Upgraded Ka-27M anti-submarine warfare helicopter 31 has new sensors and weapons including the Phazotron FHA radar, Kema radio sonobuoy system (named after a river in Russia) and the Ros'-VM dipping sonar. Most of the 22 contracted Ka-27M upgrades are already complete.
Participation of two Ka-28 helicopters (34, shown, and 37) was unusual. The Ka-28 is an export derivative of the Ka-27 anti-submarine warfare helicopter and is only used in Russia for training foreign pilots at Yeysk.The Ka-28 is easy to distinguish from a standard Ka-27 by additional fuel tanks fitted to the sides of the fuselage.
Radar-equipped Ka-31R 90 and Ka-27M 39, headed this year's air parade over Saint Petersburg on July 29, 2018. Ka-31R 90 is one of two (the other is 91) acquired by Russian Naval Aviation in 2012. Twelve such helicopters were listed for procurement in Russia's National Armament Program through to 2020 for basing at Severomorsk-1 (Northern Fleet) and Nikolayevka (Pacific Fleet). However, no information has been released on any further order. Ka-31R 90 was deployed to Syria on board the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier between October 2016 and January 2017.
The Ka-29 is a ship-based helicopter designed for delivering assault troops from the ship to shore, and for providing fire support to marine infantry. Between 1984 and 1989, the Kumertau aircraft plant built 59 Ka-29s. For many years, Russian Naval Aviation neglected its Ka-29s, which stood abandoned on airfields following the break-up of the USSR. Today, Russian Naval Aviation has fewer than 20 airworthy Ka-29s in service, each of which has been restored to service as part of programme running since 2016. Ka-29s 38 and 39 assigned to the Yeysk training centre participated in the parade.
The US Air Force will upgrade all 31 of its operational Boeing E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning And Control System aircraft to Block 40/45 by November 2023. Currently, 17 E-3Gs are operating in Block 40/45 configuration. Previously, seven aircraft were planned to retire instead of upgrading them. Funding for expanding the programme to 31 aircraft had been included in the FY2019 budget request. In July, it was authorized by Congress in the conference report on the FY2019 National Defense Authorization Act.
Three Il-38N anti-submarine warfare aircraft, headed by 19 belonging to the Yeysk centre with 11 from the Northern Fleet's base at Severomorsk-1 and 23 from the Pacific Fleet's base at Nikolayevka. Aircraft 19 is now named after Radiy Papkovsky, who headed the Il-38 project for many years and died in 2014. The Il-38N is a midlife upgrade version fitted with the Novella-P-38 mission system. An exceptional feature of the upgrade is a box fairing fitted above the forward fuselage housing the NV9 electronic support measures system.
Hi Fly's first Airbus A380, 9H-MIP (msn 6), repainted into a distinctive livery promoting work to protect coral reefsand pictured at Farnborough, has already bee wet-leased by Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia.
CH-147F Chinook 147307 on the flight line at Gao, Mali.
Tu-142MR strategic radio-relay aircraft, seldom seen in public, are intended to ensure a communications link between the national command in Moscow and commanders of strategic nuclear missile submarines. Externally, the aircraft features a VLF radio trailing wire antenna to connect submerged submarines deployed via a ventral pod. For the flypast, Tu-142MR 12 flew with the trailing antenna partly extended by 60m (200ft). The antenna trails by 7,680m (25,187ft) when fully extended with a stabilising cone attached to its end. Both Tu-142MR aircraft, 12 and 17, belong to an aviation squadron based at Kipelovo near Vologda, part of the Northern Fleet.
Three Tu-142 anti-submarine warfare aircraft headed by Tu-142MZ 63 from Kamennyi Ruchey (Pacific Fleet) followed by Tu-142MZ 59 from the same base, and Tu-142MK 56 from Kipelovo (Northern Fleet).
A US Marine Corps RQ-7B Shadow assigned to VMU-3 ready to launch in support of the amphibious landing demonstration as part of Rim of the Pacific exercise at Marine Corps Base Hawaii on July 21, 2018.
In another example of the Boeing 787's increasing use, Oman Air has recently switched its European services from Airbus A330s to Dreamliners. Here 787-8 A40-SB (c/n 42379) taxies in at Manchester on arrival from Muscat.
The recent transatlantic crossing by GA-ASI’s company-owned MQ-9B SkyGuardian was the first time a medium-altitude long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft system had made the journey.
The SkyGuardian departed from Grand Forks, North Dakota, and crossed the Atlantic in 24 hours and two minutes. Following its arrival at RAF Fairford on July 11, 2018, it was displayed in the static aircraft park during the 2018.
Koninklijke Luchtmacht (Royal Netherlands Air Force) Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer L-13 (c/n 612) received special tail markings in July 2018 to celebrate 30 years of 131 EMVO Squadron. The Elementaire Militaire Vlieger Opleiding (EMVO, elementary military pilot training) commenced pilot training at Woensdrecht Air Base in August 1988 and saw its first four of 13 PC-7s entering service on February 8, 1989. The Dutch PC-7s are currently being modified by Pilatus in Switzerland to continue in service until at least 2025.
As Boeing continues to study its New Mid-market Airplane concept, Airbus insists its A321neo/A330neo combination will address the replacement market for ageing midsize aircraft such as the Boeing 757. Here, Delta Air Lines 757-231WL N722TW (c/n 29385) is pictured climbing out of London Heathrow.
Aero Vodochody’s new L-159T2 made its first flight on August 2, 2018, at the company's Vodochody airport, the first of three aircraft ordered by the Czech Air Force in 2016. According to Aero, the three L-159T2s are due to be delivered to the 21. Tactical Air Force Base at Caslav by the end of the year and used by the Czech Air Force for advanced flying training and operational missions. The L-159T2 features a new central and forward fuselage, a Leonardo Grifo radar, electronic countermeasures, and radar warning receivers.
The second S-97 prototype during flight-testing over Florida in June 2018.
UMS Skeldar has launched an upgraded Skeldar V-200B system offering a greater payload-carrying capacity.
Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo VSS Unity broke Mach 2 and set a new altitude record for the programme.
An F/A-18 Super Hornet flies over USS Harry S Truman (CVN 75) during a change of command ceremony for Strike Fighter Squadron 211 (VFA-211) 'Fighting Checkmates'.
Indian Air Force AH-64E Apache N4801A (msn 154801) at Mesa, Arizona.
Air Baltic's tenth A220-300, YL-CSJ (msn 55038), is the first to be delivered bearing A220-300 rather than CS300 designation.
The Airbus Zephyr S was launched from an undisclosed site in Arizona at the start of its record-breaking flight.
This 27-year-old McDonnell Douglas MD-82, OY-RUT (c/n 49902), has recently been taken on by Danish Air Transport. The aircraft continues to wear the basic colours of Meridiana, which operated the aircraft from when it was delivered new in 1991.
Sailors assigned to USS Coronado (LCS 4) monitor flight operations from the helicopter control tower as an MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter prepares to launch. MQ-8C flight operations were conducted aboard the USS Coronado by Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 'Pioneers'.
To mark 100 years since Poland regained independence, Enter Air has repainted Boeing 737-8QB SP-ENX (c/n 30627) to remember the American aviator and movie producer Merian Caldwell Cooper, who founded the Kosciuszko Squadron.
N2808H flew in cruise mode for the first time on May 11, 2018.
In this shot, N280BH is shown as the pylons rotate to the down stop position during the May 11, 2018 flight.
V-280 Valor N280BH flying with its pylons rotated forward to the 30° position.
An autonomous air-to-air collision avoidance system is being considered for prioritization among potential upgrades to Lockheed Martin F-35 fighters. This would upgrade the F-35's current Manual Ground Collision Avoidance System (MGCAS), which requires pilot recovery action, and provides a capability to recover even when a pilot is incapacitated. This is similar to the Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto-GCAS) that is being fitted to Lockheed Martin F-16C and F-16D fighters and is to be fitted to F-35s starting in 2019.
The four Super Tucanos delivered to the Force Aerienne de la Republique du Mali at Air Base 101 in Bamako on July 10, 2018.
AirAsia will put the A330-900neo in service later next year, having recently bought another 34 examples to join the 66 it previously ordered. The airline’s first example of the re-engined widebody will be delivered next year.
