An interview with a Blackbird pilot, and another with Amelia Rose Earhart. Also, aviation type clubs, the 2014 AeroSpace X Awards, and we welcome a new team member.

On account of the Labor Day holiday in the U.S., we bring you a collection of pre-recorded segments. We’ll be back to the normal format next episode, but this week we have:

Rob tells us the history, meaning, and future implications of the American Labor movement.

Ken Collins and Dr Jim Griffin with A-12 Blackbird Southern Museum of Flight

Jamie Dodson met with U.S. Air Force Colonel (Ret.) Ken Collins at the Southern Museum of Flight, at the invitation of Dr. Jim Griffin, Director Emeritus. Ken was one of the first pilots to sign on to the secret CIA OXCART program.

Jamie Dodson is author of the award winning Nick Grant Adventures Series.

Max Flight talks with Brian Coleman, who joins us as an Associate Producer. Brian is focused on identifying and scheduling guests.

Recorded at AirVenture 2014 in Oshkosh. Learn more at The Amelia Project.

Taking advantage of the Bits & Pieces nature of this episode, Steve and Grant sneak in a longer AusDesk than usual. This time it’s back to Qantas who have announced a record loss thanks to some restructuring they’re doing as they chase a return to profitability (it’s got to happen eventually, right? )

They include a clip of Ross Greenwood on 2GB interviewing Alan Joyce and hitting him with some rather hard questions, all of which Joyce manages to deflect while ensuring he stuck to his key points (it’s not our fault, it’s all due to terrible external causes, we’re turning around and we’ll be profitable next year) (sound familiar??? It’s like the last few years…)

Meanwhile, Virgin Australia reports a loss (but their 737 MAXs will apparently be online before Jetstar’s A320 NEOs) while Air New Zealand shows them all how it’s done and reports a profit.

Lusty Lindy Victor XL231

Pieter Johnson introduces the 2014 AeroSpace X Awards, Xtended’s annual awards to the industry. He needs your help with support, and of course nominations.

AeroSpace X Award Nomination Categories (and last year’s winners):

1. 
   
2. Best Aerospace Watch – (Bremont MB2)
   
3. Best Product Helping the Aviation / Aerospace Industry – (Dragons of Thin Air)
   
4. Best Airport / Airfield – (Compton Abbas)
   
5. Best Online Resource – (LiveATC)
   
6. Best Restoration Project – (Victor Lusty Lindy XL231)
   
7. Xtended’s Best Aerospace Product – (The Big Book of Flight)
   

Send nominations to X10D@mail.com. Follow the awards with the Twitter hashtag #AerospaceX.

Aircraft type clubs are General Aviation’s best-kept secret weapon. While there are more than a hundred of them, they fly stealthily below the radar of most pilots, who seem to be blissfully unaware of their existence and benefits. Only a fraction of pilots belong to any of them, yet they offer the best value proposition in aviation: they’re cheap and they could save your life. You can find a list of them at data.aopa.org/associations.

COPA, the Cirrus Pilots Association can be found at www.cirruspilots.org.

The Cessna Pilots Association web site is www.cessna.org.

Micah’s recording titled, “Non-Geek Gripes†looks at air travel from the perspective of the average traveler, compared to that of an airplane geek.

Post photo from Farnborough by Ian Allen.

Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at www.brotherloverocks.com.