Belgian-wings.be : Special Feature McDonnell Douglas MD900 Explorer Datafile

McDonnell Douglas MD900 Explorer

Twin engine eight seat police helicopter

  After the withdrawal of its Aerospatiale SA330 Puma helicopters, the Air Support Unit of the Rijkswacht/Gendarmerie (now Federale Politie/Police Federale) had a requirement for a twin-engined medium sized helicopter (twin-engined as the aircraft should also be able to operate safely urban areas). The aircraft had to be equipped with special observation equipment and cleared for night operations.
The aircraft selected was the McDonnell Douglas MD900 Explorer equipped with a NOTAR or 'NO TAil Rotor' system. The NOTAR replaces the classic rear propellor by an aerodynamic system in which air pressure is guided through the tail-boom to a nozzle which can guide the helicopter in the desired direction. One of the added bonuses of the system is that the NOTAR equipped machines are very silent. In 1997 two Explorers joined the then Rijkswacht/Gendarmerie followd by two more machine in 2001 en 2010.


http://www.belgian-wings.be/Webpages/Navigator/Photos/MilltaryPics/post_ww2/McDonnell%20Douglas%20MD900%20Explorer/McDonnel%20Douglas%20MD900%20Frontpage.html

SBAP site update on 22-05-2011: more pictures of Solar impulse

Text Serge Van Heertum - Pictures : Serge Van Heertum & Guy Liesse © sbap 2011

Since the first little flight in December 2009 with Andre Borschberg as pilot, the HB-SIA has conducted hundreds test flights.
This program is planned to promote a new way in energy saving and renewable alternatives energy. This is the main goal of Bertrand Piccard and his team.
After a long series of test flights in Switzerland, the experimental aircraft started a European tour. First Step Brussels Brussels Airport on May 13th (a lucky Friday for the team). This international trip of Solar Impulse is sponsored by the European Commission and the plane will be the special guest of Paris Air Show, which for a century, is a hight point of the aviation history. During Paris Airshow, the Solar impulse is planned in the demonstration flying program.
A "window" in the weather allowed the flight between Payernne and Brussels. At 08:40 am the Solar Impulse took off from the Swiss airfield and after a flight above, Swiss, East of France, Germany, Luxemboug and Belgium, the plane landed at Brussels Airport at 09:40 pm after 13 flight hours. This historic flight could be followed in real time via the net and at some moment of the flight the registered ground speed was 37 km/hour...Amazing. The flight was followed by a special control center in Payernne and another one located in Brussels.

http://www.sbap.be/events/2011/solar2011/solar2011.htm

SBAP site update on 22-05-2011: Events : Mid-air collision in Koksijde

Text & Pictures : Marc Arys © sbap 2011

 

During the F-16 solodisplay routine the aircraft collided with a civilian aircraft, which happened to have entered the airfield zone.

Both aircraft crashed onto the airfield, the F-16 into a parking lot.
The pilot of the F-16 ejected, but was seriously injured.
The occupants of the civilian aircraft also sufferd multiple injuries. Other victims, with one deceased person, were to deplore in cars hit by the crashing F-16 into the parking lot.

Military emergency services were rapildy on the scene and together with the civilian services, called upon, organised the rescue of the victims.
A VMP (Vooruitgeschoven Medische Post – Forward Medical Post) was installed and the ‘GMP’ (Gemeentelijk Rampenplan – Community ‘Disaster’ Plan) was issued.

http://www.sbap.be/events/2011/pcmkoks/pcmkoks.htm