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Today marks 73 years since D-Day, the pivotal World War II operation in which Allied troops invaded Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944. It is known to be the largest seaborne invasion in history, with more than 160,000 soldiers landing on the beach in Normandy to take on the Nazi German fighters.

Up to 12,000 Allies and 9,000 Germans were killed, according to the National World War II Museum. The day is billed as “the beginning of the end of war in Europe.”

Here are a few of their quotes, from GoodReads, about the invasion:

1. “Sixty-five years ago in the thin light of gray dawn, more than 1,000 small craft took to a rough sea on a day that will be forever a day of bravery. On that June morning the young of our nations stepped out on those beaches below and into history. As long as freedom lives their deeds will never die.” — Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown

2. “This vast operation is undoubtedly the most complicated and difficult that has ever occurred.” — Winston Churchill

3. “This operation is not being planned with any alternatives. This operation is planned as a victory, and that’s the way it’s going to be. We’re going down there, and we’re throwing everything we have into it, and we’re going to make it a success.” — Eisenhower

4. “They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate.” — Former U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt

5. “The 6th June is not a day like others: it is not just the longest day or a day to remember the dead, but a day for the living to keep the promise written with the blood of the fighters, to be loyal to their sacrifice by building a world that is fairer and more human.” — French President Francois Hollande
6. “It was unknowable then, but so much of the progress that would define the 20th century, on both sides of the Atlantic, came down to the battle for a slice of beach only 6 miles long and 2 miles wide.” — Former U.S. President Barack Obama

7. “It is difficult to understand the courage it took to advance through minefields and barbed wire under fire from mortars and machine-guns in order to punch through Hitler’s Atlantic Wall, and yet that is exactly what many Canadians did.” — Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper

8. “We know that progress is not inevitable. But neither was victory upon these beaches. Now, as then, the inner voice tells us to stand up and move forward. Now, as then, free people must choose.” — Former U.S. President Bill Clinton

May 31, 2017 By Cessna Owner Organization

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin – (May 25, 2017) – As expected, on May 24 White House officials included privatization of national air traffic control operations in its proposed federal budget, closely mirroring the Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization (AIRR) Act of 2016 that was shelved by the full House of Representatives last year.

“EAA continues to be opposed to ATC privatization because it cedes overwhelming influence over the future control of and access to the National Airspace System to the nation’s airlines and other major business interests in a manner that is contrary to the long-term viability of general aviation,” said EAA CEO and Chairman Jack J. Pelton.

“We also believe that control of the air operations system should remain in the hands of Congress so that all aviation and non-aviation stakeholders in the NAS are fairly and broadly represented,” continued Pelton. “Finally, proposals we have seen thus far offered flawed business plans that do not account for the real costs of operations or any transition and indeed are projected by the White House to increase the budget deficit by more than $46 billion over the next decade.

Pelton, who participated in a White House briefing on the issue earlier in May, added that the proposal faces an uncertain future in Congress because of those and other concerns regarding the wholesale transfer of taxpayer-funded infrastructure to a private entity.

EAA board member Joe Brown testified before a House committee on May 17 that ATC privatization would not be in the best interests of the nation or the overall aviation community. He doubted a cooperative of special interests would be able to safely operate the world’s busiest airspace and bring modernization, while operating in the public’s best interests.

Today’s air traffic proposal from the White House admits that there are “numerous stakeholders both inside and outside the federal government that care about access and the day-to-day operations of the nation’s airspace. As the user community of the nation’s airspace expands to include unmanned aerial vehicles, new concerns from our local communities will need to be addressed.”

Pelton notes that comparisons of the AIRR Act proposal to other countries that that have created privatized systems are not valid, due to air traffic volume, different governing models, or impact on existing non-commercial operations.

EAA will continue to aggressively communicate its concerns to the administration and members of Congress as the FAA reauthorization legislative process advances.

The 43rd annual Sun ’n‘ Fun Fly-In & Expo opens tomorrow at Florida’s Lakeland Linder Regional Airport. Organizers are promising improved and increased flightline viewing areas, a new family fun zone with kids’ activities, daily aerial displays and airshow, a twilight mid-week airshow on Wednesday and a night airshow, complete with fireworks, on Saturday. Numerous safety, education and informational seminars will also be held throughout the week.
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels will be featured during the airshows starting on Thursday, while the French air force Patrouille de France jet team will participate throughout the week. This year’s show also promises to have the largest assembly of P-51 Mustangs in more than a decade, in celebration of P-51 restorer and training company Stallion 51’s 30th anniversary. The contingency of Mustangs will also fly during the Thursday afternoon airshow.
On Wednesday, the fourth annual Sun ’n‘ Fun career fair—sponsored by JSfirm—will be held inside the Florida Air Museum at Lakeland Airport. Thirteen companies are scheduled to participate, including most regional airlines and ultra-low-cost carriers. Job seekers are encouraged to pre-register since space is limited.

 

Originally published in AIN magazine

Pilatus has announced the first flight of its third prototype PC-24 twinjet. The March 6 maiden voyage of “series-conforming” aircraft P03, registered HB-VSA, lasted two hours and five minutes, taking off from Buochs Airport in Switzerland. P03, the last prototype, joins its two siblings in the flight-test program, which began in May 2015 when P01 first flew. Certification is expected in the fourth quarter.
Deliveries of the first PC-24s will begin shortly after certification, with the first going to launch customer PlaneSense. Pilatus stopped taking orders after signing sales contracts for the first 84 shortly after the program was announced in May 2013. Pilatus will install a “Zermatt” executive interior in HB-VSA, one of six interior and exterior themes designed in cooperation with BMW Group’s Designworks, and it will be on display at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exposition (EBACE) in Geneva, May 22 to 24.
Oscar Schwenk, Pilatus chairman of the board said, “The PC-24 flight-test program is proceeding as planned and the results are very encouraging. The data we have so far indicates that our Swiss business jet exceeds published performance figures. I am naturally looking forward with immense anticipation to the moment when our first customers take delivery of their PC-24s.”

Citation X Change History

 

 

 

 

If you are in the market for a Citation X, keep in mind that there have been a number of modifications to the platform since its inception that may affect which serial number you pursue. A brief synopsis of these modifications follows:

 

750-0101 and on

 Split-bus electrical system

o This change was undertaken to comply with European JAA requirements, which

mandated a split-bus architecture. The split-bus architecture provides for greater

isolation and independence between systems that are powered by the LH

generator and those that are powered by the RH generator. (A cross-tie relay

allows the RH generator to power the LH buses, and vice-versa, in the event of a

generator failure.)

 

 

 

 

750-0150 and on

 Aileron re-gearing

o Prior to this change, the ailerons reached full travel at 68 degrees of control wheel

input. Subsequent to this change, the ailerons reach full travel at 34 degrees of

control wheel input. This allows for better aileron responsiveness in gusty or

crosswind landing operations. If one of the hydraulic systems is inoperative, the

system reverts to requiring 68 degrees of input for full aileron travel.

 

750-0173 and on (2002 Block Point Change)

 5% increase in takeoff thrust per engine (designated as the 3007C1 engine)

 New standby engine instrument to support higher ITT limits

 Increased weights

o Increased maximum ramp weight from 36,000 to 36,400 lb

o Increased maximum takeoff weight from 35,700 to 36,100 lb

o Increased full fuel payload from 1,069 lb to 1,369 lb

 Honeywell P2000 Phase 7 IAC software to support max weight and thrust increases

 Inclusion of many former options into the standard airplane

o Examples: AFIS, FDR provisions, 2nd HF provisions, TCAS II, EGPWS, CD-820

CDUs, etc.

 

750-0225 (2004 Block Point Change)

 Pin-in, pin-out cabinetry

o This enables cabinetry to be more easily removed and reinstalled in the cabin.

 New crew seats

o The new crew seats from Goodrich provide more adjustability (lumbar, seat pan,

thigh support)

 New passenger seats from Ipeco

These seats have a more robust design. They also feature fold-down armrests and

provide a seat cushion that is wider than that of the previous design.

 Pylon work lights

 LED tail nav light

 LED indirect lighting in the cabin

 Improved nose wheel steering tiller ergonomics

 New engine and APU generators

o Eliminated TBO of 1200 hours in favor of an on-condition interval.

 Better switch panels for cabin management (i.e. reading lamp control, window shade

control)

 

750-0256 and on

 MSG-3 maintenance program

o This change reduces the number of individual inspection tasks in the inspection

program. It reduces the number of days of down time required per year to

complete inspection tasks.

 

750-0284 and on (750-0302 for airplanes registered in EASA countries)

 Honeywell NZ6.0 FMS software

o This upgrade included many incremental improvements, including automatic

tuning of localizer frequencies, ability to preview a change to the active leg of a

flight plan, and elimination of the restriction on the use of VNAV (VGP) during

approaches.

 Enabled AFIS weather graphics display on the CD-820

Other changes that have taken place at various serials

 KHF-950 HF radio replaced by HF-1050

 Replacement of standard Honeywell TCAS II with ACSS TCAS-2000 system

o The TCAS-2000 had a significantly better reliability track record.

 LED wingtip nav lights

 Included Enhanced Surveillance (EHS) transponders for operation in Europe

 

 

If you have questions concerning the information contained in this article or on any aircraft or specific aircraft market, please feel free to contact me.

 

Tim Palma

317-414-1044

tim@solutionsaircraft.com