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WWII 77 years old plane lands in Nagpur, to circle the globe in 6 months.

Seventy-seven years after its first flight, a legendary Breitling DC-3 aircraft, the plane made famous by D-Day during WWII in June 1944 and nicknamed the ‘Normandy landings plane’, has embarked upon yet another historic journey.

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According to Mumbai mirror Seventy-seven years after its first flight, a legendary Breitling DC-3 aircraft, the plane made famous by D-Day during WWII in June 1944 and nicknamed the ‘Normandy landings plane’, has embarked upon yet another historic journey.

The DC-3’s crew includes chief pilot Francisco Agullo (48) from Switzerland (he owns the plane), co-pilot Paul Bazeley and researcher Daniel Meyer.

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The DC-3 was manufactured by Douglas and was at one time the largest manufactured aircraft in the world, with over 16,000 planes. At present, just 100 remain in air-worthy condition, including the one that touched down in Nagpur. After taking off from Switzerland on March 9, the crew flew to Greece, most of the Middle East, Pakistan and then on to India.

The DC-3 has the ability to take off on short runways. “We require an 800-meter runway for take-off, but for safety, we need approximately 1,100 metres. This aircraft can even land on fields and grassland,” Agullo said.

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The plane, which carries most of its own spares, flies at low altitudes. And since it doesn’t have a pressurized cabin, doesn’t have air-conditioning. “On Saturday, we halted at Karachi for refueling and they told us to take an altitude of 5,000 feet, and Nagpur was scorching at 41 degrees. It was really torturous,” Agullo said.

The DC-30 had 30 seats, of which 14 have been removed to carry extra fuel tanks inside. The plane usually carries enough fuel to fly about eight to 10 hours, but with additional tanks, this can go up to an endurance of about 11 hours.
The first DC-3 was built in 1935. The one currently touring the world was manufactured on March 9, 1940. “This is why we chose to start on the 77th birthday of the aircraft,” Agullo said.

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They chose Nagpur only because Agullo had visited it on another aircraft on a world tour a few years ago. “Besides, we need a special type of a fuel called AV Gas (also used in small planes like Cessnas), which is available in major cities, and Nagpur is also located in central India,” he said.
After India, the DC-3 will move on to South East Asia, China and Japan, where it has been invited to participate in the Iwakuni ‘Friendship Day Air Show’. It will then begin a grand tour of the United States, prior to returning to Europe via Greenland and Iceland and completing its journey in September, at the Breitling Sion Airshow 2017 in Switzerland.
Agullo and his team will spend nearly a month in Japan, giving joy rides to children. The DC-3 was used extensively during the Second World War, and Japan does not have many left as most of them were destroyed
The DC-3 will undertake a few flights around Nagpur on Monday and Tuesday, and then head to Chittagong in Bangladesh on Wednesday.

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From Doha to the World: The Legacy of Akbar Al Baker at Qatar Airways: Honoured with APEX CEO Lifetime Achievement Award

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From Doha to the World: The Legacy of Akbar Al Baker at Qatar Airways: Honoured with APEX CEO Lifetime Achievement Award

In the organization’s five-decade history, the APEX CEO Lifetime Achievement Award has only been given six times, including the most recent award given to H.E. Mr. Al Baker. This esteemed honour is given only to visionaries and leaders in the industry who drive advancement in the aviation business while also elevating their brands.

Akbar Al Baker is a prominent figure in the aviation industry and has served as the CEO of Qatar Airways for many years. Here’s a brief overview of his story:

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On September 22, 1961, Akbar Al Baker was born in Doha, Qatar. He completed his studies in Qatar before moving to India to attend Aligarh Muslim University to study economics and business. He joined Qatar’s Civil Aviation Directorate after completing his education to start his aviation career.

Akbar Al Baker was chosen to lead Qatar Airways, the nation of Qatar’s state-owned national airline, in 1997. Qatar Airways underwent a substantial turnaround and expansion under his direction. He was crucial in making the airline into one of the top carriers in the world, renowned for its opulent service, cutting-edge aircraft, and extensive global network.

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Some key highlights of Akbar Al Baker’s tenure at Qatar Airways include:

  1. Fleet Expansion: Under Al Baker’s leadership, Qatar Airways expanded its fleet with state-of-the-art aircraft, including the introduction of the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner to its fleet.
  2. Award-Winning Service: Qatar Airways has won numerous awards for its service quality, including Skytrax’s “Airline of the Year” multiple times during his tenure.
  3. Hub Development: Al Baker oversaw the development of Hamad International Airport in Doha, which has become a major hub in the Middle East for international travel.
  4. Alliance Memberships: Qatar Airways became a member of the Oneworld alliance, strengthening its global network and partnerships with other leading airlines.
  5. Crisis Management: During his tenure, Qatar Airways successfully navigated through challenging times, including the 2017 blockade imposed by neighboring countries, which led to the suspension of air travel to several destinations.

Akbar Al Baker is renowned for his hands-on leadership style and for holding the airline to a high standard. He is also renowned for making direct and occasionally controversial comments about business-related issues. In the very competitive airline sector, his leadership has significantly contributed to Qatar Airways’ expansion and success.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker Honoured with Prestigious APEX CEO Lifetime Achievement Award

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Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker was celebrated by the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) as the recipient of the CEO Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes industry leaders for their dedication, efforts, and commitment to enhancing the passenger experience. The APEX/IFSA Awards Ceremony took place at APEX/IFSA Global EXPO in Long Beach, California on 20 September, where H.E. Mr. Akbar Al Baker also accepted three awards for the airline.

Qatar Airways was also awarded with three more APEX Awards, solidifying the airline’s status as one of the world’s leading airlines. The following titles presented to Qatar Airways were based exclusively on certified passenger votes: 2024 APEX World Class Award, APEX Award for Best Entertainment in the Middle East, and the APEX Award for Global Best Food & Beverage.

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Qatar Airways Group is a unique organization that encompasses multiple subsidiaries and works in synergy to create the smoothest travel journey including airport ground services, onboard catering, private jet travel, and more. Qatar Airways continues to work in line with its promise to provide all passengers with the most seamless and luxurious travel experience in the world, now adding an additional four prestigious awards to the multi-award-winning airline’s accreditation.

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Austrian Ministry of Defense selects the C-390 Millennium as its new military transport aircraft

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Embraer Concludes Flight Tests for Firefighting Capability for the C-390 Millennium

The Austrian Ministry of Defense announced today the decision to select the C-390 Millennium aircraft as its new tactical transport solution. Embraer is honored to be chosen to support this important Air Force in Europe.

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Austria joins Brazil, Portugal, Hungary, and the Netherlands as the future operators of the C-390 Millennium multi-mission platform, an aircraft that is rapidly redefining the standards of tactical transport in the world defense market.

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Embraer is ready to support the Austrian Ministry of Defense and Air Force in order to meet the demanding requirements of their acquisition process and is prepared to further strengthen the relationship with this nation.

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U.S. F-35 Fighter Jet Missing in South Carolina, and Asks Public for Help

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U.S. F-35 Fighter Jet Missing in South Carolina, and Asks Public for Help

A US fighter jet went missing in South Carolina during a training mishap. According to US military officials, the search for his missing aircraft was centered on two lakes north of North Charleston.

At around 2 p.m. (local time), the pilot evacuated and safely parachuted into a North Charleston neighborhood. He was transferred to a nearby hospital, where he was in stable condition.

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Military officials appealed to the public for assistance with finding the aircraft on Twitter.

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Authorities stated that they are currently looking into the cause of the pilot’s ejection. According to Salinas, the pilot of a second F-35 made a safe landing at Joint Base Charleston. The pilots and their aircraft were part of the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, which is stationed in Beaufort, which is close to the Atlantic coast of South Carolina.

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According to base authorities, they were conducting a search over two lakes to the north of Charleston in collaboration with federal aviation authorities. Each of the aircraft, made by Lockheed Martin, cost about USD 80 million.

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