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    Dyess installs last B-1 LCTP upgrade
    Fates
    By Fates,
      DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas - A sniper advanced targeting pod connects to the under carriage of a B-1 Bomber Feb. 24 in the Three Bay Hanger here. The sniper pod is a long-range precision targeting system that supports the precision strike mission by providing positive target identification, autonomous tracking, coordinate generation and precise weapons guidance from extended standoff ranges supporting air-to-ground operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Courtney Moses)   http://www.dyess.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123246802

    Rise of Flight New Career mode update
    Dagger
    By Dagger,
      It just keeps getting better and better Here's some more news from the Rise of Flight folks   Dear pilots,   We would like to give you some details about our new Career Mode that we have been working on so diligentlyover the past several months. This has been one of the most complex and challenging features we have every made.Below you will find a tentative list of the features it should include when released. To be honest, this has takenlonger than expected, but we also added some more items that we knew the community wanted to see. Again, thislist is tentative and some items may not make it due to poor test results or bugs, but this is what we hope to include.   Some details about the new Сareer Mode   Covers 700 days of the Great War. More days may be added if we build planes from even earlier in the war. Continued promotion through the ranks. Changing Weather with Seasonal Textures (Summer, Autumn and Winter). New Titles and Awards. More than 15 different types of missions. New types of gameplay, such as adjusting artillery fire or photo reconnaissance, with new interactive elements and equipment such a wireless radio and/or camera added to your plane. You can also watch real-time changes in the world based on the results of your actions such as corrected artillery fire. A higher level of interactivity and randomness during missions, for example, flying close to an enemy's airfield could trigger enemy fighters to intercept you. Combines your personal statistics, events and achievements with real history. Interactive map of hostilities with information about current operations at the front and the location of various units and squadrons. Historically correct squadron’s location and re-locations. Historically correct automatic mission completion by A.I. pilots in missions not involving the player using a new technique we developed. Historically correct awards and conditions for awards. Realistic calendar of European Weather Virtual "Newspaper", depicting timely events at the front, new inventions in science and technology, and list of important aces published on a regular basis. All virtual A.I. squadron mates have their own names, grow in rank and abilities, go the hospital if needed and receive awards for their actions. Ability to meet historic allied or enemy aces in combat situations. If you kill a famous enemy ace he will not re-appear and his kill total will stop in the press. Ability to be transferred to another squadron with promotion in rank. Realistic attrition of personnel and material in your squadron. Repair of damaged aircraft and hospitalization of wounded pilots. Ability to use a custom paintjob after 5 kills. Opportunity to become a squadron commander and plan missions. Planning includes the selection of pilots and aircrafts, which will participate in your flight. Editing a route: choice of range, move waypoints, a height indicator, buildings types, speeds and altitudes. Many new villages, town and industrial areas added to the map along with windsocks at airfields. These are the basic elements of the new Career mode we hope to include. Not only are we are trying to create an interesting Career for you, but also trying to add some interesting information about the squadrons that participated in the Great War. So you will have an opportunity not only to read about the history, but also to participate in it. Arobust system with the ability to model all the activities and sorties of a particular squadron on an everyday basis during WWI was just a dream until now. In essence, when we combine the historical aspect with the new Career mission generator we will create something more, in our mind, than just a game or simulation. To us, this has the potential to become a kind of “interactive encyclopedia” or “interactive atlas” of aerial warfare during the Great War.   So we are now proceeding to the testing stage of its development and we hope to have it ready for release soon.Since this is such a complicated feature we cannot give you a firm release date yet. And we apologize for that, butwe don’t want to make any empty promises. As soon as we can give you a date for release we will.   Also, we invite you to participate in helping us add some historical and fun biographical information to thebackground portion of the new Career mode. Please check out this thread. (http://riseofflight....forum.php?f=315).  

    Software Updates
    Erik
    By Erik,
      CombatACE will be undergoing routine updates later today to provide the community with a more feature rich and stable version of our community software. I will be turning off features and accessibility as I make the upgrades and they will appear offline and will resume normal operation as the updates are completed. The downtime is necessary to make sure all files and database entries maintain their integrity.   Thank you for your patience and understanding during the necessary improvements.   CombatACE

    iPad gets approval from FAA to replace paper flight charts and maps
    FastCargo
    By FastCargo,
      By Jason Paur, WIRED   From the earliest days of aviation, pilots have relied upon paper maps to help find their way. Even in an era of GPS and advanced avionics, you still see pilots lugging around 20 pounds or more of charts.   But those days are numbered, because maps are giving way to iPads.   The Federal Aviation Administration is allowing charter company Executive Jet Management to use Apple's tablet as an approved alternative to paper charts. The authorization follows three months of rigorous testing and evaluation of the iPad and Mobile TC, a map app developed by aviation chartmaker Jeppesen.   The latest decision applies only to Executive Jet Management, but it has implications for all of aviation. By allowing the company's pilots to use the Apple iPad as a primary source of information, the FAA is acknowledging the potential for consumer tablets to become avionics instruments.   The iPad has been popular with pilots of all types since its introduction last year. But until now, it could not be used in place of traditional paper charts or FAA-approved devices such as more expensive, purpose-built electronic flight bags. The iPad was OK for reference, but not as a pilot's sole source of information. The new FAA authorization changes all that.   To receive FAA authorization, Jeppesen and Executive Jet Management went through a rigorous approval process. It included rapid-decompression testing from a simulated altitude of 51,000 feet and ensuring the tablet will not interfere with critical navigation or electronic equipment.   Executive Jet tested the iPad and Mobile TC in 10 aircraft flown by 55 pilots during 250 flights.   The first thought many pilots, not to mention passengers, may have is: What happens if the iPad or the app crashes?   Jeff Buhl, Jeppesen's product manager for the Mobile TC app, says the Apple iOS operating system and the app proved "extremely stable" during testing. In the "unlikely" event of a software crash, he says, it takes but a moment to get them running again.   "The recovery time for an application crashing or the OS crashing is extremely rapid," Buhl says.   During the evaluation period with the FAA, the production app did not crash. But even if it did, Buhl says it's ready to go again "in 4-6 seconds from re-launch to previous state."   The FAA says each individual operator -- in this case Executive Jet Management -- must develop specific procedures for dealing with system or software crashes and other issues. Under the authorization, Executive Jet Management will require a second approved electronic device, which most likely will be another iPad, in the cockpit.   Although this authorization applies to just one company, it is a milestone for all operators, including major airlines, because it opens the door for them to embrace the iPad. Though any company wishing to follow Executive Jet's lead will have to endure equally rigorous scrutiny by the FAA.   Agency spokesman Les Dorr says the process is no different from what is required for any other electronic device used to display navigation information.   "As far as the iPad is concerned, we do that on a case-by-case basis when an airline applies to be able to use it," Dorr says.   The FAA is already seeing more requests to use the iPad in the cockpit. Alaska Airlines began testing the iPad back in November and there are about 100 pilots currently evaluating the device according to spokeswoman Marianne Lindsey.   She says in addition to the convenience, there is a practical weight-saving aspect to using the iPad as well, "it's replaced about 25 pounds of manuals and charts."   Jeppesen's director of portfolio management, Tim Huegel, says several carriers are looking into using the iPad and TC Mobile, and with the FAA granting one approval, it should become increasingly easy for others to follow Executive Jet's lead.   "We'll be able to reuse a lot of the documentation and the lessons learned working with Executive Jet Management to help our commercial customers as they now begin to pursue FAA authorization," he says.   The charts available with Mobile TC include charts for visual flight rules and for instrument flight rules, which are more commonly used by commercial operators. The app only shows an electronic version of the paper charts Jeppesen has been producing for years, but Huegel says future versions could incorporate the iPad's GPS capability.   He sees a day when tablets provide "door-to-door management" of a pilot's information, from crew scheduling to weather information to navigation charts.   Story at CNN.com

    Combatace reviews the Handley Page 0-400
    Dagger
    By Dagger,
        Combatace reviews the Handley for Rise of Flight. Read the review Handley Page Review HERE

    Boeing gets $35 billion Air Force tanker contract
    DWCAce
    By DWCAce,
      Story by Marc Selinger   The U.S. Air Force announced Thursday that it has selected Boeing’s NewGen Tanker to be its new KC-46A air refueling jet.   The contract award, which follows a rigorous Air Force review of industry proposals, means Boeing will build the next-generation tanker that will replace 179 of the service’s 1950s-era KC-135s.   Boeing officials said they are honored by the selection and will meet the Air Force’s requirement to deliver the first 18 combat-ready aircraft by 2017.   “This contract award would not have been possible without the hundreds of Boeing employees across the entire company, and the thousands of our industry teammates, who remained laser-focused on our commitment to offer a solution that is first in capability and best in value,” said Dennis Muilenburg, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “This award is also a tribute to the Air Force and Defense Department officials who worked so tirelessly to make this procurement process fair, ultimately resulting in the selection of the right plane for the mission. We look forward to working with our Air Force customer to deliver this much needed capability to the servicemen and women we are honored to serve.”   Tankers are critical to the U.S. armed forces, extending the range of fighters, bombers and other aircraft by transferring fuel to them in flight. The NewGen Tanker combines the latest, most advanced technology with the proven Boeing 767 commercial airplane.   The NewGen Tanker has a modern, digital flight deck based on the new Boeing 787 commercial airliner, and advanced defensive systems so it can safely operate close to the fight. It meets or exceeds all Air Force requirements.   Boeing will build the NewGen Tanker with a low-risk approach. It will use a trained and experienced U.S. work force at existing facilities in Washington state and Kansas, and an existing supplier network in more than 40 states.   Boeing has built and supported tankers for more than 60 years, and company employees said they are rolling up their sleeves to begin work on this newest tanker right away.   To learn more about the KC-46A tanker, visit www.UnitedStatesTanker.com.   From Boeing.com.   http://www.boeing.co...t_02_24_11.html   http://www.unitedstatestanker.com/splash/Announcement

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