Student Loan Consolidation

Student loan consolidation allows you to combine one or more of your federal education loans into a new loan that offers you several advantages.
Lower Interest Rate For In-School and In-Grace Consolidation Borrowers who have a Direct Loan or FFEL loan in an in-school or grace period at the time we receive their consolidation application, may benefit from a lower fixed interest rate on the new Direct Consolidation Loan. The difference between a borrower's interest rate during their in-school and/or grace period and during their repayment period can be as high as 0.6 percentage points.
In-school consolidation is available only with Direct Consolidation Loans.
One Lender and One Monthly Payment With only one lender and one monthly bill, you will find it is easier to manage your debt. You will have only one lender, the U.S. Department of Education, for all loans included in your Direct Consolidation Loan.
Flexible Repayment Options You can choose from four different plans to repay your Direct Consolidation Loan, including an Income Contingent Repayment Plan. These plans are flexible to meet the different needs of borrowers. With a Direct Consolidation Loan, you can switch repayment plans at anytime. Grace Period If you consolidate while in-school, you may receive a 6-month grace period before repayment begins.
No Minimum or Maximum Loan Amounts or Fees Direct Consolidation Loans do not exclude anyone based on the size of their loan debt! In addition, consolidation is free. Varied Deferment Options Direct Consolidation Loans offer several deferment options. If you have exhausted the deferment options on your current Federal education loans, a Direct Consolidation Loan could renew those deferment options. In addition, you may be eligible for additional deferment options if you have an outstanding balance on an FFEL made before July 1, 1993, when you obtain your first Direct Loan. Reduced Monthly Payments A Direct Consolidation Loan may lower your monthly payment. The minimum monthly payment on a Direct Consolidation Loan may be lower than the payments on your federal education loans.
Retention of Subsidy Benefits You will keep any subsidies on your old loans.
What are the interest rates on your loans? If a Federal Consolidation Loan offers you a lower rate than your current loans, you may want to consolidate. Currently, the interest rate for a Federal Consolidation Loan is based on the weighted average interest rate on the loans being consolidated, rounded to the next nearest higher one-eighth of one percent. This rate is fixed for the life of the loan and cannot exceed 8.25 percent. Use our online calculator to find out what your weighted average interest rate would be if you consolidate with us.
Are your monthly payments manageable? If you have trouble meeting your monthly payments, have exhausted your deferment and forbearance options, and/or want to avoid default, consolidation may help you. Use our online calculator to find out what your monthly payments would be under each of our repayment plans.
How much are you willing to pay over the long term? Like a home mortgage or a car loan, extending the years of repayment increases the total amount you have to repay.
How many payments do you have left on your loans? If you are close to paying off your student loans, it may not be worth the effort to consolidate or extend your payments.
What consolidation loan benefits do your current lenders offer? Check with the loan holders currently servicing your loans to see if they can offer terms and repayment plans that meet your needs better than a Direct Consolidation Loan.

Why to Consolidate?

Both federal student loan consolidation and private student loan consolidation offer the benefit of a significantly lower monthly payment and simplified finances. If you want to consolidate student loans, begin with your federal Stafford, Parent PLUS, Perkins, and all Federal FFELP and Federal Direct Loans that were taken out for your education. Private student loan consolidation is a separate program that allows you to refinance all non-federal, education related debt.

Keeping supersonic transport quiet

Supersonic business jets have traditionally got a bad rap when it comes to practicality and the environment, with high costs, loud noises and short range far outweighing the benefits of speed. The future of air travel will therefore be subject to stringent criteria to ensure that economy and eco-credentials, particularly noise pollution, don’t take a back seat to comfort and performance, and with this in mind Supersonic Aerospace International seem to have hit a luxury-class balance between the two.Its QSST (Quiet Supersonic Transport) could well be the future of high-speed passenger jets and the concept pictured above boasts some impressive figures. It promises to be 100 times quieter than the Concorde with a range of over 4000 nautical miles and a top speed of Mach 1.8, or 1,188 miles per hour. To put this in context – a typical 9.5 hour flight from Seattle to Tokyo in a commercial aircraft would be reduced to under five hours in the QSST.Its patented design makes it possible to fly over populated continental areas with a sonic signature of just 65 DMA, or little louder than the interior of a car traveling at 70mph. This is achieved through a combination of the aerodynamic shaping of the ‘v-tail’ and state-of-the-art engine design to suppress takeoff and landing noise. It will also meet or exceed emission standards with clean-burning engines designed to reduce emissions during a high-altitude cruise.Intended primarily for government and business use, the QSST compares favorably to current commercial and business jets, accommodating up to 12 passengers in executive level comfort.Though there is still a lot of work to be done at the design stage, SAI is confident that once an international consortium is confirmed to build the aircraft it’ll be ready for flight by 2014, and deliverable to customers by 2016.Check out the official site for more images and some Quicktime virtual-tours of the cabin, flight deck and exterior of the aircraft.

RAF receive new Hawk training aircraft

The new Hawk Ts will mean pilots can now train on an aircraft with systems closely compatible with the latest front line jets.The new aircraft builds on the success of its long-serving predecessor, but benefits from significant enhancement to bridge any gap with the latest front line jets entering service, such as the Typhoon.Featuring a 'glass' cockpit and the latest advances in radar, weapons and defensive aids simulation, the Hawk T Mk2 is aimed at providing a seamless transition from flying training to operational squadron.Welcoming the arrival of the first jets at RAF Valley in Wales, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support Quentin Davies said:"Delivery of these aircraft is excellent news for the Royal Air Force and for British industry. Building on the success of the Hawk T Mk1, they will enable our pilots to hone the skills required to fly the latest generation of combat aircraft in a state-of-the-art training environment."In addition to the realistic in-flight training environment, the new Hawk benefits from simpler design and construction, leading to lower acquisition and support costs. Infrastructure to support the new training regime is currently under construction at RAF Valley by the Ascent Flight Services Consortium, which was awarded the £600m contract to deliver all military pilot training on an incremental basis last summer.Air Vice Marshal Baz North, Air Officer Commanding 22 Group, responsible for all RAF training, sang the praises of the aircraft:"The Hawk has long been the backbone of fast jet training but this new advanced version will be far more representative of the new generation of jets that our trainee pilots will go on to fly on operations. It will provide real benefits in enabling pilots to move more rapidly to full combat readiness."Initial deliveries of ten aircraft following formal 'release to service' in April will allow six to be used for development of the full training syllabus, prior to the start of pilot training on the new aircraft in 2011.'Release to service' is a statement that the aircraft is signed off by the RAF as safe to be flown (within specific limitations) by qualified Armed Forces personnel. The 'in service date' is the point in time from which the aircraft will be used for a stated purpose and is set for later this year.The new aircraft are built at the BAE Systems plant at Brough on North Humberside, which employs around 1,800 people. They are then flown to Warton in Lancashire for painting and flight testing prior to delivery to RAF Valley.http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive.c...825B6D5466C0EBTango IIIView Public ProfileFind all posts by Tango III#466 Old 3rd July 2009, 14:15Tango III Tango III is online nowRank 5 Registered UserJoin Date: Sep 2006Posts: 3,944Israel hopes Congress will lift F-22 banThe Israel Air Force will review the possibility of purchasing the advanced American F-22 fifth-generation stealth fighter jet if a congressional ban is lifted, enabling it to be sold abroad, defense officials told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday.Referring to recent reports in the US that Congress had asked the Air Force to submit a report on the possibility of exporting the jet to Japan, Israel and other allies, a senior defense official said if this happened, "we will have to consider the option.""This is an advanced fighter jet of superior capabilities," the Defense Ministry official said. "It will depend, though, on the price, availability and time frame."Congress's interest in continuing funding for the F-22 runs counter to US Defense Secretary Robert Gates' decision to stop production of the aircrafts.Israel is already in advanced talks with the Pentagon regarding the possible sale of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) - also known as the F-35 - to Israel. Both planes are manufactured by Lockheed Martin, but Israeli defense officials said the F-22 was capable of flying at higher altitudes and could carry more weapons internally."A lot will depend on the outcome of the ongoing talks regarding the JSF," the defense official said. "If the export ban on the F-22 is lifted, things may change."The IAF is also in negotiations with Boeing to purchase at least six additional Apache Longbow attack helicopters in an effort to bolster the air support the IAF is able to provide ground forces.The negotiations are ongoing and sources close to the talks said they would likely be completed by the end of the year. The IAF has yet to decide exactly how many aircraft it would purchase and was waiting to receive a final price offer from Boeing.The IAF is also considering upgrading several of its old "A" model Apache helicopters to the "D" model Longbow version with the above-rotor advanced radar system, which enables the helicopter to share targeting data with other Longbows. According to foreign reports, Israel has 37 "A" model Apaches and 11 Longbows.Three Apache helicopters - including one Longbow version - were lost during the Second Lebanon War. In one case, two Apaches collided in midair. In the other, the Longbow crashed due to a malfunction in the rotor.During Operation Cast Lead, due to the limited scope of the operation, the IAF was able to allocate a squadron of attack helicopters that worked in conjunction with infantry brigades operating on the ground. This organic system, a senior IAF officer said, would not be workable in a larger conflict due to the IAF's limited number of aircraft.

Close Aircraft Auction - Access To Secret Auctions

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Aeroscraft ML866: the ultimate corporate aircraft

The MQ-9 Reaper, a hunter-killer UAV with long loitering capability, has completed its first operational mission in Iraq. The craft has been used in Afghanistan since 2007, clocking 3,800 hours and attacking 16 targets with 500-pound bombs and Hellfire missiles.The combination of payload capacity and loiter endurance makes the Reaper highly valuable in Iraq, where it is expected to significantly enhance the strike and close-air-support capabilities of air forces. The long loiter capability will be used to establish a "persistent stare" over targets, while its armaments allow it to be drawn into conflict when necessary.Lt. Gen. Gary L North, the Combined Force Air Component commander, says: "The Reaper, as a close-air-support asset, expands beyond the concept of persistent stare to one of persistent strike. If the ground commander wants us to strike an enemy target, we can do that with precision weapons from the Reaper at the exact point where the ground commander wants a desired effect. It's an incredibly powerful and flexible capability for the warfighting commander."The Reaper is fully integrated into existing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance architecture employed by the MQ-1 Predator. U.S. Air Force Central's Combined Air and Space Operations Center will plan and execute Reaper sorties in Iraq based on information forwarded from ground commanders.

Finnair's future fleet: flying into the 21st century

To celebrate its 85th anniversary, Finnair has served up a blue-sky vision of what the next 85 years of aviation could hold. Concentrating mainly on potential developments in environmentally friendly technology and lightweight material, the Departure 2093 website lists five aircraft that could grace our sky later this century.
Finnair A600–850 M
The A600-850 M resembles a normal plane that has been squeezed in Photoshop until it takes on the proportions of a dart, complete with needle-thin nose. The plane is described as a “zero-emission supersonic aircraft,” with the speed and efficiency attributed to the super-light nanoceramic material used to construct the fuselage. The design is obviously an extrapolation of the recent trend to use carbon composite materials in aircraft design – however, while they do create lighter and stronger airplanes, a zero-emission vehicle would necessitate drastic changes in the energy used to power aircraft. For the fuel of the future, Finnair nominates three contenders that could make zero-emission planes like the 850 M a reality – solar, biofuel, and hydrogen.
The efficiency of the 850 M is also improved by the partly elastic wings, which adapt to flight speed and weather conditions. Solar panels on the exterior of the plane provide the electricity for passenger amenities, including the very futuristic-sounding 20-inch 3D display.
The description of passenger comfort is predictably Utopic, with intelligent seats monitoring pulse rate, blood pressure and body temperature, as well as giving out free massages. Once again though, the projection has seeds in present-day emerging tech, this time in the field of smart fabrics.
The 126.30m A600-850 M has a wingspan of 60.70m and seats 600-850 passengers. The maximum take-off weight is 310,000kg and the cruising speed is mach 4.5.
Finnair A600-850
Another “zero-emission” aircraft, the A600-850 took its design cues from the ship from The Fantastic Voyage. Like the 850 M, it can fit 600-850 passengers, but is designed for smaller trips. The 81.70m craft has four engines, which can be turned horizontally by 26 degrees and vertically by 55 degrees. The engine configuration is key to the aircraft’s most interesting feature – vertical take off. VTOL is currently a prized feature in military craft, increasing maneoverability and decreasing the amount of space required on the ground. Finnair believes that vertical takeoff will be incorporated into the passenger plane market.
As with the previous hypothetical plane, solar panels cover the outer surface of the 850, and all materials are 100% recyclable. The maximum take-off weight is 322,000kg, the cruising speed is 890km/h, and the maximum cruising level is 13,800m.

Reaper UAV deployed in Iraq

The MQ-9 Reaper, a hunter-killer UAV with long loitering capability, has completed its first operational mission in Iraq. The craft has been used in Afghanistan since 2007, clocking 3,800 hours and attacking 16 targets with 500-pound bombs and Hellfire missiles.
The combination of payload capacity and loiter endurance makes the Reaper highly valuable in Iraq, where it is expected to significantly enhance the strike and close-air-support capabilities of air forces. The long loiter capability will be used to establish a “persistent stare” over targets, while its armaments allow it to be drawn into conflict when necessary.
Lt. Gen. Gary L North, the Combined Force Air Component commander, says: "The Reaper, as a close-air-support asset, expands beyond the concept of persistent stare to one of persistent strike. If the ground commander wants us to strike an enemy target, we can do that with precision weapons from the Reaper at the exact point where the ground commander wants a desired effect. It's an incredibly powerful and flexible capability for the warfighting commander."
The Reaper is fully integrated into existing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance architecture employed by the MQ-1 Predator. U.S. Air Force Central's Combined Air and Space Operations Center will plan and execute Reaper sorties in Iraq based on information forwarded from ground commanders.