Image of the Day…Morning Sky !!!

November 28, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

Good morning!

November morning sky at Old Scituate Light in Scituate, Massachusetts, USA.

.Photo by Daniel Levy Photography.

You can see more of Daniel’s photos here

SOURCE::::www.earthsky.org

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The Birth Of ” Peanut Airline” …!!!

November 28, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

It’s the final week for our Aviation History Month articles, and this week we are looking at airlines between 1980 and 2000.

The Birth of the 'Peanut Airline' - Aviation History Month

1989 saw a Qantas Boeing 747, fly non-stop from London to Sydney, setting a world record for a four engine jet, after having flown 11,000 miles in 20 hours. During the first half of the 1990’s, the industry suffered world recession, and in 1991, international passenger numbers dropped for the first time. The financial difficulties were aggravated by airlines over-ordering aircraft in the boom years of the late 1980s.

However, in 1993, The 1,000th Boeing 747 came off the production line 26 years after the first 747 was built. By 1997, all EU airlines were given unlimited rights to serve airports in other member states after the European Commission approved new regulations to liberalise air travel within the EU.

Virgin Atlantic

On June 22, 1984, the airline launched its inaugural flight from London Gatwick to Newark, consisting mainly of celebrities and media. The airline celebrated its 1,000,000^thpassenger only 4 years afterwards, and in 1999, Richard Branson sold a 49% stake in the company to Singapore Airlines, which was later acquired by Delta Airlines.

Virgin Atlantic inaugural flight, 1984 [Image by Virgin Atlantic]

Emirates

The airline commenced operations on October 25, 1985, departing Dubai International Airport for Karachi in Pakistan. The airline began operations to Karachi, New Delhi and Bombay using Airbus A300 and Boeing 737 leased aircraft from Pakistan International Airlines. In 1992, the airline became the first to install video entertainment systems in all of its classes throughout its fleet, and in 1995 when the airline celebrated its tenth birthday; it could already boast 34 locations in the Middle East, Far East and Europe.

Emirates inaugural flight 1985. [Image by Gulf News]

Ryanair

The airline was established in 1985 with a share capital of £1 and 25 employees, using only a 15-seater Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante aircraft. By 1990, Ryanair dropped its Business Class product and closed the Frequent Flyer Club, to re-launch as Europe’s first low fares airline, using only Boeing 737 aircraft. 1992 saw more than one million passengers carried in a year for the first time. The airline stopped serving meals and served only snacks instead, leading to the birth of the ‘peanut airline’.

Ryanair ATR 42-300. [Image by airliners.net]

Air China

Air China was established in 1988 after the Chinese Government decided to split the operating divisions of Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) into six separate airlines, including Air China. The carrier was given chief responsibility for intercontinental flights, and took over the CAAC’s long haul aircraft and routes, including its Boeing 747s, 767s and 707s. In 2001, Air China acquired China Southwest Airlines following a merger plan.

Air China A340

Jet Airways

Jet Airways was incorporated in 1993 as an air taxi operator with a fleet of four leased Boeing 737-300 aircraft from Malaysia Airlines. The operator became a scheduled airline in 1995, after the Air Corporations Act was abolished, and began its first international operation in March 2004, from Chennai to Colombo.

Jet Airways A340, 2005, with 1993-2007 livery. [Image by Adrian Pingstone

SOURCE:::: Poppy Marello in http://www.routesonline.com

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Image of the Day…Crescent Moon !!!

November 27, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

Tuesday’s crescent moon sets behind a small cabin. Photo by Göran Strand.

Photo credit: Göran Strand

If you’ve been watching the early evening sky, you know the moon has returned to it. It has appeared in a slim waxing crescent phase over these past evenings. Göran Strand of Sweden captured the crescent moon on Tuesday evening, November 25, 2014. Notice the glow over the unlit part of a crescent moon? It’s called earthshine, and it’s sunlight reflected from Earth’s day onto the moon’s surface.

A big thank you to Göran Strand for sharing his photo with us. You can see more beautiful photos by Göran Strand here

SOURCE:::: http://www.earthsky.org

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Image of the Day…” Ice-Covered Light House ” !!!

November 25, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

Ice-covered lighthouse in Michigan

Wow! A fearsome ice king! Outer lighthouse in St. Joseph, Michigan last Friday night.

Joshua Nowicki took this photo in St. Joseph, a city on the shores of Lake Michigan, on November 21, 2014, after last week’s winter storm swept through.

Nikon D5100, 35 mm lens, f/2.2, 15 seconds, ISO 800.

By the way, the St. Joe Lighthouse has its own live webcam.

See more of Joshua Nowicki’s pics, including more of this lighthouse here.

Posted by Eleanor Imster in http://earthsky.org/todays-image/

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LZ-129 Hindenburg: …Airships Which Ruled The Skies Prior to Airliners !!!

November 24, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

Prior to the age of the airliner, Zeppelin airships ruled the skies over the north Atlantic — connecting cities like New York with Western Europe. Zeppelin’s fleet of airships included such colossal creations like the Graf Zeppelin and the Hindenburg along with the less famous Graf Zeppelin II.

Before the modern jumbo jet and its first class suites, the biggest and grandest thing in luxury air travel was the German Zeppelin Airship.

Of all the massive Zeppelin’s constructed, the most famous was the Hindenburg. The Hindenburg was designed to ferry passengers across the Atlantic in serenity, with the dirigible floating smoothly through the clouds.

The Hindenburg was the first of two “Hindenburg” Class airships constructed by the Zeppelin Company. Construction of the airship began in 1931 and was completed in 1936. The Hindenburg, along with its highly successful predecessor, the Graf Zeppelin, made numerous trans-Atlantic crossings in their brief but illustrious career.

Constructed out of an aluminum alloy called duralumin, the Hindenburg’s massive frame work was filled with 7 tons of hydrogen. Hydrogen is much lighter than air, and allows the massive Zeppelin to carry more people in greater levels of luxury. However, with an ignition source, an oxidizer, and right concentration, hydrogen can also be incredibly flammable.

The Hindenburg entered passenger service in May of 1936 and carrier up 50 passengers in luxury across the Atlantic.

The legend of the Hindenburg’s luxurious amenities are well know, but most have not seen them in living color. So take the opportunity to check out these wonderful photos of the Zeppelin’s passengers spaces courtesy of airships.net and the German Federal Archive.

LZ-129 Hindenburg: A Detailed History

Hindenburg’s Transatlantic Service to North America

On May 6, 1936, LZ-129 began the service it was built for; regular transatlantic crossings between Germany and the United States, carrying up to 50 passengers with both comfort and speed.

The passengers on Hindenburg’s maiden voyage to America included celebrities, wealthy travelers, journalists, and members of the Nazi elite. (See complete passenger list with photos and biographies.)

The flight featured the first Catholic mass ever said in the air, and a broadcast over the NBC radio network including a recital on Hindenburg’s specially-made lightweight duralumin piano.

[Read an account of Hindenburg’s maiden voyage to North America by United Press reporter Webb Miller, who was a passenger on the flight.]

Hindenburg’s Arrival in America after Maiden Voyage to USA

Hindenburg’s 2-1/2 day crossing of the North Atlantic was an astounding accomplishment at a time when even the fastest transatlantic ocean liners (such as the Blue Riband-winning Queen Mary, Normandie, and Bremen) made the trip in five days, and slower ships took as long as 10 days.

Hindenburg’s fastest crossing of the North Atlantic took place in August, 1936; the ship lifted off from Lakehurst, New Jersey at 2:34 AM on August 10th and landed in Frankfurt the next day, after a flight of just 43 hours and 2 minutes.

Of course, Hindenburg’s speed came at a price; passage between Europe and America via Hindenburg cost $400 one way in 1936, and $450 in 1937, while first class passage on a German ocean liner could be had for as little as $157. The best German liners of the day, Bremen and Europa, charged $240 (HAPAG/NDL rate brochure), and rates on Cunard’s Queen Mary were similar (Cunard rate brochure). And a passenger could cross the Atlantic in third class for just $82.00 (see complete 1936 transatlantic rates; view jpg or download .pdf).

(Converting these prices to current values is a theoretically complicated exercise, since different economists approach this topic with different assumptions, but those who are interested in converting these fares to current prices might look athttp://eh.net/howmuchisthat orhttp://www.measuringworth.com/uscompare.)

In addition to revenue from passengers and freight, Hindenburg derived income from the large quantities of mail it carried. (See examples of Hindenburg mail.) Because of Hindenburg’s irregular sailing dates during its maiden season, coupled with the high price of postage for zeppelin mail, most of the letters carried in 1936 were philatelic (items designed especially for stamp collectors or those seeking a souvenir of the zeppelin service) rather than commercial, but plans to introduce a more regular schedule in 1937 and possibly lower the cost of postage left the DZR hopeful that significant income could be earned by carrying business mail.

Registered mail carried on Hindenburg’s first flight from Europe to North America (Sieger 406D)

By the end of 1936, Hindenburg had crossed the Atlantic 34 times, carrying over 3,500 passengers and more than 66,000 pounds of mail and freight, and the ship’s highly successful 1936 season seemed to indicate that regular transatlantic air service had arrived.

On October 9, 1936, just before Hindenburg’s last flight from the United States to Germany, 72 wealthy and influential passengers were invited on what became known as theMillionaires Flight; a 10-1/2 hour cruise over New England to generate support for a German-American transatlantic zeppelin service. The passengers were awestruck by the ship, the Hindenburg received wide coverage in the press, and the future of the passenger zeppelin seemed brighter than ever.

Hindenburg’s 1937 Season

With the success of Hindenburg’s 1936 season, eighteen round-trip flights between Germany and the United States were scheduled for 1937, and a companion ship, LZ-130, was nearing completion at the Zeppelin Company construction shed in Friedrichshafen.

During the winter between the 1936 and 1937 seasons Hindenburg underwent maintenance and renovations at Frankfurt. Since the ship was being operated with hydrogen — rather than the helium for which it had been designed — it had a greater lifting capacity, andadditional passenger cabins were added to take advantage of the additional lift.

Hindenburg made six successful flights in 1937, including a round-trip from Germany to Brazil, and test flights in which World War I ace and Luftwaffe leader Ernst Udet attempted to fly a small airplane onto a trapeze-hook mounted on the airship.

On Hindenburg’s first North American flight of the 1937 season, under the command of Captain Max Pruss, theHindenburg crashed at Lakehurst, New Jersey, killing 13 of the 36 passengers, 22 of the 61 crew, and a civilian member of the ground handling team, and the era of transcontinental passenger zeppelin travel came to an end.

The Hindenburg Disaster

For complete information about the crash of the Hindenburg at Lakehurst, New Jersey, on May 6, 1937, visit the Hindenburg Disaster.

” Google’s Internet Balloons Have already Traveled 3 Million Kilometers…” !!!

November 21, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

Google‘s Internet balloons, part of an ambitious experiment called Project Loon to bring web connectivity to remote areas, have cumulatively traveled 3 million kilometers since 2013, the company said Thursday.

Since announcing the project last July, the search giant‘s experimental wing, Google X, has refined the manufacturing process so balloons last 10 times longer—so far, a record of 130 days—in the stratosphere compared with balloons from last year. Furthermore, with automated processes, Google can now launch up to 20 balloons a day. The company is also using computer trajectory simulations to maneuver balloons accurately to their targets.

Google’s made big progress on Project Loon, but it’s not the only company aiming to blanket the world with Internet access. Facebook is also building an army of drones, airplanes, and satellites to bring the web to remote areas lacking Internet infrastructure.

For now, though, take a moment and think about what it means to travel 3 million kilometers:

“That distance would take you around the earth 75 times, or get you to the moon and back nearly 4 times over,” according to Google.

[Screenshot: via Project Loon]

SOURCE::::www.fastcompany.com

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Magical Landscapes on our Mother Earth !!!

November 21, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

If you look at these photos, you might think they were created on a film set or a computer. They look like a work of fantasy, devoid of magical beings that should rightly be within frame. But that’s not the case. These photos come from right here on Earth. If you ever thought that terrestrial life was dull, check these out and enjoy some newfound appreciation for our little planet’s amazing beauty.

1.) Lake Hillier, “The Pink Lake,” Western Australia

Vusan Alekeberov

This lake on the Recherche Archipelago is famed for its pink color. Scientists are still trying to figure out exactly how it gets its color. The popular theory is bacteria. And yes, you can swim in it.

2.) Rainbow Mountains, Gansu Province, China

Process Sensors

These mountains in the Zhangye Danxia Geological Park feature multicolored striations of sandstone collected over the period of 24 million years. Erosion sculpted the mountains into impressive peaks and spires, and revealed the colors below.

3.) Antarctica

Martin Bailey

The frozen wilds of Antarctica are some of the last places on Earth not crawling with humans, and they make spectacular vistas like this possible.

4.) Three Sisters Volcano, Oregon, USA

Nagesh Mahadev

This volcano in the Cascade Range gets its name from its three joint peaks. The peaks are nicknamed Faith (to the north) Hope (in the middle) and Charity (to the south).

5.) Apostle Islands, Wisconsin, USA

Brian Peterson/Star Tribune

The Apostle Islands in Lake Superior are known for their shoreline sea caves (or, in this case, lake caves). The caves are home to dazzling icicle displays in the colder months.

6.) Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska, USA

John Mearig

The Mendenhall Glacier, which is about 12 miles long, is sadly shrinking due to climate change.

7.) Goðafoss, Iceland

Iurie Belegurschi

Its name means “waterfall of the gods,” and is pronounced “Gothafoss.” It’s 12 meters high and more than 30 meters across.

8.) The Devil’s Punchbowl, Central Oregon, USA

Adrian Klein

These caves are carved out by the sea along central Oregon’s coastline. The bowl shape was formed when two caves collapsed, and the site is known for its deep purple seaweed and white sands.

9.) Abraham Lake, Alberta, Canada

Emmanuel Coupe Kalomiris

This lake is actually artificial, created with the construction of Bighorn Dam. Here, gas bubbles sit frozen in its ice, creating an interesting effect.

10.) Valley of Fire, Nevada, USA

Sean Bagshaw

This wash of sedimentary stone in the Valley of Fire State Park is a rainbow of pastels. The sandstone formations were created over millions of years from shifting desert sands.

11.) Spotted Lake, Osoyoos, British Columbia, Canada

Fred Schaad

This unusual lake gets its spots from various mineral deposits. The spots are visible in summer when much of the lake’s water evaporates. Depending on the type of mineral and the amount of water left over, the spots will be different colors. It was traditionally revered for its healing properties.

12.) Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russia

Alexey Trofimov

This Lake Baikal, with its amazing blue ice. It freezes solid enough in the winter to support pedestrians and snowmobiles. It’s also rich in biodiversity.

13.) The Wave in Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness, Arizona, USA

Simon Byrne

This famous rock formation is notoriously tricky to get to, as there’s no trail leading to it. Erosion has worn away the sandstone layers here to reveal the bands of color.

14.) Fly Geyser, Nevada, USA

Inge Johnsson

This small geothermal geyser was created by accident in 1964 during well drilling. Oops. Dissolved minerals would be pushed out of the geyser with the constant water release, forming the mound seen today. The water spouts can reach 5 feet.

15.) Alentejo Beach, Portugal

Jose Carvalho

This area has one of the richest diversities of flora and fauna in the country.

SOURCE::::www.sci.viralnova.com

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” Hear the Thud Of Philae While Landing on Comet ” !!!

November 21, 2014November 21, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

Today, German scientists released a two-second recording of the sound the Rosetta mission’s Philae lander made when it touched down on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko’s icy surface. Philae landed on the comet, which is about 311 million miles (500 million kilometers) from Earth, last week (November 12, 2014).

The sound comes from sensors embedded in Philae’s three legs. The recording is part of SESAME, the Surface Electric Sounding and Acoustic Monitoring Experiment. Because its harpoons didn’t fire, Philae actually ended up bouncing twice and landing three times. This is a recording of the first bounce.

Scientists from the German Aerospace Center, DLR, which is responsible for SESAME, areanalyzing the sound of the landing for clues about the comet’s surface.

After nearly 57 hours on Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, the Philae lander had completed its main science mission on November 15, 2014, when its batteries failed and the lander went silent. Read more.

Philae’s bounce across the surface of its comet, as captured by the Rosetta mothership. Image via ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/SSO/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA

SOURCE::::www.earthsky.org

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Swinging Sixties …Aviation History …A Flashback !!!

November 21, 2014November 21, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

Poppy Marello,
Digital Content Executive, Routesonline …..It’s the penultimate week for our Aviation History Months articles, and this week we’re looking at airlines that began operation from 1960 – 1980.

Swinging Sixties – Aviation History Month

The sixties saw a number of aviation records, with A Royal Air Force Avro Vulcan making the first non-stop flight from England to Australia on June 21, 1961. Boeing rolled out its first Boeing 727 airline on November 27, 1962, Concorde flew for the first time on March 2, 1969 and of course, on July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 landed the first men on the moon.

The seventies saw a 24-hour worldwide strike in 1972 calling for tighter security after the International Federation of Air Line Pilots Associations (IFALPA) accused governments of failing to take action to halt air piracy. In September 1972, the 1,000^th Boeing 727 is sold, a sales record for airliners. The Space Shuttle ‘Enterprise’ makes its first test flight after detaching from a Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.

Thai Airways

The airline was founded in 1960 as a joint venture between Thailand’s domestic carrier, Thai Airways Company (TAC) and Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS). On 14 May 1997, THAI, along with Lufthansa, Air Canada, SAS, and United Airlines, founded the world’s first and largest airline alliance, Star Alliance.

Thai Airways, 1960s [Image by Thai Airways]

Royal Jordanian

The airline was established under the name ‘Alia’ in December 1963, after King Hussain’s eldest daughter, Princess Alia bint Al Hussein. The national carrier for Jordan joined the jet age in 1970 when it phased out its Fokker F-27s and ordered Boeing 707 aircraft, and in that year, services were initiated to Madrid, Copenhagen and Karachi.

The third Caravelle delivered to Royal Jordanian, 1966. [Image by Royal Jordanian]

Transavia Airlines

In 1966, the airline was established as ‘Transavia Holland’, until 1986 when the name was changed to ‘Transavia Airlines’. The newly branded operator became the first airline to take advantage of the world’s first open skies agreement signed between the UK and Dutch governments, operating its route between Amsterdam and London Gatwick from October 26, 1986.

Boeing 737, 1986, just before the name change. [Image by airliners.net]

SOURCE:::: http://www.routesonline.com

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British Airways

The airline was established on 31 March 1974, upon the dissolution of British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) and British European Airways (BEA). The airline jointly inaugurated the world’s first passenger supersonic services to Bahrain using Concorde G-BOAA aircraft, alongside Air France’s operation to Rio de Janeiro via Dakar in January 1976. In March 1979, the new Boeing 757 aircraft was launched with orders for 19 from British Airways and 21 from Eastern (USA).

British Airways Lockheed L1011 TriStar 200 G-BHBN, 1974 [Image by British Airways]

Air Berlin

The airline was founded as Air Berlin USA in July 1978 by PanAm captain, Kim Lundgren, and was originally headquartered in Oregon, United States to operate charter flights on behalf of German tour operators from Berlin Tegel Airport. On 28 April 1979, the first airberlin jet took off from Berlin to Palma de Mallorca. During most of the 1980s, Air Berlin USA operated only a single 737-200. The airline was sole in 1991 when it changed its name to the current ‘Air Berlin’.

Air Berlin USA Boeing 707, 1979 [Image by Air Berlin]

What is the Lake-Effect Snow ?

November 20, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

What is lake-effect snow? If you live on the downwind side of a large lake, you’re probably all too familiar with this weather phenomenon. It happens when cold winter air moves over a relatively warm body of water. What you get are small-scale but intense snowstorms. A powerful lake-effect snow storm hit the Buffalo, New York area this week, and is continuing through Friday, November 21, 2014. See pictures and read more about the effects of the November 2014 lake-effect snow storm.

This article, is based on a 2011 interview with Tom Niziol, longtime meteorologist-in-charge of the National Weather Service in Buffalo, New York and who joined the Weather Channel in early 2012. He told EarthSky that accurate forecsting of lake-effect snow is a challenge cause:

[Lake-effect snow] occurs on such a small scale, almost on the scale of a summertime thunderstorm. One portion of a neighborhood or city might be under heavy snow, where a few miles away you may be under sunny skies.

Photo credit: Square Foot Staffing
He said Buffalo, New York on the eastern shore of Lake Erie, is notorious for its lake-effect snowstorms. Niziol said cold air moving in from Canada triggers the snowfall.

As that air moves across the warm water of the Great Lakes, heat and moisture from the lake rises up into that air mass. That moisture eventually condenses out into snowflakes. And when we get to the downwind shores, we end up with lake-effect snow.

Niziol said similar snowstorms happen around the globe. The coasts of the United Kingdom, France, Japan, and Korea, for example, get what’s called ocean-effect snow, from cold air moving across warm seas.

So at a whole range of latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere, right around the globe, we see the same activity.

Niziol gave an earlier example of how dramatic lake effect snow can be.

In early December, 2010, in the western New York area around the city of Buffalo, one of these snow bands set up off Lake Erie. The band was about 8-10 miles wide. The northern portion of Buffalo had green grass throughout most of this event. The southern portion of Buffalo, however, only about 10-12 miles away, picked up 40 inches of snowfall.

He said that lake-effect snow can begin in early fall and continue throughout the winter months.

Early in the fall, we see the same type of activity – cold air moving across a warm body of water – but it’s actually warm enough that we see lake effect rainshowers occur. As we get into November to early December, the air is cold enough to turn that into snow.

But if the lake freezes over, it can bring a halt to these seasonal snowstorms.

Lake Erie is a very shallow lake. In January it develops a significant amount of ice cover. The ice cover acts as a cap, in a simple way, to limit the amount of heat and moisture that can come through that ice and then modify that air mass.

Niziol said that the most important thing for people who experience lake effect snow to know is how to be prepared for an unexpected snowstorm.

Be prepared for winter weather conditions. Have extra clothes in your car, make sure your cellphone is charged, have a shovel in the car, some water, granola bars, extra food as well. Because you never know when you leave the house, even if you have a forecast with you, what it will be like when you drive through one of these snow bands.

Lake-effect snow belts may include portions of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, northern and western portions of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, northern Indiana, northeastern Ohio, northwestern Pennsylvania and western New York state.

Bottom line: Lake-effect snow happens when cold winter air moves over a relatively warm body of water. What you get are small-scale but intense snowstorms.

SOURCE::::www.earthsky.org

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What is the Lake-Effect Snow ?