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Backpack Carry-On Rules For Airplanes

2011-07-13T14:48:00.001-07:00

A backpack can be a helpful material for traveling by airplane but it should be noted that there are many different limits that can be used in terms of what type of backpack can be brought onto a plane. There are many backpack carry on rules to watch for when traveling on an airplane with a backpack. These rules deal with the number of bags that are going to be allowed for one user, the size of the bag and the maximum weight that is allowed for one of these bags.

It is important to watch for the size of the backpack when getting into a plane. There may not be enough space for people to store their backpacks into overhead compartments in certain types of airplanes. This is important to know because in some cases people will prefer to put their luggage into one of these compartments instead of having it sent into the luggage compartment of the plane and picking it up later at the luggage claim section of an airport. Also, there is only so much space that can be used underneath one's seat for storing a carry on. Using the smallest possible backpack will be important as a result.

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Larger backpacks that are used for weekend trips or overnight trips will generally not be able to fit in some cases. A typical area underneath the seat on an airplane will only be able to handle a material that is about five inches in height on average. As a result it will be important to watch for the size of the backpack because it may need to be stored in the luggage claim section of the plane if there is not enough space for it on the plane.

It is important to know that when traveling with a backpack that only one backpack can be carried onto a plane at a time by an individual person. Different airliners will consider a backpack to be a personal item that can be carried onto a plane with ease.

The weight of the backpack and the materials that are inside of it is also important. The maximum weight that can be used for most carry-ons according to average airplane carry on rules is forty pounds. It can vary for international travel though. For instance, the maximum carry on weight for Air France is only twenty-six pounds. It helps to prepare one's backpack accordingly as a result.

Backpack Carry-On Rules For Airplanes

The backpack carry on rules that are used for airplanes are important to consider. Many groups will not be able to handle carry-ons of certain sizes. Also, it is important to only bring one backpack onto a plane and to watch for the size of the backpack in regards of weight and dimensions. Be sure to contact an airline group that one will be traveling on for additional details on its policies regarding backpacks. Find out more tips about backpacks at http://backpacks.bestofresults.com

Travel Packing Tips

2011-07-11T18:59:00.001-07:00

The following are travel packing tips based on experience. I have gone to other countries for a month or more with nothing but a carry-on bag that weighed ten pounds. In fact, my number one travel tip is to go light whenever you can. The simplify of traveling light makes almost any trip more enjoyable.

Unfortunately, going with only carry-on luggage is getting more difficult due to the newest rules about what you can actually carry on a plane. If you do want to keep it to just one bag that goes with you on the plane, check the latest regulations and leave behind anything that isn't allowed. It doesn't add that much expense to a trip to just buy these things at your destination.

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In fact, buying things as you go is a great way to simplify packing. Why bring twenty things just in case you need them, and then have to lug them around for the sake of the six you actually use? If it is a vacation in particular, why not plan just a little extra expense, and buy necessities as you travel? Many have found that this is more practical and relaxing than over-planning a trip and over-weighting the luggage.

Some Other Travel Packing Tips

- Jewelry and other valuables are usually not covered by the luggage insurance the airline provides. Pack these items in your carry-on bag.

- Silk shirts can be rolled carefully so they will wrinkle less in soft-sided luggage.

- To conserve space, buy low-bulk items for travel. A down coat, for example, will compress to a fourth of the size of other coats, and keep you just as warm.

- Lightweight travel pants, made of soft nylon derivatives are very light, tough, and pack small. They are often found where they sell outdoor gear, but some styles are dressy enough for use almost anywhere.

- To bring more in less space, set aside your thinnest socks, lightest clothes and smallest items for travel. A small hairbrush may work just as well as a large one, for example. You might get to bring many more potentially useful items, and still have a smaller bag in this way.

- If you buy a bulky gift for a family member or friend back home, you may want to send it to them instead of carrying it around for weeks while traveling.

- Don't overstuff your luggage. remember that it may be opened and inspected, and the security officials may not know how to fit it all back in.

- Don't pack important documents, like passports and identification, in your luggage. Carry these on your person, preferably in a security pouch or interior pocket.

- Be careful when packing shampoo, perfume, skin cream and other liquids. Plane cargo areas are often not pressurized fully, so the tops can pop off of bottles and other containers. For added safety, pack such items in a sealed ziplock bag.

- Carry a list of what is in your luggage, in case you need to file a claim for lost bags.

In addition to using the travel packing tips above, have a good packing routine. For example, start by considering every circumstance you may be in during your trip, and making a list of items you'll need. Then, after packing, consider each item, and remove anything that really isn't likely to be used - especially if it can be easily obtained at your destination.

Travel Packing Tips

Copyright Steve Gillman. For travel stories, tips and a free Travel Secrets Ebook, visit http://www.everythingabouttravel.com

Heavy Lift Helicopters - The MIL MI-26

2011-07-10T17:43:00.001-07:00

The former Soviet Union has a history of producing large helicopters capable of lifting heavy loads. The vastness of the country coupled with a large number of inaccessible areas required a reliable form of transportation capable of operating in harsh environments. The MIL Helicopter Corporation responded and has built some of the most capable heavy lift and cargo helicopters in the world.

The predecessor to the MI-26, the MI-6 Hook, had its start in 1954 when the Soviet OKB (Experimental Design Bureau) placed a requirement for a helicopter that was able to carry a payload of 25,000 pounds a distance of 150 miles. The helicopter would be particularly useful for operations in Siberia where harsh conditions prevented ground transport vehicles from being effectively used. The military would also be able to use the helicopter to lift artillery pieces, troops, and other large heavy loads.

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When the MI-6 entered production it was powered by two Soloviev D-25V turbo shaft engines rated at 5,550 SHP (shaft horsepower) each. The hook had a huge five bladed rotor system that had a diameter of almost 115 ft. The crew consisted of five people. Two pilots, a navigator, a flight engineer, and a radio operator. The helicopter had two doors on either side of the flight deck that could be jettisoned in an emergency and the windows on the pilots' sides were bulged so they could see the rear of the helicopter. The MI-6 also carried an APU (auxiliary power unit), a small turbine engine used to provide power to the ship when the main engines were not in operation. The MI-6 was able to operate day or night in all weather. The MI-6 was also used as a civilian airliner, a fire fighting aircraft, and recovered Soyuz space capsules. It had a range of 370 miles and a max speed of 190 mph.

Out of the success with the MI-6 came the MI-26 Halo. The MI-26 had its maiden flight in 1977 and went into full-scale production in 1981. When looking at the two aircraft you can see the influence that the MI-6 had on the design of the MI-26. Though only slightly heavier than the MI-6, the Halo can lift 44,000 pounds. It's powered by two Lotarev D-136 turbo shaft engines rated at 11,550 SHP each. The MI-26 is the only helicopter to use an eight bladed rotor system. The rotors are made from fiberglass and have titanium tips and have a diameter of 105 ft. To aid in maintenance the aircraft features built in handholds and footholds, which help when operating in austere conditions. The MI-26, like the MI-6, has an APU to provide power when the main engines are not operating. For comparison the load and lift capabilities of the MI-26 are on par with that of the U.S. built C-130 Hercules transport plane.

The aircraft is loaded from the rear thorough clamshell doors and a fold down loading ramp. The Halo has a maximum speed of 180 mph and an operational range of 320 nautical miles without using auxiliary fuel tanks.

The MI-26 is presently used in a number of different roles including medevac, flying crane/construction, fuel tanker, and aerial fire fighting. The MI-26 has a crew of five. Two pilots, a navigator, a flight engineer, and a loadmaster.

The MI-26 continues the tradition of MIL Helicopter of building some of the largest and most powerful helicopters on earth.

Heavy Lift Helicopters - The MIL MI-26

At Helicopter Pilot Careers we help new helicopter pilots start their career and experienced pilots advance their career. Come see us!

We have a free report on the opportunities coming available for helicopter pilots, a free e-logbook, and free resume advice.

The Student Said "I Want to Be a Pilot When I Grow Up" - I Said, "Then You Better Learn Your Math"

2011-07-09T17:36:00.001-07:00

Listen to your math teacher carefully. You had better stay in school and learn math if you want to work in aviation. Mathematics is paramount, and a major part of flying.

Over the last good many days, I've started writing a series on why mathematics in our schools is so important. You see, we have a lack of engineers and scientists, and it's only going to get worse in the future. Not to mention the fact, that our technologically advanced society is getting to the point that we are going to need three times, if not four times as many professionals who have degrees in physics, science, technology, and math just to operate all the machinery, and keep our society going, and that's before all the future innovation we are going to be doing over the next good many decades.

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Now then, some folks think that their future chosen profession will not require mathematics, but usually when I talk to them for just a few minutes, I explain to them why they are so wrong, and why math is so important. When I was younger, I took a ground school class, because I wanted to be a pilot, I was surprised at how much math was involved, but that was okay because I was very interested in flying, and I was a pretty good math student. There was another friend of mine in one of my classes in high school who told me he also wanted to be a pilot when he grew up.

But my friend did not take very many math classes, and he wasn't in the college prep math classes. I told him what I learned from going to ground school and I said you'd better learn math, if you want to be a pilot. Now then, I don't know if today he became a pilot or not, I assume not because he wasn't very good at math. Math is used in aviation all the time. For instance;

1.-Calculating the time speed and distance to a potential destination.
2.-Calculating the amount of fuel you will need to get there, as you can't run out of gas in an airplane, it's not as if you can just pull over to the side of the road, when the engine quits because it's starved of fuel.
3.-Calculating the weight and balance, and density altitude when putting cargo into the aircraft.
4.-Even when considering the weather, that requires math too.

Did you know as you go up at altitude the temperature decreases two-degrees per thousand feet? Did you know if you have a headwind it will increase the time it takes to get to your destination, and therefore you will be flying longer, and therefore use more fuel? All of these things matter if you're going to be a pilot when you grow up.

So, you're going to have to learn math, or you won't even be able to pass the private pilot written test required by the Federal Aviation Administration. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think about it.

The Student Said "I Want to Be a Pilot When I Grow Up" - I Said, "Then You Better Learn Your Math"

Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes writing 23,500 articles by mid-day on June 23, 2011 is going to be difficult because all the letters on his keyboard are now worn off..

5 Air Ambulance Characteristics Every Health Care Provider Should Research

2011-07-08T17:14:00.001-07:00

Making an informed decision about your patient's medical transportation is not an easy task. In fact, as a health care provider or social worker, it's probably one of the more frustrating day-to-day tasks you have. For some reason most air ambulance websites are either geared toward individuals or insurance employees -- even though it's far more likely that case workers like yourself will be the ones arranging the flights. There are five air ambulance characteristics every health care provider should research before they hire a service, and you'll know exactly what they are after reading this article.

Before we begin, let's talk a little bit about the two most important concerns every health care provider has when it comes to air ambulances. The five things we're about go over were specifically chosen for how they relate. The two concerns every health care provider has are:
Quality patient care Time management

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Quality patient care is often one of the biggest concerns for medical providers; and this is especially true when it comes to air ambulance services. There are a lot of patient transport services to choose from, but you cannot assume that patient care will be consistent among them. In fact, this is something that tends to vary greatly among providers.

The second biggest concern is time management. As a case manager or social worker, you're expected to serve both as patient advocate and dispatcher. This can be very time consuming for you, but a well trained company can help by taking care of things on their end to make sure they are ready to fly at a moment's notice.

Now, a good way to make smart choices about patient transport is to follow a check-list. This will also help by making the whole process a lot less overwhelming for you. Just because you've been tasked with the responsibility of hiring an air ambulance service, it doesn't mean you need to start right from square one every time.

There are five areas to pay special attention to when arranging medical flights. They are:
Amenities Safety Risk Customer service Affordability

Hopefully, you can see how each of these areas will have an enormous impact on patient care and time management. Let's briefly go through them and see what you should be looking for.

Amenities. Air transport has come a long way since the original army helicopter model. Learjets are not exactly commonplace in the industry, but are used by some of the superior air ambulance companies and can afford your patient more room and better access for loading and unloading.

Safety. Something that is not required of air ambulance services is the ability to fly at special altitudes that reduce the minimum vertical distance of aircraft. This unique type of certification can cut down on delays due to air space restrictions.

Risk. Risk to the patient can be reduced dramatically simply by ensuring constant care is administered from the time the patient enters the air ambulance until he or she is transferred to a bed at the receiving hospital. In the industry, this is referred to as bedside-to-bedside care.

Customer Service. Most companies provide at least some level of customer service. What you want to look for is consistency and quality. Every staff member you come into contact with should have the ability to answer your questions and solve problems.

Affordability. It should cost your patients a fortune to receive this higher level of patient care. When you're doing your price comparisons, look for companies that offer middle of the road pricing without any major sacrifices to the other services mentioned here.

Lastly, you'll want to give careful consideration to location. Don't just overlook this aspect because it seems so obvious. Airplane or not, it will take your ambulance longer to reach you if they're not centrally located.

It's preferable to find a company that services a specific region. That way you'll know they're familiar with the area, and already have existing relationships with the nearest medical facilities.

If you are a case worker that's committed to finding the best air ambulance service for your patients, you're not alone. Amenities, safety, risk, customer service, and affordability are all factors that play a key role in patient care and time management -- the two areas most important to you. You can use this guide as a template while you gather the information you need to make a responsible decision.

5 Air Ambulance Characteristics Every Health Care Provider Should Research

Denise K. Wayne is a long-time qualified expert on air ambulance services with decades of experience. You can learn much more about how to evaluate Mexico air ambulance services on her very educational website.

Find Sample Nursing Care Plans

2011-07-07T15:42:00.001-07:00

Medical professional often like to use sample nursing care plans. These sample plans can save time as the nurse or other professional can adapt an already constructed care plan to their patient. Rather than having to start from scratch, the basics of the plan are already in place allowing the nurse to move on quickly to other matters.

A care plan is a document that details a patient's medical assessment and plan for care. This vitally important document allows all members of the medical team to know what course of action will be taken. This also helps prevent important care aspects from being neglected.

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Given the amount of professionals who are often involved in a patient's care, the care plan lets everyone stay up to date on the patient's health and treatment. In many hospitals and other health care facilities, staff members have many duties and a number of patients. The care plan lets everyone stay on track with each patient.

Although care plans are sometimes referred to as nursing care plans, nurses are not the only professionals who use care plans. Rather, all medical professionals involved in a patient's care are involved in the creation and updating of a particular plan. This includes not only nurses but doctors, therapists, and others.

The first step for a care plan is generally the assessment of the patient. Different settings will have different protocols in doing assessments. Once this is done, a problem list is created, listing diagnoses and other problems that the patient may face.

For individuals seeking a sample nursing care plan, books and websites focused on care plans often include a sample plan that you can customize for your purposes. Some websites allow you to input data and a plan is created for you. Others have samples for a number of different diagnoses and medical issues, allowing the plan to be customized by the problem that the patient is suffering from.

When you are looking for a sample nursing care plan, examine the different samples for one that includes the categories of information that you'd like to include in your care plans. You may want to check out several in order to see which ones would work best. Once you've selected one you like, use it a few times before a full implementation to make sure that it will fit your needs in different real life situations.

Sample nursing care plans can be a valuable tool to help you save time and better help the patient. A clear care plan will let everyone on the medical care team know what is going on in a clear and concise way.

Find Sample Nursing Care Plans

Visit NurseNetOnline.com to start nurse career by pursuing your nursing degree online. Find out what you need to know.

American Airline Promo Codes

2011-07-06T13:49:00.001-07:00

With the competition becoming fiercer every day, its no wonder airlines are trying to come up with new ways of getting people to purchase their airline tickets straight from the official airline website. One of the latest deals airlines around the world are offering to draw passengers to their websites is a "promotional code". These codes, often referred to as "promo codes" are a combination of numbers and letters that the airline uses to offer passengers discounts on airfares or other types of special deals.

Of course, American Airlines is among the many big international carriers that use this marketing strategy to attract customers to their site. American airline promo codes can be found right on the official website.

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American Airlines uses a downloadable desktop tool called "DealFinder" that enables the site to search for special offers, fare discounts and vacation packages based on a customer's choice of destination, date of departure and price range. With DealFinder, a passenger will receive notifications of deals that fit their preferences through email or RSS feed.

American airline promotion codes are available for discounts on national fares as well as some international fares. These codes are also on hand for hotel and car rental deals. Once you have gotten your hands on a discount code the obvious advantage that you have over the regular consumer is that you will be able to purchase tickets for a reduced rate. The amount of discount varies depending on the time of year and location but can often be in excess of 30%

American Airline Promo Codes

Scott is a spendthrift that loves getting great deals on flights, the best way he has found is by picking up Airline promotion codes or just scouring the airlines until you find dirt cheap airline tickets.

Salvation Army Car Donation

2011-07-05T10:03:00.001-07:00

Since 1880 the Salvation Army has been looking for new and innovative ways to receive funding for their cause. Their Car Donation Program is one of the most effective. When looking to donate a used car, there is no better organization than the Salvation Army. With their multiple locations nation wide, donating a car is a easy, tax-deductible, and gives money to an important cause.

One of the great benefits of the Salvation Army Car Donation program is that they take and process any car, even if it no longer runs. Better yet, they will tow the car at no charge. The program also allows local drop offs at their many sites in the area. Once towed, the Salvation Army will auction the car to help fund their other programs, such as their drug and alcohol rehabilitation program located in Northern Virginia.

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Besides cars, the program will also take trucks, SUV's, boat, trailers, RV's, and small planes. Contact them if the condition or make and model of the car might give some doubt on a successful donation.

A word of caution with this donation program. If the title of the car is not in the donor's name, they cannot accept the donation. If the title is lost, be sure to get a replacement at a local Department of Motor Vehicles. All donations are tax-deductible and will result in an amount that is equal to the amount sold at auction. The Salvation Army will alert the donor of the selling price.

If donating cars to this organization seems right, feel free to contact them through their car donation program. Call their toll free number at 1-800-95 TRUCK to speak to someone today.

Salvation Army Car Donation

Or, click here to be directed to another reputable charity you can donate your car to, quickly and easily.

The History of Mercedes

2011-07-03T23:51:00.001-07:00

The history of Mercedes-Benz or for short Mercedes (and sometimes even "Benz" or "Merc") is quite interesting. Mercedes is a German company founded in 1871. In the beginning there were three people - Gottlieb Daimler together with Wilhelm Maybach and Karl Benz. Karl Benz and the other two were able to invent the automobile with internal combustion independently from each other. It is very interesting however that they were only sixty miles apart from each other in that time.

Karl Benz was working in Mannheim. He had a shop there which was the place where he invented the first real automobile driven by internal combustion. The year was 1885 and in the next year Karl Benz was granted a patent for his new creation.

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The automobile was called "Benz Patent Motorwagen" and it had three wheels and the design reminds of a carriage hauled by horses perhaps because the main design model was taken from a carriage. The first engine Karl Benz patented in 1879 and it was designed by him.

Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach were granted a patent a year before Karl Benz's internal combustion automobile model. The year was 1885 and the exact date - August 29. The engine they made is believed to be the first prototype of the today's gas engine and they called it "grandfather clock engine".

In the next year Gottlieb Daimler purchased a stagecoach in which he was planning to put the internal combustion engine. Many people made these purchases in that time but Gottlieb Daimler is perhaps the first one with the engine idea in mind. Daimler and Maybach worked together to adopt this stagecoach to fit the needs of the engine. The official words which Mercedes used for this model is "a carriage without horses". It is without horses but with conventional drawbar steering and internal combustion engine.

Soon after that in 1889 they built a complete model from scratch which was the first automobile powered by four-stoke engine. It was again with four wheels and after the founding of DMG in 1890 they were able to sell the first model of their automobile two years later in 1892.

On the other hand Karl Benz was able to sell his first model in 1888 - an year before Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach was able to build their model. Karl Benz did that after some refining of his model Motorwagen and maybe this gave him this advantage over the years because he did not started from scratch like Daimler and Maybach did.

In 1899 automobiles from Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft made in a city near Stuttgart took a part in a race driven by Emil Jellinek. Jellinek was a diplomat and a businessman and he was very enthusiastic about the whole idea around automobiles. In 1896 he went to see the designers Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach and soon after that he bought from them his first automobile car - the Phoenix. An interesting story about that car is that Emil Jellinek painted the name of his daughter Mercedes Adriana Manuela Ramona Jellinek on the car for good luck. Years after that a whole series of cars got that name.

Jellinek wanted faster cars and that the 1900 DMG was the first to bear his daughter name. It looks like Jellinek was obsessed by the idea of his daughter's name because he offered and made a contract for 550 000 marks for the purchase of 36 models of the new car with 35 hp engine only to see his daughter name on this car. The new engine was named Daimler-Mercedes engine containing like this only the name of the developer and Mercedes.

Very soon after that he made a deal for another 36 models but of another series - with 8 hp engines. After that on a higher price he was able to sell these models on the market in USA, Belgium, France and Austria-Hungary and that quickly made him be one of the biggest sellers of cars for that time.

Of course the name of his daughter Mercedes kept on showing on new models of automobiles like "Mercedes 35 hp". Jellinek's obsession by the name Mercedes grow up and he even change his own name to Jellinek-Mercedes. For eight years Jellinek took place in the meetings of the board of directors of Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft from 1901 to 1909 but he retired from any activities linked to automobiles because of his diplomatic appointments.

In 1924 the two big companies DMG and Benz & Cie. finally began cooperating but due to World War I and the problems with the German economy in that time they were able to merge two years after that in 1926 and they used the name Daimler-Benz AG. Of course the name Mercedes was not lost. They began production of tracks and automobiles and they used the name Mercedes-Benz for them. From the part of Daimler they got the name Mercedes and Benz was from the part of the ex company Benz & Cie. A clause of the merging agreement compelled the two companies to stay together until 2000.

They focused on creating land models of vehicles but they also made engines for boats and planes for both civil and military organizations. They was able to make even Zeppelins powered by their engines and soon after that in 1929 Karl Benz died.

The company's most efforts were on creating limousine models and their glory is known today for that. Still they made some sport models like the early model of SSK designed by Ferdinand Porsche. Another product is the amazing Mercedes-Benz 300SL. With its gull-wing doors it was an interesting view.

Of course Mercedes-Benz made less expensive cars for the general public too. In Stuttgart they were able to create and test the Volkswagen models in cooperation with Porsche. Before that car a model called A-Class came in production. It is a small family car and maybe because of this the popular name of that car is Baby Benz. The first generation of Baby Benz was created in 1997 and years after that after redesign it appeared again in 2004.

The History of Mercedes

More information on Mercedes Parts And Accessories

Flight Simulator Games Help Parents Uncover Hidden Treasures

2011-07-02T19:50:00.001-07:00

Computer games can keep people entertained for hours and a well constructed game can maintain this interest over weeks, months and even years. A game that can provide these benefits without the need to rely on violence or adult themes is the dream of most parents. Flight simulator games can provide entertainment and exposure to essential academic subjects. The skills developed and exposure to this subject matter can stimulate life changing discoveries. This article will explore the treasures embedded in the flight simulator games and the benefits that are particularly valuable to students.

Flight simulator games provide a realistic re-creation of taking control of an actual aircraft. The simulation is so real that actual pilots frequently use them to practice. Student pilots use the games to practice in order to avoid plane rental and fuel costs.

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The game is based on the use of actual locations and planes. A player is able to select from over 100 planes which range from single engine planes such as you may see flying over your neighborhood to the large commercial planes that you may use to take that special vacation. Military jets are included in the fleet and provide speed, maneuverability and additional excitement to the mix.

With over 20,000 replications of airports, you are sure to find one near your home or select from anywhere in the world.

There is a vast array of tutorials available in the game that allows the player to learn the fundamentals necessary to fly the selected plane. As a player gains experience there is exposure to many skills and subject matters that are not typical of many games, such as

Mathematics

Sciences

Geography

In this article the emphasis is on students and the benefits that they receive from exposure to the game. It is my sincere belief that the learning ability of children is extremely high as seen by their ability to learn things that they are interested in, be it the latest song on the radio or some poem or story that they are exposed to. They are able to comprehend complex tasks that continue to amaze us almost every day. Once that spark of interest is ignited, they will do whatever necessary to master that subject.

Once a person is comfortable with a subject they can excel in it.

Take mathematics for example.

It may be of interest to calculate how far the plane can travel or how long the plane can fly based on the amount of fuel onboard.

It may be of interest to calculate the amount of cargo or weight that the plane can carry and this involves knowing the weight of the fuel on board.

It may be of interest to determine the angle of accent to reach cruise altitude, even determine how long it will take to reach that altitude.

It may be of interest to determine the compass direction necessary to reach the destination and in some cases the correction that is needed to correct for magnetic variations in some locations.

It becomes necessary to compensate for cross winds that may blow the plane off course.

It is possible to calculate the effects of head or tail winds.

While flying it is necessary to keep an eye on various parameters in order to stay flying.

All of these things are frequently done by a pilot however the knowledge gained from the familiarity with numbers can be transferred to academic proficiency and this is where the true treasure is found, improved excellence in academic pursuits involving mathematics and or science. These skills will be highly valued in the ability to secure a high paying job as the job market becomes more technical. This is one of the greatest gifts that a parent can provide for a child.

Flight Simulator Games Help Parents Uncover Hidden Treasures

J Clifton has studied how people develop an interest in subjects which in turn allow them to excel in those areas. Discover how flight simulator games provide hours of fun and at the same time spark that interest. Explore http://myflightsimulatorguide.com to uncover the secrets.

Pre Towing Checklist - Perform This List Before Every Time You Tow Your Trailer

2011-07-01T16:46:00.001-07:00

One of the goals in every trip with your trailer is to get there and back without any problems. If you stick to a simple check list before you leave, you can eliminate many problems that might occur.

If you have been on an air flight recently you probably saw the pilot walking around the plane. He's not a mechanic, but he knows what to look for before every trip. You can do the same thing and you do not need to be a trailer specialist.

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It was once said that an expert is anyone who lives 50 miles away, or more recently if you stayed in a Holiday Inn Express! So if you tow your trailer more than 50 miles, you to can be an expert at keeping problems away from your trip.

Before every trip and at every gas stop, walk around your trailer and look for the obvious. Is the coupler on correctly, are the chains or cables connected, is the boat or cargo tied down.

Verify that the coupler or actuator is properly seated on the hitch ball. Make sure the latch is closed and the safety pin is in place .Some couplers/actuators provide a place to pin or lock the latch, newer designs have a safety pin that actually locks the coupler latch in place regardless of what happens to the latch. Check the wiring and light connections. Check all the lights on the tow vehicle and the trailer. Turn on the running lights, turn signals, warning flashers and brake lights. All lights should be bright and work in tandem with the tow vehicle. Replace any non working lamps before you leave on your trip. Check each tire for the proper pressure. Look for excessive wear or cracks in the rubber. Most tire problems stem from under inflation. Trailer tires typically require 40 lbs, 50 lbs or even higher air pressure. Many people assume that the trailer tires use the same pressure as auto tires at 28-36 lbs, not so. On the sidewall of the tire, you can find the recommended pressure. Now is the time to buy a .00 tire gauge and keep it in the tow vehicle. Remember to check the spare tire on the trailer. Tires loose pressure over time, so check often. Properly inflated tires will save you money over the life of the trailer. Check all tie down straps if towing a boat. A heavy boat can bounce up and down on the trailer and create problems. Pictures of boats sitting in the middle of the highway are numerous on the internet. If you do not have a safety chain on the front bow eye and are relying totally on the winch strap, install a safety chain today. It should go from the bow eye to the base of the bow stand. If you are towing an enclosed trailer check all the doors and windows. Are they closed and locked? If towing a boat or open trailer, is everything tied down to keep it from blowing out? Check the license plate. Is it current? Is the plate securely attached to the trailer? Check all the u-bolts and fasteners. Make sure none appear loose. Is your trailer being towed in a level position? An un-level trailer can lead to fishtailing, excessive tire wear, reduced braking power and damage to the trailer. Re-load the wheel hub bearings with grease. Most trailers today come with some form of grease injection system for the hubs and bearings. The names SuperLube, PosiLube, and SureLube, refer to a "reload" system that fills the hub cavity with new grease as it pushes out the old grease. Buddy Bearings and Trailer Buddy refer to "cap fill" systems. For information and maintenance steps on these systems, click here. Finally, just before you are about to start the tow vehicle and drive away, turn off the ignition key, get out of the vehicle and check the coupler one more time! You would be surprised how many trailers come off the hitch ball because the trailer is not properly attached. If you do a lot of towing, it is possible to think you checked the coupler, when in fact you are remembering some other time you checked it. Distractions like cell phones, kids, spouses and neighbors, it is easy to walk away from an unfinished coupler to hitch ball.

If going on a long trip, repeat your check list at each gas stop. Just like the pilots do for every leg of their flight.

Pre Towing Checklist - Perform This List Before Every Time You Tow Your Trailer

Article by Chris Turner

http://www.towingsource.com/

[http://www.towingsource.com/towing/tow_checklist.php]

Cargo Planes Or Ships For International Shipping

2011-06-30T07:26:00.001-07:00

There is a growing trend in the Untied States in which people whose jobs went overseas are following the jobs and moving to other countries in order to keep their families together and make a decent living. If this is the case, and a family is leaving America for another country, either for a job or to retire, then they will need international shipping for all their worldly belongings.

Additionally, there are many rules and regulations that shippers through international waters and airspaces need to abide by in order to cross the borders. One example is some countries will not allow a freight carrier to pack and ship liquids of any kind. This includes bath soaps, dish soaps, baby formula, lotions, liquid medications or liquor. Other countries will not allow certain liquids such as liquor or medications but will allow the others. It is best to check with the freight company as to what is acceptable before packing for a move across the ocean.

Military Cargo Plane

In order to save time, some people who are moving to another country will ship the items they use most often, such as clothing, personal hygiene items, their computer and perhaps a few cooking items through the postal carrier or another shipping company in order to have the things they use everyday with them until the rest of their stuff arrives. Many of the bigger items, like beds, dressers, television, desk, carpets and such, might go on a cargo ship and take weeks to arrive at a new home in another country.

There are several different methods of shipping a household full of items to another country. There is a cargo ship or freight carrier that crosses the ocean with semi-truck container filled with a family's belongings and there is also extremely large cargo planes that can hold pallets filled with boxes of items that have been secured so that they will not slip around during the flight.

A freight or cargo shipper could also arrange to ship the family vehicle so that they will not have to purchase a new one once they arrive at their new home; however, their car may have to have some adjustments made in order to be 'legal' in the new country. An individual would need to check with the countries vehicle registration department for further information. Motorcycles and mopeds are other popular modes of transportation in many different countries and may also need some minor alterations to be street legal in the new country.

Boats and recreational vehicles could also be shipped through a cargo ship or a large freight plane. The people who do this type of shipping know how to tie down the vehicles so that they don't move during transport and each one will arrive at their destination in the same condition as they left the US in.

Many families want to ship their appliances to their new home in a new country and this poses a slight problem although it is easily fixed. Most European countries have a different electrical outlet system then the Untied States and there are adaptor plugs sold at all the grocers and market in the new country as well as the major department stores in the Untied States. A computer would also need a special adaptor and the Internet services are a little different than that of the US.

There are several factors that will determine the price of international shipping a household to another country. The state from which the items are leaving from, the country the items will be arriving, the manor in which they will be traveling and the amount of the cargo that will be traveling all play a role in the price package.

Cargo Planes Or Ships For International Shipping

Need a solution to your cross border shipping problems? Canada's largest courier company offers the perfect products and solutions for you. They have overnight shipping, air freight, and other services.

Jet Airplanes Today

2011-06-29T04:14:00.001-07:00

The 1930's invention of the jet engine led to an altogether new kind of airplane taking to the skies, one that could fly at breathtaking speeds, much faster than any of its propeller driven counterparts. Jet airplanes would go onto break the sound barrier, reaching speeds of 2,000 mph and above.

Broadly speaking, there are two different kinds of jet airplanes nowadays, those that are designed for commercial use, and those used by the military.

Military Cargo Plane

Commercial Jet Airplanes

These are the airplanes used by businesses and airlines to transport cargo, passengers and business executives all across the world.

Airliners

For everyday passengers, the jet age began in 1954 with the first ever flight of the Boeing 707. Catching on quickly, the 707 soon faced competition from the likes of the Douglas DC-8, and ever since then passengers have been travelling the world in jets. The two biggest manufacturers of airliners today are Boeing and Airbus from France. Boeing's most popularly used planes include the 737, 747, 757 and 767. Meanwhile, Airbus have proven to be a serious competitor with their A320, A330, A340 and now the brand new A380.

Business Jets

These are small or medium sized jet planes which allow rich executives and anyone else with enough cash to fly around the world on a whim. Some of the best known business class jet manufactures include Cessna, Dassault, Leer and Gulfstream.

Cargo Jets

Used to transport goods around the world, cargo jets have led to a rapid opening-up of trade in many countries in the world, thanks to their efficiency in transporting products quickly and safely. Made up of mostly passenger airliners that are converted to cargo carriers once they have been replaced from their human load-carrying duties, the most common cargo planes include B737's and B747's.

Military Jet Airplanes

Used by militaries across the world since their rapid development during World War II, these jets are essential for modern warfare.

Attack Jets and Fighter Jets

These are the glamour girls of the jet airplane world. Fighter jets such as the F-15, F-16, F-18 and the F-22 dominate the skies with their skills in air to air combat, being able to fly deep into enemy territory and drop devastating payloads or blow their targets from the sky. Modern fighter jets incorporate highly advanced technology that enables them to perform amazing maneuvers and fly at supersonic speeds.

Bomber Jets

Bomber jets are almost relics of a bygone era, having first been developed in World War II, they have changed little in design or concept since that time. The exception is the Stealth Fighter Bomber, an anti-radar airplane that can go anywhere in the world and appear invisible.

Specialty Jets

This covers an array of the more unusual aircraft employed by militaries across the world. They are used for specific missions and purposes where other types of aircraft simply don't suit, such as spy missions or reconnaissance. The U-2 unmanned plane is probably the most famous example of this type of plane. Meanwhile, planes such as the T-38 and T-45 are used by the USAF for pilot training.

Jet Airplanes Today

Author: Andrew Berrey, webmaster and site owner of http://www.flightbytes.co a video and media sharing website for aviation enthusiasts. Upload your videos for free or just have a look at all the other videos. We also have articles on the site and we are always adding fresh content for all our members. Membership is free and so is uploading your videos.

The GPS Mount- Secure Navigation

2011-06-28T03:03:00.001-07:00

GPS, or global positioning systems, have been around since the 1970s, when the US Department of Defense established a program using a group of twenty-one satellites to track the locations of their targets and send the information to military receivers. In the ensuing three decades, GPS technology has been adapted for civilian use, and is now widely available to the public. Commercially available GPD receivers can range in price to about 0 for a handheld unit to more than 000 for the geodetic receivers used to measure the motion of the Earth and other natural phenomena.

Most people are familiar with GPS technology as the navigations system now available in many automobiles. But all vehicular GPS units, whether they are in cars, planes, boats, or even on motorcycles, have one thing in common: their GPS mounts. A GPS mount acts as a shock absorber and is essential to the accurate functioning of GPS receivers.

Military Cargo Plane

What A GPS Mount Does

The GPS mount secures the GPS receiver so that its screen is easily readable even while the vehicle is in motion. A GPS mount is equipped with locking suction cups to attach it securely to a smooth surface, while its cushioned pads prevent the surface from damage. The suction cups will release easily when a button on the mount is pushed.

When choosing the best GPS mount for your vehicle, you'll have to take several things into consideration. The mount should attach securely to your vehicle surface and its arms should to your GPS receiver. It should neither shake loose from your vehicle nor be unable to hold the weight of the GPS unit it is meant to secure.

Features To Look For In A GPS Mount

If you're an off-roader, you'll be especially concerned with the durability of you GPS mount and its ability to cushion your GPS unit from the jarring that comes with travels over rugged terrain.

Your GPS mount, when the GPS unit is added, should allow the driver to view the GPD information without having it block his vision of the road in any direction. So it has to be the correct height.

GPD mount kits are available with tilt and rotational capabilities, so that the vehicle's operator can read their screens from any position. Some of them may have speakers for GPS receivers with Bluetooth, and some have battery chargers. A GPS mount can cost anywhere from ten to over three hundred dollars, depending on its technology.
The Garmin Mobile 20 GPS, for instance, is an automotive GPS tracking system [http://www.gpssystemsreview.com/Articles/GPS_Tracker.php] which provides information via Nokia smart phones, and its GPS mount is actually a mobile phone cradle with Bluetooth tooth capability into which a GPS receiver has been built. This GPS mount can actually provide voice directions so that the driver does not need to read the screen. The Garmin Mobile 20 lists for 9.00.

The GPS Mount- Secure Navigation

You can also find more info on GPS Portable [http://www.gpssystemsreview.com/Articles/GPS_Portable.php] and GPS Systems [http://www.gpssystemsreview.com/Articles/GPS_Systems.php]. Gpssystemsreview.com is a comprehensive resource to know about GPS System.

Pets in the Cabin With Dirt Cheap Airline Tickets

2011-06-23T04:03:00.001-07:00

Flying with dirt cheap airline tickets while carrying your pet with you in the cabin may be a difficult task. This is because the majority of low cost airline companies won't permit you to take your pet along with you in the passenger's cabin.

For instance if you want to fly with AerArann, Aer Lingus, EasyJet, FlyBe, RyanAir, Sky Europe and Zoom you could carry a pet but only in the cargo area of the airplane as baggage, a solution that a lot of caring pet owners find unsuitable. Some low cost airline companies that will allow you to have your pet near are Air Berlin, Allegiant Air, BMI and Jet Blue. All of them, anyway, will accept only small dogs and cats, and all of them exclude other kinds of pets, like birds or snakes.

Military Cargo Plane

Please be aware that, anyway, even for those companies that don't accept any pet in the passenger's cabin, there is the strict rule to accept a dog that is servicing has seeing-eye, at least one for any flight. The reason for this exception is because a service animal is not to be considered as a pet but a worker assisting a person with inabilities. The FAA also rules that no health certificate must be required for service animals.

In fact to let a pet on a plane it is usually necessary to fill some kind of certificates, like a veterinary certificate, or an acclimation certificate that will be needed if traveling in extreme heat or cold conditions. Also consider that if you don't fly domestic routes, there will possibly a need of a quarantine, which duration will differ from country to country.

If you must be absolutely sure that no pet will be on a plane which you are considering to buy a ticket for, if you are allergic to dander for instance, you should call the company to ask if there is some passenger has made reservations for a pet or a service animal.

When you have found a company that satisfy you both in the terms of cheap airline tickets and for the permission to carry a pet along with you, you have to know that there are some rules that apply to your pet container. The most widely adopted rules are:

* Your pet crate has to be small enough to fit underneath the seat in front of you without blocking anyone trail to the main walkway and its basement has to be waterproof.

* Your pet container must be accurately stowed before the last passenger entry door to the airplane is closed for the airplane to leave the gate.

* Your pet container must remain accurately stowed the entire time the airplane is moving on the airport surface, and for take off and landing.

* You must follow flight attendant instructions regarding the proper stowage of your pet container.

In brief:

- Be aware that not all companies offering dirt cheap airline tickets will let your pet with you in the cabin.
- Service animals do not fall in the pet category and thanks to their special status they can fly in the passenger cabin and don't have to be confined in a cage or a container.
- If you have allergies check if the company you want to fly with allows pets in the cabin.
- Pet carriers have to submit to the general rules of carry-on baggages and to some specific ones.

So in the end if you look well and you have a bit of luck you can have both dirt cheap airline tickets and you pet in the cabin.

Pets in the Cabin With Dirt Cheap Airline Tickets

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Dayton, Ohio - Wright-Patterson AFB Air Museum and the Wright Brothers at Huffmann Field

2011-06-21T22:02:00.001-07:00

Dayton, Ohio is the home of the United States Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Housed in three hangers, the museum traces air force aviation from the Wright Brothers to present time. With over three hundred planes and rockets and thousands of memorabilia, four hours of visitation just scratches the surface. We went inside the cargo hold of a C-124 transport and got lost in the immense size of the plane. We did not go to the IMAX Theater, which shows three different movies related to flight. We also did not go on the virtual flight simulator, similar to other rides at amusement parks. We did, however, take the shuttle to two other hangers about one mile away. One hanger houses the Air Force One planes of FDR, Eisenhower, Truman, and Kennedy. We went inside them. It was interesting how the interiors developed in twenty years. The Kennedy plan also features the area of LBJ's swearing in ceremony and the space where JFK's casket rested on the flight back to DC. The other hanger housed experimental aircraft. The most impressive one was the North American Valkieryie; a long needle nosed swept wing beauty, which could reach the speed of Mach 3.1.

Back to the main museum. To get tickets to the shuttle you go through the museum store and turn left. A man is stationed there who will check your photo ID, have you fill out a form and give you a ticket with the departure time. Because the other hangers are on WPAFB, security is pretty tight. Many of the visitors were retired airforce personnel, who were busy taking pictures of the aircraft. Smaller planes were tucked under the wings of the larger ones, like mother birds guarding their young. Others were suspended from the ceiling. Everywhere you looked were airplanes. The only ones missing were from the US Navy. They have to have a museum somewhere too.

Military Cargo Plane

On the base too is Huffmann Field, where the Wright Brothers perfected their airplane. In Dec 1903 they flew the first powered air machine, but were unable to turn. They spent the next two years perfecting their invention at Huffmann Field and in October 1905 they produced the first fully operational aircraft. The field has many kiosks and a rebuilt derrick for their catapult and a hanger.

We drove to the University of Dayton on the advice of my sister. She said that there was a beautiful collection of painting of the Madonna by a ninety-three year old Polish woman. We were a few days late. It had been taken down and sent back to Poland. They did have some prints for sale and a booklet, in which were the poems upon which the paints were based. On the seventh floor of the UD library is one of the largest educational and research centers on Mary, the Mother of Jesus.

Dayton, Ohio - Wright-Patterson AFB Air Museum and the Wright Brothers at Huffmann Field

John Pelley is a Geriatric Gypsy. He is retired from the rat race of working. He is a full-time RVer, who ran away from home. He began our travels on the East Coast and, like the migrating birds, seek the warmth of the seasons He has discovered volunteering with the National Park System. He has a CD he has recorded of Native American flute music., A Day with Kokopelli. For pictures, links, and more information visit http://www.jmpelley.org.

Fear of Flying and How to Overcome It

2011-06-19T01:20:00.001-07:00

Do you have a fear of flying? Here are some tips so that you can overcome your fear of flying. In today's fast-paced environment, every one of us has to travel by plane for business or for personal reasons, some time or the other in our lives even if we detest and are utterly scared of flying. Stagecoaches are old fashioned. Ships are outdated except when they are used to transport cargo. And trains, though still in vogue, may be on their way out in certain places. Besides, you can't let an assignment wait because you are afraid of flying. If you do that you might lose a valuable client and with it, a valuable contract and along with that, your job whether you are working in a company or whether you are managing your own business.

So if you have a fear of flying, what you have to do is not to avoid flying but to overcome your dread and fear of flying. Here is how you go about it.

Military Cargo Plane

• Take the Bull By the Horns - Board A Flight: Consider taking a flight for your next vacation. If you are on a business assignment, ask your secretary to book a flight ticket for you. If you are running your own business this should not be a problem. But if you are an employee in a company, you'll get an air ticket only if you are a high ranking officer. In any case, do not shun flying. That will not help you to surmount your fear of flying. Try to board a plane for fulfilling an assignment, for closing a deal or if your objective is to enjoy the sun, sea and sand.

• Fly Light: Do not carry much luggage with you. Try to go for a short trip. At the most, you can carry one hand luggage and one main luggage, which will go into the cargo hold of the plane.

• Ensure that You Have Time: Check in, into the airport a couple of hours before departure so that there is enough time for security and baggage checks. Reaching the airport at the last moment can add to your anxiety and fear of flying if security personnel take long to get you through, choose to frisk you thoroughly.

• Follow Airport Instructions: Start walking towards the departure gate as soon as you hear the announcement made by airport officials that instructs passengers sitting in the departure lounge to walk towards the departure terminal. Get into the bus that will drive you to your plane or get into the aerobridge attached to the deck of the plane.

• Smile: Smile at the airhostess or flight steward who will greet you as soon as you board the plane. Smiling will make you feel lighter, happier and will help you to disperse your fear of flying.

• Avoid Flying Off the Handle: Try to find your seat yourself or ask a flight steward or an airhostess to direct you to your seat. Sitting on the wrong seat can lead to unnecessary scuffles with other passengers and can demoralize you before your flight takes off. I must warn you of one thing beforehand. Air travelers are not very well-behaved people.

• Your Fears are Baseless: Sit back and relax. You can pray a little if you want. But it is not compulsory because the plane WILL NOT CRASH. Remember one thing. The probability of an air crash is extremely low. But air crashes, whenever they happen, are blown out of proportion and are exaggerated into interesting media accounts and movies. In reality, the probability of a car or road or railway accident is much higher than the probability of an air crash. If you are that apprehensive on a plane, you should be even more apprehensive when driving a car or riding a train or when you are walking on the street. Because real statistics show that accidents on the road are not only far more likely than accidents in air but also that the total number of road accidents across the world exceed the total number of global air accidents by hundreds of thousands! So there is no substantial basis behind your fear of flying!

• Don't Panic: When the plane starts moving, don't get panicky. Tie your seat belt properly. If you are a first time flyer, let me tell you that tying your seat belt is the easiest thing in the world. You just have to take one end, put it around your waist, and fit it into the locker of the other end. You will hear a 'click' when that happens. Ask a steward or an airhostess to show you the way if you start fumbling. In any case, flight attendants tell you how to put on your seat belt while they are explaining the emergency exits to you. And besides, it is also mentioned in the chart (we shall deal with that in the next point). Accept the scented towel that the airhostess gives you and press it close to your face. The smell of the perfume in the tissue or the towel is so captivating that it will distract you from your fear of flying.

• Relax; it is Just a Routine Matter: Try to look at the flight attendant while they are instructing you on emergency exits. A chart will be given to you regarding emergency exits, oxygen masks, how you will tie your seat belt, what to do in case of an emergency, etc. This chart will be in the pocket that is fixed to the back of the seat in front of you. You can refer to the chart while following the airhostess's instructions. But let me tell you that this is a routine procedure. The purpose of the chart is not to augment your fear of flying. DO NOT MISINTERPRET THE AIRHOSTESS'S INSTRUCTIONS AS A WARNING AGAINST IMMINENT DANGER. Do not ever assume that you have to be extremely well-versed with the instructions because your plane will crash. NO. YOUR PLANE WILL NEVER CRASH. It is just a procedure that the flight attendants have to tell you about, so that you are prepared if the worst comes to the worst. God forbid, that will never happen to you. So you can follow what the airhostess is saying if you want to or just casually glance at the chart. However, if you are a heart patient or suffer from asthma or breathing problems, you should know how to install the oxygen mask at a moment's notice. But this i.e., your problem of requiring oxygen if you are a heart or an asthma patient, is something you would have to be alert about even if you are traveling in the hills, or by car or by train. It has nothing to do with traveling in air or an air crash.

• Be at Ease: Rest back. In any case, while taking off, the plane will compel you to rest backwards. Do not gaze out of the window. If you are prone to jitters, you might get butterflies in your stomach if you stare out of the window.

• Taking Off: Every plane starts moving in the same manner before taking off. It starts to run on its wheels on the tarmac very slowly at first until it comes to the final stretch of runway. Here, the plane accelerates until it starts racing down the runway at a speed of about 400 to 500 miles per hour. Trees whiz past and the tarmac starts disappearing. The very atmosphere outside becomes filmy before a sudden jerk tells you that you have been lifted into the air at an acute angle. The plane tilts heavily. At this point, it is advisable for people like you not to glance out of the window because you might feel giddy. In any case, the fast disappearing city and airport beneath will all appear to you to be slanted and will make you feel dizzy unless you are a seasoned flyer. Even seasoned, daredevil flyers with no fear of flying feel sick at this point of time. This is because the sudden jump into the air is accompanied by a change of air pressure within the plane that tends to make lots of passengers want to vomit. So, just shut your eyes and wait patiently until the plane starts flying horizontally and normally. Again let me repeat, there is nothing to be frightened of. The nausea and the whirring in your ears are things you will get accustomed to, soon enough. And in any case, if you feel like throwing up, it does not mean that the plane will crash. You can always vomit into the airbag fixed to the pocket in front of you.

• Medicines to Take On the Fly: I have advised many people who suffer from the 'fear of flying' syndrome to swallow a digestive-cum-anti-dizziness tablet before embarking on an airplane journey. It helps to quell the feeling of nausea when you are taking off. Different brands of prochlorperazine generally suffice for this purpose. Prochlorperazine is sold in different nations under different brand names such as Compazine, Stemetil, Stemzine, Buccastem, and Phenotil. Any one of them will do. But do not buy medicines off the counter. Please ask your doctor before you purchase any medicine that will help you to restrain nausea when you are flying. He or she will probably prescribe you one of the five brands mentioned above but you must ask him or her before you buy the stuff.

• The Lighter You Are, the Better You Can Fly: I also advise people to eat lightly before they board a plane. If you have had a heavy meal, there is more chance that you will feel sick while flying than if you have had a light meal. As the plane speeds through the atmosphere amidst clouds and with fluctuating air pressure, you might feel some churning in your stomach if you have eaten a heavy meal before getting into the plane. Also, take some cotton wads with you so that you can plug your ears with them when taking off. Lots of folks cannot stand the whirring in the ears that they suffer when there is a sudden alteration in air pressure, when the plane is taking off. You can also ask the flight attendants for cotton but it is better you take them with you so that you do not have to wait for the attendant to get you a piece of cotton.

• Fly High with Music: Music is a great healer. It can also help you to conquer your fear of flying. As soon as the plane starts flying in the air normally, take out the cotton and put the headphone instead to your ears. How will you know that the plane is flying normally? As soon as there is an announcement from the cockpit telling you that you may unfasten your seatbelts, you will know that the plane has begun to fly normally. This announcement comes typically 15 to 20 minutes after the plane has started its motion. Most airplanes provide headphones to their passengers nowadays. So instead of sitting and staring blankly into space, make use of the headphones. Listen to your favorite numbers, tracks and albums and forget that you are hanging in mid air. Listen to Mozart's sonatas and symphonies, Beethoven's symphonies or the beats of Elvis, Abba, Enrique, and Britney to keep your terrors at bay.

• Watch TV: Most international flights come with TV facilities. So, you can easily watch the film that is being shown on the main TV screen hanging in front of you, a few seats ahead, or watch your own TV that is attached to the back of the seat in front of you. Planes nowadays have become havens for movie buffs. You can watch any film that you want while flying because TV sets in planes are loaded with films of every genre and type.

• Bon Appetit, Bon Voyage: Eating while flying will definitely wipe away your fear of flying. Remember, I said that it is not recommended that you board a plane immediately after eating a heavy meal as this can give you airsickness? But there is no harm in eating once you are aboard. In fact, meals served in airplanes are strictly light so that passengers don't feel like vomiting or going to the bathroom too often. Eating, at the best of times, is a great pastime. And it is all the more pleasurable in a plane as there is nothing much for you to do there. So, look forward to your meals with appetite and gusto. I can tell you that airplane food is delicious. Whether it is breakfast, lunch, snacks or dinner that they serve you, it is yummy and delectable and will erase your fears of flying away. I have coached many people who had deep-seated fears of flying. I told them to forget about dieting and weight problems while flying and to eat heartily as eating is the best therapy for such people. Sure enough, all of them have overcome their fears of flying, initially, by eating well on planes and finally, through intense counseling and frequent flying. Eating a good and tasty meal can really be entertaining. You can stick your headphones to your ears while you are munching your sausage, bacon, ham, or potato chips but I suggest that since eating is a better therapy than listening to music, remove your headphones during your meal and eat wholeheartedly. Food is always served neatly on flights in little packed trays where the cereal (bread or rice or noodles), the meat, and the dessert are given in separate containers. Cutlery comes in another additional little pack. Airplane food is served this way so that passengers find it convenient to handle the food when they place the trays on the flexible tabletops while they eat. Flexible tabletops may be unscrewed from the back of the seat in front so that you can place your tray of food on the tabletop. You can ask the flight attendants for juices and cold drinks as you eat. Alcohol and energy drinks are also served on international flights, but I do not recommend them. They might affect you adversely and then you might attribute your uneasiness in the air to your fear of flying instead of the alcohol. Enjoy the taste of the rice or the soft bread or the steak or the fish to the full and forget everything about what may happen if you crash land. Drink your fruit juice or soft drink to the lees and celebrate life!

Remember flying is all about celebrating life, not thinking of disaster and death. The airplane is an answer to one of humankind's oldest cravings, the craving to fly like a bird, the craving to go places in a short time, the yearning to master the skies, the desire to prove that humans are the most resourceful and powerful animals on Earth. So enjoy every moment of your flight by gorging on scrumptious food, listening to heavenly music and watching blockbuster cinema and reading magazines.

• When You Fly, Time Flies: Whether your flight is a two-hour, a four-hour, a six-hour, or a twelve-hour flight, you'll find that time flies while you are in the air. The longer your flight, the more chance you'll have to eat mouthwatering food and listen to lovely music and watch all time great movies. Snacks are always sumptuous experiences beginning with tea, coffee, cakes and sandwiches and ending with ice creams. Flying at night can be a peaceful experience. Most of the lights in the plane are switched off except for the night lamps and blankets are distributed so that you can sleep comfortably. Some watch movies through the night. But I would advise you to sleep and relax. There is nothing to be tense about, nothing to worry about. Besides, dying in your sleep can be the best way to die. Hey! Hope you didn't take that one seriously. Just pulling your leg. What I mean is that sleep is good for you. It can assuage all your fears of flying. Do not be anxious. You will always wake up alive and kicking and relaxed and in no other state but this. Sometimes, even if you want to take a nap, your sleep may be cut short. This happens when flight attendants serve food through the night. Some find this thrilling and some find this disturbing. But there are planes that really want you to have a good time while flying and so they serve food through the night - dinner, supper, beverages, drinks, snacks.....and breakfast. Another reason why you may not be allowed your beauty sleep when you are flying is when you have to stop at an airport in between to catch a connecting flight. This often happens when you are flying across continents. You might have to stop at the Dubai International Airport to take a connecting flight if you are flying from Asia to Europe or at an European airport in order to board a connecting flight if you are flying from Asia to the Americas. This disruption can cause a break in sleep but do not lose patience. You can take forty winks as soon as you board your connecting flight unless the flight attendants on the connecting flight start serving you food too.

• It is Not the Time to Worry When You Are on Cloud Nine: Lots of people get alarmed when their planes cut across clouds. If the plane is going to pass through a mass of clouds, you will be informed of it in advance through announcements from the cockpit. You will be told to sit in your seat and have your seatbelt on so that you don't lose balance and fall while the plane is slashing forward through a cloud. There is no need to tremble and quake while your plane is bumping through a cloud. Flying through masses of wooly clouds is an everyday thing for pilots though it might be new to you. All you have to do is to sit still in your seat and wait patiently to be out of the cloud. There is no reason for you to get the heebie-jeebies. Your plane will never crash whether it is in or out of the clouds.

• The Joy of Landing: Before touchdown, once again, you shall be asked to don your seatbelt. The plane will start losing height so you can have a prochlorperazine pill so that you do not feel the ill effects. Buildings, roads, trees and vehicles will gradually come into view like objects on a game board about half-an-hour before you land. But if you still have a fear of flying, do not look downwards. Just sit back and close your eyes in your seat during landing until you feel the wheels hit the ground suddenly and forcefully. For most people who have a fear of flying, this is a moment to cheer. When the wheels hit the tarmac, they almost always breathe a sigh of relief and open their eyes wide with confidence for the first time. Okay, quite natural. The funny thing is that while they hated to open their eyes when the plane was racing down the tarmac before taking off, they seem to love to open their eyes and stare at the trees whizzing past and the ground speeding by, once the plane has landed. I know that you too feel the same way and that you too shut and open your eyes in the same manner because you have a fear of flying. But if you have flown at least once, you will know that there is really no cause for alarm. All the same, I don't want to take away your fun when the plane finally lands, when the airhostess makes an announcement about the weather outside and hopes that you had a happy journey. I don't grudge the joy that you feel for having landed safely or laugh at you because you thanked the Lord for your safe journey because I guess that we should be thankful for the smallest things of life.

• Fear of Flying Graph: By the time, it is your second flight, you will become definitely more adventurous. By the third flight, you shall become confident. By the fourth flight, you might be able to help other passengers with their seatbelts. By the fifth flight, you may actually want to pursue a career in flying and piloting or regret not having been a pilot if you have passed the age. By your sixth flight, you will get so addicted to that soaring feeling that you shall actually begin to love flying. By the seventh flight, you will still feel heady but will start to find flying routine. By the eighth flight, you might get a trifle bored unless you eat or listen to music or watch TV constantly. By your ninth flight, flying will be a means by which you can relax between hectic conferences and meetings. And by your tenth flight, when you have shed the last traces of your fears of flying, flying will seem no different from your daily work, habits, etc.

Fear of Flying and How to Overcome It

Damien Ghosh is a prolific writer of articles that focus on technology, places, psychology and people. Damien has worked in different industries such as the information technology industry, the travel and tourism industry and the retail industry. He has worked in several projects for blue-chip companies, that are part of the IT, travel and tourism and retail industries. His work and his passion for traveling has made him journey across the world. He has led large work-teams to accomplish business goals successfully. He is also an expert on psychology and has many degrees and diplomas in clinical and business psychology. He has successfully coached, counseled and mentored several people in the various organizations he has worked as a professional HR manager and psychologist. He has also counseled many people by holding counseling sessions in different parts of the world. His counseling sessions have been very helpful for motivating people and for enabling them to identify and set their goals. His rich experience undoubtedly helps him to write extensively. Damien writes for magazines, the web and for newspapers. He has also done several research papers on motivation, goal-setting, and human psychology and has contributed chapters to textbooks that deal with human resource management, human resource development, business and industrial psychology and clinical psychology. His articles, chapters and papers have received lots of accolades from critics, professionals, psychologists, HR managers, industrialists, help-seekers and readers in general. Damien Ghosh's website is https://www.meetingdiary.com and his email is damienghosh@live.com.

Low Cost Airlines in India - Air India Airlines

2011-06-16T22:45:00.001-07:00

Air India was founded in 1932 as Tata Airlines, and became a public limited company and commercial airline in 1946. Following the Air Corporations Act of 1953, the Government nationalised the air transportation industry and Air India International Limited was born. 1960 will remain a historical landmark in Indian aviation, for that was the year that Air India flew its first international flight to New York via London.

A state-owned airline, Air India merged with Indian Airlines in 2007 to connect 146 domestic and international destinations on the world map, including 12 international gateways in India. These including flights to Delhi, flights to Mumbai, flights to London and flights to New York. Air India flights have received a 4-star rating from Skytrax Airline Quality Review, for cabin safety procedures, making it one of the safest, most trusted airlines in the world. Apart from safety features, Air India offers a range of luxuries and comforts onboard, with elegant interiors, personalized services, world-class in-flight cuisines, and extremely comfortable seats. The national carrier is also one of the most affordable airlines around, with amazing value-for-money fares to destinations across India and the world.

Military Cargo Plane

Air India's in-flight services are specially designed keeping in mind the tastes, preferences, and requirements of travellers from across the world, encompassing all ethnicities, religions, and medical conditions. This is evident in the variety of its in-flight meal menus that cater to everyone's tastes. The meals (vegetarian and non-vegetarian) are hygienically packed and prepared by reputed hotel chains such as the Ambassador Group, and the Taj Group, known for their exquisite quality of food. The variety of food served that caters to religious tastes includes special vegetarian meals (such as Jain meals), Muslim meals, as well as Kosher meals. Specially prepared meals for passengers with medical conditions and those who are exactingly health conscious include Low Sodium meals, and Diet meals, as well as fruit platters. There are even special meals available for children.

The most trusted name for flights to India, Air India is used by tourists, and business travellers the world over. With a well-established reputation for class, professionalism, and efficiency, Air India is the best choice for luxury in the sky at maximum value for your money. Air India's most popular services are cargo and full-service passenger flights to Delhi, as well as flights to Mumbai. Air India, Air India Flights, Flights to India, Flights to Delhi, Flights to Mumbai

Low Cost Airlines in India - Air India Airlines

Author is an associate editor of Airlines in India [http://www.cheapairlinedeals.in]. The website offers exclusive information of Air India and Air India Flights. We also provide information about online flight reservation for Flights to India.

An Excellent Guide to Miami Airport on Its History and Importance

2011-06-15T18:45:00.001-07:00

Miami Airport also referred to as Wilcox Field or MIA, will be the main international airport serving the southerly Florida region. The international airport is situated 8 miles north west of the town center of Miami.

Miami International Airport deals with travelers and freight flights to cities through the entire Americas and Europe, along with the Canary Island destinations off of the African shoreline, and cargo routes to Parts of Asia; it really is Florida's primary airport terminal for long-haul worldwide routes.

Military Cargo Plane

Miami Airport terminal will be the largest portal involving the USA and Latin America, and is probably the airborne hubs in the USA, because of its closeness to sightseeing attractions, neighborhood financial development, big local Latin American and European communities, and strategic location to take care of connecting traffic among the US, Latin America, and Europe.

In '09, the airport was positioned 1st in the USA by percent of flights and 2nd by the amount of intercontinental travellers, behind only JFK in New York. In '09, thirty three thousand passengers traveled in the international airport, making the intercontinental airport the 25th busiest airport in the entire world by passenger traffic. The airport terminal also has a high ranking, being the twelfth most popular airport terminal in the United States by yearly traveler throughout and it is the largest international airport in the state of Florida, surpassing Orlando with a small margin. The airport terminal also handled more intercontinental cargo than every other airport terminal in the USA.

The international airport was opened to flights in 1928 as Pan American Field, the operating base of Pan American Airways Corporation, within the north side on the modern day airport property.

In 1945, the state of Miami established a Port Authority and raised bond revenue to acquire the airport terminal, which in fact had on the other hand had been called the Thirty Sixth Street Airport from the Airline carrier Pan Am.

These days, Miami is America's biggest air shipping link, and forms the main connecting section of the airline's north-south focused intercontinental route network.

For quite some time, the intercontinental airport would be a typical connecting point for passengers travelling from European countries to Latin America. Nevertheless, further stringent visa demands for aliens in transit (a consequence, partly, from the Sept eleven, 2001 strikes) have lessened MIA's part as a possible global connecting hub, however it nevertheless continues to be the most crucial centre between European countries and Latin America.

If you are flying to Miami and going on holiday then you will need a hire car. It is such a big place and this will give you complete flexibility to travel. There are all the main car hire companies but go online and compare cheap car hire as this will give you the best deal. Please make sure when you use these sites that CDW is included as your trip could end up costing you a fortune.

An Excellent Guide to Miami Airport on Its History and Importance

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Miami Airport Car hire

Some Common Airline Rules to Follow

2011-06-14T11:40:00.001-07:00

Like every other activity, traveling comes with its own set of policies and standards. When traveling to a destination, there are many things that you should be aware of apart from rules of the destination. One of the most important things that you should know is the rules of airlines and customs beforehand. Familiarizing yourself with rules will not only help stay out of trouble but can protect you from getting into any type of trouble. A DUI lawyer or a DUI attorney might help you if you had been driving under the influence of drugs, medication or alcohol. But, how are you going to be saved if something goes wrong on the flight, which is entirely because of your carelessness in understanding the laws? Or what would you do if you lost your baggage while on the flight?

With a lot of fluctuation in the rules of different airlines, you need to be constantly aware of regulations as to what you can and what you cannot take onto an airplane, the various rules regarding children, or simply the amount of luggage to carry with yourself. It is always better to do your homework and check the set of laws for your airline before you leave so that you do not get caught at the security checkpoint. The following are some general rules defined by most of the airline authorities. However, it is recommended to check your particular airline rules and regulations before you start your journey. Read the following points to find out about some of the common rules and regulations of airlines:

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• Rules for children - All the airlines have a minimum and maximum age level for children, according to which they establish rules. Most of the airlines have a minimum age of five and maximum age of twelve. Similarly, a child less than the age of twelve has to travel accompanied by parents. Likewise, if a child is older than the maximum age level, special restrictions and requirements might be applicable while traveling. For instance, unaccompanied children are only allowed to travel in nonstop flights, or do an early check in, typically 90 to 120 minutes.

• Rules for pets - Nowadays, a variety of airlines let you take pets with you. You can either take them as checked baggage in the cargo, or as accompanied baggage in cabin. Many airlines also require a health certificate form the veterinarian. This document is verification that the pet has been examined thoroughly, and is in a good health to travel on an airplane. One important thing to keep in mind before traveling is the feeding timing of your pet. Try withholding food at least 4-6 hours before the flight, as this will prevent the pet from falling sick.

• Rules for cell phones - When you are on a flight, you are usually asked to turn your cell phone to airplane mode, which results in disabling the wireless communication on your phone. When your phone is on an airplane mode, you cannot send or receive messages, browse on the internet or make calls. This is due to the fact that radio signals could interfere with the communication system of the aircraft. However, you can carry on with activities like listening to music and playing games.

Some Common Airline Rules to Follow

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Air Line Tickets

2011-06-13T07:20:00.001-07:00

One may find surprises when buying air line tickets as to how many taxes and fees are added to ant travel ticket. There is a base fare that airlines decide to charge a passenger on a particular route depending upon air miles flown among other factors. But on the top of that there are many charges and fees and when add up at times show more than the base fare itself. Travelers have no choice except to pay all these in order to travel. Overbooked flights, long security lines and lost baggage and no frill services are additional headaches.

Air travel is taxing in more ways than passengers can possibly imagine. Travelers are paying a laundry list of taxes, fees and other surcharges often invisible even to the most seasoned traveler.

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Perhaps some of you are already aware that our nation's air transit system is financed primarily through federal excise taxes and other special charges that are collected from the airline passengers upon buying air line tickets. A smaller portion comes from airlines and freight carriers in the form of fuel and cargo taxes, and these costs also frequently are passed along to customers.

Here is the list of fees and charges one may be aware of:

1. A 7.5 percent federal levy is attached to every plane ticket. It is collected by the airlines and passed along to the I.R.S that deposits it in the Airport and Airway Trust Fund.

2. A separate Rural Airport Tax of 7.5 percent is assessed on flights that begin or end at rural airports, but those passengers then are exempt from the other ticket tax and the segment tax. Passengers traveling between the continental United States and Alaska or Hawaii pay an additional .50 in taxes.

3. The Passenger Flight Segment Tax, currently .40, is charged each time a passenger takes off and lands. Passengers on a nonstop may additional segment taxes.

4. Passenger facility charge - A local tax collected by airlines and paid directly to the airport where it's levied. It is charged and largely used for airport construction and other improvements. It might soon go up.

5. International arrival and departure taxes - The current tax is .10 per passenger on all flights departing for or arriving from foreign destinations. The fee is tied to the Consumer Price Index and has risen 12.7 percent over the past five years.

6. Security fees for Transportation Security Administration. This was created by Congress after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, these fees cost customers .50 per boarding, with a maximum per one-way trip, even with multiple segments.

7. Ticketing fee - the online sites or the consolidators may charge ranging from to on air line tickets

Air Line Tickets

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Aviation Programs Provide Opportunities For Those Fascinated By Flying

2011-06-11T21:20:00.001-07:00

Have you always had a love of flying? Do you dream of soaring above the clouds? A career in the field of aviation may just be your ticket to realizing your dreams and reaching your goals. Many colleges now offer programs in aviation that can lead to a multitude of different degrees. This means there are a vast number of career opportunities available to you, both in the sky and on the ground.

The first career that most people imagine when they consider an aviation program is pilot. Whether it is for a commercial airline or a smaller, private company, a degree from an aviation program can help you on your way to piloting a plane. Most schools also offer class credit hours for the flight training hours required for a commercial pilot license. This is a good way to save money and accomplish two tasks at once.

Military Cargo Plane

Your career choices aren't limited to piloting planes with a degree from an aviation program. You may be more interested in the technical aspects of flight. One career path in this area of interest is air traffic control and navigation. As an air traffic controller, you will ensure the safety of pilots, crew, passengers, and cargo by assisting planes in all aspects of flight, including takeoff, navigation, and landing.

Another technical oriented job in the aviation industry is aircraft maintenance and repair. Planes are in need of constant inspection and maintenance to ensure the safety of everyone involved in the process of air travel. If you have a knack for diagnosing and fixing problems of a mechanical nature, an aviation program can help you turn that natural talent into a rewarding career.

Maybe your talents lean more to the artistic or construction side of aviation. Designing and constructing planes is another career area that you may choose to pursue with a degree from an aviation program. With the greater understanding of flight that can be obtained through an aviation program, you can be on your way to a career in aircraft design or construction.

If you are interested in helping others while living your dreams of flying, you might be interested in a career as a flight attendant. This customer service oriented job is also available to you through a degree from an aviation program. From providing information to ensure passenger safety to providing meals to those passengers, flight attendants are essential to any successful trip through the skies.

Of course, accidents do sometimes happen, and when they involve a plane, it is especially important that they are dealt with quickly and efficiently. Emergency rescue services are an integral part of every airport staff. They are the first on the scene when an airplane has any type of difficulty in takeoff or landing, providing immediate assistance to passengers, pilot, and crew.

Aviation Programs Provide Opportunities For Those Fascinated By Flying

You can see that the career choices presented here require a wide variety of skills and talents. These and countless other careers can be open to you through a degree from an aviation program or through online aviation school. Why not take a closer look and see if there is a career in the aviation industry that interests you? Remember that online college will allow you to have a more flexible schedule!

Which Are the Biggest and Busiest Airports in the World?

2011-06-10T18:40:00.001-07:00

Airports Council International defines the world's busiest airports in terms of airport traffic, includes Passengers traffic, Cargo traffic and Traffic movements. The Biggest Airport in the World taken as, which take up the most land mass. The King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is the world's biggest airport as it takes up an area of 81 square miles, an area larger than many cities. The second biggest airport in the world is Denver International, which takes up 53 square miles. By comparison, London Heathrow airport takes up around 3,000 acres, or just 4.7 square miles.

The Busiest Airport in the World, depends upon the fact that whether you are monitoring aircraft movements (total numbers of take-offs and landings per day) or numbers of passengers. Movements and passenger numbers both are acceptable methods for the verdict of the busiest airport, although passenger numbers is the generally quoted figure. Washington National airport may have relatively high aircraft movements, but as these are the largest aircraft it handles is a Boeing 757, it has relatively fewer annual passengers than other airports with similar movements.

Military Cargo Plane

Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson is the world's busiest airport, and it is a significant focal point for the world's largest commercial airline, handling 76.7 million passengers in 2002, while Chicago is the world's second busiest airport, handled 66.6 million passengers in 2002. London Heathrow airport handles the most international passengers, as opposed to passengers on domestic flights. On an overall scale, Heathrow ranks third behind Atlanta and Chicago. London is the busiest aviation centre in the world.

The UK has a world-wide reputation for providing a very high quality and reputable airlines, airports services. In order to provide convenience to the customers many airline and airport websites are designed to assist with all the aspects of journey. These websites also provide a large selection of discounted flights at all the main airports around the world, which can be booked online.

For more information on Airports, visit our business directory

Which Are the Biggest and Busiest Airports in the World?

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Leave Nothing Behind With Cargo Trailers

2011-06-09T18:30:00.001-07:00

There's nothing like hitting the open roads and seeing everything this great nation has to offer. Whether it's for work or for play, It's great to get away from time to time. The only problem is that you can only take so much with you. If you're traveling for work, it's crucial to your bottom line that you get as much done as possible on a single trip. That's why cargo trailers are so important. With one, you can expand your storage by a great deal without the need of an additional vehicle.

Most people will be using cargo trailers for work or business purposes, especially blue collar type jobs that do things related to construction and assembly. They're also used a lot in on-location work. Office trailers are especially useful, since they can be easily pulled by a truck and provide an on-site mobile office for work performed away from civilization. Some cargo trailers even represent an entire business. Many of the portable concession stands and restaurants you may have seen around are actually cargo trailers modified for that specific purpose.

Military Cargo Plane

One of the best things about cargo trailers is the variety. Trailers come in all different sizes, shapes, and colors. That allows you to match them to your needs, lifestyle, and even your vehicle's color scheme if you're picky. Depending on the type of vehicle that will tow the trailer, you will have different options. If you have special needs, you can probably find a trailer to fit them. They range from small trailers used to carry extraneous items to huge trailers designed for transporting cars. Between those extremes you have trailers that are great for transporting your motorcycles, ATVs, or snowmobiles around, as well as general purpose haulers.

If you're planning on traveling strictly for recreation, you may not think much about trailers at first. You're probably more concerned with managing to fit all your stuff and possibly a family in one vehicle for your trip. But that's exactly why you should consider cargo trailers for your vacation travel. If you drive a truck, van, or SUV, you can easily increase your storage capacity by many times by using a cargo trailer. One of the least fun parts of vacationing is deciding what to take with you and what to leave. That's not a problem when you have the extra storage a trailer provides. You can use that space to store extra clothes, outdoor gear, or even food so you don't have to eat out every meal. It's extremely handy.

Leave Nothing Behind With Cargo Trailers

Jonathan is a freelance writer who lives on a large plot of land in the northern US. Having a used utility trailers makes it possible for him to transport firewood, grass cuttings, and other odds and ends around.

Identify The Parts Of A Helicopter

2011-06-08T12:00:00.001-07:00

Helicopters are such helpful vehicles in so many ways. A helicopter can hover on one spot that is why it can be very useful in emergency situations like fire and flood. It can go up and down without moving forward that is why it can land on small parcel or area in a place without so much hassle. A helicopter can be used in your travels or any business trips that you have. Some buildings have helipads where a helicopter can land. In military, helicopters are also widely used in various operations. The person who is being recognized for inventing helicopters is Igor Sikorsky. It was in 1942 that the world has first seen this cool vehicle to fly the sky above the ground. There are different parts of a helicopter. One thing that you need to do is to identify them effectively all the time. In doing so, you will need the best tips.

THE COCKPIT

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The cockpit of the helicopter can be found at the front area as you climb up. This part commonly has two doors on both sides. It is also clear so that the pilot can see all around him as he controls the helicopter. The cockpit also has two seats for two pilots as well as the controls. A rudder pedal can be found in this part. This makes the helicopter changes its directions from left to right. You will also find a collective pitch that is being utilized to make the helicopter move up and down.

CABIN

The space behind the cockpit is known to be the cabin. The cabin is where you can find the passenger seats. If the helicopter is being used as for freight, then the cargo is contained in this area of the vehicle. You need to know that the term used to refer to the body of the helicopter is fuselage.

ROTOR

As you stand away from the helicopter, you will see blades that can turn around as the engine is being fired up. The main rotor gives the power to the helicopter to go up or change altitude. This can be found directly on top of the body. You will also see that there is small rotor at the tail end. This one is the rotor that helps the helicopter avoid spinning around as it moves up.

DOWN UNDER

Down under the helicopter, you will commonly find the engine of the helicopter. Though sometimes, the cabin may contain it. The engine compartment contains the fuel needed by the helicopter. You may also find the landing skids at the bottom part. Landing skids keep the fuselage of the helicopter safe from the ground as the latitude moves down.

Having a helicopter of your own is such a nice thing to have. There are various ways that you can use it. But it is very important that you are aware of the basic parts of the helicopter. The tips will help you identify those parts. You may need to remember them all the time.

Identify The Parts Of A Helicopter

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Airports As Positive Hubs For the Future

2011-06-07T07:12:00.001-07:00

Airports are fabulous places to observe people, look at their faces, clothing, and luggage. People strolling down the alleys as though they are at a market place, some people in true high-end fashion designer clothes seem to play at strolling down a catwalk, others take a drink at a coffee shop and children run around watching airplanes.

Everything starts at the entrance of the airport hall. Some people running late walk straight to checking in their one piece luggage and others keep their slow pace as though their confidence would extend to the cockpit of the flight they are about to board and do not bother to rush. Other love airports to the point they would just spend hours going through a routine check-in and security check and then stroll around for hours probably even shop till they drop. Good for them as some airports still allow passengers to check-in a few hours before their flights. Security though has taken over quite a few pleasant things from airports. Security checks are really a burden and the poorly trained security officers also tend to act as though their uniform would give them some extra entitlement. In an era where travel has become a habit, airports have remained large hubs of communication. Most airports offer wireless communication, most airports in metropolis and large cities also offer a variety of restaurants and hotels. Food is however of very low quality in any airport I have visited except for one major airport in the gulf.

Military Cargo Plane

One thing has always impressed me about airport is the handling of luggage. I would not even be able to estimate the number of luggage passing through a given airport in 24 hours operations. I have no idea where luggage goes after you see them rolling away at the check-in. They seem to have their own lane, their own way to reach the correct cart and eventually reach the cargo area of the plane. I am literally fascinated by the luggage handling. Indeed it would be easy to assume there actually are more pieces of luggage passing through an airport then people. Would that guess be correct? That also gives an idea of the number of employees of an airport. Well airports are hub and some have become almost like resorts offering relaxation services in luscious surroundings. Shall we hope that airports on the Moon or even some other outer space planets will also be human-friendly resorts? We are anxiously waiting to see that happening.

Airports As Positive Hubs For the Future

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Airlines' Freedom of the Sky

2011-06-06T04:20:00.001-07:00

The term "Freedom of the Sky" can be misleading to the general public, as it gives the impression that there are freedoms given for airlines to fly to the destinations of their choice. In actual case, the term was intended to restrict the airlines to a set of standard agreement on flying rights. The term was coined in Chicago Convention 1944, amidst the concern of the majority of the signatory nations on the economic power of US airlines and the fear that these airline will dominate the other nations.

The term freedom of the sky or sometime called freedom of the air, details the rights and restriction of the airlines to fly into a foreign country. It would involve the right to overfly foreign countries, making technical stop for refueling or maintenance works and the commercial right to discharge or pickup cargo or passengers.

Military Cargo Plane

The summary of the terms are given below:

First freedom -The right to over fly a foreign country. The first freedom is almost automatic as it was agreed by all signatories to grant the parties to the agreement the right to over fly. However advance request has to be made and fee can be charged on the flying aircraft. Second freedom involves the right to land in the foreign country for non-commercial reasons such as for fuelling and maintenance and repairs. This was necessary before the long haul aircraft were built. However the need is much reduced now due to the increase in the range capability of the modern aircrafts. Third Freedom is the right to land in foreign country to discharge cargo and passengers from the home country. (Home country is the country of the origin of the airline). This right is normally being negotiated together with fourth which is right to pick up cargo and passengers. Fourth Freedom is the right to pickup commercial cargo and passengers at the foreign country and transports them back to the home country. Fifth Freedom is the right to fly into a foreign country to discharge and pick up passengers and cargo destined to another foreign country. Sixth Freedom is almost the same as the fifth except the travel to the other foreign country is made via the home nation

There are the other two freedoms, the seventh and eight freedoms, which were formulated at a later dates and are not commonly used by the airlines.

The above freedoms or airlines rights are normally an item of discussion in the country's trade negotiation with another country. It is not a subject of discussions between airlines although the airlines are normally consulted in the discussions.

Airlines' Freedom of the Sky

The author had spent more than 35 years working with an International Airlines, the last 10 years in fields of Training and Development. Responsible for Training Needs Analysis and subsequent training solutions, including e-learning implementation. Currently maintain a blog on airlines jobs at: http://pramugari.info/

Top Airline Industry Analysts Predict the Market For 2010

2011-06-04T11:30:00.001-07:00

There is no doubt that the airline industry has been totally creamed over the last many years, and thus, there seems to be a rather timid approach towards expansion as 2010 by all sides of the sector including airliner manufacturers, airports, airlines, related travel services, and aircraft leasing, financing, and corporate bonds in the airline industry. Question is; what do those in the know really say about it all?

Consider if you will that in 2008 - 2009 the industry saw billion in losses (2009 was 11 Billion of that). Indeed, air cargo got hit the hardest and was horrible, with a complete price collapse as air cargo was down over 14%, and now perhaps thus, has the biggest forward growth projection. In fact, things have been very good in the first quarter as air cargo returns. Unfortunately it was too late for JAL and a few others, but those who'd weathered the incessant turbulent weather are looking at clear skies ahead.

Military Cargo Plane

The largest airlines took on massive debt especially the legacy airlines during this Great Recession, a global economic catastrophe felt round the world and will be felt for years to come; a case in point perhaps is the reality that "First Class" is now deemed a dead product, also high-end hotel accommodations, concierge services, and green travel seem to be a dead end. Most of this will eventually come back and there are positive signs; finally, but no one is out of the woods yet, look at Oil Barrel prices near .

Many large airlines had their market cap or value, so low you could buy them for about 0 million, of course you'd have had to take on massive debt in the 10s or even 100s of billions. In 2010 traffic growth is expected at 4.5% but no one believes that they will be back to the norms of 2007 until maybe the fourth quarter of 2012. And that's a bummer for those who believe in the Mayan Calendar end of the world theory!

In 2010 is all about cash, as borrowing will be tougher. Many believe there is still too much capacity in the industry upwards of 20% still, and yet many airlines in Middle East and Asia are out buying new planes? The reality is things are not the same in all regions even though for the most part this is a very Global Industry. There have been massive global losses, and even as things return some airlines may not be able to hold on, so there will be some mergers and acquisitions, but fuel is still the big kicker oil could go either way, in 2010.

Management says it didn't fail in airlines, each of the major industry's problems have been brewing for a while, and they were exacerbated by the 2008 global economic crash. Labor issues are still huge challenge for the industry, just look at the recent high-profile strikes in Europe? Some airlines are actually doing quite well like Asian air, and were growing throughout the Global Great Recession, but they were far and few between. Asian Air showed profits the entire period, which is absolutely an Outlier in retrospect. Please consider all this.

Top Airline Industry Analysts Predict the Market For 2010

Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes in the airline industry, and doesn't believe we should take it out by the shed just yet; http://www.usedshed.com.

Note: All of Lance Winslow's articles are written by him, not by Automated Software, any Computer Program, or Artificially Intelligent Software. None of his articles are outsourced, PLR Content or written by ghost writers.

Pet-Friendly Cheap Flights

2011-06-03T08:10:00.001-07:00

Traveling with a pet can be downright expensive. Most airlines are not really pet-friendly; as a matter of fact they give off the vibe that leaving the pet home would have been a better idea. Sometimes leaving a pet at home is not an option. Many conscientious pet owners cannot bear to be separated from their fur babies for longer than a few hours at a time, and maybe you are among them. Finding pet-friendly cheap flights might prove to be a challenge.

Each airline has different requirements for pets that will fly with their owners. Most airlines require at the minimum a certificate of health from the pet's veterinarian stating that the pet does not have communicable diseases and is up to date on all the shots and other requirements. A health certificate is going to be the first of many expenses that come along with flying with a pet. Some airlines will still allow a pet to ride in the cabin of the plane as long as the pet carrier is small enough to fit under the passenger's seat and the weight of the carrier does not exceed specific weight limits (with some airlines, it's twenty pounds, with others, it's ten). In days gone by there was no charge for a pet to ride along in the carrier under the passenger seat as they were in essence looked at as luggage, however today that has changed. The airlines that do allow the pet carrier to ride inside the cabin charge for that luxury. The majority of airlines does not allow the pet inside the cabin and require that the pet carrier is stowed away in the cargo area under the plane. Of course, they also charge for the pet to ride below. On one hand it is understandable why an airline may not allow pets in the cabin in this litigious age where everyone sues everyone. A pet in the sealed cabin of the plane can easily trigger allergies. Many airlines are not willing to take the risk of being sued by other passengers that may suffer from allergies, so they require that the pets are stowed away with the luggage.

Military Cargo Plane

Typically it is going to cost extra, regardless of the nature of the airlines' attitude toward flying with a pet. A pet-friendly cheap flight might only add an additional twenty dollars for the pet to tag along, a not so pet-friendly cheap flight can run into the hundreds of dollars to take a pet along. A good rule of thumb is to call the airlines and ask about their pet policy and get the specifics to make sure that there are no surprises on the travel date. Some airlines will allow pets to travel in the cabin, but limit the number to three per flight (or more or less, depending on the airline), so booking in advance can help you make certain that you're one of the passengers that can bring a pet along.

Shop around and call several different airlines that have cheap flights to your planned destination and find one that will treat a pet as a guest - not as luggage - for a reasonable fee.

Pet-Friendly Cheap Flights

Cheap flights and vacation packages are only a click away. Click on cheap flights for more information on how you can save money on your next vacation destination.

The AgustaWestland EH-101 Merlin

2011-06-02T07:12:00.001-07:00

The EH-101 Merlin is a medium lift, multi-role helicopter developed and produced by AgustaWestland International. AgustaWestland is a joint venture formed by Agusta of Italy, makers of the A-109, and Westland of Great Britain, makers of the Lynx. The EH-101 is a direct competitor to the Sikorsky S-92 and was developed for both military and civil roles.

The multi-mission capabilities of the helicopter required AgustaWestland to four variations, two civil and two military.

Military Cargo Plane

The first civil variant is the utility version. The utility version can be used for a combination of passengers and/or freight. It's able to fulfill a number or roles including law enforcement, offshore oil support, fire fighting, cargo, SAR (search and rescue), air ambulance, and corporate shuttle. Aircraft configuration is based on operator need. For example, an air ambulance configuration will have room in the cabin for flight paramedics/nurses, 16 stretchers, and the required medical equipment. The search and rescue variant is able to carry 20 survivors normally up to 55 in a disaster type situation.
The utility version of the EH 101 has a rear ramp for loading/unloading. The cabin is spacious and has flush tie down points on the floor. In addition it has a roller conveyer for loading freight on pallets and a winch for other freight that cannot be self loaded or loaded via the conveyor. It has an external cargo hook capable of lifting 12000 lbs. The EH-101 is capable of carrying and deploying a variety of gear to include searchlights and and hoists. In addition the side cargo door is equipped with a rescue hoist.

The second civil variant is the Heliliner. As the name implies, the Heliliner is configured to carry people in airline like fashion. The helicopter has a system that minimizes vibration and maintains low acoustic signatures in the cabin and the cockpit for increased passenger comfort. The Heliliner can carry up to 30 people in airline style seats a distance of 460 miles at a cruising speed of 180 mph. The Heliliner features a wide aisle, overhead baggage bins, a large baggage compartment and a capable and efficient air conditioning system to maintain passenger comfort no matter if the helicopter is operating in arctic or tropical climates.

The first military variant is a navalized version. As expected the navalized version is built to endure sustained maritime operations. It's used for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), amphibious heli-borne assault and search and rescue. The navalized version is able to carry torpedoes or depth charges.

The second military variant is the utility version. It's able to transport 24-seated fully equipped troops or 45 standing fully equipped troops. It can also transport various equipment, cargos and supplies around the battlefield. Both military versions can be equipped with chaff and flare dispensers, infrared jammers, missile warnings, infrared counter measures and other survivability features.

The helicopter is constructed mostly of an aluminum-lithium alloy. It has a five bladed rotor system and is capable of operating in temperatures ranging from -45C to +55C. The cockpit uses a Northrop Grumman glass cockpit instrument system, which includes 6 CRT displays and a Smiths Industries four-axis automatic flight control system. The civil version is powered by three General Electric CT7-6 turbo shaft engines rated at 2,000 SHP (shaft horsepower) each. Three Rolls Royce Turbomeca RTM322 engines rated at 2200 SHP each power the military versions.

A version of the EH-101 was selected by the United States Marine Corps to be the next helicopter transport for HMX-1. HMX-1 performs presidential, dignitary and VIP transport. They currently use H-3 Sea Kings and VH-60 White Hawk helicopters to fulfill transport missions. The US 101, as it's been designated, is the first non-Sikorsky helicopter to fly in this role since 1957. When all 23 helicopters come on line they'll be redesignated the VH-71A Kestrel.

Both Agusta and Westland have produced very capable helicopters. Their collaboration on the EH-101 has placed the combined company AgustaWestland on the forefront of helicopter design.

The AgustaWestland EH-101 Merlin

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The McDonnell Douglas MD-11

2011-05-31T18:00:00.001-07:00

The McDonnell-Douglas MD-11, intended successor to its earlier DC-10 and the third widebody tri-jet after the DC-10 itself and the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, traces its origins to the General Electric and Pratt and Whitney engine competition to provide a suitable powerplant for the Lockheed C-5A Galaxy military transport, resulting in the first high bypass ratio turbofan, while the DC-10, the result of American Airlines' 1966 requirements for a 250-pasenger transcontinental airliner, had been built in five basic versions, inclusive of the DC-10-10, the DC-10-15, the DC-10-30, the DC-10-40, and the KC-10 Extender, achieving an ultimate production run of 446. Program cost overruns had intermittently necessitated the Douglas Aircraft Company's merger with McDonnell, hitherto a military aircraft manufacturer, in order to ensure survival of both the company and its aircraft.

Military Cargo Plane

Douglas design studies for both narrow and widebody successors, powered by high bypass ratio turbofans and accommodating 150 passengers, had been initiated as far back as the late-1970s. Although no definitive aircraft program had, in the event, been launched, detailed market analysis, along with new technological research, would later prove valuable to the eventual design. The 60 orders for the KC-10 had enabled Douglas to maintain the basic DC-10 production line longer than it would have if it had only relied on commercial orders, thus delaying the need for a replacement. Yet, because it would be based upon its earlier-generation counterpart, it could proceed through its definition and design phase far more rapidly than the later, competing Airbus A-340 and Boeing 777, entering the market earlier than these aircraft and tapping into an existing DC-10 customer base for potential sales.

Unlike that aircraft, however--whose five basic versions had shared the same fuselage length and cross-section--the projected successor of 1979 had featured a 40-foot fuselage stretch capable of accommodating 340 mixed-class passengers, three General Electric CF6-50J turbofans producing 54,000 pounds of thrust each, a strengthened wing, and a 630,000-pound gross weight.

The resultant DC-10-60, paralleling the earlier, stretched, long-range DC-8-60 series, had offered a 75-passenger increase over the DC-10s of Air New Zealand and Swissair who had been targeted as potential launch customers, but use of the existing wing had severely eroded performance, and five-foot extensions, coupled with a new wing fillet and active ailerons to reduce gust loads, had considerably improved it. Indeed, revised trailing edge flaps and a larger tailcone had resulted in a 24-percent fuel reduction over that of the DC-10 and its seat-mile costs had been lower than those of the four-engined Boeing 747.

Program launch, intended for 1979, had been usurped by Douglas's further definition of its versions, which, designated "DC-10-61," "DC-10-62," and "DC-10-63," had even more closely reflected the DC-8-61, DC-8-62, and DC-8-63 nomenclatures. The DC-10-61, for instance, had been intended as a domestic variant with the 40-foot fuselage stretch and a 390-passenger capacity, and had been powered by 60,000 thrust-pound engines. The DC-10-62, with a reduced, 26.7-foot fuselage insertion, had been intended for very long-range operations, with a 14-foot wingspan increase, active ailerons, and a four-wheeled centerline main undercarriage unit. It had been intended to carry some 40 fewer passengers than the -61, while the -63 had combined the design features of both, resulting in a high-capacity, long-range variant.

A series of intermittent DC-10 accidents, none of which had been traced to an inherent design flaw, along with the prevailing economic recession, had precluded further Super DC-10 development at this time, although one of its features, eventually incorporated in its successor, had been flight-tested on a Continental Airlines DC-10-10 in August of 1981. Winglets, extending both above and below the wing tip, and varying in size, had resulted in a three-percent fuel reduction because of an equal decrease in generated drag.

Thus buoyed only by MD-80 sales, the Douglas Aircraft Company rode the recession. A projected DC-10 replacement, bearing an MD-11X-10 designation in 1984 and offering considerably more advancement than the original Super 60 series had, had been most closely based on the DC-10-30 with a 580,000-pound maximum take off weight, a 6,500-nautical mile range with a full payload, and either three General Electric CF6-80C2 or Pratt and Whitney PW4000 engines. A higher-capacity version, to be offered in parallel with the basic airframe, had featured a 22.3-foot fuselage stretch, to permit 331 mixed-class passengers to be carried over 6,000-mile ranges and had a corresponding 590,000-pound gross weight. American, Delta, Lufthansa, and Toa Domestic Airlines, considering this iteration, had suggested refinements which had later been incorporated in the definitive aircraft.

By the following year, the board authorized order solicitations, although both versions had, by this time, featured the same fuselage length, the medium-range variant, at a 500,000-pound gross weight, offering a 4,781-mile range, and the long-range counterpart, at a 590,000-pound gross weight, offering a 6,900-mile range. Accommodating some 335 passengers in a typically mixed arrangement, they introduced composite construction, a two-person cockpit, and an advanced electronic flight system.

At the time of official program launch, which had occurred on December 30, 1986, 92 orders and options had been placed by Alitalia, British Caledonian, Federal Express, Korean Air, SAS, Swissair, Thai Airways International, and Varig.

The MD-11, which had rolled out for the first time some three years later in September of 1989 in Long Beach, California, and had been registered N111MD, had been devoid of its engines, winglets, vertical stabilizer, and paint scheme, but displayed the logos of the 29 customers which had ordered or optioned the type by this time. As these surfaces had subsequently been added, however, it bore a close similarity to the DC-10-30 from which it had been derived.

Featuring an 18.6-foot stretch over that aircraft, attained by means of two fuselage plugs, it retained its nose and cockpit sections, but introduced an elongated, drag-reducing, chisel-shaped tailcone, and offered a 201.4-foot overall length when fitted with General Electric engines, or a 200.11-foot overall length with Pratt and Whitney powerplants.

The two-spar Douglas airfoil, built up of chordwise ribs and skins and spanwise stiffeners, featured a 169.6-foot span, a 35-degree sweepback at the quarter chord, and six degrees of dihedral, rendering a 7.9 aspect ratio and a 3,648-square-foot area. Low-speed lift was augmented by new, full-span leading edge slats and redesigned, double-slotted trailing edge flaps, while roll control was provided by inboard, all-speed ailerons made of metal with composite skins, and outboard, low-speed ailerons which drooped with the trailing edge flaps during take off and were entirely constructed of composite material. Each wing also contained five spoiler panels.

Fuel, carried in wing integral tanks, totaled 40,183 US gallons.

Up- and downward-extending winglets, installed on the wingtips themselves, had provided the greatest distinction to the DC-10. Harnessing the drag-producing vortex otherwise created by wingtip pressure differential intermixing, they had been comprised of a seven-foot, upward-angled section made of a conventional rib and spar, but covered with an aluminum alloy skin and completed by a carbonfibre trailing edge, and a 2.5-foot, downward-angled section made entirely of carbonfibre, collectively encompassing a 40-square-foot area.

Because of the increased moment-arm and computer-controlled longitudinal stability augmentation software, the MD-11's horizontal tail had been 30 percent smaller than that of the DC-10 and featured a 2,000 US gallon integral trim tank which increased range and facilitated in-flight center-of-gravity optimization. Its advanced, cambered airfoil, and reduced, 33-degree sweepback, coupled with an electromechanically-activated variable incidence tailplane fitted with two-section, slotted, composite trailing edge elevators on either side, resulted in a 1,900-pound structural weight reduction and decreased in-flight drag.

Power had been provided by three 62,000 thrust-pound General Electric CF6-80C2 or 60,000 thrust-pound Pratt and Whitney PW4462 high bypass ratio turbofans, two of which had been pylon-attached to the wing leading edge underside and one of which had been installed in the vertical tail aft of the fin torsion box. Tracing its origins to the 41,000 thrust-pound TF39 engine originally developed for the Lockheed C-5A galaxy, the former had evolved into the quieter, more advanced CF-6 intended for commercial operation, and its 40,000 thrust-pound CF6-6D had powered the domestic DC-10-10, while its 48,000 thrust-pound CF6-50C had powered the intercontinental DC-10-30, along with the Airbus A-300 and some versions of the Boeing 747. The even more advanced CF6-80A had also been chosen to power the A-310 and the 767.

Incorporating the CF-6's core, with a larger, 93-inch, two-shaft fan, the CF6-80C2 powering the MD-11 had offered 17-percent more thrust and had a bypass ratio of 5.05. Linked to a full authority digital engine control system, which itself had provided electronic autothrottle and flight management system interface, the turbofan had offered reduced fuel burn.

The alternative Pratt and Whitney PW4060, whose reduced length equally decreased the aircraft's overall length by five inches, had been the only other customer option. The Rolls Royce RB.211-524L Trent, briefly listed as a third alternative, had been specified by Air Europe for its 18 firm and optioned orders, but the financial collapse of its parent company had precluded its continued offering.

The hydraulically-actuated, tricycle undercarriage, like that of the DC-10-30, had been comprised of a twin-wheeled, forward-retracting nose unit; two quad-wheeled, laterally retracting main gear bogies; and a twin-wheeled, forward-retracting, fuselage centerline strut, all of which had featured oleo-pneumatic shock absorbers.

The MD-11 cockpit, significantly deviating from the DC-10's, had been operated by a two-person crew, the third, or flight engineer, position replaced by digital avionics and computerized flight control and management systems, while the Aircraft System Control, or ASU, had been comprised of five independent, dual-channel computers which automated all of his previous functions.

The passenger cabin, designed for flexibility, had incorporated seat, galley, lavatory, and garment closet installation on cabin length-running tracks whose one-inch increments facilitated multiple configurations and densities and rapid rearrangements, thus permitting carriers to operate the type on scheduled flights during the week and on high-density/charter services during weekends. Compared to the DC-10 cabin, the MD-11 featured light-weight side panels and seat assemblies; improved lighting; larger, restyled overhead storage compartments which tripled the per-passenger volume to three cubic feet; standard centerline bins aft of the second door; and provision for overhead crew rest beds.

A typical two-class, 323-passenger configuration had entailed 34 six-abreast first class seats at a 41- to 42-inch pitch and 289 nine-abreast economy class seats at a 33- to 34-inch pitch, while a three-class arrangement had included 16 six-abreast first class seats at a 60-inch pitch, 56 seven-abreast business class seats at a 38-inch pitch, and 221 nine-abreast economy class seats at a 32-inch pitch. Maximum capacity, in a ten-abreast, three-four-three configuration, had been 409.

The MD-11, with a 114,100-pound weight-limited payload, had a 602,500-pound maximum take off weight. Accommodating 298 three-class passengers, it had offered a 6,840-nautical mile range, including FAA-required reserves.

First taking to the skies on January 10, 1990 from Long Beach, the MD-11 had performed stability and control tests over Edwards Air Force Base, achieving a maximum altitude of 25,000 feet and a 300-knot speed before concluding a highly successful two-hour, 56-minute maiden flight. Three hundred fifteen orders and options had been received for the type by this time.

The certification program, which had entailed four General Electric CF6-80C2 and one Pratt and Whitney PW4460 powered airframe, had notched up several commercial tri-jet records, including a 9,080-mile flight from Anchorage, Alaska, on July 31, 1990, with the fourth prototype, which had remained aloft for 16 hours, 35 minutes.

Type certification had been achieved on November 8 for the CF6-80C2-powered version and December 19 for the PW4460 aircraft, while clearance had been given for Category IIIB landings the following April.

Finnair, the type's launch customer, had taken delivery of its first aircraft, registered OH-LGA, at a ceremony in Long Beach on November 29, 1990, and a representative intercontinental sector with this aircraft had been made two years later, in October of 1992.

Founded on November 1, 1923 by Bruno L. Lucander, the private carrier, then designated "Aero O/Y," had inaugurated service the following March to Reval, Estonia, with Junkers F.13 aircraft, before expanding to Stockholm, with an intermediate stop in Turku, in cooperation with Sweden's ABA. Finnish domestic route development, because of the country's profusion of lakes, had necessitated floatplane equipment, although post-1936 airport construction had enabled it to acquire two de Havilland Rapide Dragon biplanes and, later, two Junkers Ju.52/3ms.

Shortly after World War II-mandated flight suspension had been lifted, the fledgling airline, now 70-percent government owned and renamed "Aero O/Y Finish Air Lines," had reestablished its Helsinki-Stockholm sector and acquired nine DC-3s.

The 1950s, characterized by continental route system expansion and modern, Convair 340 aircraft acquisitions, had taken it to Dusseldorf, Hamburg, London, and Moscow from a steadily expanding Helsinki flight hub, and the type had been superseded by the slightly higher-capacity Convair 440.

The MD-11, powered by General Electric CF6-80C2D1F engines and configured for 58 business class and 278 economy class passengers, had been ordered to replace its DC-10-30s, and had first been deployed on the Helsinki-Tenerife route on December 29, 1990, to amass initial operating experience before being transferred to the North American and Far Eastern sectors for which it had been intended.

Its two MD-11s had operated the Helsinki-Tokyo and Helsinki-Bangkok-Singapore routes, while its DC-10-30s had continued to serve the New York and Beijing sectors.

The first, to Japan, had spanned 4,862 miles and had entailed a nine-hour, 35-minute block time, and had been operated by the first MD-11 to enter passenger-carrying service, OH-LGA.

The tall, dense trees surrounding Helsinki's Vantaa International Airport, still wearing their yellow and gold autumn coats, appeared diffused as the biting, 30-degree wind whirled snow flurries toward the geometric pattern of ramps, taxiways, and runways. The goliath, blue-trimmed Finnair MD-11 tri-jet, currently the only widebody on the white-dusted tarmac accompanied by a myriad of narrow body DC-9, MD-80, and 737-300 twinjets, was towed to Gate A-4 30 minutes before its scheduled, 1620 departure time amid the late-afternoon, diminished Nordic light.

The MD-11's two-person cockpit, a radical departure from the DC-10's, sported six eight-square-inch Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) glass display units, comprised of the duplicated Primary Flight Display (PFD), Navigation Display (ND), Engine and Alert Display (EAD), and Systems Display (SD) schematics, while the Automatic System Controllers, located on the overhead panel, were subdivided into sections for hydraulics, electrical, pneumatics, and fuel, each controlled by two independent computers. The Flight Control Panel (FCP) itself, located on the Glareshield Control Panel (GCP), featured controls for autopilot and flight director mode selections, as well as flight management system mode change controls, inclusive of speed (SPD), navigation (NAV), and profile (PROF).

The pending, trans-Siberian flight's departure and destination points, weights, moments, flight plan, take off runway (04), and take off performance calculations, obtained from the station-prepared load sheet, had been entered into the keypad-resembling Multifunction Control Display Unit (MCDU) located on the center pedestal between the two pilots. The flight's Standard Instrument Departure (SID) had subsequently been loaded into the flight management system during inertial reference system initialization.

The number three engine, the first to be started and the furthest from the bleed air source, had been engaged by pulling the Engine Start Switch, its start valve moving into the open position, as verified by an amber confirmation light. When the N2 compressor speed had equaled 15 percent, the start lever had been moved to the "On" position and the engine start switch, reflecting an exhaust gas temperature (EGT) of between 45- and 52-percent, had popped in, the start valve now closed and the amber light disilluminating. The engine's N1 tachometer had settled at 23-percent and its exhaust gas temperature had hovered at the 700 degree Fahrenheit mark. The sequence had then been repeated for the other two turbofans, followed by completion of the "After Start Checklist."

Tug-maneuvered from its nosed-in parking position, the MD-11, operating as Flight AY 914, had initiated its autonomous movement with an almost imperceptible throttle advancement, testing its flight surfaces and following Vantaa Ground Control taxi instructions.

Navigating the snow-patched, blue light-lined taxiways in virtual darkness, the lumbering tri-jet made a 180-degree turn on to Runway 04 with the aid of its nose wheel steering tiller, the nose wheel itself positioned so far behind the cockpit that the aircraft had been inched well beyond the strip's centerline before it had actually initiated the turn toward it, its elongated, wide fuselage following it in trailing mode. Full rudder deflection provided ten degrees of steering on the ground, while the nose wheel achieved up to 70 percent of left and right laterability.

Receiving take off clearance, the MD-11, sporting 25 degrees of trailing edge flap, had thundered into initial acceleration as its throttles, manually advanced to the 70-percent position, nourished its huge-diameter General Electric turbofans with a steady stream of fuel, as they swallowed massive quantities of cold air with each, increasingly faster fan rotation. The AUTOPILOT button, located on the Flight Control Panel and engaging the autothrottles themselves, computer-controlled the aircraft into its proper take off thrust setting, coupled with automatic engine synchronization.

Elevator-leveraged into a nosewheel-disengaging rotation, the tri-jet surrendered to the purple, snowflake-blurring dusk, its heavy fuel load exerting a wingtip-curving bending load and its wing leading edge light beams slicing through the obscurity as it climbed out over Runway 15 and the ground light splotches representing Helsinki. Retracting its tricycle undercarriage, the aircraft, whose pitch bars had indicated its correct climb attitude, had automatically adhered to its standard instrument departure course.

Arcing into a shallow right bank over the coast, Flight 914 retracted its trailing edge flaps, although its leading edge slats had remained extended until additional speed had been amassed. Engaging the navigation mode enabled the aircraft to fly its departure profile, while activating the autoflight system, coupled with the "NAV" and "PROF" buttons, ensured that it followed its route, climb, outbound radial, and either air traffic control-assigned or level-off altitude. Airspeed had been maintained at 250 knots below 10,000 feet, at which time it had been permitted to accelerate to 355 or beyond, and its leading edge lights had been retracted.

Surmounting one of many cloud decks, the aircraft crossed the Gulf of Finland, whose dark purple surface had been separated from the horizon by a diffused band of chartreuse light. Increasingly encased in howling slipstream, it passed over the coast of the former Soviet Union at a 472-knot ground speed, flying southwest of St. Petersburg in black skies which had been traced by a thin, glowing orange line on its western horizon, now located behind its left wingtip, as it settled into its initial, 33,000-foot plateau at a 509-knot ground speed, destined for the Ural Mountains and Siberia.

The passenger cabin, sporting diagonal-patterned, light and dark blue upholstery, had featured six rows of seven-abreast, two-three-two, configured business class seats in the forward section, followed by another three aft of the second cross aisle. Economy class seating, entirely in a ten-abreast, three-four-three, arrangement, had included nine rows behind the business class, and 21 in the aft cabin, running between the third and fourth cross aisles.

Dinner in the latter, according to its bilingual English and Japanese menu (which, in October of 1992, had ironically featured an in-flight profile of one of Finnair's DC-10-30s), had included a selection of aperitifs, beer, wine, and nonalcoholic beverages served with lightly salted peanuts and smoked almonds; a crabmeat and mushroom seafood salad on a lettuce bed with jumbo shrimp, sliced cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes; a basket of hot white and wheat rolls with Finnish butter; mango beef or chicken in curry-coconut cream sauce; French camembert cheese with crispy rye crackers; raspberry mousse cake; coffee or Japanese tea; a selection of liqueurs; after-dinner mints; and hot towels.

Maintaining a 567-knot ground speed, the MD-11 penetrated the minus 62-egree tropopause at a three-degree nose-high attitude, passing southeast of Arkhangelsk over the frozen Siberian tundra, with seven hours, 30 minutes remaining on its flight plan. Thinning cloud layer, appearing like sheathing veils, revealed periodic orange and white, population center-represented pearls steadily moving beneath the protruding, massive-diameter turbofans as they propelled it toward Adak and thence south of Naryan-Mar.

Oblivious o the passengers, the upper and lower winglets delayed the otherwise vortex-created wingtip pressure differential intermixing, reducing drag, while the horizontal stabilizer-located trim tank had enabled the aircraft to shift its center-of-gravity rearward, toward its 34-percent aft design limit, further reducing drag and coincident fuel burn by 2.7 percent. The type had standardly operated within a 29- to 32-percent range.

Flight 914's flight plan progress, indicated by a series of position and ground speed readings, had been the result of the IRU's position and velocity coordination with VHF omni-directional radio range (VOR) and distance measuring equipment (DME) stations between Finland and Japan. The Flight Plan (F-PLN) display selected on the MCDU yielded the aircraft's position and waypoints aligned in a vertical manner on the screen, with the estimated times beside them, along with speed and altitude, listed as "Position," "Estimated Time Overhead" (ETO), "Speed" (SPD), and "Flight Level" (ALT).

Passing over Irkutsk, the Yabblonovyy Mountain Range, and Tsitisihar, the aircraft moved ever eastward, toward Vladivostock.

Slicing the darkness and opening day in the Orient, dawn's razor pierced the eastern horizon with a thin cut through which an orange glow had poured ahead of the port wing, somehow emphasizing the cylindrical nature of the planet over which the tri-jet presently arced. "Tomorrow," seemingly eager to unleash its force, streamed through the gradually-enlarging fissure marking the demarcation line between the 24-hour cycle's two modes, its light intensifying and transforming the black, nocturnal doom of Siberia into a cold, partially habitable purple and ultimate dark, pre-dawn blue. The amount of humanity awakening to such light below in the vast wasteland had undoubtedly been infinitesimal. The sun, appearing a red, liquid mercury immersed in a gray-black sea, slowly triumphed over night, its upper, head-like rim becoming distinguishable as it shyly revealed the rest of its body, illuminating the ice-capped, corrugated crust of the Russian mountains covering the area immediately below the fuselage. Initially seeming to float in a dark-brown sea, they became independently distinguishable as the sun stretched its floodlighting rays, like pointing limbs, toward them.

Passing over snaking, copper-reflecting rivers, Flight 914 consumed the two hours, 11 minutes remaining on its flight plan.

Aromas of brewing coffee enticed the groggy, mostly-sleeping passengers from nocturnal slumber in the cabin, a process only partially augmented by breakfast-precedent hot, perfumed towels. The meal itself had included orange juice, a three-egg omelet filled with creamed spinach, thick slices of Danish ham, assorted rolls, Swiss black cherry preserves, Finnish cheese spread fondue, cream wafers, and coffee or tea.

Banking on to a southeasterly heading with the aid of its inboard ailerons, the MD-11 had, after virtually the duration of its cruise, departed Soviet air space for the first time over snow-dusted, chocolate-brown ridges whose peaks had been gently grazed by funnels of vapory mist, following them to the coast and the morning sun-reflected, copper surface of the Sea of Japan. One hour, 23 minutes had remained to Tokyo.

Motionlessly suspended above the water's glass-like surface, it cruised past the silver peak of Mount Fuji, now maintaining an almost due south, 180-degree heading. Banking left over cumulous patches, it forged its final link to Japan, with its time-to-destination having unwound to the 40-minute mark.

The ridges defining Honshu Island appeared ahead.

Tokyo had been reporting clear skies and 20-degree Celsius temperatures.

Traversing the coast over Niigata, the MD-11 had reached a position directly northwest of its destination, with 25 minutes remaining on its flight plan, disengaging itself from its aerial plateau for the first time in almost nine hours by means of the cockpit-selected "NAV" and "PROF" modes.

Induced into a nose-down, slipstream-increasing descent profile, Flight 914 traced the coastline before briefly passing out over the whitecapped Pacific, now ATC-vectored into a series of three right banks. Automatically guided, the aircraft reduced speed to 250 knots as it had transited the 10,000-foot speed restriction, adhering to its Standard Terminal Arrival Route (STAR), propelled by its three massive turbofans whose N1 tachometers had registered almost-stationary, 34-percent readings.

An air traffic control-requested speed reduction, to 200 knots, had, according to the speed tape, required an initial trailing edge flap extension, to 15 degrees.

As the aircraft had sank over brown, tan, and green geometric-patterned farmland on its final approach heading of 340 degrees, the captain had selected the Approach/Land tile, the autoland system armed for an instrument landing system (ILS) approach and poised to capture the glideslope and localizer. The Approach page of the MCDU, yielding landing weight, runway, barometric pressure, and final flap setting speed readings, listed the following for RJAA, the ICAO four-letter code for Tokyo-Narita: a 208-knot "clean" speed, a 158-knot flap extension speed to the 28-degree position, a 161-knot approach speed with 35 degrees of flap, a 158-knot V-reference speed, and a 150-knot touchdown speed.

Sporting significantly increased wing area with leading edge slat and 35 degrees of trailing edge flap extensions, the blue-trimmed Finnair MD-11, projecting its tricycle undercarriage like four outstretched claws, conducted its final approach over the Narita suburbs in the flawlessly-blue morning, passing over the runway threshold. Sinking toward the concrete, during which time altitude calls had been computer-generated, the widebody tri-jet had been pitched into a seven-degree, nose-high flare, retarding its authothrottle to idle at 50 feet and permitting ground effect to cushion its main gear contact. Manually throttled into its reverse thrust mode, it had unleashed its upper wing surface spoilers, their handle having been moved from the retract (RET) setting through the "1/3," "2/3," and "FULL" marks as the aircraft decelerated. The nosewheel thudded on to the ground.

Taxiing to Satellite Four of Narita International Airport's South Wing, the aircraft moved into its Gate 44 parking position at 0855, local time, ending its intercontinental flight sector and completing the circular pattern of nosed-in widebody airliners comprised of an Austrian Airlines A-310-300, a Japan Air Lines 747-200B, a British Airways 747-400, an ANA 747-200B, a Northwest 747-200B, and a Swissair MD-11.

III

Initial MD-11 service had not always been so routine. Indeed, the aircraft had demonstrated gross weight and drag increases far in excess of performance projections, resulting in payload and range deficiencies, and Robert Crandall, then American Airlines' CEO, had refused to take delivery of the type, substituting an existing DC-10-30 on the San Jose-Tokyo route for which it had been intended. A series of performance improvement packages (PIP), targeting the shortcomings, had ultimately remedied the situation.

By January 1, 1996, 147 MD-11s had been delivered to 24 original customers and operators who had collectively engaged the aircraft in an 11.6-hour daily utilization, experiencing a 98.3-percent dispatch reliability.

Aside from the initial passenger MD-11, several other versions, although in very limited quantities, had been produced.

The MD-11 Combi, for example, had featured an aft, left, upward-opening freight door, permitting various percentages of passengers, from 168 to 240, and cargo, ranging from four to ten pallets, to be carried on the main deck, while lower-deck space had remained unchanged. With a 144,900-pound weight-limited payload, the aircraft had a maximum range of between 5,180 and 6,860 nautical miles.

The MD-11CF Convertible Freighter had featured the main deck door relocated to the forward, port side. Martinair Holland, launch customer for the variant in August of 1991, had placed four firm orders and one option for the type.

The MD-11F, with a 202,100-pound payload, had been a pure-freighter without passenger windows or internal facilities ordered by FedEx, while the MD-11ER Extended Range, launched in February of 1994, had featured a 3,000 US gallon fuel capacity increase carried in lower-deck auxiliary tanks, a 6,000-pound higher payload, a 480-mile greater range, and a new maximum take off weight of 630,500 pounds. World Airways, selecting the Pratt and Whitney PW4462 engine, and Garuda Indonesia, specifying its General Electric CF6-80C2 counterpart, had placed the launch orders.

Dwindling sales, the result of the design's initial performance deficiencies, American Airlines' reputation-damaging public criticisms, order cancellations, and competition from the Airbus A-340 and Boeing 777, had forced McDonnell-Douglas to write down .8 million for the program in 1996 and by the following year, after McDonnell-Douglas's merger with the Boeing Commercial Airplane Company, it had no longer been feasible to continue its production. The original Douglas Aircraft Company Building 84, located at Long Beach Airport and incubation point for all McDonnell-Douglas DC-10 and MD-11 widebody tri-jets, had hatched its 200th and last MD-11, a freighter, for Lufthansa Cargo, in June of 2000, and the aircraft, towed across the road to the runway, bore the title, "The perfect end to a perfect era."

The complete production run had included 131 MD-11P Passenger versions, five MD-11C Combis, six MD-11CF Convertible Freighters, 53 MD-11F Pure-Freighters, and five MD-11ER Extended Range variants.

The figures, added to the 446 DC-10s built between 1971 and 1988, had resulted in a total of 646 tri-jets having been produced.

Although McDonnell-Douglas had studied several stretched, re-engined, and rewinged MD-11 successors designated "MD-12s," including a double-decked, quad-engined, A-380-resembling configuration, these ambitious proposals had exceeded the value of the manufacturer itself, and when Taiwan Aerospace had withdrawn financial support for the definitive version, which had reverted to a tri-jet design with an advanced wing, the three-engined widebody, tracing its lineage to the original DC-10, had finally ended, leaving the increasing number of passenger-converted airframes into freighters to carry their pedigrees into the early-21st century.

The McDonnell Douglas MD-11

A graduate of Long Island University-C.W. Post Campus with a summa-cum-laude BA Degree in Comparative Languages and Journalism, I have subsequently earned the Continuing Community Education Teaching Certificate from the Nassau Association for Continuing Community Education (NACCE) at Molloy College, the Travel Career Development Certificate from the Institute of Certified Travel Agents (ICTA) at LIU, and the AAS Degree in Aerospace Technology at the State University of New York - College of Technology at Farmingdale. Having amassed almost three decades in the airline industry, I managed the New York-JFK and Washington-Dulles stations at Austrian Airlines, created the North American Station Training Program, served as an Aviation Advisor to Farmingdale State University of New York, and devised and taught the Airline Management Certificate Program at the Long Island Educational Opportunity Center. A freelance author, I have written some 70 books of the short story, novel, nonfiction, essay, poetry, article, log, curriculum, training manual, and textbook genre in English, German, and Spanish, having principally focused on aviation and travel, and I have been published in book, magazine, newsletter, and electronic Web site form. I am a writer for Cole Palen's Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in New York. I have made some 350 lifetime trips by air, sea, rail, and road.

International Travel With Cats

2011-05-29T21:00:00.001-07:00

Most people don't entertain the idea of traveling with their pet cat, but traveling with cats can be just as easy, if not easier, as traveling with dogs. Unlike with dogs, there are not many breed restrictions when looking to travel with a cat. There are some restrictions though, and every airline has different ones to consider when you want to take your cat along for the trip. It is easy to find information about traveling with your pet by searching the airline you are planning on using as well as their pet guidelines.

United Airlines is a popular carrier that provides detailed guidelines about pet travel. One of the first things the airline points out is that the United States Department of Agriculture requires that all pets, regardless of whether it is a cat or a dog, be at least 8 weeks old to travel by air. A visit to the vet is necessary to confirm whether or not your cat is fit to fly. If your cat will be traveling via cargo, a health certificate from the vet should be issued no more than 10 days before leaving, otherwise the certificate should be issued a maximum of 30 days before leaving.

Military Cargo Plane

Most airlines have the same general rules about getting health certificates from the vet, but airlines may have different fees regarding your cat, whether it is traveling in the cabin, as carry on luggage, or as cargo. Not only do you have to consider the airline you are flying with, but you will need to factor in the country you are departing from in order to figure out how much you will need to pay for your cat. For example, United Airlines' fees, traveling from the United States, are as follows: 0 for a pet being checked in as luggage, and 5 for those being considered as carry-on luggage into the cabin. Keep in mind that there are also some countries that do not allow pets from foreign countries, and these include the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, and Australia.

Lufthansa also considers pets as excess baggage, requiring you to pay in order to travel with your cat. This airline differs from United Airlines though, in that there are fixed rates for those traveling within Europe. Otherwise, animals are charged per kilo including the weight of their carrier. For example, within Europe it costs 0 to bring your cat into the cabin. It can cost from 0 to 0 per animal traveling in the hold of the airplane within Europe.

Remember that air travel with cats is much less restrictive than traveling with a dog, so don't let anything deter you from bringing your cat along for the ride. The internet makes it easy to find out what restrictions different countries and airlines may have on pet travel, and you can easily find out what fees are for cabin luggage, checked luggage, and cargo. By preparing your cat to travel beforehand, and by doing some of your own research, your cat can safely travel to and transition in a new place.

International Travel With Cats

Anil Polat doesn't think that air travel with pets should discourage you from taking your furry friends with you on vacation.

The Most Popular Games Played on the Internet Are Flight Simulation Games

2011-05-27T09:10:00.001-07:00

The most popular games played on the Internet are Flight Simulation Games

Flight simulation games are now so realistic that its not long before the PC pilot actually believes he's flying the real thing.

Military Cargo Plane

The games come in two formats: Full sized cockpits (or, simpits) and the PC downloadable games. The full size cockpit of course allows the user to experience motions such as sudden turbulence and he has the controls, instruments and dials in on the same scale as a real cockpit. However, downloadable flight simulation games are vastly less expensive and offer a very similar experience, with life like cockpits, featuring the exact dials, controls, radio and instruments the same as the aircraft you have chosen to fly, along with life like scenery, changeable weather and a selection of over 20,000 plus worldwide airports to land on plus a huge selection of terrain to fly over and night and day flying.

Now that there are so many games available, if your son or daughter shows an enjoyment for flying, why not give them the gift of a flight simulation game to learn on. They can mostly be bought for way under a hundred dollars and if they really enjoy it well they might just make a career out of it.

The choice of aircraft available is huge and they might wish to learn in a Cessna or Piper but then graduate up to a commercial jetliner such as a Boeing 747 or commercial cargo plane, or, they maybe inclined to choose a military plane or helicopter.

There are thousands of games to choose from such as Nintendo, play stations or flight pro sim.

Flight simulator games are very easy to use once the learner has followed the instructions properly and within no time the user will truly think he or she is actually flying the real aircraft, such is the realism attached to the graphics, locations available and the cockpit (known in simulators as the simpits).

Flight simulators are great fun to use as a game but aviation institutions take them very seriously indeed, as it's the basis to teach there young, budding inexperienced pilots. But they are also used by experienced pilots, either to hone their skills or even to check the airports or routes they are about to fly on.

The Most Popular Games Played on the Internet Are Flight Simulation Games

Visit LatestFlightSimulator2011

The Solid Fold, Folding Tonneau Cover

2011-05-26T04:00:00.001-07:00

One of the more recent products, that Extang has in its product line has been out for a little while now and it seems people love the solid fold tonneau cover. A folding tonneau cover that has been taking the truck bed cover industry by storm. It seems to be just what pickup truck owners have been looking for in a tonneau cover. It is a folding cover that that gives you very easy access to your truck bed. That seems to be the key, easy access. This is what truck owners seem to enjoy about a folding cover and Extang came through big time with this addition to their product line.

This lid is constructed from an airplane grade aluminum alloy. The alloy is painted with a black, UV protecting poly-tex finish to keep it looking new for a very long time. The hinge system is designed to keep water out from your cargo area. It is tough, lightweight and great looking with its smooth low profile design.

Military Cargo Plane

The cover comes completely assembled. All you need to do is install it. Another great thing about this cover, you do not need any tools to install it. Just clamp it on with the clamps that come with it. For security the cover locks from underneath in the rear. Just add a locking tailgate handle and you have a very secure place to protect your cargo, not only from the weather but from would be thieves as well.

The solid fold tonneau cover is constructed to be strong, to withstand everyday use. Although Extang does not recommend it, they have placed a 4 wheeler on top of the cover and it past the test. Now you must admit, that is tough. If you are looking for a great looking, tough , folding tonneau cover, you should look into this truck bed cover.

For those of you who never owned a bed cover and were wondering if they would serve any purpose other than to give your truck a whole new look. Most customer reviews I have read lead me to the conclusion that they do help out when it comes to conserving gas mileage. They also keep your cargo out of the eyes of would be thieves. Lets face it, you have a much better chance of your cargo still being in your truck box when you come back if nobody can see what is in the cargo area. These covers also protect your cargo from the weather. You do have that advantage with all covers but a folding tonneau offers you very quick, easy access to your cargo area.

My first impression of a cover over your pickup truck bed would be a pain in the butt when it came time to use your cargo area. I have since changed my mind when I seen how easy and quickly you can get to your cargo area, especially with a lid like the solid fold tonneau cover.

The Solid Fold, Folding Tonneau Cover

You can get more information on this folding truck bed cover as well as pricing for your truck by clicking this link Solid Fold Tonneau

Diecast Toys Can Include Diecast Airplanes

2011-05-25T02:30:00.001-07:00

Many of the most popular diecast toys that people can collect are airplanes. These are all small plane models that are made as scale models of real airplanes from the world of aviation. The airplanes that a person can collect can come from a variety of different places.

Diecast planes are built to many scales

Military Cargo Plane

The scales that are used for diecast toys like airplanes can vary. These scales can include larger 1/43 or 1/48 scales. These can be used to add to the details that a person can see with one of these diecast vehicles. These larger toys might even have some functional features like opening doors or propellers among other things.

Others can be smaller in size. These include 1/221 or 1/350 scale models. These are cheaper to get and can be easier to store in many cases. Smaller models are also cheaper than larger ones in a majority of cases.

What types of planes can work?

Diecast airplanes can come in a number of different forms. For example, some of these diecast toys can include models of commercial airplanes from a variety of different airline companies. These include both modern and classic designs.

Other airplanes can include military planes from all over the world and from many times in history. These include planes like fighter jets, helicopters and cargo jets.

Convenient stands can work for many of these toys

A nice stand can be used to support one of these toys. A proper model airplane stand can come with some of these diecast panes. This stand can be used to simulate a plane in the air to show what it would look like when in motion. This can be used to add to the appeal of the plane and to even show off some of the details that are on the underbody of the plane. The details that can be showcased can vary by each model plane that one can get.

Diecast Toys Can Include Diecast Airplanes

Author writes for Diecast Toys and Diecast Frontload Trash Truck.

Parts Of A Helicopter You Need To Identify

2011-05-23T20:50:00.001-07:00

A helicopter is one useful vehicle that one can use to travel in different places. It can transport you to places that do not have their own airports since these helicopters can land in an area for as long as it is flat and is free of any obstruction. Helicopters are being used in a lot of ways. It is very useful in military operations and even in rescue missions during calamities. There are commercial companies who rely much to helicopters too. Igor Sikorsky is the one who is being credited for the invention of the modern helicopters we have these days. A person who is much interested in buying a helicopter or who is just fond of these must know the different parts that make up a helicopter. To know the parts, you will need to be guided on how to do it right.

THE COCKPIT

Military Cargo Plane

It is very important that you know where to locate the cockpit. The cockpit is located on the front area and is considered to be the most important compartment of the helicopter. In this area, you will see two doors and two seats for the helicopter pilots. There are controls that you will also notice. This is where you will find the rudder pedal. The pedal is the that can control the movement of the helicopter from left to right.

CABIN OR CARGO

At the back of the cockpit, you have to know that this is where the cabin or cargo is can be located. Passengers can sit on the cabin. On the other hand, this area is called a cargo if the helicopter is being used in freight. The cabin or cargo is a big part of the body of the helicopter which is collectively know to be the fuselage.

ROTORS

It is time now that you stand away from the helicopter for you to see the rotors of the helicopter. A main rotor can be found on top of the helicopter itself. As the blade turns around, the power increases and thus the helicopter can now be lifted off the ground. Another rotor can be found at the tail of helicopter. Its main function is to prevent the helicopter from rotating as the main rotor rotates.

OTHERS

It is very important that you know where to locate the engine of the helicopter. Most of the time, it can be seen below the main rotor. Some manufacturers place the engine at the back of the cabin. This is the heart of the helicopter since this part is one of the most important. Try to look at the bottom part of the helicopter. this is where you will find the landing skids.

If you plan of buying a helicopter, you will need to identify first the parts of the helicopter. it is not that hard since the helicopter is just a small vehicle. To be able to do things in the best possible way, you may follow the tips mentioned for you to do the right thing as always.

Parts Of A Helicopter You Need To Identify

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Truck Games For Enjoying Double Fun and Adventure

2011-05-22T19:20:00.001-07:00

Playing truck games can be double fun than using mini driving games. Those little car games often become a stuff of boredom after playing for some time. Users can try unique virtual truck driving to keep up the excitement of online driving games. There are many driving and racing games that involve driving on nasty roads. Truck driving can be more exciting than other four wheeler games. Even after dominating over road tracks and competitors one has the risk of getting his virtual giant vehicle to get knocked by another one. Controlling a giant truck wheeler on a hazardous track is a great adventure. New players need a little practice before getting involved into serious and competitive truck games.

Nearly all versions of truck gaming have practice facility to master over challenges of truck driving. Users playing these online games on a desktop will have to create perfect coordination between the use of arrows keys, mouse and space bar. The best way to attain perfection in virtual truck driving games is to watch introduction play trailers on their website. Many online gaming websites are now displaying attractive 2D and 3D animation trailers which appear like a real movie flash. More advanced truck gaming versions have arrived in the market to challenge skills of speed and driving in users. Advanced playing stages with more road obstacles and risks of meeting with online accidents are exciting features of new versions. Many truck games provide facility of changing weather and road conditions to players. So users can drive trucks online according to their skill and capacity to accept challenges.

Military Cargo Plane

Highly sophisticated versions of truck games feature modern 3D graphics to make movie animation more attractive. Many players can find advanced options of shifting gears and changing speed while driving. Kids can get special delight by playing online games involving truck driving. There is a game called monster truck racing. Players can enjoy it by selecting the color, design and shape of the truck along with its engine and springs. The players can use different types of gaming keys to control their trucks with driving conditions. Different levels of difficulty can be selected in these kinds of truck games. Points can be earned by exhibiting stunts while playing such games.

There are some gaming versions that involve using trucks for delivering goods without any accident or loss. Players have to drive trucks on the screen through all sorts of unfavorable landscapes. Some playing versions involve users to act as firemen. They will have to drive trucks at the fire sits by operating keys and have to extinguish the fire by pressing the mouse. Truck mania is an easy means of virtual playing for kids. Users have to ride trucks on different terrains and roads without damaging the cargo goods placed on them. Different levels of play can be selected. After clearing each gaming stage successfully players earn points. Virtual truck driving is indeed a great pleasure and indoor adventure for those users who want to experience driving heavy four wheelers.

Truck Games For Enjoying Double Fun and Adventure

Playing truck games mean enjoying pleasure of driving on tough terrains and fighting all challenges on the path. These can be more interesting than driving cars on a video screen. Many advanced versions are there for adults and kids.

Radio Controlled Construction Toys - The Most Versatile Models Of The Remote Control Vehicle Family

2011-05-21T00:30:00.001-07:00

RC construction equipment gives you a wide range of activity that you'll find with no other remote control vehicle.

Collect a fleet of airplanes and you're limited to things you can perform in the sky.

Military Cargo Plane

With your stunt planes, and military planes, you can stage an air show.

True, your imagination can make that show hours long, and full of fun. But in just a few aerobatic exhibitions those stunt planes perform every maneuver they're capable of. After that your flights become repetition.

The same concept holds for your military birds. You can fly only so many bombing and strafing runs, and even dog fights, before the crowd starts yawning.

Helicopters keep you busy for a while as you test your skills at hovering over a specific spot, and see who does that best without slipping sideways, and off target.

What about your boats?

Set your sailing boats afloat for a regatta, and you have a racing event that lasts for an hour or so. Bring out the racing boats for high-speed competitions on straight runs and pylon maneuvering, and the action is over even faster.

Boats give you long lasting options when you create a harbor atmosphere.

The fire, rescue, and police boats work emergencies. Pleasure and cargo boats share the water, and constantly weave around each other cruising toward their destinations. Your Coast Guard vessels cruise around protecting the harbor, and watching for boats carrying contraband, or otherwise breaking the law.

Remote control cars do have many different options for you.

You have family models for driving around the city, and taking road trips. Your racecars give you a few hours of fun at your drag strip and racing ovals. You can roar out into the desert, or the sand dunes, with your buggies.

With RC monster trucks you have your rallies where you jump over dirt piles, crush cars, go mudding, and compete in hill climbs. You haul cargo with the semi-trucks, delivering your loads to different destinations. And you service your community with the fire trucks, ambulances, garbage trucks, and tow trucks.

You'll have fun with those activities only so long.

And every one of those activities depends on the remote controlled construction toys for the places where you play with them.
With the semi-trucks you deliver the construction equipment to the job site. With excavators you clear and level land for buildings, lakes or ponds, airstrips, truck rallies, and racetracks. With loaders you remove the excess dirt and load it into the waiting dump trucks, and loaders work as graders to scrape the construction site level. The dump trucks haul the dirt away to a fill area for dumping. Forklifts unload the semi-trucks that deliver building materials. Cranes lift the materials to the upper levels of the construction effort. And the cement mixers bring in the concrete to pour the foundations.

Before you play with all those other RC models you need places to hold your events. First you build the cities, airports, hills for climbing, arenas for monster truck rallies, lakes and harbors for boating, and the racing ovals and strips.

And you build those centers with your RC construction toys.

Radio Controlled Construction Toys - The Most Versatile Models Of The Remote Control Vehicle Family

Find more RC construction vehicles at Joe's RC construction toys website, and a variety of RC cars, trucks, boats, airplanes, helicopters, motorcycles, and military models at http://www.radiocontroltoysfromfse.com.

The History Of Pin-up

2011-05-19T21:20:00.001-07:00

Theda Bara. Dorothy Lamour. Betty Grable. Jean Harlow. Vivien Leigh. Greta Garbo. Elizabeth Taylor. Jayne Mansfield. Twiggy. Farrah Fawcett. And, of course, the magnificent Marilyn Monroe.
They came from different eras, from 1910 until the 1960's. They were beautiful, alluring, and represented the "ultimate woman." Pin-up girls were posters that represented every man's dream of the perfect woman! These pin-ups graced the lockers of high school boys, calendars, and the American soldiers of World War II's bunk rooms. Far from home, the G.I.'s treasured pin-up girl posters; they gave the soldiers something beautiful and sexy to see instead of their all-male comrades, not to mention the misery and graphic violence of war. Army Air Corps pilots, who risked their lives every day, developed "nose art" that was beautifully painted upon the outside cockpit of their fighter, bomber or cargo airlift planes. In addition to stunning depictions of fierce, snarling animals like tigers, eagles and sharks, pin-up girls frequently graced the noses of U.S. aircraft. And in 1941, test pilot Chuck Yeager first broke the sound barrier in a jet he decorated with a gorgeous pin-up of his wife, naming the plane "Glamorous Glynnis."

In 1947, the Army Air Corps officially became the United States Air Force. Nose art, especially that of vintage pin-up girls, continued to grace the outside cock pits of the best and fastest aircraft in the world. But times change, as does "political correctness." Thirty years later, in the beginnings of awareness of the sexual harassment and exploitation of women, nose art was officially banned by the USAF, and this pin-up art vanished forever. It's only seen now in museums depicting the lives of servicemen in ages gone by.

Military Cargo Plane

Several sources cite the top three pin-up girls as Betty Grable posing provocatively in a one-piece bathing suit, Marilyn Monroe's revealing skirt "blow up" from The Seven Year Itch, and Farrah Fawcett as she appeared in TV's "Charlie's Angels." But it doesn't end with the beautiful and sensual pin-up girls; the past decade has given us pin-up men as well! Handsome heartthrobs Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt and Fabio adorn the walls of many a teenage girl's bedroom. Also popular in modern pin-up art are rock singers Ozzy Osbourne, Zakk Wylde, Steven Tyler, and the enormously popular cross-over group, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Pin-up art reached its heyday during World War II, and art experts say that it will never quite be the same again. During this time, every female star in Hollywood had aspirations of becoming a popular pin-up art subject; this was part of their formula to successful movie careers. Today you can find vintage pin-ups on the Internet that are of fine quality and evoke memories of days long gone.

The latest version of this article with any corrections, is located at the history of pinup.

The History Of Pin-up

Martin Castin is a pin-up afficianado. He has walls full of this glamorous art, from the past and present. You can find pin-up stories at Pinup Ferret, and buy a piece of this beautiful genre at the Pinup Auctions.

The First Western Women To Travel To Nepal-Read What One Of Them Had To Say

2011-05-18T15:50:00.001-07:00

Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of Sketchandtravel and Bookpleasures is honored to have as our guest author and writer, Sally Wendkos Olds.

Sally has written about family, children, women, relationships, sexuality, psychology, health, and travel, and has authored several books.

Military Cargo Plane

Sally has also contributed articles to: McCall's, Ms., New York Times Magazine, Redbook, Woman's Day, and many other major publications.

In 1993 Sally and artist Margaret Roche trekked to the remote village of Badel located in the eastern hills of Nepal. They were the first western women to go there.

Norm:

Sally, could you tell our readers something about yourself and why you wanted to trek to Badel? How many times have you returned since your first trip?

Sally:

I had trekked in Nepal twice before with my husband, Mark, who was fulfilling a boyhood dream by going there. In 1987 we went to the Annapurna region and in 1991 to the Everest area, and I fell in love with this little Himalayan kingdom.

I became entranced by the remarkable sweetness and cheerfulness of the Nepali people. In spite of their poverty and hard lives, none of the Nepalis I had met showed bitter, hostile, or even resigned faces to the world. I wanted to learn more about them - and I wanted to learn what they could teach me. I eventually did both.

Mark, whose knee gives him trouble, did not want to go back to Nepal. Through serendipitous circumstances (which I describe in the book) I met Margaret Roche, an artist who had also trekked in Nepal several times, and we decided to go together to a remote hill village and stay with local families. We went to Badel for the first time in 1993, and we returned together three more times, plus one trip each on our own. I have now been to Nepal seven times.

Norm:

Where exactly is Nepal, as well as Badel? How easy or difficult is it to travel to Nepal and what can travelers expect once they are there?

Sally:

Nepal is a narrow, crescent-shaped country about the size of Florida, with a population of about 27 million. It lies north of India and south of Tibet, separated from it by the Himalayas, the youngest and highest mountain range in the world. It's easy to get there if you don't mind multi hours in the air and in airports changing planes. Getting to Kathmandu, the capital, from North America involves about 20 hours of flying time. Badel, in the eastern hills due south of Mount Everest, is reached by a 35-minute flight from Kathmandu to a small airstrip in the village of Lamidanda, and then by a three-day trek, since there are no roads into the village.

Kathmandu is a lively, crowded city of half a million. It's full of the roar of motorcycles; the beeping of horns by taxi drivers swerving around sacred cows resting in the middle of busy thoroughfares; and men and boys trying to sell you carpets or hashish or the all-purpose nostrum "tiger balm," change dollars on the black market, or take you for rickety rides in bicycle rickshaws.

Much business takes place on the street - and also in the many shops and in the restaurants serving cuisines from around the world. Religion too takes place in the streets, dotted with Hindu and Buddhist shrines and temples.

Norm:

I noticed you had written an article about a Himalayan Seder-Passover in Kathmandu. What was this all about?

Sally:

For about the past dozen years a group of Lubavitchers from Brooklyn (New York) have held an annual Passover celebration on the grounds of the Israeli Embassy in Kathmandu, flying over some 250 frozen kosher chickens, countless jars of gefilte fish, and scores of boxes of matzo.

Israel and Nepal have cooperated with each other since 1960, and Nepal is a popular travel destination for young Israelis, especially after they complete their military service. About 1,000 Israelis come to this seder every year, and in 1993 I was lucky enough to be able to join in.

Norm:

As many of our readers are interested in romantic destinations, could you describe some unique and romantic destinations in Nepal, and would you recommend Nepal as a romantic destination?

Sally:

I would recommend Nepal as a romantic destination for any couple who enjoy visiting exotic cultures and getting to know each other in a totally new environment.

* Those who like hiking, camping, and the beauties of nature can experience all these in Nepal. Kathmandu, the capital, offers 5-star hotels and simple guesthouses, top-flight restaurants, gorgeous Himalayan vistas, artistic splendour, and fascinating sight-seeing and cultural opportunities.

* Pokhara, in the geographic center of the country, is known for its stunning natural beauty, with a gentle climate, tropical flowers, a sapphire lake, and magnificent mountain views.

* At Chitwan National Park in the south, you can ride on elephants, go white-water rafting, see tigers, rhinos, and some fifty other kinds of mammals, as well as 400 species of birds.

* The world-renowned Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge provides luxurious accommodations and food, and a number of more modest lodges are in and just outside the park.

* Along popular trekking routes you can either camp out in tents or stay at teahouse-lodges, some of which are high-end, while others are humble. Tour agencies can make all your arrangements for any of these destinations, or you can go independently and hire your own guides.

Norm:

You are the author of a book entitled, A Balcony In Nepal: Glimpses Of A Himalayan Village. Could you tell us something about the book and what made you want to write the book?

Sally:

The book is about the way of life in Badel, a remote hamlet in Nepal's eastern hills, and how Marge Roche and I were affected by our visits with the people there.
Through our guide, Buddi Rai, the first university graduate from Badel, we were able to meet and talk with the village midwife, headman, school- teachers, shamans, and other citizens. We learned about marriage, birth, death, and many other customs. Some of the people we met have been immortalized by Marge's graceful drawings and water- colors, which are in the book.

At first we thought this way of life would go on forever, but now I wonder whether we may have witnessed the twilight of a changing way of life. The nine-year-old insurgency in Nepal by Mao-inspired guerrillas, has affected village life and sent many villagers to new lives in the cities. Still, some aspects of life in Nepal's many regions without electricity or roads will probably endure for years. And once peace returns, the inherent sweetness and friendliness of Nepal's people will, I am sure, have survived intact. I have to add here that although the rebellion has sparked violence in many outlying areas, no tourists have been targeted, and visitors from around the world continue to come to Nepal to experience its many treasures.

Norm:

As a follow up, can you explain some of your research techniques, and how you found sources for your book?

Sally:

For this book, unlike the other nine I have written, most of my research involved living in the country and observing the people and events around me. I was what anthropologists call a "participant-observer."

Although I took a few lessons in the Nepali language before I left the U.S. most of my conversations with local people were translated by Buddi, our guide, who speaks excellent English. My sources were right there in the village. I did expand my knowledge of Nepal's history and culture by reading scholarly books, most of which I purchased in the excellent English-language book stores in Kathmandu. Through them I learned about the Gurkha soldiers, the many different ethnic groups in Nepal, the succession of rulers, and other aspects of the country and her people. I'm happy to say that A Balcony in Nepal has been republished in India for the Southeast Asia market and is now available in Kathmandu.

Norm:

What challenges or obstacles did you encounter while traveling to Nepal? How did you overcome these challenges?

Sally:

The main challenge was the physical one. Before every trek I trained for months. I hiked on hills and walked up and down flights of stairs (up to a total of 1,000 steps), so that I would be able to master the endless hills of Nepal. (You don't have to be a super-athlete, however; I was 53 years old when I first went, and 70 on my last trip.)

I also needed to be immunized against a number of diseases. And I always took with me supplies of medicines, including antibiotics against intestinal and respiratory illness, some of which I did experience. I also took out travel insurance in the remote possibility that I would need to be helicoptered out of a remote location.

Once there, as in any Third World country, I was careful about what I ate and drank, and I made sure to get enough rest after the strenuous days of trekking. For the most part, I'm happy to say that I stayed in good health and returned safe.

Norm:

Since the first time you traveled to Nepal, what changes have you noticed over the years with each of your return adventures?

Sally:

When I first went to Kathmandu in 1987, the streets in Thamel, the back-packer neighbourhood where I have always stayed, were dirt roads; now they are paved. Garbage pick-up was a matter of stray dogs and sacred cows eating from piles in the streets; now trucks come by every morning.

The number of gourmet restaurants, high-end shops, and 5-star hotels has mushroomed over the years. Communication with the outside world has become more widespread with the advent of email and the Internet, and the cities are full of inexpensive cyber-cafés. In the villages solar power has enabled the use of house lights and television sets.

One change in Badel was brought about with Marge's and my help - we raised money to fulfill Buddi's dream to start a library in his village, and we saw it in operation. Another change I wrote about in the book was the plastic surgery that corrected cleft lips in two village children - and gave them new smiles and new lives.

Norm:

When did your passion for writing begin? What kept you going?

Sally:

As a child I wrote poems and stories, and in college I majored in English Literature, but my real passion for writing did not begin until after my first child was born, and I began to write articles about infant care. I went on to write about women's and children's health, and other subjects including the civil rights movement, in which I was involved.

My first book was about breastfeeding, a topic close to my heart, since I had nursed all three of my children and found it a fulfilling experience. The Complete Book of Breastfeeding was published in 1972, has gone into three revised and updated editions, sold about two million copies, become a classic in the field, and is now being read by the daughters of the women who read the first edition. Sometimes when I have a bad day at my desk I look around my office and see the covers of the ten books I have written, and I get the confidence to go on with whatever I am struggling with at the moment.

Norm:

I understand you are familiar with some wedding venues in Vietnam. Perhaps, you could describe one or two and indicate why they are unique?

Sally:

In February 2005 Mark and I visited the city of Dalat, the "jewel" of Vietnam's central highlands. It was a popular hill station when the French controlled Vietnam and is now a favorite honeymoon spot for Vietnamese couples.

Dalat has been called Le Petit Paris, the City of Eternal Spring, and the City of Flowers. It boasts a miniature Eiffel Tower, a beautiful lake, lush gardens, a golf club, and hotels ranging from modest to magnificent. Side trips include a tour of an emperor's summer palace; a visit to a village populated by the Lat ethnic group; the Valley of Love, with paddle boats, canoes, and motorboats for rent on the lake; and a ride on a cog-railway train to a village with an ornate pagoda.

Norm:

What is next for Sally Wendkos Olds?

Sally:

These days I am juggling three kinds of activities: interviewing fire-fighters for an oral history project; presenting slide talks about Nepal and China and preparing one about Vietnam; and working on the manuscript of a novel that I just resurrected from my file cabinet.

Norm; Thanks once again Sally and good luck with all of your future endeavours.

The First Western Women To Travel To Nepal-Read What One Of Them Had To Say

Norm Goldman is the Editor of the book reviewing site Bookpleasures.com and the travel site, Sketchandtravel.com.

Norm is also a travel writer and together with his artist wife, Lily, they meld words with art focusing on romantic and wedding destinations.

To learn more about Norm and his wife Lily, and to read Norm`s articles and view Lily`s art work click on sketchandtravel.com

Benefits of Independent Truck Companies

2011-05-17T15:30:00.001-07:00

However, when working for the larger trucking companies, truck drivers will often be forced to work long hours and ride unfulfilling routes. Independent trucking companies offer a break from these hardships and allow drivers to work at their own pace.

One question remains: how do independent truck companies find work and beat out the large, reputable corporations? The answer lies with freight brokers. A freight broker is an independent contractor who works with companies in need of their cargo being shipped from one place to another. Freight brokers work on two planes:

Military Cargo Plane

o (1) They develop relationships with clients all over the country and provide trucks to move their goods.
o (2) They work with honest, reliable truck drivers and contact them directly when the companies they represent are ready for shipping.

Starting Your Independent Trucking Company
The first thing you will need to start your business is, of course, a truck. Since money may be an issue when starting off, it is important to remember that even a small truck moving freight short distances is a fine way to build a clientele and develop relationships with freight brokers.

You must also decide what type of trucking company you'd like to have. If you've always been interested in automobiles, you may want to transport luxury cars through state boarders. If you want to be part of the construction field, buying a dump truck might be your prerogative. It is important to decide what your place will be in the trucking world before moving forward.

Distance and time away are also important aspects of independent truckers. For those who enjoy life on the open road, the best choice would be to take longer contracts that keep you away from home for extended periods of time. On the contrary, some jobs will require quick turnaround periods that will allow the trucker to be home with his or her family more.

There are a wide variety of variables that one must consider when building an independent trucking company. Perhaps most important, a relationship with a freight broker in numerous states will help to bring in money from all parts of the country. Remember, the beginning will be tough, but in the long run, the cash will begin to flow and you will soon be your own boss.

Benefits of Independent Truck Companies

There are a wide variety of variables that one must consider when building an independent trucking company. Perhaps most important, a relationship with a freight broker [http://www.coverloads.com] in numerous states will help to bring in money from all parts of the country. Remember, the beginning will be tough, but in the long run, the cash will begin to flow and you will soon be your own boss.

Container Rental

2011-05-16T15:00:00.001-07:00

There are a lot container variations you can rent, they are all designed with a specific purpose and have their own uses.

Types of containers available for Rental

Military Cargo Plane

Intermodal Freight Containers

These are a reusable storage and transport freight containers that are designed for moving raw materials and products between countries or locations. Did you know that worldwide there are already around seventeen million containers (intermodal)

Corrugated Box

These are most common used as shipping containers, they are lightweight and manufactured from corrugated fibreboard, they are more than strong enough to carry (ship_ a wide range of products and the box is also recyclable.

Wooden Box

These were designed for the shipping of dense and heavy products, often used for military shipments.

Crate

These are often made of wood and are larger than the corrugated and wooden boxes and used for the transportation of awkward or heavy items.

Drum

These are made from a range of materials like Plastic, Steel or Fibre. Commonly these containers are used to store or transport granular material and liquids.

IBC (Intermediate Bulk Shipping Container)

IBC's are specifically for the storage and transportation of bulk materials or fluids, made from a range of materials like Composite, Plastic, Stainless Steel, Steel etc. Some of these are also made so they can fold away when not being used.

Insulated Shipping Containers

This is a special form of packaging that is used to ship products that are temperature sensitive.

If you are looking to rent any of the above containers be sure to check around the internet and possibly in your local area, make sure you rent the correct type that matches your specific needs.

Container Rental

If you are in need of this service check out our product pages, they contain many companies that specialise in this. Wesley Clarke writes about Container Rental. Visit the Businessmagnet product page for details and suppliers of Container Rental.

What to Do When You've Reached Level 60 on CityVille?

2011-05-15T14:20:00.001-07:00

There will be a day when you have reached and exceeded the level of 60, and will have opened most of the houses, decorations, and companies and also carried out the bulk of the missions you need to do in CityVille.

Now is probably the best time to think about how you will continue to play CityVille. A current strategy I am using in the game right now, is concentrating my city on the production of goods.

Military Cargo Plane

Start by building a farm community setting, simply place multiple storage building in your city, use the barn or sticks building for storage and ensure the total storage capacity of the city is 3000 or above. Then put a lot of farm tiles and begin growing pea plants that produce 155 products in 3 days, make sure not to exceed the overall capacity of the storage when growing crops (such as around 19 pea crop tiles per 3000 of entire city storage.)

While you wait for your crops to be ready for harvest, another good idea is to put some piers on the coast of your city, which also add 420 storage capacity per pier to the storage capacity of the entire city. Then simply place the 5 cargo ships around each pier, and then send them to Rome Relics, which will bring 194 products every 3 days. Place extra storage buildings if you feel you need to, so to avoid running out of storage space when unloading the goods in 3 days time.

When your pea crop is ready for harvesting and shipment of your cargo are back and ready for offloading, make sure you have enough energy, then start to harvest the crops of peas and unload goods from all shipping. Once you've done this, you can click on the train station and click on sell and sell surplus goods to your neighbours by sending your freight train. Always make sure not to neglect the businesses in your town and have sufficient goods to cater for them at least once.

By doing this once every three days you will be one of those who makes lots and lots of gold coins, experience points and special items to boost the budget of gold coins for your city, and finally will be able to afford luxury buildings for your city such as the high tower businesses, housing and landmarks.

What to Do When You've Reached Level 60 on CityVille?

If you would like more hints and tips for playing CityVille, then head over to my website which gives unbiased reviews on the Top 3 CityVille Strategy Guides available.

Where Can You Get Huey Helicopters For Sale?

2011-05-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

This helicopter is a multifunction military combat helicopter, which had two civil versions - the Bell 204 and the Bell 205. Anyone searching for a Huey for sale may have a hard time locating one of these rare and discontinued aircrafts.

Developed in 1955 for the US Army back the last Huey Helicopter developed was in 1976. Out of more than 16,000 Huey Helicopters created, about 7,000 of them were used during the Vietnam War. Many brave pilots lost their lives in a Huey Helicopter and some aircrafts were lost with about half due to combat and half due to operational procedures.

Military Cargo Plane

They have long since become a symbol of the USA's involvement in the Vietnam War and Huey Helicopters for sale spark excitement in any pilot who is a war buff. The Huey is one of the world's most recognized helicopters, used for missions of support, air assault, cargo transport, medical evacuation, search and rescue, electronic warfare, and ground attack. Hueys for sale are a piece of American history.

The success of the Huey Helicopter depended on three reasons. First it had an ideal mix of cabin room, speed, and lifting capability. Secondly, the helicopter proved to be a rugged and reliable helicopter in service as it was battle ready and battle tough. Finally, the third reason was that Bell was so popular was its ability to be offered at an attractive and sold overseas.

Today it is hard to find a Huey for sale, but it is not impossible. The Blackhawk Helicopter replaced the Huey after the Vietnam Ware when the US Army phased them but they are still being used today on a limited basis. Other countries who Huey Helicopters are for sale on the open market still use them as well. And they can still be seen in air shows across the country and receive a lot of respect from those who know the history of the Huey helicopter.

Classified online sites such as craigslist are a great place to start searching for Helicopters for sale. They are also most likely to be found on an internet search than anywhere else. Google, Yahoo and other top search engines should produce some great info on these iconic helicopters. Safety should be taken into account when considering looking for a Huey for sale.

Age and condition should be two of the most important factors when searching for this aircraft. Since the youngest Huey aircraft is at least 33 years old and the fact that almost half of them were deployed during the war, it has had its share of battle. A certified aircraft mechanic should thoroughly inspect the aircraft before a purchase is made. Any equipment defects or weaknesses in the plane may be a deal breaker.

Huey Helicopters for sale is like find a sale on a little piece of American history and is popular among many pilots who had relatives who fought in the Vietnam War. They would like nothing more than to find a Huey for sale. They are out there and they are still flying. Do some research and find a solid and safe model to fly and soar the skies - but this time in peace.

Where Can You Get Huey Helicopters For Sale?

Looking to get yourself a Piper Aircraft? If you are interested in Piper Aircraft Clubs please go to piperaircraftreport.com before making your purchase.

Flying the Dakota Into the Sunset

2011-05-11T00:20:00.001-07:00

The Douglas DC 3 and its military variant the C47 made a name for itself in the field of aviation. Nearly 18000 variants of this aircraft saw the light of day. The DC3 popularly called the Dakota was a twin prop piston engine aircraft. It could seat 28 passengers or fully armed troops. It had a cruising speed of 150 Mph and range of over a 1000 miles. Thus it could fly non stop from Delhi to Bombay. I had my first brush with the Dakota when I was in school. A few students including myself were given a joy ride in a Dakota of the Indian Airline Corporation. It was wonderful experience and my love for the good old Dak started from that time.

Induction of the Dakota

Military Cargo Plane

A need for a transport squadron was felt for the Royal Indian Air force, as at the end of the war the RIAF had only 6 squadrons of operational aircraft. The RIAF thus selected the US made Douglas aircraft called the Dakota. It was a good choice as the aircraft had made a name for itself as a rugged and dependable transport plane during the war years, where it had seen service in all theatres of the war.

The first transport squadron was thus raised with a fleet of 10 Dakotas in 1946.Numbered 12 squadron, the aircraft were received by the squadron and training was to commence. However a tropical storm rendered all the aircraft unserviceable, as they were left out in the open. However replacements soon arrived and the first transport squadron of the IAF took wings.

Dakotas in Action in War

Within a year of the induction of the Dakotas in 1946, war broke out in Kashmir between Indian and Pakistan. The Pakistan raiders soon converged on Srinagar and the Indian Government pressed the Dakotas into service. The first batch of Dakotas with troops of the Sikh Regiment took off for Srinagar on 27 October 1947.It was a risky operation as it was not clear whether the airfield was in the hands of the raiders or not. The Dakotas rose to the task and regularly ferried troops into the valley and the safety of Srinagar was secured. It is worth musing over the fact, that the Dakota was also used as bomber on a few missions.

Use of the Dakota

This was just the beginning and after this the Dakota became a standard transport aircraft of the IAF. The Dakota was also used as a transport and cargo carrier during the 1962 war with China. It did a commendable job. But its greatest use was in the east where the Dak squadrons based at Jorhat and Kumbhigran did yeoman service in transporting troops and supplies to distant regions in Assam and Nagaland. Even in the 1971 war the Dakota did good service and one was gifted to the Mufti Bahini and became known as the 'kilo squadron'. It was a modified Dakota and the start of the BAF can be traced to this Dakota.

The Dakota slowly faded out as it was replaced by the Avro748 which was manufactured under license at Hindustan aeronautics. The Daks still continued service with the BSF and paramilitary services. However the era of the Dakota is closely intertwined with the early years of the IAF and for that it will be remembered for ever.

Flying the Dakota Into the Sunset

What You Need to Know About General Aviation Charter Flights

2011-05-09T21:40:00.001-07:00

Many charter flights are part of a large segment of air travel known as general aviation. Most people don't realize that much of the world's air traffic falls under this category. This refers to all flights that are not military, scheduled airline or regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights. In fact, most of the airports in the world serve general aviation aircraft only.

General aviation is very popular in North America where there are over 6300 airports available for use by pilots flying only this type of aircraft. About 5300 of those airports are in the United States, with an additional 1000 in Canada. Scheduled flight aircraft only fly in and out of 600 airports in the United States.

Military Cargo Plane

According to the U.S. Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, this aviation sector provides more than one percent of the United States, GDP (Gross Domestic Product), with 1.3 million jobs in professional services and manufacturing.

General aviation includes charter flight aircraft

General aviation encompasses a large range of activities - both non-commercial and commercial, which includes flight training, private flying, police aircraft, air ambulance, air charter, air firefighting, bush flying, skydiving, gliding, and many more. In recent years experimental aircraft, light jets, and light-sport aircraft have become popular trends.

Business aviation meets needs of fast paced world.

This business aviation segment provides important companies in America with fast and efficient air services enabling them to succeed and compete in the US and around the world. American companies use these aircraft to visit to their sister companies and factories, make business sales calls, and fly employees between different locations.

Business charter flights are fast and efficient

General Aviation boasts a business aviation fleet of 231,607 aircraft and the United States has nearly 20,000 public and private use airports and heliports which enable employees from small companies to get to the right place at the right time. Such flights are vital to meeting business needs in a fast paced world.

In addition, the passengers have access to over 5,000 public-use local and regional airports that offer support services including fueling, for business aircraft. These smaller airports are often located near the country's top business centers.

In contrast, commercial airlines serve only 565 large airports, with 70% of airline traffic going to only 30 major airports. Flying commercially in and out of these large airports requires that passengers allow for extra time to get through security, get to connecting flights, deal with baggage and figure out car rental or ground transportation. Only then can they drive to their final destination.

Many general aviation flights fly more directly to the passenger's intended destination, without all the hassles and stress of major airport flights. Most of their passengers are professionals and middle managers or staff who may need to fly between company sites or customer locations. Business aircraft also fly customers to factory tours and product demos.

GA aircraft and helicopters are in use to find natural energy reserves, and oil drilling crews use them on ocean platforms in remote areas for supply deliveries and emergency medical evacuations.

What You Need to Know About General Aviation Charter Flights

Find out more about a private Boston charter flight - leaving when and where you like, from the Boston area. For more information visit Adirondack Flying Service - Boston Air Charter at http://www.flyanywhere.com/boston_air_charter/

Military Helicopters - The Ch-53E Super Stallion

2011-05-08T21:00:00.001-07:00

The CH-53E Super Stallion is used by the United States Marine Corps to perform heavy lift missions and the U.S. Navy as an aerial mine sweeper. It's the largest and most powerful helicopter in the United States inventory.

The CH-53E looks very similar to its siblings the CH-53A/G, HH-53C and MH-53. The major difference is this has three engines while other models have two. This provides extra power and redundancy. In fact the CH-53E is able to lift and recover every aircraft in the Marine inventory except the KC-130 Hercules. It's able to lift Humvees, artillery pieces, and the Marine Corps Light Armored Vehicle 25 (LAV 25).

Military Cargo Plane

The Navy version, designated the MH-53E Sea Dragon performs long-range mine sweeping, Airborne Mine Countermeasures missions and heavy lift.

The Super Stallion entered service in 1981 and has served faithfully ever since. The largest operator of it is the Marine Corps who have over 100 in service.

The CH-53E can carry 37 troops without centerline seats installed and 55 combat troops with centerline seats installed or it can carry 32,000 pounds of cargo. It's capable of hoisting up to 34000 pounds. The Super Stallion has a seven bladed rotor system with a rotor diameter of 79ft. It's powered by three General Electric T64-GE-416 turbo shaft engines rated at 4,380 SHP (shaft horsepower) each. It has a maximum speed of 196 mph and an unrefueled range of 540 nautical miles, which can be increased by using in-flight refueling. It's armed with two window mounted 50-caliber machine guns and one ramp mounted gun in the rear. For defense it has chaff and flare dispensers as well as missile warning receivers.

Upgrades to the Super Stallion have included the Helicopter Night Vision System and an improved Forward Looking Infrared Imaging system (FLIR).

Since it entered service the CH-53E has seen action in Beirut, Somalia, Kuwait, Iraq, Bosnia, and Afghanistan. Additionally whenever a U.S. embassy is under imminent threat of attack the Marines use Super Stallions to evacuate embassy personnel.

The CH-53E has a crew of five. Two pilots, a crew chief/right gunner, a left gunner and a tail gunner.

A new CH-53 will soon be in operation with the Marines. The CH-53K. Four of the new Stallions have been built for system evaluation. The Ch-53K will be able to double the payload capability of the CH-53E. It will be powered by General Electric engines and a utilize a new composite rotor system. It has been in service for almost 30 years. It's proven its worth one mission at a time and is a big part of the Marine Corps vertical envelopment warfare doctrine.

Military Helicopters - The Ch-53E Super Stallion

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China Makes Anti-Ship Missile and May Soon Sell That Technology to Other Nation-States

2011-05-07T20:20:00.001-07:00

We have been involved in conflict for all of written recorded history from what we can tell. If history is any indicator of what will happen in the future, we can expect humans to be at war or engaged in conflict well into the future. There is only one problem with that, the weapons are getting so good, and humans are getting so good at killing each other, that this poses a huge problem.

Consider if you will that when humans were fighting with spears and knives, and rocks it was much harder for them to kill each other, it's a lot of effort, preparation, training, and humans didn't live all that long back then so the ages of that high testosterone were shorter and slow travel meant there would be fewer wars, less frequent. Back then there were also a lot less humans on the planet, so maybe it's a good thing they didn't have modern day weapons, because they could have easily wiped themselves out.

Military Cargo Plane

Today we have 7 billion people on the planet and growing, but the weapons of mass destruction including nuclear, biological, and chemical are completely lethal to large populations in countries. Even the weapons we have for conventional warfare which we would consider machine guns, tanks, planes, submarines, and ships are quite accurate and devastating. Consider if you will, the newest technologically with advanced anti-ship missiles.

Interesting Article in Defense Professional about India's new aircraft carrier, the article title was; "China's Anti-Ship Missiles May make India's 2012 Gorshkov Aircraft Carrier Unusable in War," and that really is an issue isn't it. If India goes to war with China, but also consider that China may get busy selling this missile to other nations such as Iran, Pakistan, North Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, etc.

If anti-ship missiles get in the hands of pirates in Somalia, terrorists, or rogue nations, and especially anti-ship missiles of that caliber, which China is making, this changes the dynamics of war, and makes things completely dangerous for soft targets. For instance, targets such as tanker ships carrying oil, what if they were to blow one up in the Suez Canal, the Panama Canal, or any other enclosed area? We already know that oil spills cause tremendous environmental and local economic damage.

But what if they block off choke points, places we need to move international shipping, trade, food supplies, and resources? Whereas, the United Nations is worried about chemical, biological, nuclear, and gas air weapons, as well as landmines and other things, maybe we need to add to the list these high-tech anti-ship missiles which can take out an aircraft carrier, a cruise ship, a ferry, an oil tanker, or a large cargo ship. That is serious business, and we should be thinking here.

China Makes Anti-Ship Missile and May Soon Sell That Technology to Other Nation-States

Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes it's hard to write 20,000 articles; http://www.bloggingcontent.net/

Flying to Oaxaca Is Exciting: Hierve El Agua From the Cockpit of a Piper Is Plain Exhilarating

2011-05-06T20:00:00.001-07:00

When Tom Penick emailed me and indicated that he would be flying to Oaxaca in his own airplane (actually co-owned with others), and that he wanted to see Hierve el Agua from the plane, I knew that if I could swing a ride with him it would be an experience I would not likely have during the balance of my lifetime.

Hierve el Agua is a site just beyond the central valleys of Oaxaca, at approximately 6,500 feet above sea level. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons it's passed up by the lion's share of tourists visiting Oaxaca. It consists of bubbling, mineral rich springs which feed two man-made pools suitable for a refreshing swim, and a couple of petrified "waterfalls," all located in an absolutely breathtaking mountain setting.

Military Cargo Plane

Tom Penick owns a popular website (tomzap.com) designed to assist travelers interested in learning about and visiting one of three states in Mexico which border on the Pacific; Jalisco, Colima and Oaxaca. While he gathers a lot of information about these states from third party sources, he likes to periodically update his website by personally visiting the regions where he has gained some expertise. For Tom's February, 2011, sojourn to Oaxaca, he was accompanied by his wife, Nancy, and spry, delightful, 96 - year - old mother, Doris.

My wife Arlene and I had decided to invite Tom and family over to the house for drinks and botanas, simply as a nice gesture, since as is the case with so many of us in the age of email, facebook and twitter (I must confess I abhor the latter two), I had come to know Tom and Nancy quite well over the past few years, but only online through advertising on tomzap.com, submitting articles to his website, and more generally as a consequence of passing on information about Oaxaca to Tom for publication.

Sometime in the course of that evening of chatting and indulging in food and drink with Tom and Doris (Nancy had been ill so could not join us), Arlene and me, and our friends Pilar Cabrera and Luis Espinosa (of La Olla restaurant and Casa de Los Sabores Cooking School), Arlene mentioned to Tom that I was hoping to accompany him to Hierve el Agua. I had not planned on broaching the topic that evening, even though I had mentioned to Tom in the course of emailing, that I would love to see the site from his plane.

As I was dropping off Mr. Zap and his mother at their hotel at the conclusion of our evening together, Tom said that the only day he would be able to take me to Hierve el Agua was Monday. "Tell me what time and I'll be by to pick you up and we can head to the airport," I replied excitedly.

The small Mexican domestic airlines which fly to and from Oaxaca and both Puerto Escondido and Huatulco (the two major Pacific coastal resorts in the state), Aerovega and Aerotucan, take off in the mornings, as early as 7 a.m., although at times weekend flights leave around noon. Wind currents over and between the mountains tend to pick up in the afternoon, and accordingly morning flights reduce the likelihood of significant turbulence and make for more comfortable and enjoyable flying. Tom suggested I come by for him at 8 a.m.

The Oaxaca airport is comprised of two terminals, the large one for international and domestic commercial jet air travel, generally used by planes which can accommodate at least 50 passengers; and the small one for the military, sometimes cargo, short haul runs by small airlines such as Aerovega and Aerotucan, and for small private planes. A perk of using the small terminal is that parking to pick up and drop off passengers and when you're off for a short flight in a private plane, is free. The air of informality is also pleasing, of course not extending to matters of safety and security.

With 20 years of flying experience under his belt, including several flights between home state Texas and Mexico, Tom knows the ropes, although his Spanish could use more work than mine. But when flying in Mexico you can get by with little Spanish, since air traffic controllers can communicate in English. Doris and I waited for close to half an hour while Tom attended to the required paperwork and fee payment. We knew that he would have to walk from office to office, but at least the offices were in the same small terminal complex, not always the case.

A glitch arose, at which point I initially thought that we would not be permitted to take off. Tom returned from his final office visit, requesting my assistance as a Spanish speaker. "Alvin, I think I need your help; the guy upstairs says that foreigners are not allowed to just take off in a plane for a little sightseeing trip; you have to be going somewhere and land there."

I accompanied Tom to the upper deck, where we met with Juan, in apparent charge of such matters, and the one who had moments ago turned him away. I initially thought that flashing my permanent Mexican residency card would work since in many cases being a resident trumps the FM - 2 and FM - 3 visas which are held by most foreigners living in Mexico; but in this case it just wasn't good enough. I then asked if this was a rule specific to the state of Oaxaca, or just to this airport, but received no reply. I indicated that Capitn Tom had gone on similar short flights, up the coast leaving from both Puerto Escondido and Huatulco airports, always receiving the required stamped permission.

We were not prepared to take "no" for an answer, at least not so easily, so we held our ground until Juan said "then you'll have to speak to the comandante." While we walked across the hall I began fidgeting in my pocket, looked for a couple of bills, of denominations not too large. "This pilot wants to fly to Hierve el Agua and then come back, but I already told him our rules," Juan explained. I piped in, "yes, we just want to go out there for a little while, take some photographs of the beautiful scenery, and come right back."

My interchange with the comandante went something like this:

"No, no, no, you're not allowed to take photographs from up there without a permit."
"Okay, can we fill in a form and get a permit?"
"You have to go to Mexico City for such a permit."
"Well, what if we put our cameras in the car, can we then go?"
"I didn't say you have to put your cameras in the car, just that you're not allowed to take pictures from up there; do you know what I'm telling you? It's for reasons of national security."
"Okay, so you're saying that we can go to Hierve el Agua, but we simply cannot take any photographs."
"That's right; so Juan, please take these two gentlemen back to your office and complete the paperwork."

I didn't even have to take my hand out of my pocket, and the rule against foreigners going up for a short flight and returning, was never discussed with the comandante.

But Juan did not like the way the flight plan had been filled in by the official in the SENEAM office. He had printed the 25 nautical miles we would be flying, and the direction, and then in parentheses indicated Hierve el Agua. "The form must be completed again, omitting the words Hierve el Agua," Juan demanded. Tom began to ask me if I would suggest to Juan that we simply cross out those three words and initial the change. I explained that here in Oaxaca, in almost all instances you cannot make changes to the face of any official or quasi - official document; initialling does not remedy a defect. Documents are king; they are sacred, have a life of their own, and must not be torn, altered, smudged.

Tom went to two of the offices he had previously attended, then returned to Juan and had a fresh flight plan stamped. We were ready. We went through security and the x - ray machine, just as one does in any commercial airport terminal.

I had been in a private single engine plane only once before, close to 40 years ago, with a friend who took me for a ride over Lake Ontario. This time I knew to take a Dramamine, early morning flight or not.

For Tom, checking over the exterior of his Piper Arrow II before take - off is second to nature. For me, seeing him carefully examine every screw, wire, hinge, moving part, and fuel - related mechanism was comforting, especially in light of the fact that I had only met Tom once before, and knew little of his personality including any propensity for dangerous or carefree living. But with his dear old mother on board, I knew all would be fine, if not out of concern for me or our pilot himself, then certainly for Dorita.

Two federales approached, weapons in hand, to check over the paperwork as custom dictates. I asked if I could take photos of the plane and they said it was okay, somewhat of a surprise to both me and Tom. I told Tom I would not take photos from the air, since I did not want a problem in case my camera was checked upon our return. I value the privilege of being able to live in Mexico. Tom had an extra memory card, so he put the new one in his camera, the plan being to put the old one back upon our return so that in the event that anyone asked to check his camera, no photos of the flight would appear.

Tom examined the control panel and the multitude of screens and switches in the cockpit, then checked it all again. He explained what a couple of the screens were, but it went in one ear and out the other, except I took note of the LED screen which seemed would be functioning like a GPS. The engine started like a charm, but then Tom realized he didn't have enough space to turn out of the parking area because of the plane in front of us; he turned off the motor: "I guess I'd better get out and push the plane so we can get out of here; and what a pity, since it started so easily, just like that."

After several exchanges in English with the air traffic controller, we were Hierve el Agua bound. I must admit that for me the somewhat wobbly ascent was a bit uncomfortable. I sat beside Tom, feeling a bit like a co-pilot, with my own steering wheel and foot pedals.

Soon enough we were at cruising altitude, Tom and I communicating with our headsets and attached microphones in place, while Doris sat in back, quietly. As we ascended Tom began taking photos, or perhaps he was using the video mode. I didn't ask. Tom would frequently use his camera throughout our flight.

The GPS unit told us how many minutes until we reached Hierve el Agua. Tom had us on a course, but I knew from having driven to the site hundreds of times over the past 20 years, that we were a few degrees off. Tom was relying on his sophisticated navigational equipment, while I was simply looking down at the highway and dirt roads leading to Hierve el Agua; with familiar landmarks including ruins, towns, particular restaurants and mezcal - producing facilities; and mountain peaks I had frequently criss-crossed in my pick - up or the van.

There it was, Hierve el Agua in clear view as we flew over the final mountain top; the poolings of water, the falls, and the newly constructed yet abandoned modern brick buildings and large, concrete swimming pool (one of the white elephant's of the last governor's administration). Of course we could not see the water bubbling up from the ground, nor any tourists milling about, but all the rest was easily visible, even more so as we descended and circled twice.

"Those are all agave espadn fields under cultivation on the surrounding slopes, with pretty well no corn," I explained. There are a couple of towns close to Hierve el Agua, such as San Juan del Rio and San Lorenzo Albarradas, many of the residents of which are dedicated to producing mezcal the old - fashioned way, using firewood to bake the agave, a horse pulling a limestone wheel to crush it after it's been cooked, pine vats to ferment, and a brick, mud and copper still for the final stage of the process.

As we descended into the valley as close as possible to the actual site, the wind took hold of us, making the ride rather bumpy, and my stomach more than a little queasy. As much as I was in awe of the experience, I secretly hoped that two circling downward swoops would be all, and that soon we'd be on our way back. I looked around near my feet, but could not find a bag in case my stomach decided to completely revolt, of course too embarrassed to ask if one existed.

I suggested a little more direct return route than we had used in arriving at Hierve el Agua. Tom complied. In due course we joined up with the main highway, #190, which we had been following for our arrival route. I pointed out Mitla, Dainzu, and the Armando Prieto massive, modern mezcal factory which produces the Zignum brand. We flew over a few housing developments I did not know existed because they were well set back and not visible from the main highway. There were also a couple of expansive green areas which were similarly unfamiliar to me. It was indeed rare to encounter them in the midst of the dry season. They appeared to be sod farms, but confirmation would have to await an exploratory drive through the countryside. Finally, we passed by the pre-Hispanic pictographs on a couple of rock facings, near Yagul and at Xaag just beyond Mitla, which had contributed to the 2011 UNESCO designation of the area as a World Heritage Site.

Our landing was uneventful, except that on our approach Tom did a maneuver known as a "slip," a means of losing altitude more quickly without speeding up. We initially saw four white lights directing us in. The appearance of two white and two red, is a guideline for a happy landing, indicating that the airplane is on a 3 degree glideslope to the touchdown zone of the runway. While I don't thing Captain Tom was aware of my earlier nausea, it was nevertheless kind of him to do whatever was appropriate to reasonably assure a smooth and uneventful return to mother earth.

By the time we had touched down, Tom had already switched his memory cards. No one asked to see our cameras, and we were not approached by federales after landing, a surprise to Tom. He asked airport personnel if there were any further steps to follow before leaving the terminal, and was told we could simply leave. Even for me it seemed unusual that Mexico would permit an airplane to land and park, and its occupants depart the premises, without any checking of anything, by anyone, regardless of the fact that less than an hour ago we had departed. Perhaps our every move had been monitored.

Virtually no tourist to Oaxaca, or resident for that matter, ever has a chance to view Hierve el Agua from an airplane. But those with any opportunity to get to the site the traditional means should not pass it up. Hierve el Agua is one of the premier wonders in all Oaxaca.

Flying to Oaxaca Is Exciting: Hierve El Agua From the Cockpit of a Piper Is Plain Exhilarating

Alvin Starkman operates Casa Machaya Oaxaca Bed & Breakfast ( http://www.oaxacadream.com ). Alvin writes, takes couples and families to the sights in the central valleys of Oaxaca, consults to documentary film companies, and leads culinary tours in the Oaxaca through Oaxaca Culinary Tours ( http://www.oaxacaculinarytours.com ).

German Memories in Asia - Tsunami Memories

2011-05-05T19:20:00.001-07:00

I was a little paralysed over the phenomena, which had suddenly developed in the region by the tsunami tidal waves.

But I took firm hold of my mind and started to speak to people as to what we could do for those who had been affected. I started to phone all my friends who are in influential positions and one was Karu Jayasuriya, a former minister of the Sri Lankan Government for Power & Energy and the Deputy Leader of the main Opposition United National Party. I knew him since he was the Mayor of Colombo.

Military Cargo Plane

I asked him for urgent help for the Mullaitivu area where at least 4000 - 5000 people had died. I had visited that area a number of times when I was an officer at CARE International in the war-torn period. Mr. Jayasuriya said Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena, a former Minister for Refugees and Resettlement was coordinating the Party's Northern relief mission.

When I contacted Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene, he showed a great interest and told me there was a German NGO unloading plane load of goods and medicines from Germany to distribute among the tsunami affected people. He told he was planning to visit to North and asked me to coordinate with the Northern Relief Mission.

As the Mullaitivu region was under LTTE control, I spoke to Thaya Master, the LTTE media spokesman and a member of the LTTE's Peace Secretariat. The Peace Secretariat was formed after the Ceasefire Agreement was signed by then Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the LTTE's leader Vellupillai Prabakaran. I finalized with him the arrangements for our visit which would take place in a couple of days time regarding the accommodation for visiting German team.

Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene asked me to visit where the plane-bound cargo containers were being sorted for various tsunami-affected areas in different shipments. When I visited there I was surprised, there were no labourers, only the German intern students were sorting out and packing goods and medicines.

The following morning we were bound on our northern mission, which recalled my days in the CARE International nearly a decade ago as an officer in the UNHCR funded micro projects to assist locally displaced people by the on-going war.

It was so hard to accept an offer to work in a war-torn area leaving my career at a consulting firm, which was headed by Dr. C. Perumal Pillai, a retired Senior Official at the Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization. There were many things I gained at Dr. Pillai's consulting firm. While on my fund-raising missions, I met the CEO of Colombo-based Deutsch Bank. He invited me very cordially for a discussion and that was my second encounter with Germans. I explained to him the mission of the NGO, an affiliate of the consultancy firm and its various activities. After he listened to the facts he offered a substantial amount as donation within a few minutes of our meeting.

My first experience with German generosity and kindness nearly a decade ago has gone a long way and when I joined with the German relief mission it once again evoked memories in me. As I traveled with Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena, he introduced me to the German team in Dambulla, a sleepy town in the central part of the Island. The first meeting itself helped me a lot to make friendlier encounter with many of the students. I couldn't meet them the previous day, as they were busy unloading and sorting out goods. I met Dietmar Doring, the founder Director of the Asian - German Sports Exchange Program (AGSEP) which was responsible for the shipment of the plane load of goods and medicines from Germany. I spoke to Ramige, a veteran German documentary filmmaker and his team. We have reassessed our plans once again and moved towards the Northern frontiers.

Our six-vehicle convoy was moving in the Alpha-9 highway, which was famous when the military operation was in full swing some years ago. While I was traveling with the German Praktikum (Internship) students, I was wondering again as to what motivated these young students to serve the affected masses in far away destinations in Asia. The same question assailed my mind a decade ago when I met Maura Barry, then Area Director for Kilinochchi for the CARE International at the first interview at the Colombo head office.

I asked her what made her to leave New York, the world's busiest and technology savvy city to Sri Lanka and especially to Kilinochchi, a war-torn area and the Administrative capital of the LTTE, which was so vulnerable to any aerial attacks.

Her answer was more to analyse than to accept the human instinct to help other wherever they were from.

German Memories in Asia - Tsunami Memories

Rajkumar Kanagasingam is the author of the fascinating book - "German Memories in Asia"...A collection of memories by the author in his discussion with German university students who have been volunteering in Asia on the sensitive issues of Early Human Migration, Asian & European historical events especially the German since the Roman Empire era to the times of First & Second World Wars and about the Germans around the world and their Migrations, Life styles, Encounters and Assimilations since the ancient times, his experiences in an American NGO as an officer in the rebel-held war-torn jungles and then in a tsunami relief mission there with German students, and the German students' life and fashion in Asia....

The book could be ordered at over 30,000 retail outlets world wide & is listed on Amazon.com & more...

More about the book: http://www.authorhouse.com/BookStore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=41609

Considerations Regarding Helicopter Fire Fighting

2011-05-04T18:20:00.001-07:00

Helicopters may not look as innovative as compared to other aircraft such as shuttles and jets but for fire fighting purpose, they are the most efficient aerial way for rescue missions. Helicopter fire fighting is seen as the best way to fight against any insurgency in rescue missions. Whether it is a government body, any other administration or some military organization, helicopters play an integral part in all of these organizations.

Fire fighting in big areas such as terrorist attacks and forest fires are the important tasks a helicopter carrier out brilliantly. In such cases, destruction occurs at bigger scales and without effective & quick disaster management techniques, the situation may get worsened.

Military Cargo Plane

One of the efficient ways used by chopper is proper use of water bucket to put off fire. A water bucket is a movable bucket-like structure that is hung below helicopter with cargo hooks. Once emptied, this bucket can be refilled from nearest lake or pond and used again and again. This technique cats brilliantly in times of crisis.

Some Helicopters also use the Bambi bucket which is a bit more advanced as compared to water bucket. Besides water, helicopters also use water enhancers and chemicals such as gels, foams and some formulated fire retardants. These chemicals are specifically made for fire fighting purposes. The foam which is added to these water buckets has concentration levels of 0.5% to 1.0% as per the requirement and need of the situation. Foam tanks need power pumps to operate, though they look like common water tanks.

Helicopter work best when use to survey an entire area & in keeping contact with ground personnel to carry out the fire fighting procedure in an outstanding and fruitful way.

A helicopter starts controlling fire at the heel and then continues along the sides i.e. towards that area where fire is heading.' Heel' stands for the starting point of fire from where fire had originated. A helicopter's pilot also takes into account the direction of the wind because it can cause a damaging effect to entire fire fighting procedure.

Considerations Regarding Helicopter Fire Fighting

For any help on Helicopters, check out the info available online; these will help you learn to find the Helicopter fire fighting!

Military Weapons Sales in Latin America - Who is Russia Selling Military Hardware To?

2011-05-03T18:00:00.001-07:00

For those who follow the global military sales, it is amazing the number of sales happening in the Middle East, but there are also lots of sales going on in Africa and South America. Many believe there are far too many sales going on these days, and yet, the more weapons sold, the more other nations buy more to defend, and we have a run-away ramp up of weaponry. Highly weaponized nations may be more likely to fear political impasse, knowing that if negotiations break down, they can fight?

It's not often you get to talk with a scholar specializing in post cold war US-Russian Relations these days, nevertheless I met my good future in Jesse Giraldo. And as you might have guessed based on the good many articles on Geo-Politics, I surely wanted to get his take on a few things going on in Latin America, a somewhat unlikely place for the Russians to secure client nation flags in the present period. So, I asked Jesse if he had any thoughts on Bolivia's gift from Russia of a Presidential Plane pretending to be a loan.

Military Cargo Plane

Giraldo stated; I didn't hear too much on this, but from what I know I don't recall either parties attempting to conceal the nature of the agreement. To my understanding the original request from Bolivia was for military equipment and asked Russia for a loan to fund the purchase, the plane was also part of the deal. Either way I'm not too surprised seeing as how the U.S and Russia have been locked in an arms race to supply South America for quite some time now. And with the U.S locked in battle with the Middle East it's only natural that Latin countries begin to look to other suppliers for quality grade weapons."

Good points, all of them and yes, I understand the "quality grade" weapons reputation for Russia, but Russia sure sells a lot of its old stuff - except for late model Sukhoi Fighter Jet variations. Of course, economically depressed nations have a hard time coming up with the cash, Venezuela for instance in coming up with the Billion for fighter jets, after oil went to per barrel and now with their nation in economic ruin - currency devaluation - culling of capitalism that's unlikely.

Brazil is looking elsewhere for fighter planes, the US, France and Sweden for instance, at least right now, but likes some of Russia's technology also. India and their deal to make engines for Russian Fighter planes is a significant development, and they do put on a show at Farnborough, Singapore, Dubai, India etc.

Next, both Jesse and I switched gears and he noted, that even Russia's old stuff is valuable on the open weapons markets as he reminds me; "old but effective and at the right price. The AK-47 was developed over 50 years ago and it's still seeing service in nation's armies around the world." And I of course, could not resist at least a bit of sarcasm here; "Indeed, and with terrorists, guerillas, drug runners, pirates, and rogue nation states against their own people," I stated.

Still, Jesse is right when he states; it's only rational for Russia to sell off its outdated equipment, and apparently there's a good deal of demand for it." And I grinned and said; "Yep, they've even managed to sell some of those old death trap submarines too!" The real issue in Latin America was revealed by Giraldo with this comment; "... and Russia has made certain to fill that void. Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and especially Venezuela all have weapons contracts with Russia with new deals on the horizon."

Indeed, I was a bit concerned when Mexico agreed to contract with Russia to maintain airliners, cargo planes, and do the labor for maintenance, as the last thing we need is for a third world nation next door, to be housing large numbers of Russian Aircraft, especially considering the current Mexico Chaos and the possibility of it turning communist, it almost moved that direction during the last Presidential Election. Giraldo agreed; "Yes that certainly would have made relations awkward."

The way I see it, I think we ought to plan for that, Mexico is nearly - by all definitions a failed state, so maybe we ought to also concentrate on what's happening in our own backyard.

Military Weapons Sales in Latin America - Who is Russia Selling Military Hardware To?

Lance Winslow is the Founder of the Online Think Tank, a diverse group of achievers, experts, innovators, entrepreneurs, thinkers, futurists, academics, dreamers, leaders, and general all around brilliant minds. Lance Winslow hopes you've enjoyed today's discussion and topic. http://www.WorldThinkTank.net. Have an important subject to discuss, contact Lance Winslow.

Drugs, CIA, And USA - Mena, Arkansas Coverup

2011-05-02T17:00:00.001-07:00

I watched a very disturbing and enlightening video about drugs, the CIA, and American governmental corruption last night. The title is CONSPIRACY, THE SECRET HISTORY, SECRET HEARTBEAT OF AMERICA - The C.I.A. & Drugs. New Science Ideas is the producer. Every American should watch this video.

It seems people overseas know more about the CIA than most Americans. Of course there is a reason for this. Our media is censored in the name of "national security" matters. National security, as you will learn, is a subject that shows up in the weirdest places.

Military Cargo Plane

The drugging of America costs us more than billion a year and has killed more people than the Vietnam war. Who profits and who is responsible? Follow the money.

Ironically when first lady Nancy Reagan was saying "Just say no to drugs." the CIA and Barry Seal were bringing them in from Medellin, Colombia. The agency used the cocaine money once sold in the USA to buy and bring arms to the contras to Nicaragua. Oliver North was heavily involved in the fiasco.

Anyone in Mena, Arkansas who tried to expose this circle of corruption, including the head prosecutor, was threatened or killed. When two young men saw a drug drop by the train tracks in Arkansas, they were immediately knocked off. The cover-up ran throughout local and state government. President Clinton was the Governor of Arkansas at that time. He played along keeping quiet and afterward got lots of drug money donated to his presidential campaigns.

President Bush I was no less guilty as former director of the CIA. His watchful eye and reading of the CIA briefings, which he as a former President still reads daily, makes him equally liable during his tenure as Vice President. At least they got that word vice right?

The people who caused the cocaine epidemic that swept the nation during the 1980s wasn't African Americans in the ghetto. Many of them in those days could barely cash a paycheck, much less smuggle drugs via planes into the country. When the USA has satellite technology capable of reading the writing on a golf ball, there should be no difficulty tracking down the likes of drug smugglers and Bin Laden. That is unless you are covertly working with them.

A three-year investigation into the life and times of Barry Seal, one of the most famous CIA agents and successful drug smugglers in America's history, revealed the extent of governmental corruption throughout America.

When Mena, Arkansas was brought up during the Oliver North trial, suddenly everything went into closed quarters away from the public eye. Why? What does the government know that it doesn't want the American people to know?

When international drug distribution organizations are integrated vertically throughout our government, there is room for concern. Dan Harmon was involved in the obstruction of justice locally n Saline County, Arkansas. He was indicted and found guilty on 5 of 11 charges. Sucking off the tit of shameful governmental secret operations, Harmon was never charged for murder in the two train deaths. After his release from prison, Harmon was promoted. I guess it pays to be connected and play along.

New Orleans attorney Sam Dalton poignantly said, "When the government involves itself in activities like the CIA and starts averting natural events and the natural course of history, that is where the government itself becomes the criminal. This whole thing is hiding in plain sight. If you want a scandal, investigate retired DEA agents net worth and put it together. If the American people don't make the government start behaving soon, we're going to reach the point of no return."

With Barry Seal and the CIA working the drug trade, they found in the deep south some compliant and cooperative governors. Hence the list of later Presidents elected from the south.

The FBI went to the New Orleans police office and seized the trunk and walked out with it, when Barry Seal died. The state judge had to back up attorney Sam Dalton and hold the FBI in contempt of court to get what evidence it needed for discovery. Sam Dalton also wanted to subpoena the CIA, but was unable to do so.

Jaws isn't over until the sheriff meets the shark. Mena, Arkansas proved to be the biggest drop point for drugs in the entire country, a 0 billion dollar industry. It's rather easy apparently to finance a governmental covert operation, when all airport personnel are willing to play along. The secret wars of the CIA 1981-1987 is written about by Woodward. The Clintons were partners in power.

To see the real culprits look around the periphery - not the smoking gun, but the bent twigs. Note the deaths, firings, threats, and attacks upon people in the know. Dan Lasater, a convicted drug dealer, was a big Clinton supporter. Jerry Parks, the head of than governor Clinton's security detail, was killed in a hail of gunfire after telling associates he was a dead man one month after Vince Foster died. Arkansas criminal investigator Russell Welch got poisonous military grade anthrax sprayed in his face for his probe into the coverup.

Arkansas state coroner Bobby Malick (an Egyptian) played right along claiming he never made a mistake in 7000 autopsies. When the two young men who were killed on the train tracks for seeing a drug drop, Malick claimed it was a suicide. When the parents didn't believe it, he decided to tell them the boys had high amounts of marijuana in their systems. However the 2nd autopsy revealed that stabbings had occurred along with a bruise to the face from what looked like the butt of a rifle. The boys lungs had 3 times the normal amount of blood in them, which indicated they were not killed by the impact of a train.

Sheriff Jim Stead, another participant in the coverup, called it a thorough investigation. The boy's mother disagreed considering her son's foot was left laying on the train tracks for 2 days. The green tarp seen by many after the impact of the train also brought into question a government cover-up.

Prosecutor Jean Duffey was one of the few would didn't play along. She was threatened and eventually run out of town. She thought her life was in danger and moved to Houston, TX where she now teaches high school geometry. Duffey was appointed to head a federally funded drug task force in Arkansas. The day she was appointed Gary Arnold walked in and told her she was not to use the task force to investigate any public officials.

Duffey was put in charge of half-a-dozen under cover agents. They couldn't get much above street level buying, but when they started connecting public officials to protecting the drug dealers Dan Harmon's name came up immediately and most frequently. The train deaths became the most famous unsolved mystery in Arkansas history. It received national attention and 1,000 newspapers wrote about it. Possible witnesses however were turning up dead.

Drug drops from low flying airplanes, which local residents reported hearing many nights, were never investigated by any law enforcement agency in the district. The drugs were being dropped in the same vicinity where Kevin & Don had been murdered along the train tracks.

Prosecutor Jean Duffey was the object of a smear campaign. Basically she was getting too close to the 7th judicial district. Hence she was fired in order to cover their asses. In 1991, drug task force secret agent Scott Loellen quit, saying "There is just too much dirt behind the scenes." He served Saline, Grant, and Hot Springs counties. He later bad mouthed the drug task force saying, "That district is immersed in a reign of corruption that has important and powerful connections to political, judicial, and law enforcement officials."

As an under cover officer, Scott gathered evidence of illegal activity, but for some reason the drug task force chose to ignore him. He quit because of the firing of Jean Duffey, the drug task force administrator.

In June 1990, Dan Harmon became the district's prosecutor elect. Harmon's first news conference and interview was entirely used to discredit Jean Duffey, who was disposed of and forced to flee to Houston, TX as her life was in danger.

Prosecutor Dan Harmon was on the tracks the night the boys were murdered. State police also were not doing their job. The mothers of the deceased boys were promised convictions in the 1990 federal investigation, when suddenly Chuck Banks shut down the investigation in June of 1991.

Other bits and pieces of evidence linking it all together was the fact that in the 1980s a former top CIA official kept a 2nd home in Medellin, Colombia.

Some other juicy tidbits of information. Oliver North's 1st national program office was at Laguna Airfield, where 1400 lbs of cocaine was found on the runway.

Southern Air Transport, owned and operated by the CIA, provided the agency a subcontractor for plausible deniability while they dealt in drugs and arms trade. The privatization of American intelligence is the way the agency works.

The British version of 60 minutes, The Big Story, showed the trail of drug smuggling and gun running that led to the door of the White House. It exposed the blundering government coverups spanning seven investigations and some long frustrating years. The show revealing the cocaine connection was immediately banned in the USA within hours of its release.

During the days of the Oliver North trial, some 500 documents were shredded over 3 days. All our enemies knew it, but North wanted to conceal and keep it from Congress. Even surfers in Nicaragua named a surf spot after him do to the agency's base there. As for Mena, Arkansas, it was home to Operation Black Eagle, the most massive covert operation in U.S. history.

1101 Mena St. is the local to the secret history of our life and times as a nation trafficking in drugs and arms. It is a small obscure town in western Arkansas, with a population around 5,000 people. With no tower and monitoring of flights, Barry Seal found Mena to be the perfect place to fly in and out without being recorded. Barry brought up to billion of cocaine into the USA during the 1980s. Mena was where he based his cargo airline and parked his one of three C123 planes that made trips to Colombia and Nicaragua.

The mere mention of Mena has been sending chills down the spines of government propaganda officials for years. It's nice to see the Democrats and Republicans work together on something. The doping of America is truly a bipartisan coverup.

Drugs, CIA, And USA - Mena, Arkansas Coverup

Paul Davis is a highly sought after worldwide professional speaker, purpose coach, and change master transforming organizations and empowering individuals to live their dreams.

Paul is the author of several books including A New Earth; United States of Arrogance; Poems that Propel the Planet; Breakthrough for a Broken Heart; Adultery: 101 Reasons Not to Cheat; Are You Ready for True Love; Stop Lusting & Start Living; Waves of God; Supernatural Fire; God vs. Religion; and many more!

Paul's compassion for people & passion to travel has taken him to over 50 countries of the world where he has had a tremendous impact. Paul's organization Dream-Maker Inc. builds dreams, transcends limitations, & reconciles nations.

Contact Paul to speak at your event or for consulting:

RevivingNations@yahoo.com
407-284-1705

http://www.PaulFDavis.com

Enjoy Remote Control Boats Different Ways - In Different Places

2011-04-22T10:45:00.001-07:00

Are you ready for remote control boating fun?

It's spring, and the rains are filling the streams, ponds, and lakes back to their summer aquatic levels. In some places even puddles grow large enough to float an RC boat - at least the smaller ones.

Military Cargo Plane

Radio control boats come in a wide variety of models, and, depending on the particular model, your RC pleasure comes with any body of water that measures deeper than 6-inches, and an area of three-by-six feet or so.

Enjoy Remote Control Boats Different Ways - In Different Places

Consider the remote control boat options you have access to:

Sailing yachts - for those quiet cruises, and the lack of fumes. Racing boats - from cigar models to hydroplanes to high-speed boats to mosquito craft. Hovercraft - amphibious models that float above water or land. Military vessels - stage a battle at sea, or patrol our shores with a coast guard model. Ski-Dos - perform aqua-batics. Cabin cruisers - live aboard models that navigate the high seas. Working vessels - like a tugboat to steer barges around the harbor, police boats to keep law and order on the water, and fire fighting boats for waterfront emergencies. Submarines - explore the ocean depths.

No matter what your aquatic desires draw you toward, there's a boat waiting just for you.

Do you prefer a leisurely sail, where the only noise is the slapping of the canvas as the wind whips the sails...cracking them to draw the boat forward on its course? Take a dinner cruise along a scenic shore. Breathe the fresh air, untainted by any engine's exhaust fumes.

How about staging an all day racing event. Get your fellow RC boating enthusiasts together for an afternoon of fun. Create different races for the various hull, and power classifications. You'll want a larger body of water for racing activities. Hold sprint racing for the high-speed boats. Create a pylon course for the hydroplanes. Schedule a sailing regatta for the sailboats.

Those mud puddles give many options for the hovercraft. Design an obstacle course combining dirt hills and valleys, mud, and water.

Set up a fleet of aircraft carriers, radio control missile cruisers, and destroyers. Fight high sea battles with enemy fleets. This activity requires the bigger bodies of water too.

You won't need deep water for the ski-do, but to get maximum fun you'll want plenty of space to play with this RC toy.

Cabin cruisers draft plenty of water so you want depth as well as space for their operation. The designers make these remote control boats for party cruising distances.

Ever thought of building a decorative pond in the back yard? Build it big enough to turn it into a working harbor. Design a city on the shore with shipping docks for the big boats to deliver their cargo. Patrol your harbor with police and coast guard vessels, and have the emergency fire and medical boats ready to respond to emergencies.

Submarines are fun to operate, and require a little extra skill, because you control horizontal and vertical navigation. You want clear water to steer your submarine around so you have visible contact at all times. Aquariums work well for RC subs since you get full visibility with the glass sides. And you get boating fun no matter the weather outside with that indoor aquarium.

Spring's finally back, and with it comes the rains. But for you that falling water means fun times. Find yourself a suitable body of water, and have a remote control boating blast.

Enjoy Remote Control Boats Different Ways - In Different Places Minecraft - "Shadow of Israphel" Part 5: Breakfast Distraction Tube. Duration : 15.20 Mins.

Simon distracts Lysander while Lewis attempts to complete Fumblemore's quest. Huge thanks to Yognaut Michael for the intro splash, Variede for the bonus cutscenes and Lalna for all his hard work, help, and superb art. Facebook: www.facebook.com Our Podcast: itunes.apple.com Texture pack is DSB's Gerudoku remix, around page 17 of this thread: www.minecraftforum.net

Keywords: minecraft, adventure, mode, survival, multiplayer, yogscast, beta, israphel, notch, xephos, honeydew, lewis, simon, old peculier, daisy duke, skylord lysander, airship

Joseph Jackson provides information for learning and pleasure to help improve his reader's quality of life.

He also searches for, and makes available, products that improve the enjoyment of his playtime activities.

For more stuff on radio control boats visit Joe's remote control boats website.

For a wide selection of RC models see radio control toys.

Mylin - American Girl with a Great American Story

2011-04-18T23:00:00.001-07:00

Sensational singer, songwriter Mylin is a great American story. Mylin's fifth album, aptly titled American Girl, express her heartfelt story. The title track, "American Girl," is Mylin's autobiography, an uplifting, empowering anthem.

Born in the Philippines to a father in the U.S. Navy and a Filipino mother, Mylin's father was pressured to return to the U.S. without she and her mother. Months later, the day Mylin's 18 y/o father was to ship out, he got into a motorcycle accident. Badly injured in the hospital, he decided he didn't want to spend the rest of his life without Mylin and her mother. They married in the Philippines. Baby Mylin and her mom were flown back to the U.S. in a C-130 military cargo plane, carrying the bodies of deceased U.S. soldiers. The trip took a week and a half. Mylin calls it "the 1st intervention of God" keeping her parents together.

Military Cargo Plane

Mylin accepted Christ at the tender age of 7 and later rededicated her life to the Lord at age 14, just before she was handpicked by Disney, out of tens of thousands of kids across the U.S., to star on the hit television show, and pop-star breeding ground, The Mickey Mouse Club (Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera). After three years starring on the show (which was like the American Idol of today), Mylin was pursued by major U.S. and foreign labels.

Mylin - American Girl with a Great American Story

At age 18, while living in New York, Mylin got involved with what she thought to be a church, which later proved to be a cult. Mylin's parents (who live in FL) drove up to New York to rescue her from that ordeal and brought her home. It was during this time that Mylin grew in her understanding of salvation by grace, after which her burden lifted.

Mylin was sworn in as a U.S. citizen and signed her first record deal with Avex, Inc., one of Japan's major labels. Mylin spent the next four years touring Japan and Southeast Asia, releasing four albums, including a Greatest Hits recording. She sold over 80,000 albums, and was included on over 50 compilation albums, selling over 1 million copies. She topped many international charts, sharing chart space with everyone from Alanis Morissette, Mariah Carey, U2, Sheryl Crow, and Madonna, to Janet Jackson, Linkin Park, and Destiny's Child. Whether she's putting smiles on faces across Japan and Korea, or singing the national anthem at Major League Baseball and NBA games, Mylin's velvety vocals stir hearts and ignite the passion of patriotism.

As the woman within and artist matured, Mylin who plays the guitar and piano, decided she wanted to put pen to paper and take time to express her story, on her terms. Purposing not to compare herself with others, Mylin, finding her security in the Lord, fearlessly began writing songs.

Mylin's trust and willingness to follow God has greatly paid off as she's blossomed into a great entertainer. Her shows have included the Celebrity Theater in Las Vegas, the Key Club at Morongo Casino, Crossroads at the House of Blues in Las Vegas, a show with Beth Hart at Hollywood's The Knitting Factory, Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, and joining Nick Lachey for some shows on his tour, including a 10,000 seat amphitheatre in Georgia and New York City's Nokia Theatre in Times Square.

Due to Mylin's story and the patriotic nature of the title track, and most popular song on her album, "American Girl," she also played a recent show with Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band at the Galaxy Theatre in Orange County, California, and has played six shows at military bases over the last eight months. Mylin has many fans throughout the million-strong U.S. military, who reach out to her from bases around the world, including Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mylin says performing at the military bases is both "heart-warming and heart-breaking" considering the very young married men and their families separated by extensive tours of military duty. Mylin always honors and supports our troops, telling them: "I'm grateful for your sacrifice." Mylin used 3 female Marines from Camp Pendleton (all of whom have been to Iraq) in her American Girl music video. Mylin patriotically says, "We at this time as a nation need to be united."

Mylin's musical platform has enabled her to encourage many military soldiers and families, young girls, and people who write her daily. Mylin lovingly encourages young ladies, "You don't have to dress or be a certain way to impress people. Being secure in Christ is enough."

No stranger to life's difficulties and pain, Mylin wisely says: "Life is not perfect, nor free from challenges. Tough and challenging times often are our best moments as God works it out, brings you through, and forms character in you." Mylin purposefully transcends pain to locate God's plan. She says, "God's will is not always 100% what we want, but as we pray and obediently accept it, we can be at peace and content. It's about following Him and living as Christ would want us to."

"People have to feel it," she says. "They have to know you believe what you're saying. That's when there's a connection with the audience." Mylin has a deep connection with her Creator, which causes her to be congruent in herself and authentic as a performer. Mylin says, "I'd go crazy in the entertainment industry without Jesus."

Mylin unashamedly acknowledges her faith in Jesus as being most important, which enables her to be who she is and where she is in her career. Her husband and family, along with her local church, provide for Mylin the necessary encouragement and accountability she needs to stay straight spiritually and stable in the music industry.

Mylin is a world-class live performer with eternity beating in her heart as she pours all of her energy and emotion into every show. Realizing life is short, that we're "here today and gone tomorrow" (as told in her song Mist), Mylin is making a difference through her music and reconnecting our country to its Creator.

Mylin - American Girl with a Great American Story Halo: Reach - Fails of the Weak Volume 30 (Funny Halo Bloopers and Screw Ups!) Video Clips. Duration : 3.83 Mins.

Jack and Geoff polish off an awesome week with another awesome Fails of the Weak! Enjoy it and don't piss off Kat.

Keywords: Achievement, Hunter, Rooster, Teeth, Bungie, Microsoft, Halo, Reach, Fails, of, the, Weak, Week, Kat, Can, Be, Very, Mean

Paul Davis is a motivational speaker, life purpose coach, worldwide minister, change master, creative consultant, and turnaround specialist.

Paul is the author of several books including Breakthrough for a Broken Heart; Adultery: 101 Reasons Not to Cheat; Are You Ready for True Love; Stop Lusting & Start Living; Waves of God; Supernatural Fire; Poems that Propel the Planet; and God vs. Religion.

Paul's compassion for people & passion to travel has taken him to over 50 countries of the world where he has had a tremendous impact. Paul has served in many war-torn, impoverished and tsunami stricken regions of the earth. His Dream-Maker Inc. is building dreams, breaking limitations & reviving nations.

Paul's Seminars inspire, revive, awaken, impregnate with purpose, impart the fire of desire, catapult people into a new level of self-awareness, facilitate destiny discovery and dream fulfillment.

Contact Paul to minister, speak at your event or for life coaching:

RevivingNations@yahoo.com

407-284-1705

http://www.DreamMakerMinistries.com [http://www.CreativeCommunications.TV]

Planning a Wedding Abroad - Packing Tips

2011-04-17T16:00:00.001-07:00

Packing Tips

1. Climate

Military Cargo Plane

When planning to take a trip, particularly abroad, it's important to know the climate of the area you plan to visit. You may think you already know that summer in America is winter 'Down Under' or that it will probably be hot in Jamaica, but that's not enough. Knowing what climate you will be spending your holiday in can make or break the holiday. To get details on the climate and average weather conditions in any particular area, call a travel agent, consult a guidebook or search the Internet for websites that can give you accurate information relating to the specific area and season. Be sure that the information you receive is up to date, as weather conditions may change from year to year. It may be more difficult to get information on more rural areas but it's worth the effort. You may be able to get a good idea from a neighboring city, but if the area is located in a mountainous region, it may pay to call the local tourism bureau.

Planning a Wedding Abroad - Packing Tips

Why is it so important to know the climate of your destination? There are several reasons. First of all, you may choose to change your plans and pick another site if the climate is different to what you expected. Obviously, the climate affects the items of clothing and accessories you will want to pack for the trip. There may also be medical issues to consider, such as prolonged sun exposure and environmental allergies.

2. Clothes

Packing for a trip can be a tedious and confusing process. This is especially true if you are unfamiliar with the final destination. The process can be even more confusing if you are going to be getting married and attending other events that require a specific type of dress.

Firstly, start off by getting information on the climate of the place to which you plan to travel. This will help to give you an idea of the type of clothing to pack, i.e., summer wear, winter gear, beach clothes, shoes, and so forth. Next, get a sense of the type of clothing you will need. Will the trip be wholly casual? If so, they you'll be fine taking a collection of shorts and t-shirts with a couple of nicer outfits for dinners out or the unexpected invitation. If your trip will contain some formal aspects, be prepared to take several appropriate outfits for the occasion plus one or two extras for the unexpected brunch or cocktail party.

After you have an idea of the type of clothing you will need to decide which pieces to pack. A good rule of thumb is to make a list of everything you think you will need and then lay it out on your bed. Now put half of it back. People always over pack and it is often true that less is more.

When packing, a lack of space is almost always an issue. Here are two tips to reduce the bulk of your clothes and help prevent at least some of the wrinkling that occurs in a suitcase. The first is to use a vacuum-packed plastic storage pack, the second is to roll your clothes rather than fold them. Both methods will save space and prevent you from having to take a larger bag.

3. Activities

When thinking about a holiday away the chances are that you will have planned some activities, from spending the day at the beach to hiking or biking. If you are an adventure junkie, you may want to participate in bungee jumping, rock climbing, skiing or scuba diving. When planning these activities you want to make sure that you will have the time to do the things you want without pressuring yourself to keep to a schedule. It's also important to check that the weather will be conducive to your plans.

If you are planning to participate in any activities that are specific enough to require your own equipment, it is a necessary consideration as to whether or not you will be supplying your own needs or hiring. In some cases, renting equipment may be much easier; providing that it will be readily available and affordable. There will be instances when it would be preferable or even necessary to take your own equipment with you. It's a good idea to check airline and other transportation services for specific regulations and packing tips, as well as additional expenses. You may find that it will save money to use a shipping service such as FedEx or UPS to avoid airport hassles and to save money and transportation issues.

Regardless of the activity, dressing appropriately is very important. Even if the activity is simply strolling on the sand or spending a day beside the hotel pool, taking the right attire can be a crucial factor in enjoying the activity. One of the most important will be comfortable shoes and other appropriate footwear that will make your trip enjoyable.

4. Jewelry and Accessories

If you are planning to get married abroad, then there will be a number of accessories that you'll want to take with you, including some jewelry. Depending on the value of the items, there are precautions you should take to ensure that they arrive at your final destination safely and in one piece.

First of all, you should pack each item in a protective case, preferably one that came as part of the original package. This could be anything from a velvet lined ring box to a hatbox. If the item does not have its own container, it is important that you obtain or make one to transport the item. One wedding accessory that requires special care is the headpiece that will accompany the wedding gown. This can be a veil, tiara, or crown of flowers. The manufacturer or sales person should be able to give suggestions on the best way to transport the item to prevent damage.

Transporting jewelry may be a simple affair if its worth is purely sentimental. Even if the monetary value is low, jewelry deserves to be protected. Be sure to pack it in a carry on or handbag that will be in your sight during your trip. If the jewelry is valuable the same rules apply, however, you should consider taking out additional insurance against damage or loss. This can be obtained through travel insurance or existing insurance on your home or the jewelry itself. Once you arrive at your destination, make use of the hotel safe to protect your precious items.

5. Carry on Luggage

Carry on Luggage is extremely important on any trip but even more so when traveling abroad and especially for the bride and groom to be. As a standard rule, it is a good idea to take a carry on bag onto a plane, even if the rest of your luggage has been checked and stowed away in the airplane's cargo area. The purpose of the carry on is to keep valuables nearby, to store fragile items, and toiletries. It's also a wise idea to pack an extra set of clothes just in case the luggage you've checked is lost in transit. While no one wishes to have to deal with this mishap, it does happen.

In addition to a small bag that can be carried aboard a plane and stowed in an overhead compartment or even under the airplane seat, you may choose to carry on other items, such as a garment bag, sports equipment, or other items that you feel the need to have nearby. In smaller planes, there are often separate compartments that resemble closets to hold passengers' belongings.

There are strict rules about carry on items on airplanes and they are required to meet a specific size requirement. Many airports have measuring systems in place that will determine whether or not the item meets these specifications. If the item is too large, airline policy dictates that it must be checked in with other luggage. There are also restrictions on the number of carry on items each passenger may have. To be safe, check with your airline or other transportation services, such as trains or buses, to learn more about policies and procedures regarding luggage.

6. Visa/Passport

In today's world it is imperative to have a current passport in order to travel between most countries. Passports are relatively easy to obtain, although they do take time to arrive and should be applied for several months in advance. Information on passports and visas can be obtained through the appropriate government office. Be aware that there are certain documents you will need to obtain a passport, so you should check the requirements before going to the courthouse or government office to apply.

Visas may also be required to enter a particular country or to stay for an extended period of time. Applying for a visa may not be a concern for you but it's best to check into it before you find yourself in a sticky situation that could ruin all of your plans.

Before leaving on a trip, you should photocopy your passport and visa. Carry one copy with you and leave one at home or with a trusted friend or family member. Although many agencies say that you should not copy this legal document, travel consultants often recommend it in case the passport or visa is lost during your trip. Having a photocopy may make it easier to obtain a replacement and will most likely expedite the process if there is a record of an existing document.

Finally, you should always carry your passport and visa with you no matter where you go. If it is inconvenient to keep it on your person during certain activities, such as swimming or at your wedding, give it to a trusted friend or family member to hold for you or lock it in an available safe.

Mens Leather Bomber Jackets

2011-04-14T02:15:00.001-07:00

Leather jackets are made into various styles, and in different kinds of leather. Some of the styles reveal the fashion trends of times.

Leather bomber jacket clothing is among the most popular classic men's leather bomber jackets. Bomber jacket is also referred to as flight jacket. Men's leather flight jacket is a thick clothing initially designed for American and British pilots to keep them warm while staying in the frosty cockpits which is not well-enclosed in the WWI. Leather was chosen because it is thick enough to protect the pilots against the chilly environment. In 1915, the Royal Flying Corps pilots had started to wear leather jackets, and it gradually grew to be the popular apparel. The old-time leather bomber jacket has zipper closures with wind flaps, high wraparound collars, tight cuffs and waists, and some fringed and lined with fur. Nearly all of the fashion trend switches with the flow of time. However, the men's leather bomber jackets remain popular for over 90 years.

Military Cargo Plane

A-2 leather jacket and the G-1 are two of the most historical yet popular men's leather bomber jackets. The A-2 jacket is the most sought-after leather flight jacket. The well thought out design makes sure the garments are able to keep the wearer as warm as possible while they were in the open-cockpit airplane. The A-2 jackets today had a snap-flap patch pocket on both side that doesn't features hand warmer pockets, a snap-down collar, shoulder straps, knit cuffs and waistband, a back made from a piece of leather, and a light silk or cotton inner lining with a military spec tag affixed beneath the rear collar. The A-2 jacket is looser-fitting, constructed from goatskin, and produced in a brown color. The A-2 jackets never go stale. It remained visible all the time since it often appear in movies and films.

Mens Leather Bomber Jackets

The G-1 men's leather bomber jacket lasted until 1978 because of its remarkable popularity which causes the demand exceeded the Navy's supply system. The G-1 jacket nowadays is constructed from the finest mil-spec goatskin available. This is a durable jacket which is particularly soft and supple. It is featured with a mouton fur collar, 2 front cargo pockets which includes a concealed pen slot, bi-swing back which allow motions, knit cuffs & waistband, interior wind flap, along with a heavy duty brass zipper. The G-1 is very commemorative in naval aviation history. The G-1 usually comes in dark-brown color. The popularity of G-1 was boosted greatly by those famous Hollywood movies, making them even more remarkable and shines among the fashion trend.

The men's leather bomber jacket which is popular nowadays is MA-1 jacket which is sage green in color. It is constructed from flight silk nylon and normally features a blaze orange lining, together with the specification tag inside the pocket. The previous style features a sage green lining along with the specification tag around the collar. Other features include 2 slanted flap front pockets, 2 interior pockets, along with a zipped pocket together with a pen slot on the either sleeve. The lighter model of the MA-1 is called the L-2B bomber jacket. The original L2 and L2A jackets are then replaced by it. MA-1 can be discerned easily among the other jackets since they have epaulets and no interior pockets. The current flight jackets are CWU-45P which is wore in colder weather and the CWU-36P which is wore in warmer weather. The MA-1 was constructed in two sage green and midnight blue colors. Blue which was the color originally for MA-1 is then replaced by green color. The modern style of MA-1 can be found in various fashionable colors, such as the classic color, black, blue, silver and much more. MA-1 jacket is truly a practical shield against cold weather and not to mention the fashion trend that it has revealed.

Nowadays, various trendy men's leather bomber jackets styles are produced by companies such as hooded leather bomber jackets while some of the leather bomber jackets even come with accessories.

Mens Leather Bomber Jackets Minecraft - "Shadow of Israphel" Part 14: The Tale of the Sands Tube. Duration : 9.50 Mins.

Please like and favourite to support this series! Facebook: www.facebook.com Our Podcast: itunes.apple.com Texture pack is Gerudoku, this thread: www.minecraftforum.net

Tags: minecraft, adventure, mode, survival, multiplayer, yogscast, beta, israphel, notch, xephos, honeydew, lewis, simon, old peculier, daisy duke, skylord lysander, airship

Airplane Memories: C-130 Medi-Vac Saved My Son's Hand

2011-04-11T10:15:00.001-07:00

My husband and I raised our two children internationally, making homes in Taiwan and the Philippines as well as throughout the United States. For a few years our family lived in Taichung, Taiwan. My husband, a U.S. Air Force crew chief, was often away from home on missions. Such was the case when I experienced my most worrisome and memorable air plane ride.

One warm sunny afternoon I went bicycling in the countryside and didn't arrive home before my two children got home from school. As I pulled into our housing area I was met by a group of excited neighbor children who told me my son had fallen on a piece of glass and a neighbor had taken him to the base hospital.

Military Cargo Plane

When I arrived at the hospital, I learned that the situation was serious, the small base hospital was not equipped to handle the reconstructive surgery my son was going to need, and they were preparing to medi-vac him to the larger, better equipped U.S. Navy Hospital in Taipei. The C-130 aircraft is heavy and ponderous as a whale in flight. During armed forces operations, the planes are usually filled with military cargo, U.S. government property such as rifles, parachutes, jeeps and ammunition.

Airplane Memories: C-130 Medi-Vac Saved My Son's Hand

Numb w/shock, I rode in a jump seat with the gurney in the plane's aisle. On the flight my son was hooked up to IV's. A medical escort doctor and I were the only "cargo."

It was dusk when we landed in Taipei. The C-130's wide rear cargo hatch was lowered for unloading the gurney, standing nearby was my husband whose returning plane had been diverted into Taipei. Numbed the scene still seems surreal.

An ambulance was waiting on the tarmac to take us to Taipei's U.S. Navy hospital, where orthopedic surgeons were waiting to rush him into surgery. My husband and I rode together to the hospital inside the ambulance with our son,

Once at the hospital surgeons were standing and ready at the emergency entrance door to meet us. Our son was immediately prepared for surgery, when the surgeons saw his injury, they knew that our son needed extensive repair work, without it, he would loose use of his hand.

His small cut on the wrist had severed arteries as well as both his tendons and nerves down to the bone, if infection were to set-in there was a good chance he would loose his hand, the surgery last five hours.

When he came out of surgery, our son's great swathed paw was white, enormous in bandages. His for arm rested on a pillow. I felt a sense of unreality. He remained in the hospital in Taipei, two weeks and during that time I returned home down island.

The day he was released, I flew back up to Taipei aboard a Taiwanese military plane which was making a scheduled flight to Taiwan's capitol city. Our son and I flew back home to Taichung on this same Taiwanese military plane later that same afternoon.

My son was a bright-eyed, dark-hair kid with a constellation of freckles and an interest in science, Lego and Matchbox cars. With excellent medical treatment and extensive physical therapy, he recovered 90% usage of his hand and fingers. All thanks to a medi-vac flight and an excellent surgical team. When we have a child who is terribly ill, there can never be enough love, enough encouragement.

End

Airplane Memories: C-130 Medi-Vac Saved My Son's Hand Halo: Reach - Achievement HORSE #6 Video Clips. Duration : 7.98 Mins.

Jack and Geoff take to the digital battlegrounds again to hash out who is the king of Halo Horse. WHO WILL YOU ROOT FOR? Maps are available here: tinyurl.com

Keywords: Achievement, Hunter, Halo, Reach, Bungie, Microsoft, HORSE, Geoff, vs, Jack, One, Mongoose, to, Rule, them, all

Kathy Manney is the nationally recognized author of autobiographical, lifestyle and travel articles and the travel columnist for "The Vegas Voice," a monthly regional senior lifestyle newspaper.

As the travel expert-at-large for the "Voice" Kathy has seen a lot of the world, she enjoys traveling to new and interesting places and in the process of becoming an adventure Diva, finds some of her articles. Kathy's "must see before I die" travel adventures continue, each filled with enthusiasm.

Kathy is open to freelance work in the fields of non-fiction writing and editing.

Schiphol Airport, Attractions and City Breaks by Eurostar

2011-04-06T07:00:00.001-07:00

Schiphol is the primary airport of the Netherlands and it is located about twenty minutes from Amsterdam. This airport is a very important European Airport it is ranked third largest in the world at large. This airport is the fifth largest in Europe and handles more than five hundred thousand planes. More cargo and passengers move through this location than in most other airports. This airport moves more than forty-five million people each year.

This airport allows businesses to load and unload in more than 188 spots and handles about seventy percent of the passenger traffic in Europe. This airport has five main runways and has plans to build two more runways. The terminal is one large building that has three departure halls. Many companies have moved to other airports because of the high costs. Schiphol is the home airport of KLM, Amsterdam Airlines, and Transavia.

Military Cargo Plane

This building has a very large shopping area that provides an excellent source of revenue. This is one of the few airports that have its own mortuary and people can get married here as well. There is a large area that aviation enthusiastic can use to enjoy flights taking off and landing. This airport opened in 1916 as a military airport. The layout for this airport is one terminal located under a single roof with three departure halls.

Schiphol Airport, Attractions and City Breaks by Eurostar

Attractions in Schiphol

Anyone visiting this airport can enjoy the Panorama Terrace that allows you to watch planes take off and land.

Casino at Schiphol. Enjoy the casino while waiting for your next flight to leave or arrive at the airport.

Cassan Plaza offers many fine places to shop and find last minute gifts for your loved ones and family.

Food Village has many fantastic foods to choose from.

Bloem has many beautiful flowers to choose from that you can purchase for your loved ones when you are on your way to your favourite destination.

Schiphol Airport, Attractions and City Breaks by Eurostar Halo: Reach - Achievement HORSE #2 Tube. Duration : 10.42 Mins.

Jack and Geoff kick off (officially) their new Halo: Reach HORSE series. This week they battle back and forth for supreme supremacy.

Tags: Achievement, Hunter, Halo, Reach, Horse, Jack, Geoff, Forge, Maps, Funny

If you are planning to travel to Schiphol in France, it is recommended that you read information regarding London Paris Train, Schiphol Attractions and Schiphol Short City Breaks by Eurostar so that you can plan your holidays better.

Packing Women's Ski Apparel and Other Ski Essentials

2011-04-03T07:15:00.001-07:00

What makes ski vacation a daunting task and at the same time relaxing too? Well the hard part comes first when one is packing for a ski holiday. Imagine the womens ski apparel and the ski gear and equipment to pack. You can give up either of two as without them your ski holiday will not be possible. The ski equipment alone takes up a lot of space and you have to mind for the ski clothing too. What a baggage you might say, don't despair, just invest in a quality bag and compartmentalize those ski clothing then you are ready for your much awaited ski vacation.

Ideally you will need several pairs of clean innerwear. Multiple base layers with wicking technology will save space in your luggage compare to the non-wicking fiber. Due to the high-adrenaline nature of skiing, sweat is inevitable, that is why womens ski apparel with wicking technology is recommended and most preferred. For the base layer a regular sweater or sweatshirt or two per day will be enough, don't forget mitten and glove and goggles too and as for the outer later, go for ski pants and ski jacket. Aside from the basic womens ski apparel, extra warming stuff such as mitten, gloves, hats, socks and helmet. Don't forget to bring a reliable and comfortable ski boots and a lighter one for casual snow walking.

Military Cargo Plane

Other's who don't want to be bothered by carrying heavy baggage chooses to rent ski equipment at the ski resort. Aside from the burden of heavy baggage, the high plane baggage fare is another reason why skiers prefer to rent then bring their own ski gears. But little did they know they the fare price is cheaper than renting ski gear and equipments. But this issue is depends actually on the preference of the skier. One main advantage though of bringing your own ski equipment is that you can be sure with regards to safety of your own skis and poles.

Packing Women's Ski Apparel and Other Ski Essentials

As much as you give utmost importance to womens ski apparel and ski gears, I guess it is only right that skier will not overlook personal care necessities. Though the temperature maybe cold, but the sun's rays during ski season can pose danger to your skin, the biting cold can dry up your lips too. It is recommended to include sunscreen, heavy duty moisturizing lotion, and protective lip balm. If traveling by plane an ounce tube of each will be enough and place them in a one quart Ziploc bag for security screening.

Packing Women's Ski Apparel and Other Ski Essentials Minecraft - "Shadow of Israphel" Part 5: Breakfast Distraction Tube. Duration : 15.20 Mins.

Tags: minecraft, adventure, mode, survival, multiplayer, yogscast, beta, israphel, notch, xephos, honeydew, lewis, simon, old peculier, daisy duke, skylord lysander, airship

Sheena Hills is a life instructor and a public speaker. She also completed four inspirational books, with another book about the struggles in her life nearing completion. She loves writing her thoughts. For more public details and information, please visit this website: http://www.winterwomen.com/ to discover how womens ski apparel really works.

View From Veteran's Wife: Vietnam Veterans Are Often Forgotten By History

2011-03-27T00:00:00.001-07:00

My husband, a Vietnam veteran signed on for an Air Force career at an early age-18and the following year we were married. Having been introduced to adversity early in life, he entered the military with the understanding when things happen, you can't bellyache. He chose the profession and pretty much went with the course of events that unfolded during his twenty-year career.

Most Americans will tell you, "My utmost respect goes to our military because I highly value my freedom." As they tell you this they mean they respect the military member, but they hope no one in their immediate family will ever feel compelled to volunteer to serve or be drafted during the days of the draft.

Military Cargo Plane

After all, they believe their son or daughter, niece, nephew or husband has better things to do with his or her life. True it is not the job most would choose for their children, I would not have chosen it for my two children, but I am proud of my son and daughter for choosing to go into the military.

View From Veteran's Wife: Vietnam Veterans Are Often Forgotten By History

As the wife of a military man I was often alone during our children's early years, which made me for all intents and purposes, a single mother. As any military family will tell you, reentry is difficult and people outside the military don't understand, particularly in the public schools our children attend

My husband began his air force career as an aircraft mechanic working the flight line on B-52's at an air force base in California, where he received several awards for new ideas and his unit was named "Best in SAC." Later he was assigned to an air force base in Arizona where he was selected to attend flight school and become a C-130 flight engineer. The Vietnam War was heating up.

The C-130 aircraft is the work horse of the military and newly retrofitted versions are still in use by the armed forces. It is considered an ugly plane by many, but it is useful for transport because the plane's belly holds a large cargo/payload and is capable of making assault landings on short air strips.

My husband's air crew, a flight team appointed to a particular plane, was sent to Vietnam on a 90-day rotation. The mission of this flight squadron was to keep one or more flight crews in Vietnam throughout the war. The planes were modified with launch drones which would fly reconnaissance missions over North Vietnam and Red China. While he was assigned to this strategic reconnaissance squadron, he made a number of rotations to Vietnam and received quite a few air medals.

Wives of military members know that being separated from their husbands for the birth of their children is always a possibility, but you always think it won't really happen to you. While living in Arizona, our daughter was born, in the home where we resided off base. I was alone. I did not make it to the hospital.

My husband's duties at the bases to follow kept him going to and from Vietnam for the remainder of the war. He was assigned to a joint force military base in central Taiwan, where he was named "Outstanding Crew Chief" and many times after named "Top Crew Chief of the Month."

The Vietnam War raged and from Taiwan U.S. planes flew on missions in and out of war zoned Southeast Asia. My husband was picked for a top-secret organization that flew in and out of "Country" (Vietnam) in unmarked military planes. They were covert missions.

The exposure to the action and excitement of war intensified the flight teams' comradeship. The unit assisted the CIA's commercial airline, Air America. Flying supply missions in military aircraft with civilian insignia painted over the military logo. While wearing civilian clothing, they air dropped supplies to friendly forces in Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam.

War requires sacrifices from the families of those that chose to serve in the military. Family members must say goodbye to their loved ones, often for months at a time and occasionally for a year or more, all in the name of patriotism and service. Country first. My husband was in Taiwan 19-months before our two children and I joined him there, once we did he was gone much of the time we lived there.

Children of military men are often raised by absent fathers and usually strong mothers. Military kids are as much acquainted with the ideals of their fathers as with the reality of them. Often as children they resent their father's long absences. This was true of our son, the eldest of our children.

Americans are hungrier than ever to know more about their country's history, but at the same time they seem reluctant to learn more about why we were in Vietnam and examine the rightness or wrongness of it.

The men and women who served in Vietnam are heroes as much the men and women who have served in all other of our Country's wars, I feel Vietnam veterans are often forgotten by history and classroom teachers, perhaps because it was never a declared war and it was resolved by pulling out and returning home.

Vietnam is an unfortunate blemish on American history. Many lives were lost and many others forever scared and while it raged America was a country divided.

View From Veteran's Wife: Vietnam Veterans Are Often Forgotten By History The Lost City Tube. Duration : 22.62 Mins.

Rand and Scott Bernard start a dangerous journey that will lead them into the very heartland of the Invid empire. They are planning to pick up supplies and rebel fighters who are eager to join them in their struggle to defeat the Invid, but the intrepid pair are unaware of the traps that the alien invaders have prepared.

Tags: robotech, macross, saga, masters, new generation, shadow chronicles, fortress, anime, science fiction, classic, animation, japan, japanese, robot, android, mecha, shonen, monsters, aliens, 80s, campy, kids, family, speed racer, naruto, mobile suit gundam, street fighter, gurren lagann, manga, entertainment, starz, media

Kathy Manney is the nationally recognized author of autobiographical, lifestyle and travel articles. Her hy's community involvement includes past advisory board member the Las Vegas, Nevada Summerlin Library and Performing Arts Center. Her hobbies comprise reading, photography and computer graphics. Ms Manney enjoys traveling to new and interesting places. Kathy had significant life experience living abroad: study tours, culture classes and participating in Department of Defense volunteer subculture work in Taiwan and the Philippines.

Special training: Certificate of Training - Clinical Journal Therapy from The Center for Journal Therapy, Provider for Nat'l Board of Certified Counselors and Basic Course in Travel Industry Skills and Travel Agency Automation Course from International Travel School. Kathy is open to freelance work in the fields of non-fiction writing and editing.

Eight Death Traps IT Companies Can Fall Into by Hiring Subcontractors With Low Contractor Bids

2011-03-22T15:45:00.001-07:00

Isn't it interesting to observe that typical North American homes have 2.55 children and 2.73 televisions in them, and these 2.73 tellies can have a serious adverse effect on the 2.55 children's health?

Similar adverse effect can be observed on many IT companies' financial health based on their methods of hiring subcontractors.

Military Cargo Plane

They fail to maintain a pool of reliable subcontractors, but when they are hit with the large project, they go on a hiring binge. But this binge is distorted by the view of "The less we pay them, the more can keep". So, they advertise on Craigslist in search of sufficiently cheap subcontractors.

Eight Death Traps IT Companies Can Fall Into by Hiring Subcontractors With Low Contractor Bids

Instead of focusing on getting the biggest bang for their bucks, they get so obsessed with minimising the buck that the expected bang very often is nothing more than a barely audible dull thud.

Yes, the budget is saved but nothing gets accomplished. And who do you think clients blame when something doesn't get done? Yeah! The main contractors. Always.

In my experience buyers and sellers behave similarly. Buyers buy the same way they sell as sellers. So, it's fair to say that a company this hires subcontractors on price, sells its services on price. And premium companies hire premium subcontractors.

Now imagine a high school graduate who wants to become a world-class brain surgeon, and the question comes up...

"Jamie, what is your next step of becoming a world-renowned brain surgeon?"

Then Jamie says...

"Well, I'm searching for the cheapest medical school where I can study to become a world-class brain surgeon."

I may be slow in the head but something just doesn't add up here for me. And this is exactly how too many purchasing agents in IT companies operate.

They create requests for proposals, send them out to lots of potential subcontractors, and then hire the lowest bidder.

The other criterion besides being cheap is being 100% obedient and pledging unconditional servitude to the main contractor.

So, it's a master-slave relationship. One problem: Self-respecting companies would never enter such relationships. So, our main contractor, by default, is stuck with the sludge of the industry.

This situation is even worse with governments, but let's not go there right now.

But it's worth noticing that the "lowest bidder" mentality creates certain attributes in companies. Just like in governments, in companies with the low price obsession we can see chronic financial problems, low morale, high levels of pilferage and absenteeism, rock-bottom performance, endless miles of red tapes and indestructible bureaucracy.

How does this play out in the business world?

Simple.

"We want to do a bang-up job on this contract, so let's hire the cheapest subcontractors to help us to achieve it."

Or, on a slightly stronger note...

"I want to have a great romantic relationship, so let's go the city's slum and find the cheapest hooker in town."

Here are a few reasons why you should run very far and very fast from the lowest bidding subcontractors.

1. Poor Mental and Emotional Preparedness

Lowest bidders operate on volume. They have lots of low-margin projects and switch their time and attention between them. The attention per project ratio is very low. So, this is where the ultimate quality of their services suffers. They run around like headless chickens and busily perform tasks.

They run from appointment to appointment, and are always hyper busy. They are the people who are "stuffed" with all sorts of electronic gadgets that keep them permanently plugged into the world. They have no time to relax and recharge their batteries.

Their brains are always racing, they are always in hyper mode. Their states of mind undermine their creativity, so the quality of their services is barely mediocre. They are always busy and exhausted. They are the prisoners of their professions, after all they work on high volume to earn a living.

Also, lowest bidders operate from the subconscious perspective of "I don't deserve more". Their lives and work are riddled with fear, guilt, need and the desire of proving themselves. It means this is what they instil in their clients, so they end up operating out of the same negative paradigm.

In contrast, premium subcontractors work on fewer but higher margin projects, so they can sustain their earning potentials without becoming workaholics. They work with a small and appreciative clientele.

This allows them to dedicate plenty of time to their families, friends, hobbies and skill building. In doing so they become more relaxed and present themselves for their clients in better "quality". They also have more time and money to invest in learning new skills that they can turn into client value in various shapes or forms.

Also, since their personal needs are fully satisfied, they don't project their own needs onto their clients. Have you ever had a service professional told you things like, "I spent the whole Sunday working on your project without spending time with my family". This is a projection of unmet needs. These people are toxic, and you had better run from them very fast and very far. Their ability to help you is blocked by their own unmet needs.

And this is pretty rampant among low bidders.

2. Constant Neediness

Lowest bidders usually have cashflow problems. They are operating on a hand-to-mouth basis, and when they work with their clients, their neediness often overshadows their intentions to help.

They have the dollar sign vibrating in their eyes because they are concerned about their ability to pay their bills. This approach can't lead to healthy relationships. They always do their best to please their clients because they have to hang in for dear life to pay the next bill.

It's like most salespeople who discover that some of their prospects would become bad clients, but they can't turn down those clients because they need their commissions. So, they try to convert bad prospects, well, sometimes even dead cockroaches, into clients in order to get paid, and then the technical people can struggle with these toxic clients.

Premium subcontractors have healthy financial reserves, so they are likely tell both clients and their main contractors what they need to hear, not only what they want to hear. And of course, idiotic main contractors fire them in droves for their honesty. That's human nature. The ego can't stand honesty.

Premium subcontractors become truly helpful not merely friendly. The ugliest form of prostitution is when low bidder professionals "play the client's game" to make sure they get paid whatever it takes.

They try to please their clients and in their fear of possibly losing a client they say whatever they have to say to make their clients nod in agreement.

Only when your subcontractors have independent wealth, they can be of serious help for your clients. They can truly focus on your clients' issues, without being wrapped up in their own financial difficulties.

3. Inferior or Obsolete Skills

Lowest bidders operate on wafer thin margins, and that wafer thin margin goes towards paying bills and operating expenses. So, how much do you think they have left to invest in skill-building? Nothing really. More scientifically, not a sausage.

So, what quality of work can they offer to your clients? Well, poor quality. Not poor quality by botching things up but applying their obsolete skills.

Building a client a turntable may result in an excellent turntable as far as quality goes, but the fact that turntables are gone by the way of the dodo bird renders the achievement useless.

Charging premium fees for a service also means that subcontractors can invest more in their own skill building. Let's face it, you are likely to hire a subcontractors for complex projects where up-to-date knowledge is vital.

Who is a more valuable subcontractor? One who charges low fees and struggles on the project or the one who charges high fees and works on your projects effectively and proficiently, delighting both you and your client?

In both cases you pay pretty much the same on the surface, but when you dig deeper, the difference is dramatic.

4. Poor Physical Health And Fitness

Lowest bidders carefully consider every penny they spend, and are highly unlikely to invest it in improving their physical health and fitness.

Now, some may say that fitness is not an important factor. Some see it differently. I definitely do. So does Mike Shafer of Shafer Consulting (http://www.shaferconsulting.com), a premium IT consulting firm in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, an avid cyclist and martial art practitioner.

According to his own admission, his good health plays a huge role in self-esteem to turn down inappropriate opportunities. As he says...

"Money is good, but unless I enjoy the process of earning it, I don't want it."

The funny thing is that his subcontractors - when he uses them - love him for his selective approach.

But I guess, this selective approach would make him a horrible subcontractor (if he worked as a subcontractor, but he doesn't) for other IT companies that accept anyone as clients.

In my experience, poor physical health and fitness are merely the reflection of what's going on inside a person. When people let their health slide, it tells a loud story about their self-images and self-worth. That is, they are damaged on an emotional level which manifests itself in the form of health problems.

The desire to stay healthy and fit is natural for every self-respecting person. 300-lb doughnut- and French fry-munching lardbags may disagree, but the fact is fact.

So, what can you expect of subcontractors who can't even go through significant work without drinking buckets of coffee, because otherwise they would fall asleep from exhaustion?

We know there is a very tight correlation between physical health and fitness and a subcontractors' quality of work. Exercise floods the brain with oxygen, blood and endorphins, which drastically improve the person's overall creativity, mental alertness and effectiveness.

What is the point in engaging a subcontractor who is likely to drop dead on a client half-way through a project due to a heart attack or a stroke?

This is where you win with premium subcontractors who take care of themselves. They charge premium fees partly because they put premium value on themselves and the work they provide. But the good news is that they can see your clients through their projects and provide long-term support if necessary.

5. Exposure To Limited Perspectives

Low bidders work on volume, so whatever time they have left, they have to dedicate it to their core competence. And that's not much time. It also means they can't develop peripheral competence, thus they can never see their clients' businesses as a holistic entity. They see their expertise in isolation. But life doesn't work in isolation.

For instance, the previously mentioned Mike Shafer is a sought-after IT guy but not merely for his IT knowledge. No. He's sought after for his ability and expertise to link technology solutions to business results. Unlike most IT professionals, Mike treats IT as means to achieve specific business results.

He doesn't install faster servers for the sake of having faster servers. He does that, so the company's clients can be better served, which in turn increases client retention, repeat- and referral business, so his clients make more profit and their clients are happier.

Since premium professionals spend less time doing client work because they don't work on high volume, they can expose themselves to seemingly irrelevant activities, which they can turn into value for their clients. Several clients have hired me because of my military and skydiving backgrounds.

They translated them as my being a good decision maker and action taker. And since at that time they needed a ruthless disciplinarian to blast through the hopelessly thick wall of inertia and maintain momentum, they hired me. And it worked.

And the funny thing is when clients ask me, "This is a great idea. Where have you learnt it?"

And they are shocked when I say "I learnt from a fellow gravedigger when I worked at a skull garden" or "I learnt from a fellow slaughterer when I worked at an abattoir". I have learnt over the years that the more peculiar the experience you have gone through, the more valuable you can be to your clients. After all, you are bringing in a broad range of rare perspectives.

When you are willing to pay more, you can get someone whose expertise goes way beyond business school text book buffoonery. Just look at one of the greatest innovators of history, Edison. He had only three years of schooling, and many years of real education.

The other funny thing is this recession thingy we're in.

Look at the big companies in the USA that have gone to Parliament with begging bowls in their hand, asking for some alms to bail them out. What they have in common is that most of the people who steered those companies to the brink of bankruptcy all have Ivy League MBAs or other prestigious schooling.

So, in spite of the tons of academic geniuses, these companies are in trouble.

In contrast, look at the self-educated renegades, like Dan Kennedy or Jay Abraham. With their high school schoolings topped up with a lifetime of education and tinkering (plain English for R&D) they are having a good time and barely acknowledge the existence of the recession.

6. Preponderance of Clients

Low bidders are forced to work on high volume of clients to put food on the table. Since premium firms have fewer clients they can dedicate higher level of focus, attention and support to their projects.

Sadly, many IT companies are still hiring substandard subcontractors for hourly wages.

Why substandard? No competent professional would accept a payment structure that penalises effectiveness, while rewarding incompetence and slow work.

As Verasage Fellow, Ed Kless is fond of saying...

"If you suck at what you do, then you'd better keep doing hourly pricing."

Let's take many web design and web hosting companies. They are pathetically poor at communicating the value of their services, and most of them are competing on price. As a result, they work with lots of clients, but in doing so they sacrifice the quality of service.

If we want to maintain high quality, there is a limit on the number of clients we can offer quality work to.

Call many IT companies and you will end up on their voicemail system with no hope in hell to ever have your call returned. Email is the same. You receive automatically generated messages, saying that you have been queued up in their customer ticketing system.

They could hire some girls with the right character traits straight from high school who could handle phone calls. Then they could raise their fees on this "premium service", and the new money would pay for the girls' salaries. The whole initiative wouldn't cost a bean for the company.

But this goes against conventional wisdom, according to which technology companies are supposed to treat their customers like dirt at arm's length. Isn't it surprising that CRM (Customer Relationship Management) companies have the highest level of customer attrition? Hm.

I heard this phrase in 2000 on the recording of a Jay Abraham seminar...

"Hire the best and cry only once."

Although the phrase was relating to employees, but hiring subcontractors is the same.

So you can either hire subcontractors that are competitively (cheaply) priced, but stretched to the hilt with an army of clients or you can hire premium subcontractors that handpick their clients, provide preponderance of skill building opportunities for their people, hence deliver great value to IT companies.

7. Competing Client Selection

One huge problem with low-bidding subcontractors is that they work with many IT companies at any one time, so very often they work with direct competitors.

However, because of the way their operations are structured on competitive(ly low) fees, they are forced to accept any client, and can't walk away from conflicting businesses. So, while a subcontractor help one client to develop something, the same afternoon the same subcontractor takes that idea to the direct competitor and start working against the client he helped a few hours before.

The factor that makes premium subcontractors "premium" is that they work with carefully selected companies and in most cases don't accept direct competitors within a given time frame. In my case, as soon as I start working with an IT company in Vancouver in a specific area of IT, I don't accept another one until and unless I get the green from the first firm.

They may be doing different kind of work. One may do IT consulting while the other may do CRM system design and deployment. So, they are not competitors.

When hiring low bidders that compete on volume, you often find that the same subcontractors are engaged in projects with your fiercest competitor.

While you may enjoy the competitive price from subcontractors, you may not appreciate the fact that they help both you and your competition at the same time.

Premium subcontractors work with a small select group of companies with deep relationships, so working with direct competitors is highly unlikely, which makes industrial espionage a bit harder in the fiercely competitive IT industry.

8. Seriously Limited Access

Since low bidders are forced to operate on high volume, their clients have very limited access to them. This causes unnecessary delays and creates a fertile breeding ground for miscommunication. Little mistakes are hard or even impossible to correct. Contingencies cannot be planned because there is a very limited time to correct errors.

Premium subcontractors offer ample access for their clients, knowing that it will take a few tries to get things right. You may be shocked here, but by getting it right only 30% of the time, Babe Ruth became a Hall of Fame baseball player.

So, don't even think of getting things right the first time. Hey, do you know that for most couples it takes several "tries" to conceive a baby? Anything that is worthwhile doing takes a bit of effort and hardly ever happens on the first try. That is why it is important for clients to have generous of access to their subcontractors.

Summary

The problem is that most companies kick up a fuss when their subcontractors do the work in high quality but in a shorter than expected time frame.

Most IT companies are more comfortable with low-priced subcontractors who come in, diligently start working on the project, tinker with problems for weeks on end at a competitive(ly low) hourly rates. So, eventually, the more expensive subcontractor costs less.

Let's take subcontractor Joe and subcontractor Jack. They both are being considered for a contract. Joe charges 0 per hour and estimates to take 100 hours to do the work. Jack charges 0 per hour and estimates to take 45 hours to do the work.

You know what? Most companies, while blissfully ignoring the total cost of the work, hire Joe because he has lower rates. Most companies fail to pay attention to the extra 55 hours of inconvenience, not to mention multiplying the two numbers and make a sane comparison.

And where does this lunacy lead to? To disasters...

Disasters like the 12 February 2009 plane disaster, when Colgan Air's, Continental flight 3407 crashed upon landing in Buffalo, NY. All 49 passengers, four crew and one person on the ground got killed.

Colgan's was intention to keep costs down by hiring cheap pilots.

Captain Marvin Renslow was paid a dismal ,000 a year (the equivalent of a McDonald's Operations Supervisor) in a world where experienced captains get paid around 0-200,000 a year.

Rebecca Shaw, the co-pilot, was earning an amazing ,300 a year (the equivalent of a McDonald's burger flipper), which forced her to take a second job, so she was seriously sleep-deprived?

The disaster was waiting to happen. It was just a matter of timing.

And now Colgan Air will pay millions in lawsuits initiated by the relatives of the victims. Colgan Air merely got what it paid for.

And similar fate that waits for IT companies that try to cut costs and corners through low-bidding subcontractors.

Eight Death Traps IT Companies Can Fall Into by Hiring Subcontractors With Low Contractor Bids Halo: Reach - Achievement HORSE #2 Video Clips. Duration : 10.42 Mins.

Jack and Geoff kick off (officially) their new Halo: Reach HORSE series. This week they battle back and forth for supreme supremacy.

Tags: Achievement, Hunter, Halo, Reach, Horse, Jack, Geoff, Forge, Maps, Funny

Tom 'Bald Dog' Varjan, engineer/buyer-turned-seller, is a B2B business development strategist and copywriter, helping privately information technology companies to develop automated client acquisition and retention systems and build minimum headcount and maximum firepower business development teams to sell their solutions to premium clients and premium fees and prices. For a broad range of articles, white papers, including "Ten Warning Signs of Dysfunctional IT Business Development Departments", visit his site at http://www.varjan.com

Aircraft Structures

2011-03-21T11:45:00.001-07:00

Airframe components

Almost any airframe may be split into four main components:

Military Cargo Plane

• the mainplane or wings

Aircraft Structures

• the fuselage or body

• the tail unit (or foreplanes, for a canard-type aircraft)

• mountings for all other systems (undercarriage, engines, etc.)

Each main component is designed to perform a specific task, so that the complete airframe can carry out the job for which it was designed in a safe and efficient way.

Airframe structures and design

All aircraft are made up of a great many individual parts, and each part has its own specific job to do. But even if it were possible to build an aircraft in one single piece, this would not be the best option. Some parts will become damaged, wear out or crack during service, and provision must be made for their repair or replacement. If a part begins to crack, it is imperative that the structure does not fail completely before it is found during maintenance inspections, or the safe operation of the aircraft may be jeopardised. This is the basis of our industry.

The aircraft wings

The wing must generate lift from the airflow over it to support the aircraft in flight. The amount of lift required depends on how the aircraft is flying or manoeuvring. For straight and level flight, the total lift produced must be equal to the weight of the aircraft. To take off and climb, the required lift must be developed at a low airspeed. If the aircraft is to fly in very tight turns, the wing must produce lift equal to perhaps eight times the aircraft weight. For landing, the slowest possible forward speed is required, and enough lift must be produced to support the aircraft at these low speeds. For take-off and landing, lift-augmenting devices are normally added to make this possible - flaps, leading-edge slats, etc. The wing needs to be stiff and strong to resist high lift forces, and the drag forces associated with them.

So it could be argued that the wing is the most essential component of an airframe. In fact, aircraft have been designed which consist only of a wing. More commonly, an arrangement that moves some way towards this ideal can be seen in aircraft like the Boeing B-2, F-117 and delta aircraft like Concorde.

In most large aircraft, the wing carries all or most of the fuel, and also supports the main undercarriage; in military aircraft it often carries a substantial part of weapon loads and other external stores. All of these will impart loads onto the wing structure. This is why the UK contribution to Airbus is a critical one.

The fuselage.

The fuselage serves a number of functions:

It forms the body of the aircraft, housing the crew, passengers or cargo (the payload), and many of the aircraft systems - hydraulic, pneumatic and electrical circuits, electronics.

It forms the main structural link between the wing and tail or foreplanes, holding them at the correct positions and angles to the airflow to allow the aircraft to fly as it was designed to do. The forces transmitted from these components, particularly the wing and tail, generate a variety of types of load on the fuselage. It must be capable of resisting these loads throughout the required life of the aircraft.

Engines may be installed inside or attached to the fuselage, and the forces generated can be very high.

Because of the altitude at which they fly, most modern aircraft have some form of environmental control system (temperature and pressurisation) in the fuselage. The inside of the fuselage is pressurised to emulate a lower altitude than outside, of around 2400 metres (8000 feet) for transport aircraft, and up to 7600 metres (25000 feet) for military aircraft (with crew oxygen), and temperatures are maintained within comfortable limits. These pressure loads generate tensile forces along and around the fuselage, as with the material in an inflated balloon.

These many loading actions can all exist at once, and may vary cyclically throughout the life of the airframe. The fuselage needs to be strong and stiff enough to maintain its integrity for the whole of its design life.

The fuselage is often blended into the wing to reduce drag. In some aircraft it is difficult to see where the fuselage ends and the wing begins.

The tail unit

The tail unit usually consists of a vertical fin with a movable rudder and a horizontal tailplane with movable elevators or an all-moving horizontal tailplane. There is, however, another form of control surface that is finding increasing popularity in fighter aircraft, and even some sport and executive aircraft. In this layout, the horizontal tail surface is replaced or supplemented by moving control surfaces at the nose of the aircraft. These surfaces are called foreplanes, and this layout is known as the canard layout, from the French word for duck, which these aircraft resemble.

Whichever layout is used, these surfaces provide stability and control in pitch and yaw. If an aircraft is stable, any deviation from the path selected will be corrected automatically, because aerodynamic effects generate a restoring effect to bring the aircraft back to its original attitude. Stability can be provided artificially, but initially it will be considered to be achieved by having a tail unit, with a fixed fin and tailplane, and movable control surfaces attached to them. It is an advantage if the tail is as far from the centre of gravity as possible to provide a large lever - it can then be small and light, with low drag. For this reason it is placed at the rear of the fuselage

Forces created by the tail act up and down (by the tailplane), and left and right (by the fin). All of these forces, plus the associated bending and torsion loads, must be resisted and absorbed by the fuselage.

Aerospace composites and the weight of aircraft composite structures.

It is good engineering practice for the design of all parts to be as efficient and economical as possible, keeping weight and cost low. Of course, the requirements of low weight and low cost often conflict. In aircraft low weight and high strength are especially important, and great efforts are made at the design stage to achieve this. The maximum weight of an aircraft is set by its design, and any extra weight taken up by the structure is not available for payload or fuel, reducing its operating efficiency. This is made worse by the weight spiral effect, where an increase in weight in one area means that other areas need to be strengthened to take the extra loads induced. This increases their weight, and may mean more powerful engines or bigger wings are required to maintain the required performance. In this way, an aircraft may become larger or less efficient purely as a result of poor weight control during design.

There are many ways of saving weight, but one of the most common ones is to use improved materials like advanced aerospace composites. Often these may be more expensive, but the extra cost may be justified by the improved performance and reduced operating costs. At the design stage, such questions are the subject of extensive trade-off studies.

Aircraft Structures Halo: Reach - Fails of the Weak Volume #3 (Funny Halo: Reach Bloopers!) Tube. Duration : 3.58 Mins.

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aviation-database.com has lots of resources for the aircraft industry. The web is a vast source of information. Aviation-database collects the industry into one huge database of contacts. Aircraft structures using aerospace composites is an article giving examples of aerospace composite structures in the A310. You can click on the logo top or bottom of the article to return to the searchable database giving contact details of companies worldwide in the industry.

Choosing New Aircraft Wheels

2011-03-20T02:15:00.001-07:00

If you are in charge of maintaining a fleet of aircrafts, you know that the safety and well-being of crew, passengers and cargo depends on the proper maintenance of aircraft wheels. Whether you need rebuilding services for landing gear or new wheels, it is essential to find a partner you can rely on and trust to help your fleet stay airworthy and supply with what you need when you need it. Here are some things to look for in a supplier.

Size Does Matter: A small company simply cannot maintain the necessary inventory of parts and products to help keep fleet down-time to a minimum. You want to deal only with a provider that maintains an extensive inventory of OEM wheel parts on hand so that you can be sure you'll get exactly what you need every time: fast.

Military Cargo Plane

Reputation: A good supplier will have a world-wide presence and long-standing contracts with important clients such as the U.S armed services. You know that the military only contracts with the best and most trusted vendors to help ensure the proper upkeep of their aircraft as well as the safety of their personnel.

Choosing New Aircraft Wheels

Buying Power: In these days of razor-thin profit margins and tightened budgets, being able to get the aircraft wheels and parts you need at the best possible price is especially important. Because they purchase from manufacturers in large volumes, a big supplier has the buying power to offer the best quality products at extremely competitive prices.

The very best supplier of aircraft parts and services will also offer guarantees on all parts and services for your peace of mind and protection.

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AAR offers a complete range of aircraft wheel and brake services including repair, rebuilding and inspection for all major aircraft types. Visit us online ( http://www.aarcorp.com/comm/comm_1_7.htm )

Destination Wedding Favor Ideas and Tips

2011-03-18T16:00:00.001-07:00

Over the past several years, destination weddings have become increasingly popular for various reasons. Not only can you celebrate your wedding with family and close friends, but you can party for a few days with them, and spend your honeymoon in the same romantic place. Destination weddings also cut down on the traditional wedding costs in some instances, because you will still be able to invite those 250+ guests, but only a small percentage of those invited will actually be able to attend. Destination weddings also allow the bride and groom to choose the perfect setting for their event, whether it be a romantic seaside getaway, a cruise destination, or a fun filled Las Vegas trip, destination weddings are exciting for all who attend!

I have some personal experience in planning a destination wedding, as my wedding day was celebrated on a cruise ship headed for Mexico in 2003. We invited quite a large number of guests, more than we would have been able to if we had a traditional wedding, but only 40 guests were able to attend - which allowed us for a more intimate gathering. Having a destination wedding also allowed us to spend more time with each guest - something we could not have done if we had a wedding close to home. Everyone left with a long lasting memory of our event, and to this day our guests still talk about our wedding cruise!

Military Cargo Plane

When I was planning our wedding cruise in 2003, the wedding favor market had much to be desired. There was nothing that fit our day! Although this made it a bit difficult to plan, with a little imagination, I put together a wedding favor bag of goodies for our guests to take home. Thankfully, because of such an increase in destination weddings, wedding favor specialists have increased their lines of wedding favors, and there is now a large selection of destination themed favors available to suit every bride's taste and theme.

Destination Wedding Favor Ideas and Tips

When planning a destination wedding, here are some"don'ts" when selecting your destination wedding favors:

Candles, chocolates, and candy can melt. It does not matter if you are not traveling to a warm climate, if you plan on taking your favors on a plane, the cargo holding areas can be quite hot. You should eliminate these favor ideas from your list. Glass can break and anything you feel has the potential to be break - cross that off your list as well. Item weight. Let's face it - you will be traveling not only with all your normal vacation items, but also with all your bridal items as well. Carrying another 30 plus pounds is not something you, your groom, or your attendants want to do. Don't plan on having your favors shipped internationally. Not only is international shipping expensive, your favors could potentially get lost in customs, broken during handling, or heavily taxed by the government.
Here are some "do's" to think about when planning your destination wedding favors:

Think lightweight. If you plan on traveling with your favors, try to select something lightweight and small. Remember your guests have to pack these to take home too! If you can't think of anything that will go with your destination theme, select something useful or practical - which has a special meaning to both of you. If you rather not take favors with you, you can send your favors direct to your guests homes with their thank you notes. A bit more expensive, but your guests will be quite surprised when they find a little thank you token with your note.
Now for some wonderful destination wedding favor ideas!

Luggage tags: They're perfect for destination weddings, as most destination weddings require the guests to travel to a certain location. They more than likely will be used again - as many people simply use disposable tags or the tags that come pre-attached to luggage. With heart shape designs, to planes and cruise ships, luggage tags are perfect! Bookmarks: one of the most popular pastimes for vacationers is reading a good book. Give them something they can use both home and away - a bookmark! With numerous shapes on the market you're sure to find a bookmark that will match your event. Bookmarks are also lightweight, and travel well. For a more formal destination reception, place card holders also make a good choice. Usually lightweight and small, place card holders can double to hold seating assignments and then later on to hold photos, notes and recipe cards. Stay away from place card frames though, unless the front is made of pvc plastic. You do not want glass frames to break in transit. Wine charms or bottle stoppers. With an average weight of 1/4 pound or less and available in many styles - these make a lightweight, good choice if your having a small affair. Cocktail Mix Favors: when you think of laying on a warm sandy beach, many people also think of a nice tropical drink in hand. Give your guests a taste of the tropics with a cocktail mix favor in which they can relax and enjoy at home. Totally customizable these are lightweight, unbreakable and inexpensive! Travel related items: such as mini alarm clocks, manicure kits, mini travel soaps, or sewing kits. Think outside the box: shop party stores as well, for unique party favor items. For a beach theme wedding you can give a tropical luau bag filled with leis, sunglasses,beach hats, inflatable beach balls, etc... Think back to when you were a child and received goodie bags at birthday parties. Perhaps a bit silly, but I guarantee everyone will be sporting those beach hats and carrying those bags around your destination resort. Wedding Tees: A screen-printing shop can create a custom tee shirt design just for you! Reasonably priced when you are having a smaller affair, everyone will use your tee shirts, time and time again, even if it is "just around the house". People love shirts! Gift bags / Gift Baskets: when your guests arrive to their destination, a lovely (but sometimes expensive) option is having a small gift basket in their hotel room. Soaps, sewing kit, manicure kit, mini clock, bookmarks, a small bottle of champagne or wine, non-perishable food items (cookies, crackers, snacks, mints), etc...will be a generous gesture.
For our own wedding, we used a combination of the ideas above. I purchased from a discount party company tropical beach theme bags and stuffed them with a personalized tee shirt, cocktail mixes, wine stoppers, candy, a personalized cd I made with all the wedding songs we had at our reception, and some fun goodies such as leis, glow sticks, Hawaiian shirt key chains. Everyone carried around the tote bags with them during our cruise when they walked to the beach or pool, and everyone loved their little goodie bags! With so many options out there, there is something to please everyone and fit every budget. Keep our handy tips in mind when you are browsing for your destination wedding favors.

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Erica Tevis is the owner of Little Things Wedding Favors which carries thousands of wedding favors and wedding accessories to suit every couple's style, theme and budget.

The Proliferation Security Initiative

2011-03-17T11:00:00.001-07:00

Missile defense is undoubtedly an important part of a comprehensive approach to reducing national security threats against the homeland from weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missiles. However, while missile defense undermines an adversary's confidence of successfully launching a devastating strike against the United States, the U.S. can and should take additional steps to improve its security.

One way to increase security is to develop the means to prevent the materials, technologies, and even complete weapons systems-especially ballistic missiles and WMD-from falling into the hands of those who would harm the United States and its friends and allies.

Military Cargo Plane

Regrettably, in the anxious days following the attacks on September 11, 2001, no such international program existed that could effectively limit the proliferation of WMD and delivery systems, despite the existence of a wide range of arms control treaties and regimes.

The Proliferation Security Initiative

For instance, on December 9, 2002, the North Korean freighter So San was interdicted in the Arabian Sea on its way to Yemen by the Span-ish frigate Navarra, acting on counterproliferation intelligence from the United States. When challenged by the Navarra, the So San tried to evade, but the Navarra fired warning shots across its bow. Spanish special operations forces ultimately boarded So San and found 15 North Korean-made, short-range Scud missiles and 85 drums of chemicals hidden beneath sacks of concrete in the ship's hold.

Despite this successful interdiction of missiles and chemical weapons precursors, the vessel with its cargo was released because international law did not, at the time, allow seizure of WMD-related or missile-related materials on the high seas.

Deeply concerned about the possibility of a rogue state or terrorists attacking the homeland with WMD, the United States led a global effort to create a new consensus on the means and methods to fight the trade in the world's most dangerous weapons.

The answer was the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), which President George W. Bush announced in March 2003 at a meeting in Poland. Today, with more than 90 partner countries, the PSI is the first multilateral effort to stem the traffic in WMD, missiles, and their components. The PSI addresses the need for a more dynamic approach to curbing global proliferation. It operates as a collection of voluntary partnerships that uses information-sharing and existing national laws to address the problems posed by WMD and ballistic missiles.

While U.N. Security Council Resolution 1540, which was adopted unanimously, called on all member states to cooperate to prevent trafficking in WMD, the PSI was the first international effort to put this into practice.

Because PSI is based on as-needed counterproliferation activities, not a formal treaty, it has distinct advantages over previous efforts. For example:

First, the PSI's lack of formal mechanisms eliminates the potential for lengthy bureaucratic interference in interdiction operations. This contrasts sharply with other international institutions that often prefer debate over action.

In practice, the PSI also allows for action against proliferation threats without forming a consensus or even taking a formal vote of participating members, some of which for political reasons may not want to commit themselves to a specific counterproliferation action. This streamlined structure allows for quicker consultation, coordination, and decision making-sometimes just on a bilateral basis-which in turn allows for a timelier and more effective response to proliferation challenges.

Second, the PSI allows states to participate without requiring lengthy negotiations or entrance into rigid and often complicated agreements or treaties that might require ratification in each country's respective parliaments. Instead, states are encouraged, rather than obligated, to participate in and contribute to PSI efforts according to their interests and capabilities, which enables them to engage in an ad hoc manner.

In addition, PSI nations can choose to respond actively but quietly to specific counterproliferation threats without revealing their participation or even participating in PSI exercises, which are held from time to time as a deterrent to would-be proliferators.

The growing strength and potential enforcement reach of the PSI's multilateral partnerships around the globe has made the traffic in WMD and ballistic missiles a high-risk proposition for proliferators. Using existing national laws and authorities, PSI member states can work together to search vessels, planes, and vehicles transiting their territory, territorial waters, or airspace to prevent the transshipment of WMD, ballistic missiles, and related components. The PSI also provides another conduit for international diplomatic, military, intelligence, and law enforcement cooperation, coordination, and consultation and for the sharing of information, operational experiences, and best practices in antiproliferation and counterproliferation efforts.

Even better, PSI has been a success. It is credited with interdicting ballistic missile components headed for Syria, seizing sensitive material headed to Iran and North Korea, and contributing to Libya's decision to abandon its nuclear weapons programs.

Because its activities are often classified, the public may never be fully aware of the PSI's successful land, sea, and air interdictions; its impact on preventing proliferation; or the ways in which it is enhancing U.S. security. Yet the PSI's counterproliferation record, exercises, and operations have likely deterred, delayed, or even prevented WMD, ballistic missiles, and related materials from falling into the wrong hands.

While not all states have joined, the level of support for the PSI demonstrates worldwide agreement that stronger measures and international cooperation are needed to defeat the threat from proliferation of WMD and ballistic missiles. With North Korea already a nuclear weapons state, Iran likely to go nuclear in the near future, and al-Qaeda still interested in acquiring WMD, the threat to U.S. interests at home and overseas is real.

States clearly need to work together to prevent the trade in WMD and ballistic missiles, or at least to make it more costly and difficult, whether the proliferators' motivation is financial or strategic. In a dangerous world, in addition to developing and deploying missile defense, the PSI provides another dynamic, proactive tool for enhancing our national security against the prevailing threat of WMD and ballistic missiles and those that would use them.

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The Heritage Foundation is releasing a new film in February 2009 about missile defense in America titled 33 Minutes. Visit the site at www.33minutes.com to view the film trailer, get access to a wide array of information about missile defense and nuclear weapons issues, find out how missile defense works, and more.

Peter Brookes
Peter Brookes is Senior Fellow for National Security Affairs and Chung Ju-Yung Fellow for Policy Studies at The Heritage Foundation. His areas of expertise include national security, Asia, intelligence, terrorism, and missile defense. Brookes is also a columnist for the New York Post and a contributing editor for Armed Forces Journal magazine. He has over 300 published articles in over 50 newspapers, journals, and magazines. Brookes testifies before the Senate and House of Representatives on foreign policy, defense, and intelligence issues and frequently makes public addresses both domestically and internationally. Before coming to Heritage, Brookes served in the George W. Bush Administration as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Affairs, and prior to that he served with the CIA's Directorate of Operations, the State Department at the United Nations, and in the private sector in the defense industry.