last year near Blakesburg Iowa... it was the first time I had been there since I was a kid. This fabulous video is from Thursday evening during the event (I didn't get there until Saturday) and it shows you everything you need to know about why I love the AAA fly-in! I was only there two days, but it was a great experience making the journey back in time where the airplanes were far more beautiful and being alive seemed to have more purpose. I even got some pix of that gorgeous Ryan SC-W, which, by the way, is owned and flown by Russell Williams who maintains the AAA AntiqueAirfield website. 

 In nearly every way, the AAA fly-in is the anti-Oshkosh, but both events are built on the exact same love for aviation. But Antique Airfield (the grass runway airport where the event is held) is a true step back in time where everyone who flew was part aviation pioneer. Common sense and responsibility rule the day, and the sounds of old aircraft engines fill the air with beautiful music. It is a very, very special place.

 That amazing Ryan SC-W in the video has recently been fitted with an overhauled Warner 165hp radial engine which should put in great shape for making the trip to southern Iowa from near Seattle where Russell is based (see first engine run video here). There's even a chance I might get a ride in that rare antique airplane... I can't wait to get back to Antique Airfield in a little over a week!

 Oh, and the kicker in the video is the theme song from the Rocketeer - perfection!

Screenshot of Russell Williams in his 1938 Ryan SC-W over Antique Airfield last year

Video: Wolfe Air Shows Why We Love To Fly! (Air To Air - Must See)

 Videos like this one that showcase Wolfe Air's ability to produce stunning air to air video of airliners and military aircraft serve to remind us all of why we love to fly. Such grace, beauty, and wonder are found in machines that fly!

 What a great way to get your week going... enjoy : )

Screenshot of a United Boeing 787 shot from the Wolfe Air Learjet 

Screenshot from this must-see Wolfe Air video: KC-10 refueling a C-17

OSH13: Rutan Catbird... Wide Angle In The Evening Sun (4 Pix)

(click pic to enlarge)  From the late 80's, Burt Rutan's Model 81 Catbird at OSH13

 Two years ago at OSH11 we saw the return of both the Catbird and the Boomerang, two of Burt Rutan's designs from back in the day that had their sights set on possibly re-inventing general aviation. Both airplanes were restored to flying status by people who work at Scaled Composites, giving these fabulous airplanes the chance to fly again and the world the chance to see more of Burt's unique work up close once again. You can check out my post from OSH11 that includes some Catbird pix and a link to more info on this 3-surface flying machine. But this post is really all about experiencing the unique shape of the one-of-a-kind Catbird with a wide-angle lens and a gorgeous evening sun.

 Being out on the flightline at Oshkosh in the evening is one of my favorite things to do. It's time that more effectively puts the focus on the airplanes. It's quiet with not a lot of people (or in the late evening maybe no one else at all) and the airplanes somehow speak more clearly to me. When I saw the Catbird parked near the brown arch with the low evening sun I knew some great pix were to soon follow. Be sure to click these pix to enlarge them, and enjoy one of the world's most unique airplanes in a way you've probably never seen it before.

Video: Wasabi Reveals Hot New Formula One Air Racer! (Wasabi Siren)

 Elliot Seguin works for Scaled Composites in Mojave California, but he also runs Wasabi Air Racing with his crew chief Jenn Whaley. They've been busy for the last couple years designing and building an all new Formula One race aircraft for Reno... it's called the Wasabi Special, but its also known as the 'Siren'. You might already know that for a while Elliot was part of Team Nemesis (Jon and Patricia Sharp, last raced in 2009) which is very well know for having been the first team to break 400mph with a Sport Class racer (actually Super Sport at the time) - and Elliot's exposure to the amazing design of the very successful Nemesis NXT has trickled down somewhat into the much smaller Continental O-200 powered Formula One Class Siren. Seems like good thinkin' to me!

 I don't really have a lot of details on the airplane, but the video above gives you a variety of looks at the Siren, along with a fun and kinda artsy presentation of some of the flight testing that's been done in relative secret over the last year. Given that Elliot has a few years of Reno race experience in his antique old-school Cassutt racer, getting out on the race course in a possible contender should be both a thrill and a great learning experience. With this being the 50th anniversary of the Reno Air Races, I don't think he could have picked a better time to introduce an all-new racer!

Reno Air Races: September 11-15, 2013

Go Green... Go Wasabi!

Video screenshot: all-new Formula One racer from Wasabi Air Racing: The Wasabi Siren

Video screenshot: The Wasabi Siren showing its Nemesis NXT heritage planform

Video: The Slick View Of OSH13 - Must See!

 We didn't get a video from 'Slick' for OSH12 with his involvement in the U.S. Navy, but this year he was able to get behind the camera at OSH13 and capture more awesome avgeek beauty from the world's greatest aviation event!

Well done Slick, you've definitely still got it : )

Check out the OSH10 video and the OSH11 video from Slick

Screenshot from Slick's fabulous video of Oshkosh 2013

Check Out Me(!) On the Airplane Geeks Podcast (Episode 260 - OSH13 Debrief)

Click the pic to go to AirplaneGeeks.com and listen to Episode 260, with me a a guest!

 Max Flight from the Airplane Geeks Podcast invited me to be a guest on a show that was recorded on Monday evening, just 24 hours after I returned from Oshkosh 2013. The shows was then posted for listening earlier today. It was my first podcast experience in a really long time, and it was great fun! Maybe I'll get back to doing my own podcasts again one of these days. (maybe the Cubs will win the World Series?)

 Anyway, it was Max (@MaxFlight / Thirty Thousand Feet), and co-hosts Rob Mark (@jetwhine / Jetwhine.com) and David Vanderhoof (@DMVanderhoof / WhatJustFlewBy) along with Martin Rottler (@martinrottler) as a guest... and me! We talked about some aviation news stories and then did a bit of an OSH13 debrief. It was great avgeek chat followed by more show segments with additional interviews and much more. It's a big show with a lot of talk and I highly recommend you go check it out right now. They even reposted two of my better OSH13 pix right there at the top of their post!

 A big thanx goes out to the Airplane Geeks crew for letting me chew the fat with them, I really did enjoy it : )

Jetman In The Sky OSH13 - But You Gotta look Close! (With Video)

Jetman high (very high) over the Oshkosh sky... pic taken with a long telephoto lens!

 We were tempted to call him Speckman rather than Jetman after Yves Rossy flew on Tuesday (July 30, 2013) at Oshkosh... apparently the FAA wouldn't let him fly any lower than 2,500' during the demonstration. The pic above was taken with a pretty long telephoto lens and he still looks really small! We all pretty much agreed that what he does is very cool and awesome, but it's not the world's best spectator sport. However, the live-feed that that LiveAirShowTV had up on the two big LED screens during the airshow did help a lot. 

 Fortunately the video below gives you a much better view of what Jetman looks like in flight from up close. And wow, formation flying with a B-17, that's pretty hard to beat!

 I hope he eventually convinces the FAA that a pass at 500 feet is safe... you now, so we can actually see him in flight : )

Video Screenshot of Jetman flying formation with a B-17!