AvTalk Episode 180: Parabolic flight on the Zero G A310

On this episode of AvTalk, Ian heads to Bordeaux to experience weightlessness aboard the Novespace / Air Zero G A310 with the German Aerospace Research Center. Novespace chairman and former astronaut Jean-François Clervoy explains the idea behind parabolic flight and pilot Bertrand Rameau teaches us how to fly a parabola in the A310. Plus, Russian airlines go on a shopping spree, and Rolls Royce bursts Booms bubble, saying they won’t be producing an engine for the supersonic jet.

Getting to Bordeaux

Getting to Bordeaux was half the fun as Ian flew from Chicago to New York to Stockholm to Paris to Bordeaux.

What’s it like to to fly in Zero G?

Ian walks through the parabolic flight and some of the scientific experiments on board.

Read Ian’s full report on the flight here.

Novespace chairman Jean-François Clervoy

Novespace chairman and former astronaut Jean-François Clervoy explains the physics of parabolic flights and we find out that we came very close to seeing a much different aircraft used for these zero g flights.

Zero G A310 pilot Bertrand Rameau

Pilot Bertrand Rameau explains exactly how pilots perform the parabola maneuver and what it takes to become a zero g pilot.

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The Russians go on a shopping spree

Aeroflot announced orders for hundreds of Russian-made aircraft for delivery beginning in 2023.

Israel banning four-engine aircraft

Israel is set to ban four-engine aircraft and no one is quite sure why.

Finnair and SAS reconfiguring their fleets

Impacted by the pandemic and the closure of Russian airspace, Finnair is changing its model and reconfiguring its fleet. Meanwhile, as it seeks to reorganize its operations, SAS is rejecting leases on a handful of wide body aircraft.

United scrambling to stay at JFK

United Airlines has an uphill battle if it wants to keep operating at JFK when it’s temporary slot allotment runs out.

Rolls Royce bursts Boom’s bubble

Rolls Royce says that it’s work for Boom is complete and it won’t be producing an engine for the supersonic Overture jet.

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Please click here for a transcript of this episode.