A320 U.S. assembly to begin this summer

 
Airbus' U.S manufacturing facility in Mobile, Alabama, is on schedule to begin production of Airbus A320 family aircraft this summer as the large aircraft components for the first U.S.-produced aircraft today departed from the port in Hamburg, Germany.

Airbus unveils first H160 prototype

Airbus Helicopters today unveiled the first prototype of its next generation H160 medium class helicopter in the presence of French Prime Minister Manuel Valls.

 Airbus said the helicopter carried out its maiden engine ground run on May 28 ahead of first flight later this year.

A full-scale representative model of the rotorcraft was revealed at the Heli-Expo industry show’s opening in Orlando, Florida on March 3.

The 5.5-6 ton class helicopter is the first-ever, fully-composite civil helicopter and is suited for oil and gas operations; public services, air medical and coast guard duties; along with commercial transport, private and business aviation.

The H160 features the breakthrough Blue Edge® main rotor blades, which reduce exterior noise levels by 50 percent (3 dB) and also allow a payload increase of up to 100 kg.

The composite airframe is lighter in weight, more robust, resistant to corrosion and fatigue, while requiring less maintenance.

With a cruise speed of 160 kts, the H160 can carry 12 passengers at distances of up to 120 nautical miles for oil and gas missions, and a 450 nautical mile range with 20-minute reserve in public service or search and rescue tasks.

The H160 is powered by two Turbomeca 1,100-shp. Arrano turboshaft engines. The flight test and development program will consist of three dedicated prototype aircraft, fully supported by two new ground-based integration test means and service entry is planned for 2018.

HAL-BAE to develop combat variant of Hawk 132 trainer jet

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd has signed an MoU with BAe Systems UK to develop a combat variant of the BAE Hawk 132 trainer jets, which is license produced by HAL in India.

RAF Eurofighter Typhoon in WW2 livery

Crown/MOD Copyright 2015

The RAF unveiled at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire a state-of-the art Typhoon fighter jet in a Battle of Britain era paint scheme to commemorate this year being the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

US Marine Corps F-35B undergoing operational testing

USMC Photo

Ahead of achieving Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) in July, US Marine Corps is assessing the operational suitability and effectiveness of its next generation fighter, the Lockheed Martin F-35B, onboard the USS Wasp (LHD-1) ship.

Brazilian Navy receive modernized AF-1B jet fighter

Embraer delivered the first upgraded AF-1 fighter jet designated AF-1B to Brazilian Navy, improving capability of its only attack aircraft.

Airbus delivers first 242 tonne A330 to Delta Airlines

The first 242-tonne Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) variant of the Airbus A330-300 was delivered today to Delta Air Lines, after rolling out in March.

USAF Certifies Falcon-9 for national security payloads

Falcon-9 rocket launch. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Yvonne Morales)

 U.S. Air Force has certified the SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch System to launch U.S. national security payloads, ending the monopoly of the ULA's Atlas and Delta rockets.

Bell 407GXP to be assembled in Russia

Bell Helicopters has signed an agreement with Ural Works of Civil Aviation (UWCA) for final assembly of Bell 407GXP helicopters in Russia.

Singapore Airlines A330 lost twin engine power during flight

Flightradar data showing the incident

A Singapore Airlines Airbus A330-300 jetliner, operating commercial flight SQ836 on May 23, lost power on both engines over south-east of Hong Kong and started to descend.

Australian E-7A Wedgetail fleet achieve FOC

Royal Australian Air Force’s E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft fleet has achieved Final Operational Capability, five years after introduction in 2010.

HELLADS Laser Weapon proceeds to field trials

Hellads integrated to GA Avenger UCAV: GA Graphics

General Atomics announced that the High-Energy Liquid Laser (HELLADS) completed the U.S. Government Acceptance Test Procedure and is now being shipped to the White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), New Mexico.

Thales selected for Crowsnest surveillance system

Crowsnest integrated AW101 Merlins :Thales Graphics

The UK MoD and Lockheed Martin UK have selected Thales as the bidder to provide the new Crowsnest helicopter-borne surveillance system to protect the Royal Navy’s future Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers.

GE-Honda HF120 engine ready for HondaJet EIS

 

The GE Honda HF120 turbofan engine that power's the new HondaJet light business jet, represents GE’s return to the business jet space – a market the company helped create in the 1960s. At the time, GE engineers converted the J85 military jet engine into the CJ610 turbojet to power the first Learjet 23 business jet developed by the legendary aircraft designer Bill Lear.

Ka-226T to replace Indian Cheetah and Chetak helicopters

The India's Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved the selection of Ka-226T light helicopter to replace the ageing fleet of HAL Cheetah (Aerospatiale Lama) and HAL Chetak (Aerospatiale Alouette III) helicopters operated by Indian armed forces.

Sikorsky S-97 Raider achieve maiden flight

Sikorsky has successfully completed the first flight of the S-97 RAIDER™ helicopter, a rigid coaxial rotor prototype designed to demonstrate an increased performance helicopter in terms of maneuverability, hover ability, range, speed, endurance and survivability.

Dhruv complete noise trials for European certification

As part of achieving European Type Certification, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd has completed the noise measurment flight trials of HAL built ALH-Dhruv helicopter.

Atlas-5 orbits X-37B spaceplane

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Florida.

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket successfully launched the Air Force Space Command 5 (AFSPC-5) satellite for the U.S. Air Force at 11:05 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, from Space Launch Complex-41.

Saudi to acquire MH-60R maritime helicopters

U.S. State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia for MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters and associated equipment, parts and logistical support for an estimated cost of $1.9 billion.

Lufthansa Group airlines achieve 3.84 litre/100 km fuel efficiency

Passenger aircraft of Lufthansa Group airlines have once again set a record for airplane fuel efficiency in 2014, consuming an average of 3.84 litres of kerosene to carry a passenger 100 kilometres.

Qatar Executive increase Gulfstream order

Gulfstream G500

Qatar Executive has agreed to purchase up to 30 Gulfstream business jets as part of a Memorandum of Understanding originally announced in October of last year.

Airbus launches neo variants of corporate jets

Airbus launched the neo (new engine option) variants of its Airbus Corporate Jet family, the ACJ319neo and ACJ320neo, both of which are based on the company’s best-selling A320neo commercial airliner family at EBACE 2015 in Geneva.

Elbit to integrate JHMCS II to AC-130W gunship

Elbit Systems of America, through its RCEVS joint venture with Rockwell Collins, recently entered into a NAVSEA Crane contract funded by USSOCOM to integrate the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) II onboard the U.S. Air Force AC-130W gunship.

Hungarian Gripen D crashed during Lion Effort exercise

A Hungarian Air Force Saab JAS-39D Gripen fighter crashed at Čáslav air base in the Czech Republic while landing on May 19.

CFM LEAP-1A powers Airbus A320neo

The first A320neo equipped with CFM International LEAP-1A engines completed its maiden flight today in Toulouse, France.

U.S. sells $1.8 billion worth weapons to Israel

JDAM loaded on a B-52H bomber

U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Israel for Joint Direct Attack Munition Tail Kits, munitions, and associated equipment, parts and logistical support for an estimated cost of $1.879 billion.

Cessna Citation CJ3+ achieve European certification

The new Cessna Citation CJ3+ business jet has received type certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), paving the way for deliveries to begin in Europe later this year.

EBACE: Fokker and GKN Aerospace to supply first SkyView Window for converted BBJ

Fokker Services a business line of Fokker Technologies and GKN Aerospace officially launched the first ever SkyView Window for a civil jet aircraft at EBACE in Geneva from 19-21 May.

Gulfstream updates G500 and G600 development status

Gulfstream Aerospace updated the development status of its all-new business jet family, the Gulfstream G500 and G600.

EBACE: HondJet program update

Honda Aircraft Company announced progress and HondaJet program achievements during a press conference at the 2015 European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, Switzerland.

USAF pilots evaluate Scorpion and AT-6 aircraft

Student pilots from the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School flew the new Textron AirLand Scorpion ISR/strike jet and Beechcraft AT-6 light attack aircraft as part of the school’s Capstone Project.

Germany-France-Italy to study MALE UAV development

France, Germany and Italy has signed a trinational agreement to conduct a definition study of a European developed unmanned aerial system to reduce dependence on US and Isreali drones.

Third Falcon 8X join flight test program

The third and final Falcon 8X test aircraft has joined the flight test campaign on May 11 . The Falcon 8X prototype 03 took off from Dassault Aviation's Bordeaux-Mérignac facility on Monday, at 2.00 p.m. local time with test pilots, Etienne Faurdessus and Damien Brault at the controls.

EBACE: Boeing unveil Scimitar Winglets for BBJ

Boeing unveiled the new Scimitar Winglets, that are now standard on the new Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) at the European Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (EBACE), which is being held from May 19-21.

Ikhana select GE H series turboprops for DHC-Twin Otter re-engining

IKHANA Aircraft Services selected GE Aviation’s H Series turboprop engines to re-engine Twin Otter DHC-6-100/-200/-300 aircraft.

Gulfstream G500 achieve maiden flight

Gulfstream Aerospace announced the successful maiden flight of its all-new Gulfstream G500 business jet. The G500 is part of Gulfstream's new family of clean-sheet aircraft, the G500 and G600, and the first of the two to begin flight tests.

Dassault Falcon 5X roll out on June 2

Dassault will roll out sixth model of its Falcon business jet family, the Falcon 5X on June 2.

Northrop developing VAMP Venus exploration aircraft

Artist's concept of the Venus Atmospheric Maneuverable Platform (VAMP) is shown here flying through the thick clouds surrounding Venus. Northrop Graphics

Northrop Grumman is developing a lighter-than-air vehicle to explore Planet Venus's environment.

USMC MV-22 Osprey crash lands

A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit made a hard-landing while conducting training aboard Marine Corps Training Area – Bellows on Sunday at approximately 11:40 a.m., Hawaii time.

A400M crash: a huge setback

The May 9 crash of the A400M airlifter in Spain was a huge setback to Airbus Defense & Space's A400M program, which has been beset with problems from the begining.

NTSB Video on Importance of Preflight Checks to Catch Flight Control Problems

A Video Safety Alert highlighting the extra vigilance that pilots should take in doing preflight inspections prior to a first flight after maintenance work was released by the National Transportation Safety Board.

Rockwell Collins to develop cockpit display to show sonic boom over land

NASA’s initial depiction of sonic boom footprint integrated with real-time, local-area moving map.

NASA has awarded Rockwell Collins a two-year contract to develop a conceptual cockpit display that will provide a visual representation of sonic boom over the Earth’s surface to mitigate impact on populated areas.

EASA certifies militarized Airbus H145M helicopter

European airworthiness authority, EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) has certified the militarised Airbus Helicopters’ H145M multi-role twin engined light helicopter.

Crashed Marine Corps UH-1Y Huey helicopter located

A U.S. UH-1Y Huey helicopter flies into the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, after conducting a search-and-rescue operation for a missing U.S. Marine Corps helicopter on May 13, 2015. 
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Thor J. Larson

Joint Task Force 505 personnel today identified the wreckage of a missing Marine Corps UH-1Y Huey helicopter that went missing May 12 in Nepal.

Bombardier reduce G5000 and G6000 production rate

Bombardier announced its decision to reduce production rate of Global 5000 and Global 6000 business jets, due to reduced demand.

Russia-China to develop new Heavy Lift Helicopter

World's heaviest lifting helicopter-Russian Mi-26T

Russian Helicopters and Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) have signed a framework agreement to develop an advanced heavy helicopter.

KAI selected for Korean KF-X fighter program

 

 South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has selected the Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) as the preferred bidder to develop the indigenous KF-X fighter for the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) and Indonesian Air Force

Spanish MoD to probe A400M crash

A400M completes May 12 flight test

Spanish Defense Ministry will probe the May 9 crash of a production Airbus A400M airlifter during a flight test in Seville, Spain.

Image: Mi-26T airlifts Mi-26 fuselage

The world's heaviest-lifting commercial helicopter, the Russian Helicopters Mi-26T has successfully airlifted a fuselage of a Mi-26 Russian military transport helicopter from Yoshkar-Ola to Rostov-on-Don.

The 14 tonne fuselage was transported by Rostvertol-Avia for repair work as ordered by Experimental Design Bureau Rostov-Mil. The Mi-26T, which can lift up to 20-tonnes of cargo took nine days to complete the mission.

The MI-26T helicopter is the only aircraft capable of lifting objects of such weights and dimensions.

In Krasnoyarsk Territory in 1999 it was used to carry a mammoth encased in a block of ice. In 2001, the Mi-26T helped restore the cupola and cross to the church in Pavlovskaya settlement, Krasnodar.

In 2002 and 2009 it helped evacuate 11-tonne fuselages of US Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopters that had crashed in Afghanistan.

In 2009, the Mi-26T transported a 27-metre Alinghi 5 catamaran, and a Tu-134 passenger plane. No helicopter in the history of the helicopter-building industry has ever carried out operations of this scale.

The Mi-26T was designed based on the military transport Mi-26 helicopter. Work to design the initial model by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant(now part of Russian Helicopters) started in the 1970s and it was first unveiled to the global public at the Paris airshow in 1981, after the USSR Defense Ministry recommended serial production be launched.

The serial production of the Mi-26T was launched in 1985. Unlike its predecessor, the helicopter was fitted with additional radio communications, avionics, and navigation systems, and an automatic hover system. It was also stripped of its military counterpart's arms and armour.

The helo has a maximum take-off mass of 56 tonne with standard take-off mass being 49.6 tonne. Total fuel capacity of the main tanks is 12 tonne. It has a cruising speed of 255 km/h and operating range of 590 km.

Rostvertolis preparing for the series production of the upgraded Mi-26T – the Mi-26T2 helicopter with reduced crew and the latest avionics. These modernization significantly increase flight safety, improve its ergonomics, and facilitate the work of the helicopter crew.