--------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 196 AVIATION Ref: EFP00007 Date: 11/18/97 From: JIM SANDERS Time: 12:02pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: News-857 WASHINGTON Nov. 18 - The United States resumed U-2 surveillance flights over Iraq today while the Clinton administration and its allies were weighing increased humanitarian aid to Iraq if Saddam Hussein allows U.S. weapons inspectors to return. A U.S. pilot flew a high-altitude surveillance mission over Iraq today without incident, said a Pentagon official who spoke on condi- tion of anonymity. "It's flown and everything went well," the official said. Another official said Iraq made no attempt to interfere with the U-2. The flight was the second U.N.-sponsored U-2 mission by the United States on behalf of international weapons inspections since Saddam threatened to expel U.S. inspectors, but the first since he actually kicked the inspectors out of the country last week. 11-18-97 0734EST -------------------------------------------------------------------- BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Nov. 18, 1997 10:47 a.m. EST - Iraq on Tuesday condemned the United States for sending a U-2 spy plane on a mission over central Iraq, suggesting that the plane took pictures of mili- tary sites in preparation for an attack. "At 11:25 a.m. ... (Washington) sent (the U-2) into our airspace via Saudi airspace ... and it remained south of the 32nd parallel and outside our defenses," the official news agency INA said, quoting an authorized spokesman. It said the plane left Iraqi airspace at 1:10 p.m. "How does America benefit from using U-2 planes other than taking pictures of Iraqi weapons and sites of the Iraqi army for its aggres- sive purposes?" the agency said. The spy plane flew over central Iraq without incident, the Pentagon said earlier. Iraq had threatened to shoot down any such planes. The U.N.-sanctioned reconnaissance flights are continuing despite the expulsion of U.S. members of a U.N. weapons inspection team. The flight was the first since the six Americans left Iraq last week; their international colleagues departed with them. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Heading Home for the Holidays There is no such thing as the Thanksgiving airfare sale or the Christmas airfare sale. But there are all kinds of smaller sales that crop up around the holidays, with some of the discounts posted just a few days before the travel dates. This Thanksgiving, there are a handful of fare sales swirling about; the lowest coast-to-coast and regional fares so far are those introduced by Southwest Airlines and later matched by most competi- tors. Southwest's deals still are the best because they're more flexible: round trips and overnight stays aren't required. To get the good fares, you'll need to travel on Nov. 23, 24, 27 or 28. Departure on Nov. 25 adds $40 to 60. Do your comparison shopping. For example, United's Tuesday departure fares are higher than those of American, Northwest and US Airways. Delta has already initiated Christmas and New Year's sale fares with great bargains for quick trips. You can travel for $196 or less within the continental United States if you depart Dec. 24 or 25 and return Dec. 25, or depart Dec. 31 or Jan. 1 and return Jan. 1. If you want a longer stay, for $70 to $100 more round trip, you can depart Dec. 24 or 25 and return Dec. 31 or Jan. 1. Most major air- lines have matched these fares. Full-time students can fly on a cheap ticket with American's Holiday Break Fares. Departure dates are Dec. 8 to 17, 24 and 25. Return dates are Jan. 1 and 6 to 22. Fares are based on round-trip mileage and range from $99 to $269. ----------------------------------- === --- DB 1.39/004487 * Origin: Volunteer BBS (423) 694-0791 V34+/VFC (1:218/1001.1) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 196 AVIATION Ref: EFP00008 Date: 11/19/97 From: JIM SANDERS Time: 07:38am \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: News-858 U.S. sending more aircraft to Gulf WASHINGTON -- November 18, 1997 3:47 p.m. EST -- Additional U.S. combat aircraft being sent to the Persian Gulf region should arrive by the end of the week, the Pentagon said Tuesday. The 45 planes -- including bombers and radar-evading stealth fighters -- would put about a total of about 300 Air Force and Navy warplanes and support aircraft within striking distance of Iraq. Currently, there are some 120 U.S. Air Force aircraft in the region, mostly in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. In addition, there are about 70 warplanes and other aircraft on each on the two U.S. aircraft carriers in or approaching the region. F-117 fighters and B-52 bombers deployed On President Clinton's orders, the United States is sending six B-52 bombers and six F-117A stealth fighters to bases in the Gulf region, Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Bacon told reporters. The B-52s are from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana and will be flown to Diego Garcia, a British-governed island in the Indian Ocean. The F-117s are stationed at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico and will be sent to Kuwait. In addition, the commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, Gen. Anthony Zinni, is authorized to deploy about 30 additional air- craft as he sees fit. Last week, the Pentagon ordered F-117 stealth fighter crews and other aircraft to be ready to deploy should Clinton decide to add forces to the region. The new deployment are necessary because "we have a very uncer- tain situation," U.S. National Security Adviser Sandy Berger told reporters at a White House briefing earlier in the day. He said Clinton's decision was based on a recommendation by U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen and Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Henry Shelton. Iraq doesn't interfere with latest U-2 flight Berger said the new deployments had been under consideration for about a week and were not directly related to the resumption Tuesday of surveillance flights over Iraq. An American U-2 plane on assignment for the U.N. flew over Iraq and returned to its base in Saudi Arabia without being threatened by missiles or targeted by hostile radar, the Pentagon said. The flight was the second in eight days by a high-flying, unarmed U-2 over central Iraq without incident. But Iraq issued a statement criticizing the flight, suggesting that the plane took pictures of military sites in preparation for a military strike. "How does America benefit from using U-2 planes other than taking pictures of Iraqi weapons and sites of the Iraqi army for its aggres- sive purposes?" the official news agency INA said, quoting a govern- ment spokesman. (Nothing like telling the enemy!) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Shuttle not properly attached for 747 ride Could have fallen off in-flight CAPE CANAVERAL, FL - November 18, 1997 6:53 p.m. EST - The space shuttle Atlantis was not properly anchored to its carrier aircraft for a piggyback ride across the country last week, and was at risk of a catastrophic fall, NASA officials said Tuesday. Washers were missing on the bolts that attached the shuttle to the Boeing 747 aircraft, which, in a worse case, could have led to the 100-ton orbiter breaking loose in flight. "It could have been very potentially serious," said Donald McMonagle, a senior shuttle manager at the Kennedy Space Center. A formal investigation into the incident led by the shuttle con- tractor, United Space Alliance, has begun, McMonagle said. "It's a joint effort between NASA and the contractor to go find out exactly what happened," he said. The $2 billion shuttle left the Florida spaceport last Tuesday, bound for a nine-month, $70 million refit at a Boeing Company plant in Palmdale, California. Atlantis' route took it to Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, where it was held up for three days because of bad weather. When it arrived at Palmdale Friday, engineers discovered two missing washers and damage to the bolts on the shuttle's rear attachment points, sources at the space agency said. The missing washers were supposed to distribute the weight of the shuttle to prevent overstressing the bolts. Space agency sources said the shuttle "was not about to fall off" in spite of the damage to the bolts discovered at Palmdale. Atlantis' departure from Florida was delayed by trouble aligning its attachment points to the 747. NASA officials said it was not clear if those problems were related to the missing washers. Paperwork concerning the operation had been impounded and the workers involved were to be interviewed, NASA officials said. The inquiry was expected to focus on why the washers were missing when the paperwork indicated they were in place. NASA uses two modified Boeing 747 aircraft to ferry its four space shuttle orbiters piggyback-style to and from the Florida launch site. ------------- --- DB 1.39/004487 * Origin: Volunteer BBS (423) 694-0791 V34+/VFC (1:218/1001.1) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 196 AVIATION Ref: EFP00009 Date: 11/19/97 From: JIM SANDERS Time: 07:39am \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: News-859 Three of four engines fail on British royal plane ------------------------------------------------------------------- LONDON - November 18, 1997 8:29 p.m. EST - Britain's Royal Air Force has launched an urgent internal inquiry after a plane used by the royal family and cabinet ministers was forced to make an emergency landing with three failed engines. Defense officials said on Tuesday that faulty maintenance pro- cedures were believed to be responsible for the incident on a train- ing flight earlier this month of the four-engined BAe 146 of the Royal Squadron. No one was injured when a trainee pilot and an instructor managed to land the plane. But the Royal Air Force said it was taking the incident extremely seriously and has changed its maintenance procedures. ------------------------------------------------------------------- FAA getting tough on 'air rage' November 19, 1997 02:06 a.m. EST - The skies aren't so friendly anymore. Alarmed at the growing trend of passenger "air rage," sev- eral federal agencies have announced a get-tough policy. Mess with a flight attendant these days and Mom won't be the only one meeting you at the gate.The welcoming committee will in- clude cops and the FBI, and the hospitality suite might be a jail cell. Passengers better mind their manners and behave, or face federal prosecution and civil fines, according to U.S. Attorney Michael Yamaguchi of San Francisco. Toss a bag of peanuts at the flight attendant, sneak a smoke in the john, throw a punch at a fellow passenger or -- true story -- head-butt the copilot, and by the time the plane lands, the pilot will have notified the control tower to summon the FBI agents newly assigned to the airport. Unruly passengers can cause a disaster in the air, said Robert Walsh, special agent in charge of the FBI's San Francisco office. "This is a zero-tolerance program." Assault cases and other incidents that threaten flight safety will be prosecuted, said Yamaguchi. These passengers face 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Other, less dangerous cases will be handled by the Federal Aviation Administration, which will in- vestigate all complaints and has the clout to impose civil penalties. The nation's angriest passengers, according to Gerald Moore, an FAA official who monitors air carrier security, are in the New York City area. The FAA has already taken action. In a recently launched pilot program at seven airports, including San Francisco's, the FAA has monitored 73 cases within the past year, imposed $117,000 in civil penalties and pushed for federal prosecution in most of the cases, said Moore. Accurate statistics on the number of incidents involving "inter- erence with crew," a federal offense, are hard to come by since air- lines have not been reporting them consistently. The FAA received 269 complaints within the past two years, said spokesman Roland Herwig. But the perception is that air rage is not only on the rise, but becoming more heated, officials said. On one airline carrier that diligently monitored the trend with- in the past year, passenger interference cases went up 400 percent, from 33 incidents to 140, said Mary Kay Hanke, a vice president with the Association of Flight Attendants, a union with 41,000 members in 27 cities. Flight attendants have been "hit, kicked and injured," she said. They've been cursed at. They've had hot coffee deliberately poured on them. They've had their lives threatened. They've wrestled with passengers with excessive carry-on luggage. They've had arguments with passengers who refuse to put on their seat belts or put out their cigarettes. They've even had to deal with passengers who insisted on joining the pilot in the cockpit, she said. What accounts for the seeming increase in air rage is uncertain. Cabin fever occurs more frequently on flights lasting four hours or more, said Moore, the FAA official. And drunkenness seems to play a significant role, too, he said. Larger planes which hold more passengers in confined quarters, and a cutback in services may also have added to the stress, said Hanke. "Flying is not the pleasant experience it once was," she said. "Flying is a stressful experience for many passengers." In a study conducted by the Air Transport Association, a trade group representing airlines, 25 percent of the incidents were alco- hol-related, said Hanke. Sixteen percent were about seat assignments, 10 percent were smoking-related, 9 percent were about carry-on bags, 8 percent were the attendant's attitude and 5 percent were food service. And the rest, she said, defied explanation. --- DB 1.39/004487 * Origin: Volunteer BBS (423) 694-0791 V34+/VFC (1:218/1001.1) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 196 AVIATION Ref: EFP00010 Date: 11/19/97 From: CHARLES MIELKE Time: 09:59am \/To: JAY HANIG (Read 0 times) Subj: News-846 JH>It seems to me you can roll quite a bit without stalling if you unload the JH>wings at the same time....ie, dump the nose. JH>Please note I have no hard facts to back this up....it's just my conjecture. Good conjecture. Very true. The 1 G stall speed remains the same, whether the aircraft is straight and level, or whether it is in a 60 or 90 degree bank. Stalls at higher Gs are usually, if not always, referred to as "accelerated" stalls, and, of course, that speed also remains constant regardless of the bank angle. For example, if the accelerated stall speed is, say, 60 knots at 2 Gs, it will be 60 knots at 2 Gs for all bank angles. We were taught to avoid using high bank angles and to go around rather than try to salvage a final turn overshoot. The reason is that the student pilot was unaware of the fact that the higher bank angle required in salvaging the overshoot also required pulling more Gs, which could result in an accelerated stall, and possible loss of control of the aircraft. I read, somewhere, that ALL aircraft will pull 2 Gs in a 60 degree bank, regardless of speed, if level flight was maintained. I found that hard to believe, but confirmed it in both the jet aircraft and the light aircraft. .. --- * SLMR 2.1a * - Once you've made all the mistakes, you're an expert. --- WILDMAIL!/WC v4.12 * Origin: The Looking Glass * Greer, SC * (864) 848-1961 * (1:3639/2.0)