Salem-News.com Aviation articles Page 31

Coast Guard Responds to Sinking Vessel Near Cannon Beach

The men had life jackets and other emergency equipment that the Coast Guard says make a huge difference.

(CANNON BEACH, Ore.) - The Coast Guard assisted a capsized vessel with four men on board off of Cannon Beach, Oregon, Sunday morning. The Coast Guard Group in Astoria says they received a mayday call at 6:10 AM, from a 22-foot dory with four men on board. The caller said they were taking on water outside of the surf line off of Cannon Beach and were in need of immediate assistance.

The Coast Guard 13th District Command Center also received a position from the vessel's Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) that had been activated by one of the men. This allowed rescue agencies to be alerted with accurate information concerning the location of the boat.

Book Review: Terror of the Autumn Skies Examines Life of WWI Pilot Frank Luke (VIDEO)

Frank Luke Jr. was the top-ranked U.S. fighter pilot in WWI when he was killed in 1918.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Terror of the Autumn Skies -The True Story of Frank Luke, America’s Rogue Ace of World War 1, is by far the most comprehensive and accurate review of this dashing aviator from Arizona who ruled the skies over France during WW1 for a brief period in 1918.

Contaminated Marine Base in Irvine Slated for Public Park and Community Development (VIDEO REPORT)

This is part four in a continuing video news report series on TCE chemical waste stemming from the now-closed El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

(IRVINE, Calif.) - A veil of secrecy seems to cloud and obscure the real facts behind the closure of the El Toro Marine air base. Documents from the Navy confirm that El Toro is a hazardous waste zone. It is not new information, an environmental cleanup project has been underway for some time, but the extent of the problem and the distance the toxic contamination has traveled from the base is a serious issue, particularly for the Irvine community of Woodbridge.

Red Bull Flugtag in Portland Draws 80,000

Huge crowds watched human-powered aircraft flights in the special event sponsored by Red Bull.

(PORTLAND, Ore. ) - More than 80,000 fans crowded Portland’s riverbanks today for Red Bull Flugtag’s triumphant return to the Rose City.

Legos, pink Vikings and University of Oregon students took to the skies above the Willamette River, but it was Beaverton’s Team Yakima who soared into first place with their larger-than-life Big Wheel craft, and in turn, won a trip to Salzburg, Austria, and a tour of Hangar-7 for the entire team.

Portland’s own Greased Lightning screeched into second place with Danny, Sandy and the whole T-Bird gang wowing the judges with their off-off-off Broadway rendition of the seventies classic show tune and flight distance of 55 feet.

Today is the Sixty Fifth Anniversary of Oregon`s Cape Lookout B-17 Bomber Crash

Republished from one year ago today - Learn the story of ten men who flew their last flight together in 1943, through one that survived.

(TILLAMOOK, Ore.) - I always thought old airplanes were cool, but I became very interested the giant WWII B-17 bombers while researching a historic crash site at Cape Lookout in Tillamook County, Oregon in the early 1990's.

It was sixty five years ago on this date, that this four-engine plane and her crew of 10 U.S. Army aviators were lost in the fog, flying close to the ocean as they tried to find a landmark. The sole survivor of the crash, 2nd Lt. Wilbur Perez, was the plane's bombardier.

Plane Crashes on Willamette River Island South of Dayton

Oregon State Police say the man walked away from the crash uninjured, now he needs to figure out a way to get it off the island.

(DAYTON, Ore.) - Police say a 46-year old man was not injured Thursday afternoon when he attempted to land his small airplane on a Willamette River island and crashed about 7 miles south of Dayton. The man's name and photographs will be released later this evening.

El Toro Water Contamination Reports Will Continue

Technical delays have slowed down progress but a number of reports will soon be posted.

(IRVINE, Calif.) - I have spent the last several days in the area of the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station in what is now Irvine, California, investigating the status of the water contamination that stems from the former air base.

For those who not familiar. El Toro, in the heart of Orange County, California, is an EPA "Super Fund" site and contamination in the groundwater here is connected to TCE- trichloroethylene, perchlorate and other chemicals. The base is being developed into a public park under the "Great Parks Corporation" in Orange County and also is the site of new home construction.

Irvine, California's city staff says it is the safest city in America, but mounting evidence from a number of sources including the Navy and the EPA, tell a story of decades of environmental abuse. A "plume" of TCE has traveled several miles from the base and now occupies an area in one of California's most affluent neighborhoods.

Team Black Rhino - All Marines Are Infantrymen

From the article "Black Rhino Charges Through Desert" submitted to Salem-News.com by Lance Corporal Michael Stevens with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing in Iraq's AL-Jazirah Desert.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Unlike other military services, all Marines are trained as basic infantrymen, regardless of their military occupational specialty. This means that a general in charge of logistics, a military police Corporal trained in law enforcement, and others like communications specialists, pilots and Marines pushing papers in administrative services, are trained and qualified to grab an M-16 and instantly become a member of an infantry platoon.

When I was in the Marine Corps, serving with Marine Wing Support Group-37 in the 3rd Marine Air Wing during the early 1980's, stories about Vietnam were told and retold and one of the specific aspects was that guys from our squadron often served as helicopter door gunners.

Delta Will Suspend Salem Flights in October

The city of Salem, Oregon and the city's Chamber of Commerce have invested big in this short-lived venture.

(SALEM, Ore.) - It has been a bone of contention for many. Now, Delta Airlines has notified the City of Salem that as of July 26th 2008, just a few days from now, it will not be accepting reservations for flights into and from Salem. The last reservations that will be booked range through October 10th 2008.

Delta says they will work directly with persons who already have reservations after October 10th 2008 to best accommodate their travel plans.

High fuel costs are the reason Delta cites for their decision to suspend these flights.

Vietnamese Government Confirms UFO Explosion (VIDEO)

UFO debris rains down over Phu Quoc Island coastline.

(KIEN GIANG, Vietnam) - An unidentified flying object exploded at about 10:00 AM on May 27th over the northern part of Phu Quoc Island, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

This is a region off the coast of the southern province of Kien Giang. Col. Nguyen Van Qui, military chief of the island district, reported the explosion and consequent discovery of debris.