Air International 2019-03
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Airscene
Qatari Rafale EQ01 at the beginning of the assembly line with EQ03 in the background. Although all of the Qatari Rafales seen flying at Merignac to date wear a QA serial number, some on the production line still wear EQ serial numbers.
Each Rafale starts its production run on the right-hand line moving from station to station; the production run ends on the left-hand side.
A general view of the Rafale production line showing several Rafale DQ and EQ aircraft nearing completion.
A Rafale EQ destined for the Qatari Air Force at one of the assembly stations on the Merignac production line.
THE LATEST Global Market Forecast (GMF) from Airbus, the company's long-term prediction on future commercial aircraft sales, was issued early in July 2018. The company is predicting a doubling in the numbers of commercial aircraft in service from 2018 to 2037, by which time it will expand to more than 48,000 aircraft.
Airbus has announced it will end A380 production in 2021.
United Airlines will be the launch operator of the new Bombardier CRJ550 variant.
Typhoon FGR4 ZK301 loaded with two Brimstones prior to the first combat mission flown with the precision attack missile. The aircraft is also loaded with two ASRAAM air-to-air missiles and two Paveway IV precision-guided munitions.
A common shot taken from an RAF Voyager tanker shows a Typhoon FGR4 plugged into the basket and taking fuel, this one during a Shader mission. Note the bright yellow rings applied to the forward fuselage of the Paveway IV bomb denoting it's a live weapon.
RAF ground crew load a Brimstone precision attack missile to the outboard pylon of the triple-carrier loaded to the hard point outboard of the Typhoon's underwing drop tank.
Boeing has said a launch decision on any new airliner to replace ageing midsize equipment such as Boeing 767s won't be made until 2020.
Alpha Jet A NAF452 was built in Germany and delivered to Nigeria in 1981. It has recently been refurbished after the new Nigerian government pledged to invest in defence and resurrect aircraft that have been left to rot for decades. In addition to the 68mm SNEB rocket pods this jet is carrying an under-fuselage gun pod.
Aer Lingus’ new livery features a two-tone green and retains the distinctive shamrock on the tail.
The first rebranded Aer Lingus A320 flying off the Irish coast after repainting in Shannon.
Qantas' distinctive Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner VH-ZND (c/n 63390), named Emily Kame Kngwarreye, caught on departure from London Heathrow. The Australian carrier now operates eight 787-9s.
A new South Korean airline called Air Premia has ordered five Boeing 787-9s. The first three will be delivered in 2020 as the airline starts operations, with the carrier planning to add more Dreamliners and double its initial fleet within five years of operation.
The United States Air Force in Europe has painted this F-15E Strike Eagle, 97-0219, of RAF Lakenheath's 48th Fighter Wing's 492nd Fighter Squadron in this eye-catching colour scheme to commemorate the Allied landings in Normandy on June 6,1944 - D-Day. The scheme is based on that worn by the squadron's fore-runners from when it was part of the United States Army Air Force's Ninth Air Force's 48th Fighter Group that was based at RAF Ibsley in Hampshire at the time of the invasion. Privately owned P-47D 'Nellie' G-THUN, the former 45-49192, was present at the early February roll-out resplendent in a similar colour scheme.
Contracts have been signed with several UK companies to integrate weapons on the Protector, which will be based on the MQ-9B SkyGuardian pictured here.
An unusual air-to-ground view of the boneyard at Southern California Logistics Airport in January 2019 where airliners, including former Allegiant MD-80s and Boeing 757s, are parted-out before scrapping
PTDI (Persaero) will complete assembly and customisation of eight Airbus Helicopters H225M Super Pumas and nine Bell 412EPI helicopters for the Indonesian military.
RUAG will upgrade eight Schweizer Luftwaffe AS532UL helicopters at Emmen, with the work to be completed in 2022.
The Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) will receive a single Airbus Military C295 airlifter for its small airforce, becoming the 28th nation to order the type. C295TU-VMC will be delivered in transport configuration and built to the latest C295W standard with winglets and uprated engines. It will add to the two former Bulgarian An-26B transports (TU-VMA and TU-VMB) delivered in July 2018 and the single An-12 delivered in 2005. Cote d'Ivoire is slowly rebuilding its small air force, which was largely destroyed by French forces in November 2004 in retaliation for a deadly attack on French soldiers and the subsequent 2011 civil war. Cote d'Ivoire is also due to receive a single CN235 from PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI). The aircraft was ordered via AD Trade Belgium in April 2018.
Photographed during a test flight from Venegono on January 17, 2019, Pakistan Army AW139 c/n 31829 with temporary registration l-RAIO; the number of AW139s ordered by Pakistan is unknown.
The first of nine Poseidon MRA1 maritime patrol aircraft for the UK will be handed over in October 2019.
Pilots from Strike Fighter Squadron 34 (VFA-34) 'Blue Blasters’ prepare to fly the F/A-18 Hornet for the final time. The F/A-18 Hornet entered operational service for the fleet in 1983. The aircraft's first combat mission was in 1986 during Operation El Dorado Canyon and the legacy Hornet continued to serve in every major US military operation including the Gulf War, the Iraqi War, and Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and Inherent Resolve. F/A-18C BuNo 165399/NE434 (middle) was the squadron's final CAG-bird which had the out-of-sequence side number 434 (for VFA-34) and commemorative tail markings applied, with the legend 'F/A-18A-C 1983-2019, The end of a legacy'.
Rafale DQ QA204 towards the end of the production line at Bordeaux Merignac. Note the two-tone colour scheme specified by the Qatari Emiri Air Force.
Rafale F4 will feature a new control system for the M88 engine.
A number of United States Air Force aircraft are appearing wearing special commemorative paint schemes in anticipation of next year's 75th anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy on June 6,1944. This C-130J-30 Super Hercules, 14-5802, is assigned to Air Education Training Command’s 314th Airlift Wing's 62nd Airlift Squadron (AS) and is based at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas.
AW189 c/n 89012, temporary registration l-RAIW, photographed during a pre­delivery check flight from Venegono on January 29, 2019. The helicopter is fitted with an under-belly fire-fighting tank for its operator, The Tokyo Fire Department.
The Nigerian Air Force will take delivery of five AW109 helicopters from Italy's Leonardo and a single Mi-35M gunship from Russian Helicopters in March 2019.
The Nigerian Air Force has accepted four of the 12 Mil Mi-35M attack helicopters it has on order.
Flybe's Dash 8 Q400 G-JECP (c/n 4136) on finals into Manchester wearing the carrier's latest livery.
Sunwing Airlines Boeing 737-800(W) C-GOWG (msn 37757), pictured arriving at Toronto Lester B Pearson International Airport, is the first Sunwing 737 to be adorned with decals promoting Oasis Hotels.
Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen during a briefing on the F-35A aircraft, by officers serving with the 56th Operation Group at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona.
The first operational F-35A Lightning to for the Royal Netherlands Air Force is rolled out at manufacturer Lockheed Martin's Fort Worth facility on January 31, 2019. The Dutch have ordered 37 of the type so far.
Despite MINDEF’s announcement that Singapore is planning to order a small number of F-35s, the ministry has not specified which variant; the F-35B is under consideration.
One of the first images of the Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik, Russia's first unmanned combat air vehicle.
An unofficial three-view diagram of the Sukhoi S-70.
22 января 2019г. в Манассасе (штат Вирджиния) состоялся первый полет прототипа автономного пассажирского самолета вертикального взлета и посадки, предназначенного для передвижения по городу, созданного дочерней компанией «Боинга» Aurora Flight Sciences (AFS). Аппарат выполнил взлет, висение и посадку.
БПЛА оснащен электрической силовой установкой. Его длина составляет 9,14 м, ширина - 8,53 м, а дальность полета - более 80 км.
Boeing's autonomous Passenger Air Vehicle, pictured on its initial flight, is part of the company's efforts in the area of urban air mobility.
The UK’s mapping agency Ordnance Survey (OS) has joined the trend for solar-powered, high-flying unmanned aircraft by working with aeronautical engineers to develop a High-Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) called Astigan.
The Airbus A330-900 is now cleared for operations beyond 180 minutes' flying time from the nearest diversion airport, with airlines able to opt for up to 235 minutes, if desired.
The second Saab GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft, registered SE-RMZ, made its maiden flight from the ER airborne radar and collected flight-test data for analysis on the ground.
The fifth KC-46A Pegasus tanker aircraft to be delivered to the USAF, 17-46027 (c/n 34126), which made its first flight on November 4, 2018, was delivered to Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma on February 8, 2019. It will serve with the second USAF unit to operate the type, the 97th Air Mobility Wing's 56th Aerial Refueling Squadron, the Formal Training Unit for the type. The 56th ARS was activated in August 2016 in preparation for the new tanker’s arrival. Three additional KC-46As will be delivered to Altus in the coming weeks.