::: bisonium.com :::

For you aviation and Navy nuts out there, here's a movie you won't want to miss. For those of you living in San Francisco or visiting on August 17th, 2006 - you can get a sneak peek!

Speed and Angels is the true life story and feature-length action documentary about two navy officers chasing their dreams to become fighter pilots. The film follows them during the most dangerous parts of their training and as they go to war, where the realities of being a fighter pilot test their limits.

The film includes epic aerial footage in stunning HD—including the last ever F-14 Tomcat dogfights—and rare naval archival and wartime footage. Thanks to unprecedented access granted by the navy, Speed and Angels gives an inside look at people's journeys as fighter pilots as it has never before been seen.

Based on the original concept of producer F.A.Chierici, Speed and Angels is directed by Peyton Wilson.

Looks like a great documentary and I am definitely getting the DVD.  What Navy airdale veteran wouldn't want to add this to their collection? Brings back a whole boat-load of memories (no pun intended).  ;-)  More information and goodies are available at the Speed & Angels website.

Technorati Tags: Aviation, NAVY, Military

Posted by Frank Bisono at 1:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Now here's a company that just plain "gets it."  Southwest has always been a leader in the field and their customer service is second to none.  It's no wonder that they are among the few (if not the only) airlines to actually turn a profit in these trying times.  If there was one airline that I would have pegged as the first to have a blog, it would have been Southwest.  They have officially been bitten by the blogging bug and are now blogging online at: www.blogsouthwest.com. A glimpse of what you can expect...

"...we want this to be a place where you can see just who we are and why we are Nuts about Southwest.

In order to do that, we have lined up an exciting group of bloggers that include Frontline and Headquarters Employees. Among the Frontline Employees lined up to blog are some of our Pilots; Flight Attendants; Airport Employees; Mechanics; folks from our Marketing, Schedule Planning, Properties, People and Leadership, and Executive Office Departments. We hope to add additional bloggers as we go, including some of our Officers, who will show up as guest bloggers."

Not too bad if you ask me.  I'm adding this to my feeds...lets see if they can keep up with the pace of the blogsphere!

Technorati Tags: Aviation, Blogging

Posted by Frank Bisono at 3:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Ok, I have got to say, I am getting majorly addicted to YouTube.  I have some buddies always sending me the strangest videos and this one is a winner.  Now what kind of rocket scientist does it take to figure out that FLYING A HELICOPTER is NOT something you can just do without any lessons.  Folks, for those of you that aren't familiar with aviation, flying a helicopter is at least 10x more difficult than learning to fly a regular single engine Cessna for example.  There is definitely such a thing as having so much money that it makes you stupid.  Check this out..

New Pilot Trying to Fly a Helicopter

Technorati Tags: Stupidity, Video

Posted by Frank Bisono at 11:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Someday I hope to own a Cirrus SR22-GTS or better.  As much as I love flying other aircraft like Cessna's, there's nothing that could replace the peace of mind that your family / passengers safety is a yank of a handle away.  I've been in some pretty scary IMC conditions, it can happen to anyone - so this is a much welcomed technology in the world of aviation.

[ via Flightnest.com ]

Ballistics Recovery Parachute Saves Again:

Over the weekend Ballistics Recovery Systems announced their parachute system has recorded another save. Kerwin Day, a CFI found himself in severe icing conditions and unable to control his Cirrus SR22. With two other passengers onboard the aircraft stalled as he tried to climb above the area of icing. The parachute system was activated and the Cirrus came to rest in Alabama suspended by trees.

“I pulled the chute and got a sudden jolt against the seatbelt, said Day. ”The nose pitched down and very quickly leveled itself and in less than a minute we were on the ground.“

Ballistic Recovery Systems says their parachutes have been documented in saving 184 lives.

Posted by Frank Bisono at 2:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well I certainly don't need this as an excuse for owning my own airplane, but it sure does give you warm and fuzzies and justify all that is right in the world, even if just for a few hours on the weekend...

[ via Flightnest.com ]

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to pass this along. It is the story of a nine year old kid who told ATC “REBEL BASE, THIS IS RED 5. WE ARE STARTING OUR ATTACK RUN ON THE DEATH STAR”. And ATC responded with “RED 5, YOUR CLEARED FOR THE APPROACH TO THE DEATH STAR. REPORTS HITS AWAY”. This is a must read story.

Why I own my own Aircraft

Posted by Frank Bisono at 4:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Boy am I going to miss this plane.  I remember my days aboard the USS John F. Kennedy (I worked on A6 Intruders) and watching Tomcats being shot and trapped off the deck, what an amazing experience.  It will be a sad day in US Naval Aviation.  The newer, sexier F-18's are great, but in my book, just the shear intimidation of the F-14's looks are enough reason to keep it around.  I guess that's why I am not working at the Pentagon making those "executive" decisions huh?

[ via Military.com ]

Aging F-14 Makes Final Bombing Runs :

The U.S. Navy's F-14 Tomcat fighter, built as a Cold War defense against Soviet bombers and emblazoned on popular imagination as Tom Cruise's plane in the 1986 movie Top Gun, is just weeks away from making its final combat sorties over Iraq before being retired for good.

Continue reading "Farewell Our Beloved F-14 Tomcats" »

Posted by Frank Bisono at 11:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Delta airlines yesterday became the latest US based airline to begin outsourcing its maintenance to another country. That's right folks...the planes you are flying in are being maintained by another country's work-force that is not regulated by the US. How's that make you feel when traveling at 38,000 feet? Delta claims the move will cost as many as 2000 workers their jobs. That's 2000 AMERICAN workers who are highly skilled professionals folks.

Delta isn't the only airline doing this. Delta is joining the ranks of United, Northwest, Alaska Air, and US Airways. Makes you feel warm and fuzzy doesn't it? Last year Delta lost $5 BILLION, and claims that outsourcing its maintenance will save them $240 Million. Does $240 Million sound like a lot in comparison to the $5 Billion they lost? It sure doesn't to me, not when you are talking about uprooting 2000 American families and turning their lives upside down. How about we start trimming the fat with those executive salaries? I bet that topic never comes up in the board room!

Now here is a quote that sums up the intelligence of the management running Delta airlines. Prepare yourself folks, this is a doozie....

"The work in Canada is domestic. Because it's North America, that's part of our domestic operation."

So as Lou Dobbs put it: "A U.S. company exporting work to a foreign country, in this case Canada, saying the work in Canada is domestic. Our quote of the day."

I for one will be cutting up my membership cards to the above mentioned airlines. The day that AMERICAN AIRLINES starts to outsource it's maintenance and other jobs outside of AMERICA is the day I will stop flying commercial airlines entirely. Time to get my pilot ratings current again...that Cirrus SR22 is looking mighty good.

Posted by Frank Bisono at 12:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Space Ship One Desktops:

Courtesy of Bryan Bell

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A request was made for me to release desktop-image sized version of the photos I took this wednesday. So here you go. All images are 1280x1024.

Posted by Frank Bisono at 5:15 PM | Permalink

SpaceShipOne: Monday Launch Is On:

Satisfied that his spaceplane is sound despite a series of unexpected rolls during Wednesday's flight, Burt Rutan will send SpaceShipOne aloft as scheduled to try to capture the $10 million X Prize. By Dan Brekke.

Posted by Frank Bisono at 5:09 PM | Permalink

Witnessing History:

Wow! Boy I wish I could have been there to see this! Bryan Bell is one lucky dude...

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Yesterday Erin Clerico and I dragged ourselves out of our nice warm beds and drove to Mojave at 3:30am to see the Launch of SpaceShipOne. This was the First in a series of 2 Space flights needed to collect the Ansari X Prize. After getting over the shock of getting out of bed so early, Erin and I had a really good time. The crowd was large but pleasant and the whole event had an upbeat atmosphere that was hard not to get into.

Video of the launch is available here

Posted by Frank Bisono at 4:29 PM | Permalink