F-16D 90-0840 was used in a joint AFRL-NASA programme to develop the autonomous avoidance technologies on which Loyal Wingman will rely.

P-3C Orion BuNo 158224/YD224 of Patrol Squadron 4 (VP-4) ‘Skinny Dragons’ at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii on March 10, 2016. The squadron left Kaneohe for the last time as a P-3 squadron on March 18 on it’s Aloha Deployment to three different areas of responsibility. The term Aloha Deployment is being used to mark two goodbyes; one to its Hawaiin home and the other to the P-3 Orion. The unit has been based in Hawaii since 1964 but on return from deployment will make a permanent duty station change to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, and transition to the P-8A Poseidon; the first of three Hawaii-based patrol squadrons to make the move and transition to the P-8A.

E-2C Hawkeye-equipped Carrier Early Airborne Warning Squadron 113 (VAW-113) ‘Black Eagles' is currently assigned to Carrier Air Wing 2 (CVW-2). The squadron's latest CAG-bird BuNo 165819/NE600 features a black and white livery, motifs of the unit's Black Eagle emblem and the USS Carl Vinson, and colour badges of the squadron and CVW-2.

Ski-equipped LC-130H 96-3301 of New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing (AW) at Kalaeloa Airport, Hawaii on March 10, 2016 following participation in Operation Deep Freeze.

The recent order of 28 Eurofighter Typhoons by Kuwait should boost Leonardo-Finmeccanica's revenues for 2016 to €20 billion.

Leonardo-Finmeccanica has recently secured a contract from the Italian Ministry of Defence for nine more M-346s.

The ALAT Tiger typically provides close air support during assault landings or interventions by the GTIA-A.

The Luftwaffe’s Transall C-160-equipped Lufttransportgeschwader 63 (LTG 63) based at Hohn Air Base is celebrating its 55th anniversary this year. To mark the event, aircraft 50+95 has been painted in one of the most striking designs ever applied to a Luftwaffe aircraft. The scheme features the colours of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein where Hohn is located, notable dates in the wing's history, a mural-like design of landmarks in the state of Schleswig-Holstein and 55th anniversary markings on its tail.

EA-6B Prowler BuNo 162230/CY75 of Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 2 (VMAQ-2) ‘Death Jesters' based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina seen at Yuma, Arizona in late April 2016. The aircraft participated in Weapons Tactics Instructor course 16-2.

Aeroflot's 27th SSJ-100-95B, RA-89064 (c/n 95101), is the first to be delivered with upgraded avionics. The airline's other Superjets are to be retrofitted.

67 SENSORS ON HALO. The DLR (German Aerospace Center) Gulfstream 550 HALO (High Altitude LOng Range) research aircraft, D-ADLR (c/n 5093), recently carried 67 sensors (51 accelerometers and 16 strain gauges) to assess the aircraft’s vibration behaviour. The data will be used to contribute to aeroelasticity research.

Royal Australian Air Force Heron ground stations and communication and data link systems are housed in containers seen at RAAF Base Amberley.

Royal Australian Air Force Heron A45-262 on the main runway at RAAF Base Amberley.

French Blue is the latest long-haul low-cost airline. Its first aircraft, A330-323 F-HPUJ (msn 1727), flew in May 2016.

Air Serbia A330-202 A6-EYC (msn 885), which is to become YU-ARA at Belgrade on May 11, 2016. This is the airline’s first long-haul aircraft, and will be used on services to New York JFK from June.

After 43 years of reliable service and over one million flight hours with the Heersflieger (German Army Aviation), the Bo105 will be retired on December 31, 2016.

The Ka-62's first prototype, OP-1, seen during its eagerly-anticipated first flight on April 28, 2016, from the AAC Progress plant in Arsenyev.

The Hellenic Air Force T-6 Texan ‘Daedalus’ demo team is assigned to the 120 Pteriga Ekpedefseos Aeros (Air Training Wing) based at Kalamata Air Base. The 2016 team has two aircraft assigned: 036 painted in a striking blue and white scheme with a black and silver tail, and 023 featuring a Daedalus Demo Team badge on its tail. Team Daedalus is considering attending the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) at RAF Fairford on July 8-11. If the team makes it to RIAT, it will be its first visit to the UK.

Diamond DA42 NGs 421 and 422 were assembled by UZGA and equipped by RTI AKS for the reconnaissance role.

Solar Impulse 2 HB-SIB over the Golden Gate Bridge at the end of its 62-hour flight from Hawaii before continuing across the United States.

If all options are exercised, Delta Air Lines will take delivery of 125 examples of the C Series.

Delta’s Chief Executive Ed Bastian (left) and Bombardier President and Chief Executive Officer Fred Cromer sat in the cockpit of a CS100.

Dutch company NHV has sent two of its H175s, OO-NSD (msn 5006) and OO-NSG (msn 5008) to Ghana to reinforce the company's Dauphin fleet there. The helicopters are pictured at Albacete, Spain, during their transit.

Armee de I'Air Mirage 2000N 353/125-AM is assigned to Escadron de Chasse 2/4 ‘Lafayette’ based at BA125 Istres in the south of France. The aircraft has been painted in this full-colour scheme to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armee de l'Air’s Lafayette Escadrille: A World War One squadron partly manned by 38 American volunteers, named in honour of the Marquis de Lafayette, a hero of the American revolution.

One of the Mirage 2000Ds armed with a SCALP-EG missile - prior to the first use of this armament in Operation Chammal by a Mirage - at its base in Jordan on March 17, 2016.

X-2 51-0001 landing at Gifu Air Base on April 22, 2016. Note the arrangement of the three petals of the thrust vectoring nozzle fitted to each Ishikawajima-Harima XF5-1 afterburning turbofan engine and the smoke generated by each.

X2 ShinShin on take-off from Nagoya-Komaki Airport on April 22, 2016.

Strike Fighter Squadron 137 (VFA-137) ‘Kestrels’ based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California is currently assigned to Carrier Air Wing 2 (CVW-2). F/A-18E Super Hornet BuNo 165897/NE200 is the squadron’s latest CAG-bird seen here at Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada during a CVW-2 Strike Fighter Advanced Readiness Program detachment in April 2016.

Ilmavoimat (Finnish Air Force) F-18C Hornets HN-410 and HN-419 arrived at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California on April 15, 2016 after a six-leg journey supported by Omega Air Refuelling Service’s sole Douglas KDC-10-40 tanker N974W (c/n 46974).

The first two Kaman CQ-24A K-MAX optionally-piloted helicopters or unmanned aerial systems (UAS), BuNo 169221/FF01 and BuNo 169222, arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona on May 7, 2016.

Rossiya A319-111 VQ-BCP (msn 3998) is pictured departing London Southend for St Petersburg after repainting into the Russian carrier's distinctive new livery. Aeroflot is transferring its A319 fleet to its subsidiary to operate charter flights.

AirBridgeCargo has marked its 25th anniversary this year by applying a decal to the forward fuselage section of its nine Boeing 747-400s and eight 747-8Fs. Here 747-46NF(BR) VP-BIK (c/n 35421) departs Amsterdam Schiphol.

China United Airlines has received the 9,000th Boeing 737, B-7562 (c/n 61682). The delivery happened only two years after the 8,000th 737 was delivered, reflecting the rising production output for the aircraft which now sees 52 produced every month.

The Royal Australian Air Force currently operates two F-35A Lightning IIs at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. Both aircraft are painted with tail markings for No.2 Operational Conversion Unit as shown on F-35A A35-002 seen at Luke.

Airbus Helicopters handed over the first two H145M helicopters to the Royal Thai Navy on April 29, 2016.

There are now three aircraft, including N8703J pictured here on a flight in the United States, involved in testing the 737 MAX 8. High altitude trials at El Alto International Airport in La Paz, Bolivia were recently undertaken.