F-111 exhibition at Ipswich Art Gallery

One of the reason I visited Ipswich Art Gallery was my curiosity on this exhibition honouring the RAAF’s 37 years-serving fighter. Back when I was in Singapore, such exhibition only takes place at the Singapore Air Show (which I had never attended before). And talking about my hometown, I think they have their own definition for ‘art’.

So, here it goes the cockpit of the mighty F-111.

Notes on the cockpit:

Up and down

Another angle of the cockpit, it’s a two-seater fighter.

But all those photos were taken by yours truly (now I’m sounding like George Negus) in the main area. The itchier, scratchier (this blog and its author have no relation with Itchy & Scratchy) part of the exhibition was located inside a dedicated room. In front of the room, there were 20 (or was it 25?) photographs by the Queensland Times photographers. As yours truly walked down the corridor, opening the glass door into the exhibition room… a diecast of the F-111 was put up.

F-111. Supersonic Speed. Innovative Design. Long Range Strike.

But it seems yours truly missed out the uniform worn by pilots of the fighter. Though, he managed to notice a quirky kind of instruction in the uniform.

Start here (presuming it is Amberley Air Base) then put the bombs there (why Tasmania?) and avoid South Australia. Hmm, any guess why is that so? Yours truly does not know the answer either (if you know, put a comment and it’s free).

The following pictures are some of the components of the F-111.

Is this the hydraulic system?

Supposedly this is a map of the world, then the coloured areas are the names of the geographical area that you must know.

What is what in the cockpit with hundreds of buttons

The legendary wheel

Is this satellite located on board or is it on land?

I suggest you don’t play with fire.

Dump and burn. Greenpeace may have another opinion on this feature of the jet.

The afterburner

Yours truly is not a technical guy. Once again yours truly appeal if any of you readers know what is this, do leave a comment.

The joystick. Even Wii can’t replace it.

“This blog freedom of information investigation has revealed the primary flight control system of the F-111.”

And just before I leave you, here’s a look back at the entrance.

If you are interested in knowing more about the F-111, a note is provided. Sponsor of the exhibiton is also acknowledged by this blog.

Strike.

Design.

Speed.

And of course, the Super Hornet is now replacing the long-serving fighter.

That’s all for me for now. Hopefully there is free wi-fi connection at State Library of Western Australia or at Perth International Airport. I will be crossing across the continent tomorrow. Have a nice day.

science.09 – “Take off and Landing” at “Seletar Airport”

As part of A* (Agency for Science, Technology and Research) and Singapore’s Science Centre to promote science, the two bodies organised the annual Science month. I’ve never heard of it in the past year. I only recently know about it after reading reports on The Straits Times and a event’s guide on my school library.

Since I am interested in aviation, I participated in aviation-related events. There are only two actually. One of the event is “Take off and Landing” at “Seletar Airport”, organised by Singapore Polytechnic.

The event started at 9 am till 11 am. There were about 14 participants took part, mostly a group of five Sec 3 students from Bedok North Secondary and three teachers (I don’t know from which school).

At first, the lecturers brought us around the laboratories. There were lots of plane diecasts as well, mostly military and SIA’s aircraft. They also have aircraft engines (mostly turbofans) and a real aircraft (I guess it’s Cessna but it has no flying licencse).

After much talking about the facilities, the group then was separated into two. One group consisted of seven person went to see the grounded A-4 Skyhawk jet while the other played Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004. Now, if you’re interested in playing such games, you can visit Indoflyer’s Flight Simulator Section for more informations.

I went for flight simulation. We were supposed to fly Cessna 172 from Seletar Airport to Seletar Airport. But some people changed the aircraft. I was one of them. Instead I piloted Boeing 737-400 owned by one of America’s airlines.

My take off went smoothly despite “snow” in Singapore. The landing part was quite hard as my plane had a very steep landing in Johor. On my second attempt to land, however, thing was quite different. It was quite a smooth landing although I didn’t land in Senai Airport but on a clear field without crashing onto trees or house. The lecturer-in-charge then said “All passengers are safe.”

They taught some basic skills of handling an aircraft and physics such as force, pressure, yaw, roll etc. Also discussed was some requirements to be pilot (1.64 m, good eyesight etc).

Enough of Flight Simulator, then my group was brought to see A-4 Skyhawk.

A radar is always put outside the aircraft. A stick pointing out of the tail is used to measure wind speed, pressure etc and it got more to do about computation.

The cockpit is quite spacious with the brake still there. They say the aircraft is still useable.

This is a photo of Dover MRT station.

The nose of A-4

I guess there is something missing here.

A-4 Skyhawk is used by Singapore Air Force from the 1970s till 1990s. It is still useable but it was grounded to pave way for the arrival of F-16. Most air forces in the world but only the basic model of the aircraft. They then improved it by themselves. Why? To confuse enemy? Singapore is pouring hundred millions of dollars just for aircraft researches.

Last shot of Uncle Skyhawk

All in all, it was a good experience. Perhaps I would enter the world of deskpilot (if I could). The other aviation related event is coming next week.

Highlights 08/09/2009

Courtesy: Media Indonesia

Lagi, pesawat militer jatuh. Pesawat Nomad jatuh di Long Bawan, Kalimantan Timur dalam penerbangan patroli rutin dari Tarakan ke Long Bawan dan kembali ke Tarakan.

Ini merupakan keempat kalinya pesawat tipe ini mengalami kecelakaan. Kejadian pertama pada tahun 1987 lalu 1988, 2007, dan 2009. Untuk spesifikasi dan detail mengenai tragedi serupa, klik gambar di atas untuk memperbesar.

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Courtesy: Media Indonesia

On Monday, 07 September 2009, South Korea protested North Korea for disposing water to a cross-border river that caused six people to be missing, one of them is a child.

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Courtesy: Media Indonesia

Masih seputar Korea Utara tapi saya malas menjelaskannya jadi klik saja gambar di atas untuk informasi lebih lanjut.

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Courtesy: Kontan

World Trading Organisation (WTO) thinks European Union (EU) loan for Airbus is an unfair subsidy. To certain extent, the loan is also violating terms and conditions of “outside aid”. This is the end of a long-standing dispute between US and EU on subsidy for aircraft manufacture.

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Courtesy: Media Indonesia

Diagram di atas menunjukkan cara kerja pengindraan satelit untuk musim tanam. Semoga saja dapat membantu para petani.

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Courtesy: Kompas

Green belt , besides muffling tsunami, is also used to reduce global warming.

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Courtesy: Kompas

Diagram di atas membahas Hak Pengusahaan Perairan Pesisir untuk Masyarakat Adat. Jangan sampai ada kesalahpahaman terjadi.

Berita Pilihan untuk 28 & 29 Agustus 2009

Kompas, 28 Agustus 2009

Kompas, 29 Agustus 2009

Nah, salah siapa sekarang kalau budaya kita “diambil” negara lain? Saya menggunakan tanda kutip pada kata ‘diambil’ karena keabsahan pengambilan itu masih diragukan. Untuk apa kita berkoar-koar, marah-marah, saling ledek-meledek di forum-forum dunia maya kalau diatanya masalah seperti ini selalu bersilat lidah, berkilah, dan lain-lain.

Memang, definisi nasionalisme itu rancu.

Di lain sisi, pemerintah sendiri juga gagal dalam menyediakan dana bagi perkembangan dunia seni budaya. Dalam lima tahun pemerintahan yang baru, saya harap ada koordinasi agar satu per satu masalah sosial di Indonesia dapat diselesaikan tanpa adanya masalah dana.

Dana sendiri bukanlah satu-satunya masalah. Gengsi masyarakat dan kebutaan sejarah.

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Kompas, 28 Agustus 2009

Satu hal lagi, calon-calon sarjana kita bisa saja mengkandaskan impiannya atau gagal mengaplikasikan apa yang mereka pelajari karena sudah tak sesuai dengan konteks sosial saat ini. Pemerintah harus bisa memberikan jaminan kepada semua pihak agar pendidikan yang diberikan itu membangun dan sebisa mungkin dapat disesuaikan dengan kondisi sosial ekonomi sebuah institusi pendidikan.

Ini supaya institusi-institusi yang kekurangan dana atau minim fasilitas, pelajar-pelajarnya tetap mendapatkan pendidikan berkualitas. Mungkin harus ada penggabungan institusi-institusi (yang lebih kaya dan miskin) atau pun pembagian fasilitas.

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Kompas, 28 Agustus 2009

Saya sangat mendukung program ini supaya terealisasi. Kita sebagai negara dan bangsa Indonesia harus membuktikan kepada dunia bahwa kita bukan hanya contoh demokrasi Asia tetapi juga pelopor di antara negara-negara berkembang dalam bidang lingkungan. Apa lagi ini menyangkut keberlangsungan planet yang kita tinggali ini.

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Kompas, 28 Agustus 2009 (klik pada gambar untuk memperbesar)

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Kompas, 28 Agustus 2009

Program transmigrasi mungkin bisa dijadikan solusi. Namun perlu dipertimbangkan pula dampak sosialnya oleh pemerintah. Tentu kita tidak ingin melihat kejadian di mana para transmigran tidak dapat hidup dengan harmonis dengan penduduk lokal di daerah transmigrasi. Masih ingat kerusuhan Sampit? Itu adalah contoh gagalnya pembauran masyarakat.

Mungkin pemerintah perlu merevisi sistem pendidikan agar pembauran masyarakat tetap terjadi dalam praktek nyata. Para transmigran ada baiknya pula diajari tata sosial masyarakat di daerah tujuan dan menindak tegas tindakan-tindakan yang dapat memancing isu-isu SARA.

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Kompas, 29 Agustus 2009

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Kompas, 28 Agustus 2009

Media kita kebanyakannya memang terlalu sensasionalis. Peringkat acara selalu diutamakan dengan alasan iklan (tapi di depan masyarakat, agar masyarakat lebih tahu kejadian yang terjadi). Apakah liputan itu benar-benar dibutuhkan masyarakat dan mendidik? Analisa yang diberikan pun acakadut. Mungkin Indonesia memerlukan acara seperti Media Watch, sebuah acara yang mengkritik media-media (termasuk kanal yang menayangkan acara tersebut) di Australia supaya mereka jujur dan tidak berlebihan.

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Kontan, 28 Agustus 2009

Tobacco consumption will kill 6 million people next year due to cancer, heart problems, emphysema and other related diseases.

Masih mau merokok?

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Kontan, 28 Agustus 2009

PT DI, kumasih menunggu proyek N2130 milikmu?

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Kontan, 29 Agustus 2009

On the journey back home to “Pacific Rubbish Bigway”, marine scientists on Thursday (28/08) found plastics that covered the open sea. It was 2700 kilometres long.

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Waktunya untuk karikatur

Kompas, 28 Agustus 2009
Karya: Jitet untuk Jakartaria

Mudik, Jakarta sepi tapi ternyata ada pencinta di kala Jakarta sepi. Sayang, pelitnya minta ampun. Minta dibonceng juga nggak mau.

Kompas, 29 Agustus 2009
Karya: GM Sidharta untuk Oom Pasikom

Menyindir Malaysia atau Indonesia nih? Ingat, tahan emosi. Pikr baik-baik duduk perkaranya. Pikirkan juga sejarah yang melatarbelakangi kejadian ini. Bukan sejarah 5-10 tahun terakhir tapi ingat juga zaman Majapahit, Sriwijaya.

Kontan, 29 Agustus 2009
Karya: Benny Rachmadi

Sembako naik, sudah rutinitas bagi sebagian kalangan. Pemerintah, inikah caramu setelah dikau terpilih kembali? Habis manis sepah dibuang memang.

Kontan Weekly, Minggu III Agustus 2009

Di jalan tol, aspalnya naik atau tarif tolnya yang naik atau dua-duanya? Untung di daerah saya belum ada jalan tol biar katanya salah satu pulau paling berkembang di Indonesia.

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Sekian Berita Pilihan kali ini. Besok, akan hadir pula Geoweek. Semoga bermanfaat bagi wawasan anda.

Courtesy: Kompas, Kontan

Sunday Highlights, 26/07/2009

Sunday Highlights kembali setelah absen selama beberapa minggu. Topik bahasan minggu ini:
1. Matahari Tanpa Cela (Flawless Sun)
2. Bahan Beracun dan Ancamannya (Chemical Toxics and Threats They Pose)
3. Geoweek
4. Garuda Indonesia

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Sunday Highlights begins with Flawless Sun, a clipping from Indonesia’s Media Indonesia newspaper.

Courtesy: Media Indonesia, click picture to enlarge

When the sun is in a period of little or no flaw activity. The period is called minimum sun.

Cycle of The Sun

Sun’s flaw activity is influenced by periodic reversal and its magnetic field. It tends to be straight during the minimum period, and gradually turns back along its equatorial line. The equator rotates faster than the poles. Ultimately, the field breaks and penetrates the surface of the sun. It forms flaws which are slightly cooler than their surroundings. The flaws fade as the magnetic field straightens and changes direction.

Atmosphere of The Sun

Sun’s surface tends to be cooler at around 10 thousand degree Fahrenheit (about 5538 degree Celsius). However, its atmosphere is hotter, about 100 thousand in the chromosphere and 3 million in the corona. Flaw activity will make it looks like bright patches an a picture taken by an instrument that detects certain wavelengths and ultraviolet ray.

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Courtesy: Media Indonesia

PVC
Component of: Casing, Wire
Threat: Hard to degrade in an insulated environment

Mercury
Component of: Flat-screen monitor
Threat: Damage brain and nervous system especially on children

Cadmium
Component of: Battery
Threat: Can be accumulated in the environment, poisonous to the kidneys and bones

Tin
Component of: Monitor
Threat: Interfering child’s intellectuality, nervous system, blood circulation and reproduction on adults

BFR (Brominated Flame Retardant)
Component of: Circuit board, Casing
Threat: Memory interference; Thyroid, Estrogen Hormones interference

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Courtesy: Kompas

Yellowstone National Park is famous for its beauty and geological wonders. Most of the national park is situated on top of an old caldera which was formed as a result of volcanic eruption more than 600 million years ago.

Everybody knows that the geysers and mud wallows there were formed due to geological activities below the land surface. However, tremors activity cycles in recent time becomes a concern of certain parties that the Yellowstone may be erupted in the future.

If it occurs, the eruption will be a tremendous one, could be 2000 times stronger than Mt St Helens eruption in Washington in 1980.

Three ancient eruptions from Yellowstone supervolcano spurt ashes to a region we called United States now. The eruptions include the biggest eruption in the history of the Earth. The three eruptions occurred 2 million, 1.2 million and 600 thousand years ago respectively, raising speculations that a tremendous incident will be coming.

On December 2008, series of tremors occurred in Yellowstone area. For weeks, more than 500 seismic phenomenons took place. That raises concerns again that an eruption may occur.

However, many geologists believed that the Yellowstone seismic activity is natural and does not indicate that an eruption will occur in the near future. Despite the indications, they agreed that one day, Yellowstone will erupt again.

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Garuda Indonesia is building a new image, how does it look like?

Claiming a new era in Indonesia’s aviation

Special guests

Their target for this year: Profit of Rp 3.7 billion

Adapted from various sources (Garuda advertisements, Media Indonesia, Kontan)