Curiosities
1,987 news found
CuriositiesUS Protestant pastor expelled from a Continental Airlines flight
Washington, USA - He was going on holiday to Colorado with his family
Reverend Joel Osteen is pastor for America’s largest church, the Houston’s Lakewood Church in Texas, and was expelled from a Continental’s plane together with his family last Monday. He was flying to Co... more
Curiosities"Low-cost flying is beautiful": upon Prince's word
London, United Kingdom - Charles and Diana’s son en route to Cyprus on board Helios Airways
Also Prince Harry prefers flying by so-called low-cost carriers: he has recently been seen boarding an airplane operated by Cypriot Helios Airways, which is not an example of safety considering its last... more
CuriositiesFidel Castro obtained a loan to buy a plane for private use
Havana, Cuba - He acquired an aircraft of the type used by Putin
Russia’s Roseximbank, together with other country’s banks, issued a USD 96m worth loan to Cuban dictator Fidel Castro to buy two Ilyushin 96-300 jets. One of two aircraft will be destinated for Castro’s priva... more
CuriositiesNieuport 10 brought to life again: the rare "Treasure" makes a parade of itself at "Caproni" Museum in Trento
Trento, Italy - A meticulous refurbishment work for this airplane which goes back to 1918
A training twin-seated version of a rare 1918-built Nieuport 10 can be admired at "Caproni" Museum (Trento, Italy) as recently refurbished. It is one of the remaining two existing worldwide thought it... more
CuriositiesGiving a hot air balloon tour or a helicopter flight for Christmas
Rome, Italy - But one can also select a parachute jump or a hang gliding experience
It is the original proposal of the founder of the web site www.excitations.com (also taken by www.wallbounce.com and www.gifts.com) which suggests to give experiences instead of usual gifts. So, one can... more
CuriositiesAir France: haute cuisine on board of carrier's flights
Paris, France - From last Thursday, December 1st, 2005
"Espace Première’s menu of Air France is invented by Guy Martin, Grand Véfour’s chef, from last December 1st. He creates recipes especially thought to answer to the international clientele’s expectations of Air... more
CuriositiesNewborn Australian airline forced to cut flights due to lack of passengers
Sydney, Australia - It will also discount its fares from the next week untill January 31
The new Australian domestic carrier OzJet has been forced to cancel 25% of its services between Sydney and Melbourne only 2 days after the beginning of its activity. The reason is simple: there are not... more
CuriositiesBoeing: bed and shower in the first class
Seattle, USA - A feasibility study is being carried out for new services aboard commercial airplanes
Boeing considers travel comfort on its commercial aircraft as a priority and the evidence of it is also shown by its Seattle-based Payload Concepts Center (PCC), a centre devoted to feasibility studies... more
CuriositiesContinental Airlines will transport today the cat "Emily"
New York, Usa - It was disappeared from her home in Appleton late in September and was found nearly a month later
Continental Airlines today will transport Emily, the stowaway cat that made her way from Appleton, Wis. to France in a shipping container over two months ago, back to her family. Emily disappeared from... more
CuriositiesParaglider-scooter: asked Flite Bike for it
Rome, Italy - The transformation kit is worth around EUR 16,000
A paraglider-scooter worth around EUR 16,000. To make such a wonderful couple one just needs to ask for US company Flite Bike’s support, a company which suggests a Honda Reflex motorbike as a platform t... more
CuriositiesAn Australian swindled up 17.6 "Frequent flyer" points
Sydney, Australia - It costed him six months of prison
He is Austin Perrott, 45-year-old, married, three sons, he has been working for Singapore Airlines in Melbourne from February 1996 to October 2002. During these years, thanks to a computer’s malfunction, h... more
CuriositiesAn Austrian ultralight aircraft may do the tour of the world with 8 litres of fuel
Linz, Austria - It obtained the environmental award "Energy Globe"
The ultralight aircraft has been designed and assembled by Zurich Federal polytechnic’s technicians and it won the Austrian environmental award "Energy Globe". The airplane is equipped with two engines w... more
CuriositiesMore than a year of prison for smoking on a plane
Athens, Greece - The exemplary verdict of a Greek court
A Greek court condemned a man to 15 months of prison for smoking on board a plane and hitting a flight attendant only guilty of telling him to put his cigarette out. The protagonist, a 50 year man of Hellenic... more
CuriositiesFiery reception for Switzerland's national football team at Istanbul Airport
Istanbul, Turkey - Helvetic Foreign Minister shocked
Swiss Foreign Minister Mrs Micheline Calmy-Rey, in a letter sent to her Turkish counterpart, has expressed outrage at reception showed when the Switzerland’s national football team landed at Istanbul A... more
CuriositiesA snake on a Swiss flight from Zurich to Moscow spread panic on board
Zurich, Switzerland - A Russian boy's escapade will cost his family dearly
A 20-year-boy, boarded with his mother, brought a 25-centimetre snake with him from Switzerland. He concealed it into his trousers and managed to evade security controls. During boarding operations the... more
CuriositiesPaul McCartney to perform live for ISS crew
Washington, USA - It is the first time that a live concert will be transmitted to a spacecraft
The ex-Beatles Paul McCartney will perform live for the crew of the ISS (International Space Station) tomorrow -Sunday November 13-. American astronaut William McArthur and Russian cosmonaut Valery Tokarev... more
CuriositiesCzech Airlines: an exclusive flight for a cat from Frankfurt to Prague
Prague, Czech Republic - It had lost itself in the cargo section and caused flight cancellation
A cat seized a chance to be the only passenger on the Czech Airlines flight from Frankfurt to Prague last week. This business flight costed as much as the cancellation of the schedule service, and passengers... more
CuriositiesRichard Branson has a new rival
London, United Kingdom - Martin Halstead is a 19-year-old owner of an airline
If multi-millionaire Richard Branson established a record founding Virgin when he was 22, Martin Halstead has got beyond: he is less than 20 years but has already launched the new airline named Alpha One... more
CuriositiesGoogle founders purchased a Qantas B-767 and renamed it "Google Force One"
New York, USA - "Wall Street Journal" newspaper unveiled it
The aircraft, a B-767/200 built in 1987, would have been acquired from Qantas Airways. It is uncertain which kind of use Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google’s founders, intend to do. The airplane has b... more
CuriositiesBritish ipo-seeing man to qualify as balloon's pilot in Italy
Cuneo, Italy - The BBC television will take the exam
The exceptional event involving Jamie Weller, former ipo-seeing soldier -he has a reduced sight than normal conditions- belonging to "St Dunstan’s", a British charity which cares for blind servicemen, w... more
CuriositiesParts of the Savoia Marchetti S-55 to come back to Italy for measuring and analyses
Rome, Italy - It deals with the last airframe of the seaplane which performed a travel in the Southern Atlantic Ocean
Tail and depth rudder sections of the Savoia Marchetti S-55 seaplane used by Galeazzo Ciano for the historical flight over the Southern Atlantic Ocean will be back to Italy. An Italian Air Force’s B-707, a... more
CuriositiesThe trip around the world of a 60-year-old aviator has ended in tragedy
Tokyo, Japan - His J3 Piper Cub carried out an emergency landing at Kanazawa
He was headed to Hiroshima en route from Niigata on board a period aircraft: a J3 Piper Cub called "Liberty Girl", used in France during the II world war. Maurice Kirk, a 60-year-old British national,... more
CuriositiesAn electric mat around the runway to protect from moose
Anchorage, Alaska - The animals typical of Alaska, Norway, Russia and Siberia are dangerous for airplanes
Wasilla Airport (Canada) has installed an electric mat around the runways to solve the problem of moose that too often carried out runway incursion. "An airplane could disintegrate if it hits a moose"... more
CuriositiesJodie Foster in Rome to present "Flightplan"
Rome, Italy - A film about the fear of flying after 9/11
Jodie Foster has landed in Rome to present her new film -beginning in Italy on November 4- entitled "Flightplan": a movie direct by Robert Schwentke that recalls the fear of flying after 9/11. J- Foster... more
CuriositiesSriLankan Airlines hostess simulated a bomb-alert for a day-off
Colombo, Sri Lanka - She called by her boyfriend's cell phone
A SriLankan Airlines flight attendant would have simulated a threat of bomb on board a plane of her airline because she wanted a rest-day: the Colombo’s "Sunday Times" weekly reported it. Investigators d... more
CuriositiesA comics on Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Rome, Italy - The aviator-writer relives in Hugo Pratt's cartoons
The last flight of the famous French aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupery has inspired the great author of comics Hugo Pratt who drew a book entitled "Saint-Exupery-The last flight", 72 pages dedicated to... more
CuriositiesFlorida: plane stolen at St. Augustine Airport
Washington, USA - FBI sent an anti-terrorism task force to make clear the event
A Cessna Citation 7 tourism plane, worth about USD 10 million, disappeared at St. Augustine Airport (Florida) over past weekend. Someone stole it and the day after left if at Gwinnett County Airport (Georgia),... more
CuriositiesUSAF: chaplains must not evangelize unbeliever soldiers
Washington, USA - Chaplain school' s code of ethics has been withdrawn
The US Air Force has withdrawn the "Code of ethics". This paper, an obligatory vademecum for chaplain school of Maxwell military base (Alabama), allowed priests and military pastors to proselytize toward... more
CuriositiesPrince Andrew stopped at Melbourne Airport
Melbourne, Australia - He refused to undergo metal detector screening
He was about to board a flight from Melbourne bound for New Zeland. He refused the security officials invitation to undergo metal detector screening. So he has been brought to a room to think on his decision... more
CuriositiesAlaska Airlines: a special flight to celebrate its engagement in fish industry
Seattle, USA - A Boeing with salmon dedicated livery
Alaska Airlines landed at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the world’s largest salmon, stretching almost 120 feet and weighing over 140,000 pounds: it was the Boeing 737-400 aircraft named "... more
CuriositiesTwo Jetstream aircraft in exchange for rice
Bangkok, Thailand - A curious proposal of Thailand to buy airplanes from Brazil
Thailand Government accepted the proposal put forward by Defence Ministry to buy two airplanes worth USD 14.4m from Brazil bartering them for rice. Thai Army put at disposal USD 2.4m from its 2005 budget... more
CuriositiesDanish Air Force compensated Santa Claus to have killed his reindeer
Copenaghen, Denmark - He will use the money to buy another reindeer before Christmas
Danish military aviation would have paid an about USD 5000 worth compensation to a part-time Santa Claus whose reindeer would have been killed by an heart attack when two F-16 fighter jets passed over... more
CuriositiesBangkok: and so the new airport has been taken over by birds?!...Let's hunt 'em by the F-16s
Bangkok, Thailand - It would have been stated by part of Thai press on the occasion of the opening of the new air station as Prime Minister if going to attend
More than 40 years were necessary to accomplish the new Bangkok Airport but now it seems that Thai authorities can provide a go-ahead to the operational activities by next year. Nevertheless, nature seems... more
CuriositiesItalian Central Bank: "Who is going to pay for Fazio's private flight?"
Rome, Italy - Margherita Party's Deputy, Roberto Giachetti, wondered about it
Roman Margherita Party’s Deputy, Roberto Giachetti, wondered how Antonio Fazio can use a private airplane for his travels. "One could ask oneself about what thousands citizens affected by Parmalat, Cirio a... more
CuriositiesAlitalia (4): Coldiretti accused the carrier to prefer French cheeses instead of the Italian ones
Rome, Italy - French soft cheeses offered in the Alitalia's VIP rooms
"Alitalia VIP room at New York JFK Airport French cheeses are being offered despite Italy has seized a European leadership for typical and quality food and the US market represents a huge commercial opportunity... more
CuriositiesQueen Beatrix of the Netherlands is forbidden to use Rotterdam Airport
Rotterdam, Netherlands - She took off at night very often breaking anti-noise rules
The Queen can no longer fly from Rotterdam Airport after getting a spot fine for breaking anti-noise restrictions. Airport authorities had in fact claimed very frequent State flights, most of which operated... more
CuriositiesMilitary satellite launch caused a "Rainbow" at night
Los Angeles, USA - The military satellite was launched from California Vandenberg Base
Particular atmospheric conditions and the rocket’s features, produced by recycled parts from the Minuteman II intercontinental missile, enabled the launch of a military satellite, by a Minotaur rocket f... more
CuriositiesGambia's fans faked air emergency to watch soccer game
Lima, Perù - Airplane has been seized and charter airline will be investigated
An airplane of Rum Air carrier faked an emergency due to fuel shortage to allow passengers to watch a soccer game last Tuesday. The L-1011 TriStar was carrying 12 crew members and 289 Gambian passengers... more
CuriositiesJapan: 200 elementary students dragged a B-777 aircraft on the "Sky Day"
Tokyo, Japan - To celebrate the takeoff of the first Japanese commercial flight
After the Twin Towers attempts on September 11 2001, Japan failed to celebrate the "Sky Day": but the rising sun country restarted last Monday to feast the first Nippon commercial flight departed in 1952.... more
CuriositiesMoscow Airport to provide with anti-terrorism machine
Moscow, Russia - The Israel-made device is polyglot
"Someone did come to collect you?" , "Where do you go to stay?" and according to the answer and timber the Israel-made device should enable security services at Moscow’s Domedovo Airport to realize if a... more
CuriositiesJamiroquai: an airport at home as John Travolta
London, United Kingdom - The English pop star to cope with both cars and airplanes passion
Jay Kay, better known as the singer of the Jamiroquai, is planning to build a strip in the ground enclosing his luxury mansion in the Buckinghamshire (United Kingdom). British singer is well known for... more
CuriositiesUnited Kingdom: to-let sign fighter bomber to integrate Defence's balance
London, United Kingdom - Troops and barracks provided to sets for cash
British Ministry of Defence needs to integrate the balance and so it is available to hire out soldiers, facilities and materials to film-makers and advertising companies. Military equipments, including... more
CuriositiesAeroflot: woman gave birth on a flight bound for Los Angeles from Moscow
Moscow, Russia - Two doctors refused to aid the woman
Flight attendants helped the Russian woman to deliver her baby last night aboard the Aeroflot B-767 en route from Moscow to Los Angeles. Two doctors on the same flight refused to aid the woman without... more
CuriositiesContinental Airlines evacuated dogs from hurricane zone by a charter flight
Houston, Usa - Last Sunday on board of a B-737/800
Continental Airlines last Sunday, Sept. 11, has operated a Louisiana evacuation flight carrying up to 100 passengers -- who are all dogs. The dogs are all homeless as a result of Hurricane Katrina. The... more
CuriositiesHelicopter rescue may cost the earth to base-jumper Ben Gibson
Sydney, Australia - He will receive bills and a fine
He was rescued "Too much" times and the rescue helicopter service is planning to present the bill to the young Australian who is mad about the base-jumping. He was rescued for the umpteenth time by a... more
CuriositiesIsraeli former official "Trapped" on an El Al plane
London, United Kingdom - General Almog was flying to London to partecipate a fund-raising
Doron Almog, a retired Army General, arrived at London to partecipate a three days meeting destined to pick up funds in favour of an Israeli infant neurological institute, but some nationals advised to... more
CuriositiesKosovo: PM Kosumi confessed to have pocket a EUR 20,000 bribe
Pristina, Kosovo - He used money to pay a private flight
Premier Bajram Kosumi confessed that before journalists. He accepted the sum from a friend entrepreneur to pay the flight back from Turkey to Kosovo by a private jet. Kosovo’s law prohibits politicians t... more
CuriositiesLatvia: the erotic advertising posters away at the Riga's Airport
Riga, Latvia - The Transport minister, Ainars Slesers, decided it
Two large posters representing wonderful women in an almost "Adamitical" version publicizing a local strip-tease club are there to "welcome" the passengers landing at Riga’s Airport, in Latvia, from o... more
CuriositiesA failure for Paltrow's plane: no-show in Venice for the US actress
New, York, USA - She replied via mobile phone at journalists questions
Gwyneth Paltrow’s landing at Venice Film Festival to present her new movie "Proof" was unsuccessful because the Delta Airlines plane expected to fly the actress to the Laguna was forced to return back N... more
CuriositiesRoyal Navy's helicopter pilots protagonist in a pop-video
London, United Kingdom - Following British Army soldiers
Royal Navy officers on the frigate HMS Campbeltown currently on patrol in Indian Ocean, have perfomed a video of Queen’s legendary hit "Bohemian Rhapsody", produced in their spare time. It was not just a... more