Aviation
Information On Instruments That Make Up The Home Weather Station And Their Installation
Posted on October 19, 2011 |
What exactly is a home weather station? It is when you install a few ambient weather recording devices and equipment in your home to help you record relevant climatic data. Many people are very active about watching and researching various aspects of the environment and the planet on an amateur scale. How and when the various climatic changes occur can be very relevant to the understanding of the planet’s weather pattern and the weather shift. Also a number of aviation enthusiasts in America live in sky parks and they prefer to get their own aviation weather data to make their flight plans. All these people use various instruments installed in the homes, backyards and on their roofs to get the data they need.
The data that they require is very basic and standard. They look for temperature, barometric pressure, wind direction and speed, dew point and precipitation measurements and therefore require the basic instruments for those respectively. The thermometer is the instrument used to measure temperature. But it needs to be installed in the right manner to get the best readings. To get the accurate ambient temperature the thermometer needs to encased in a Stevenson Screen and placed at a height of four feet above the ground. This is to ensure that the instrument is not exposed to direct insolation. The barometer that measures the air pressure needs to be installed in a place that is away from the direct wind as that will corrupt the readings.
The dew point is derived from a contraption called the wet-bulb thermometer. This too needs to be kept away from direct sunlight. The wind vane and the anemometer however require to be directly exposed to the wind so as to get the accurate results. These instruments are used to measure the wind direction and speed respectively. The last criterion is the precipitation amount which is derived from an instrument called the rain gauge. This one too needs to be exposed directly to the rainfall without any obstructions or hurdles.
All the data received from these devices is recorded at regular intervals and transmitted to a portable console. This console makes all the readings readily available to you at the push of a button. This console can also be connected to your computer to save the data so that none of your readings are lost and they can be checked on later when making an analysis. The home weather station equipment is light, easy to install and easy to use.
Vieux-Quebec
Posted on October 18, 2011 |
It is said that an American tourist visiting Quebec City once asked to see the Jewish Aviation Museum.
“The Jewish Aviation Museum?” queried the puzzled tourist guide.
“Yea, you know, the Planes of Abraham.” exclaimed the tourist.
The story is no doubt apocryphal, but it underscores the fact that Quebec boasts a different language and culture from the rest of North America.
And vive la difference. Quebec City is the cradle of French civilization in North America. Founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, French soldier, navigator, geographer and explorer, it is the only walled city north of Mexico.
The name Quebec is derived from the Indian word “Kebec,” meaning “narrowing of the waters”. The city is perched on a 106 meter (350ft) cliff overlooking the St. Lawrence River and is divided into the Upper and Lower town. In colonial times the Upper Town was the domain of the military and the government. The Lower Town encompassed the port and trading district where supplies from Europe were unloaded to be replaced by the rich furs of “New France.”
Authentic restoration ensures that today’s Lower Town retains the ambience of early New France, including the thick stonewalls, dormer windows, wooden doors and shutters and bright tin roofs.
The art galleries, boutiques and quaint alfresco cafes that have replaced the old warehouses give Quebec that uniquely European look unknown in other North American cities.
The heart of the Lower Town was, and still is, Place Royale, named after Louis X1V whose bust stands in the square.
Hard by Place Royale is Quartier Petit-Champlain, the oldest district in North America, dating back to the city’s founding in 1608. Originally it was a busy port village with trading posts and elegant residences built of wood, then stone and brick. Towards the end of the 19th century Quartier Petit-Champlain deteriorated. Modern renovation, with strict adherence to authenticity, has again turned the quarter into a quaint riverside village where pedestrians can stroll the narrow streets enjoying the local color. Over 60 craftspeople and artists offer their wares here and visitors can enjoy the native entertainers and musicians while partaking of Quebec’s sumptuous French cuisine.
To get to the Upper Town from the Lower Town you can climb the aptly named “Break-neck Stairs” or take a small funicular railway.
Dominating the skyline up top is that majestic symbol of Quebec City, the Chateau Frontenac. The hotel was built in 1893 and its turrets and towers make it look more like a castle. It is on the site of Fort St. Louis, a governor’s residence in colonial times, and was named after Comte de Frontenac, an early governor of New France.
From the front of the Chateau Frontenac you can take the Promenade des Gouverneurs, a picturesque boardwalk, round to the famous Plains of Abraham or Battlefields Park. This 95-hectare (235 acres) park was the site of the pivotal battle between General Wolfe and General Montcalm in 1759 that irrevocably sealed the fate of New France as a British colony. The boardwalk itself is suspended 92 meters (280ft) above the St. Lawrence and offers spectacular views of the river and Quebec’s busy harbor.
Visitors arriving in Quebec City by car from Montreal are likely to drive down the Grande Allee. The road dates from colonial times when the indigenous people of the Sillery reserve took what was then the longest road in the colony into town to sell their furs. Today the road is lined with restaurants and small hotels all housed in Victorian buildings. It’s great fun to stroll this busy street at night reading the menus posted outside the restaurants. The quality of the restaurants in Quebec City is unequalled anywhere in North America, including New York and San Francisco. Meandering down the Grande Allee in the evening one regrets that one can eat only one dinner.
A visit to Quebec would be incomplete without a tour of ile d’Orleans, a 35 kilometer (21 miles) by nine-kilometer (five miles) island in the middle of the St. Lawrence River.
Quebec poet and folksinger, Felix Leclerc, describes the road that circumscribes the island as “quarante-deux milles de choses tranquilles …” (42 miles of tranquility). The island is certainly a living museum of colonial New France with houses, churches and mills that are centuries old.
Of particular interest in the village of Saint-Jean is the Manoir Mauvide-Genest. Built in 1734 for Mr. Mauvide, surgeon to Louis XV, it is a Norman-style manor and one of the most beautiful rural buildings in the province of Quebec. Today it houses a restaurant on the first floor and a museum on the second.
The bridge connecting the island with the mainland was built in 1935. Prior to this the only contact with the island was by boat in summer and ice-bridge in winter.
From the bridge one gets a superb view of Montmorency Falls on the mainland. With a height of 85 meters (274 ft) it is over 30 meters (100 ft) higher than Niagara Falls. On top of the cliff and to the left of the falls stands the Kent House, once the home of the Duke of Kent, father of Queen Victoria.
The uniqueness of Quebec was summed up by the English writer Rudyard Kipling in a letter home upon visiting the city in 1907. He wrote: “Quebec … ranks by herself among those Mother-cities of whom none can say, ‘This reminds me ….’”
Aviation Schools For Aspiring Pilots
Posted on October 18, 2011 |
Imagine a career that includes piloting jets and airplanes! If that sounds like your kind of career, it’s time for you to look into aviation schools. Aviation schools can teach you everything you need to know about aviation: aerodynamics, geography, mechanics, weather, environmental conditions, and much more.
Also known as flight schools or pilot training, aviation schools are in the business of training pilots in the operation of practically everything that flies, including airplanes, helicopters, air balloons, and dirigibles. Those with an interest in flying have various reasons for making aviation the focus of their studies, but, the joy of learning to pilot aircraft is the main motivator for most of them.
Flight school requires learning the ins-and-outs of aviation technology as well as learning to fly airplanes, jets, and helicopters. Flight training may involve hundreds of hours of classroom study and discussion before aspiring pilots begin the process of flying aircraft. A flight school that is FAA-approved will offer thorough aviation training that can lead to a productive career
Major airlines will ususally welcome ex-military pilots into service. However, if you don’t have the military background, you can learn the necessary skills to be a high-quality pilot with a comprehensive course from a FAA-approved aviation school. Today’s pilot is less likely to have a background in military service; therefore, the number of aviation schools and pilot training schools in the U.S. has increased to meet the demand for well-trained aviators.
Graduates of aviation school have endless career possibilities. They may choose to fly business and commercial transport planes, or to work for a small airline company. They may become a free-lance pilot, flying whenever and wherever they choose. They could command a helicopter and perform civilian rescue and first responder duties at accident sites, or open a business giving balloon rides! Experienced aviators with advanced education often find lifelong employment with one of the major airlines.
Depending on the nature of the work you choose to do, your salary could range from $20,000 to $130,000 or more annually. So, take some time to think about your goals for the future, and what you expect to gain from flight school. Then, choose an FAA-approved aviation school that will meet your aspirations, and change your life for the better.
If you would like to learn more about Aviation Schools, we invite you to visit the SchoolsGalore.com website. You will find a number of schools eager to give you all the information you need to make a career decision.
DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.
Copyright 2007 – All rights reserved by Media Positive Communications, Inc.
Notice: Publishers are free to use this article on an ezine or website, provided the article is reprinted in its entirety, including copyright and disclaimer, and ALL links remain intact and active.
EAA Airventure Museum Discount Coupons – Tickets to Take You There
Posted on October 17, 2011 |
Want to reach the EAA Airventure Museum but is worried of spending a lot of bucks?
Flight is something most people would wish to be able to do. As a matter of fact, people from thousands of years ago have marveled about flying and going form one place to another without the hassle of traffic and rugged terrain like the birds in the sky. With EAA Airventure, your dream experience has arrived. And with the museum coupons, you can take off there more easily.
EAA Airventure Museum boasts of its collection of more than 250 historic airplanes. It is home to over 25000 objects related to aviation. From gyrocopters, sailplanes, photoplanes and prototypes this museum hosts a collection of different types of aircrafts and the list could still go on. These planes can be considered as historical artifacts as some of them still date since the World War II and it’s the aviation museum that holds the Bonzo, a famous air racer, donated by Steve Whitman in 1962 which also marks the museum’s foundation.
Visitors can also spend their time watching in one of the five theaters of the Airventure Theater which features different airshows. Not only will you be able to watch an airshow, you can also take a ride in a vintage airplane at the Pioneer Airport.
This museum is not exclusive for people who love the thrill of flying and for people who find old plane designs beautiful, the museum is also open for kids who want an interactive experience at aviation as well. Through simulations and a large gallery, the kids can be hands on with their experience on flying a plane at the Kidventure gallery.
This experience will not take flight unless you get a hold of those museum discount coupons. These discount coupons serves as your passport to all the exhibits in the museum. Fly and reach for the sky with the EAA Airventure Museum discount coupons.
Diecast Helicopter Model – Black Shark Ka-50 Combat Helicopter
Posted on October 17, 2011 |
About Ka-50 combat helicopter:
In developing the advanced Ka-50 combat helicopter in 1977 at the time the fleet of the Soviet Army’s combat helicopters was made up of Mi- 24s. In terms of performance they could not challenge the new American AH- 64 “Apache” fire support helicopter, which was at that time being developed. Several helicopter configurations and were studied, as “Kamov” designers tried to create a new superior combat machine. The experience in Vietnam and in Afghanistan had disclosed the low survivability of the classic single-rotor helicopter due to its vulnerable tail rotor and extended rotor drive.
The advantages of an aerodynamically symmetrical coaxial main rotor came to the fore. Such a rotor assures easier helicopter control both in the manual and, more importantly, automatic mode, excellent manoeuvrability, take-off and landing in windy weather. Furthermore, the coaxial rotor considerably improves helicopter survivability, makes the rotor drive more compact and substantially reduces engine power losses. Today, Ka-50 is the world’s best helicopter in terms of efficient use of engine power.
Many of us with no doubt can recall one of Russia’s MiG-29 and its world famous stunt aerobatics nicknamed “the bell”, or Su-27′s “Pugachov cobra”, which shock both experts and spectators. Ka- 50 also has its own aerobatic our de force: no other machine can execute the so-called “funnel” as perfectly as Ka-50. In actual fact, the “funnel” is an element of aerobatics, ensuring concentration of helicopter fire on pinpoint targets. Moreover, continuous displacement of the helicopter in the “funnel” in azimuth and elevation makes enemy timing extremely difficult. The Ka-50 can sideslip at 80 km/h or move backwards at 90 km/h. It only takes a few seconds to reverse flight direction. Ka-50 is the only craft in the world which can hover motionlessly for twelve hours in succession! The priorities of the “Kamov” company extend far beyond its unsurpassed experience in the theory and practice of building coaxial rotor helicopters. In 1965, the company started issuing fibre glass rotor blades in their helicopters ten years before the rest of the world. Similar fourth- generation blades are now being installed in Ka-50. One of the Ka- 50′s rotor blades sustained 30 holes caused by automatic gunfire to test the helicopter’s survivability. The craft continued flying for 80 accident- free hours.
The Ka-50′s combat power is based essentially on anti-tank guided missiles and cannon fire. Frequently, then a helicopter attacks tanks, it becomes a good enemy target. Ka- 50 is able to counter this menace with its “Vikhr” supersonic anti-tank missiles, with a maximum range of 10 km. This weapon helps reduce the time spent by the helicopter in the firing zone, exceeding at the same time the effective range of enemy anti-aircraft missiles. The combination warhead of the supersonic missile includes several different fuses. All these factors, combined with a high-accuracy jam-proof guidance system, ensures effective engagement of different targets, including armoured targets (with dynamically protected armour up to 900 mm thick) as well as airborne targets flying at a speed of up to 800 km/h, using the same type of ammunition. The missile is renowned for its stealth: the enemy only detects the attack when hit. This weapon is characterized by lower reserves, which may well be used to enhance its combat capabilities. Extensive firing tests have proved the excellent qualities of the automatic guidance system: small-size targets are defeated at maximum ranges far more effectively.
The powerful 30 mm gun was borrowed from the Army and in terms of ammunition fully standardized with the one used in the BMP-2 mechanized infantry vehicle. The 2A42 gun has a selectable rate of fire and permits selective ammunition supply from two boxes loaded with armour-piercing and high-explosive sounds. Such design increases gun efficiency by more than 30 per cent in fire against light armour or airborne targets. The barrel life permits one to fire the complete 500-round load uninterruptedly without intermediate cooling. The BMP-2′s and the Army combat helicopter’s gun mount has proved reliable in conditions of extreme dust. The gun arrangement in Ka-50 is quite unusual. To preserve high accuracy of fire along with other remarkable properties, the gun is installed in the helicopter’s centre of gravity.
This ensures strength requirements and eliminates any need for additional reinforcement of the structure. In addition, this factor helps reduce the recoil effect, helicopter weight and retain the center of gravity, as the rounds are expended. The electro hydraulic servo drive provides for the vertical and horizontal movements of the barrel to maintain the line of fire. The 2A42 guns mount “Kamov” experts in the development and operation of avionics. The contract for an integrated electronic weapons control and avionics system was awarded to a specialized company, which developed similar systems for MiG and Su single-seat fighters. The Ka-50′s crew was thereby and the “Vikhr” missiles are designed by a team of weapon designers headed by A.G. Shipunov, corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Various Ka-50 armament versions have been proposed to better adapt the craft to the existing fleet of army combat helicopters and enable firing against different targets. Ordnance items are attached to four suspension fittings, which can receive virtually any airborne weapon: pylon locks’ load-carrying capacity constitutes the only limitation. To use the whole ordnance range, no changes in the design or algorithm of the weapons control system are required.
The weapon pylons can be tilted. Owing to a 10-degree downward deflection, the pylons can impart, to a certain extent, new properties to the conventional weapons suspended on them. Fuel tanks may be counted on all suspension fittings, whenever necessary.
For combat helicopter group operations, Ka-50 has the requisite equipment and receives reconnaissance data from various guidance systems. The received data are also displayed on the windshield indicator.
To ensure high accuracy in the operation of airborne weapons, the human operator was replaced by an automatic guidance system. The human factor, liable to emotions and stresses, was eliminated from the most critical element of the system thanks to the high standard of the national defence industry and the long-term experience gained by “Kamov” experts in the development and operation of avionics. The contract for an integrated electronic weapons control and avionics system was awarded to a specialized company, which developed similar systems for MiG and Su single-seat fighters. The Ka-50′s crew was hereby reduced to the minimum: it consists of a single pilot.
From the very start the helicopter featured enhanced survivability. On the one hand, a compact single- pilot raft was easier to protect, while at the same time the protection should be reliable enough to safeguard the single crewman. Unlike its counterpart “Apache”, the Ka-50′s essential units are considerably smaller in size. Complete elimination of the tail rotor, together with its controls and gear box, means that tail boom damage can be sustained without serious implications. Measures taken to improve both the craft’s and rew’s survivability ensured the successful solution of at least twenty-six problems. They include continuous operation of the rotor drive despite a damaged oil system, assisted emergency escape, an extensive fire extinguishing system and many others.
Composite materials constitute thirty-five per cent of the helicopter’s load-carrying structure. They do not simply reduce the craft’s weight. When hit by bullets or shells, the composites do not produce secondary effects (splinters, splashes) characteristic of a metal surface.
Particular care has been taken to protect the flight compartment and fuel system. The Ka-50′s pilot is seated in a completely armoured and screened cockpit weighing a little over 300 kg. Multiple tests of various protection materials proved the high operational and combat properties of the combination steel armour. The matter is part of the fuselage’s basic structure, providing it with additional strength. Due to improved counter shell resistance of such armour the pilot is protected from direct hits of several 20 mm shells. The cockpit design and layout restrict changes to 10-15% of the flight compartment’s internal volume upon impact with the ground. No helicopter components can penetrate into the cockpit, when their attachment Parts are destroyed.
The new helicopter’s landing gear and fuselage are designed to absorb ground impact overloads. The fuel system arrangement prevents any possibility of fire after any rough landing of the craft. If one of the two engines is damaged, the Ka-50 can continue the flight on one operating engine. The rotor swash plate control rods will remain operational, even if one has sustained two large-calibre machine gun shot holes.
The assisted emergency escape system deserves special attention. It is the world’s first usable helicopter pilot rescue ejection system. The system operates reliably in any critical situation. The single-seat helicopter concept ensures maximum pilot survivability. The K-37 seat designed at the firm “Zvezda” by the team headed by G.I. Severin, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, allows pilot ejection at all altitudes and velocities, including zero. The pilot can also bail out without ejection. A number of consecutive operations are performed on board the craft as the system is actuated. They include jettisoning the main rotor blade followed by the opening of the cockpit panel and actuation of the ejection pocket motor. The aforementioned system is most convenient for a single-seat helicopter, owing to the lack of time available during the escape at minimum altitudes.
The problem of time and effort needed by the ground personnel to prepare the craft for combat was also solved successfully for the Ka-50. As the helicopter is armed on the ground, electric hoists built, to ensure easy suspension of weapons weighing up to 500 kg. The supersonic missiles are loaded as an integral block; the stowage process of the belted ammunition in the boxes is simplified and mechanized. Arrangement of the equipment in the helicopter ensures the operation of several specialists at a time. The equipment is easily accessible, owing to the large cowl openings. The Ka-50′s peculiar features include grease free Teflon hinges used in all bearings of the mechanical system.
They enjoy a service life at least ten times as long as regular bearings. The Army’s Ka-50 is designed for prolonged service from unprepared landing grounds located far from the main bases.
According to Air Force specialists and foreign experts, Ka-50 is not merely another good combat craft: it constitutes a new trend in helicopter construction and Army Aviation tactics. Designed initially to “neutralize” the US AH-64A “Apache” attack helicopter, Ka-50 has outperformed its rival in every respect. Now foreign companies, which received orders for Army combat helicopters must meet customer requirements to provide a machine at least as good as Kamov-50.
One of the producers of Black Shark Ka-50 combat helicopter Diecast Model is “Revell”.