The Incredible Flyboard Air
(Submitted by: Frank Pedder)
Franky Zapata rides the 'Flyboard Air' in Naples, Florida, doing impressive maneuvers like spins and slalom, including an amazing braking maneuver in front of the crowd. The innovative Flyboard® Air represents 4 years of hard work, resulting in an Independent Propulsion Unit that can achieve autonomous flight up to 10,000 feet, a top speed of 150km/h (93 mph) and delivers a range of up to 25 km (15 miles). Flyboard Air is still in the prototype phase and will not be available for purchase until later in 2017.
The board has 4 small turbojet engines (used in RC model aircraft) for lift and 2 smaller ones on the side for stabilization. The backpack is full of fuel (not for flotation as you may expect). There is a remote to control the vertical thrust. The control of the craft is through shifting one’s balance (along with a computer to aid in stabilization). Note: This is NOT a computer simulation or edited video. It is 100% real.
If the above video reminds you of anything, it may be the Hover Board that Michael Fox (no, not you Mike, the other Michael Fox) used in Back to the Future. Bonus Video below...
The Return of Eastern Air Lines
The story of the original Eastern Air Lines is one of the most tragic in the airline industry. Founded in 1926 in Miami, Florida it was headed for many years by WW1 flying ace, Eddie Rickenbacker. Under his leadership EAL grew to be the third largest airline in the United States and a highly-recognized airline brand. It was, at one time, the official airline of Disneyworld and the dominant carrier on the east coast of the U.S.
While under the leadership of former astronaut Frank Borman, financial and labour issues plagued the airline in the 1970’s and early 80’s. Frank Lorenzo acquired the airline for Texas Air Corporation in 1985 and quickly began the task of destroying the brand. Routes were transferred to the less unionized Continental Airlines, Eastern Air Lines Shuttle was sold to Donald Trump and maintenance was severely reduced on what was left of the fleet (see NL # 1354 The Silver Bullet).
I visited the IAM Winpisinger Education & Technology Center in 2007 and recall viewing an entire showcase in the library dedicated to the infamous exploits of Mr. Lorenzo. Follow the links below for more detail on the dismantling of the original Eastern Air Lines.
I was more than a little surprised when I received an email from YouTube, regarding new posts to channels that I subscribe to, containing a link to a video of a Boeing 737-800 in Eastern Air Lines livery landing in Calgary on a charter carrying the Florida Panthers.
I dove into Wikipedia to find out that a company named Eastern Air Lines Group purchased the “intellectual property” of the original airline in 2009 and began operations on May 28, 2015. They now have a fleet of one 737-700 and five 737-800’s operating charters for sports teams and Latin American destinations. They have another forty-one aircraft on order.
Ironically, there is still a Donald Trump connection. Aircraft N278EA (the 737-700) was leased by the Trump/Pence campaign and is the aircraft that skidded off the runway at LaGuardia Airport on October 27, 2016 with Governor Pence aboard. Luckily it was only lightly damaged and is back in service.
Over the past generation, we have seen several classic airline brands become part of history. For Eastern Air Lines, it seems that there will be more history to be written.
Thanks to DUDE8472PRODUCTIONS for use of the video.
Check out his channel on YouTube; great stuff.
Related Links:
Battle for Eastern Air Lines on YouTube
Original Eastern Air Lines at Wikipedia
Frank Lorenzo at Wikipedia
Death of Eastern: How One Man Destroyed an Airline
New Eastern Air Lines at Wikipedia
Morley Plummer sent us this information in the hopes that this event can be identified.
The Regina Public Library has a picture on file of Trans-Canada Air Lines employees at the Regina airport celebrating an occasion, but they have no information about the picture.
(Anyone have information regarding this event? – eds)
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A couple of years ago, flying into ZRH (Zurich, Switzerland), just the day after the landing fees increased once more, the following conversation took place while on hold between a Cessna 172 on final and the controller. It was a busy day with lots of commercial traffic. Controller: “Cleared to land runway 28; winds calm, please expedite and can you make it a short landing to the first exit?” Cessna: “Negative, we pay for the whole runway, we use the whole runway!” (source AVWeb flash Dec 25/16) |
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REMINDER! Employee Travel Pass travel privilege annual refresh. Our annual employee travel pass refresh took place during the weekend of January 14, 2017. (source The Daily December 28/16)
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 This TCA advert was found in the Canadian Jewish Review issue July 29th, 1955. |
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Overseas British passport applications How long will it take? What does it Cost?
How do I apply? You must apply and pay for your passport online. Before you start you need:
Contact the Passport Advice line |
