Boeing 707 barrel-rolled on the day I was born

Do you remember any meaningful event that is related to the day you were born? Well I do and it was one of the most astonishing feats of aviation history that was performed by Alvin “tax” Johnston on 7^th August 1955 – the day I was born.

Early 1950s were the days of the development of the first jet engine aircrafts of the world – then under development by the world renowned company, the Boeing. And the earlier days made history every day the aviation moved closer to commercial jetliners.

Photo: Boeing Dreamscape via Wikimedia Commons

During that time, Boeing was testing the 707 prototype – the Dash 80. It was the first jetliner developed by the company and was supposed to bring down travel time significantly. Boeing's chairman at the time, Bill Allen, realized it was the perfect opportunity to show off the prototype to all the airline executives who had assembled there from around the world. Allen asked Johnston to perform a flyover of the Dash 80 over Lake Washington for the benefit of industry executives watching it from chartered boats on the lake. Johnston agreed but had a surprise planned.

Instead of performing a simple flyover, as decided, Johnston decided to surprise everyone by performing a barrel roll. According to the Seattle Times, he executed the barrel roll at a speed of 490 miles/hr (789 km/hr), flying the airplane upside down. And on 7^th August 1955, Alvin “tax” Johnston barrel-rolled the Dash-80, the prototype of the Boeing 707, overhead some 25,000 people watching the huge aircraft flying over their heads at Lake Washington. Remember barrel-roll is a 360 turn of an aircraft around its axis – a feat normally undertaken by fast speed tiny jet fighters as their roll takes far lesser time than rolling over a huge commercial airliner.

As if doing it once was not enough, the ace pilot repeated the maneuver in case anyone had missed it. In an interview, Johnston spoke about his decision to perform the barrel roll twice, stating, “I knew that no one would believe what they had seen, so I turned around and I came back and repeated the same thing on a westerly heading.”

Now you may like to watch the Boeing Barrel-Roll for yourself, for it was a once in life time feat of professional excellence:

Do you remember any such big event related to your birthday?

References | 1 | 2 | 3 |

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Pakistan officially inducts J10C 4.5+ Generation fighter aircraft in its air force

11th March 2022 is a landmark day in the history of Pakistan as it officially inducted multi-role J10C 4.5+ generation Chinese combat aircraft into its air force today in a special ceremony held at PAF Base Kamra. The prime minister of Pakistan Imran Khan was the chief guest. The induction of J10 aircraft is seen as a counter balance to the recently inducted Rafale aircraft in the Indian air force. The J-10C will significantly enhance the combat capabilities of the Pakistan Air Force.

China, a long tested ally of Pakistan, has been consistently providing cutting-edge military equipment to its closest ally and iron brother, Pakistan. This military cooperation is seen by many as a Chinese ploy aimed at counterbalancing India’s military power in the region.  the J-10C also took part in the Pakistan-China joint exercise Shaheen, during which it successfully hit all targets. Due to their close military ties, Pakistan and China hold Joint Air Exercises every year. Pakistan hosted the first such drill in March 2011.

Already both China and Pakistan have jointly produced JF-17 Thunder combat aircraft, of which three variants have already been inducted into its air force. Not only this, Pakistan has also exported JF-17 Thunder aircraft to Myanmar and Nigeria and many countries have showed their interest in low cost high performance aircraft.

The Chengdu J-10 (simplified Chinese: 歼-10; traditional Chinese: 殲-10; NATO reporting name: Firebird) also known as Vigorous Dragon (Chinese: 猛龙; pinyin: Měnglóng), is a medium-weight, single-engine, multirole combat aircraft capable of all-weather operations, configured with a delta wing and canard design, with fly-by-wire flight controls. The J-10 is mainly designed for air-to-air combat, but can also perform strike missions.

J-10C is the upgraded version of J-10B, it is equipped with an indigenous Active electronically scanned array (AESA) fire-control radar and is equipped with imaging infrared seeker (IIR) PL-10, WS-10B engine[59] and new dual pulse rocket motor PL-15 air-to-air missile (AAM).

Watch the officially launched video of J10C by  Pakistan Airforce today:

Know more about J10C aircraft and its design features by clicking here.

Photo: PAF Fighters | References | 1 | 2 | 3 |

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Here come the solo passenger drones for you

The dreaded word drones have plagued the world for long as the military drones armed with missiles have been targeting terrorists but often killing the wrong ones and killing civilians, children and women instead.

But here comes another dimension to these machines: Now you can fly a drone all by yourself and go up to heights of 11,000 feet - a height that an ordinary cessna plane can go to.

When this happens and these passenger drones are available in the market, life will be much more busy and easy at the same time. Busy for the reason that almost everyone loves to fly but due to heavy cost of an airplane, one is kept at bay. But these low cost drone will let those with a little extra to afford one and make their lives enjoyable and easy - and fun loving too.

Watch the video below I came across on Facebook and see how these drones would revolutionise the fun of flying and life:

Passenger Drones and High-Tech Gizmos
Passenger drones, aromatic alarm clocks, throwable panoramic cameras and other gizmos from the Consumer Electronics Show.
Posted by AJ+ on Friday, January 8, 2016

Can you beat this simple technology? Are you already thinking of buying and flying one?

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Tracey Curtis's biplane touches down in Pakistan

(PHOTO: AYSHA SALEEM/Express)

Pakistan's Arabian Sea coastline has always been a touchdown must for many aviation expeditions and record breaking flights. Lat Tuesday, a Canadian female aviator Tracey Curtis touched down in Karachi in a 1942 Boeing Stearman bi-plane 'Spirit of Artemis.'

Tracey Curtis' journey in her bi-plane is a sort of dedication and paying homage to Amy Johnson, the pioneering British aviator, and emulate Johnson’s epic solo flight from Britain to Australia in 1930 by following Johnson’s route to relive her dramatic adventures.

The 53-year-old Miss Curtis embarked upon a 13,000-mile solo flight in a vintage open-cockpit biplane on October 1, 2015. She was received on the Quaid-e-Azam International airport by Air Marshal Salman Ahsan Bukhari of Pakistan Air Force (Pictured above), John A Tucknott, British deputy high commissioner of Pakistan and Engro chairperson Hussain Dawood.

Curtis’ flight is expected to take 12 to14 weeks with her arrival in Sydney in early 2016. Her flight from Farnborough, England, has so far touched down destinations across Europe and the Mediterranean to Jordan, over the Arabian Desert, across the Gulf of Oman to Pakistan. Continuing her journey to India, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, she will finally cross the Timor Sea to Australia.

Tracy with Pakistan Air Force officer  Squadron Leader Saira Batool at Gwader airport (Photo APP)

Earlier, Tracey Curtis touched down at Gwader seaport of Pakistan on Monday. On her arrival she was received by Squadron Leader Saira Batool, a lady pilot of Pakistan Air Force. Later Tracy endorsed her remarks on her Facebook: "Overwhelming reception in ‪Gwadar. Unbelievable welcome by C-47 and honoured to meet Air Force pilot Saira and now high on cliffs overlooking the Arabian Sea. Blown away by it all."

During her short stay in Karachi, Curtis will visit Dawood Public School and interact with more than 2,000 female students. The event is being organised by Engro Corporation, Habib Bank Limited and the Dawood Foundation.

Welcoming Tracy Curtis, John A Tucknott, British deputy high commissioner of Pakistan, said that he was delighted to welcome Curtis to Pakistan. “I have been living in Pakistan for the last two years, and I find it to be one of the most colourful and culturally rich nations.”

Sources |Express Tribune-17 November|Express Tribune-18 November

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Maho Beach - the best beach to watch an aircraft landing

There are many reasons why people travel to find new destinations around the world. Some go for old relics, while others go for world renowned landmarks like Eiffel Tower or some travel to be among nature and fresh air of Switzerland.

Scroll down for a fantastic slow-motion video of aircraft landing

But a large number of tourists also travel to Maho Beach in the Caribbean to watch aircraft landing at the Princess Juliana International Airport with their landing gear barely missing their heads. In fact Maho Beach in Saint Martin is known globally for its close encounters with airplanes

If you have not already seen aircraft landing at the Maho Beach, watch the video below shot in the slow motion, to see how low the aircraft approaches over the heads of the large number of visitors, tourists or beach goers:

Do watch my earlier post on the Princess Juliana International Airport with more videos and the location of the airport and how beach goers 'dare' watching the aircraft and are 'blown away' by the thrust of the taking off aircraft.

Shared from the Daily Mail

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The unforgotten graveyard

Following is the dilapidated graveyard of 119 Pakistan passengers thousands of miles away from Pakistan, yet still unforgotten by many - can you guess where it could be? 

Photo credit Wikipedia

These unlucky 119 crew / passengers were aboard Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK 705, the inaugural flight to Cairo, Egypt. The flight had taken off from Karachi, had a brief stay at Dharan Airport, Saudi Arabia and then headed for Cairo on 20 May 1965. The aircraft was Boeing 720–040B serial AP-AMH, which had on board one of the best crew of PIA, flown by Captain Ali Akhtar Khan (captain of the flight) and Captain Afzal Johari (the co-pilot), and some of the best journalists of Pakistan and a number of important travel agents, going to Cairo to open a new vista between the relations of Egypt and Pakistan.

The ill-fated PIA's Boeing 720-040 serial AP AMH [Photo credit: Aparm / Abbas Ali Collection ]

The flight was as normal as any flight could be and contacted the Cairo Air Traffic Control (ATC) and was cleared for landing for a left-hand approach circuit for runway 34 at about 23:40 GMT. The crew of the aircraft reported final alignment to the ATC thereafter. But that was the last transmission made by the aircraft. When the aircraft did not land in the stipulated period of time, it worried the Cairo ATC who rang the alarm bells.

The wreckage of the ill-fated PK-705 at Cairo - 20 May 1965 [Photo Credit: History of PIA ]

The ill-fated inaugural flight PK-705 was found crashed short of the runway in the blowing sands of Egypt. There were only six survivors. This was the 4th loss of a Boeing 720, of which 154 were built at that time and was the worst accident of the time, and second till date.

Capt. Ali Akhtar Khan (above left) with Capt. Khusro Nawaz Khan (my paternal uncle) aboard a PIA Boeing 720B jetliner. Capt. Ali Akhtar Khan died as commander of PIA flight PK-705 which crashed near Cairo Airport on May 20, 1965. At the time of his death Capt. Ali Akhtar Khan was the senior most pilot in PIA (Capt. Khusro Nawaz Khan Family Collection/Source)

Momi Gul Durrani, one of the best air hostesses who perished int the crash [Photo History of PIA]

I was 10 years old then, and this was the first aircraft accident news of PIA that I heard and was really saddened as newspapers of the time filled countless photos of those who perished in the crash. I remember how stories later came up that there were few passengers who were late and were left out and how they lamented having been missed out at the airport - only to find out how lucky they came out to be for having missed the ill-fated aircraft.

Nothing conclusive was found after the aircraft accident inquiry except the following:

"The aircraft was found struck in the ground short of the runway, in a slight left-bank attitude with its undercarriage up and flaps set at 20 degrees."

"The aircraft did not maintain the adequate height for the circuit and continued to descend until it contacted the ground. The reason for that abnormal continuation of descent is unknown."

"The aircraft crashed during approach. The plane descended during the approach at triple the normal rate. The aircraft exceeded the recommended descent rate during the final stages of landing. Landing Gear was down and locked, however flaps and slats had not been deployed, and wing was in level flight/cruise configuration."

Many would have forgotten the accident, which is seemingly visible from the rather dilapidated condition of the graveyard at the site of the crash - where now only howling winds of the desert visit day and night - no one else.

Updated (based on Dawn News 27th November 2011):
I was lucky to get a detailed account of the air crash from one of the surviving passengers of the ill-fated PIA's flight PK-705 and am part sharing it for those who wish to know more about the tragedy.

Shaukat A. Mecklai, now 93, was the General Manager of a travel agency, The Universal Express, who boarded PK-705 with his wife on the inaugural flight to Cairo.

He remembers that they had put on their hats and collected their cabin luggage as the plane took one circle around Cairo Airport before being cleared for landing for runway 34 when it crashed on the ground short of the runway. “I remember seeing the right wing on fire before I blacked out. I was still semiconscious when I opened my eyes again and didn’t realize that I was screaming out my own name ‘Shaukat! Shaukat!’ instead of calling for help. Another passenger, a young man himself bleeding from the head, came to my rescue. I was badly hurt but he pulled me out of the wreck. There were dead bodies and luggage lying all around us. I saw my wife’s lifeless form among them. My eyes saw but there was no reaction. Still in a state of shock, a film of my life went through my mind, of my childhood and all the things I had seen and done in life and those things, too, that I had put off doing later. Thinking my life would soon be over, I thought of God and said that if He gave me another chance to live, I would do everything with the thought of there being no tomorrow, and that I would devote myself to serve others less fortunate than myself,” Mecklai shares.

Suddenly they saw a lot of people come towards them. The passenger pulling out survivors from the burning plane ran to them and said “Allah-o-Akbar” but they were not really there for help. All they did was pick up the luggage and walk off. By the time help came, some five to six hours after the accident, many victims who had been groaning from pain earlier had already died. The authorities seemed ill-equipped to handle such a big disaster. The rescue helicopter didn’t even have a stretcher.

Finally, there were only six survivors. Mecklai had injured his back and broken his ribs from which he recovered in time but the emotional injuries that he had suffered were to be carried for good. A happily married man was suddenly a widower and a single father to three children. But he knew that he had to carry on no matter what, a feeling that became stronger on his return to Karachi where he and the other survivors were greeted by a big crowd that felt that there was something very special about the six to have survived such a major crash and wanted to touch them to feel blessed themselves.

Jalal-al-Karimi, the gentleman who had pulled Mecklai out of the plane wreck on that fateful day 46 years ago, is still a friend and both often find each other and sometimes share the sad memories of how happy, smiling and beaming faces perished in the desert around Cairo forever.

Read full account of Mecklai's reminisces of the event at Dawn.
Details of all passengers aboard PK-705 are given at Wikipedia

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The Bhoja Air Disaster - Who is to be blamed?

Last night was a terrible night - starting from evening till the whole night was a nightmare for the relatives of those 127 who traveled in the ill fated Bhoja Air B4-213 flight from Karachi to Islamabad, Saturday 20 April 2012. The inaugural flight of Bhoja Air, for the airline was shut for the last ten years for many reasons, including financial crisis. 

The word 'inaugural' flight reminded me of the ill fated inaugural flight of the national flag carrier PIA to Cairo which crashed minutes before landing at the Cairo airport in 1964. There were only two survivors, one of them was my name sake Mustafa Jalal. And I immediately prayed for survivors last evening - but that was not to be so this time. 

Getting facts from the TV coverage, I immediately drew a map from Google Earth about the probable crash site that I posted on my news blog Imposing Headlines, as shown above. Though the aircraft fell on a populated area, but it was sparsely populated, that is why the damage on ground was not much except 10 houses destroyed with no human casualties. Had the aircraft crashed on the west / right of the Islamabad Highway, the damage on ground too would have been colossal as the area is thickly populated. 

As I came to know later, the aircraft was reported to have caught fire while still in air and was seen by eye witnesses flying very low as if stalling, before crashing and exploding. Later on TV, I could see blood stained walls of the compound where the aircraft fell, showing how tragically those on board died.

The tragedy of the air crash not withstanding, which was a God sent, but many questions have erupted after the crash that one wonders why escaped form the airline owner and the concerned organizations including the Civil Aviation Authority, responsible to ensure that only air worthy aircraft fly. Herein under are some of these questions:

The ill fated aircraft was of Boeing 737-200 series, which has long been suspended by many airlines of the world being too old.

Even the aircraft in question was purchased from Shaheen Airlines, which had grounded it after use and was not using it being too old.

As per rules of CAA, any airlines which wishes o be a given a license to operate must have three aircraft on its inventory with a one on standby. Bhoja had only one aircraft that crashed and one was standby in Dubai, as reported by the media.

At the time of landing of the ill fated flight, Islamabad was under severe weather conditions and a very fast wind was blowing that immediately followed heavy rain. Already a few flights had been diverted - then why wasn't this one?

When an Air Blue aircraft crashed awhile ago, under similar weather conditions, it was hoped that the black box recordings will unearth the probable cause of the crash. But these have not been done so far. Yesterday, a minister told the reporters that they should wait for the black box findings to know what really happened. Would we really get to know that?

When the air crash took place, the Islamabad Express Highway and all roads leading to it were jam packed and it was with lot of difficulty that the ambulances and the rescue teams reached the crash site. Even these teams were ill equipped to operate at night as some rescue workers reported that they worked in the light of their cellular phones. This leaves much to be said how ill equipped our rescue missions are and it was the sheer hard work of the workers that the parts of the dead bodies were found and wrapped in sheets arranged from local villagers since the teams did not have anything to wrap the dead.

Inquiries would follow, as it was flashed on TV screens that so and so has ordered inquiry, yet there was someone else who ordered inquiry and then yet again someone who ordered an inquiry. Isn't it normal to appoint an inquiry commission, rather than a half of dozen? Perhaps to show concern, every one who matters orders an inquiry so that his name is reported on media and then he can go and relax - since the inquiries later never get finalized nor apportionate blame on anyone. And so would it be in this case.

Let these passengers that died in either the Air Blue or Bhoja Air crash not go waste and let there be resolve form all of us that those responsible for such crashes be taken to task for the safety of passengers - let there mo no more mourners due to human negligence in future. 

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JF-17 Thunder at Dubai Air Show: Azerbaijan interested in purchase

Full Story: Defence Professionals 16 Nov [via Imposing Headlines]

Azerbaijan has shown interest in JF-17 Thunder combat aircrafts jointly produced by Pakistan and China and announced its intention to purchase aircraft of this type. JF-17 is presently on display at Dubai Air Show. 

JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft on display at the Dubai air show 2011. (Photo: APA)

Offering a high manoeuvrability, JF-17 Thunder aircraft have the same or even superior capabilities to the MiG-29 aircraft of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. By introducing this asset into its inventory the Azerbaijani Armed Forces could increase their combat effectiveness, Defence Professionals reports.

Earlier on Day-1, the JF-17 Thunder participated in the air display. The Egyptian Airforce chief is reported to have said that they’re “Very interested” in JF-17 Thunder aircraft. Watch the video below:

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