Final Blog

Part 1:

I have a synthesizing mind. While I may not have one specific way of thinking mastered, I am always looking for new ways to explain things and understand them. I can offer great perspective on anything. For example, during my blogs, I offered my opinion on ideas such as the Osprey's reliability and about the existence of the Boeing 797. I feel that people can come to me for advice because I can give perspective.

Part 2:

1. exhibit curiosity- I exhibited curiosity when I researched and wrote about planes that most people probably haven't even heard of. I looked up pictures to see what they looked like, and researched all of the planes' specs and different attributes.

2. experiment with new ideas- I experimented with new ideas because I wrote about some things that probably are revolutionary or new, especially to the general public. I asked rhetorical questions and left some room for speculation.

3. challenge own beliefs- I challenged my own beliefs because I was forced to go into this project with an open mind and forget all of my preconceived notions. In order to provide readers with the most educated and informative blog possible, I had to leave my personal opinion out of the blog when it was necessary, like when stating facts.

Part 3

I realized just how much I could learn from researching on my own. I also noticed that it was a lot more informative and enjoyable to research something that I was personally interested in. I learned about the various aircraft and state-of-the-art technology that exists in the U.S. today. I never realized how much technology has advanced and how many things that seem like science fiction actually exist.

Mid-Air Refueling

If you thought that pilots had reached their potential for accomplishing amazing feats, you haven't heard about mid-air refueling yet. Yes, that's right. One plane refuels another plane in the middle of a flight. This is accomplished when a plane (in this example the B-2) carefully flies close to the "boom", or long pipe that facilitates the transfer of fuel. This enables pilots to remain in the air for nearly 22 hours. Does it look hard to refuel in mid air? Well, it's even harder. The two planes must maintain the exact same flight path, altitude, speed, and distance between each other. It all must be held steady. This is only one example of the many unbelievable feats our pilots are doing every day to help preserve our freedom. These are the guys that should have all the glory.

The Future of Aviation: The Boeing 797

There is a new plane in development that will change the face of the flight industry. The Boeing 797 is a huge passenger plane that looks very strange compared to other planes.



However, there is some speculation on whether it truly exists or not. Boeing has said that they are not developing this type of aircraft; however, they could be hiding the truth. They even admitted to researching development of the aircraft for military purposes.

The 797 features a blended wing design. Basically, it would allow for seating out into the wing areas. Notice in the picture the thicker wings in the picture. The 797 will increase the number of passengers significantly. Since the plane would most likely take on too much weight because of the added material, the plane will supposedly be made entirely from composite materials.

Hopefully the rumor of Boeing 797 is true. It would be a great advance in technology in the aviation industry.

The AH-64 Apache

Planes have been the primary topic of this blog. It's time to talk about something else: helicopters.



One of the greatest and most famous helicopters is the AH-64 Apache. This isn't your ordinary helicopter flying around for the evening news, though. This is a powerful Army Attack Helicopter that makes everyone look up when it flies over. It features night vision and a .30 millimeter chain gun on the front. That's enough to make any terrorist cower in fear. It's armored, too: it remains flyable even after taking hits from a .23 millimeter gun. The Apache remains in service today and is still one of the Army's most valuable assets.

P-51 Mustang

One of the most famous aircraft of all time is the P-51 Mustang. It flew during WWII and was extremely effective in the role it played. It was designed in built in 117 days, and was a one-seater plane. It was so effective in the war because it was durable and fast, and easy and cheep to produce. It contained six .50 caliber machine guns mounted on it.

While the Mustang is not measurable to the technology, firepower, and speed of modern aircraft, it was revolutionary in its time. It will still be one of the greatest aircraft to ever take the skies. It even was flown up until the 80's. It's versatility was its greatest asset. No matter how many decades pass, the P-51 Mustang will always be a legend of the skies.

A-10 Warthogs Strafing Targets

Recently, Strafing Runs have become a more vital part of air combat operations overseas. A strafing run is when an aircraft flies at a very low altitude and uses its automatic machine guns to target specific enemy positions. Strafing runs carry a lot of danger with them. Obviously, flying at low altitude presents a long list of dangers with it. Also, because of the terrain, pilots must pay extra attention to their surroundings while at the same time piloting a complex aircraft while shooting at the enemy.

However, the benefits of strafing are far too great to abandon it. Even though it carries danger, it is a lot safer for ground forces. Because pilots are able to pinpoint their attacks, they do not have to use bombs which destroy a wide area. This cuts back greatly on civilian deaths. The firepower of strafing is also great. This practice was very popular back in the WWII era, and now it is starting to make a comeback. I believe that the military should definitely utilize this effective practice.

Blue Angels Cockpit Video F/A-18 Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron

No other team of pilots has as much fame and respect as the Blue Angels. The Blue Angels are a Navy flight demonstration team that contains some of the best pilots in the world. They fly for demonstrations and air shows worldwide that captivate audiences from the moment they take off. The Blue Angels began at the end of world war two because of an effort from the Chief of Naval Operations to keep the public interested in Naval Aviation. As seen above in the video, they perform seemingly impossible maneuvers such as flips, barrel rolls, Immelman Turns, and others all while remaining around 12 inches apart. They even play a game of chicken where two pilots fly straight on towards each other and at the last second split off. One cannot help but have a racing heart.

The aircraft used by the pilots are Boeing F/A-18 Hornets. They have a 40 foot wingspan and can travel 1200 miles per hour. Without a question, The Blue Angels will always be a source of pride for America. If you get the chance to see them live, do not miss out on the opportunity!