Buying a new home is a big deal. For many homeowners, it's one of the most important decisions they ever make. When it comes to such a substantial choice, there are a lot of factors to consider, like:
Getting the answers to those questions can be hard but finding a trustworthy manufactured home company can be even more challenging. Sure, you could settle for a fly-by-night company or a shady mobile home dealer. But if you're like most folks, you want to work with a reliable company that has been in business for years. You need a team of professionals who can answer your questions, address your concerns, and sell you a quality home that will keep your family safe and sound.
Welcome to Ken-Co Homes Inc. - your premier choice for mobile home sales in Hover, SC. Ken-Co Homes has been Lake City's go-to manufactured home since 1974. With several locations in South Carolina, we're the first choice for manufactured homes in the state. As longtime locals in the community, we pride ourselves on honesty, hard work, and running a manufactured home business that you can count on.
There's no secret sauce that makes Ken-Co Homes successful. We work hard, sell the finest Clayton, Destiny, Scotbilt, Homes, and treat our customers like we would like to be treated. That's why, when you meet our team for your home tour, you'll be treated with respect and greeted with a warm smile. Whether you have questions regarding financing or the fit and finish of a floorplan, we'll maintain that same level of kindness, courtesy, and honesty. That way, you know for sure that you have invested in a top-notch manufactured home that your family will love.
Unlike other manufactured home dealers, we have a full selection of Clayton Homes for sale with attractive floor plans to fit your unique lifestyle. When you choose Ken-Co Homes, you're also choosing:
We offer our valued customers a $500 guarantee that we will meet or beat ANY competitor who has a lower price on one of our homes with the same options. Don't believe us? Contact our office today!
With decades of combined experience, our team has the tools and know-how to make your buying process smooth and stress-free.
Buying a home can be challenging, especially with travel logistics and other factors at play. Our team can help answer any questions you have about buying a home and transporting it to a park or piece of private land.
When you buy from Ken-Co Homes, you're investing in a high-quality product that your family will love for years to come. With more than a dozen home choices, you're sure to find a new home that matches your lifestyle.
We'll work with you one-on-one to ensure you get the home of your dreams. If you have questions or concerns once you move in, give us a call - we're here to help.
We offer detail-oriented, experienced set-up crews that make living life in your new home easy and efficient.
At Ken-Co Homes, we offer flexible financing options to help make buying your dream home a reality.
Whether you're looking for a smaller two-bedroom manufactured home or a large, luxurious four-bedroom manufactured home, our friendly consultants are ready to help you build the home of your dreams.
"Is there a difference between a mobile home and a manufactured home?" is one of the most common questions we get online and in person. Today, many people use mobile home and manufactured home interchangeably. That's understandable because both types of homes share similar features and benefits for homeowners. However, understanding the minor differences can be valuable when searching for a new place to call home.
Unlike site-built homes, manufactured homes are built in a factory. Once completed, they're shipped to a specific location where the homeowner will live. The term "manufactured home" refers to any factory-built home constructed after June 15, 1976. That date is when the HUD or U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development implemented guidelines centered around manufactured home construction.
HUD code requires manufactured homes to be constructed on a base frame with wheels with a minimum of 320 square feet.
Thanks to fast build times and lower material costs, manufactured homes for sale in Hover, SC is often more cost-effective for home buyers. Compared to traditional site-built homes, many manufactured homes can be up to 35% less than more traditional houses.
Any mobile homes built after June 15, 1976, are considered manufactured homes today, though many people use the term mobile home casually. In the past, these homes were used to travel and were more like the expensive RVs that people use today than true manufactured homes. Back then, mobile homes received a bad reputation due to poor build quality, but they've come a long way since that time. Today, mobile homes are safe, comfortable, and structurally sound, with many types of amenities and floor plans.
Manufactured homes are more popular in the U.S. than ever, and for good reason: prospective homeowners are looking for affordable, quality alternatives to traditional homes. That's especially true today, with inflation on the rise, necessitating more budget-friendly options for anyone who wants to put a roof over their heads.
If you're used to living in a traditional, site-built home, you may be wondering what the advantages are of buying a manufactured home. Here are just a few of the most common benefits of buying a manufactured home:
When you boil it down to the basics, buying a new home is all about the money. One of the most attractive reasons for buying a manufactured home is that they are often much less expensive than traditional site-built homes. Today, manufactured housing is considered a crucial part of the housing shortage solution and a viable option with inflation rising. According to statistics, the average square-foot cost of a site-built home is $107, while the average price is only $49 in a manufactured home. Whether you're sticking to a strict budget or your finances have changed due to poor economic conditions, going manufactured might be your best choice.
Owning a manufactured home gives the homeowner long-term living options. Because basic manufactured homes are usually very affordable, families with enough land can start with a small home and add additional units as their needs change. Manufactured homes are also great as starter homes, especially for families that plan on building a permanent structure on their land in the future. Though it could be logistically challenging, manufactured homes can also be moved to a different site if the initial one was on rented property.
Manufactured homes have received a bad rap over the last few decades. In reality, most manufactured homes are purpose-built for longevity with structural integrity. Every manufactured home built today is subject to the HUD code adopted in 1976. This code is the only federally-mandated code in existence. It was designed to ensure that manufactured homes meet strict standards regarding fire safety, structural design, energy efficiency, transportation to home sites, and overall construction. All manufactured homes sold in the U.S. have a permanent red seal to confirm they meet HUD standards.
When you buy a manufactured home, you may be able to move in faster than you would via traditional routes. Some manufactured homes are even move-in ready in less than 45 days. Compared to a traditional home, once a new manufactured home is built in the factory, buyers usually find that installation is a quick process. Once the manufactured home is delivered, utility work usually moves quickly, regardless of whether you're moving to a park or transporting your home to a piece of land. Before you know it, you're eating, sleeping, and enjoying life in your new manufactured home.
When asked about the pros and cons, many buyers cite energy efficiency as one of the most significant benefits of owning a manufactured home. In general, manufactured housing is more energy efficient than traditional because HUD mandates ensure that homes have high energy efficiency ratings.
These ratings are achieved through upgraded insulation installation, on-demand water heaters, and energy-efficient windows. These upgrades often make entire manufactured homes Energy Star certified. It's no surprise that manufactured homes are 27% more efficient than they used to be with other additions like energy-saving appliances in kitchens and bathrooms.
If you've ever lived in an apartment complex before, chances are you heard sounds and noises through your walls that you never wanted to hear. If you hate hearing your neighbors and despise thin walls, looking for mobile home sales in Hover, SC is a great idea. Why? Manufactured homes are typically built using separate modules, which reduces sound transference from room to room. When two or more modules are combined and insulated separately, buyers enjoy an even quieter, stronger home with less outside noise.
If there's one disappointing aspect of manufactured homes, the stigma seems to surround them. Yes, mobile homes from 30 or more years ago aren't exactly marvels of construction and deserve to be criticized. However, modern manufactured homes are cut from a different cloth and are often every bit as safe and luxurious as site-built homes.
Here are some of the most common (and annoying) mobile home myths debunked:
Modern manufactured homes are factory-built homes crafted with quality materials that meet comprehensive federal construction and safety standards. These standards, called the "HUD Code," outline how the homes must be built, including safety guidelines. For example, manufactured home builders must take strict measures to ensure their homes are resistant to wind. In terms of hurricanes and tornados, having such measures in place can prevent a tragedy from happening.
The bottom line is that manufactured homes are plenty safe and provide a quality product to people who want a lower-cost option over traditional housing.
One of the most repeated myths surrounding manufactured homes is that they are in poor shape and have an overall poor quality. Today, many manufactured homes are built with quality materials and care. It's not unusual to find a manufactured home with luxurious amenities and features lie state-of-the-art kitchens, high-end appliances, and chic open floor plans. At Ken-Co Homes, we can provide you with a complete list of available upgrades and amenities for you to enjoy in your new home.
Perhaps it's due to their popularity and lower prices, but we often hear that it's hard to find manufactured homes for sale. As seasoned home dealers, we can say this is categorically false. Whether you head over to Google and search for "mobile homes near me in Hover, SC," or simply head to Ken-Co Homes' website, you'll see plenty of homes to choose from. Contact our office today for a full list of our homes for sale!
When it comes to home prices in today's day and age, manufactured homes are among the most affordable options available.
That's because manufactured homes cost less to construct than site-built homes, with the average price costing $92K for new construction and $60K for a pre-owned manufactured home, according to recent data. The cost of a traditional home is much higher, with an average of $408K, according to Statista data from 2021. Even though manufactured home living costs change depending on the community, they're often much less expensive than their site-built cousins in the long run.
This myth parallels the stereotype that manufactured homes are cheap and poorly built. Unfortunately, many people still believe that living in a manufactured home community isn't safe. They think that the parks are run down and riddled with reprobates. In reality, many manufactured home parks mimic gated communities with 24-hour security and mandated quiet hours. Some manufactured home neighborhoods even offer community-wide amenities like spas and pools. If you're a fan of the gated community lifestyle but don't want to pay hundreds of thousands for a site-built home, a manufactured home community could be your best bet.
Are you giving serious thought to buying a manufactured home for sale in South Carolina? You're not alone - more than 365K people in the Palmetto State live in manufactured homes. At Ken-Co Homes Inc., we're not your average run-of-the-mill manufactured home dealer. We only do business with manufacturing partners committed to building top-quality products that our customers are proud to own.
If you're looking for modern amenities, energy-efficient appliances, unique floorplans, and homes constructed with quality materials, Ken-Co Homes is the company for you. Contact our office today to learn more about our beautiful Clayton homes for sale in Hover, SC.
Windows 11 users may soon use the built-in Search of the operating system by just hovering over the search field on the taskbar. The change landed in the latest Windows 11 Dev build and is hidden by default in that build.Earnings from sales of the Windows operating system have not been one of Microsoft's top priorities anymore in recent years. Cloud drives revenue and Microsoft hopes that the AI-infused Bing will contribute significantly to the company's earnings in the coming years.With search increasing in importance, Microso...
Windows 11 users may soon use the built-in Search of the operating system by just hovering over the search field on the taskbar. The change landed in the latest Windows 11 Dev build and is hidden by default in that build.
Earnings from sales of the Windows operating system have not been one of Microsoft's top priorities anymore in recent years. Cloud drives revenue and Microsoft hopes that the AI-infused Bing will contribute significantly to the company's earnings in the coming years.
With search increasing in importance, Microsoft started to integrate it deeper into Windows. The AI-powered Bing is now just a click away, but there is always room for improvement.
Windows 11 Developer build 23435 includes a hidden setting that defines whether search activates on hover. Spotted by Twitter user PhantomOcean3, it is a new option under Personalization > Taskbar in the Windows 11 Settings.
If enabled, users display the main search interface by hovering the mouse cursor over the search field on the taskbar. The functionality is still in development and it is turned off by default at this time.
It would not be the first time that Microsoft enables a hover action by default on Windows 11. Previously, hovering over the Widgets icon would display the entire interface, and it took Microsoft some time to create a setting to turn off the action.
Windows 11 Developer build users who want to give it a try need to use the ViVeTool to enable certain features.
The new Setting should now be available. You may launch the Settings app with the keyboard shortcut Windows-I.
The new feature is a work in progress, and there is a chance that it will never land in Stable builds of the Windows 11 operating system.
Closing Words
Hover actions have often the tendency to disrupt work. Most Windows 11 users may not become aware of the new option if Microsoft keeps it turned off by default. If not, and there is a chance of this happening, it could be very disruptive and searches for how to turn off the search field hover on Windows 11 may skyrocket.
Now You: hover or not, which do you prefer? (via Neowin)
Article Name
Windows 11 Search may soon open on hover
Description
Windows 11 users may soon use the built-in Search of the operating system by just hovering over the search field on the taskbar.
Author
Martin Brinkmann
Publisher
Ghacks Technology News
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According to Simpson Strong-Tie, its new Aluminum Concealed Beam Hanger (ACBH) is designed for mass timber structures and engineered to support loads up to 20 kips (equivalent to 20,000 pounds of force). Designed to provide a concealed connection for fire performance and architectural aesthetics, the ACBH joins the existing CBH concealed beam hanger as part of a family of connectors and solutions for mass timber construction. Fabricated from machined aluminum, the ACBH allows for the use of 45° countersunk fasteners, delivering significa...
According to Simpson Strong-Tie, its new Aluminum Concealed Beam Hanger (ACBH) is designed for mass timber structures and engineered to support loads up to 20 kips (equivalent to 20,000 pounds of force). Designed to provide a concealed connection for fire performance and architectural aesthetics, the ACBH joins the existing CBH concealed beam hanger as part of a family of connectors and solutions for mass timber construction. Fabricated from machined aluminum, the ACBH allows for the use of 45° countersunk fasteners, delivering significantly higher loads and stiffness per screw. For situations where a single ACBH is still not sufficient for the design loads, two connectors can be used on a single beam end to achieve twice the allowable download of a single connector. strongtie.com
According to manufacturer Digger Specialties, Inc., its Westbury VertiCable railing offers the blend of lasting beauty and resilient strength deck builders and contractors are looking for. Available in multiple colors and textures, VertiCable railing is USA-made, with an architectural-grade coating that ensures a lasting finish. As well, VertiCable is compliant with IBC, IRC and Florida building codes, is reported to save up to 60% on labor costs compared to traditional horizontal cable systems, and can boast faster delivery in pre- assembled and tensioned sections for easy installation. VertiCable is available in section heights of 36″ and 42″, with lengths of 4′, 5′, 6′, 7′ and 8′, and is backed by a lifetime limited warranty. diggerspecialties.com
Like something from science fiction, Hover Doors’ magnetically-levitating sliding and bi-fold doors utilize magnets to support the door panels, thus eliminating bearings, pulleys, and other typical door hardware. According to Hover Doors (a research and development firm), magnetic levitating doors operate via the principles of opposing magnetic poles. When a negative pole of a magnet comes within range of the field of another negative pole, it generates a force of repulsion over short distances. Hover Doors’ idea is to leverage this physical law to oppose the force of gravity, eliminating the need for conventional moving parts in its door sets. Unlike conventional doors which only have the illusion of hovering in space, Hover Doors remain levitated without any anchoring or supporting structure. hoverdoors.com
New from TruStile, its Resilient Wood Entry System was designed and developed in partnership with Marvin. According to TruStile, the system utilizes innovative materials, including resilient Accoya, an acetylated wood product with unprecedented reliability and durability, while the system’s Tricoya top layers provide exceptional stability, durability, and paintability for challenging outdoor environments. Most configurations are delivered pre-hung with a premium prime finish, ready to paint to match any design. Resilient entry doors come with a 10-year warranty for limited to no overhang applications, depending on system design specifications. trustile.com
Allied Air Enterprises recently introduced two new Pro Series heat pumps along with a Pro Series air conditioner. Available exclusively through the Armstrong Air and AirEase brands, the new 4SHP22LX and 4SHP18LX heat pumps offer up to 22 SEER (20.9 SEER2) and 20 SEER (19 SEER2) respectively, while the new 4SCU23LX air conditioner features up to 23 SEER (21.5 SEER2) efficiency ratings. Allied Air’s new Pro Series products work with existing indoor components to simplify the 2023 regulatory transition for their distributors and dealers. According to the manufacturer, these units operate at less than half the sound of traditional 14 SEER equipment, and they will allow qualifying consumers to take advantage of new federal incentives available through the Inflation Reduction Act. alliedair.com
KEEN Utility’s outdoor-inspired medium-duty Insulated Dover boot is designed with 600 grams of KEEN.WARM insulation for cold weather use. It features the KEEN KONNECTFIT Heel Locking System along with the KEEN Utility LUFTcell midsole comprised of nearly 100,000 air bubbles per cubic centimeter for lightweight all-day wear. Non-metallic and weighing nearly 15% less than traditional steel, the carbon fiber asymmetrical safety toe caps offer a roomier and unobtrusive fit. An ergonomically-designed, removable PU footbed provides underfoot support while a Cleansport NXT antimicrobial liner offers natural odor protection. The Dover boot also features a waterproof leather upper, KEEN.DRY breathable waterproof membrane, and an EH-rated abrasion-, oil- and slip-resistant non-marking rubber outsole. keenfootwear.com
New from fastener manufacturer SPAX, its online interactive whole-home feature, found at spax.us/ products, enables builders to quickly find the correct fastener for specific jobsite applications. The SPAX interactive whole home feature showcases 11 clickable areas within a home where fasteners may be used, from deck ledger attachments to multi-ply sawn lumber assemblies. For each project, options are given to provide guidance as to which fastener is best for that application. spax.us
Feeney, Inc. recently introduced Stainless Steel Intermediate Pickets for its DesignRail aluminum railing systems. Offering a sleek alternative to square, powder-coated pickets, the new pickets provide a lower profile alternative for DesignRail with CableRail infill where posts are spaced more than three feet apart. Available in three configurations including 36″ Level, 42″ Level, and Universal Stair, the 5/8″-dia. 316 stainless steel tubes are available pre-drilled for 1/8″-dia. cable at 3″ spacing, and are field trimmable for quick installation. According to Feeney, the Stainless Steel Intermediate Pickets are compatible with all DesignRail rail heights, all Top Rail profiles, and all mounting options, and can be used on frames with or without a bottom rail. They have no visible fasteners for a clean, streamlined aesthetic. feeneyinc.com
Exclusively available from Permalatt Products Inc., its new aluminum lattice is designed to enhance outdoor lifestyles with elegance and distinctive aesthetics. Permalatt’s decorative 3-D aluminum lattice panels can be used for a myriad of applications including pergolas, creating patio rooms, skirting for decks, enclosures for HVAC systems, and patio covers for protection from the sun and elements. Permalatt’s lattice panels are available in nine different colors including black for an impressive accent to outdoor living spaces. permalatt.com
Fastener manufacturer CAMO’s new full line of code-compliant structural screws are engineered to start fast, drive smooth, and hold strong. According to CAMO, the screws feature a flat head for a flush finish, a chamfered neck and underhead nibs that reportedly help with countersinking, along with a straight knurl that reduces driving torque, aggressive thread TPI and angle, and slashes for reduces splitting. The structural screws require no pre-drilling and feature proprietary coating for superior corrosion resistance. As well, CAMO’s structural screws have been third-party tested, audited, and certified as IBC and IRC code-compliant. camofasteners.com
New from Tando, its 5″ architecturally precise Beach House Shake is designed as a low-maintenance alternative to natural cedar shake. According to Tando, these shakes won’t discolor, fade or stain, never need painting, and are significantly faster to install when compared to natural cedar shakes. As a 5″ re-squared and rebutted shingle, Beach House Shake is available in four natural cedar shades that include white cedar Sandcastle, silver gray Atlantica, deep gray Hatteras, and western red cedar Pacifica. beachhouseshake.com
MoistureShield (part of Oldcastle APG), recently launched its new Solid Core Composite Series Railing. Made in the USA, it’s available in three series: Traverse, a traditional T-Rail profile with a smooth, glossy finish in White, Clay and Gray can be paired with Square Composite or Round Aluminum infill options; Discovery, a traditional bread loaf profile with a smooth glossy finish in White, Clay and Gray with color-matched infills as well as black; and Navigator, a premium composite railing in Capital, Contempo and Graspable Stair top rail styles with an acrylic satin white finish and look and feel of natural wood. Each Solid Core Composite Railing kit includes top rails, infill options and hidden brackets. Accessories include post sleeves, gate kits, wired or solar lighting options and ADA components. All MoistureShield railings are code-approved for safety and security and include a Transferable Limited Lifetime Warranty. moistureshield.com
DEWALT has released new FLEXTORQ Square Drive Modular Right Angle Attachments, available in a 1/4″ or 3/8″ square drive. According to DEWALT, the benefits of these new attachments include sockets that seamlessly attach without the need for additional adaptors, forged gears withstand tough applications and provide up to ten times longer life, a design that allows users to quickly switch between standard and ultra-compact attachments, and a 1-1/2″ head height for increased accessibility. dewalt.com
Jun. 30—This weekend and the following week are supposed to be the hottest stretch of the year so far in Aiken and much of South Carolina.Heat index values are predicted to be up to, or around 110, Sunday afternoon and hover around 100 most of the weekend.Heat index values are a combination of predicted temperatures and predicted humidity. They're supposed to better encapsulate the heat's impact on the body.As it is the first instance of extreme heat this summer and a holiday weekend, Chris Rohrbach, a meteorologis...
Jun. 30—This weekend and the following week are supposed to be the hottest stretch of the year so far in Aiken and much of South Carolina.
Heat index values are predicted to be up to, or around 110, Sunday afternoon and hover around 100 most of the weekend.
Heat index values are a combination of predicted temperatures and predicted humidity. They're supposed to better encapsulate the heat's impact on the body.
As it is the first instance of extreme heat this summer and a holiday weekend, Chris Rohrbach, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Columbia, said it is even more important to take precautions to stay safe.
"The first round of extreme heat you get in years (is) potentially a little bit more dangerous because people haven't really experienced that sort of heat this year," Rohrbach said.
To stay safe, avoid heat exhaustion and heat stroke, Rohrbach said it is important to regularly drink water, apply and re-apply sunscreen.
He also said to wear light, loose-fitting clothing and move inside to a cooler environment to take breaks from the sun when needed.
The symptoms for heat exhaustion include dizziness, thirst and heavy sweating. These symptoms can escalate over time to heat stroke with symptoms of confusion and dizziness as well as unconsciousness if left untreated long enough.
Rohrbach said if you feel or witness symptoms of heat stroke to move to a cooler area, remove any possible extra layers and call 911.
Those who are looking to get relief from the heat can get water and shade at a variety of locations in Aiken.
The Salvation Army's main office offers shelter from the heat along with free water bottles. Salvation Army shelters in Aiken also have a cooling station outside with cups and cold water.
The H. Odell Weeks Activities Center is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. A cooling station with free water and cups can also be found there.
The Smith-Hazel Recreation center offers a cooling station between 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The recreation center is open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the week.
Lt. Jennifer Hayes with Aiken Department of Public Safety reminds people to wear sunscreen, drink lots of water and plan events when it is the coolest outside.
Those who must work in the heat should set up a buddy system to tag team the work so one person is not in the sun for too long, Hayes said.
Pregnant women, children, the elderly and pets are more susceptible to adverse reactions to the heat, so they should avoid spending too much time outside, she added. This includes leaving children or pets in cars that aren't running with air conditioning.
A South Carolina witness at Ridgeland reported watching a military helicopter following a solid orange light at about 10:30 p.m. on October 20, 2022, according to testimony from the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC).The witness was home and inside and heard the sound of the helicopter. On the third pass, the witness stepped outside to see what was going on.“I saw the military helicopter flying extremely slow, east of me and traveling south,” the ...
A South Carolina witness at Ridgeland reported watching a military helicopter following a solid orange light at about 10:30 p.m. on October 20, 2022, according to testimony from the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC).
The witness was home and inside and heard the sound of the helicopter. On the third pass, the witness stepped outside to see what was going on.
“I saw the military helicopter flying extremely slow, east of me and traveling south,” the reporting witness stated. “As I was watching it, I then noticed a solid orange light preceding the helicopter.”
The object appeared to be about 100 yards in front of the helicopter. The witness watched it for about 15 minutes total as it traveled south and then circled back north.
No images were included in the report, which was filed on October 29, 2022, and posted for public view on December 22, 2022. Ridgeland is a town in Jasper and Beaufort counties, population 3,749. Witness quotes were edited for clarity. Please report UFO activity to NUFORC or to the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON).
South Carolina Cases
South Carolina was rated 30th in total U.S. UFO sightings for November 2022 with six cases filed, according to the MUFON December newsletter. South Carolina shared the rating with Connecticut, Maine, and Colorado. California topped the list with 47 reports.
There were 76 sphere cases reported nationally in November 2022.
Historic Ridgeland
A South Carolina witness at Ridgeland reported watching a silent, slow-moving, cigar-shaped object moving just above the tree tops at about 1:23 a.m. on January 12, 2012, according to testimony from the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC).
The witness was outside walking to a vehicle to respond to a structure fire when the object was first seen.
“I noticed a very large, slow-moving, cigar-shaped craft that was moving very slow right above the tree tops, no more than 300 to 400 feet away from me, and made no sound,” the reporting witness stated.
The sky was clear and the moon was almost full, so the witness grabbed Gen 3 night vision goggles. No wings could be seen, only the fuselage.
The body of the craft or fuselage was abnormally long and appeared to be at least twice the length of most aircraft. The witness is familiar with many aircraft as a former member of a USAF Crash Rescue Team.
“It did not have standard aircraft light markings. Its lights seemed backward. The red blinking or pulsating light was on the front and it had two white dimmer lights on the rear.”
Within a minute, the object moved across the witness’s yard and into a very large open field area. As the witness pulled away to respond to the emergency call, the object moved across the field and was gone.
“It should have been very visible at the slow speed it traveled which was almost a hover or landing speed.”
The witness had never seen any aircraft that looked like this. There were no other aircraft in the area at the time.
No images were included in the report, which was filed on January 12, 2012. Witness quotes were edited for clarity.
September 2, 2022, ©. Leeham News: This is a summary of the article Part 35P, Lilium battery cells.It discusses the requirement the Lilium jet principle puts on its battery cells and how this is solved, both with a slightly different cell type and with some operational adaptations.The Lilium battery cellThe Lilium architecture, with its 30 jets, puts extra strain on the battery system during hover and transition, as discussed in Part 30.Figure 1 is from the...
September 2, 2022, ©. Leeham News: This is a summary of the article Part 35P, Lilium battery cells.
It discusses the requirement the Lilium jet principle puts on its battery cells and how this is solved, both with a slightly different cell type and with some operational adaptations.
The Lilium architecture, with its 30 jets, puts extra strain on the battery system during hover and transition, as discussed in Part 30.
Figure 1 is from the Lilium battery blog, where the typical power consumption during different phases of flight and the use of the battery’s State Of Charge (SOC) is shown.
The high hover power need of 2,500kW peak, 2,200kW average, leads Lilium to adopt an NMC cell with a silicon based anode developed by Zenlabs with an energy density of 319 Wh/kg at a 1C discharge rate.
Due to the high power demand from the battery at transition and hover, a Lilium pilot flying VFR (IFR certification is a later step for the jet) must decide at around 30% battery SOC to land at the heliport or to divert to an airfield for a normal landing. The reason is, with a power demand of 2,500kW, the hover must be finished before 20% SOC, or the battery cannot guarantee a 2,500kW power level.
The range given in Figure 1 is 94nm with a new battery. A battery typically degrades to a charge level of 80% SOC after about 1000 flights. How fast this degradation happens depends on the charge C rate. The 1000 cycles are for a charge rate of 1 C, i.e., it takes about 45 minutes to charge the battery after a flight that has consumed 75% of the battery. With a mission that has 80% SOC at the start and that must be finished before 20% SOC, the range is 55nm.
If you decide to divert at 30% SOC, you have energy for an alternate airfield that lies within 25nm/45km from your decision point. This assumes the VFR landing procedures (any vectoring followed by landing) take five minutes.
Conclusion
The reserve strategy from Lilium with a normal landing after a decision point before transition and hover is a consequence of the design with 10 times higher hover power consumption than for normal flight. It will work if airports are available within 10 minutes flight of the decision point.
Will the above diversion strategy be accepted by the regulator, or will the rules contain extra reserves like a diversion airfield holding time? The reserve rules for EASA SC-VTOL, which are the certification rules Lilium follows, are not set yet. We will have to wait and see.
Sept. 5, 2022, © Leeham News: Boeing has been delivering 737s from its stored inventory and its new production line more slowly than desired. Some customers face a three-month delay, even as Boeing tries to return to normalcy following the 21-month grounding of the MAX and the impact of the two-year pandemic.
The supply chain is a key culprit. Reconfiguring stored airplanes for lessees or buys after a change from the original operator is another. Engine shortages are still another.
BOC Aviation, a lessor headquartered in Singapore, faces three months delays, Robert Martin, the CEO, said in an interview with LNA.
“It’s a mixture of things. The first thing is the engines,” Martin said. “There’s been a delay in engines, and this is not just a Boeing problem, let’s be clear. Airbus has the same problem. Basically, the numbers of engines that they have available to put on the aircraft that are being built are not sufficient. There are different reasons for that.”
Martin said some are due to issues at the engine manufacturer and their own supply chain behind them. Some issues even go back as far as the forging of the shafts for the engines.
“It’s all the way down the supply chain. The second thing is we’ve seen a lot of supply chain problems. People didn’t realize how quickly things were going to gear back up. [The industry] laid off a lot of labor during the downturn. Attracting that labor to come back has been more difficult. This has caused supply chain disruption, and of course, spare parts as well. Parts to go on the engines and further down the supply chain have also had some problems.”
Martin affirmed previous LNA reporting that it takes time to bring the 737s out of storage. Depending on whether they’re going to the original customer or whether they’re going to a different customer, work may need to be done on the aircraft. There’s just not enough labor to do that additional work, he said.
“When Boeing’s working normally, you probably have sufficient capacity to be able to do that with the strains they’re under at the moment. If you ask them to do something additional, it just takes longer, as opposed to the paperwork, and to do the physical work itself.
“We’ve tried to absolutely minimize the customization because we know it will take a long time to get the work done. I think of the situations we’ve been in where we’ve taken a plane that was destined for one customer and getting to another customer. “But the main things generally we’re looking for is changes in maximum takeoff weight, maybe engine thrust. We’ve tried to limit it after that because we’re aware that it does take paperwork changes,” Martin said.
Another lessor told LNA that it’s sometimes seen Boeing take as long as nine months to process the paperwork on its airplanes for changes.
Martin said that sometimes BOC Aviation saw delays from Boeing Global Services (BGS). “But that’s tended to be for us more to used aircraft than aircraft in production.”
BOC Aviation is owned by the Bank of China but is a Singapore company. Accordingly, it doesn’t face the same import restrictions Chinese lessors do. Nevertheless, some of its aircraft originally destined for China have been redirected to other lessees. It’s also helped Boeing redirect aircraft that became surplus to the original buyer.
“We’ve worked with Boeing when they’ve got excesses of aircraft,” Martin said. “We’ve been doing this over the last two years, picking up aircraft that may have been surplus to airline’s requirements.” The aircraft were placed outside China. There’s no reason why BOC Aviation couldn’t do so with China as well, placing the aircraft with other carriers.
787 inventory
Boeing had about 120 787s that were accumulated during the delivery pause. (Deliveries resumed in August, with about a half-dozen tendered to buyers so far.) John Plueger, the CEO of Air Lease Corp, had said publicly that he wouldn’t be surprised if up to 50% of those airplanes wound up being canceled by customers. Martin couldn’t affirm this observation, but clearly, the delays give the customers the right to do so. BOC Aviation canceled three orders during the nearly two-year pause in deliveries.
More from our interview with Robert Martin will be published soon.
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By BRYAN CORLISS Sept. 5, 2022, © Leeham News: Saying the climate crisis now is at “Code Red for Humanity,” the UN-sponsored International Civil Aviation Organization is calling on nations and companies to increase their investments toward techniques and technologies that can reduce aviation’s climate impact.
It won’t be easy, ICAO said in its Environmental Report 2022, which was released in July.
The aviation industry will be one of the hardest to ween off carbon-based forms of energy, a recent report concluded.
“Scaling the production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and other energy sources requires substantial investment and financial support from both fuel suppliers and governments on top of what would be needed for associated infrastructural changes,” the report said. “This is particularly important, considering that the drop-in fuels have the largest potential to reduce the overall emission from international aviation by 2050.”