What's Trending in Aerospace - September 5, 2021 - Aviation Today

What's Trending in Aerospace - September 5, 2021 - Aviation Today: Check out the Sept. 5 edition of What's Trending in Aerospace, covering the latest headlines occurring across the global aerospace industry.

Nature Walk:Twin Oaks 2015 - Adams County,Pennsylvania

Sikorsky/Lockheed Win Marine One Contract

The Sikorsky/Lockheed Martin team has been awarded a 1.24 billion US Navy contract for the next fleet of Marine One presidential helicopters.The contract is to modify,test and deliver an initial order of six Sikorsky S-92 helicopters:two engineering vehicles and four demonstrator aircraft;to be followed by 17 more in three groupings,beginning in 2019.
The process will be run as follows:
1.Build off-the-shelf S-92s,which are currently used for civil search and rescue,executive transport and offshore oil&gas operations,at the Sikorsky plant in Coatesville,Pennsylvania.
2.Modify them for presidential use at the Sikorsky headquarters plant in Stratford,Connecticut.
3.Install advanced communications and mission systems at Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training in Owego,New York.
4.Install the cabin back at Stratford.
We stand ready to deliver the next Marine One,the world's most advanced executive transport helicopter,said Sikorsky president Mark Maurer.The helicopters will transport the President,Vice President and visiting heads of state.In April 2010,Sikorsky teamed with Lockheed Martin to develop a military version of its medium-sized S-92 helicopter.
The project will create or sustain about 200 jobs in Owego,New York,Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillebrand said.*
United Technologies(UTX),Lockheed Martin(LMT)

The Rack Buck

Along the Pennsylvania-Maryland border one morning,the rack buck bedded down in brush was disturbed by a hiker.He somehow fled through a hedgerow and into a hay field.The hiker followed,not being aware there was a buck in the area.He had just seen the bushes move when the buck got up.Out of the corner of their eyes,the buck and the hiker glimpsed each other in the hay field.The buck decided to dash east,right past the hiker,showing his antlers in velvet,the soft skin he would rub off in autumn,when the antlers had matured.
The hiker was satisfied with a walk well-rewarded.

Relief On The Way

Upper level winds turned northerly as far south as the Pennsylvania-Maryland border this morning,promising relief from the strong heat wave that has afflicted the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions for several days now.The winds were detected by observing that cirrus clouds were being driven south,presaging the departure of the southern high pressure responsible for the heat wave.Temperatures will start to ease up by Thursday,and return to normal or near-normal by the weekend.Scattered thunderstorms may occur as the cooler air gains momentum and clashes with the hot conditions.

Vulture Gathering

About a dozen vultures were standing on the snow by the road.You couldn't see what they were doing there.Most likely they were gathered over a deer carcass.It had to be something substantial to attract that many of them.Both black vultures and turkey vultures were among them.The black vultures are smaller and more southern.This area just over the border between Maryland and Pennsylvania is the northernmost extent of their range.A bald eagle was also seen here recently,winging across the road,which crosses a couple of creeks in this segment.

Color Surprise

Red maples have started turning in the Pennsylvania woodlot.Poison ivy has been brilliant red for some time.The autumn foliage of this common vine belies the suffering it causes many if they happen to touch it.It is the first of the plants to turn here.Probably few laymen realize that the color they've been admiring is poison ivy climbing up the trunks of all those trees.The fall display is the flip side of this native plant's existence in civilization.

Marine Loses Title

Brian Stann,an Iraq war veteran who was decorated with the Silver Star,lost his light heavyweight title in World Extreme Cagefighting last weekend in Las Vegas.He was defeated by Steve Cantwell,whom Stann had previously beaten.Stann has a career record of 6-1.Born on Yakota Airbase,Japan,the 27 year old is 6'1" and weighs in at 201.5 pounds.He is known as the Fighting Pride of the United States Marine Corps,the All-American.The fight went on for two of the five scheduled rounds.Cantwell got Stann against the wire mesh and rained blows on him,knocking him down,but not out.Stann admitted that Cantwell brought more technique to the match.I have no excuses,he confessed.To all my friends and supporters:I'm sorry I let you down.I'm a baby in this sport,and I showed it.Now it's my turn to come back,and I'm gonna do it,the Marine promised.Stann resides in Scranton,Pennsylvania.The loss makes his story even more compelling.He's a real Marine:not always winning,but owning up when he doesn't.

Hope For Quebecor World

Quebecor World(QBRWF) is the kind of corporate neighbor everyone wants.While providing hundreds of good jobs,it has low environmental impact.That is why everyone in the Fairfield,Pennsylvania area is pulling for the Canadian firm.Their recent bankruptcy filing doesn't mean they are going down the drain,fortunately.It is something many good companies have had to do at some point in their histories.In the end,it can be a second chance for them to be everything they have dreamed of-perhaps even better than would otherwise have been possible.It can truly work out for the best,given their optimism and the genuine concern they have for their workers.The financing they have received is a vote of confidence in them by prestigious financial institutions.There is little doubt that Quebecor World will justify that belief with a complete recovery.