"Harry Potter" Captured in Milwaukee

AirTran 717-231 (55079/5042) N925AT taxies at Milwaukee (MKE/KMKE) on July 29 sporting the "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" livery. (Photo by Michael Carter)

The Aero Pacific Flightlines Staff is currently in Oshkosh attending the 2010 EAA AirVenture Show and the above photo was taken during our ramp tour at General Mitchell International. Thanks to Dan Grimm, Mark Jung, Pat Rowe, Cathy David, and Michael Casper for making this possible.

Oshkosh "EAA AirVenture 2010" Officially Began Today

(Photos by Dan Grimm)

Today was the first day of EAA AirVenture 2010 and APF Milwaukee staffer Dan Grimm attended the days events. The main event of the day was the arrival of the many DC-3's that will be on hand at this years show celebrating the 75th anniversary the DAC classic.

I will be attending the show on Friday and Saturday and I am looking forward to seeing all these DAC beautys. I will be doing some celebrating myself as I will be flying a Delta (Northwest) DC-9-41 on my inbound leg to Milwaukee (MKE/KMKE) on Wednesday July 28th and a Delta (Northwest) DC-9-51 on my homeward leg from Milwaukee (MKE/KMKE) to Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP/KMSP) on August 1st.

Photo of the Day / Turkish Airlines 777-35R(ER) TC-JJB

Turkish Airlines 777-35R(ER) (35162/666) TC-JJB "Marmara" is captured arriving at London-Heathrow (LHR/EGLL) sporting much larger "FC Barcelona" titles.

(Photo by James Mepsted)

Allegiant Air 757 fleet to sport winglets

Allegiant Air has ordered six shipsets of Aviation Partners Boeing 757-200 Blended Winglets. The first installations have commenced at ATS in Everett, Washington, and Flightstar in Jacksonville, Florida.

"We are very delighted to announce that Allegiant Air has joined our vast list of partners," says Aviation Partners Boeing CEO John Reimers. "This order gives Allegiant Air the opportunity to put our product into service and experience the incredible value that Blended Winglet technology is generating for other airlines worldwide."

Blended Winglet performance-enhanced 757-200s will be used for Allegiant Air's planned ETOPS (Extended-Range Twin-Engine Operations) flights to Hawaii, among other potential routes. Blended Winglet Technology can save the average 757-200 operator approximately 225,000 gallons (851,625 litres) of fuel per aircraft per year. Enhanced takeoff performance from the installation of Blended Winglets will offer Allegiant Air potential for significantly improved passenger payloads on long haul flights. Added range capability, another important plus of Blended Winglet Technology, will also give Allegiant Air improved fuel margins on extended range operations. Further, Blended Winglet can reduce engine maintenance costs and also offer important eco-friendly attributes including reduced emissions of carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide on the order of 5%.

"We look forward to soon serving the Hawaii market with our newly purchased Boeing 757 aircraft," Allegiant CEO and Chairman Maurice J. Gallagher Jr. commented. "We appreciate the cost-savings that APB and its Blended Winglets product will provide for this new service and look forward to sharing this value with our customers."

(PRNewsire)

Virgin America to buy 60 Airbus A320's

(Photo - Airbus)

San Francisco based Virgin America today announced it plans to order 40 new Airbus A320 aircraft, with options for 20 additional aircraft. The new aircraft would be delivered from 2013 through 2016 – with 10 firm orders per year on average, and options for 20 additional aircraft in 2017-2018. With today's order of 40 new aircraft and growth from other sources, Virgin America's fleet is projected to grow from its current 28 aircraft to 90 aircraft by 2016 – a compounded annual growth rate of 21.5 percent.

David Cush, Virgin America President and CEO, and John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, make the announcement of their memorandum of understanding today at the Farnborough International Airshow.

(PRNewswire)

Turkish Airlines and LAX announce new service

Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa today cheered the announcement that Turkish Airlines will launch nonstop service from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Istanbul, Turkey four times a week beginning March 3, 2011. The air service on brand new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft is expected to generate hundreds of millions of dollars annually in economic activity in Southern California.

"I am very proud that Turkish Airlines has chosen LAX as its U.S. West Coast gateway," said Mayor Villaraigosa. "The nonstop route between LAX and Istanbul will strengthen business, tourism and cultural ties with one of the most desirable cities in Eurasia, while providing improved connecting service to more European, Asian, African and Middle Eastern destinations.

"Gaining new and increased international service at LAX and LA/Ontario International Airport is a top priority for me because of the substantial contribution these flights make to the economy of Southern California," the Mayor added. "Turkish Airline's nonstop service to Istanbul is a prime example of the type of air service we want to attract to our airports."

"Passengers will experience Turkish Airlines' high quality service and overall customer service excellence in Business Class, Comfort Class and Economy Class on brand-new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with the latest technology," said Fatma Yuceler, Turkish Airlines' director for west coast. "This route will open new doors for travel between Los Angeles, Istanbul, and the rest of the world."

According to a study by the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation, one average daily, round-trip, transoceanic flight of wide-body aircraft to/from LAX generates $623 million in economic output annually, and sustains 3,120 direct and indirect jobs in Southern California with annual wages of $156 million.

The flight from Los Angeles to Istanbul will operate with four weekly flights (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday) from LAX's Tom Bradley International Terminal using new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with the latest technology and capacity of 337 passengers.

(Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) - Press Release)

New C-17A performs first flight

C-17A (P-200) 08-8200 destined for McGuire AFB returns to Long Beach (LGB/KLGB) following it's first pre-delivery test flight. (Photo by Michael Carter)

A Very Interesting Afternoon at Long Beach

Raytheon 727-223(ADV) (22467/1765) N289MT flew down from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX/KLAX) arriving at 1205 and parked on the Signature flight ramp. "Voodoo One" as the aircraft is known then performed five noise test flights throughout the afternoon. Following it's last test the aircraft departed from Rwy 12 bound for LAX at 1526.

"Voodoo One" smokes the mains on Rwy 30.

The biggest surprise today (no pun intended) was the Bahrain Amiri Flight 747-4P8 (33684/1324) A9C-HMK which performed three missed approaches.

The aircraft originated at Victorville (VCV/KVCV) as "FDX9091 Heavy" and flew to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX/KPHX) where it perfromed three missed approaches before heading to Long Beach. Following the completion of the missed approaches at Long Beach the aircraft returned to Victorville.

This is only the fourth 747 to grace the skies at Long Beach Airport. The previous aircraft were a Flying Tigers 747F in the early 1970's, a weather diversion from LAX, Polar Air Cargo when it took delivery of it's first 747-400F "The Spirit of Long Beach" and flew it here from Evertte, Washington for the Polar employee's to see (Polar was based in Long Beach at the time), and the most recent when Air Force One visited last year.

(Photos by Michael Carter)

A pair of nice G450's at Orange County

G450 (c/n 4174) N9SC taxies for a morning departure.

G450 (c/n 4147) N728MM taxies towards a Rwy 19R departure bound for McCarren International in Las Vegas (LAS/KLAS).

(Photos by Michael Carter)

787 Delivery schedule could slip again.

Boeing said on Thursday that issues raised in its 787 Dreamliner flight tests could delay first delivery of the long-awaited carbon-composite aircraft into the first part of 2011, but the company also expects an uptick in new plane demand over the next two decades.

Scott Fancher, general manager of the 787 program, said the plane maker has not yet made a decision to move the first delivery to Japan's All Nippon Airways. First delivery is currently scheduled for the end of 2010.

"We've seen some issues recently that have pushed our schedule margin a bit," Fancher said.

The issues relate to "instrument configuration" and inspection work, Fancher said. He said the possible delay is not related to plane operations.

News of the potential delay comes ahead of the world's biggest air show next week at Farnborough near London. Boeing plans to display a Dreamliner at the air show.

The 787 is already more than two years behind its original schedule. Production of the plane was delayed five times in three years, and the first flight was postponed six times, because of parts shortages, design problems and a two-month strike at Boeing's factory in 2008.

Last month, Boeing temporarily stopped flying its test 787s after identifying a problem affecting the horizontal tail.

"We wanted to give a little bit of a cautionary note that things could push into the first part of next year," Fancher said on Thursday. "Our schedule still shows delivery for the end of the year."

Boeing said on Thursday it has chosen North Charleston, South Carolina, as the location to build a new facility to make parts for the Dreamliner interior.

The factory will be 10 miles from Boeing's 787 final assembly and delivery site in North Charleston. Construction is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2010.

(Reuters)

EAA 2010 will feature Southwest Airlines

"Slam Dunk One" smokes the mains on Rwy 25L at Las Vegas (LAS/KLAS).

(Photo by Michael Carter)

Southwest Airlines and the EAA announced the carrier's participation in this year's Air Venture air show to be held in Oshkosh, WI from July 26 until August 1. The annual air show, which draws more than 550,000 visitors from 75 countries each year, is the world's premier aviation enthusiast event. The highlight of Southwest's participation will be the arrival of one of the airline's Boeing 737-700 aircraft on Saturday, July 31. The aircraft will feature a unique decal and will be open for tours throughout the day to Air Venture visitors.

"Southwest Airlines is honored to participate in the greatest aviation event in the world," said Chuck Magill, Southwest's Vice President of Flight Operations. "Besides being the ultimate aviation event in the world, Air Venture is the largest event in Wisconsin, and our participation reflects our excitement to be a part of the great state of Wisconsin through our service to Milwaukee." For more information about Southwest's participation, visit our blog, http://www.blogsouthwest.com/blog/oshkosh-countdown-air-venture-here-comes-southwest-airlines.

In addition to participating in the 2010 Air Venture, Southwest is helping the EAA with its goal of spreading passion about aviation. The organization's Young Eagles program brings aviation to young people, and to raise money for this program, the EAA is raffling an airplane. For as little as $1 a chance, someone could win an Aviat Husky with some impressive add-ons, or a number of other great prizes. All proceeds go to EAA initiatives to light the spark of aviation in youth.

(Southwest Airlines - Press Release)

Allegiant Air to fly between Long Beach and Colorado Springs

Allegiant air continues to grow its operation at Long Beach Airport (LGB/KLGB) as the carrier announced today new nonstop service to Colorado Springs, Colorado (COS/KCOS) scheduled to commence on September 15. The company, known for its great travel deals, will offer fares as low as $29.99 one-way to and from Southern California.

"The Allegiant service to Las Vegas has been a very successful route at Colorado Springs Airport," Mark Earle, Colorado Springs Airport Director of Aviation, said. "The addition of new nonstop Allegiant service to Long Beach means our customers will now have low-cost service to three of our top destinations."

The new flights will operate two times weekly between Colorado Springs Airport and Long Beach Airport with service Wednesday and Saturday. Flights will depart Colorado Springs at 9:25 a.m. arriving in Long Beach at 10:40 a.m. Flights leaving Long Beach will depart at 11:20 a.m. arriving in Colorado Springs at 2:30 p.m.

Along with the new flights to Long Beach, Allegiant Air announced new service between Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (IWA/KIWA) which will operate on Wednesday and Saturday. Flights will depart Colorado Springs at 3:10 p.m. arriving in Phoenix-Mesa at 3:55 p.m. Flights leaving Phoenix-Mesa will depart at 6 a.m. arriving in Colorado Springs at 8:45 a.m.

(Allegiant Air - Press Release)

Allegiant Air Announces new service between Long Beach and Idaho Falls

Allegiant Air MD-83 (49998/1800) N865GA arrives in Long Beach on a lovely afternoon.
(Photo by Michael Carter)

Allegiant Air announced yesterday that it will move its service between Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA/KIDA) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX/KLAX) to Long Beach Airport (LGB/KLGB) to commence on October 8.

The route will operate twice weekly between Idaho Falls and Long Beach Airport, with service Monday and Friday. Flights will depart Idaho Falls at 2 p.m. arriving in Long Beach at 3:10 p.m. Flights leaving Long Beach will depart at 3:50 p.m. arriving in Idaho Falls at 7 p.m. (all flight times are local). The carrier will utilize a full-size, 150-seat MD-80 jet aircraft on the route. Allegiant began nonstop flights to Las Vegas Nov. 11, 2005, and service to Los Angeles June 3, 2010.

(Allegiant Airlines - Press Release)

Alaska Airlines, Boeing, airports in biofuels program

Alaska Airlines, Boeing, Portland International, Seattle-Tacoma International, Spokane International and Washington State University announced yesterday that they will examine biomass options "within a four-state area" exploring "all phases of developing a sustainable biofuel industry." The project, dubbed Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest, will include an analysis of potential biomass sources that are indigenous to the Pacific Northwest. Sources to be examined include algae, camelina, wood byproducts and other agriculturally based oilseeds. Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Jim Albaugh said, "Developing a sustainable aviation fuel supply now is a top priority both to ensure continued economic growth and prosperity at regional levels and to support the broader aim of achieving carbon-neutral growth across the industry by 2020."

Biofuel development for the aviation industry is still in the "chicken-and-egg stage," AltAir Principal Bryan Sherbacow told reporters at ATW's Eco-Aviation Conference in Washington. The Pacific Northwest effort vowed to explore all phases of developing a sustainable biofuel industry, including biomass production and harvest, refining, transport infrastructure and actual use by airlines, with an aim of identifying "potential pathways" and "necessary actions" needed to make biofuel a commercially viable option for airline operators in the region. The project will be managed by Northwest-based environmental nonprofit Climate Solutions, with the first meeting slated to take place later this month.

(ATWOnline News)

British Airways takes delivery of it's first 777-300ER

British Airways took delivery of its first 777-300ER on July 9, part of an order for six placed in 2008. Boeing 777-336ER (40542/879) G-STBA will be fitted with 297 seats in a four-class configuration and feature an "all-new interior" including new World Traveler (economy) and World Traveler Plus (economy plus) cabins. It also will feature a new inflight entertainment system when it goes into operation later this year, the airline revealed. The new IFE systems will provide more than 230 TV programs, 70 films and 400 CDs, plug-and-play technology and 60% larger high-resolution screens. BA will take delivery of three aircraft this year and three in 2012.

(Cathy Buyck - ATWOnline News)

Ryan International Airlines 767-332 visits Long Beach

Ryan International Airlines 767-332 (23437/188) N123DN arrived this morning at 0712 from Chicago/Rockford International Airport (RFD/KRFD) operating as RYN7331. It later departed at 0939 as RYN2217 bound for Western Nebraska Regional Airport - Scottsbluff (BFF/KBFF).

Sun Country 737-8Q8 (30032/985) N805SY arrived at 0815 from Minneapolis/St. Paul International - World-Chamberlain Field (MSP/KMSP) operating as SCX8910. It later departed at 1011 as SCX8910 bound for Western Nebraska regional Airport - Scottsbluff (BFF/KBFF).

All Nippon Airways (ANA) to offer draft beer on select domestic routes

ANA today announced that it is the world’s first carrier to offer draft beer keg service on board. From 20JUL10, draft beer keg service is available on domestic routes.

From 20JUL10, service operates on following routes will offer draft beer keg service:

Tokyo Haneda – Fukuoka (after 1700LT)
Tokyo Haneda – Sapporo Chitose (after 1700LT)
Tokyo Haneda – Okinawa
Osaka Itami – Okinawa
Osaka Kansai – Okinawa
Nagoya – Okinawa
Fukuoka – Okinawa

Each costs 1000 Yen, only 20 cups available per flight, except Tokyo – Okinawa with flight operated by 777/747 service offering 40 cups.

(Airlineroute.net)

A Ultimate Flying Palace

Check out the following link, all I can say is WOW!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1190780/The-flying-palace-Inside-worlds-biggest-private-jet-worth-jumbo-300million.html

New Gulfstream G550's spotted at Long Beach

G550 (c/n 5274) N174GA smokes the mains on Rwy 30.

(Photo by Michael Carter)

This afternoon at Long Beach Airport (LGB/KLGB) the following G550's were spotted on the Gulfstream ramp;


N174GA (c/n 5274) returned from a pre-delivery test flight. (see above photo).

N579GA (c/n 5279) which is destined to a Spanish customer.

XA-RGB (c/n 5282) ex N282GA.

Un-identified G550 sporting a very smart livery, hope to identify soon.


Also spotted inside the hanger at the Long Beach Jet Center was G450 (c/n 4186) N510AK.

Polet Flight AN-124 "Ruslan" visits Long Beach

AN-124 climbs from Rwy 12 bound for the U.K.
(Photo by Michael Carter)

Polet Flight Anotonov AN-124 "Ruslan" (c/n 9773053459147) RA-82075, arrived at Long Beach Airport (LGB/KLGB) Tuesday July 6 at 1336 following a 5hr 13min flight from Ladd Aaf Airport (PAFB/FBK) Fairbanks / Ft Wainwright, Alaska operating as POT2027. The aircraft parked on the old Douglas commercial blastfence/washrack where a cockpit mach-up of a new russian airliner was to be loaded on board which is scheduled for display at the up coming Farnborough Air Show, July 19-25. The AN-124 departed Wednesday July 7 at 1436 bound for London Stansted (STN/EGSS) as POT2026.

Solar-Powered aircraft performs first night flight

A solar-powered aircraft designed to fly round the clock without traditional aviation fuel or polluting emissions headed on Wednesday into its crucial first night flight.

The plane, named Solar Impulse, took off for its first 24-hour test flight just after dawn from an air base near the central Swiss town of Payerne and began climbing above nearby lakes and mountains toward a peak altitude of 8,500 meters (27,900 feet).

"It is going well. This is an incredible moment," said Bertrand Piccard, one of the two initiators of the project who himself carried out the first non-stop round-the-world flight in a hot-air balloon 11 years ago.

At the controls of the wide-winged aircraft is engineer and former Swiss air force pilot Andre Borschberg, co-founder of the Solar Impulse project with Piccard, who comes from a family of explorers and adventurers.

Borschberg will bring the carbon-fibre plane back down again to 1,500 meters (4,500 feet) before nightfall to glide on the stored power and land at Payerne in the morning. He told reporters by radio link that it was behaving perfectly.

The Solar Impulse, which has 12,000 solar cells built into its 64.3 meter (193 foot) wings is a prototype for an aircraft that its creators hope will carry out its first circumnavigation of the globe in 2012.

With a wingspan the same size as an Airbus A340 and, at 1,600 kg (3,500 lb), weighing only as much as a medium-sized car, the plane is powered by four electric motors and is designed to save energy from its solar cells in high-performance batteries.

A total of six years under development, it has already carried out two short but successful test flights, the last above Payerne in April when it spent 87 minutes in the air and reached a height of 1,200 meters (3,600 feet).

"The intention of this mission is to demonstrate the potential of renewable energy and clean technologies," says Piccard, whose father Jacques was a pioneer of under-water exploration in a bathyscaphe.

Claude Nicollier, a four-times astronaut and head of the craft's test flight program, said the revolutionary project excited him as much as the space flights in which he had taken part.

Solar Impulse is ultimately expected to attain an average flying speed of 70 km (44 miles) an hour and reach a maximum altitude of 8,500 meters (27,900 feet).

The project's budget is CHF100 million Swiss francs (USD$94 million), CHF80 million of which has been secured from sponsors, according to spokeswoman Rachel de Bros.

Belgian chemicals company Solvay, Swiss watchmaker Omega, part of the Swatch group, and German banking giant Deutsche Bank, are the three main sponsors.

Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, a leading Swiss research university, is acting as scientific and technological adviser for the project.

(Reuters)

LAX Observation Deck set to Re-open

Looking southeast towards Terminal 6. (above)

Looking southwest towards Terminal 5. (below)

Above photos were taken on April 17, 1962.

(Photos by Jon Proctor)

The famous Theme Building and it's observation deck is set to re-open to the public next Saturday July 10, 2010.The deck which was closed following 9/11 and only opened for special events with the approval of Airport Police (i.e Airliners International in July 2004). The building also recieved a make over which began in 2007 when a 1,000 pound piece of stucco fell from one of the arches

The observation deck will be open on Saturdays and Sundays only betwenn 8am and 5pm.

Allegiant Air Commences new Bellingham service

Allegiant Airlines made its debut flight Thursday into Long Beach Airport, joining recent arrival Frontier as the latest carrier at Daugherty Field.

Allegiant will operate five non-stop flights weekly to Stockton and three to northern Washington, just across the border from Vancouver, Canada.

The airline's first flight to Long Beach, from Bellingham, Washington, arrived just after 5 p.m. Thursday, carrying about 140 people aboard an MD-80 jet.

Long Beach Airport Director Mario Rodriguez said the new carrier should push annual passenger volumes well above 3 million.

"It's a good deal for the Long Beach community and the airport because we have new jobs, new revenues and new locations that expand the airport's reach," Rodriguez said.

The airline is the sixth to service Long Beach Airport, which city leaders contend remains on the few bright spots in a depressed local economy.

"We're hoping that with this new airline we can attract more people to spend a day or two in Long Beach, and get to love the city and come back," said Val Lerch, a Long Beach City Councilwoman whose Ninth District borders the airport. "And when they come back and visit the shoreline and eat at our restaurants and take in the atmosphere, they spend money, money, money."

The small, low-cost carrier signed a deal with Long Beach in late 2009 for service to Washington and Central California, though they may end up switching flight destinations based on demand.
Allegiant Spokeswoman Sabrina LoPiccolo said the airport was a perfect fit because of its famously short wait times and low carrier rates.

"Going to an airport like Long Beach is a perfect fit and gives us more opportunities to expand as well as fitting in with our business model, said LoPiccolo.

With Allegiant, Long Beach now has six airlines serving 17 destinations across the country.

Allegiant arrives just as the airport is launching a multi-year modernization plan that includes a nearly $140-million makeover with new passenger terminal, jet tarmacs, parking, food court and screening lanes.

(Kristopher Hanson - Long Beach Press Telegram)

Allegiant returns to Long Beach

Allegiant Air returned to Long Beach (LGB/KLGB) today as flt AAY570 arrived from Stockton Metropoliton Airport (SCK/KSCK) marking the carriers return to Long Beach Airport. MD-83 (49708/1561) N881GA arrived at 1226 following a 1 hour 1 minute flight.

Allegiant air has operated scheduled services into Long Beach Airport in the past with their very first flight departing at 0700 on November 5, 1999 operated with Douglas DC-9-51 (47731/860) N410EA.

Photo of the Day / Easyjet 757-256 G-ZAPX

Easyjet is now operating Boeing 757-256 (29309/936) on lease from Titan Airways. The aircraft was originally delivered to Iberia Airlines as EC-HIS "Bolivia" on July 31, 2000.

(Photo by Allan Huse)