Salem-News.com Aviation articles Page 35

Experimental Plane Crash Kills 3 in Linn County

The plane crashed in a harvested corn field about 1/4 mile from the nearest residence. No one on the ground was injured.

(ALBANY, Ore.) - Deputies in Linn County and the FAA are investigating the crash of a small single engine airplane that claimed the lives of the three men aboard Friday when the plane crashed at 10:20 AM.

Balloonist Attempting Record Flight From Japan to Oregon Feared Missing (VIDEO)

Michio Kandia had checked in every two hours with a satellite phone. The last message was received shortly after he crossed the International Date Line, early Friday.

(JUNEAU, Alaska) - The Coast Guard is continuing its search in the North Pacific Ocean for Michio Kanda. a balloon pilot reported missing approximately 435 miles south of Adak Island.

He was trying to top a long-distance world record of 4,767 miles (7,671 km) according to the Anchorage Daily News. Mr. Kanda was reported missing after he failed to check in with his support team by satellite phone, shortly after crossing the International Date Line.

Three Walk Away from Plane Crash South of Chemult

The pilot didn't know the ground was snow covered.

(CHEMULT, Ore.) - Three people escaped injured Friday afternoon when the plane they were in flipped onto its top while attempting to land at a small plane landing in Beaver Marsh south of Chemult.

Oregon State Police Sergeant Mark Crisp says that today around 2:20 PM, a Cessna 172 operated by 41-year old William Boyd of Hillsboro, was flying in the area of Crater Lake with two other occupants when he attempted to land at Beaver Marks air landing strip west of Highway 97.

Famed Aviator Mary Feik To Highlight Women In Aviation Month

Aircraft and restoration specialist highlights "Women in Aviation" Month.

(MCMINNVILLE, Ore.) - Mary Feik, recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal and a Colonel in the Civil Air Patrol, will speak at Evergreen Aviaition Museum in McMinnville on March 1st.

After overhauling her first automobile engine at age 13 and later aircraft engines at 18 years of age, Mary taught aircraft maintenance to crew chiefs and mechanics for the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942.

Navy Helicopter Crashes in Texas; 3 Killed

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

(CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas) - A U.S. Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon attached to Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15 crashed in a field approximately four miles south of Corpus Christi, Texas on Wednesday.

A Navy spokesman says three crew members onboard were killed, and another was taken to a local hospital where he is listed in critical condition. At the time of the incident, the helo was conducting routine training operations.

Future of F-15 Discussed by Air Force Officials

The future of what was for years the world's most formidable jet fighter, looks like it may be short lived.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Senior Air Force leaders gathered for a press conference in Washington Thursday to share findings from the accident investigation board currently examining the November 2nd crash of a Missouri Air National Guard F-15C Eagle.

They say the upper right longeron, one of four metal beams that help hold the cockpit to the main fuselage - was found to have manufacturing defects. That announcement came from Colonel William Wignall, the head of the F-15 accident investigation.

Oregon Pilots Airborne Again in the F-15 Jet Fighter

The aging aircraft is still one of the world's best.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - A November 2nd crash of an F-15 raised concerns about the safety of the F-15 fleet, and the entire U.S. Air Force fleet of F-15s stood these aircraft over the last part of 2007 and through the early part of this year.

Engineers have focused recently on the A-D models of the jet fighter while allowing the E models to return to flight. Concern centered on the longeron, a critical support structure in the airframe. After intensive inspections some of the F-15's are now returning to flight.

Biden Takes Bush to Task Over Sale of F-16 Jet Fighters to Pakistan

This is not the first time the United States has sold or attempted to sell F-16 jet fighters to Pakistan.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Bush Administration has awarded a $500 million contract to supply Pakistan with 18 F-16 military fighter jets. The Pentagon made the announcement late in the day on December 31st, stating that it had approved the sale of the planes to Pakistan, with the deal awarded to Lockheed Martin.

President Bush's decision to sell the planes comes at a time when this politically strained country is reeling from the recent assassination of Benazir Bhutto. It is also occupied by countless numbers of jihadists, many of whom use Pakistan as an entry point to Afghanistan.

Delta Reduces Cost for Flying In and Out of Salem

The Delta service from Salem, Oregon to Salt Lake City Utah was announced last February and began in June with two daily flights.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Delta Air Lines has reduced the cost of ticket prices on flights to and from the Salem Airport. It was announced this week that it is an effort to make the prices of Salem flights more in line with the cost of flying out of Portland.

"A number of travelers have expressed concern that ticket prices out of the Salem Airport are not competitive enough with prices out of Portland."

Civil Air Patrol Launches Massive Hunt for World Famous Aviator

The search for the wealthy adventurer Steve Fossett is officially on hold, for now.

(RENO, Nevada) - The Civil Air Patrol’s hunt for famed, record-setting aviator Steve Fossett, who vanished on Labor Day during a morning jaunt in Nevada, is the largest and perhaps most expensive in modern-day history.

The 63-year old pilot took off September 3rd for a solo flight from the Flying M Ranch, a posh aviation playground about 70 miles southeast of Reno. Fossett didn’t file a flight plan for the three-hour trip, and he never returned to the ranch.