Air Force One is the official air traffic control call sign of a United States Air

Force aircraft carrying the President of the United States. In common

parlance the term refers to those Air Force aircraft specifically designed,

built, and used for the purpose of transporting the president. The Presidential

aircraft is a prominent symbol of the American presidency and its power.

The idea of designating specific military aircraft to transport the President

arose in 1943, when officials of the United States Army Air Forces – the

predecessor to the U.S. Air Force – became concerned with relying on

commercial airlines to transport the President. A C-87 Liberator Express was

reconfigured for use as a presidential transport; however, it was rejected by

the Secret Service amid concerns over the aircraft's safety record. A C-54

Skymaster was then converted for presidential use; this aircraft, dubbed

theSacred Cow, transported President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Yalta

Conference in February 1945, and was subsequently used for another two

years by President Harry S. Truman.

The "Air Force One" call sign was

created after a 1953 incident

during which a flight carrying

President Dwight D.

Eisenhowerentered the same

airspace as a commercial airline

flight using the same call sign.

Several aircraft have been used

as Air Force One since the

creation of the presidential fleet, including two Boeing 707s introduced in the

1960s and 1970s, respectively; since 1990, the presidential fleet has

consisted of two Boeing VC-25As – specifically configured, highly

customized Boeing 747-200B series aircraft. The Air Force is looking into

replacing the two VC-25 aircraft with three replacement aircraft beginning in

2017.

HISTORY

On 11 October 1910, Theodore Roosevelt became the first U.S. President to

fly in an aircraft, although at the time of the flight in an early Wright

Flyer from Kinloch Field (near St. Louis, Missouri), he was no longer in office,

having been succeeded by William Howard Taft. The record-making occasion

was a brief overflight of the crowd at a country fair but was nonetheless the

beginning of presidential air travel.

Prior to World War II, overseas and cross-country presidential travel was rare.

Lack of wireless telecommunication and quick transportation made long-

distance travel impractical; as it took much time and isolated the president

from events in Washington, D.C. Railroads were a safer and more reliable

option if the President needed to travel to distant states. By the late 1930s,

with the arrival of aircraft such as the Douglas DC-3, increasing numbers of

the U.S. public saw passenger air travel as a reasonable mode of

transportation. All-metal aircraft, more reliable engines, and new radio aids

to navigation had made commercial airline travel safer and more convenient.

Life insurance companies even began to offer airline pilots insurance

policies, albeit at extravagant rates, and many commercial travelers and

government officials began using the airlines in preference to rail travel,

especially for longer trips.

Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first president to fly in an aircraft while in

office. The first aircraft obtained specifically for presidential travel was

a Douglas Dolphin amphibian delivered in 1933 which was designated RD-2

by the US Navy and based at the Naval base at Anacostia D.C. The Dolphin

was modified with a luxury upholstery for four passengers and a small

separate sleeping compartment. The aircraft remained in service as a

presidential transport from 1933 until 1939. There are no reports as to

whether the president ever flew in the aircraft though. During World War II,

Roosevelt traveled on the Dixie Clipper, a Pan Am-crewed Boeing 314 flying

boat to the 1943 Casablanca Conference, in Morocco, a flight that covered

5,500 miles (in three "legs"). The threat from the German submarines

throughout the Battle of the Atlantic made air travel the preferred method of

VIP transatlantic transportation.

Concerned about relying upon commercial airlines to transport the president,

USAAF leaders ordered the conversion of a military aircraft to accommodate

the special needs of the Commander in Chief. The first dedicated aircraft

proposed for presidential use was a C-87AVIP transport aircraft. This aircraft,

number 41-24159, was re-modified in 1943 for use as a presidential VIP

transport, the Guess Where II, intended to carry President Franklin D.

Roosevelt on international trips. Had it been accepted, it would have been

the first aircraft to be used in presidential service, in effect the first Air Force

One. However, after a review of the C-87's highly controversial safety record

in service, the Secret Service flatly refused to approve the Guess Where II for

presidential carriage. Also, the C-87 was a derivative of the Consolidated B-

24 Liberator bomber, so it presented strong offensive impressions to both

enemy fighter aircraft as well as foreign dignitaries being visited, an issue

not present with airframes that were used purely for transport. The Guess

Where II was then used to transport senior members of the Roosevelt

administration on various trips. In March 1944, it transported Eleanor

Roosevelt on a goodwill tour of several Latin American countries. The C-87

was scrapped in 1945

Historically, several U.S. presidents have

flown on Boeing aircraft.

In 1943, President Franklin D.

Roosevelt flew to Casablanca

aboard a Boeing model 314

Clipper.

In 1962, Boeing introduced U.S. presidents to modern jet

transportation with the introduction of the Boeing model 707-320B. In

all, seven presidents were served by the 707-320B.

Today, the chief executive flies aboard a specially configured 747-

200B, the newest and largest presidential airplane. Its capabilities

include:

Longer range for presidential travel

Aerial refueling

Self-sufficiency at airports around the world

The "flying Oval Office" has 4,000 square feet of interior floor space. Among

its accommodations are:

Conference/dining room

Quarters for the president and the first lady

An office area for senior staff members

Another office that converts into a medical facility when necessary

Work and rest areas for the presidential staff, media representatives

and Air Force crews

Two galleys that can provide 100 meals at one sitting

Multi-frequency radios for air-to-air, air-to-ground and satellite

communications

Principal differences between Air Force One and the standard Boeing 747

include state-of-the-art navigation, electronic and communications

equipment; its interior configuration and furnishings; self-contained baggage

loader; and front and aft air-stairs.

SINGAPORE AIRLINE History

Singapore Airlines began with the incorporation of Malayan Airways

Limited (MAL) on 1 May 1947, by the Ocean Steamship Company of

Liverpool, the Straits Steamship Company of Singapore and Imperial Airways.

The airline's first flight was a chartered flight from the British Straits

Settlement of Singapore to Kuala Lumpur on 2 April 1947 using an Airspeed

Consul twin-engined aircraft. Regular weekly scheduled flights quickly

followed from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Penang from 1 May 1947

with the same aircraft type. The

airline continued to expand during

the rest of the 1940s and 1950s, as

other British Commonwealth

airlines (such as BOAC and Qantas

Empire Airways) provided technical

assistance, as well as assistance in

joining IATA.[citation needed] By

1955, Malayan Airways' fleet had

grown to include a large number of

Douglas DC-3s, and went public in

1957. Other aircraft operated in the first two decades included the Douglas

DC-4 Skymaster, the Vickers Viscount, the Lockheed 1049 Super

Constellation, the Bristol Britannia, the de Havilland Comet 4 and the Fokker

F27. When Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak formed the Federation of

Malaysia in 1963, the airline's name was changed, from

"Malayan Airways" to "Malaysian Airways". MAL also took over Borneo

Airways. In 1966, following Singapore's separation from the federation, the

airline's name was changed again, to Malaysia-Singapore Airlines (MSA). The

next year saw a rapid expansion in the airline's fleet and route, including the

purchase of MSA's first Boeing aircraft, the Boeing 707s, as well the

completion of a new high-rise headquarters in Singapore. Boeing 737s were

added to the fleet soon after.

Singapore Airlines operates a hub at Changi Airport and has a strong

presence in the Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and "Kangaroo Route"

markets. Singapore Airlines was the launch customer of Airbus A380,

currently the world's largest passenger aircraft. SIA has diversified airline-

related businesses, such as aircraft handling and engineering. Its wholly

owned subsidiary, SilkAir, manages regional flights to secondary cities with

smaller capacity requirements.

Singapore Air offers two longest non-stop commercial flights aboard

the Airbus A340-500 which fly to Newark and Los Angeles from Singapore.

Singapore Airline has the London Heathrow Airport and the Sydney Airport as

its focus cities. It offers its frequent flyer program under the KrisFlyer Club

for passengers availing Singapore Air flights on a frequent basis.

Singapore Airlines' Mission Statement

"Singapore Airlines is a global company dedicated to providing

air transportation services of the highest quality and to maximising returns

for the benefit of its shareholders and employees."

Services

This Customer Service Plan has been introduced pursuant to the U.S.

Department of Transportation Final Rule on enhancing airline passenger

protections and is applicable for flights to and from the US. However, this

does not mean that some of the services and assurances set out in this

Customer Service Plan are not provided on our other non-US flights.

1. Singapore Airlines will always disclose on our website, at our ticket

counters, and on our phone reservation line, that the lowest fare offered may

be located elsewhere.

2. Singapore Airlines shall deliver baggage on time, make every reasonable

attempt to return mishandled baggage within 24 hours, compensate

passengers for reasonable expenses associated with delayed delivery as

required by applicable international agreements, and reimburse customers

for lost baggage.

3. Singapore Airlines will provide prompt refunds after receiving a complete

refund application, where ticket refunds are due - within seven business days

for credit card purchases and within 20 business days for purchases made by

cash or check. 4. Singapore Airlines shall accommodate customers with

disabilities as required by 14 CFR Part 382 and other special needs

customers, including during lengthy tarmac delays. This will include:

a) Provision of wheelchair assistance for transportation to, from, and

between gates; b) Boarding assistance; c) Assistance with visual, auditory,

cognitive, or mobility impairments while in the airport and on the plane; and

d) Accommodation for certain medical requirements such as medical

portable electronic devices.

5. Singapore Airlines shall meet the needs of customers during lengthy

tarmac delays, as provided in Singapore Airlines’ Tarmac Delay Contingency

Plan.

6. Singapore Airlines will inform you, upon your request, if the flight on which

you are ticketed is overbooked. We also will provide information at all US

airports about our policies and procedures for handling situations when all

ticketed customers cannot be accommodated on a flight.

7. Singapore Airlines’ cancellation policies, frequent flyer rules, aircraft

seating configuration and lavatory availability are available on our website

and, upon request, from the our telephone reservation system.

8. Singapore Airlines shall notify consumers in a timely manner of changes to

their travel itineraries.

9. Singapore Airlines shall ensure responsiveness to consumer complaints.

We shall acknowledge a complaint within 30 days and provide a substantive

response within 60 days of receiving it.

10. In the event that Singapore Airlines cancels, diverts or delays a flight,

Singapore Airlines will, to the best of our ability, provide meals,

accommodation, assistance in rebooking and transportation to the

accommodation to mitigate inconveniences experienced by passengers

resulting from such flight cancellations, delays and misconnections.

Singapore Airlines will not be liable to carry out these mitigating efforts in

cases where the flight cancellations, delays and misconnections arise due to

factors beyond the airline’s control, for example, acts of God, acts of war,

terrorism etc, but will do so on a best effort basis.

11. Singapore Airlines will notify consumers through our web site, telephone

reservation system, and our boarding gates at U.S. airports, within 30

minutes of us learning of a delay, cancellation or diversion.

12. Singapore Airlines will allow consumers to cancel a reservation made

using the Singapore Airlines web site without penalty for 24 hours after the

reservation is made, as long as that reservation is made one week or more

prior to a flight’s scheduled departure. Consumers will need to call our

contact centre to cancel such online bookings.

13. Singapore Airlines will allow consumers to hold a reservation made at

Singapore Airlines reservation office for 24 hours after the reservation is

made without payment, as long as that reservation is made one week or

more prior to a flight’s scheduled departure.

In-flight services

Cabins

Singapore Airlines offers four classes of service – suites, first class, business

class and economy class. Major upgrades to its cabin and in-flight service

were announced on 17 October 2006, the first major overhaul in over eight

years and costing the airline approximately S$570 million. Initially planned

for its Airbus A380-800's introduction into service in 2006, and subsequently

on the Boeing 777-300ER, the postponement of the first A380-800 delivery

meant it had to be introduced with the launch of the first Boeing 777-300ER

with the airline on 5 December 2006 between Singapore and Paris.

On July 9, 2013, Singapore Airlines, in collaboration with two design firms,

James Park Associates and DesignworksUSA, unveiled the next generation of

cabin products for First, Business, and Economy class, which will enter

service onboard new Boeing 777-300ERs and Airbus A350s. London will be

the first city served with the new product in September.

Singapore Airlines Suites

Singapore Airlines Suites is a class available only on the Airbus A380. The

product was designed by French luxury yacht interior designer Jean-Jacques

Coste and consists of separate compartments with walls and doors 1.5 m

high. The leather seat, upholstered by Poltrona Frau of Italy, is 35 in (89 cm)

wide (with armrests up and 23 in (58 cm) wide when armrests are down) and

a 23 in (58 cm) LCD TV screen is mounted on the front wall. The 78 in (200

cm) bed is separate from the seat and folds out from the back wall, with

several other components of the suite lowering to accommodate the

mattress. Windows are built into the doors and blinds offer privacy. Suites

located in the center can form a double bed after the privacy blinds between

them are retracted into special compartments between the beds and in the

frame of the partition.

Boeing 777-300ER First Class

First class

There are three variations of the first class cabin, although the Singapore

Airlines Suites class is designated by Singapore Airlines as a "Class Beyond

First" and uses a different fare code (R) (see above).

Introduced on 17 October 2006, the "New" First Class is offered only on

Boeing 777-300 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Designed by James Park

Associates, it features a 35 in (89 cm) wide seat upholstered with leather and

mahogany and a 23 in (58 cm) LCD screen. The seats fold out into a flat bed

and are arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration.

The First Class in 3-class-configured Boeing 777-200 features sleeper seats

that are 21 in (53 cm) wide in a 2-2-2 configuration. It has a 10.4 inch display

screen for IFE with AVOD technology. The first class product will be retired

shortly in the third quarter of 2013, along with the withdrawal of all 3-class

B777-200, awaiting on the delivery of the 24th A330 to Singapore Airlines

and subject to regulatory approval.

The latest first class seat was introduced on 9 July 2013. Features include a

24-inch in-flight entertainment screen with video-touch screen handsets,

adjustable in-seat lighting, and passenger control unit, inside a fixed-shell

cabin with an 35 in (89 cm) wide seat, foldable into an 80 in (203 cm) bed.

Boeing 777-300ER Business Class

Business class

Formerly known as Raffles Class until 2006, the Business Class on the Airbus

A380, Airbus A340-500, Boeing 777-300ER, a fully flat bed is available in a 1-

2-1 configuration featuring 30 in (76 cm) of seat width. These seats are

forward-facing, in contrast to the herring-bone configuration used by several

other airlines offering flat beds in business class. The leather seats feature a

15.4 in (39.1 cm) diagonal screen size personal television, in-seat power

supply and 2 USB ports. This seat is also being progressively introduced on

Boeing 777-200ER aircraft. The new Singapore Airlines business class

(usually operating on the A380, A340 and 777-300ER aircraft) was voted the

world's best business class by Skytrax in 2011.

On eight Airbus A380 aircraft, the first of which entered service in October

2011, Singapore Airlines extended the business class cabin to run the entire

length of the upper deck, compared to the original configuration which

shares the upper deck between 16 rows of business class and 11 rows of

economy at the rear.

New Regional Business Class is available on Airbus A330-300, Boeing 777-

300 and select Boeing 777-200 aircraft, configured in 2-2-2 layout and with

iPod connectivity. The Business Class seat is lie-flat at an 8-degree incline,

featuring Krisworld on a 15.4 inch screen.

SpaceBed seats are being progressively phased out and currently are

available on three Boeing 777-200ER aircraft in a 2-2-2 configuration. The

SpaceBed seats are 27 in (69 cm) wide and 72 in (183 cm) long and convert

to an angled flat bed. They have a retractable 10.4 in (26.4 cm) personal

television, and are being phased out in favor of New Business Class seats.

Traditional Ultimo business class seats, which do not convert into beds, are

offered on 7 Boeing 777-200 aircraft in a 2-3-2 configuration with an 8.4 inch

screen.

A new design of Business Class seat was unveiled on July 9, 2013. Features

include power socket and ports all in one panel, stowage beside the seat,

two new seating positions and a 18-inch in-flight entertainment screen. The

seat has a recline of 132 degrees and can be folded into an 78 in (198.1 cm)

length bed.

Economy Class

Airbus A380-800 Economy Class

The old economy class seats in all 7 unrefitted Boeing 777-200s and 3

unrefitted Boeing 777-200ERs have VGA 6.1 inch personal television screens,

footrests, adjustable headrests with side-flap "ears" and adjustable seat

reclines. Baby bassinets are available at some bulkheads. These older

Economy Class seats with the Wisemen 3000 AVOD system were introduced

with the Boeing 777-200ER in 1997, for use alongside the existing Economy

Class seats with the non-AVOD KrisWorld (at that time on board the airline's

Boeing 747-400s and A340-300s, having been introduced in 1995) and the

older-generation early 1990s seats without KrisWorld (at that time on board

the airline's A310-200s and A310-300s). After the first Boeing 777-200ER had

been delivered on 5 May 1997, the updated Economy Class seat was

installed in all subsequent aircraft deliveries (including newer -SP* series

Boeing 747-400s), as well as in refitted existing Boeing 747-400s in late 1997

and early 1998.

The new Economy class seats on the Boeing 777-300ER, Airbus A380-800,

and Airbus A330-300 are 19.5 in (50 cm) wide, have in-seat power and have

a 10.6in personal television screen which has a non-intrusive reading light

under it, which can be used by folding the screen outwards. These are

configured 3-4-3 on the lower deck of the Airbus A380, 3-3-3 on the Boeing

777, and 2-4-2 on the Airbus A330, as well as the upper deck of the Airbus

A380.[116] Other features include an independent cup holder (separate from

the fold-out table), a USB port, and a power socket, as well as an iPod port

exclusively on board the Airbus A330.

Singapore Airlines introduced a similar design on board the Boeing 777

aircraft through their ongoing cabin retrofit program. The Boeing 777-300 is

the first model to undergo refit and has introduced the product on the

Singapore – Sydney route on 22 July 2009. Equipped with bigger 9-inch

screens and AVOD in each seat. The seats are installed onboard 11 B777-

200s, 7 B777-300s and 8 B777-200ERs.

A redesign of the Economy Class seat was unveiled on July 9, 2013. Features

include increased legroom, an adjustable headrest, and an 11.1 inch-touch

screen in-flight entertainment system which also controllable with a video

touch-screen handset.

Food that they offer according to class

Suites and First Class cuisine

Indulge in sheer culinary bliss

Wine and dine in style at your preferred time when

you travel in Suites or First Class. Select your meals

from our exquisite menus meticulously created by our

International Culinary Panel comprising acclaimed

chefs from around the globe. Our award-winning chefs’ creations are

indicated by the wok symbol on your menu.

Book the Cook - Your Premium Advance Meal Selection

Service

We are pleased to offer our exclusive Book the Cook

Service where you can select your gourmet main course

from a premium selection of dishes at least 24 hours

before departure. Be tantalised by a wide range of gastronomical pleasures

only available exclusively in our premium classes of travel. Out of Singapore,

enjoy a wide range of over 60 diverse dishes, including dishes created

exclusively for Singapore Airlines by the world's most sought-after culinary

masters from our International Culinary Panel, all-time favourites, low-fat and

low-carbohydrate delights and comforting local fare.

Sweet selections

A classic favourite on the menu is our renowned Satay,

a local delight of skewered slices of chicken, mutton or

beef. Each satay dish is grilled to perfection and

served with a tantalizing peanut sauce, along with

some fresh cucumbers and onions.

Savour a tasty treat any time with our extensive snack menu offering

savoury and sweet selections, along with some of the finest gourmet coffee.

Our finest wines

To complement your meal, we offer a selection of the

finest wines to ever grace a cellar, meticulously

handpicked by our distinguished panel of wine experts.

Singapore Airlines’ Suites and First Class customers can

take their pick from our signature offerings, which include Dom Perignon and

Krüg Champagnes.

Epicurean Gallery

Singapore Airlines invites you to experience the

pinnacle of luxury dining when you fly in Suites or First

Class. Indulge in the most exclusive culinary

masterpieces in the sky, featuring intricate and luscious

gourmet creations accentuated by highly-prized

ingredients of the season. From the earthy white

asparagus and satin-like tenderness of beef, to intense, indelible spices of

biryani, the Epicurean Gallery continues to introduce new flavours that

surprise and delight your palate as you embark on a gastronomical journey

like no other.

名家珍馔 (Míng Jiā Zhēn Zhuàn)

First Class customers travelling on selected flights

between Singapore and China can look forward to a

new Chinese fine dining experience with the

introduction of 名家珍馔 (Míng Jiā Zhēn Zhuàn), an

elegant and complete Chinese meal available for lunch

or dinner service.

The name - translated in English as “treasured culinary creations from a

famed and reputable establishment” - highlights the partnership between

renowned master chefs and the Airline. 名家珍馔 (Míng Jiā Zhēn Zhuàn) is

specially created for Singapore Airlines by acclaimed masterchefs Sam Leong

and Zhu Jun, both members of our International Culinary Panel and renowned

authorities in the art of Chinese cuisine. First Class customers will be treated

to timeless Chinese fare made up of an exquisite array of ingredients that

will impress even the most discerning of palettes.

Japanese Kyo-Kaiseki

Dine in elegance with our traditional Kyo-Kaiseki service,

available on our Japan flights or when you order a

Japanese special meal on selected international routes.

Originating in the 1500s as a meal preceding the

traditional Japanese tea ceremony, the Kaiseki has evolved into an art form

cleverly balancing visual elements and a myriad of flavours. 

International Culinary Panel Chef, Kyoto-based Yoshihiro Murata has planned

an array of Kyo-Kaiseki menus served on serviceware exclusively designed in

collaboration with Japanese fine bone china manufacturer

Narumi. Accompanied with crisp, fine sake, our Kyo-Kaiseki brings you the

freshness of every season.

Shahi Thali

Shahi Thali is a distinguished Indian meal that

features a dazzling spread of traditional Indian

delicacies, specially designed by Sanjeev Kapoor, a celebrated chef from our

International Culinary Panel.

Available in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian versions, Shahi Thali

comprises of a starter, two types of chutneys (Indian relish), up to four

entrees, rice, Indian rotis (bread) and a signature dessert. Complete the

grandiose meal service with Lassi (a yoghurt drink) or Masala tea.

Business Class cuisine

Exquisite dining experiences

At Singapore Airlines, we present an array of deluxe

dishes, which includes international favourites, such as

our classic tender rib eye steak, served with a creamy

red wine sauce, and pan-seared escalope of salmon,

served with a light dressing of tomato, lemon and olive oil. Dishes specially

created by our award-winning chefs are indicated by the wok symbol on your

menu.

Book the Cook - Your Premium Advance Meal

Selection Service

We are pleased to offer our exclusive Book the

Cook Service where you can select your gourmet

main course from a premium selection of dishes

at least 24 hours before departure. Be tantalised

by a wide range of gastronomical pleasures only available exclusively in our

premium classes of travel. Out of Singapore, enjoy a wide range of over 60

diverse dishes, including dishes created exclusively for Singapore Airlines by

the world's most sought-after culinary masters from our International

Culinary Panel, all-time favourites, low-fat and low-carbohydrate delights and

comforting local fare.

Fine beverages

Sip fine Champagne, as well as a delightful selection

of red and white wines, all specially selected by our

renowned wine consultants. Coffee lovers can take

their pick from espresso to cappuccino and tea lovers

can enjoy a fine selection, which includes Earl Grey, Japanese Green tea,

Chinese Oolong tea and Indian Masala tea on selected routes.

Epicurean Gallery

Singapore Airlines invites you to experience the

pinnacle of luxury dining when you fly in Business

Class.

Indulge in the most exclusive culinary masterpieces

in the sky, featuring intricate and luscious gourmet creations accentuated by

highly-prized ingredients of the season.

From the earthy white asparagus and satin-like tenderness of beef, to

intense, indelible spices of biryani, the Epicurean Gallery continues to

introduce new flavours that surprise and delight your palate as you embark

on a gastronomical journey like no other.

Hanakoireki – A culinary expression of nature's

changing beauty through the seasons

A lush service that uses only fresh seasonal

ingredients to showcase the uniqueness of each

season, Hanakoireki is an elaborate service

exquisitely presented and served in a traditional Japanese style.

Economy Class cuisine

Delightful pleasures

Relish in our delightful selection of Asian and

International dishes when you travel with Singapore

Airlines.

Our inflight menus are specially created to reflect the

culinary influences of the regions to which we fly. 

Explore our range of wine and beverages to enhance your meals. On long

haul flights, a delightful range of delectable snacks is available in between

meals for your blissful indulgence.

Sweet delights

Toothsome dessert treats are available on our

menus, including our classic ice cream that never

fails to delight.

In-flight entertainment (IFE) refers to the entertainment available to

aircraft passengers during a flight. In 1936, the airship Hindenburg offered

passengers a piano, lounge, dining room, smoking room, and bar during the

2½ day flight between Europe and America. After the Second World War, IFE

was delivered in the form of food and drink services, along with an

occasional projector movie during lengthy flights. In 1985 the first personal

audio player was offered to passengers, along with noise cancelling

headphones in 1989 During the 1990s the demand for better IFE was a major

factor in the design of aircraft cabins. Before then, the most a passenger

could expect was a movie projected on a screen at the front of a cabin,

which could be heard via a headphone socket at his or her seat.

The largest manufacturers of IFE systems are Panasonic Avionics

Corporation, Thales Group, Zodiac, Lumexis, Gogo, On Air, Row 44Rockwell

Collins, and LiveTV Design issues for IFE include system safety, cost

efficiency, software reliability, hardware maintenance, and user

compatibility.

The in-flight entertainment onboard airlines is frequently managed by

content service providers.

Airport check-in procedure uses service counters found at

commercial airports handling commercial air travel. The check-in is normally

handled by an airline itself or a handling agent working on behalf of an

airline. Passengers usually hand over any baggage that they do not wish or

are not allowed to carry on to the aircraft's cabin and receive a boarding

pass before they can proceed to board their aircraft.

Check-in is usually the first procedure for a passenger when arriving at an

airport, as airline regulations require passengers to check in by certain times

prior to the departure of a flight. This duration spans from 15 minutes to 4

hours depending on the destination and airline. During this process, the

passenger has the ability to ask for special accommodations such as seating

preferences, inquire about flight or destination information, make changes to

reservations, accumulate frequent flyer program miles, or pay for upgrades.

The airline check-in's main function, however, is to accept luggage that is to

go in the aircraft's cargo hold and issue boarding passes.

Check-in options and procedures vary per airline with some airlines allowing

certain restrictions other airlines have in place, and occasionally the same

airline at two separate airports may have different check-in procedures. Such

differences are usually not noted by the average passenger and occasionally

lead to service interruptions when one carrier refuses to abide by the

procedure that another carrier normally would be willing to do.

In-town check-in service is a service offered by some cities such as Abu

Dhabi, Seoul, Hong Kong, Delhi, Kuala Lumpur, Stockholm,Vienna and Taipei,

where passengers may check in luggage in designated places within the city

but outside the airport. This reduces check-in time and queuing at the

airport.

A propeller is a type of fan that transmits power by

converting rotational motion into thrust. A pressure difference is produced

between the forward and rear surfaces of the airfoil-shaped blade, and a fluid

(such as air or water) is accelerated behind the blade. Propeller dynamics

can be modelled by both Bernoulli's principle and Newton's third law. A

marine propeller is sometimes colloquially known as a screw

propeller or screw.

Aircraft propellers

The twisted airfoil (aerofoil) shape of modern aircraft propellers was pioneered by the Wright brothers. While some earlier engineers had attempted to model air propellers on marine propellers, they realized that a propeller is essentially the same as a wing, and were able to use data from their earlier wind tunnel experiments on wings. They also introduced a twist along the length of the blades. This was necessary to ensure the angle of attack of the blades was kept relatively constant along their length.[13] Their

original propeller blades were only about 5% less efficient than the modern equivalent, some 100 years later. The understanding of low speed propeller aerodynamics was fairly complete by the 1920s, but later requirements to

handle more power in smaller

diameter have made the problem more complex.

Alberto Santos Dumont, another early pioneer, applied the knowledge he gained from experiences with airships to make a propeller with a steel shaft and aluminium blades for his 14 bis biplane. Some of his designs used a bent aluminium sheet for blades, thus creating an airfoil shape. They were heavily undercambered, and this plus the absence of lengthwise twist made them less efficient than the Wright propellers. Even so, this was perhaps the first use of aluminium in the construction of an airscrew.

History

In the second half of the nineteenth century, several theories were developed.

The momentum theory or disk actuator theory—a theory describing a mathematical

model of an ideal propeller—was developed by W.J.M. Rankine (1865), Alfred

George Greenhill (1888) and R.E. Froude (1889). The propeller is modelled as an

infinitely thin disc, inducing a constant velocity along the axis of rotation. This disc

creates a flow around the propeller. Under certain mathematical premises of the

fluid, there can be extracted a mathematical connection between power, radius of

the propeller,torque and induced velocity. Friction is not included.

The blade element theory (BET) is a mathematical process originally designed

by William Froude (1878), David W. Taylor (1893) and Stefan Drzewiecki to

determine the behaviour of propellers. It involves breaking an airfoil down into

several small parts then determining the forces on them. These forces are then

converted into accelerations, which can be integrated into velocities and positions.

Theory of operation

A propeller is the most common propulsor on ships, imparting momentum to a fluid

which causes a force to act on the ship.

The ideal efficiency of any size propeller (free-tip) is that of an actuator disc in an

ideal fluid. An actual marine propeller is made up of sections of helicoidal surfaces

which act together 'screwing' through the water (hence the common reference to

marine propellers as "screws"). Three, four, or five blades are most common in

marine propellers, although designs which are intended to operate at reduced noise

will have more blades. The blades are attached to a boss (hub), which should be as

small as the needs of strength allow - with fixed pitch propellers the blades and

boss are usually a single casting.

An alternative design is the controllable pitch propeller (CPP, or CRP for controllable-

reversible pitch), where the blades are rotatednormally to the drive shaft by

additional machinery - usually hydraulics - at the hub and control linkages running

down the shaft. This allows the drive machinery to operate at a constant speed

while the propeller loading is changed to match operating conditions. It also

eliminates the need for a reversing gear and allows for more rapid change to thrust,

as the revolutions are constant. This type of propeller is most common on ships

such as tugs where there can be enormous differences in propeller loading when

towing compared to running free, a change which could cause conventional

propellers to lock up as insufficient torque is generated. The downsides of a

CPP/CRP include: the large hub which decreases the torque required to

cause cavitation, the mechanical complexity which limits transmission power and

the extra blade shaping requirements forced upon the propeller designer.

For smaller motors there are self-pitching propellers. The blades freely move

through an entire circle on an axis at right angles to the shaft. This allows

hydrodynamic and centrifugal forces to 'set' the angle the blades reach and so the

pitch of the propeller.

A propeller that turns clockwise to produce forward thrust, when viewed from aft, is

called right-handed. One that turns anticlockwise is said to be left-handed. Larger

vessels often have twin screws to reduce heeling torque, counter-rotating

propellers, the starboard screw is usually right-handed and the port left-handed, this

is called outward turning. The opposite case is called inward turning. Another

possibility is contra-rotating propellers, where two propellers rotate in opposing

directions on a single shaft, or on separate shafts on nearly the same axis. One

example of the latter is the CRP Azipod by the ABB Group. Contra-rotating

propellers offer increased efficiency by capturing the energy lost in the tangential

velocities imparted to the fluid by the forward propeller (known as "propeller swirl").

The flow field behind the aft propeller of a contra-rotating set has very little "swirl",

and this reduction in energy loss is seen as an increased efficiency of the aft

propeller.

An azimuthing propeller is a propeller that turns around the vertical axis. The

individual airfoil-shaped blades turn as the propeller moves so that they are always

generating lift in the vessel's direction of movement. This type of propeller can

reverse or change its direction of thrust very quickly,

Type of propellers

       In designing propellers, the maximum performance of the airplane for all condition of operation from takeoff, climb, cruising, and high speed. The propellers may be classified under eight general types as follows:

      1. Fixed pitch: The propeller is made in one piece. Only one pitch setting is possible and is usually two blades propeller and is often made of wood or metal.       Wooden Propellers: Wooden propellers were used almost exclusively on personal and business aircraft prior to World War II .A wood propeller is not cut from a solid block but is built up of a number of separate layers of carefully selected .any types of wood have been used in making propellers, but the most satisfactory are yellow birch, sugar marble, black cherry, and black walnut. The use of lamination of wood will reduce the tendency for propeller to warp. For standard one-piece wood propellers, from five to nine separate wood laminations about 3/4 in. thick is used.

      Metal Propellers: During 1940, solid steel propellers were made for military use. Modern propellers are fabricated from high-strength, heat-treated, aluminum alloy by forging a single bar of aluminum alloy to the required shape. Metal propellers are now extensively used in the construction of propellers for all type of aircraft. The general appearance of the metal propeller is similar to the wood propeller, except that the sections

are generally thinner.

      2. Ground adjustable pitch: The pitch setting can be adjusted only with tools on the ground before the engine is running. This type of propellers usually has a split hub. The blade angle is specified by the aircraft specifications. The adjustable - pitch feature permits compensation for the location of the flying field at various altitudes and also for variations in the characteristics of airplanes using the same engine. Setting the blade angles by loosened the clamps and the blades are rotated to the desired angle and then tighten the clamps.

 

       3. Two-position: A propeller which can have its pitch changed from one position to one other angle by the pilot while in flight.

      4. Controllable pitch: The pilot can change the pitch of the propeller in flight or while operating the engine by mean of a pitch changing mechanism that may be operated by hydraulically.

      5. Constant speed: The constant speed propeller utilizes a hydraulically or electrically operated pitch changing mechanism which is controlled by governor. The setting of the governor is adjusted by the pilot with the rpm lever in the cockpit. During operation, the constant speed propellers will automatically changes its blade angle to maintain a constant engine speed. If engine power is increase, the blade angle is increased to make the propeller absorb the additional power while the rpm remain constant. At the other position, if the engine power is decreased, the blade angle will decrease to make the blades take less bite of air to keep engine rpm remain constant. The pilot selects the engine speed required for any particular type of operation.

      6. Full Feathering: A constant speed propeller which has the ability to turn edge to the wind and thereby eliminate drag and wind milling in the event of engine failure. The term Feathering refers to the operation of rotating the blades of the propeller to the wind position for the purpose of stopping the rotation of the propeller to reduce drag. Therefore, a Feathered blade is in an approximate in-line-of-flight position , streamlined with the line of flight (turned the blades to a very high pitch). Feathering is necessary when the engine fails or when it is desirable to shutoff an engine in flight.

 

       7. Reversing: A constant speed propeller which has the ability to assume a negative blade angle and produce a reversing thrust. When propellers are reversed, their blades are rotated below their positive angle , that is, through flat pitch, until a negative blade angle is obtained in order to produce a thrust acting in the opposite direction to the forward thrust . Reverse propeller thrust is used where a large aircraft is landed, in reducing the length of landing run.

      8. Beta Control: A propeller which allows the manual repositioning of the propeller blade angle beyond the normal low pitch stop. Used most often in taxiing, where thrust is manually controlled by adjusting blade angle with the power lever.

List of large aircraft

Fixed-wing

Civilian

AircraftFirst flight

Note

Antonov An-225 Mriya

21 December 1988

Generally acknowledged as the largest airplane in the world, the Antonov An-225 is the world's heaviest aircraft ever (max. takeoff weight greater than 640 tons) and the largest aerodyne (in length and wingspan) ever entering operational service.

Airbus A340-600

23 April 2001

World's second longest passenger aircraft at 75.36m.

Airbus A38027 April 2005

Largest mass-produced aircraft in the world and the highest-capacity passenger aircraft

Antonov An-124 1982The second largest mass-produced aircraft in the world until the Airbus A380 was produced. Remains the World's largest military aircraft.

Antonov An-2227 February 1965

World's largest turboprop-powered airplane

Boeing 7479 February 1969

Highest-capacity passenger aircraft until surpassed by Airbus A380

Boeing 747-8 8 February 2010 (F

World's longest passenger aircraft at 76.4m.[2]

AircraftFirst flight

Note

variant)

Boeing 747 LCF(Dreamlifter)

9 September 2006

747 with enlarged fuselage for 787 parts transport (65,000 cubic feet)

TupolevMaxsim Gorki

19 May 1934

Physically the largest aircraft, and heaviest land-based aircraft of the 1930s era (63 meter/206.7 ft wingspan, 53 tonne MTOW), required eight 900 hp Mikulin V12 engines for flight

Dornier Do X12 July 1929

Largest successful flying boat and heaviest aircraft in the world from 1929 until 1942 when the even heavier Boeing B-29 Superfortress first flew.

Military

AircraftFirst flight

Note

Blohm + Voss BV 238

11 March 1944

Largest aircraft in the world 1944 to 1946 when the even heavier Convair B-36 first flew. Very large flying boat.

Boeing B-29 Superfortress

21 September 1942

Largest aircraft in the world from 1942 to 1943 when the even heavier Junkers Ju-390 first flew. It was one of the largest bombers used

AircraftFirst flight

Note

during World War II

Convair B-36 Peacemaker

8 August 1946

Largest aircraft in the world 1946 to 1947 when the even heavier Hughes H-4 Hercules first flew. First intercontinental strategic bomber, longest wingspan for a combat aircraft

Convair XC-9923 November 1947

Developed from B-36, largest piston-engined land-based transport aircraft ever built

Kawanishi H8KJanuary 1941

Largest WWII aircraft produced by Japan in any quantity

Linke-Hofmann R.II

1919Largest aircraft ever to fly with only one propeller, used largest airplane propellor ever used.

Lockheed C-5 Galaxy

30 June 1968

Largest USAF strategic airlifter and one of the largest military aircraft in the world

Martin JRM Mars

1941 Largest flying boat to enter production (7 built)

Messerschmitt Me 323 "Gigant"

1941Biggest land-based cargo airplane during World War II

AircraftFirst flight

Note

Myasishchev VM-T

1981 Derivative of the M-4 as outsized cargo aircraft

Tupolev Tu-16018 December 1981

Heaviest combat aircraft ever built

Zeppelin Staaken R.VI

Circa 1917Largest aircraft to see regular squadron service in World War I

Experimental/proposed

AircraftFirst

flight[Note 1] Note

Airbus A380-900

2006 development

Announced in 2006 as a derivative of the Airbus A380-800. World's highest-capacity passenger aircraft in history

Beriev Be-2500 1980s proposalWould be the largest aircraft ever, if built; development started in the 1980s

Boeing Pelican 1990s proposal Concept only

Ekranoplan KM October 16, 1966

The ekranoplan had wingspan of 37.6 m, length - 92 m, maximum take-off weight - 544 tons. Until An-225 it was the largest aircraft in the world.KM was tested at the

AircraftFirst

flight[Note 1] Note

Caspian Sea for 15 years until 1980. In 1980, pilot error caused a crash without human casualties. The vehicle was too heavy to be recovered from its watery wrecksite.

Boeing 2707SST

1960s design. A mockup was built but no prototype.

Planned as an answer to the European Concorde Supersonic Transport. At 306 feet (93 m) long it would have been one of the longest airframes ever flown. Problems with the weight of the swing-wing mechanism and air friction heating in Mach 3 flight provoked a drastic redesign, by which time airline interest in SSTs was dropping because of environmental concerns. The U.S. Congress cut government funding and airlines began canceling orders.

McDonnell Douglas MD-12

1990 proposalProposed passenger aircraft, Designed to compete with the A380 and the 747, canceled project

Hughes H-4 Hercules"Spruce Goose"

1947, 2 November

Largest aircraft in the world 1947 to 1952 when the even heavier Boeing B-52 Stratofortress first flew. World's largest flying boat, and largest wingspan of any aircraft. Only one was ever built and it performed only one short flight.

Junkers Ju 390 1943, 20 Largest aircraft in the world 1943 to 1944 when the even heavier Blohm & Voss BV

AircraftFirst

flight[Note 1] Note

October238 first flew. Selected and further developed as the Junkers firm's entry for the Amerika Bomber design contract.

Sukhoi KR-860 1990s proposal

KR-860 (Kryl'ya Rossii or Wings of Russia) early named as SKD-717 is super large transport aircraft with weights about 650 tonnes (Antonov An-225 weight is 600 tonnes), payload about 300 tonnes (An-225 payload is 250 tonnes) and 860 to 1000 passengers, a proposed Double decker wide-body Superjumbo jet by Russian aerospace company Sukhoi.

Stratolaunch Carrier Aircraft

2011, 13 December Announcement

a proposed aircraft being developed by Scaled Composites to provide air-launch capability for Stratolaunch Systems

1. Jump up ^ For designs that never flew the year of design or

conception is used instead.

Helicopters and rotary wing aircraft[edit]

Aeroflot Mil V-12 at Groningen Airport in May 1971.

AircraftFirst

flight[Note 1] Note

Mil Mi-261977, 14 December

Heaviest (56 tonnes), largest and most powerful helicopter in production ever.

Hughes XH-17 1952Prototype heavy-lift helicopter with the largest rotor (129 ft) flown

V-22 Osprey1989, 19 March

One of the largest (27 tonnes) VTOL aircraft and the first operational tiltrotor

Mil Mi-10 1960, 15 JuneHeavy-lift "skycrane" developed from Mi-6, 114 ft rotor, 43 tonne MTOW

Mil V-12 or Mi-12 1968, 10 JulyLargest helicopter ever built; not put into production. 2x 114 ft rotors, 105 tonnes MTOW.

Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion

1981At 33 tonnes, largest helicopter in service with the US armed forces

1. Jump up For designs that never flew the year of design or conception

is used instead.

Airships

Hindenburg class airship compared to largest fixed wing aircraft.

AircraftFirst

flight[Note 1] Note

HM Airship R1001929, 16 December

220 m, 146,000 m3

HM Airship R1011929, 14 October

236 m, 156,000 m3

R102 PlannedAlso known as Project H, planned 240,000 m3 airship

USS Akron 1931, 8 August239 m, 180,000 m3 US Navy airship and largest helium-filled airship.

USS Macon 1933, 23 June Sister ship to Akron

LZ 129 Hindenburg

1936, 4 March,245 m, 200,000 m3 Largest aircraft ever flown.

LZ130 Graf Zeppelin

1938, 14 September

Sister ship to LZ 129 Hindenburg

List of light transport aircraftFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The list of light transport aircraft details single- and twin-engine aircraft used for hire by the

very smallest of regional, commuter, feeder, air taxi, on demand, or charter type of operators for

air service.

A Piper PA-46 Malibu

Single-engine

A Cessna 206H Stationair

ModelSeats

PeriodBuil

tCountry

Noorduyn Norseman 10 1935-1959 900  Canada

ModelSeats

PeriodBuil

tCountry

Antonov An-2 12 1947-200218000+

 Soviet Union

De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver

6 1947-1967 1657  Canada

De Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter

9-10 1951-1967 466  Canada

Cessna 206 51962-present

8500+ United

States

Piper PA-46 Malibu and Matrix 5-61979-present

 ? United

States

Cessna Caravan 141984-present

2000+ United

States

SOCATA TBM 61988-present

800  France

Pilatus PC-12 91994-present

1200+   Switzerland

Extra EA-400/500 51996-present

 ?  Germany

Twin-engine

A King Air C90 at Centennial Airport

ModelSea

tsPeriod

Buil

tCountry

Piper PA-23 Aztec 5 1952-1981 6976 United

States

Beechcraft Queen Air 9 1960-1978 930 United

States

Cessna 411 6 1962-1968 302 United

States

Cessna Skymaster 4 1963-1982 2993 United

States

Beechcraft King Air and Super

King Air7-13

1964-

present7000+

 United

States

Cessna 401/402 5-9 1966-1985 1535 United

States

ModelSea

tsPeriod

Buil

tCountry

Cessna 421 Golden Eagle 6 1967-1985 1901 United

States

Piper Aerostar 5 1967-1984 1010 United

States

Piper PA-31 Navajo 7-11 1967-1984 3942 United

States

Beechcraft 60 Duke 5 1968-1983 596 United

States

Cessna 414 8 1968-1985 1070 United

States

Piper PA-34 Seneca 61971-

present5000+

 United

States

Partenavia P.68 61972-

present431+  Italy

Piper PA-42 Cheyenne 9 1974-1989 192 United

States

Cessna 404 Titan 10 1976-1982 396 United

States

ModelSea

tsPeriod

Buil

tCountry

Cessna 441 10 1977-1986 362 United

States

Cessna 425 6-7 1980-1986 236 United

States

Cessna T303 Crusader 5 1981-1986 315

 United

States