‘Angle of Attack, An Aerodynamic Kinship Between Exotic Automobiles & Aircraft,’ is coming to the Museum of Flight this Saturday, May 14th, from Noon – 3pm.

“An assortment of exotic automobiles will be on hand from noon until 3:00 in the Museum’s parking lot,” reads a press release. “The exhibition is free to the public; admission to the Museum of Flight is separate from this event. This event will not only showcase these incredible automobiles but it will also benefit area animal shelters and rescue groups. Representatives from Homeward Pet Rescue, Shelter, and Adoption and Animal Aid & Rescue Foundation will be on hand to give out information on their services and accept donations.”

The regional exotic car community will be displaying a large variety of exotic and rare automobiles at this event, including:

• Lamborghinis
• Ferraris
• Porsche
• Teslas
• Lotus
• Aston Martin
• Audi R8
• BMW M Series
• and more….plus the world’s fastest production supercar…the Ultimate Aero will be on display.

Here’s a promotional video:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here’s more info:

There has always been a kinship between the aerodynamic designs of fast aircraft and fast automobiles. These characteristics often grow from one industry to the other. Exotic machines of the ground and sky also share a common beauty of design as well.

On the afternoon of May 14, 2011 these shared qualities will be on display at the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field.

The Event…
This event will demonstrate the aerodynamic similarities between exotic cars and aircraft. Because of the uniqueness of the automobiles displayed, the event should draw a substantial attendance.

The Cause…
Too often dogs and cats are abandoned by their owners. Animal shelters and pet rescue groups work tirelessly to find hope and homes for these creatures. Many are volunteers who are working out of the kindness of their hearts. Representatives from Homeward Pet Rescue, Shelter, and Adoption and Animal Aid & Rescue Foundationcwill be on site to give out information and to accept donations.

Aviation High School (AHS) is the only college preparatory aviation- themed high school in the North- west. It is our goal to become the premier school of choice for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in the Pacific Northwest.

Although Highline Public Schools is the home of this unique learning community, students throughout the Puget Sound region may apply. This year about 65 percent were local students and the rest com- muted from surrounding districts, some as far away as Tacoma, Everett, and Bremerton. Many as- pire to become scientists, engi- neers, astronauts, pilots, aviation technicians, and CEOs in aviation/ aerospace fields. Many are drawn by the school’s focus on math, sci- ence and technology.

Mission
To prepare all students for college, career and citizenship through a personalized, rigorous and relevant learning experience that is facili- tated in the context of aviation and aerospace.

Senior Project Rationale
…to provide students an opportunity to test themselves—to see for themselves as well as to demonstrate and communicate to others that they can apply their knowl- edge and skills in important and practical situations to solve problems and achieve goals.

What makes an exotic car?
First , an “Exotic” is not generally in the same category as “mainstream” automobiles like Kia, Honda, or GM, etc. An exotic car is not a hot rod, typically seen at most car shows. Some brands which are labeled exotics are (but not limited to) Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Aston Martin, Bentley, Tesla, BMW M-Series, Audi R8, and Lotus. This group can also include rare brands such as Alfa Romeo. The far majority of exotic cars are European, however there some American and Japanese cars that fit the description as well. These automobiles are all “drivable art”.

About Me…..
“My name is Alex Bergler and I am in my senior year at Aviation High School. For my senior project I have planned an event that will combine three of my passions, aircraft, exotic cars, and animals. Since I was just a toddler I have always loved aircraft. Most of my childhood memories are filled with attending air shows and spending a lot of time at the Museum of Flight, I joke that the Museum became my second home. My plans and dreams have always involved flight. As I started high school I began to seriously pursue my dreams of flight by starting flight lessons at Boeing Field. As I studied aerodynamics and design I soon became enamored with another great pas- sion and beauty , exotic automobiles. Now the passing sound of a Ferrari evokes the same excitement and awe as that of a F/A-18 takeoff. From my earliest memories ani- mals have always been an important part of my life. My family and I have always been very animal friendly. So when I was selecting an endeavor to pursue for a senior pro- ject it really made sense to combine my passions into something which will positively contribute to my community .”

Photographer Francis Zera got into precise position and captured these great images:

The Museum of Flight is presenting An Evening with Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger on Monday, March 8th from 7pm to 9pm in its William M. Allen Theater.

As many Readers may recall, “Sully” Sulenberger is the heroic airline pilot who safely landed US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River in January, 2009. He has over 40 years of flying experience in both commercial and military aviation.

Cost is $10 for non-members and $5 for members.

Here are the details:

WHAT: An evening with “Sully” Sullenberger

WHEN: Monday, Mar 8, 2010: 7:00pm-9:00pm

WHERE: Museum of Flight’s William M. Allen Theater, located at 9404 East Marginal Way S. in Seattle; Phone: 206.764.5720. Located north of Burien and south of downtown Seattle, at the south end of Boeing Field / King County Airport; Exit 158 off Interstate 5. Free Parking adjacent to the museum and Airpark.

INFO: From the museum’s website:

Now a legendary pilot for the dramatic events and emergency landing on the Hudson River of US Airways Flight 1549 in January 2009, Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger, III is a captain for US Airways, an author, and a lecturer. He has over 40 years of flying experience in both commercial and military aviation. A former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, Sullenberger served as an instructor and Air Line Pilots Association safety chairman, accident investigator and national technical committee member. He has participated in several USAF and National Transportation Board accident investigations. He has a decades-long history of technical and academic contributions to the field of aviation safety.

Here’s a pretty cool video animation that utilizes the audio recording to re-construct the historic crash landing:

Click here to view the embedded video.

A public workshop for Sea-Tac Airport’s Part 150 Noise Study is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 24th, from 5pm – 7pm at Mount Rainier High School, which is located at 22450 19th Ave South in Des Moines.

The Part 150 Study looks at ways to reduce aircraft noise impacts on communities. Throughout the study, the public is invited to participate in the solution and recommendation process through active engagement in a series of topical workshops.

For more information, visit the dedicated Part 150 Study website here that has been established as the single location for all documentation connected to the study.

Up to six additional public workshops will be held throughout the Part 150 Study process. This first meeting will introduce and orient the participants to the Part 150 process as well as further “scope” the study itself. In order to do that, the consultants will facilitate small group discussions with the participants to talk about their concerns and what they are hoping to see included in the study. Records of these sessions and the input received will be kept and factored into the study. The Port will soon launch an advertising campaign publicizing the meeting and they will make sure the members of the Forum get additional information.

Public workshops are not the only vehicle that will be used to engage the public. The Port wants to make sure community leaders, such as the members of the Highline Forum, and the general public has ample opportunity to review the status of the project and offer their thoughts and recommendations. The Port will be providing just that at the regular Highline Forum meetings. In addition, the Part 150 Study team will be available to attend a City Council meeting or meet with the representatives of a specific neighborhood or organization.

There will be a public hearing and comment period at the end of the process. More information will be provided at that time when there is a fully developed set of recommended actions.

More info available at these links:

• Part 150 Scope of Services (PDF)
• Port of Seattle’s “Air Mail” (PDF)

According to the Port’s Part 150 website:

The Part 150 Study process is designed to identify noise incompatibilities surrounding an airport, and to recommend measures to both correct existing incompatibilities and to prevent future incompatibilities. For Part 150 Study purposes, noise incompatibilities are defined as residences or public use noise-sensitive facilities (libraries, churches, schools, nursing homes, and hospitals) within the 65 Day-Night Average Sound Level (DNL) noise contour.

The purpose for conducting a Part 150 Study is to develop a balanced and cost-effective plan for reducing current noise impacts from the airport’s operations, where practical, and to limit additional impacts in the future.

Among the general goals and objectives addressed by a Part 150 Study are the following:

• To reduce, where feasible, existing and forecasted noise levels over existing noise-sensitive land uses;
• To reduce new noise-sensitive developments near the airport;
• To mitigate, where feasible, adverse impacts in accordance with Federal guidelines;
• To provide mitigation measures that are sensitive to the needs of the community and its stability; and
• To be consistent, where feasible, with local land use planning and development policies.

Specific goals for this Part 150 Study include the following:

• To address noise issues related to the third runway;
• To conduct the process in an open and engaging way; and
• To look for opportunities that have not been thought of versus re-visiting old issues.

This study will identify existing and future flight corridors, develop aircraft noise exposure maps for current and future conditions, evaluate air traffic control procedures that could be implemented to reduce noise exposure over residential areas, consider land use controls that could be established to reduce future incompatible land uses from being developed within high noise areas, and evaluate means to mitigate noise impacts within high noise exposure areas.

It is anticipated that the Part 150 Study will be completed in late 2011. After completion, it will be submitted to the FAA. The review period by the FAA is typically 6-9 months.

by Mark Neuman

Tomorrow (Saturday, Oct. 3rd) is your chance to attend a panel discussion with the first pilot of the Boeing 747, Brien Wygle, and the plane’s chief engineer, Joseph Sutter.

Sutter has been called “the father of the 747.”

The panel discussion, which starts at 2pm, will be in the William M. Allen Theater and is free with paid admission to the Museum.

A limited number of randomly chosen audience members will have the rare opportunity to tour the Museum’s 747 prototype – usually closed to the public – after the program.

This aircraft was the first 747 ever built – registration number 001. It first flew on February 9, 1969 over western Washington.

The growing worldwide demand for air travel during the 1960s led to the development of the 747, the first “Jumbo Jet.”

Merely recalling the early days of the 747 program “brings sweat to the palms of my hands,” Boeing’s then-president, William Allen, said years after the giant aircraft had been developed.

Aircraft Details of the first 747:

• Manufacturer: The Boeing Company
• Model: 747-121
• Year: 1969
• Power Plant: Four Pratt & Whitney JT9D, 43,500 lbs. thrust each
• Registration: N747001
• Serial Number: 20235
• Length: 231ft
• Height: 63ft
• Span: 196ft
• Wing Area: 5,500ft
• Empty Weight: 370,816lbs
• Gross Weight: 735,000lbs
• Cruise Speed: 640mph
• Range: 6,000 miles

The Museum of Flight is located at 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle; Exit #158 off I-5 (on Boeing Field between downtown Seattle and SeaTac Airport).

The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $14 for adults, $13 for seniors 65 and older, $10 for active military, $7.50 for youth 5 to 17, and free for children under 5.

For general Museum information, please call 206-764-5720, or visit www.museumofflight.org.

(Photos courtesy The Museum of Flight. All rights reserved.)

According to various sources, someone aimed a laser beam Tuesday night (March 24th) around 8pm at an Alaska Airlines flight making its landing approach in to Sea-Tac Airport.

Previously we reported about a 24-year old Burien man who was arrested and then released on March 11th; he is considered a “person of interest” in this incident, according to airport spokeswoman Terri-Ann Betancourt.

In Tuesday night’s incident, a laser was pointed at Alaska Airlines flight number 487 from San Diego about two miles northwest of the airport, in the same area where other planes had been targeted previously.

The targeted aircraft landed without incident, as had all previously-targeted airplanes.

Police are currently investigating this incident.

Shining a laser at an aircraft is considered a felony, and is punishable under the Patriot Act.

Not to cause confusion or anything, but there’s a second, very important meeting coming up Thursday, Jan. 8th regarding Sea-Tac Airport’s third runway (another residents meeting is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 10th):

The Highline Forum will discuss the use of Sea-Tac Airport’s new third runway since its opening, with emphasis on public complaints that the runway is not being used as promised on Thursday, Jan. 8th, from 2pm to 4pm.

This public meeting will take place at the Sea-Tac Airport Conference Center, Mezzanine Level.

Everyone is invited to attend, especially residents who’d have comments or complaints on the third runway.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Final Highline Forum and Port of Seattle Public Comment Period

WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 8th;  2-3pm: Highline Forum; 3-4pm: Port of Seattle Public Comment Period

WHERE: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Conference Center, Mezzanine Level

AGENDA: 2pm Welcome & Introduction of Topic Co-chairs

Meeting Topic: The Highline Forum will discuss the use of the third runway since its opening. In particular, the Highline Forum will address public complaints that the runway is not being used as promised.

• Data depicting how the runway has operated to date Mark Reis, POS
• EIS assumptions for predicting use and impacts Mark Reis, POS
• Current usage of runway Mark Reis, POS
• 2:30 pm Questions & Answers Highline Forum
• 3:00 pm Forum Adjourns & Opening of Port Public Comment Period
• 4:00 pm Port Public Comment Period Ends

DIRECTIONS: Directions to the Airport Conference Center:

• Park in daily parking (floors 5-8) at the south end of the Airport Garage near the yellow or green elevators (rows N-U).
• Take the elevator to the fourth floor and walk across the skybridge #1, between the yellow elevator bank and the green elevator bank, to the Main Terminal.
• Take the escalator or elevator up to the ticketing level.
• The stairs and elevator to the Mezzanine Level are directly behind the international and Hawaiian Airlines ticket counters.
• Enter the reception area though the double glass doors for the Aviation Division Offices.
• The receptionist will direct you to the right conference room. Ask for parking validation (you never know).

Apparently the main complaint was eye irritation.

Read the full story here.

The intent of this meeting will be for city officials to discuss whether the newly-opened and controversial third runway is being used as the Port promised it would be – on “severe weather” days only, as well as how many planes are landing on it and subsequent noise complaints from area residents.

According to our source:

This meeting is “public,” so all can attend but NOT participate or speak.

It is imperative we understand this or the meeting will end immediately with nothing accomplished.

We must speak through our local cities’ electeds at this Forum which is fine by me.

Our previous coverage of area residents’ complaints about the third runway include these stories:

• Has The Third Runway Increased Noise In Burien? (Nov. 24th)
• Third Runway Noise Problem Not Fading Away (Dec. 5th)
• Third Runway Noise Complainers Holding Meeting Dec. 19th (Dec. 10th)

The Seattle Times has an article which quotes Bob Sheckler, co-chairman of the Highline Forum, as saying:

“If we don’t like the answers, then we are going to aggressively go after the Port for additional mitigation.”

That full story can be read here.

If you’re an area resident who thinks the noise from the third runway is too loud, our best advice is for you to call the Port of Seattle’s “Noise Hotline,” which operates 24/7, day or night:

206-433-5393

or

1-800-826-1147

Third runway noise complaints from angry residents.

Read today’s story from The Seattle Times here, which includes an interview with neighborhood activist Miriam Bearse.

Here are links to our previous coverage:

• Has The Third Runway Increased Noise In Burien? (Nov. 24th)
• Third Runway Noise Problem Not Fading Away (Dec. 5th)
• Third Runway Noise Complainers Holding Meeting Dec. 19th (Dec. 10th)

If you have thoughts or complaints on the third runway noise, please email us ASAP – we’re working on a major feature on this, including video, and we’re looking for more input.