Mike Chapman Redding Record Searchlight Published 10:24 PM EST Dec 20, 2018 A streak of light in the sky that left many Northern Californians perplexed on Wednesday evening turned out to be a meteor. Lick Observatory near San Jose, California, posted on its Facebook page Wednesday night that the flash was indeed a fireball. "A bright meteor was visible in the skies over the Bay Area shortly after sunset ... leaving a bright trail that was visible for many minutes in the western sky," according to the observatory that overlooks San Francisco Bay and is operated by the University of California. The meteor trail was backlit by the sun just after sunset, causing its unusual appearance. The streak also changed into a curvy shape as it was blown by winds in the upper atmosphere, the observatory said. The American Meteor Society also weighed in, posting on Twitter on Thursday morning that it received more than 120 reports and … [Read more...] about Meteor caused strange light streak over California, experts say
Aircraft lighting
Why does Kim Jong-un fly an outdated Russian aircraft?
Shjerbakov/Sputnik; Reuters While the whole world rejects the obsolete Soviet airliner Il-62, the North Korean leader still uses it as his “Air Force One.” Not much is known about the reasons for such behavior: maybe he has no alternatives, or maybe this is the only plane he can trust. The Il-62 was the Soviet Union's first long-range jetliner designed for intercontinental flights. It was the world’s largest passenger aircraft, when it first took to the skies in 1963. Unlike its predecessor, the Tu-114 turboprop-powered airliner, the Il-62 wasn’t based on a military aircraft. The Tu-114 was superior to the Il-62 in some technical characteristics, such as fuel consumption and flight range. However, the Il-62 was faster, more reliable and much more comfortable, and this played a not inconsiderable role in international air traffic. Traveling between continents, the Il-62 was intended to show the Soviet Union in a good light abroad. The Il-62 gained … [Read more...] about Why does Kim Jong-un fly an outdated Russian aircraft?
Twitter erupts after mysterious light seen in sky over California
Mike Chapman Redding Record Searchlight Published 9:59 PM EST Dec 19, 2018 REDDING, Calif. – A path of light in the evening sky over Northern California is drawing a lot of attention on Twitter. Some speculated it was a satellite launch, which was planned for Wednesday night from Vandenberg Air Force Base. But that launch was scrubbed. “So if the #DeltaIVHeavy launch isn’t happening until 549pm, what is that (in) the sky?” Anthony Wright posted on Twitter. The National Weather Service had a different take, suggesting it might be matter from outer space. "We're thinking this might have been a #meteor sometime between 5:30 & 5:40 PM," the weather service in Eureka tweeted. Josh Waldman replied, “Exactly! Saw the same thing in Los Osos, CA." Coincidentally or not, the California Highway Patrol received a second-hand report just past 5:30 p.m. of a possible aircraft crash and fire in Shasta County, about 160 miles north of Sacramento. There was no … [Read more...] about Twitter erupts after mysterious light seen in sky over California
‘Disturbing’ reports shed light on Wanaka heli crashes
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) says there is evidence a pair of over-trousers came out of a helicopter and became entangled in its tail rotor before it crashed, leaving three people dead. Interim reports from inquiries into two recent fatal helicopter accidents near Wanaka are being released today. Three men 38-year-old Nick Wallis, DOC ranger Paul Hondelink, 63, and Scott Theobold, 59 - were killed when the Hughes 500 crashed in Wanaka in October, shortly after takeoff. In July, Mr Wallis' brother Matthew also died in a helicopter crash in Lake Wanaka. The men killed in the October crash were taking part in an operation to reduce tahr numbers. In a statement, David Hiatt, of the Alpine Group, said the company and the Wallis family had reviewed the interim reports from the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) and found some of their content "disturbing". "We respect the release of these reports at such an early stage of the investigations and … [Read more...] about ‘Disturbing’ reports shed light on Wanaka heli crashes
World’s biggest Christmas lights show ON A PLANE takes place at Luton Airport and we’ve got the pictures to prove it
easyJet provided an A320 Airbus to Luton Airport ground staff who created the spectacular festive experience by wrapping the aircraft with Christmas lights. The lightshow left the audience in awe as festive projections and lights synced to the sound of a contemporary remix of Tchaikovsky’s Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Over 850,000 choreographed light sequences and 1.5 miles of LED micro bulbs were used to create the unique Christmas switch-on which you can see in our festive picture gallery. READ MORE: Amazing pictures show inside Luton's iconic Savoy cinema which has sat derelict since the year 2000 Christmas lights easyJet style at Luton Airport. Scroll through our gallery for some brilliant pictures LLA other Buy a Photo Christmas lights easyJet style at Luton Airport. Scroll through our gallery for some brilliant pictures LLA other Buy a Photo Christmas lights easyJet style at Luton Airport. Scroll through our gallery for some … [Read more...] about World’s biggest Christmas lights show ON A PLANE takes place at Luton Airport and we’ve got the pictures to prove it