Aviation: a century and a decade

What led me to write about it? I stumbled upon a wikipedia article on Concorde and had the time to read it through. The most interesting part is what I read afterwards. Over the coming weeks, I am planning to research a bit about these and compose them for all of us to read. I am sure this is going to be interesting for all of you here.

The Wright Brothers were the first ones to be able to commercially build an aircraft as we know today, but our history is star studded with aviators of folkfare. Leonardo DaVinci, Issac Newton and instances or references to those in Indian vedics who enabled Lord Rama and Ravan to fly across seas are just a few examples.

But that is not I am thinking right now. There are already many who have read and written about them. I am more amazed by the fact that having formally invented an aircraft for our industralized age in 1900′s from non existance, we still had pioneers who started thinking about Supersonics in early 1950′s. A Boeing 747 was planned nd the first model manufactured by late 1960′s and it still rules the roost. And dont even think that by 2025 an Airbus A380 will be grounded. And now what I read is by 2050, we will possibly see a hypersonic (breaching speeds of Mach 8) aircraft.

Can you imagine a world that has grown so fast. Consider space exploration for example where what was invented in 1970 is what we are using today. Or for that matter, this very medium. Internet. Being invented in 1990′s it has grown so fast.

Whats truly amazing about avaiation is that it has enable humas to fly, and travel at twice the speed of sound.

My Vacation to Kerala

I am set sail to my home town finally! Yay!

Its been 4 years since I have been to my home town and it was finally today that I could travel to the place where I spent my beautiful childhood. My home town, Alleppey in Kerala. Yes for most of you who do not know me yet and surprised to hear it being my home town, it indeed is my hometown. My dad was born and brought up there and so am I. Its not unusual for fellow Malayalees to be surprised to hear me talk Gujurati, Kutchi and Malayalam at the same time. Its been happening me with ever since I first interacted in all these languages in their presense.

Or it maybe my surname that brings this thought about. And I am very much comfortable and used to it.

As I travel back to my childhood in my thoughts while travelling from Panvel to Alleppey in the Happa Express, there are so many of things that are coming my way. Truly, childhood and college are the best times of your life. And I am unfortunate not to live the later life as I had other responsibilites on my shoulder and opted for distance education.

I am eager to see how much my town has changed or if at all there are any changes from my last visit.

Looking forward to keep my blog posted with events from my visit on a daily basis.

SpiceJet becomes first to import fuel

It came to me as a surprise! It was SpiceJet and not Kingfisher that got the nod first to import Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) among all the airlines in India. This will enable Spicejet to substantially lower its operational costs which is an estimated saving of approximately 10 per cent.

Another surprise was that it will be the Reliance Industries Ltd which is likely to import jet fuel for SpiceJet, being the only private oil marketing company that has presence in many airports across the country.

I am wondering what happened to Kingfisher. Given its dire situation it is in today, it should have been an ideal candidate for the nod. Am sure there is some logic to this situation but unclear to me.

SpiceJet will run a pilot to evaluate the whole process to check its economic viability.

Kutch – my favorite place to be!

Kutch (or Kachchh)

Kutch, by far is the largest district in India. Kutch literally means something which intermittently becomes wet and dry and it is called so because large area of Kutch is shallow wetland which submerges into water during rainy season, and is known as Rann of Kutch. The Rann is famous for the salt flats which become snow white after the rain water dries up.

Sunset from the Train - on the way to Bhuj via Train

Sunset from the Train - on the way to Bhuj via Train

Banni Lands

Banni Lands

In Kutch is also my ancestor’s village. Unfortunately, I visited this beautiful place for the first time after I was 22 years old. I never grew up here but this is a place I am so fond of and I never miss a visit at least once in a year if not twice. The villages in Kutch are really awesome to be in and stay over. Life is here is very much laid back unlike Mumbai where it is too fast and one strong reason why I love to spend my vacations there.

 

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