Air International 2015-12
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News
The Israeli Air Force staged the second Blue Flag exercise at Uvda Air Base in the Negev desert between October 18 and 29, 2015. Participants included US Air Force F-15C Eagles, Hellenic and Polish Air Force F-16s. Israeli Air Force participants included the Red Squadron aggressors, plus two F-15 and four F-16 squadrons. Seventy foreign and 32 Israeli aircrews and 54 aircraft flew 245 sorties in nine days to practice coalition air-to-air and air-to-ground operations.
Boeing 777-300ER B-KPM (c/n 36159) is the first Cathay Pacific Airways aircraft to wear the Hong Kong-based network airline's revised livery. The scheme will be applied to the carrier’s 150-strong fleet over the next five years as aircraft go through scheduled maintenance and repainting. The new look is Cathay's first major rebrand since 1994.
One of now more than 53 J-10Bs takes off at Chengdu-Huangtianba. Clearly visible is the typical afterburner-section of the Russian AL-31FN Series 3 engine with its characteristic blue section.
A line of 14 series-production J-10Bs ready for delivery to an operational unit in January 2014. To avoid strict Chinese internet-regulations, the serial numbers are blurred to hide their true destination. These aircraft were reportedly destined for the 170 Brigade assigned to the FTTC.
Close-up of the J-10B's afterburner section. In contrast to the AL-31FN, the WS-10B - similar to the WS-10A used by nearly all Chinese Flanker-versions - features shorter nozzle-pedals.
The first two series-production J-10Bs powered by the indigenous WS-10B engine were first seen at CAC in October 2015.
This image shows both J-10B versions: in the background a standard Batch 01 aircraft powered by the AL-31FN Series 3 engine ready for delivery to a front-line unit and in the foreground the new Batch 02 version powered by the WS-10B.
On call 365 days of the year, 771 Naval Air Squadron Sea King HU5s live up to the squadron’s motto not unto us alone.
Two recently-retired Royal Air Force Sea King HAR3As arrived for a night-stop at Groningen-Eelde Airport in the Netherlands on November 10, 2015. Both aircraft, wearing markings for No.22 Squadron, Sea King HAR3As ZH540 (c/n WA1006) and ZH543 (c/n WA1009), were on en route to Stavanger, Norway. The identity of a Norwegian operator is currently unknown.
Royal Air Force Chinook HC4 ZA683 now bears colourful markings to mark the centenary of No.27 Squadron based at RAF Odiham in Hampshire. The aircraft is shown at Odiham on November 5, 2015, the squadron’s 100th birthday, when it was unveiled to the press. The tail markings feature an elephant motif painted in the squadron's official colours to represent the Martinsyde Elephant (the unit's first aircraft) and its motto ‘Quam celerrime ad astra' meaning ‘With all speed to the stars’. Other more discrete markings were applied in tribute to Flight Lieutenant Geraint Roberts, a former squadron member and of No.230 Squadron based RAF Benson who, along with a colleague from No.33 Squadron, died when their Puma helicopter recently crashed in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Eurowings began long-haul services in November 2015 using wet-leased Airbus A330s, one of which is A330-203 D-AXGB (msn 684).
SATA Air Acores has rebranded to Azores Airlines as it seeks to bolster its competitive position in offering air travel to its Azores Islands home in the North Atlantic, around 845 miles (1,360km) west of Portugal. The carrier is leasing two Airbus A330-203s, one of which (CS-TRY, msn 970) has been repainted in the relaunched carrier's distinctive identity which features a sperm whale on the fuselage.
The third Bolivian Air Force AS332C1e Jatun Puma FAB782 seen arriving at the Airbus Helicopters' plant at Albacete, Spain on October 15, 2015. The aircraft was formally accepted by the Bolivian Air Force at Marignane in France and was ferried to Albacete to continue training Bolivian pilots and technicians.
Singapore Airlines' first A350-900 after roll-out from the Toulouse paint shop. Seven of the carrier's A350-900s will be delivered in the Ultra-Long Range configuration that Airbus announced in October 2015.
The first of five flight test MRJs (c/n 10001, JA21MJ) just after take-off on its maiden flight from Nagoya.
Japan Air Self-Defense Force RF-4E Phantom 47-6901 seen at its home station Hyakuri Air Base on October 15, 2015 in a new two-tone blue colour scheme. The aircraft is assigned to 501 Hikotai, the flying squadron of the JASDF's Air Reconnaissance Group, based at Hyakuri. It is the only RF-4E currently painted blue for trials flown over the sea. The RF-4 variant of the Phantom is colloquially referred to as the Rhino.
Latvian flag carrier airBaltic will be the CS300’s launch operator. Swiss will be the first user of the aircraft's CS100 stablemate, which is due to be certified by the end of the year.
Most Chammal missions take place at night. The 68 members of maintenance staff work hard to have a 90% availability rate for the Mirage 2000s.
F/A-18E Super Hornet BuNo 166650/AC400 of Strike Fighter Squadron 105 (VFA-105) ‘Gunslingers’ seen at Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada in early October 2015. The aircraft is painted in full-colour markings as the unit's CAG-bird.
Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 (VMFAT-101) ‘Sharpshooters’ is assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11 based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California. The unit is the only Hornet training squadron in the marine corps and currently operates F/A-18C BuNo 163772/SH101 in full colour markings.
Strike Fighter Squadron 131 (VFA-131) ‘Wildcats' is currently assigned to Carrier Air Wing 3 (CVW-3) and operates the F/A-18C Hornet. The squadron deployed its latest CAG-bird BuNo 165221/AC300 to Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada during the air wing’s recent detachment to the desert base.
Marine Fighter Attack (All Weather) Squadron 225 (VMFA[AW]-225) ‘Vikings' is the only F/A-18D unit assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11. The unit currently operates F/A-18D BuNo 165680/CE01 finished in the squadron's dark blue and black colours.
Eighty-five diehard Phantom fans attended the annual Phancon meet at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona between October 12 and 15, 2015. Two QF-4E Phantoms II, serial numbers 74-0643 (shown) and 74-1625 from the 82nd Aerial Target Squadron, Det. 1 based at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico flew in for the event. Next year's Phancon will be held at Holloman to mark the sunset of the US Air Force QF-4 Full-Scale Aerial Target fleet.
Iceland-based Wow Air A321 TF-MOM (msn 6210) Freyja, named after the Nordic goddess of love, flies over Faxafloi Bay in southwest Iceland.
The second Pilatus PC-24 bizjet (P02, HB-VXB) carried out its first flight from Buochs Airport, Switzerland, on November 16, 2015. It is seen here flying with P01, HB-VXA, which flew in May. The second jet will be used for systems and icing tests and cold weather trials.
Indonesian Air Force Boeing 737-800 A-001 (c/n 41706) was seen at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport on October 25, 2015 with President Joko Widodo on board. The aircraft can fly up to 10 hours non-stop, is able to land on short airstrips, and configured with four meeting rooms, a master en suite bedroom, two state rooms, 12 executive seats and 44 staff seats. The aircraft is assigned to Skadron Udara 17 ‘Kereta Kencana’ (Royal Chariots), headquartered at Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport in Jakarta.
14 апреля 2017г. пресс-служба компании Lockheed Martin сообщила, что Министерство обороны США приняло решение о серийном производстве нового тяжелого транспортного вертолета CH-53K King Stallion. Первые четыре серийные машины должны быть поставлены ВМС США до конца текущего года.
YCH-53K EDM-1 during its first flight at Sikorsky's West Palm Beach Development Flight Center on October 27, 2015.
YCH-53K BuNo 168778/EDM-1 during a blade spin at Sikorsky's Wesf Palm Beach Development Flight Center on February 25, 2015.
Additional tests on the Divine Eagle were performed through July 2015 and included several high­speed taxi tests.
A heavily retouched image of the Divine Eagle indicates the size of the air vehicle when compared to the tow-tractor and personnel.
The first taxi-test occurred during early July 2015. The images released show for the first time the two different fuselages and a closer look at the huge air vehicle.
The first satellite images captured in late June and early July 2015 showed for the first time the Divine Eagle’s approximate size and overall configuration including the unique canard-layout.