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Postcard showing Royal Poinciana and Jacaranda Trees from early 1940s
No full textOne of a series of postcards bought by A W (Tony) Linfield, 5BFTS cadet on Course 18 (December 1943 - June 1944) while he was in Florida. Tony was a founder member of the 5BFTS Association and became the first Honorary Secretary. He donated his postcard collection to the 5BFTS Archives.https://commons.erau.edu/bfts-images-florida-ww2/1008/thumbnail.jp
Wing Structure Design for YF-27 Shrike Homeland Defense Interceptor
Get PDFThis project focuses on designing the wing structure of an interceptor aircraft to withstand sustained supersonic flight and provide sufficient fuel storage for extended operations. The aircraft and structure were designed according to the AIAA Homeland Defense Interceptor request for proposal (RFP). Sizing of structural components was performed utilizing hand calculations and an idealized shear box approach focused on maximum aircraft limit loads. Based on these preliminary calculations, different wing structural components such as spars, ribs, stringers, and attachment points were designed using computer aided design (CAD) software. Finite element analysis was used to verify results and structural integrity of these components. Additionally, critical failure points were further analyzed using crack propagation theory to prevent structural failure concerns. The wing structure withstands limit loads of +7/-3 g while remaining lightweight. Components can operate without failure for 2,000 hours between inspections. This project demonstrates that structural design of high-speed interceptor is feasible while minimizing material and manufacturing cost and weight
Gark Shark and the Seaweed Feast
Get PDFGark Shark and the Seaweed Feast follows the journey of Gark, a curious but hesitant little blue shark, as he experiences unfamiliar parts of the ocean. His friends, Vela the octopus and Bramble the sea turtle, are excited for the Great Seaweed Feast, a special event where seaweed takes center stage as the delicacy of the ocean. Despite his apprehension about trying something new, Gark is encouraged by his friends to take part in the feast. As they reach the hidden lagoon where the feast is held, Gark is surprised by the energy and event as he struggles to overcome prior apprehensions. The story highlights themes of friendship, overcoming fears, and the joy of trying new things, as Gark discovers that sometimes, the greatest treasures are those waiting just beyond our comfort zones. Through laughter, shared experiences, and the delicious seaweed, Gark learns the value of embracing new adventures with those he cares about
Political Turbulence and Aviation Safety: A Cross-National Analysis of Political Stability\u27s Effects on Aviation Accidents
Get PDFTo what extent does political stability affect aviation safety? This research aims to link domestic political conditions and public safety through the consideration of aviation accident frequency. Political instability can indeed have profound effects on reducing overall public safety in a variety of domains through its influence on public policies. Reduced regulations and governance efforts can appear in contentious contexts for less-prioritized fields. This could influence the reemergence of technical aviation risk factors like crew training and performance, maintenance issues, infrastructure problems, human errors, etc. This would highlight a correlation between such political instability and weaker aviation safety regulations, investments and operational efficiency. A country-year level dataset was originally aggregated and created by integrating the political instability indicators from V-Dem and the World Bank as well as the Aviation Safety Network data. A multivariate negative binomial regression analysis on aviation accidents worldwide between 1996 and 2022 is then conducted. Results show that political instability is indeed negatively correlated to greater aviation safety when accounting for various alternative variables. This suggests that policy interventions enhancing political stability could benefit both public safety and a growing economic and social sector that is aviation. This also suggests that focus on aviation safety is only efficient when coupled with political stabilization processes
Clewiston Civic Park - One of two plaques remembering 5BFTS cadets at Riddle Field
No full textOne of two plaques in Clewiston Civic Park remembering the RAF cadets who trained at 5BFTS, Riddle Field, Clewiston, between 1941 and 1945. Donated by the 5BFTS Association and dedicated in 1975. They are cared for by the City of Clewiston and were relocated within the park in 2016. For more photographs of the memorial to 5BFTS cadets in Clewiston Civic Park, see images posted under the image link ‘Riddle Field’. Photograph taken by Dr Jenifer Harding in Clewiston Civic Park in May 2025.https://commons.erau.edu/bfts-russell-images/1001/thumbnail.jp
5 BFTS Association Newsletter No.32 - Autumn 2025
Get PDFIt is 84 years since BFTS Cadets first came to America from all parts of Great Britain and Ireland and 80 years since those on the last courses went home when WW2 ended and the remaining four British Flying Training Schools (#1, 3, 4 and 5) closed. While in America, all the cadets thought of their families and things that made their homeland special. As we approach Remembrance Sunday (or Armistice/Veterans’ Day), we remember those cadets who forever remain in America, those who lie in a foreign field and those with no known grave. We also remember those cadets who came home but now have ‘handed in their logbooks’. Each one had their own special memories of home as they embarked on the long journey to America and later as pilots, these memories went with them when they left on a mission often without knowing exactly what they would encounter and whether they would return.
I have thought a great deal about the cadets this year. In May, I was at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Arcadia, at the 5BFTS British Memorial Day Service and on November 9, I shall be in Mesa to lay a wreath for the Fallen and remember cadets from 4BFTS who died in Arizona and other BFTS cadets who died elsewhere. Chandler Mock, an ERAU student, is writing biographies for those 5BFTS cadets who lie at Oak Ridge, the ERAU Eagle Heritage Podcast Project is live and the 5BFTS digital archive project is expanding. In September, I went to the UK National Memorial Arboretum to check on the 5BFTS Grove of 5 trees and the three plaques for #1, 4 and 5 BFTS and in October, I went to the RAF Museum at Cosford, took a “journey through the history of RAF Bomber Command” and reacquainted myself with the Mosquito (the Wooden Wonder), my father’s favourite aeroplane.
On Remembrance Sunday, many young people from uniformed and civil organisations will be marching in parades, some will be laying wreathes and others, like my granddaughter, will be playing the Last Post and Reveille. There are so few WW2 veterans left now; it is for us, the generations who follow, to keep their memories alive and importantly, tell our young people why we must remember and never forget.
‘Their efforts to preserve the freedom of the world were not in vain and will never be forgotten.
Understanding Aviation Sustainability with XAI
No full textThis project uses open aviation operations datasets to build machine-learning and explainable AI (XAI) models that forecast short- and medium-term sustainability outcomes. Target variables include gate-to-gate CO₂ estimates, flight efficiency (horizontal/vertical), surface inefficiency (e.g., additional taxi time), and delay-related indicators at network, state, airport, and service-provider levels. ML and XAI algorithm are trained with rolling-origin validation; performance is reported via SHAP values, partial-dependence plots, and counterfactual analyses provide transparent driver attribution and reveal leverage points—such as continuous climb/descent procedures, pushback control, and demand-capacity alignment. The outcome is a practical, interpretable toolkit that (i) predicts sustainability metrics with actionable confidence intervals, (ii) ranks interventions by marginal emissions-reduction potential, and (iii) supports data-driven prioritization of operational improvements across the aviation network
Integrating Fusion Energy for Sustainable Grid Resilience in Texas
No full textTexas\u27s electrical grid operates independently to reduce costs and federal oversight, but this isolation creates critical vulnerabilities during extreme weather events. Recent crises have exposed the need for additional redundancy that preserves ERCOT’s (Electric Reliability Council of Texas) autonomy while improving grid resilience.
This study examines the possibility of integrating a fusion-based reserve facility near the Texas-Louisiana border to provide supplemental power during crises while selling surplus energy during normal operations.
This project applies computational modeling and scenario-based analysis to evaluate the technical feasibility, reliability outcomes, and economic viability of a shared fusion reserve facility integrated into the Texas grid.
This work aims to identify the optimal conditions under which fusion energy could enhance grid stability while minimizing disruption to existing energy markets and regulatory frameworks. Modeling results will estimate potential reductions in outage frequency and duration during extreme weather events, as well as projected economic tradeoffs for interstate energy exchange