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Boston Globe
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
A cinematic lunar experience lands in Boston, and a symbol of war is transformed into art
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The Museum of Flight in Seattle hosts the world premiere of 'The MiG-21 Project.' Kari Bodnarchuk Advertisement THERE Symbol of war transformed into art A fighter jet encased in more than 20 million colorful glass beads — painstakingly strung together by hand with cotton thread and wire — takes center stage in a fascinating new exhibit premiering at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. 'The MiG-21 Project' runs through Jan. 26 and features the final work produced by South African artist Ralph Ziman as part of his 'Weapons of Mass Production' project, during which the artist took objects of war — AK-47s, a mine-resistant Casspir military vehicle, and, in this exhibit, the most mass-produced supersonic fighter jet in the world — and turned them into stunning works of art. The aim: to encourage viewers to reflect on historical events and current conflicts, from apartheid to the militarization of police forces around the world. For this project, an icon of war and violence — a Cold War-era fighter jet measuring 51 feet long with a 24-foot wingspan — has been transformed into a symbol of beauty, collaboration, and imagination. Watch a 25-minute documentary about 'The MiG-21 Project,' which includes information on the teams of South African and US artists who created beaded panels to fit over almost every inch of the plane — from the tires and afterburners to the tip of the refueling probe — and interviews with the plane's original pilots. The exhibit also includes Afro-futuristic flight suits and helmets made with colorful glass beads and salvaged parts such as buttons, switches, and hoses from an authentic fighter jet; large-scale artistic photographs showing models in beaded regalia in front of the war objects; and strips of beads that you can touch — a great tactile element. See the main exhibit in the 206-764-5720, The ergonomic Moonbird device — essentially a handheld breathing coach — guides you through breathing techniques that can help with relaxation and reduced anxiety. Christine Smeyers EVERYWHERE Alleviate travel stress and jet lag with this clever device If road traffic, plane trips, family vacations, or other stressors make you apprehensive about summer travel, consider checking out a device that may help you calm your nerves. The ergonomic Moonbird device — essentially a handheld breathing coach — guides you through breathing techniques that can help with relaxation and reduced anxiety, potentially make stressful travel situations more manageable, or even assist with falling asleep faster and overcoming jetlag. First, download the Moonbird app, set up a free account, and sync the device to your phone. Give the device a gentle shake to wake it up, place your thumb over the black sensor, and then keep pace with the breathing exercises, such as 4-7-8 breathing and box breathing, both techniques for reducing stress and anxiety. Choose the duration of each exercise and whether or not you want audio. The device gently balloons out and retracts while tracking your heart rate and heart rate variability, and a calm voice guides you through breathing exercises (the device also works without the app, offering limited breathing exercises without audio guidance — perfect for bedtime or air travel). If nothing else, this handy device might help you forget about traffic, flying, and family drama for a while. The company has released new Moodbuddy bear- and bird-shaped breathing devices in smaller sizes for kids. $199 Moodbird, $89 Moodbuddy. KARI BODNARCHUK Kari Bodnarchuk can be reached at
Indian Express
22-06-2025
- Indian Express
The Reader's Corner: Bold reminders from the Air India crash
Written by Rameshinder Singh Sandhu It was on Instagram that I first learnt about the crash of Air India flight AI 171 which took off for London Gatwick from Ahmedabad but tragically landed on a hostel building for medical students during its 'initial climb'. In an instant, I felt jolted, like many worldwide. The accident, titled as one of the 'worst air disasters' by aviation experts, took scores of lives, including that of many students and staff of the hostel. From the aircraft, a Boeing 787, more commonly known as the Dreamliner, only one passenger survived, proving that miracles do happen. This is the first crash since the Dreamliner was launched by Boeing in December 2011, and industry insiders have always regarded the aircraft as very efficient and smart. Having often been on a 787 flight, I adore its large windows and it doesn't make much noise, be it during take-off or landing. My first Dreamliner flight was with Air India from Delhi to Amritsar – my hometown, in October 2017. Being an aviation geek, as I expressed excitement for my first 787 flight to one of the crew members, she offered me a quick tour of the aircraft, not missing the cockpit and even the crew rest areas, upon landing. Just a few weeks earlier, I had been inside the first Dreamliner plane at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, which went on a world tour in 2011 for the aircraft's promotion at several airports. The tour made 40 stops in 23 countries, covering 1,31,000 nautical miles (2,44,153 km). It was half with seats and half without to showcase its spaciousness. The area without seats was also used for cocktail parties and presentations. Coming back to the disaster, I have been imagining the passengers, for many of whom it may have been their first flight. I wondered about families with children, newly married couples with holiday plans in England, Non-Resident Indians who had to return to the UK after holidays in their hometowns, and parents who booked the flight to meet their children living in Britain. As I attended a three-week-long cabin crew training last year with Virgin Atlantic near Gatwick Airport, I have also been imagining the crew's side, from dressing up as per the company policies to attending the meeting led by the pilots along with the flight manager. The meeting could either take place in a dedicated room at the airport or near the boarding area in which positions on the aircraft are finalised for the crew members, besides discussion of the route, any turbulence expected or any special needs of passengers. Before passenger boarding commences, the crew checks the plane, from emergency equipment to anything hidden anywhere. One of the pilots steps down to check the plane from the outside with the engineers on duty. Once all checks are complete, the flight manager is updated, and the boarding commences. During the boarding, screening of passengers is done, especially to find out if everyone is in the right state of mind, besides showing them their seats. After all the cabins are secured, take-off happens, which treats one with amazing views as the crew members remain in their jump seats. The same was the scene on AI 171, but it lasted less than a minute and turned into a disaster which none on the flight must have imagined. Thankfully, the plane's black box, which has been found, will tell us the reasons behind the crash. An Air India pilot on Instagram shared that he had flown the same aircraft (registered as VT-ANB) from Milan to Delhi a week ago. My Spanish friend, who is an engineer at Zurich airport, told me that this aircraft also visited Zurich twice in the last six months. 'In terms of airworthiness, it was in good condition,' he said. But the disaster has left many lessons – 'bold reminders' – for us. Most importantly, life is uncertain as death comes unannounced. Despite that, we don't value the present time and prefer postponing almost everything for the future, about which we worry too much. Is the present not everything? Many of us also keep grudges and hatred towards others, forgetting that any moment could be the last with them. I wish we can all think deeper now and bring about the required changes to our minds. We will end up living more fully. Rameshinder Singh Sandhu is a freelance travel writer
Daily Mirror
30-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
People are only just realising why we always board a plane from the left
When you board a plane, you'll always step onto the aircraft from the left - and it turns out there is a very good reason for this - and it's all to do with ships and boats As we gear up for the summer holiday rush and prepare to soak up the sun, there's a curious constant in our plane-boarding experience that might have escaped your notice. Whether you're buzzing with excitement or grappling with pre-flight jitters, you've probably never pondered why you always board an aircraft from the left-hand side. Despite the leaps in aviation technology, the boarding process has remained steadfastly the same, and Michael Oakley, managing editor of The Aviation Historian, has shed light on this intriguing tradition. Originally, commercial aircraft featured passenger doors on the left due to historical practices, but today it's all about operational efficiency. Speaking to Afar, Michael revealed: "Much of aviation terminology had its origins in maritime lore (rudder, cockpit, cabin, bulkhead, knots, etc), and similarly, the aeronautical ways of doing things owe a lot to sailing." He further explained: "Just as boats and ships have a port side – the side of the vessel conventionally adjacent to the dock when in port – aircraft are the same. Sensibly, people decided to continue to board on the port (or left) side." Boats were traditionally designed with the steering oar on the right side (starboard), leading to passengers and cargo being loaded onto the opposite side. This practice was carried over to aircraft until United Airlines in the 1930s and 40s decided to place their doors on the right. However, as air travel became more popular, it proved more efficient for everyone to board planes from the same side using the same terminals. "Since the pilot sits on the left, airports began to be built with gates on the left so the pilot could better judge distances as they taxied to the gate,' explained Matthew Burchette, senior curator at the Museum of Flight in Tukwila, Washington. He added: "As soon as more complex airports were developed, with passengers using Jetways as a means of walking directly aboard from the terminal, ground operations were a lot easier if every aircraft did the same thing in the same direction." This arrangement also makes life easier for airport ground staff, who can work on the right-hand side away from passengers, while passengers are kept clear of any machinery.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Crew-9 return sparks major interest in Western Washington
There were plenty of eyes throughout Western Washington as Crew-9 splashdown off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida Tuesday afternoon. Some of those eyes were staring at NASA's streaming of the splash down inside the Museum of Flight in Tukwila. 'I think this is really historic and I am glad that they are able to do this,' said Lucas from Seattle. Many museum staff also tuned in to the historic splash down, including Space Curator Geoff Nunn. 'I want them to get back safely,' Nunn said before Crew-9′s splashdown. Nunn has paid close attention to these astronauts' journey since June of 2024. He says that while their mission went longer than expected, the usual length of NASA missions is 6 months to a year. 'Again, they train for this stuff. And so while it was unexpected, they were certainly able to work the problem,' Nunn said. Nunn says he's seen a recent rise in public interest in aerospace across Western Washington, as well as with large companies like Boeing, whose first Starliner Capsule was used in this journey. 'Now there are all of these new players that are coming on board to help support NASA through programs like the commercial crew program,' Nunn said. With that said, Nunn says Boeing and these companies will have to work through the kinks of it all to get more space travel up and running. 'There are no doubt going to be challenges. Space is difficult. There are going to be scenarios where things don't go as expected, but it's really important for us to expand our ability to explore farther. So it is very exciting for me to see renewed interest in space and see so many more people getting into the game,' Nunn said.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Blue Origin rocket engine arrives at Museum of Flight
Kent-based space exploration firm Blue Origin has donated one of its groundbreaking rocket engines to the Museum of Flight for a new display that's set up at the Charles Simonyi Space Gallery. The donation marks a new partnership with the museum. The prototype BE-3U engine was designed to power the upper stage of Blue Origin's giant reusable New Glenn rocket that launched for the first time only a couple of months ago. It stands about 15 feet tall and weighs over a ton. According to the museum, the engine is now one of the largest objects on display in its exhibit focusing on the latest in rocket science and space programs. KIRO 7 spoke to Timothy Hinerman, who is on the team that developed the BE3U rocket engine. Monday morning, he oversaw the delicate installation of the engine at the museum. He said he hopes the work with the Museum of Flight and the new display will inspire a new generation to space exploration. 'This is one of the early development units we have tested,' he said. 'It's already been hot-fired. We learned a bunch from it.' KIRO 7 also spoke to Geoff Nunn, a space curator at the museum. He watched the engine installation Monday morning and says Western Washington's space exploration ecosystem is a strong one. 'I think it's important that we recognize all the accomplishments that NASA makes, but we have that resilience in the addition of private players like Blue Origin,' he said. Nunn believes Blue Origin will be a leader in the field of space exploration for years to come, if not decades. 'They've managed to secure quite a few contracts as it is,' he told KIRO 7. 'I think they have a chance.' The installation comes about a month after Blue Origin announced it would be laying off 10 percent of its workforce. That's about 1,000 employees. The company has not specified how many Washington State employees would be impacted, but it maintains a large presence at one of its main offices in Kent.
