Air International 2019-12
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Airscene
The Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu, Royal Netherlands Air Force) retired the first of its two KDC-10 tanker/transport aircraft on November 1, 2019, in anticipation of the arrival of the first two of eight Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transports for the Multinational MRTT Unit in the spring of 2020. KDC-10 T-264 'Prins Bernhard' of Eindhoven-based 334 Squadron flew its final aerial refuelling sortie in KLu service on October 28 over Poland. It departed to San Antonio Airport, Texas, on November 4, to undergo major overhaul before joining its new owner, US company Omega Aerial Refueling Services. Both KLu KDC-10 were recently sold to Omega. Since T-264 was up for a D check this year, the KLu decided to retire the aircraft early. Sister ship T-235 'Jan Scheffer' will soldier on until late 2021, when the first A330 MRTTs should be operational.
NH90 NFH 358, the latest NH90 delivered to Norway, seen taking off from Maritime Air Station De Kooy in the Netherlands on September 30, 2019, where it made a weekend stop while on delivery from Leonardo Helicopters' facility in Tessera, Italy, to Bardufoss Air Station.
The IAI 777-300ERSF is the first passenger-to-freighter conversion for the Boeing 777.
GECAS has firm orders for three more Big Twin Freighters
The Standard 6 upgrade now being rolled out through the Aeronautique Navale's ATL2 fleet is intended to maintain its relevance to at least 2030.
Etihad Airways Boeing 787-10 A6-BND (c/n 42373), delivered in October 2019, wears a Manchester City livery marking the club's partnership with the airline and its ownership by Abu Dhabi.
The US Air Force's X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle Mission 5 pictured at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility on October 27, 2019.
Sabrelets are now offered as both line-fit and retrofit options on the Sukhoi Superjet 100.
The first of 45 Airbus A220s for Air Canada recently rolled out of the paint shop in Mirabel. This A220-300, C-GROV (msn 55067), will enter service in December 2019.
Dash 8 Q400 G-JECY (c/n 4156) is one of 52 examples of the turboprop operated by Flybe, which is divesting most of its regional jets to focus on the type.
The purple on Flybe's aircraft will disappear when the carrier rebrands as Virgin Connect next year.
Virgin Atlantic recently repainted Boeing 747-443 G-VLIP (c/n 32338) into a special livery to promote a new Star Wars attraction at Disneyland. The aircraft has also been renamed 'The Falcon'.
On September 27, 2019, Flottille 11F - the oldest fighter squadron within the French Aeronautique Navale (French Naval Aviation) - celebrated its 100th anniversary at Base d'Aeronautique Navale Landivisiau in Brittany, its home base since May 1967. The squadron applied centennial markings to the tails of five of its Rafale Ms (aircraft 10, 11, 32, 35 and 37) earlier this year. All five specially decorated 11F Rafale Ms sport the markings shown on the right side of the tail.
8 ноября 2019г. в испытательном центре в г. Экс-ан-Прованс на юге Франции совершил первый полет на привязи экспериментальный беспилотный винтокрылый аппарат Airbus Helicopters VSR700. Он создан на базе легкого вертолета Cabri G2 и имеет взлетную массу до 1000 кг. Машина предназначена для отработки решений, которые будут использованы при создании более совершенного беспилотного вертолета для ВМС Франции.
The Airbus VSR700 undertake its tethered first flight in November 2019.
4 ноября 2019г. американский стартап UAVOS провел успешные испытания прототипа долголетающего беспилотного аппарата ApusDuo. Он относится к классу т.н. псевдоспутников и способен оставаться в воздухе в течение нескольких месяцев. Беспилотник выполнен по аэродинамической схеме тандем, с размахом заднего крыла 14 м. Оба крыла оснащены солнечными панелями, от которых питается электродвигатель. В дальнейшем габариты аппарата планируется увеличить в 2 раза, при этом его грузоподъемность достигнет 8 кг, что достаточно для установки современного оборудования, обеспечивающего интернет-покрытие, ретрансляцию радиосигналов и т.п.
The second UAVOS ApusDuo variant has a 92ft (28m) wingspan.
Airbus' recently disclosed Low Observable UAV Testbed concept.
The blended-wing/body incorporates an ultra-wideband wing leading edge concept and LO coatings.
The VoloDrone is designed to offer a heavy-lift cargo capability.
The Florida-based low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines has agreed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus for up to 100 A320neo Family aircraft comprising a mix of A319neo, A320neo and A321neo aircraft. Spirit Airlines said the additional aircraft will be used to support network expansion across the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean.