wings over the bay - royal aeronautical society€¦ · conventional controls used by boeing had...

Wings Over the Bay

Journal of the Bay of Plenty Branch of the NZ Division, RAeS: 02-17

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Explore the marvels of aviation with the Bay of Plenty Branch

Webpage: http://www.raes.org.nz/branches/bay_of_plenty

Facebook - aerospace bay of plenty

NEW ZEALAND DIVISION

Welcome to the newsletter for the Bay of

Plenty Branch, NZ Division, RAeS for February

2017

Meeting Recap

The February meeting of the Bay of Plenty Branch

was held at the clubrooms of the Tauranga Gliding

Club on the north west of Tauranga airfield. This

was the same venue we had used for the Branch

meeting and BBQ last year which was a great place

for the AGM and accompanying lecture this year,

titled: B787 Operations.

The lecture was delivered by Owen Bieleski who

holds an ATPL with military transport experience

with the RNZAF before embarking on a commercial

career with major airlines overseas. Recently, he

returned home with his family to Tauranga from

Dubai, where he had flown all six variants B777

with Emirates.

Owen Bieleski showing an RNZAF F27 – Friendship at the start of his

lecture – Photo Des Underwood

Owen has joined China Southern as a line captain

flying the B787-800 Dreamliner service from

Auckland to Guangzhou in China. With extensive

airline experience on the B777, he is well qualified

to discuss the features of the new Boeing 787

wide-body ‘electric jet’.

While comparable in size to the B767-300, the

B787 is 35% lighter. This is due to substantial use

of carbon-fibre composite materials and new

electrically-based system and componentry to

replace heavier heritage aircraft systems and

services. The extent of use of composite materials

was reflected in a graphic which noted composites

at 50% and metal content down to 20% on leading

edges, engine pylon mounts and elsewhere.

Engine cowls too are made from composites.

The extensive use of electric-based systems has

almost entirely replaced bleed-air and a good

number of hydraulic-based services. Flight

controls, too, use fly-by-wire (FBW) with no

manual back-up. Owen suggested with the extent

of the changes to electrically-based systems, the

B787 is sometimes called the ‘electric jet’.

Owen explained the B787 is a very different design

to its predecessors, with a heavy emphasis on

electrical powered systems and multiple layers of

automatically managed redundancy. Pilots are

alerted to most failures via the EICAS (Engine

Indicating and Crew Alerting System) as a Warning,

Caution or Advisory. In some failure cases, such as

the Flight Management Computer, switching to

the backup is automatic and only ‘flagged’ when

one FMC remains. System alert logic is on a ‘need

to know’ basis.

For passengers, too, Owen explained new features

included lower cabin-altitude (to 6,000 feet) and

higher humidity levels to help reduce passenger

fatigue on the long flights which the B787 is

capable of flying.

He noted B777 pilots would be very at home in a

B787 with conversions to the new type taking just

five days. In the cockpit, the main change is head-

http://www.raes.org.nz/branches/bay_of_plenty

https://www.facebook.com/Aerospace-Bay-of-Plenty-1171504202901735/?fref=ts

Wings Over the Bay


__________________________________________________________________________________________





up displays (for take-off and landing) which he had

found easy to adapt to.

The B787 cockpit with five multi-function displays (MFD’s) feature on the

with electronic flight bag (EFB) units to the side panel; new head-up

displays (HUDs) are new which can be folded away.

While retaining the traditional control columns, all

flight controls are fly-by-wire (FBW) with no

manual reversion. He confirmed throttles and

other control handles physically moved whether

they were moved by the pilot or auto commanded.

He identified some new flight control features of

the 787 which included: cruise flaps, asymmetry

compensation, gust suppression, auto-drag and

landing attitude modifier.

Nose-wheel steering tillers were available for both

pilots that use ‘control by wire’ technology as

opposed to mechanical sequencing. Owen

explained while the Airbus ‘rate-control’ side-stick

controller of the types, the ‘direct-sense’

conventional controls used by Boeing had their

advocates but he preferred the Boeing approach.

In answer to a later question about the retention

of the traditional control column by Boeing in the

787, he thought it could be replaced by a side-stick

control device at some stage.

Engines used on the 787 include the GE GEnx-1B

and Rolls Royce Trent 1000. These had been

configured to have virtually eliminated engine

bleed-air to cater only for engine intake anti-icing,

allowing greater engine efficiency levels for

propulsion and the direct-driven twin variable

frequency starter generators (VFSGs). These

starter generators have replaced the separate

pneumatic starters and generators. Two

interchangeable VFSG’s are fitted on each engine

and the APU, which together are capable of

generating 1.4MW of electrical power. The aircraft

has batteries and when all else fails a ram air

turbine (RAT) provides essential power. Engine

and electrically powered high pressure (5,000psi)

hydraulics is used to power the primary flight

control surfaces although some spoilers and the

stabiliser are electrically actuated to provide

system redundancy.

To conclude, Owen noted he had found the most

useful change on the B787 was the ergonomic

inclusion of a rocker switch on the back of the

cockpit seats. These switches allowed the seats to

be moved back at the touch of the button.

Those attending the lecture came away better

informed on the features of the B787 Dreamliners

and why 64 airlines had ordered more than 1,200

of the three variants to date.

Thank you to Owen for his most enlightening

lecture covering an important aspect of the

progress in new airliner design and operation.

China Southern Airlines B2732 Boeing 787-81B on the Boeing pre-

delivery ramp at Paine Field, Washington – Photo Bill Shemley

The meeting concluded with an enjoyable Branch

BBQ.

*****



Wings Over the Bay


__________________________________________________________________________________________





Aviation News

Aviation News – February 2017

Continuing with the B787 lecture theme, Boeing has

delivered its 500th 787 to Avianca at Everett, Seattle.

Despite some delivery set-backs, the B787 is the

quickest airliner to have reached the 500th delivery

milestone having entered airline service five years

ago.

Unlike some other types, Boeing has planned dual

assembly plants, the second plant in B787 in North

Charleston, South Carolina. The first of the type off

the SC line was the 250th 787 which was delivered

Mar 17, 2015 and was a larger -9 variant.

As it once was, NZ5911 in jungle camouflage. Photo AMB Collection

Article by Adrian M. Balch – this story covers the sale

of Bristol 170 Freighter (formerly NZ5911) to the

Bristol Aero Collection in UK. Having been assigned to

41 Squadron RNZAF in Singapore, it served in South

East Asia including supply runs to in Viet Nam before

being brought back to NZ for service eventually

serving with 1 Squadron RNZAF at Whenuapai.

Having been replaced by the RAF HS Andover C Mk 1,

the B170 fleet was sold to RS Dwen Airmotive Ltd at

Ardmore.

As it is now, sadly, NZ5911 has suffered the effects of

outside storage.

NZ5911 at Ardmore, less ailerons and tail surfaces –

Photo Geoff Jones

It is due to be dismantled in preparation for shipping

to the UK. This will apparently require the removal of

the centre-wing to comply with road transport rules

in the UK. It is sad that another part of both the

RNZAF and NZ aviation history is about to leave NZ

but good it will be restored and preserved elsewhere.

Its return to the UK will close the loop on an aircraft

which was built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company at

Filton, Bristol as c/n 13135 (as a Mk 31M ) and rolled

out on 4 September 1952 before being handed over

to the RNZAF later the same month. Its departure for

NZ was delayed until the following year to allow it to

be modified with as a dual-control trainer at RAF

Abingdon. For NZ5911, it is about to be embark on a

new beginning with restoration at a new home at

Filton. It isn’t clear in what livery it will be painted. Of

the 214 made at Filton, the return of c/n 13135 will

be the only one of its type in the UK.

Article by Nicholas McIndoe – covers the delivery of

reproduction RAF BE2c to Warbirds NZ from the

Vintage Aviator Ltd. The pic shows its maiden flight at

Ardmore with Frank Parker at the helm.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Charleston,_South_Carolina

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Charleston,_South_Carolina

Wings Over the Bay


__________________________________________________________________________________________





City In The Sky – BBC TV Documentary – This recently

released three-part series has screened in NZ and

reviews the progress of aviation. The ‘city in the sky’

claimed to keep around a million people and their

baggage aloft at any moment of a normal day.

The well-presented documentary noted around

100,000 flights was required to achieve this notional

‘city in the sky’. Using this graphic to represent

thousands of aircraft aloft at once, the three-60

minute series is well worth a watching. The series is

set out to explain what was required to support the

so-called ‘city in the sky’ including the latest

developments in aviation.

One vital aspect covered includes an explanation of

how modern air navigation is achieved via the

invisible global networks of airports and waypoints

used by pilots and air traffic controllers (in

conjunction with GPS and on-board systems) to

maintain the necessary separation between aircraft

to ensure all flights reach their destination safely.

In citing the millions of items of bags which must be

tracked from source to every destination, it also

covered the unusual disposal for those bags which

lose their labels and become ‘lost’. Like a variation of

the ‘Storage Wars’, in some places ‘lost luggage’ is

auctioned-off to whoever wants a surprise bag.

As well as a very good overview of the complexity of

freight and baggage handling at large airports the

unusual means used by some airports to dispose of

unclaimed luggage is revealed. Another aspect

covered is the ever-present danger of lightning strike

on aircraft and the work done to mitigate the effects

to airliners and their passengers.

It noted while all-metal aircraft inherently possess

the means to conduct the lightning strike to exit

elsewhere, new methods to achieve the same level of

safety is necessary for the next generation of mainly

non-metal aircraft (made from carbon–fibre

composite materials) such as the B787. A startling

sequence showed what happens to an unprotected

carbon-fibre panel in a test lab when struck by a bolt

of high voltage electricity. A repeat test of a similar

panel equipped with a copper mesh embedded in it

showed how it was able to conduct the electricity

away leaving the panel completely undamaged.

Another involved the use of modern satellite

communications to provide expert advice for aircraft

captains and cabin-crews to deal with in flight

medical emergencies. The 24/7 service is used by

some airlines and provides team of doctors at the

end of a phone. As well as indicating what might be

undertaken on-board to deal with the urgent medical

condition being experienced, the specialists will

recommend the most suitable diversion which is best

capable of providing specialist care.

To close the loop on old aircraft, the series included a

segment on the storage of redundant aircraft and

their ignominious end at the wrong-end of a massive

aircraft wrecking machine which reduces these once

majestic airliners to mangled heap of metal.

For those not directly involved in the world of

modern air transport, it is the story of the diverse

nature of latest developments in commercial aviation

which is makes the series a compelling watch.

*****



Wings Over the Bay


__________________________________________________________________________________________





Branch Activities - 2017

Friday 3 March – Branch Meeting – Classic

Flyers, 9 Jean Batten Dr, Mt Maunganui at

5.30pm

- Prior to this month’s meeting we have a visit planned to see Wayne Cutforth’s replica Spitfire at his hangar immediately behind Classic Flyers in Dakota Way - All meet at the Avgas Café

- The speaker this month is Melanie Salisbury and her topic is “Aviation Tours”

- Melanie and her husband Kevin are Branch members and run the local company Aviation Tours which provides guided aviation tours of UK

- We heard from Melanie before the 2016 tour and look forward to an update of how that went, as well an insight into the 2017

tour titled: "Wings & Wheels" which is due

to depart in September - Light supper to follow – a gold coin

donation would be appreciated

Friday 7 April – Branch Meeting - Classic

Flyers, 9 Jean Batten Dr, Mt Maunganui at

5.30 – What’s in an Airshow? – an insight

into what is required to be done to stage an

airshow and some of the strategies used by

some – details to follow.

*****

At a future date, we will look to have a lecture on

the changes planned for the next generation

B777X which currently includes folding wing tips.

Aviation Events - 2017

24-26 February – 2017 Air Tattoo –

Celebrating 80 Years of the RNZAF - at RNZAF

Base Ohakea

3–5 March Australian International Airshow

2017 - at Avalon, Victoria

Easter Weekend 14-16 April 2017 - Classic

Fighters Airshow 2017 - at Omaka - Includes

Knights of the Sky Great War Exhibition.

www.omaka.org.nz

Bay of Plenty Branch Committee

Des Underwood, MRAeS, Chairman –

0274524767- [email protected]

Wally Gee – Secretary - [email protected]

Mike Feisst – Treasurer/Membership

[email protected]

Jack Best - [email protected]



http://www.airforce.mil.nz/about-us/news/media-releases/media-release.htm@guid=%7Bfb651de3-fcf7-4a12-a9be-b73c15b46827%7D.htm

http://www.omaka.org.nz/

mailto:[email protected]




https://www.airshow.com.au/airshow2017/index.asp

wings over the bay - royal aeronautical society€¦ · conventional controls used by boeing had...

Documents