Marine 1 - US President's Helicopter

Earlier today, the President took off in the "Marine 1" Helicopter outside the back lawn of the White House. Here is a picture of the Marine 1.

Many thanks goes out to Drew Brees of the New Orleans' Saints for sharing this photo with us.

Facts About Lightning and Airplanes

Did you know...

Airplanes are safer flying straight through the middle of a storm cell instead of trying to fly above or below it?
If an airplane flies above or below a storm cell, the plane isolates itself and becomes the only trigger available in the area for lightning to hit; however, if the plane flies straight through the storm cell, there is a greater chance that lightning will hit one of the many other negative/positively charged triggers in the clouds.

In most cases, the pilot will not even fly near a storm cell, but just in case one pops up, this is generally the best practice a pilot could follow.

When lightning hits an airplane, it looks like this...

Looks dangerous doesn't it? Well, it's really not that bad. Most airplanes have a double and triple protection system in place to prevent damage from lightning. This airplane in fact continue to fly away with no problem at all after lightning has struck it.

The last airplane to ever crash from a lightning strike was in 1967 when the fuel tank exploded. Now with the technology to allow the lightning to pass from one point of the plane to the next with surge protection and suppression, the avionics and electrical components are safe, and a device known as the "static wick" is the life saver for the people on board the craft. Here's a picture of what a "static wick" looks like...

A static wick is a piece of metal connected electrically to the frame of the aircraft, with one or two spikes or needles on the end. It is housed in a fiberglass rod to insulate it from the airplane. Because the spikes concentrate the electric charge around them, and they are connected to the airframe, they allow the airplane to dissipate any static electricity it may build up out into the air. Also - if lightning DOES strike the plane, the chances are that the electricity will go through the dissipator and not through the airplane. Originally posted by physlink.com 

Lightning balls can form and float around inside of an airplane.

When lightning hits the plane, a small amount of the metal body of the airplane becomes vaporized which forms a glowing ball of electricity and heat. The lightning ball will usually enter the airplane through the air conditioning system, and yes, it can be seen by the naked eye. In fact, I won't get into UFO theory, but a lot of times ball lightning is what people see in the sky when they think it's a UFO.

Flying Car Gets Approval

This was recently published in an Australian News Paper

THE Terrafugia Transition, a light aircraft that can convert into a road-legal automobile, is to go into production after being given a special weight exemption by the US Federal Aviation Administration.

The Transition was designed as a "light sport" aircraft, the smallest kind of private aeroplane allowed under FAA classification, with a maximum weight of 1,320lb, reports The Register.

But the manufacturers found it impossible to fit the safety features - airbags, crumple zones and roll cage, for instance - that are required for road vehicles into that weight.

Uniquely, however, the FAA has granted the Transition an exemption - allowing it to be classified as a light sport aircraft despite being 120lb over the limit.

Light sport aircraft licences require just 20 hours' flying time, making them much easier to obtain than full private licences. 

• Photos: Incredible flying car

• Video: Flying car's maiden flight
• Registration Details

The two-seater Transition can use its front-wheel drive on roads at ordinary highway speeds, with wings folded, at 12.75km per litre. Once it has arrived at a suitable take-off spot - an airport, or adequately sized piece of flat private land - it can fold down the wings, engage its rear-facing propellor, and take off. The folding wings are electrically powered.

Its cruising speed in the air is 185kmh, 115mph, it has a range of 740km, and it can carry 200kg. It requires a 0.5kg-long runway to take off and can fit in a standard garage.

Terrafugia says that one of the major advantages of the Transition over ordinary light aircraft is safety - in the event of inclement weather, it can simply drive home instead of either being grounded or flying in unsafe conditions.

The company says that 70 people have ordered the car, leaving a $10,000 deposit each. The car is expected to retail at $194,000. Deposits are held in escrow, meaning that should the company go bankrupt before delivery, the money will be refunded.