In early March, Eurocopter annouced the delivery of an EC135 helicopter to the English force in the country of Devon (in the far southwest of the country). The EC135 was ordered in september 2007 and was customised with brand new reconnaissance systems at the Eurocopter UK site in Oxford. The helicopter features an infra-red camera, a video system and night vision facilities. It replaces the BK117 that has been in service 12 years for the Devon police.

The first of two new EC225 helicopters has arrived at the Lanveoc Poulmic naval aeronautic base in the Finistere area of France. The helicopters were acquired by the defense ministry to replace the soon to be retired Super Frelon. The two navy EC225 will carry out two kinds of mission:

ocean rescue as part of the maritime emergency support programme, and military operations carrying out state missions at sea including helicopter-borne maritime assault operations.

The super Frelon are likely to be retired from service around end april early may time with the second helicopter expected to arrive in early june. The two EC225 will keep the fleet level stable until the new NH90 arrive.

AeroWeather

Like many others pilots, I always use this application to prepare my flights.

AeroWeather gives me some informations on current weather conditions called METAR (for METeorological Airport Report) and weather forecasts called TAF (for Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts).

You can show this informations in original (fig 1) or fully decoded format understandable by somebody (fig 2).

You can choose worldwide airport weather stations by name, ICAO code (LFOX for my based airfield) , or based on your current location (Aeroweather will  select the closest airfields).

AeroWeather also puts a nice green/yellow/red icon next to each weather station to indicate whether the weather is at VFR/IFR minimums, another simple way to know if your flight is actually going to happen.

But Do you know the famous Red Bull Air race ?

The Red Bull Air Race is an international series of air races (created by Red bull) in which competitors have to navigate a challenging obstacle course in the fastest time. Pilots fly individually against the clock and have to complete tight turns through a slalom course consisting of pylons, known as “Air Gates”.

This year (2009), Paul Bonhomme (England) won this competition for the first time.

Last august, the Word Aerobatic Championships (WAC) took place at Silvertsone in UK. The WAC are occur every two years and bring together the best aerobatic pilots in the word.

The WAC includes 2 separate competitions:

• The technical Championship
• The freestyle championship

This year,the winner was Renaud Ecalle (France). He realised a very impressive presentation. On the opposithe  to the many others pilots,  the transitions between the differents aerobatics figures are very smooth and the presentation gives a feeling of lightness ….. and freedom !

The world’s largest airliner, an Air France A380, touched down in New York on Friday after completing the superjumbo jet’s first Atlantic crossing from Europe to the United States.The Airbus A380 took off from Paris at 11:45 local time and arrive at New York at 13:20 local time,on its maiden flight for Air France.

There was 380 passengers on board who bought their tickets in an Air France auction to benefit disadvantaged children.

“A fantastic flight” “It’s a very quiet and stable plane. You hardly feel the takeoff and landing” said one passenger 

Air France will launch regular A380 flights across the Atlantic on November 23. The fleet of 12 huge planes will also serve Johannesburg, starting in February, and then Tokyo

So, I’ve decided to continue my blog only on this subject : the aeronautic word. I will speak about:

• aeronautic news like the delivery of news aeroplanes
• Air show like the  legendary race of Reno or the Paris Le Bourget Air Show
• fabulous aircrafts like warbird or fighters
• anecdote like the conversation between the control tower and the pilots
• amazing pilots like the test pilot or the winner of the world aerobatic championships (WAC) 

… Finally everything related to aeronautic.

My 8 songs:

I just added the link to don’t obstruct the page with the videos.

1. I don’t want to miss a thing – Aerosmith

Link : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo_0UXRY_rY

2. Image – Beattles

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okd3hLlvvLw

3. Hey jude – Beattles

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD3ovfZXO5Q

4. Californication – Red Hot Chili Peppers

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFMLARtqxCY

5. Roxanne – Police

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wpX6drarrs

6. Sitting on the dock of the bay – Otis Redding

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCmUhYSr-e4

7. With or without you – U2

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdlPjAJFIrw

8. I wanna love you – Bob Marley

link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5pWZtXBMXQ

My book(s):

• If this is a man (Italian title: Se questo è un uomo; United States title Survival in Auschwitz and French title: Si c’est un homme) – written by Primo Levi

Others:

• The strange feeling of flying (French title: l’étrange bonheur de voler) written by Catherine Maunoury
• Broken flight (French title: vol brisée) written by Caroline Aigle

My luxury item:

• A ball . I know that it’s not a really luxury object but I think it’s a very important object.

I make out the Flight Plan and study the weather,
Pull up the gear, stand by to feather;
Make out the mail forms and do the reporting,
And fly the old crate while the Captain is courting.

I take the readings, adjust the power,
Put on the heaters when we’re in a shower;
Tell him where we are on the darkest night,
And do all the book-work without any light.

I call for my Captain and buy him Cokes;
I always laugh at his corny jokes,
And once in a while when his landings are rusty,
I always come through with, “By gosh it’s gusty!”

All in all I’m a general stooge,
As I sit on the right of the man I call “Scrooge”;
I guess you think it is past understanding,
But maybe someday he will give me a landing

Captain Keith Murray,
October, 1942