Air Foyle and partner Antonov are increasing their An-124 fleet to eight with the acquisition of two from Rossiya Airlines and to operate under the new name of Antonov Airlines. A ninth An-124 is in prospect from Aviant. The An-124 has an all-up weight slightly more than a Boeing 747-200 and just less than a 747-400.

Nap-of-the-earth flying can be exhilarating, not only for the crew but also for the photographer!

The second Merlin HC Mk3 cleaning up on take-off. Unlike the first aircraft, this machine is not fitted with a refuelling probe although this optional extra can be added in a matter of minutes.

A sight that will become familiar around RAF Benson next year, two Merlins in formation.

Underslung load trials were conducted by a joint team from GKN and the Defence Evaluation Research Agency (DERA) at Boscombe Down, Wilts. Here, a Pinzgauer truck hangs from the single ventral hook under ZH821.

Troop-loading trials were conducted in mid-1999 using the second RAF Merlin. The aircraft is designed to carry 24 soldiers in crash-attenuating seating as part of its maximum payload capacity which exceeds 11,000 lb (5,000 kg).

The Danes were back in Yorkshire during October 1999 when two groups of Royal Danish Air Force F-16As arrived for air combat training on the ACMI range in the North Sea. Six flew into RAF Leeming on October 4 for a two-week secondment, followed by a further three plus a two-seat F-16B. Each pilot on the detachment flew four combat sorties

Further to the two articles on Goering in the August and September issues, readers might be interested in this photograph of the first of his Junkers Ju 52/3ms, D-2527 c/n 4022, taken at an unknown location. Named Manfred von Richthofen and painted red, as were the other two, it later became D-AGUK.

Three of the four Nimrod fuselages at Cobham’s Bournemouth facility. All but one will be transferred to BAe Woodford for completion.

Skyways’ recently-delivered Embraer ERJ-145 SE-DZD is serving the new Manchester-Stockholm route.

The movement of Fairchild Dornier aircraft has increased in recent months as these photographs show. New 328JET operators are Skyway Airlines (shown), and Ozark Air Lines, N3545K and N430Z respectively, passing through Edinburgh on delivery.

The movement of Fairchild Dornier aircraft has increased in recent months as these photographs show. New 328JET operators are Skyway Airlines, and Ozark Air Lines (shown), N3545K and N430Z respectively, passing through Edinburgh on delivery.

Попытка экспорта. Первая попытка продвинуть Ка-50 на внешнем рынке была предпринята еще в 1992 году, когда вертолет дебютировал на авиасалоне в Фарнборо. Однако более привлекательны для зарубежных заказчиков двухместные варианты машины. Так, Ка-50-2 "Erdogan" с расположением членов экипажа тандемом был разработан под турецкий тендер на боевой вертолет: на нем установили израильскую авионику и уникальную убираемую пушечную установку, летчик размещался на переднем кресле, а кабина имела большую площадь остекления. Близкий вариант предлагался Индии, а Ка-52 "Аллигатор" - Южной Корее. Экспортных заказов, однако, не последовало.
Kamov has built this two-seat mock-up of the Ka-50-2 Erdogan in its bid to win the Turkish army competition to provide 145 attack helicopters. This tandem-seat layout was requested by the Turks, who discarded the single and side-by-side versions of the Hokum at an early stage of the competition. Other contenders are the Agusta A129, Bell AH-1, Boeing AH-64 and Eurocopter Tiger.

The familiar Ukrainian An-30 ‘Open Skies’ aircraft at RAF Brize Norton on September 29, 1999.

Following deregulation in Greece, a number of new operators have appeared. This view, taken at Athens, show Boeing 737s of Princess

The movement of Fairchild Dornier aircraft has increased in recent months as these photographs show. Long-time 228/328 operator, Suckling, was renamed Scot Airways on October 31, and G-BYMK now carries the new livery

The movement of Fairchild Dornier aircraft has increased in recent months as these photographs show. Gandalf Airlines of Italy, leased 328 D-CGAO and began a Manchester-Bergamo service at the end of October 1999.

While Debonair’s BAe 146 G-DEBN awaits a new operator at Woodford, G-NJIE (ex-Uni-Air B-1778) was preparing to join National Jet Italia when it was photographed on October 22, 1999.

New for 2000 from Corgi Classics are 1:144th scale models of the Bristol Britannia in BOAC (shown), Laker and Monarch colours

SriLankan Airlines recently introduced its Rolls-Royce Trent-powered Airbus A330-200 into service, as the first of nine on order to replace the company’s fleet of four Lockheed TriStars. The new Airbus is operating on the Far East to Europe routes.

Spitfire Mk 21 LA269 LO-H of No 602 ‘City of Glasgow’ Sqn, RAuxAF, photographed at Gatwick in 1949. Behind is an F.22 of No 502 ‘Ulster’ Sqn.

Following deregulation in Greece, a number of new operators have appeared. This view, taken at Athens, show a Fokker 100 in Air Greece’s new colour scheme

The Sabre-Dog was revolutionary for its day - a one-man, all-weather interceptor with 24 2.75 in (70 mm) unguided rockets in a retractable tray, but it took two years to sort out its problems.

The Sabre-Dog was revolutionary for its day - a one-man, all-weather interceptor with 24 2.75 in (70 mm) unguided rockets in a retractable tray, but it took two years to sort out its problems.

The prototype YF-86D, left, and the subsequently unsuccessful YF-93 deep penetration escort fighter.

The cockpit had a central radar scope, but a traditional fighter-type control stick.

The engine trials WAH-64 Apache ZJ166 at Mesa in October 1999. This helicopter incorporates a number of extra boxes on the rear fuselage compared with ZJ168, which flew first in the UK on August 26, 1999.

The first Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet painted in fleet markings is 165538/NJ200, carrying the colours of the CO of the first NAS Leemore-based training unit, VFA-122. It is seen at China Lake on September 3, 1999.

A new IFF system for US military aircraft is evident on Boeing F/A-18C Hornet 165226 of VFA-83. The five blade antennas are located just forward of the cockpit.

Air Liberte MD-87 F-GJHQ is carrying the logo for the computer company Compaq and was photographed at Heathrow in mid-October 1999.

Following deregulation in Greece, a number of new operators have appeared. This view, taken at Athens, show a Shorts 360-300 of Air Manos

As announced in last month’s issue, British Airways has selected the A318 rather than the 717 for its new short-haul aircraft programme.

The first Airbus A319CJ Corporate Jetliner, G-OMAK, of the Al Kharafi Group, visited Biggin Hill at the beginning of November 1999 for demonstration to Twinjet Aircraft Sales.

Color Air axed its Stansted-Oslo service and then, due to financial difficulties, ceased trading on September 27, 1999. Its three Boeing 737s were placed in temporary storage at East Midlands.

Following deregulation in Greece, a number of new operators have appeared. This view, taken at Athens, show Boeing 737s of Macedonian