Airplane Geeks Podcast

50th anniversary of Boeing 747 first flight, NTSB Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements, last commercial flight of B727, Airbnb and air travel, SFO outdoor observation deck, Virgin Galactic pilots earn astronaut wings, Collier Trophy nominees.

The impact of AI on commercial aviation, monitoring pilot conversations with AI, Southwest gets new airplanes signed off during a government furlough, Norwegian Air Shuttle’s share offering, and the loss of a remarkable female military aviator.

Chicken Wings aviation humor, flying a full motion flight sim at the United flight training center, effects on aviation of the partial US Government shutdown, the Airlander 10 prototype is retired, Boeing delivers 2 KC-46A tankers, unmanned wingmen.

AOPA SVP Tom Haines talks about 2018 accomplishments and what's ahead for 2019 abd beyond. Also, 7 airline innovations, the fatal training accident rate, and the ANA dual engine shutdown.

Identity management, seamless travel at the airport, the work of the SITA Lab. Also, rogue drones at airports, impacts on aviation of the government shutdown, Generation 2 of the Cirrus Vision Jet, and USAF acceptance of the first KC-46 aerial tanker.

Guest George Kalbfleisch is the Deputy Director of DC-8 Flight Operations for the Samaritan’s Purse emergency relief organization. In the news, we discuss the Twin Mustang Prototype unexpected flight, the Chinese soft landing on the back side of the moon, commercial flights that get diverted due to rocket launches, the worsening controller shortage, and paying tips to Frontier cabin crew.

Samaritans Purse DC-8.

Guest

George Kalbfleisch

George Kalbfleisch is Deputy Director of DC-8 Flight Operations for Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief organization. Samaritan’s Purse delivers critical emergency relief supplies to people in need around the world. Examples include the Saipan typhoon victims, Bangladesh refugees, Iraq during the battle for Mosul, the Caribbean following Hurricanes Irma and Maria, and Ecuador following a magnitude 7.8 earthquake.

George tells us about the configuration of the CFM56-powered DC-8-72, it's range and payload capabilities, and the types of emergency relief missions it undertakes. We learn about the teams that fly and maintain the airplane, and how flight planning takes place, sometimes into devastated areas without electricity. George also treats us to a few of his most exciting and most unusual flights.

Prior to Samaritan’s Purse, George flew DC-8s with an international freight company for twenty years as captain, line check airman, sim instructor, check airman, and the aircrew program designee to issue type ratings for the airplane.

George earned his Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management at Oklahoma State University and received his pilot’s license in 1980. He is a certified airline transport pilot with type ratings in the A320, B-777, DC-8, and SA-227. George is an active General Aviation pilot who enjoys flying tail wheel and aerobatics in his spare time.

DC-8 cutaway illustration, showing the cargo and passenger compartments. Courtesy Samaritan's Purse.

Aviation News

XP-82 Takes Accidental First Flight

Ray Fowler was conducting high-speed taxi tests of the XP-82 Twin Mustang Prototype. The plan was to lift the wheels for just a second, deploy the flaps, and roll out. Except it accelerated so fast that the plane couldn’t get back down in the remaining runway.  So up he went. See XP-82 Twin Mustang Restoration Project for more.

China’s Chang’e-4 lands on moon’s far side

China’s Chang’e-4 spacecraft made the first successful soft landing on the far side of the moon. The spacecraft combines a lander and a rover and utilizes a relay satellite Queqiao for communication. From China National Space Administration: China's Chang'e-4 probe makes historic landing on moon's far side.

Gridlock in the sky

The Feb 6, 2018 launch of the SpaceX Heavy Falcon closed the airspace over a 1,300-mile section the Atlantic for over three hours. Commercial flights had to fly significantly diverted routes, costing time and fuel. What happens when commercial space flight launches become frequent? ALPA says these closures “have led to extensive and expensive delays to commercial air traffic that are unsustainable.”

Government Shutdown Worsens a Controller Shortage

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association is not happy with the partial government shutdown because of its effect on members. But another consequence is the negative effect on training for new controllers. The FAA training academy in Oklahoma City is shut down, and classroom and simulator training at air traffic control facilities has stopped.

That’s a First: I Was Asked for a Tip From a Flight Attendant

PointsGuy.com writer JT Genter was on a Frontier Airlines flight. After ordering his beverage and providing his credit card, the flight attendant handed him a tablet which offered him the ability to select a tip.

Herb Kelleher,

This is a Bits & Pieces episode with recorded segments from the hosts, contributors, and listeners.

Guest Isaac Alexander gives us a taste of aviation action in the Pacific Northwest. In the news: updates on the Boeing/Embraer deal, more WOW Air woes, Virgin Galactic test flight, MRJ engine final assembly in Japan, the Northrop Grumman Firebird MALE, an airline turnback to deliver a heart, and pet fish flying commercial. Plus David’s holiday story, Voyager spacecraft, and first flight comments.

Lockheed Martin and Airbus push A330 MRTT aerial tankers, air marshals, Brazilian court blocks Boeing-Embraer deal, airport biometrics, pilots and apps, AOPA STEM program, An-124 at Houston, Boeing 777X BBJ, Voyager 2 in interstellar space.

Airlines use the cloud for responsive customer service. Indigo Partners invests in Wow, airport micro-hotel rooms, B747 retirements, passengers pay for aircraft repairs, A320 engine cowling door problems, Piaggio insolvent, history segment on the TBF Avenger.