Air Prevails
@airprevails.bsky.social
A platform dedicated to aviation law and markets, including but not limited to airline operations and the art of flying. www.airprevails.com #WeirdAircraftWednesday
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Air Prevails
@airprevails.bsky.social
· Jan 30
Freedoms of the Air: Are Airliners Free as Birds? - airprevails.com — A platform entirely dedicated to matters pertaining to aviation law and markets
When one refers to the strict literal interpretation of the terms “freedom” and “air” provided by the Oxford Dictionary, the Freedoms of the Air prima facie
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Freedoms of the Air: Are Airliners Free as Birds? #airlaw #freedomsoftheair
[1/2] The Lohner #TypeAA was an Austro-Hungarian aircraft built in 1916 for a German Air Service competition. Flight stability was disastrous notably due to its large proportions. Many of these planes were deployed during WW1. Its losses were however very high.
July 24, 2025 at 3:10 AM
[1/2] The Lohner #TypeAA was an Austro-Hungarian aircraft built in 1916 for a German Air Service competition. Flight stability was disastrous notably due to its large proportions. Many of these planes were deployed during WW1. Its losses were however very high.
[1/3] 🧵 In spring 1941, the U.S. Navy began to work on a n assault glider that could carry Marines on beaches. The #XLRA was built to recapture islands taken by the Japanese in the first months of the Pacific Wars. The program was however cancelled.
July 16, 2025 at 11:36 AM
[1/3] 🧵 In spring 1941, the U.S. Navy began to work on a n assault glider that could carry Marines on beaches. The #XLRA was built to recapture islands taken by the Japanese in the first months of the Pacific Wars. The program was however cancelled.
[1/4] 🧵 Intended to use more sophisticated stealth techniques than the F-117A Nighhawk, the #A12AvengerII was a trapezoidal shape with smooth surfaces for scattering radar beams. It would have been able to carry more weapons and had an air-to-air capability. The entire program was a secret.
July 10, 2025 at 2:11 AM
[1/4] 🧵 Intended to use more sophisticated stealth techniques than the F-117A Nighhawk, the #A12AvengerII was a trapezoidal shape with smooth surfaces for scattering radar beams. It would have been able to carry more weapons and had an air-to-air capability. The entire program was a secret.
[1/3] 🧵 The Tupolev #ANT20 Maksim Gorkii was built for propaganda purposes. The goal was to fly this giant aeroplane across the USSR to bring the communist message to the masses. The ANT-20 contained a small printing plant, a photographic studio, a cinema and a radio station.
June 25, 2025 at 11:44 AM
[1/3] 🧵 The Tupolev #ANT20 Maksim Gorkii was built for propaganda purposes. The goal was to fly this giant aeroplane across the USSR to bring the communist message to the masses. The ANT-20 contained a small printing plant, a photographic studio, a cinema and a radio station.
[1/5] 🧵 After WW2, aviation experienced significant performance advancements. Aircrews were subject to greater acceleration and g forces during manoeuvres. Reducing the distance that blood has to pump from the heart to the brain increases tolerance to g forces.
June 18, 2025 at 10:19 AM
[1/5] 🧵 After WW2, aviation experienced significant performance advancements. Aircrews were subject to greater acceleration and g forces during manoeuvres. Reducing the distance that blood has to pump from the heart to the brain increases tolerance to g forces.
[1/3] 🧵 In the 1930s, Luigi Stipa convinced the Caproni Company to build an aircraft to test his theory that a tubular fuselage gave significant extra thrust to a conventional engine and propeller. The concept behind the Caproni #Stipa wasn’t so successful.
June 12, 2025 at 1:51 AM
[1/3] 🧵 In the 1930s, Luigi Stipa convinced the Caproni Company to build an aircraft to test his theory that a tubular fuselage gave significant extra thrust to a conventional engine and propeller. The concept behind the Caproni #Stipa wasn’t so successful.
[1/3] 🧵 The Convair NB-36 #Crusader was a bold concept. It was intended to prove the feasibility of carrying a nuclear reactor in flight, towards an eventual goal of a nuclear-powered aircraft with unlimited endurance.
June 5, 2025 at 12:49 AM
[1/3] 🧵 The Convair NB-36 #Crusader was a bold concept. It was intended to prove the feasibility of carrying a nuclear reactor in flight, towards an eventual goal of a nuclear-powered aircraft with unlimited endurance.
[1/3] 🧵 In 1949, Hughes Aircraft got a contract to build the massive #XH17. The gigantic rotors promised a huge lifting capacity and were attached to stilt-like legs and a box like fuselage. Large cargo such as radar vans and tanks could be lifted away.
May 28, 2025 at 12:02 PM
[1/3] 🧵 In 1949, Hughes Aircraft got a contract to build the massive #XH17. The gigantic rotors promised a huge lifting capacity and were attached to stilt-like legs and a box like fuselage. Large cargo such as radar vans and tanks could be lifted away.
[1/3] 🧵 In the 1910s, Harris Booth Air Department of the Admiralty designed the Blackburn A.D. Scout #Sparrow for naval use. Although of conventional wood-and-fabric construction, unlike what was becoming standard practise, the fuselage nacelle was attached to the top wing.
May 22, 2025 at 2:34 AM
[1/3] 🧵 In the 1910s, Harris Booth Air Department of the Admiralty designed the Blackburn A.D. Scout #Sparrow for naval use. Although of conventional wood-and-fabric construction, unlike what was becoming standard practise, the fuselage nacelle was attached to the top wing.
[1/3] 🧵 In the 1950s, the British explored the possibility of building the replacement of the Douglas DC-3. The ATL.90 #Accountant was a brave attempt to fill this gap. The aeroplane used the same engines as the Vickers Viscount, Rolls-Royce Darts.
May 14, 2025 at 11:36 AM
[1/3] 🧵 In the 1950s, the British explored the possibility of building the replacement of the Douglas DC-3. The ATL.90 #Accountant was a brave attempt to fill this gap. The aeroplane used the same engines as the Vickers Viscount, Rolls-Royce Darts.
[1/3] 🧵 The Douglas XB-42 #Mixmaster was designed to get the greatest performance out of a twin-engined airframe by mounting the engines internally. Initially, flight testing discovered propeller vibration, inefficient engine cooling and excessive yaw.
May 8, 2025 at 12:29 AM
[1/3] 🧵 The Douglas XB-42 #Mixmaster was designed to get the greatest performance out of a twin-engined airframe by mounting the engines internally. Initially, flight testing discovered propeller vibration, inefficient engine cooling and excessive yaw.
[1/4] 🧵 In the 1950s, the US Air Force, Navy and NACA (predecessor of NASA) all contributed in the development of the Douglas X-3 #Stiletto. The principal goal was to test new techniques, materials and aerodynamics (kinetic heating research) for a new generation of interceptors.
April 30, 2025 at 11:06 AM
[1/4] 🧵 In the 1950s, the US Air Force, Navy and NACA (predecessor of NASA) all contributed in the development of the Douglas X-3 #Stiletto. The principal goal was to test new techniques, materials and aerodynamics (kinetic heating research) for a new generation of interceptors.
[1/3] 🧵 Soviets came up with the one of the weirdest aircraft ever in the 1970s — the PZL-Mielec M-15 #Belphegor. The Belphegor was probably the world’s only production jet biplane. Its maiden flight took place in 1973, and certification in 1979.
April 23, 2025 at 9:57 AM
[1/3] 🧵 Soviets came up with the one of the weirdest aircraft ever in the 1970s — the PZL-Mielec M-15 #Belphegor. The Belphegor was probably the world’s only production jet biplane. Its maiden flight took place in 1973, and certification in 1979.
[1/3] 🧵 The Ahrens #AR404 was an ambitious project set by a US company. The main goal was to build a utility aircraft expeditiously in a Puerto Rican facility. But the program was unsuccessful after a mysterious US government investigation prevented the production of the aircraft.
April 17, 2025 at 2:25 AM
[1/3] 🧵 The Ahrens #AR404 was an ambitious project set by a US company. The main goal was to build a utility aircraft expeditiously in a Puerto Rican facility. But the program was unsuccessful after a mysterious US government investigation prevented the production of the aircraft.
[1/4] 🧵 Built to combine UK’s lead in large flying-boat design with innovation in turbine engine technology, the Saunders-Roe #Princess proved to be a huge white elephant. In 1945, long runways for civil aircraft were still rare.
April 10, 2025 at 2:59 AM
[1/4] 🧵 Built to combine UK’s lead in large flying-boat design with innovation in turbine engine technology, the Saunders-Roe #Princess proved to be a huge white elephant. In 1945, long runways for civil aircraft were still rare.
[1/4] 🧵 Based upon the legendary Douglas DC-4, the Aviation Traders ATL.98 #Carvair (car-via-air) was an aerial workhorse. The bulbous front fuselage of the Carvair demanded a taller tail compared to the DC-4.
April 2, 2025 at 10:44 PM
[1/4] 🧵 Based upon the legendary Douglas DC-4, the Aviation Traders ATL.98 #Carvair (car-via-air) was an aerial workhorse. The bulbous front fuselage of the Carvair demanded a taller tail compared to the DC-4.
[1/5] 🧵 In 1912, Émile Salmon established the Société des Moteurs Salmson to build and develop radial water-cooled aeroengines. With the outbreak of WW1, the company decided to turn its hand to aircraft manufacturing.
March 27, 2025 at 3:03 AM
[1/5] 🧵 In 1912, Émile Salmon established the Société des Moteurs Salmson to build and develop radial water-cooled aeroengines. With the outbreak of WW1, the company decided to turn its hand to aircraft manufacturing.
[1/5] 🧵To replace the outdated Avro Shackleton in the airborne early warning (AEW) role, the Royal Air Force began development of a version of the Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft that literally looks like a proboscis monkey.
March 12, 2025 at 10:23 AM
[1/5] 🧵To replace the outdated Avro Shackleton in the airborne early warning (AEW) role, the Royal Air Force began development of a version of the Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft that literally looks like a proboscis monkey.
[1/5] 🧵 Combining the visibility of a helicopter with outstanding slow-flying capabilities, the original concept of the #EdgleyEA7Optica was a three-seat touring aircraft.
February 27, 2025 at 12:19 AM
[1/5] 🧵 Combining the visibility of a helicopter with outstanding slow-flying capabilities, the original concept of the #EdgleyEA7Optica was a three-seat touring aircraft.
[1/5] 🧵 The Leduc #ramjetpowered aircraft was an amazing concept. Known as an aero-thermodynamic-duct or athodyd, which has no major rotating components, a ramjet relies upon air being forced into an intake.
February 12, 2025 at 10:27 AM
[1/5] 🧵 The Leduc #ramjetpowered aircraft was an amazing concept. Known as an aero-thermodynamic-duct or athodyd, which has no major rotating components, a ramjet relies upon air being forced into an intake.