STRIDE USV Prototype

Researchers of STRIDE have developed an unmanned surface vessel (USV) prototype which measures water quality. Such role is currently being undertaken by RMN vessel and requires huge amount of human resources to implement such task. Furthermore, current method employed is only suitable for operations in deep water rather than shallow water.

The prototype uses low cost acoustic transducer integrated with GPS receiver for localization. It is also being equipped with digital compass for heading as well as water quality system.

The USV uses GRP composite material which gave its lightweight yet strong characteristic. To provide stability, it embodies catamaran concept as its design platform.

MHS Aviation Unique EC-225

Last Friday I’ve saw a unique EC-225 (9M-SPE) which belongs to MHS Aviation at the new Eurocopter Malaysia facility at Subang Airport. The Super Puma Mk II helicopter wore a special ” EC-225″ decal on its fuselage.

EC-225 is one of the first Super Puma Mk II helicopter delivered to MHS Aviation, one of Malaysia’s leading air transport provider for oil and gas industries. The company had collaborated with Vietnamese Southern Helicopter Co last year, for the operation of the latter’s EC-225 (9M-STK), along with its two pilots and mechanics, in support of offshore oil and gas exploration activities in Malaysia for a period of two years.(here)

Southern Helicopter Co owns the largest EC-225 fleet in ASEAN region.

Putrajaya Youth Festival: Kite Booth

2013 Putrajaya Youth Festival is perhaps one of the biggest festival ever held in this country. With over 500 booths, one could take hours and walk kilometers long just to go into each of these booth.

As for me, having two small kids means that I need to prioritized. Having said that, my priorities is of course the military and security segment near the Sultan Mizan Mosque. I wanted to go to the kite segment which was unfortunately allocated in an unsuitable location despite the ample open field that the organiser has provided. Being at near to a busy road means that people could not get suitable parking to get there. Hence, I’ve just making a brief stop by the roadside and managed to snap just one picture (somebody is honking from behind so I had to drive away).

STRIDE Research On Camouflage Pattern For RMN Boats

The first time RMN vessels were applied with camouflaged colour scheme was in the 1960’s during the operation of six Perkasa class Fast Patrol Boat (FPB) built by Vosper. Six of these FPBs uses two tone South East Asia colour scheme similar to those applied on US combat aircraft during Vietnam War. Nevertheless, the FPBs service in the RMN were short-while since they were retired from service and subsequently replaced by six FAC (G) vessels also designated as the Perkasa class.

When the RMN was tasked to support the Malaysian Army’s counter insurgency operations along the Rajang river, its LCM and LCP were also applied with the two tone camouflage colour scheme. As the communist threats diminished in the 1990’s, it seems that there has been no operational requirement whatsoever for the application of camouflage on RMN’s vessels.

Some of Malaysian Army’s assault boat also adorned standard Harimau Belang camouflage scheme.

As means to distinguished the identity of vessels operated respective maritime law enforcement agencies  such as the Marine Police and the Customs, unique camouflaged scheme were applied on their respective vessels. The Marine Police has introduced three tone blue camouflaged on its vessels similar to the previous camouflaged uniform worn by the RMP’s GOF personnel. The Royal Malaysian Custom Department also applied multi tone camouflaged scheme on its boats especially its Perantas interceptor boats.

Royal Custom Department’s boat

Marine Police boat

Realising the benefit of having a camouflaged pattern which allows patrol vessels to blend with their environment so as to avoid detection, STRIDE researchers have embarked on  the development of camouflaged pattern suitable for patrol vessels. Several digital and artistic camouflaged template are being proposed for possible usage as being shown as follows.

Artistic pattern template

Digital pattern template

CARAT 2013: RMAF Personnel’s Tour Into USN Orion

RMAF personnel were given tours on the participating P-3C Orion operated by VP-26 “Trident” squadron from NAS Jacksonville, Florida. The RMN Aviation Branch (CUT) did not operate any maritime patrol aircraft (MPA), since the responsibility falls under the RMAF ever since the latter acquired DH-114 Heron. Following the retirement of Herons, the RMAF has operated other MPA such as HU-16 Albatross and PC-130HMP Camar. With the disbandment of No 4 Skn which transferred its Camar (subsequently converted to KC-130H standard) to No 20 Skn, the Subang based No 16 Skn has assume such role with four Beechcraft B-200TMP Super King Air.

 

Meanwhile, RMN sailors were given exposures on US Navy’s ROV and UUV.

Flying Kites at Putra Heights

If not for a car accident that happened to me and a colleague of mine, I don’t think I’d ever came to Putra Heights. We were on our way back from Bangi when my friend had knock into somebody’s car. After the usual and often hostile post-accident ‘negotiations’, we agreed to follow her to Putra Heights where she had knew a paint shop there.

I was not happy enough to go there after what had happened that evening but just a few meters from the paint shop, there’s a open field where the locals flew their kites. It’s not as big as the Kepong Kite Park though, but what makes it different is the type of kites played there. There’s two big kites of modern design were flown there instead of the usual toy kite that people used to buy when they came to kite parks. Feels like mini Pasir Gudang to me.

 

Malaysian Space Dream: Is it okay with just CANSAT and Water Rocket?

Come this 10th October, Malaysia will be celebrating its 6th year anniversary of sending first Angkasawan  into space. This historical event was definitely an eye opener to many Malaysians. In fact, it has spark deep interest among Malaysians with regard to space technology. 

Another space flight mission has been long planned to send another Malaysian astronaut to space but financial constraint cause it to be delayed to an unspecified timeframe. Nevertheless, it seems now that the focus of Malaysian Space Exploration program will revolve around the development of satellites and space launch vehicle.

As part of the effort to nurture interest in satellite development and space launch vehicle, Malaysia’s Space Agency, ANGKASA has initiated the SiswaSAT and Water Rocket competition.

The SiswaSAT competition has been inspired from the CANSat program that had been organised worldwide especially in Japan as well as in the US. The objective of the competition is to provide a platform for undergraduate student to enrich knowledge, acquire experience and exchange information in relation to space technology. Nano-satellite  with specific payload and system controldesigned by Malaysian local university student will be launch through weather balloon and dropped at certain height to test the performance of each contesting satellite.

SiswaSAT launched via weather baloon

UNISEL’s UNiSSAT V.1 detached from a rocket during World CANSAT Competition

UNISEL’s UNiSSAT V.1

MMU’s MMUSat 

IIUM’s SiswaSAT 

UPNM’s SiswaSAT

In 2007, SiswaSAT winner from UNISEL has managed to clinch First Place (Open Class CANSAT) and Third Place (Telemetry Category) at CANSAT Competitions World Varsity Championship held at Madrid, Spain. The success of UNiSSAT V.1 has proved that Malaysia has the potential to further master and develop local expertise on satellite technology.

Meanwhile, the National Water Rocket Competition aims on nurturing Malaysia’s Secondary School student the aspect of aerodynamic and trajectory of a water rocket made by each of competing groups from plastic bottles. All rocket will be assessed based from the height it reach, its loitering time and ability to land on a specific ground target.

Water rocket made from plastic bottle 

Launching a water rocket 

Reentry via parachute

While these may be the initial launch pad for greater capacity building effort in terms of Malaysia’s space technology, it seems that more could be done to provide better knowledge and value content on these two programs. Take Indonesia for example, each year Indonesia’s Space Agency, LAPAN held a rocket design competition among its undergraduate students. Each rocket will have its own specialised payload and are able to transmit data to ground station.

Indonesia’s rocket competition

AVCEN Jetpod

Whole wide range of Jetpods

The AVCEN Jetpod was definitely a tragic story. One man’s ambition to create quick and reliable air travel much like an air taxi was destroyed in his tragic and abrupt demise following his prototype’s first and only test flight in August 16, 2009.

The Jetpod was Mr Michael Robert Dacre‘s solution to provide a very quite short take off and landing aircraft that only needs relatively short runways approximately 125 meters. Having such aircraft would not only benefited commercial markets. It also befits several other roles such rural transport, MEDEVAC as well as military function.

Mike Dacre

The Jetpod prototype prior to its tragic end 

The fact that the unfortunate aircraft did fly was an astounding proof that the concept might work and that the aircraft do have great potential should it has had made a successful flight during the August 16 incident. Malaysia would probably made some gains too because there has been plans that production of the aircraft will be made here. AVCEN even had an office at Kuala Lumpur’s Technology Park just to prove that it is serious to do business.

The Jetpod crashed and burst into flame

Having said that however, it has been nearly four years since the incident and there has been no indication that Mr Dacre’s work will be continued by any interested parties or individuals.

Weststar Maxus Targets 40% Contribution

Weststar Maxus Sdn Bhd, the automotive arm of Weststar Group aims to increase its contribution to the Group’s revenue by 40% within the next 2 years compared to 20% last year. The targeted contribution is supported by the strong sales growth in the domestic market as well as the company’s move to expand its operations abroad.

The company is the supplier of Weststar 4×4 GS Cargo, several of which have been deployed to Lahad Datu, Sabah as part of Ops Daulat. It also supplies Weststar Maxus V80 to the Malaysian Army consist of 100 Passenger Vans and 40 Ambulances supplied in 2010. Weststar is also proposing its Weapon Platform to MINDEF.

Weststar Maxus V80 during Indo Defence

Weststar GS Cargo

Weststar Weapon Platform

Taiping Aerodrome

Note: The following is a repository of a post published in malfly.blogspot.com on July 18, 2011 with title similar as above

Taiping Aerodrome might not be as popular as the Ipoh Airport but it surely plays important role within the context of Malaysian aviation history. It is the oldest South East Asian and Malaysian airport together with Alor Setar airport which both were built by the British in 1929 for non-military purposes. Being relatively at the heart of Peninsular Malaysia, Taiping was then seen as important hub for flights from Singapore, Alor Setar, Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

Taiping Aerodrome today 

Malaya’s first airlines, Wearne Air Service Co, made daily flights to Taiping. The famed American aviator Amelia Earheart stopby at Taiping Airport for fuel stoppage in 1937.In 12 August 1945, a Japanese aeroplane carrying Indonesia’s President and Vice-President, Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta landed here to meet hardline Malayan nationalist like Ibrahim Yaakub and Dr Burhanuddin Al-Helmi to discuss about annexation of Malaya into Indonesia.

During Malaysia’s second communist insurgency, Taiping Aerodrome has played significant role as forward operating base to RMAF DHC-4 Caribou  providing air drop to supply ground troops fighting deep in the jungle. After the demise of Malaya Communist Party (PKM), the airport significance was left in balance and was overshadowed by Ipoh Airport which ironically is also struggling to gain importance in Malaysia’s aviation sector.

Diorama at Malaysian Army Museum showing Caribou ops at Taiping 

In 2007, Global Flying Hospital, an NGO that provide worldwide humanitarian medical charity announced that it has choosed Taiping Aerodrome as its center hub. Although suitable for the organisation’s Hercules aircraft, it is deemed inappropriate for its A-320 and Boeing 747 aircraft. Later on, GFH announced that it is seeking elsewhere outside Malaysia.

On August 2009, a tragic air crash had happened in this airport that claim the life of the pilot, Michael Robert Dacre, 53 years old, which is also the inventor of the aircraft. The highly revolutionised aircraft, called Jetpod flew about 200 meters before plummeting to the ground, where it was engulfed in flames.

Artist impression of Jetpod Air Taxi 

A scene of the crash site 

Malaysian firefighters putting of the flame