From automobiles and motorcycles, Honda Motor Co. is moving into aviation as it invests $27 million in a North Carolina plant to build engines for small business jets.

Fumitaka Hasegawa, the chief executive officer of the unit said at a press briefing in July 17 that construction of the factory and a headquarters for Honda Aero Inc. will soon begin in Burlington, North Carolina. The unit will initially create 70 new jobs, according to Mike Easley, the governor of the state.

As the biggest engine manufacturer in the whole world, Honda now has committed $127 million for aviation facilities, which include $40 million for a Greensboro, North Carolina, plant to build the eight-person HondaJet. The Japan-based company has said that it has more than 100 orders for the $3.65 million aircraft, which will utilize the company's engines and will rival with models from Textron Inc.'s Cessna, the largest maker of business jets.

Richard Aboulafia, an analyst at Teal Group in Alexandria, Virginia, who has consulted with Honda on the aircraft market, said that it is going to be a slow, difficult battle. According to him, the company is going to get a responsive market, but will have to pay to enter it. He also said that Honda will probably have to spend nearly the same amount in marketing costs as they are for facilities.

In 2010, the Burlington factory will commence building HF120 turbofan engines. Its initial annual production is about 200, according to Honda. Through a venture formed in 2004 with General Electric Co., the largest maker of aircraft engines in the world, the engines will be sold.

In lieu of promoting fuel efficiency, Honda said that the engine will be as much as 50 percent more fuel-efficient than it competing turbofan models.

The engine will also be “the lowest cost to own and operate” according to Mark Wagner, program manager for the GE Honda Aero Engine venture. He said the sales price might be less than $500,000 each.

Honda will perform the final assembly in Burlington, while General Electric will be held responsible for the repair and service under their joint venture. GE spokesman Rick Kennedy claimed that the partnership has sold more than 200 engines.

Being based in Reston, Virginia, the Honda Aero unit is moving 15 people from the location.

Japan's second-biggest automaker, Honda Motor settles behind Toyota Motor Corp. It is also the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer with U.S. automotive headquarters in Torrance, California.

All Honda products are equipped with to-of-the-line features, which include Honda suspension bushing that avoids side to side rocking, odd tire wears, and even clunking noises when going over bumps.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cars-articles/honda-moves-into-aviation-with-new-jetengine-plant-in-n-carolina-186767.html

About the Author: Ally Wahlberg is a Computer Information Systems specialist. Ally leads an active lifestyle and he is a fan of extreme sports. He is also a car enthusiast and writing about his interests is one of his passions.

Even before the invention of modern photography, artists were creating beautiful panoramic images. The ability to capture an image and chemically fix it to a photographic plate spurred greater innovation and experimentation.

Early photographic technology was cumbersome was often unreliable and photographers struggled to consistently capture usable images. A simple exposure of a still life image could take hours.

It was not long before the process of creating photographic panoramas outpaced the traditional images rendered by artists. Before the invention of powered flight, early photographers and artists were largely earth bound. Well, not entirely earth bound but limited to where they could travel by air. If a panoramic artist or photographer wanted to get an overview of a land or cityscape, it usually involved hiking up the nearest hillside or other elevated vantage point.

The seventeen eighties saw the advent of the hot air balloon. Travel by hot air balloon was considered a passing fancy more suited for the wealthy hobbyist than for any practical application. Travel might not be the right word since going aloft in a balloon meant being at the mercy of the prevailing wind. Still, some daredevil artists must surely have taken braved the risk in order to capture a different view of the world.

By the eighteen twenties, fixed plate photography had been introduced. The process of dealing with wet plate cameras involved a very small window of time. Early wet plates needed to be developed and fixed very quickly after exposure. Still, these difficulties did not stop photographers from meeting the challenge of capturing photographic images from the air. All of the equipment would be sent aloft in a hot air balloon, which was very often tethered to the ground.

The earliest successful birds eye images taken from a balloon date back to the eighteen sixties. As the process of picture taking improved so did the ability to achieve powered flight. Lighter than air blimps powered with small internal combustion motors for controlled maneuvers, providing photographers with a more stable platform.

The ability to take aerial photographs was not lost on mapmakers and military planners. The late eighteen nineties saw prolific use of light than air ships but this was about to change with the introduction of powered, heavier than air flight. The airplane gave photographers a freedom of movement that was not possible before. With greater airspeeds than blimps and the ability to land without help ground crews, the airplane quickly became the platform of choice for aerial photography.

Aerial panoramas have quickly become a favorite genre for many people. The ability to capture an image from different altitudes and various perspectives gives the panoramic artist a much larger palette from which to work. Anyone who has watched a televised sporting event is familiar with the blimp shots taken from overhead. Many of these overhead shots are not directed solely at the stadium. Very often, the vantage point allows for spectacular shots of the surrounding cityscape.

These images are the prime ingredient for aerial panoramas. Just as with the creation of any panoramic image, several successive images may need to be blended or stitched together. The same challenges of overcoming visual distortion must be overcome. Advancements in digital photography and image processing make creating unique aerial panoramas easier and more visually pleasing.

Overhead views of their favorite sports stadium or cityscape are very popular. Ironically, even with the availability of fixed wing aircraft and helicopters, the humble blimp is still a popular choice as a photographic platform. Folks looking for high quality aerial panoramas have turned to online shopping as a source with images available from all over the world.

About the Author: Mitch Endick is a short article writer for the popular framed panorama site: http://www.framedpanoramas.com. He provides informative advice on purchasing quality framed panoramas and photoramics.

Before the turn of the century, photographers, like most other professionals, worked with a vertical market. That is, they put their ads in a trade magazine or the Yellow Pages, and based on their talent, marketing know-how, and luck, they conducted their business.

This made for extreme competition. Longtime pros were able to cling to their top position because they built a following based on their competence and expertise. Newcomers to photography found it difficult to surmount this unless they brought superb talent or an exceptional fresh approach to the marketplace.

Eventually the field of photography fragmented into targeted areas. The photographer who could photograph most anything for a client, the “generalist,” was no longer the top dog in the industry. Like in most other professions, photographers evolved to specializing; the trend was to develop an expertise in specific subject areas, such as aerial, sports, fashion, documentary, etc., and to go after a “niche.”

With the arrival of the Internet, all of this has changed, especially in the field of stock photography. The changeover comes to light especially when you look at the market from the buyer’s approach.

In our field of stock photography, a buyer turns to an image or images to get a point across, whether it’s for an advertisement, brochure, or textbook. Since our thrust here at PhotoSource International is from an editorial standpoint, I’ll address editorial stock photography.

The arrival of search engines has brought sophisticated software that has been able to break down the former restrictions in the field and open it to any photographer with quality images.

At the same time, the publishing industry has become more and more specialized. Type any topic plus the word ‘publishing’ in a Google search, and you’ll find that a magazine, book publisher, website or other entity, exists for the sole purpose of supplying that interest area with information.

Here’s where every stock photographer can emerge from the “Yellow Pages” race and become an important resource to specific segments of the vast market for stock photography that has now emerged –thanks to the Internet.

A publisher in Albuquerque no longer consults the Yellow Pages, the local library, or a bevy of good ol’ boy favorites when producing an article on a certain way of harvesting desert cacti. She consults the Internet.

Why? Because that “just right” picture exists. The “Law of Probability” says that a local photographer might not have the picture. Surprise, surprise. She finds it on the Internet, through a search engine search. The photographer is not even a New Mexico resident, but a visiting tourist from Japan who has cacti as his specialization. Thanks to hi-res delivery of pictures, the publisher is able to meet her immediate deadline.

I hope it’s evident to you that as an independent stock photographer, you are part of the largest stock photo resource in the world. No, it’s not Getty, Corbis, or Jupiter – it’s the Internet. You are no longer competing against those major agencies – thanks to your silent partner -- the search engine.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/small-business-articles/how-to-become-a-photographer-with-little-orno-competition-314652.html

About the Author: Rohn Engh, a veteran stock photographer and best-selling author of "Sell & ReSell Your Photos" and "sellphotos.com," has helped scores of photographers launch their careers. For access to great information on making money from pictures you like to take, and learn how to sell pictures, and to receive this free report: "8 Steps to Becoming a Published Photographer," visit his website, PhotoSource International or call 800 624-0266.

Expanding the horizons of remote control flight.

Paralight opens the sky for you with the elegant and prestige’s hobby, hovering in remote control. Everything we know on the aviation world gets a new meaning that won’t leave any place for doubt: Much more safety, reliable, economical, fun is promised to everyone.

How does the motorized parachute fly?

The craft is based on a soft wing, which, in conjunction with the appropriate fuselage, creates an aircraft with unique flight characteristics and features. The craft’s engine is located in the rear, acting as an accelerating factor that provides the necessary thrust for takeoff. The craft is piloted by controlling the parachute, shifting it right or left as needed. The motorized parachute does not have ailerons and the altitude is determined by the speed of the engine; when the engine runs faster the craft will ascend, and it will descend when engine speed is lowered. SEE VIDEO CLIPS FROM OUR CUSTOMERS IN PARALIGHT WEBSITE

What is the average time required to learn to successfully fly the motorized parachute?

The motorized parachute was designed to be easy to operate, without requiring extended training time. However, just as with other remote control flight hobbies, time must be devoted to practice and familiarizing oneself with the craft and the manner in which it responds when airborne. The motorized parachute is relatively simple to learn for people with prior experience with remote controlled aircraft, and it may take them just a few hours to master the Paralight. This process might be a bit lengthier for someone who has no previous experience with remote control aircraft. if this is the case, you should familiarize yourself with the remote control system, the motor, and the accompanying ignition equipment prior to using the product. An experienced individual who is familiar with the abovementioned systems should assist novice users so that training and practice time will be devoted mostly to controlling the motorized parachute, proper takeoff and landing.

Where can the motorized parachute be flown?

The motorized parachute should be flown in open spaces, away from buildings and groups of people. It is preferable to fly the craft in spaces designated for flying model airplanes or in other areas that allow for this hobby to be enjoyed with absolute safety.

How does Paralight differ from other R/C products?

Paralight is the result of many years of planning and development, which included attention to the Slightest of details – a most reliable and dependable product with the best features and a wide variety of applications, especially in aerial photography.

Paralight is a large and impressive craft, which was designed with the utmost care and devotion. Paralight is designed to provide an enjoyable hobby experience right from the start, and for many years to come.

Paralight - Simple and durable

Paralight Aviation is constantly adding innovations and unique accessories to the product, which will be offered exclusively to hobbyists at attractive prices.

Paralight is a professional craft, constructed of prime materials. The quality is evident in each and every part and component, and especially in the parachute, which features outstanding durability and exceptional dimensions.

What are the options currently available for aerial photography using the motorized parachute?

Paralight was designed so that standard photographic equipment could be attached with ease, within the craft’s weight restrictions.

There is a wide array of lenses and miniature cameras currently available that constitute an efficient medium for aerial photography. These can be connected to a transmitter for relaying the pictures to recording devices such as video cameras, VCRs, or DVDs on the ground.

Additionally, any standard video or digital stills camera can be mounted on the craft, with the desired photography mode selected prior to takeoff. The camera can be controlled via a mechanical connection to a servo or an electronic connection between the camera and the receiver, and photography can be managed via the remote control unit.

Paralight designed with the utmost care and devotion.The quality is evident in each and every part and component and especially in the parachute which features outstanding durability and exceptional dimensions.

It comes complete with all required high-quality accessories. If you want to know more about what it is (and some things isn't) please visit our Website www.paralightaviation.com

Thank you,

The Paralight Team 2008

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/photography-articles/aerial-photography-using-the-motorized-parachute-paralight-385892.html

About the Author: Moshe Roimi

Paralight opens the sky for you with the elegant and prestige’s hobby, hovering in remote control.
Everything we know on the aviation world gets a new meaning that won’t leave any place for doubt: Much more safety, reliable, economical, fun is promised to everyone.

There are a multitude of reasons in this day and age why people, both men and women, go missing. And just as many reasons why they should be found, and quickly. Recently, there was a startling example of how model airplanes, coupled with modern digital cameras, are benefiting society by making it easier, cheaper and quicker to find missing things, whether it be people or anything else, by providing a new viewpoint on our society.

In October last year, a model airplane fitted with a digital camera found a man missing near the West Texas town of Monahans, 4 months after he went missing. During that time search parties on foot and horseback had scoured the desert in an expensive and time consuming search. In just 3 sorties within one day the model airplane took 200 digital images and the search team rapidly found the body of David Lee Pettiet. The man's white trainers stood out as a minute speck in one of the photographs and drew the searchers to quickly locate him although he was surrounded by thick scrub brush.

Aerial photography is nothing new. But what is new is the ability to do it quickly and cheaply with model airplanes and without the massive expense of helicopters or fixed wing aircraft. The service used was provided by a man who had simply taken his existing hobby of radio controlled (RC) model airplanes, added the digital camera, just another piece of modern technology in his leisure arsenal, and combined the two into a useful tool which is rapidly turning into a commercial business.

There are many ways to enjoy the hobby of RC model airplanes. But aerial photography can be particularly rewarding as almost every RC airplane modeller already owns the necessary equipment. Going the cheap and cheerful route to explore what your birthday party looks like when seen from your model airplane high above - or to provide useful information on development plans for your local protest group by simply strapping an inexpensive disposable 35mm camera to the bottom of your model aeroplane, is one way. Or embedding a complete digital video system, made specifically for the job, into your model airplane setup to offer a professional service is another. Either way, the results can be quite remarkable, even amazing. When deciding where to start, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind.

If you decide to go the cheap route just for fun, strapping some sort of camera to the model airplane's wing or fuselage, there are a couple of pitfalls you will want to avoid if at all possible. Most disposable cameras do not have the ability to auto advance the film. This means that you will need to land the model airplane and advance the camera manually for each shot. While this method requires more work than others, it is by far the least expensive. Upgrading to an auto advancing 35mm camera will allow you to take pictures without landing your RC model airplane in between each photo.

Digital cameras also have limitations. Unless you are a very experienced RC model airplane pilot, using an expensive digital camera might not be the best idea if you are uncertain of your ability to land safely and reliably. If you decide to use a cheap digital camera then a lot of them have auto shut-off timers that will shut the camera off in 30-60 seconds. What this means is that you need to take a picture within that 30-60 seconds window or the camera will shut off and you will need to land your model airplane and turn the camera on again.

Using any of these cameras will require you to improvise some sort of servo attachment on your model airplane to activate the shutter button in response to your remote command. Double-sided sticky tape and zip-ties work very well for the servo, and rubber bands will suffice for attaching the camera to the fuselage. You will also need to have a RC radio that has an extra channel, such as a landing gear toggle switch, to activate the servo. Electric power for your model airplane is also useful as it gives you the option to turn the motor off while you take the shot in order to reduce vibration.

A more expensive route is to use a system specifically made for the hobby of RC model airplane flying. Various wireless packages can be found to meet your needs. Most of the packages available come with a few standard parts; a camera, wireless transmitter, and receiver. This method requires that you have the ability to record video 'in field'. A laptop computer with video inputs works very well for this. Another option is to watch the video LIVE while you are flying by using a set of virtual reality goggles. This certainly helps if you want to be selective about the shots you take - although with digital technology this hardly matters. But it does take you one step closer to every modellers dream of being up there with his model airplane!

Aerial photography and video using your RC model airplane can add more excitement to an already enjoyable hobby and even turn it into a business. So go ahead, there are some useful forums and groups on the web where you can do some more research - then get flying and snapping!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/model-airplane-finds-missing-man-33098.html

About the Author: Bruce Bird makes it easy for the beginner to quickly grasp the broad range of exciting activities that make up airplane modeling. To get you started flying so that you can get into aerial photography visit his website to receive his FREE 5 part mini-series.