The smallest helicopter in the world

In fourth century China, children played with a toy whose principle would be used hundreds of years later to bring a new dimension to the science of flight. It was a simple round stick with feathers mounted on top, with each feather twisted slightly so that it struck the air at an angle when the stick was spun. The results was a device that had enough lift to fly up into the air.
On November 13, 1907, Paul Cornu, a French- man, made the first free, untethered, manned helicopter flight. It lasted about 30 seconds at a height of just about 12 inches off the ground.

Early pioneers of helicopter flight had to overcome a number of challenges before successful flight could be achieved. It wasn't until 1936 that the Germans produced the first fully controllable helicopter.

Today, helicopters are the most versatile vehicles to take to the sky. They are an indispensable tool of modern aviation. The GEN H-4 is one of the latest achievements in helicopter evolution.

With a rotor diameter of 13 feet 1 inch and an empty weight of 155 lbs., the GEN H-4 helicopter is recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's smallest helicopter.
The GEN H-4 helicopter prototype, looking much as it appears today, was first shown to the public in 1997. Since that time a number of flights have been successfully completed.
GEN H-4 helicopter controls are relatively simple. Rotor speed will make the helicopter climb and descend. Moving the control stick will result in the helicopter flying in that direction.
The helicopter has four engines. Should one fail, the others are intended to provide sufficient control to land the helicopter safely.

Safety concerns have been raised regarding the helicopter's lack of auto rotation, under one hour endurance with five gallon fuel capacity, and lack of quick control responses due to fixed pitched rotor blades.
It appears that a total of seven of the helicopters were sold. The last entry on the GEN H-4 website is dated Dec. 4, 2006.

The world's smallest turboprop powered aircraft

Maule aircraft are known for being a good value, easy to fly, reliable, and long lasting. The Maule M-7-420 is the world's smallest turboprop powered aircraft.

Maule's have been used as trainers, by the military, as sight-seeing aircraft, by police departments and as recreational aircraft. They have been equipped with skies and floats. Their short take off and landing abilities are appreciated by bush pilots in remote areas of the world.

Maule aircraft were conceived by Belford D. Maule in 1952. He designed them from the start to be high performance utility aircraft which could be flown from small, unimproved air strips. The aircraft first took to the air in 1957.

The Maul Aircraft Corp. was officially formed in 1962. Their first model, the M-4, became instantly popular. By 1968 the aircraft were upgraded with engines that produced over 50% more power. A new plant was opened to accommodate additional production. Some 250 aircraft had been sold to date.

Maule aircraft continued to be refined and improved through the years. Engine power was increased, and controls enhanced for better response. By 1990 the aircraft were being sold throughout the world. By the mid 1990's Maule aircraft reached the no. 3 position of best selling single engine aircraft in the United States, producing over 60 aircraft a year.

The cockpit of the Maul is spacious for the largest of people, and comfortable. The interior is brightly lit, and visibility is excellent through the large side windows.

When starting a newer Maul aircraft that uses a three bladed propeller, you will find it extremely smooth running. Not only is the idle smooth, but the aircraft is smooth throughout its operational range.

Taking off happens in the blink of an eye in this STOL aircraft. The Maule will lift its tail with just a short roll and be ready to rotate after about 200 feet. Very little rudder is necessary to counter propeller torque. Although the Maule will get off of the runway in a hurry,  with the piston engine its maximum climb is about 1,250 fpm. The good thing is that it will climb at just about that same rate from a high altitude runway, or when fully loaded. However, higher altitudes will lengthen the takeoff run.

Landings in the Maule require some effort. The factory recommends 65 mph as the approach speed. Dropping the speed under 62 mph will result in it sinking at a surprisingly quick rate. Flying an approach at above 70 mph will make it hard to bring down. Small throttle corrections at slower approach speeds results in excellent aircraft control during steep approaches. During flair, one must be ready to apply throttle instantly to prevent the Maule from dropping from the sky.

Once the Maule settles down on the runway, it steers like most other tail dragger aircraft. Things happen slowly due to its slow landing speed and quick deceleration. However, the large aircraft profile make it susceptible to strong cross winds. Brakes, rather than rudder, are best used to keep the aircraft from weathervaning.

A total of over 1,800 Maule aircraft have been manufactured to date.

World Record Holder

The GE90 represents GE's investment in the future of wide-body aircraft. Over the past two decades, GE's CF6 and CFM56* engines have been chosen to power more than 50 percent of all new aircraft ordered with a capacity of 100 passengers or more.

The GE90 combines the best proven technology from these engine programs, NASA and military programs with advanced technology to provide a highly reliable, fuel-efficient powerplant for the next generation of wide-body aircraft.

Originally certified in 1995 at 84,700 pounds of thrust, today's GE90 engines power newer, more advanced Boeing 777 aircraft capable of flying farther, faster and more efficiently than their predecessors.

The most powerful derivative of the GE90, the GE90-115B, is the sole powerplant for Boeing's longer-range 777-300ER. The GE90-115B certified at 115,000 lbs. of thrust and has broken a number of aviation records.

The GE90-115B derated to 110,000 lbs. of thrust (GE90-110B) powers the Boeing 777-200LR and the world's largest, most capable twin-engine freighter -- Boeing's 777 Freighter. The 777 Freighter will offer unsurpassed efficiency to long-haul markets and provide more capacity than any other twin-engine freighter.

The Guinness Book of World Records recognized the engine as the "World's Most Powerful Commercial Jet Engine" in 2001 after it recorded an amazing 123,000 lbs. of steady-state thrust while undergoing initial ground testing. In late 2002, the engine shattered its original record by reaching 127,900 lbs. of thrust during required certification testing.

Since the introduction of Boeing's longer-range 777 in early 2000, the GE90 has been the best-selling engine for that aircraft family.

Snecma of France, Avio of Italy, and IHI of Japan are participants in the GE90 development program.

*CFM56 engines are produced by CFM International, a 50/50 joint company of Snecma and General Electric Company.

ANTONOV AN-225

Antonov AN-225, The Biggest and Heaviest Airplane in the World

AN-225 MRIYA (NATO codename: “Cossacks”) is the largest and heaviest airplane in the world. Myria come from The Russian word incidentally means ‘inspired dream’  it is classed as a Strategic Air-lifter and was constructed by the Antonov Design Bureau in the Ukraine in 1988 as a derivative from the Antanov An124.

His job as an aircraft carrier for russian Shuttle Buran, but is also used as an ordinary cargo aircraft. Unlike any other commercially available aircraft, the An-225 has the ability to carry external loads of up to 90 tonnes mounted on its “roof rack” also.

The AN-225 is very big. It takes up more than 2 Boeing 747 parking spaces. There is enough cargo space to load 5 tanks, the complete assembled fuselage of a Boeing 737, or 8 double-decker buses. It can carry up to 1500 people at a time. With a maximum gross weight of 640 tonnes, the An-225 is the world’s heaviest aircraft.

Here’s the complete Specification of the airplane:
* Crew: 6
* Payload: 250,000 kg (550,000 lb)
* Door dimensions: 440 x 640 cm (14.4 x 21 ft)
* Length: 84 m (275.6 ft)
* Wingspan: 88.4 m (290 ft 2 in)
* Height: 18.1 m (59.3 ft)
* Wing area: 905 m2 (9,743.7 ft2)
* Cargo Volume: 1,300 m3 (46,000 cu ft))
* Empty weight: 285,000 kg (628,315 lb)
* Max takeoff weight: 600,000 kg (1,323,000 lb)
* Powerplant: 6× ZMKB Progress D-18 turbofans, 229.5 kN (51,600 lbf) each
* Takeoff run: 3,500 m (11,000 ft) with maximum payload


Performance                                                                        

·         Maximum speed: 850 km/h (460 knots, 530 mph)
* Cruise speed: 800 km/h (430 knots, 500 mph)
* Range: With maximum fuel: 15,400 km (9,570 mi) and With maximum payload: 4,000 km (2,500 mi))
* Service ceiling: 11,000 m (36,100 ft)
* Wing loading: 662.9 kg/m² (135.5 lb/ft²)
* Thrust/weight: 0.234

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BABY SICKNESS

Tidak hanya makhluk hidup saja yang sakit, pesawat terbang pun juga bisa sakit, meskipun masih gress alias fresh from manufacture. Misalnya saja, MA60 buatan China yang pernah terdapat crack atau retakan di rudder (sayap belakang)-nya.

"Ini namanya baby sickness. Kalau Anda punya anak kecil yang kadang-kadang tiba-tiba hangat tubuhnya, kira-kira seperti inilah kondisi pesawat yang baby sickness".

Ketika ditemukan kerusakan di pesawat  yang baru dikeluarkan pabrik, tentu operator penerbangan selaku konsumen berhak menanyakan ke pabrik pembuat pesawatnya. Si pembuat pesawat tentunya akan menyempurnakan hasil produksinya.

"Ini juga dialami Airbus A-380 yang penutup mesinnya jatuh di Batam pada November tahun lalu. Ini baby sickness juga.
Pengontrolan kualitas produk akhir pasti telah dilakukan produsen, namun tetap harus disadari bahwa kesempurnaan menjadi milik Yang kuasa.

"Karena itu juga pihak operator ada maintenance. Waktu beli pesawat tersebut ,maintenancenya bagaimana??
Untuk mengetahui hal ini,misalnya ada teknisi yang dikirim ke China, teknisi avionic dikirim ke AS, dan teknisi mesin dikirim ke Kanada".

Nah kan..teknisi bisa jalan-jalan keluar negeri juga..

Dalam dunia pesawat dikenal pula Airworthiness Directives yang dikenal dengan AD. AD merupakan petunjuk kelaikan udara yang menjadi pemberitahuan kepada pemilik dan operator pesawat bahwa terdapat kelainan pada pesawat atau komponennya. Misalnya ada mesin, avionik atau sistem lainnya yang harus diperbaiki.

"Dengan AD, bisa dikeluarkan permintaan untuk melakukan modifikasi pada pesawat tertentu. Kalau Indonesia menerima itu (dari produsen), maka Direktorat Kelaikan Udara dan Pengoperasian Pesawat Udara (DKUPPU) juga mengeluarkan AD yang mengacu pada pesawat tersebut".

Pesawat MA 60 hanya badannya saja yang dibuat di China. Sedangkan mesin pesawat dibuat oleh Pratt-Whitney Kanada yang biasa membuat mesin untuk berbagai pesawat lainnya.
Sementara instrumen avionic, navigasi dan komunikasi MA 60 mempercayakan kepada buatan Rockwell Collins, AS. 
Pesawat ini juga memiliki ciri khas baling-baling fiber berbentuk pedang. Ini menunjukkan pesawat generasi baru.

MA 60 adalah jenis pesawat yang dioperasikan Merpati Nusantara Airlines. Pesawat ini jatuh ke Teluk Kaimana, Papua, pada Sabtu (7/5) lalu.

Pengetahuan Dasar Penerbangan

Untuk mendapatkan Basic License ,seorang tehnisi pesawat terbang harus mengikuti pendidikan yang diselenggarakan oleh Approved Maintenance Training Organization atau melalui Sekolah Tinggi Penerbangan Udara yang berlokasi di Curug,Jawa Barat.

Pengetahuan dasar yang harus dipahami oleh seorang tehnisi pesawat terbang antara lain sebagai berikut :

1. Technical English
2. Basic Physics and Mathematic
3. Technical Drawing
4. Civil Aviation Safety Regulation
5. Maintenance Program Development
6. Aircraft Fastener
7. Aircraft Repair
8. Aircraft Tools
9. Aircraft Material
10. Aircraft Construction
11. Basic Aircraft System
12. Basic Aircraft Electric
13. Basic Aircraft Instrument
14. Basic Aerodynamic
15. Basic Piston Engine
16. Basic Gas Turbine Engine
17. Basic Avionic

Dengan semua yang didapatkan selama dalam pendidikan atau trainingnya, seorang tehnisi diharapkan dalam melakukan kegiatan perawatan suatu pesawat terbang mampu menerapkan ilmunya dan meningkatkannya untuk mendapatkan hasil yang optimal dalam pekerjaannya.

Sangat dianjurkan untuk meningkatkan kemampuan berbahasa Inggris karena dalam seluruh manual yang dipergunakan dalam perawatan suatu pesawat terbang menggunakan bahasa tersebut.

Dengan kemampuan menggunakan bahasa Inggris yang baik akan membuat pekerjaan perawatan pesawat terbang lebih efektif dan efisien,terlebih bila kita harus berhubungan dengan orang asing dalam pelaksanaan pekerjaan perawatan pesawat terbang tersebut.

Dan sebagai semangat buat kita untuk meningkatkan kemampuan berbahasa inggris adalah kemungkinan yang besar untuk bekerja di luar negeri sebagai tehnisi pesawat terbang dengan pendapatan yang lumayan besar dan pengalaman yang juga sangat berharga.

Semoga ini bisa menjadi sedikit informasi untuk menambah wawasan tentang Tehnisi Pesawat Terbang..

Tehnisi Pesawat Terbang

Ketemu lagi dengan saya,tehnisi pesawat terbang..hehehe..
Kita share tentang Tehnisi Pesawat Terbang ya..
Dalam dunia penerbangan,pengoperasian pesawat terbang dilakukan oleh beberapa orang dengan capability/kemampuan yang berbeda,yaitu:
1.Pilot yang bertugas menerbangkan pesawat terbang.
2.Tehnisi yang bertugas merawat pesawat terbang.
3.Pramugari yang bertugas membantu pilot menangani penumpang yang berada di cabin pesawat terbang selama penerbangan berlangsung.
4.Flight Operation Officer yang bertugas mempersiapkan rute,loadsheet dan syarat lain untuk penerbangan yang hendak dijalani pesawat terbang.
5.Petugas Administrasi yang bertugas untuk menangani seluk beluk kebutuhan personil yang disebutkan di atas.

Apa sih Tehnisi itu?koq merawat pesawat terbang,maksudnya apa tuh?
Tehnisi peasawat terbang adalah seseorang yang bertugas merawat pesawat terbang,artinya bertugas untuk menjaga pesawat terbang memenuhi spesifikasi perawatan suatu pesawat terbang dan selalu dalam kondisi aman dalam pengoperasiannya atau safe for flight.
Untuk itu seorang tehnisi harus mendapatkan training dasar dan advanced ilmu penerbangan yang ditunjukkan dengan dimilikinya Basic License dan Type Rating oleh tehnisi itu apabila sudah melalui training untuk pesawat terbang yang hendak dirawatnya dan lulus ujian materi yang dipelajarinya yang diselenggarakan oleh Direktorat Sertifikasi Kelaikan Udara.
Dalam pekerjaan perawatan yang dilakukannya seorang tehnisi tidak hanya mengerjakan pekerjaan perawatan tetapi harus juga menyelesaikan data-data pendukung bahwa pekerjaan perawatan sudah dikerjakan sesuai dengan standard manualnya,hal ini diharapkan ada bukti pelaksanaan pekerjaan dan menjaga kualitas pekerjaan guna mencapai highest safety.
Dengan kondisi seperti ini saya yakin bahwa alat transportasi paling aman adalah pesawat terbang selama aspek perawatan dilaksanakan dengan standard prosedur yang berlaku dan pesawat terbang tersebut dikendalikan oleh pilot yang juga selalu current/terjaga kesehatan dan trainingnya serta dukungan supporting lainnya yang tidak kalah pentingnya.
Pada 10 sampai dengan 20 tahun yang lalu tehnisi pesawat terbang terbentuk dari pengalaman mereka dalam menghadapi pekerjaan sehari-hari tetapi saat ini dengan pelatihan/training yang berkelanjutan dan eksperimen di beberapa perusahaan penerbangan seorang tehnisi pesawat terbang bisa lebih cepat tercipta,hal ini sangat bermanfaat dalam memenuhi kebutuhan tenisi pesawat terbang yang sangat besar setiap tahunnya.
Jadi...peluang menjadi tehnisi pesawat terbang masih besar kawan..
Ayo persiapkan diri dengan lebih banyak mencari informasi dan menjaga networking hingga kita siap pada saat yang tepat.