“AIM continues to be one of the largest suppliers of flight safety
components to Sikorsky for BLACK HAWK helicopters and is actively
participating and bidding on projects relating to other Sikorsky
helicopter platforms,” said Peter Rettaliata, Chief Executive Office
of Air Industries Group. “The long term agreement announced today
represents additional requirements over and above the total of $75
million in long term general purchase agreements between Sikorsky and
Air Industries that were announced in 2007 for the BLACK HAWK
helicopter as well as other order announcements made subsequent to
that time.”

The S-80(TM) helicopter, an international variant of the MH-53E,
is in service with the Japan Defense Agency. The domestic version of
this aircraft, assigned to U.S. Navy Helicopter Mine Countermeasures
squadrons, specializes in mine-sweeping missions. The helicopter is
outfitted with enlarged fuel sponsons, provides long-range fleet
support, and can tirelessly plumb the world’s strategic waterways,
detecting every known type of mine. Also known as the SEA DRAGON
helicopter, it is equipped with the latest mine-sweeping systems,
using mechanical, magnetic and acoustic sweep gear and minehunting
sonar to clear vital shipping lanes. The helicopter platform also
performs the U.S. Navy’s vertical onboard delivery (VOD) mission,
transporting heavy equipment to and from ships.

According to Sikorsky, for more than two decades the CH-53E (SUPER
STALLION(TM)) has been the most capable and most powerful marine
heavy-lift helicopter in the world. Used by the United States Marine
Corps, the three-engine CH-53E is also the largest marine helicopter
in operation. It is deployed from Marine Corps amphibious assault
ships to transport personnel and equipment, and to carry external
(sling) loads.

ABOUT SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, a subsidiary of United Technologies
Corporation (NYSE:UTX), is a world leader in the design and
manufacture of advanced helicopters for commercial, industrial and
military uses. Sikorsky’s products have been saving lives since 1944,
when a Sikorsky performed the world’s first helicopter rescue mission.
The company’s long commitment to safety and innovation is reflected in
its mission statement: “We pioneer flight solutions that bring people
home everywhere…every time(TM).”

Sikorsky’s BLACK HAWK helicopter derivatives serve in 25
governments around the world in a diverse range of missions such as
combat assault, peacekeeping, border patrol, drug interdiction,
disaster relief and medical evacuation. The legendary BLACK HAWK is
the first choice for military operations worldwide. More than 2,800
S-70 and H-60 variants have accumulated more than five million flight
hours for the United States military and Sikorsky’s international
customers.

Based in Stratford, Connecticut, Sikorsky has major facilities in
other Connecticut locations as well as in Alabama, Florida, New York,
Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin, and in Poland. Sikorsky employs
approximately 13,000 worldwide.

ABOUT AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP, INC.

Air Industries Group, Inc. (

Since humans first looked up at birds in flight, we have been trying to fly like them, often with painful or even fatal consequences. Even with the technology available today, we are just beginning to be able to apply some of the technology that has existed in birds for, oh, 150 million years, such as variable geometry wings, vectored thrust, and fly-by-wire.

To accomplish sustained flight, an object must have some means of generating lift. In airplanes, this is done by moving an airfoil shape through the air with some means of propulsion. The amount of lift generated is a function of the airfoil shape, the angle at which the airfoil encounters the air stream, and the speed at which the airfoil moves through the air.

Birds, however, have combined their lift generating and thrust producing functions into one assembly - the wings. Early observers believed that birds simply flapped their wings up and down, and that bird-like flight could be duplicated by simply flapping their arms vigorously - like Zork - or by building some kind of contraption that flapped its wings. They assumed that if a bird flew by flapping its wings, that they could too by duplicating the motion. However, they failed to understand how a bird actually flies and how much energy it would take. So “flapping” never got off the ground. Sorry about that.

Even the great Leonardo DaVinci spent many years working on totally impractical ornithopters (flapping wing) aircraft, in part because he, too, failed to understand how birds flew.

Birds fly by “flapping” their wings, true, but the actual motion and physics are much more complex. As a bird’s wing moves down, the feathers also rotate downward automatically. Air is pushed to the rear (thrust) and lift is generated on the top surface. As the wing transitions to move upward, the feathers rotate in the opposite direction, producing thrust from the top surface of the wing and lift. Think of their wings as a propeller that goes 180 degrees then reverses.

Toward the end of his life, Leonardo did design a device that used a rotating screw-like structure. Igor Sikorsky, it is said, was inspired by Leonardo’s work to become a world leader in helicopter development. It’s worth noting that helicopter blades and propellers are really a form of screw, so Leonardo was not far off on that one. He also designed a glider which could be turned by the pilot shifting his weight, foretelling the hang glider.

Leonardo - and Zork - also failed to understand how much energy is required to take off and sustain flight. Aircraft - and birds - must generate more lift than they weigh just in order to take off. This requires the development of several enabling technologies.

The first is a light flying structure that can support its own weight while in the air. Many early craft could not. Birds have a very light structure (Thanksgiving Turkeys not withstanding) and extremely powerful muscles to power their wings. A voracious appetite for high-energy foods provides the power.

A second enabling technology was the development of an internal combustion engine that was light, yet produced enough power to move the machine fast enough to generate lift greater than weight. And higher performing engines could not be developed until higher octane fuels became available.

To illustrate the problem, the Wright Brothers’ 1903 Flyer weighed 605 pounds without a pilot, and had a 12 horsepower engine. With a pilot, that’s over 60 pounds per horsepower. The Cessna 172, a popular, but hardly spectacular performer, runs about ten pounds per horsepower.

But getting airborne and staying there are two different things. Whether bird or machine, a flying object must be controllable or it simply falls out of the sky. A future article will look at stability and controllability.

Bottom line - we have learned a lot from birds about flying. It just took 150 million years.

The first tip is one that isn’t common knowledge and is usually only applicable to international flights. Many carriers will partner up and share seats on international flights in order to reduce their costs. For most passengers they aren’t even aware that there may be two carriers selling tickets to seats on the same plane, however, what usually happens is that one of the carriers will sell their tickets slightly cheaper than the other. What does this mean for you? It means that you can easily save by purchasing your ticket through one carrier than the other and you still end up on the same flight, same plane to the same destination. This is a super easy way to knock some money off your next ticket.
The second tip to help you find discount flight tickets is to search online. It might not sound like much but the fact is that many people still buy tickets from their local travel agent, but the truth is that you’ll pay top dollar by going through these kinds of agents. Why would people still buy from brick and mortar agents? The most common reasons are because they don’t know where to look online or they are worried about purchasing tickets online as they have never done it before. If you already know about discount domestic flights online but just haven’t tried it yet because you’ve just never done it before, take a leap of faith and try it out. You’ll be doing your wallet a huge favor by saving some money on your next flight.

A prime reason behind people going for a first class air travel is there spacious seats arrangement. This sort of an arrangement provides more shoulder space and legroom.
Another potential benefit that comes with first class air travel is the quite and peaceful environment. Another thing why people detest plane rides in the economy class is because of the loud noise. That’s why people prefer paying a bit more in the hope of getting a comfortable environment in the process. So friends, the ideal way to maintain a safe side from noisy neighbors is by opting for first class travel.
Another benefit that comes with first class travel is the services offered. People traveling in first class are likely to get better food as well as beverages as compared to those traveling in the economy class.

Now these were a couple of benefits associated with a first class air travel. But then, not all of us can afford this form of an option because of the soaring airfares. However, of late a number of money saving options have come to the limelight that helps traveler to book first class airfares at a fairly low price. For instance, if you are planning for a vacation and wish to travel in a first class then you can certainly book your tickets during the off season.
Following the above mentioned instructions in addition to others will help you to fix the right deal.