World Best Travel

Aerial Fire Fighting – Is it Worth the Risk?

By Lance Winslow Some say aerial fire-fighting is too dangerous to do at night. But at night-time fires burn slower with slower winds and lower temperatures, a perfect time to knock down a fire. Of course, aerial fire-fighting pilots tell of how hard it is to see using night-vision goggles and when flying through smoke in zero-zero visibility. Proponents of aerial fire-fighting say we need to use GPS-GIS advanced technology, perhaps, even send up UAVs (drones) to do the fire-fighting by air. Those who oppose the current aerial fire-fighting methods ask; why would you wish to send up 10s of millions of dollars worth of equipment and risk the lives of your pilots? To them the proponents of aerial fire-fighting say that there are places you cannot get to with ground crews and what about all their lives and all that equipment? Think of how many fire-fighters die each year fighting our biggest wild-fires? And have you seen the costs in fighting some of these gigantic fires? 100s of millions of dollars sometimes billions are spent each year in one state along. One recent fire in California, actually a compilation of some 1600 fires mostly started by Mother Nature (lightning) cost the state over a billion dollars before these fires were even 2/3 contained. The argument that aerial firefighting is too dangerous or that the equipment is too expensive to risk, simply does not hold water. We must use our fire-fighting assets to the best of our abilities. Now, sometimes it does not make sense to use these assets, but if we leverage our technological advances and stop wimping out, we will succeed. “Lance Winslow” – Online Blog Content Service. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

2008 Aviation Trends

By Lance Winslow

Indeed, 2008 has been a very interesting year for the Aviation Sector, as we are seeing real progress towards private tour space flight, new uses for UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), next generation airliners, flying cars, VLJs (very light jets), and personal flying craft such as jet packs and jet powered wings for skydivers. As more and more advances are made in light-weight ultra strong materials, the sky is the limit; no, the ground is!

Take the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner for instance, a completely carbon composite fuselage and wing package, much lighter, faster, stronger and thus, more fuel efficient; a major plus with the current price and rising cost of jet fuel these days. Yes, as one aerospace engineer and airline analyst stated recently; this changes everything. Very well said, yes it does.

The smaller version VLJs also use carbon composite construction and therefore have truly awesome performance. And with this strategy what happens when you strap a set of wings to yourself and go flying? Amazing the innovations of humans and next, we should expect all the old designs of VTOL (vertical take-off and land) aircraft that never got off the ground previously to be back on the drawing boards.

What does all this say about the future of flight? Well, it sure looks like we will soon be ushering in a new era of flying cars soon? At least by 2012 for the first safe flying units and with lighter materials it’s looking like a sure thing now. Of course, the biggest trend in aviation is the UAVs or unmanned aerial vehicles, well that and the advances in air traffic control with artificial intelligence.

So, are we reaching the robotic age in aviation? Yes, it appears so, plans that fly themselves both for military and commercial usage. Already we have UAVs collecting pollution and weather samples, searching for victims of Natural Disasters and the ever present dangers of evil doers or drug smugglers. The trends in aviation are fascinating to watch and the acceleration down this runway is truly remarkable.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Blog Content Service. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

Aerial Fire Fighting – What is All the Fuss?

By Lance Winslow

There seems to be a huge gap in the confidence and safety when it comes to aerial fire-fighting. Not long ago, our Think Tank discussed this issue in a heated debate with some former pilots and fire-fighting personnel during the California Fires.

One former Air Force Pilot, a B-52 Pilot during the cold war, said it’s really hard to get in close when you cannot see or when it is dark. Still, it is our contention that aerial fire-fighting at night, when it is cooler makes more sense. What about being able to see? Well, with the new avionics that may not even be necessary, in fact, we can do it without a pilot.

After the argument has subsided the former Air Force Pilot stated it was one of his pet peeves. Indeed, we understand your “pet peeve” on night time aerial fire-fighting, yes, it is extremely dangerous, hell it’s dangerous in the day time for the reasons you mentioned, as these fires are often in mountain ranges and going in fully loaded under those conditions is dangerous.

It’s a war zone basically, the only difference is there are no SAMs, but all the other components are there. Of course, fighting wild-fires is dangerous anyway you look at it, these gung-ho guys “fire jumpers” are low of life expectancy too, can you imagine parachuting into a fire zone and praying that the wind does not shift.

My dad had a good friend killed in an old borate bomber years ago, yes it’s dangerous and that was in the day time. But modern electronics, satellites, GPS-GIS data and better aircraft now make it feasible, thus we need to move forward on this.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Blog Content Service. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

Aerial Fire Fighting at Night – Fly at Your Own Risk

By Lance Winslow

Recently, there has been quite a bit of controversy and arguing over the use of aerial fire-fighting assets during nighttime operations. In one of these bitter debates a retired Air Force B-52 pilot attacked the concept of using aircraft to fight fires at night, stating it was too dangerous and later admitted it was a pet peeve of his.

Now then, I understand his “pet peeve” on night time aerial fire-fighting, yes, it is extremely dangerous, hell it’s dangerous in the day time for the reasons he mentioned, as these fires are often in mountain ranges and going in fully loaded under those conditions is dangerous. It’s a war zone basically, the only difference is there are no SAMs (surface-to-air-missiles), but all the other components are there.

Of course, fighting wild-fires is dangerous anyway you look at it, these gung-ho guys “fire jumpers” are low of life expectancy too. Can you imagine parachuting into a fire zone and praying that the wind does not shift. My dad had a good friend killed in an old “borate bomber” years ago, yes it’s dangerous and that was in the day time, but, I ask with the modern day equipment, GPS and later model aircraft is it really so dangerous?

Aviation is safe if done correctly, even if the public does not understand this. For instance the issue of the media reporting every single small plane crash is just nuts and has added way too much over regulation in general aviation. 40,000 people die in cars each year. This is not to say that aerial fire-fighting is not dangerous, it is and at night even more so. However, allowing fires to burn out of control, will cost even more lives on the ground. Think on this.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Blog Content Service. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

Airlines Hammered by Financial Crisis Big Time

By Lance Winslow

Make no mistake the US stock market is in crisis mode and some of America’s greatest companies have lost almost all of their shareholder’s value. One industry that is getting hit hard is the airline industry, no, not as bad as the banking sector, but still things are pretty devastating considering the last few years of turbulence due to ultra-high fuel costs.

And as if that was not bad enough there are back-orders for the most fuel-efficient aircraft and the Boeing Company is having yet another huge labor dispute and mechanics strike. While everyone was watching the bank stocks tank and investment banks fail, the airline industry was busy getting hammered also, but not everyone was even watching.

It appears that US Airways, which tried for a merger last year had slipped below two-dollars in July of 2008 and climbed back up for a bit of altitude only to fall again back during the massive sell-off and crash of the stock market in October of 2008. It’s been widely predicted that there would be several bankruptcies in the airline sector in 2008 and with all the losses and tightened credit it appears this prediction will come true.

Even with fuel costs coming down in October of 2008, which helps ease the losses and produce profits, investors are scared and running from airline stocks. Of course, all airline stocks have been hit lately. American, Northwest, and Delta Airlines also experienced sell-offs, many of these stocks had lost 75% or more. Indeed, the Airlines are just one victim of the financial crisis. Please consider this.

“Lance Winslow” – Lance Winslow’s Bio. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

An Aircraft That Can Stay Aloft For 5 Years, No Way – Yes Way

By Lance Winslow

They say what goes up must come down, but some aeronautical engineers are accepting the equivalent of the Airborne DARPA Challenge. In fact, three different companies will compete using different designs that they have developed. And just think we will not know the winner for 5-years; who knows by then someone may come up with a plane, or flying craft that can stay aloft in the Earth’s atmosphere for 100-years or more?

So, How long was the world’s longest airplane flight, you ask?”

According to one website that maintains such records, two men in a Cessna 172 Skyhawk stayed up in the air without landing for 64 days 22 hours 19 minutes and 5 seconds. At the Cessna’s speed is about 6-times around the Earth. The aircraft was re-fueled in-flight and they grabbed food and water from a fast moving car using a hook, no kidding. Of course, for this DARPA contest, they aircraft will be robotic and it will not be allowed to re-fuel in flight, so it must use other forms of power, like solar for instance.

What was the Longest Balloon Flight?

Well perhaps you will remember millionaire Steve Fossett and his round the world flight in 2002 in a ballon, that was an “epic journey lasting 14 days 19 hours and 51 minutes and covering 20,602 miles or 32,963 km.” He actually finished the circumnavigation almost a day earlier, but due to the winds was unable to land. Learn More About some of the extended long-term flight records at:

http://thelongestlistofthelongeststuffatthelongestdomainnameatlonglast.com/

Now then, this newest challenge is 5-years, that’s a long time and a lot can happen in five years; weather for instance. This is no easy feat, but it appears that 3 have been chosen to go for it, using some pretty engenous and radical designs.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Blog Content Service. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance Winslow’s Bio

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

2008 Aviation Trends

By Lance Winslow

Indeed, 2008 has been a very interesting year for the Aviation Sector, as we are seeing real progress towards private tour space flight, new uses for UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), next generation airliners, flying cars, VLJs (very light jets), and personal flying craft such as jet packs and jet powered wings for skydivers. As more and more advances are made in light-weight ultra strong materials, the sky is the limit; no, the ground is!

Take the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner for instance, a completely carbon composite fuselage and wing package, much lighter, faster, stronger and thus, more fuel efficient; a major plus with the current price and rising cost of jet fuel these days. Yes, as one aerospace engineer and airline analyst stated recently; this changes everything. Very well said, yes it does.

The smaller version VLJs also use carbon composite construction and therefore have truly awesome performance. And with this strategy what happens when you strap a set of wings to yourself and go flying? Amazing the innovations of humans and next, we should expect all the old designs of VTOL (vertical take-off and land) aircraft that never got off the ground previously to be back on the drawing boards.

What does all this say about the future of flight? Well, it sure looks like we will soon be ushering in a new era of flying cars soon? At least by 2012 for the first safe flying units and with lighter materials it’s looking like a sure thing now. Of course, the biggest trend in aviation is the UAVs or unmanned aerial vehicles, well that and the advances in air traffic control with artificial intelligence.

So, are we reaching the robotic age in aviation? Yes, it appears so, plans that fly themselves both for military and commercial usage. Already we have UAVs collecting pollution and weather samples, searching for victims of Natural Disasters and the ever present dangers of evil doers or drug smugglers. The trends in aviation are fascinating to watch and the acceleration down this runway is truly remarkable.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Blog Content Service. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

Aerial Fire Fighting – What is All the Fuss?

By Lance Winslow

There seems to be a huge gap in the confidence and safety when it comes to aerial fire-fighting. Not long ago, our Think Tank discussed this issue in a heated debate with some former pilots and fire-fighting personnel during the California Fires.

One former Air Force Pilot, a B-52 Pilot during the cold war, said it’s really hard to get in close when you cannot see or when it is dark. Still, it is our contention that aerial fire-fighting at night, when it is cooler makes more sense. What about being able to see? Well, with the new avionics that may not even be necessary, in fact, we can do it without a pilot.

After the argument has subsided the former Air Force Pilot stated it was one of his pet peeves. Indeed, we understand your “pet peeve” on night time aerial fire-fighting, yes, it is extremely dangerous, hell it’s dangerous in the day time for the reasons you mentioned, as these fires are often in mountain ranges and going in fully loaded under those conditions is dangerous.

It’s a war zone basically, the only difference is there are no SAMs, but all the other components are there. Of course, fighting wild-fires is dangerous anyway you look at it, these gung-ho guys “fire jumpers” are low of life expectancy too, can you imagine parachuting into a fire zone and praying that the wind does not shift.

My dad had a good friend killed in an old borate bomber years ago, yes it’s dangerous and that was in the day time. But modern electronics, satellites, GPS-GIS data and better aircraft now make it feasible, thus we need to move forward on this.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Blog Content Service. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

Aerial Fire Fighting – Is it Worth the Risk?

By Lance Winslow

Some say aerial fire-fighting is too dangerous to do at night. But at night-time fires burn slower with slower winds and lower temperatures, a perfect time to knock down a fire. Of course, aerial fire-fighting pilots tell of how hard it is to see using night-vision goggles and when flying through smoke in zero-zero visibility. Proponents of aerial fire-fighting say we need to use GPS-GIS advanced technology, perhaps, even send up UAVs (drones) to do the fire-fighting by air.

Those who oppose the current aerial fire-fighting methods ask; why would you wish to send up 10s of millions of dollars worth of equipment and risk the lives of your pilots? To them the proponents of aerial fire-fighting say that there are places you cannot get to with ground crews and what about all their lives and all that equipment?

Think of how many fire-fighters die each year fighting our biggest wild-fires? And have you seen the costs in fighting some of these gigantic fires? 100s of millions of dollars sometimes billions are spent each year in one state along. One recent fire in California, actually a compilation of some 1600 fires mostly started by Mother Nature (lightning) cost the state over a billion dollars before these fires were even 2/3 contained.

The argument that aerial firefighting is too dangerous or that the equipment is too expensive to risk, simply does not hold water. We must use our fire-fighting assets to the best of our abilities. Now, sometimes it does not make sense to use these assets, but if we leverage our technological advances and stop wimping out, we will succeed.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Blog Content Service. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

Aerial Fire Fighting at Night – Fly at Your Own Risk

By Lance Winslow

Recently, there has been quite a bit of controversy and arguing over the use of aerial fire-fighting assets during nighttime operations. In one of these bitter debates a retired Air Force B-52 pilot attacked the concept of using aircraft to fight fires at night, stating it was too dangerous and later admitted it was a pet peeve of his.

Now then, I understand his “pet peeve” on night time aerial fire-fighting, yes, it is extremely dangerous, hell it’s dangerous in the day time for the reasons he mentioned, as these fires are often in mountain ranges and going in fully loaded under those conditions is dangerous. It’s a war zone basically, the only difference is there are no SAMs (surface-to-air-missiles), but all the other components are there.

Of course, fighting wild-fires is dangerous anyway you look at it, these gung-ho guys “fire jumpers” are low of life expectancy too. Can you imagine parachuting into a fire zone and praying that the wind does not shift. My dad had a good friend killed in an old “borate bomber” years ago, yes it’s dangerous and that was in the day time, but, I ask with the modern day equipment, GPS and later model aircraft is it really so dangerous?

Aviation is safe if done correctly, even if the public does not understand this. For instance the issue of the media reporting every single small plane crash is just nuts and has added way too much over regulation in general aviation. 40,000 people die in cars each year. This is not to say that aerial fire-fighting is not dangerous, it is and at night even more so. However, allowing fires to burn out of control, will cost even more lives on the ground. Think on this.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Blog Content Service. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow