ROYAL AIR Force Harrier GR.9A ZG479 '69A', seen at Kandahar, Afghanistan, on January 30, 2007, is one of two that departed for the base from RAF Cottesmore, Rutland, on January 23, routing via Cyprus and the Middle East to become the first GR.9s to be operationally deployed in Afghanistan.

A FURTHER seven Lockheed Martin Advanced F-16C/D Block 52s have been delivered to the Polish Air Force over the last few months, following delivery of an initial four to Poland last November. The second batch, comprising F-16Cs 4045 and 4046, plus F-16Ds 4078 and 4079, arrived at Poznan-Krzesiny Air Base on December 14, 2006. They were followed by a further three aircraft, F-16Cs 4047 (callsign 'Retro 11') and 4048 ('Retro 13'), plus F-16D 4080 ('Retro 12'), which initially diverted into the UK, arriving at RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk, on February 2, due to bad weather in Poland, a common problem at this time of year. They left the following morning to complete their delivery flight to Poznan. Seen here at Mildenhall about to depart for Poznan on February 2 is F-16D 4080. Named locally as the Jastrzab (Hawk) in Poland, a total of 36 F-16Cs and 12 F-16Ds are on order under the Peace Sky programme.

THE FIRST NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH) NH90 variant for the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF), 013 ('Norway 01'), undertakes its first flight on December 20, 2006 at the AgustaWestland factory in Vergiate, Italy. The helicopter already wears Kystvakt (Coast Guard) titles and will be one of eight in search and rescue configuration operated on behalf of the Coast Guard by the RNoAF, replacing the Lynx Mk 86s of 337 Skvadron at Bardufoss.

Pakistan Navy Lockheed P-3C Orion 84, seen outside the Lockheed Martin facility at Greenville, South Carolina, on December 11, 2006, whilst undergoing final checks after refurbishment, is the first of seven ex-US Navy aircraft being acquired. The aircraft departed Greenville on January 10 and arrived at PNS Mehran, Karachi, on January 18. The aircraft had all previously been stored at the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.

US NAVY UH-3H Sea King 148964 'NW-00' from HSC-85 makes a final ceremonial flight from Naval Air Station North Island, California, on January 19, 2007 in formation with a pair of MH-60S Seahawks to mark the retirement of the Sea King.

Boeing is expected to offer the KC-767A for the USAF KC-X requirement and is moving ahead with development. Seen here is the first Italian Air Force KC-767A undertaking its first dry contact with the type's new advanced refuelling boom on January 23, 2007, using B-52H 60-0050 from the Air Force Flight Test Centre's 412th Test Wing/419th Flight Test Squadron from Edwards Air Force Base, California, as a receiver.

Latest LCA prototype to fly was KH2005 (PV3), on December 1, 2006. Initially flown in primer, it had been painted in this grey scheme by the time of the Aero India show at Bangalore, where it is seen here on February 9.

Четвертый Boeing 777-200ER, поставленный "Austrian Airline". Заказчик получил самолет 31 января 2007 года, изначально он предназначался для эксплуатации на авиалинии в Индию.
Austrian Airlines Boeing 777-2B8ER OE-LPD (c/n 35960) takes off from Seattle, Washington, on January 24, 2007. The aircraft, which was formally handed-over to the airline in Seattle on January 30, becoming the fourth of the type in its fleet, arrived in Vienna the following day and will initially be operated on the New Delhi route.

IAR 330 Puma 3140, the first of three for the Romanian Navy, was officially unveiled at lAR's Ghimbav facility on January 30, 2007, when it performed a flying display for the assembled officials from the Navy and the manufacturer. The helicopters are in a similar configuration to those of the Romanian Air Force, including the Socat upgrade package. However, they additionally have inflatable flotation gear fitted under both sides of the nose and also on the main undercarriage fairings. After completing all necessary factory tests and undergoing sea trials, including deck landings, the helicopters will enter service. They will be routinely operated from Romanian Navy frigates in a variety of roles, including search and rescue, medevac and maritime surveillance missions.

AirAsia Airbus A320-216 9M-AFP (c/n 3000, ex F-WWBC) takes off for a pre-delivery test flight from Toulouse on January 12, 2007. The aircraft is the 3,000th A320 family aircraft and was delivered to the airline on January 18 in this special colour scheme with 'Amazing' titles and pictures of AirAsia stewardesses on the fuselage sides, becoming the 51st aircraft in the airline's growing fleet.

After a period of two years in open storage at Southend Airport, Essex, following acquisition by Thameside Aviation, former Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) HS.748 VH-AMQ (c/n 1603, ex A10-603) is seen here undertaking engine runs and taxiing up and down the main runway at Southend on February 1, 2007, still wearing its former RAAF VIP transport colour scheme from its days in service with 32 Squadron at RAAF Base East Sale, Victoria. Plans for the aircraft are as yet unconfirmed, although it seems likely that it has now been sold. Two other former RAAF HS.748s (VH-AHL and VH-AYS) also remain stored at Southend.

Officially handed over to Air Nelson on January 23, 2007 for operation on New Zealand Link services was Bombardier Dash 8-Q311 ZK-NEP (c/n 634, ex C-FIOV). The aircraft is the 13th of the type to join the airline and is seen here on January 8 at Bombardier's facility at Toronto-Pearson undergoing final preparations for delivered.

BAE SYSTEMS Regional Aircraft announced on January 15, 2007 that it has leased this Jetstream 41, A6-ESK (c/n 41090, ex G-CEDS and N571HK of Trans States Airlines/American Connection), to Eastern Skyjets of the UAE. The 29-seat aircraft, seen here being prepared at BAE Systems' facility in Prestwick, Scotland, on December 8, departed from there on its delivery flight on December 24,initially to Manchester, then departing from there on December 26 via Kavala, Greece, and Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, to arrive at Eastern Skyjets' base in Dubai, UAE, on December 27.

FUERZA AEREA Argentina (FAA - Argentina Air Force) FMA IA-50 Guarani II T-110 was one of the last two remaining in FAA service, the other being F-31. Both had served with II Brigada Aerea/Grupo Aereo 2 at BAM Parana City, where F-31 undertook several flypasts on January 7, 2007 before departing for the National Aeronautics Museum at Moron, whilst T-110 has been withdrawn from use at Parana. The indigenously developed type had been in FAA service for the last 40 years, a total of 25 operating in a variety of roles, including liaison, light and VIP transport, photographic reconnaisance and navaid calibration.

EARLY PRODUCTION Vickers V.708 Viscount F-BGNR (c/n 35) Victoria Lynne, which has been in open storage in Bedfordshire since 1998, has been purchased from current owners SkySport Engineering Ltd by Martin Garrett and Rob-Mac Skimming for restoration to live ground running condition.

HAL HJT-36 Sitara Intermediate Jet Trainer first prototype, S3466 (PT1), seen after its take-off mishap on February 8, 2007, during which it sustained extensive damage and may be a write-off.

AERO VODOCHODY announced on February 1, 2007 that it has completed assembly of the first of four two-seat L-159T1 training aircraft for the Czech Air Force (CzAF).

ENGAGING FULL afterburner on a typically murky Russian winter's day, the first MiG-29KUB carrier-borne fighter for the Indian Navy accelerates down the runway at Zhukovsky on January 20, 2007 to undertake its first flight. Two days later, it was officially demonstrated to top Indian and Russian personnel at Zhukovsky. A total of 12 single-seat MiG-29Ks and four MiG-29KUBs have been ordered by the Indian Navy for delivery between 2007 and 2009, with an option for 30 more aircraft that would follow by 2015.

MiG-35 '154 Blue' made the type's first public appearance outside Russia as one of the contenders for the IAF’s requirement for 126 multi-role combat aircraft.

German Ministry of the Interior Eurocopter EC135T2i D-HZSA is the first of 16 that will be delivered over the next two years.

AFTER THREE years in storage at Bournemouth International Airport, Dorset, unique Conroy CL-44-0 Guppy 9G-LCA is being resurrected for operation by Australian freight operator Heavy Lift Cargo. The aircraft will operate under Philippine registry and is seen here at Bournemouth on January 18, 2007 after application of its Philippine registration, RP-C8023.

Hawk Mk 128 ZK011 (RT002), the second of two development aircraft for the RAF, seen at BAE Systems' factory airfield at Warton, Lancashire, on January 10, 2007 carrying a large, flush-mounted pod which combines a 100 Imp gallon capacity fuel tank in the rear section and a baggage compartment at the front. The pod has only previously been fitted to the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) Hawk Mk 115s. However, it is now planned that it will also be a standard configuration on RAF aircraft when they enter service, when they are expected to be officially designated the Hawk T.2. Note that although RT002 has been test flying since March 6, 2006, it still retains its basic primer finish at the present time.

Zurich-based Swiss VVIP aircraft operator Comlux placed an order for a further two Airbus A318 Elites on January 23, 2007, bringing its total orders for the type to five. The first aircraft under the original order, A318-111 F-WWIB (c/n 2910), seen here during test flying, is currently being fitted out by Lufthansa Technik and will be delivered in the spring.

Czech Air Force A319-115X Corporate Jetliner 2801 (c/n 2801, ex D-AVWU) gets airborne from the rain-soaked runway as it departs from Hamburg, Germany, on January 30, 2007 on its delivery flight to Prague-Kbely Air Base. The aircraft is the first of two that will serve in a dual role, acting as troop transports for 100 personnel or, by means of a quick change interior, as a 44-passenger VIP aircraft for government officials.

WINGLET-EQUIPPED Boeing 737-8K5 G-FDZA (c/n 35134), Thomsonfly's first brand new 737-800, arrived at London-Luton Airport from Boeing at Seattle, Washington, at the end of its delivery flight on January 24, 2007.

Brand new Boeing 737-8FH G-XLAK (c/n 35092) was handed over in Seattle, Washington, on January 26, 2007 to XL.com (formerly Excel Airways), which is taking the aircraft on lease from RBS Aviation Capital. It was then flown via Keflavik, Iceland, to Southend Airport, Essex, where it is seen arriving on January 27, before departing for Bristol on January 31 to commence operations.

China United Airlines Boeing 737-8Q8 B-5183 (c/n 30711, ex N1787B) departs Seattle, Washington, on January 24, 2007 on delivery to the Beijing-based carrier. The aircraft, on lease from International Lease Finance Corporation, is the first new production 737 to be delivered to the airline, although it also operates two 737- 700s on lease from Shanghai Airlines, which owns China United jointly with China Aviation Supplies Import and Export Group Corporation.

BAE SYSTEMS Herti XPA-1B unmanned air vehicle (UAV) seen turning onto final approach at the Woomera range in southern Australia on November 28, 2006.