A for Airbus, B for Boeing

A for Airbus B for Boeing... hardly any alphabets left in the commercial aircrafts segment. Though we find few worthwhile names to mention in the Business executive jets class Airbus and Boeing reign the commercial aerospace. Be it technology used in their aircrafts, or the size of the aircraft, or the number of deliveries they make both the big players have just been neck and neck in the past decade.

The most recent product of boeing is the 787. Airbus' answer to 787 is A350 which is still under development. Now the both OEMs(original equipment manufacturers) are working towards lighter, fuel efficient aircrafts. Both 787 and A350 make extensive use of composite materials. Traditionally fuselage uses aluminium. This helps it conduct the lightning electricity and prevent the damage to the internal equipments. A fuselage made up of composite material can have a resistance 1000 times more than that of aluminium. Wonder how boeing is going to meet the FAA requirements for lightning effect. Boeing's statement that it will meet all FAA requirements

shows the technology it processes.

Boeing is based out of USA and Airbus is based out of France and Germany. Aerospace industry products are life critical and hence bound to lots of rules and regulations. The FAA for USA and EASA for Europe are equally stringent in their regulatories leaving little leeway to innovative technologies. An example for this may be, touch screens have still not found their way in to the cockpits of any aircraft. In spite of the strict regulations the duopoly of these two companies continues. A healthy competition is always good isn't it?

Boeing Family and Airbus Family are both big...! Below are some the family members. Have a look.

The Magical Anthem

Lyrics

Ooooooh Wooooooh 

Ooooooh Wooooooh

Give me freedom, give me fire, give me reason, take me higher

See the champions, take the field now, you define us, make us feel proud

In the streets are, heads are liftin , every loser in ambition

Celebration its around us, every nation, all around us 

Singin forever young, singin songs underneath that sun

Lets rejoice in the beautiful game

And together at the end of the day.

We all say..

When I get older, I will be stronger

They'll call me freedom

Just like a wavin' flag

And then it goes back

And then it goes back

And then it goes back

And then it goes 

When I get older I will be stronger

They'll call me freedom

Just like a wavin' flag

And then it goes back

And then it goes back

And then it goes back

And then it goes 

Oooooooooooooh woooooooooohh

Oooooooooooooh woooooooooohh

Give me freedom, give me fire, give me reason, take me higher

See the champions, take the field now, you define us, make us feel proud

In the streets are, heads are liftin , every loser in ambition

Celebration its around us, every nation, all around us 

Singin forever young, singin songs underneath that sun

Lets rejoice in the beautiful game

And together at the end of the day.

We all say..

When I get older I will be stronger

They'll call me freedom

Just like a wavin' flag

And then it goes back

And then it goes back

And then it goes back

And then it goes 

When I get older I will be stronger

They'll call me freedom

Just like a wavin' flag

And then it goes back

And then it goes back

And then it goes 

Oooooooooooooh woooooooooohh

Oooooooooooooh woooooooooohh

We all say..

When I get older I will be stronger

They'll call me freedom

Just like a wavin' flag

And then it goes back

And then it goes back

And then it goes back

And then it goes 

When I get older I will be stronger

They'll call me freedom

Just like a wavin' flag

And then it goes back

And then it goes back

And then it goes 

Oooooooooooooh woooooooooohh

Oooooooooooooh woooooooooohh

Nautical mile per litre

"Fill it, Shut it, Forget it"  wish some aeroplane manufacturer come up with such  an advertisement for selling their aircrafts. But in reality that day is beyond the horizon. According to Boeing's Web site, the 747 burns approximately 5 gallons of fuel per mile (12 liters per kilometer). Though it sounds too thirsty for fuel, honestly we shouldn't compare it with our 100 km/ liter bike.

There are actually safety needs to monitor fuel level and aircrafts have special computers to monitor them. An aircraft should carry enough fuel to reach an alternate airport during emergency. Recently 3 aircrafts had to land almost empty belly when they were diverted from Delhi to Jaipur. Though this doesn't happen every day the extra fuel that they carried saved them from another Mangalore crash

For most airlines fuel cost is the second most spending sector. So the oil prices can fluctuate the fortune of an airline when ever it fluctuates. Entire aviation industry is aware of the fact that an impending oil crisis will prove very much fatal to it. There have been no significant discoveries of new oil since 2002. Oil is now being consumed four times faster than it is being discovered, and the situation is becoming critical. It is a problem without a remedy and it is the most pivotal challenge facing modern civilization.

According to some research agency air travel will double by 2035. In spite of all the scaring facts we still have some good news. A MIT let team has proposed a design of an aircraft which will use 70 percent less fuel. This new design is promising but even if proves to be a success it won't make any difference on the Aviation fuel demand. We will have more people travelling by air. As said earlier its always a problem without a remedy.

The Maharaja and the lost kingdom

He once ruled the Indian airspace. He was a symbol of Indianness. The brand Maharaja took the national carrier to places. The brand helped it reach out to hearts of millions of Indians. He was one of the most recognizable mascot world over.
But ever since the Indian airspace was letup to private competitors the national carrier has shown signs of decline exposing its inefficient business model. Air India loses Rs 3000 crores every year. It has a poor crew/aircraft ratio of 209:1 with an industry standard of 150:1

The Maharaja has literally gone from riches to rags. Many opine that he is just another victim of inefficient government organizations management policy. Isn't it a serious issue with every govt organization falling one by one.

Politically dominated higher management endup inefficient in managing some important decision making moments. One simple suggestion one can make is to give more power to the top level management and making them less vulnerable to political influence.

With the aviation crisis deeply wounding the national carrier's ability to cope up with the market it definitely longing for some motherly act from the government. He is still thinking of the time when he used to reach out his customers with warmth and hospitality and the customers paid him back with smile.
Lets hope that our 'national carrier' continues to one with it's past pride and glory.

Air Force One - A flying bunker

Clearing one common misconception 'Air force one' is actually any air force plane that the president of United States boards. If he boards an army plane its called as the 'Army one'. 'Air Force one' is just the radio name used to identify that the plane the president is on board.

But there are two aircrafts usually used for this purpose. Both are Boeing747s but they are modified extensively in their interiors. Internally it looks like an office space with comfortable seats except for its seat belts.
It has the following splits

• A staff area
• A galley
• A conference and dining room
• The president's suite and office
• Space for the service crew to ride and sleep

Along with its unconventional passenger space, Air Force One has a lot of technology that sets it apart from a normal jetliner

Some of the most interesting parts of the plane -- it's advanced avionics and defences which are classified. But the Air Force asserts the two planes are definitely military aircraft, designed to withstand an air attack. Among other things, the plane is outfitted with electronic counter measures (ECM) to jam enemy radar. The plane can also eject flares to confuse the heat seeking missiles.
Another special addition is the in-flight refueling connection.
The onboard electronics include about 238 miles of wiring (twice the amount you'd find in a normal 747). Heavy shielding is tough enough to protect the wiring and crucial electronics from the electromagnetic pulse associated with a nuclear blast.

In advance of every Air Force One flight, the Air Force crew sends C141 Starlifter cargo carrier planes, toting the president's motorcade, to the destination. This collection of bulletproof limousines and vans, loaded with weaponry, keeps the president safe on the ground.

AirForce one is a symbol of luxary the president of United States of America enjoys. But it does sounds reasonable for the amount of money spent to safe guard the first man of that country. It is a flying bunker and one can say that it is less vulnerable than many of the ground ones.

Well, if United States is far ahead, India is atleast trying to catch up. Indian Airforce have given a thought to the fact that Indian PM or President don't have a special flight to travel in. There were news that they are planning to induct two military certified aircrafts. Hope they are inducted by now...!

Chennai Sangamam Video

Chennai sangaman

Making XP compatible softwares to work in Vista

Vista literally means 'a pleasing view' and yes Microsoft has named it right. Cool looks, attractive wallpapers and other recognition features may make us very exiting. You must have
enjoyed the looks in you new Vista.But when it comes to installing old softwares in Vista most of them don't work..Now the 'Compatability issues' makes us put behind all our 'pleasing view' experience.Even older Microsoft products have problems. Some of my friends have even formatted the original Vista and installed XP.
And here comes the Microsoft Virtual PC as a relief . Microsoft has done some thing to heal our headaches. This Virtual PC is a software to run multiple operating systems.


Things Required:

* A Windows Xp CD
* Virtual Pc

Virtual Pc is available at the Microsoft download center.Download the 32 bit/64 bit versions according to your processor specification.



Virtual PC installation:

1. Download and install the Virtual Pc from Microsoft’s website.
2. Start the Virtual Pc.
3. Go to File Menu and click on “New Virtual Machine Wizard”.
4. Click “Next”
5. Chose “Create a Virtual Machine” and click on “Next”.
6. Enter the Name “WinXp” and click “Next”
7. Now Select “Windows Xp” from the dropdown list and click “Next”
8. Now adjust the RAM as per your needs and click next.
9. Now select a “A new Virtual Hard Disk” and click “Next”
10. Choose the location of Disk File and Press “Next”
11. Click “Finish”


Installing Windows:

1. Run Virtual Pc
2. Insert your Genuine Windows Xp Disk inside your drive.
3. Select “WinXp” and click on “Start”
4. Now the Windows Xp installation will start. Follow the instructions coming up on screen. 5. The new window in which installation is running may try to capture your mouse. To release your mouse from the window Press ‘Right Alt’.
6. Now your windows is ready to go and you may install your old software and run it properly.

Now when you are running Windows Xp inside Windows Vista, you will face a problem of capturing of your mouse. To solve this problem you need to install “Virtual Pc Addictions”.

Installing Virtual Pc Addictions:

1. Start Windows Xp through Virtual Pc.
2. Go to file and click on “Install Virtual Pc Addictions”
3. A new installation window will open inside Windows Xp
4. Follow the simple instructions there
5. After installing “Virtual Pc Addictions” you will be able to switch your mouse between the two OS and your mouse will not be captured.


Installing Xp in this way slows down the system a bit but people using original Vista have very good system configuration and I think this doesn't matter them much.For the reader's notice the folders we create in xp cannot be accessed in Vista untill Virtual Pc Addiction is installed.But now we get both the comfort of xp and looks of vista.