Air International 2007-10
News: Headline, Military, Civil, Airshow, Accidents
Armee de l'Air (French Air Force) Eurocopter EC725 Caracal 2552 'SE' from Escadron d'Helicopteres 1/67 'Pyrenees' at Cazaux is unloaded from a Volga-Dnepr Airlines An-124-100 at Mont-de-Marsan on September 11, 2007 after return from Kabul, Afghanistan. The helicopter is one of two EC725s that had been deployed to Kabul for the last nine months to support the International Security Assistance Force. During their stay they undertook 221 tactical transport missions, totalling some 680 flying hours, without any serious incidents.
The Sukhoi Su-35 prototype had only been completed just before the show and was airfreighted into Zhukovsky the week before the show for display in the static park.
Former Israeli Air and Space Force A-4N Skyhawk N262WL (ex BuNo 159545), still in its Israeli camouflage, seen on August 21, 2007 on the flightline at Wittmund Air Base, Germany, where the aircraft is now based with BAE Systems Flight Systems for target towing duties. The aircraft is one of two new ex-Israeli additions to the Skyhawk fleet there, the other being N268WL (ex BuNo 159530). Both arrived at Wittmund on May 21 from Advanced Training Systems International's facility at Williams Gateway Airport, Mesa, Arizona. Neither has yet flown a mission, as both are still being prepared for service in their new role.
Canadian Forces CF-18A 188796, the first to be upgraded to R2 standard, undertakes a test flight of the MIDS (Multi-functional Information Distribution System) on May 5, 2007 over CFB Cold Lake, Alberta, whilst operating with the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment (AETE) there on trials of the upgrade. Hand-over of the aircraft back to the Canadian Forces took place on August 20. Note the large 'R2' logo on the fin in the colours of the Canadian flag, including 'ECP 583' and ‘CTF' titles, referring, respectively, to Engineering Change Proposal 583 and the Canadian Department of Defence's Combined Test Force.
Swedish Armed Forces Hkp14A (NH90) 141043 '43', the first Patria-assembled example, makes a brief stop at Patria Helicopters AB's facility at Stockholm/Arlanda, Sweden, on September 6, 2007 during its delivery flight.
NH90 Naval Frigate Helicopter CSX 81697 'NNLN 01', the first for the Royal Netherlands Navy, undertakes its maiden flight at the AgustaWestland facility at Vergiate, Italy, on August 10, 2007.
NH90 NATO Frigate Helicopter 013/C.S.X 81691 (c/n 1013), the first for the Royal Norwegian Air Force for operation on behalf of the Kystvakt (Coastguard), is seen here at NAS De Kooy in the Netherlands on August 23, 2007 whilst making a fuel stop en route to the Rygge Air Show in southern Norway. The aircraft had been test-flying unpainted since its maiden flight last December but was finally fully painted up on August 21, specifically for an appearance at the Rygge show. As previously reported, first deliveries will not take place until next year due to delays in integration of the Norwegian-specific equipment in the helicopters.
Tornado 45+03 seen arriving back at Manching on July 19, 2007 in special colours to mark 50 years of the Luftwaffe’s WTD 61 flight trials and testing unit. The overall orange colours reflect those worn by the unit's aircraft in its early days, whilst various aeronautical equations are emblazoned on the fuselage sides and across the wings. On the nose are '50 Jahre Flugerprobung' (50 Years Flight Testing) titles, whilst the tail has a large WTD 61 logo and under the centre fuselage is a large WTD 61 Tornado Flight Test badge. WTD 61 was formed on October 1, 1957, at Oberpfaffenhoffen as the primary aircraft trials unit of the German Federal Armed Forces, transferring to its current base at Manching during 1965-6 after outgrowing the facilities at its original home. A similar scheme has also been applied to WTO.61 F-4F 37+16. An open day took place at Manching on September 15 to mark the 50th anniversary, during which both aircraft were displayed.
The RAAF's third C-17A,'F183", seen on the production line at Long Beach, California, on September 5, 2007. The fourth, 'F184', is also now on the final assembly line and both are due to be delivered by mid-2008.
Ilyushin Il-96-400T freighter RA-96102, the first of the type to be completed, made its maiden flight at the VASO production plant at Voronezh on August 14, 2007. It was then handed-over at Zhukovsky during MAKS 2007 to Atlant-Soyuz Airlines, which has five on order through Ilyushin Finance. The aircraft will now undergo joint tests leading to expected certification in September and entry into service. Atlant-Soyuz will take delivery of a second Il-96T-400 by the end of 2007 and the remaining three during 2009. RA-96102 is seen here displaying at Zhukovsky in company with Il-76MD-90 RA-78854, the first of the type to be re-engined for the Russian Air Force with PS-90A-76 turbofans.
Air China Cargo Tupolev Tu-204-120CE freighter B-2871, the first of five produced for China by the Aviastar factory at Ulyanovsk, appeared at Zhukosky and, after lengthy delays, may now finally be delivered.
A MiG-29M-OVT (in the foreground) and a MiG-29SMT. The latest variants of the Fulcrum were on show at this year's MAKS Air Show in Moscow.
All five MH-53M s made a formation sortie out of RAF Mildenhall on September 13, 2007, during which the helicopters overflew many airfields or installations with USAF connections, including the former USAF airfields at RAF Alconbury and RAF Woodbridge, and the American Military Cemetery at Madingley, Cambridgeshire.
A 21st SOS MH-53M Pave Low IV, 69-5796, flies over flooded Central Mozambique near the town of Chibutoon March 20, 2000, whilst refuelling from a 67th SOS MC-130P Combat Shadow. At the time, the Pave Lows and supporting MC-130Ps were operating from South African Air Force Base Hoedspruit, South Africa, where they were deployed to support Operation Atlas Response. This was a multi-national humanitarian relief operation to assist displaced persons in Central and Southern Mozambique, which had been devastated by extensive flooding.
During the final 3 hour 55 min sortie, the MH-53Ms each took on board 250 Imp gal of fuel from a 352nd Special Operations Group MC-130P Hercules, which trailed drogues from its two underwing refuelling pods.
Gunners manning the pintle-mounted 7.62mm M135 miniguns at the cabin door, and 0.50mm machine guns on the open rear ramp, fired off over 3,500 rounds of ammunition at flare targets dropped into the sea from the lead MH-53M.
An unusual visitor to Chambery Airport, France, on August 20, 2007 was VIP-configured Yak-42D RA-42411 (c/n 4520421219043), which is operated by Moscow/Vnukovo-based Aviakompania Aero Rent on behalf of Russian Defence Export Agency Rosoboronexport. The aircraft carries very small Aero Rent titles below the cockpit and a large Rosoboronexport coat of arms and titles on the forward fuselage.
Air New Zealand subsidiary Air Nelson confirmed on September 11, 2007 that it is to purchase two additional Bombardier Q300s to boost capacity in and out of Nelson and other regional centres. Delivery of the two additional aircraft will boost Air Nelson's Q300 fleet to 23 by May 2009. The airline currently has 17 of the type in service, with an 18th handed-over in Montreal on September 7 and due to enter service in October. A further three are also still outstanding from previous orders. Seen here outside the Bombardier hangar at Toronto/Lester B Pearson International Airport, Ontario, Canada, in Air New Zealand Link colours on July 18 is Air Nelson's 16th 0311, ZK-NET (c/n 6421 wearing test registration C-FJKQ. The aircraft left on delivery on the same day, arriving in Nelson on July 23.
ScotAirways Dornier 328-100 G-BYML, seen here at Edinburgh on September 5, 2007, is the first to be repainted in CityJet colours following the airline's commencement of flights two days earlier from London City to Dundee and Edinburgh under the 'CityJet for Air France' banner.
This photograph released by Airbus Military on August 28, 2007 shows the complete fuselage barrel and nose section of the first flying prototype A400M, c/n 001, in the final assembly jig at San Pablo, Spain, just after the wings had been fitted. Despite this progress, first flight is not now expected until summer 2008.
Boeing 757-256 A6-RKA (c/n 29311) lifts off from runway 08 at Stockholm/Arlanda Airport, Sweden, on September 1, 2007 operating Atlasjet flight 'KK7402' to Antalya, Turkey. The aircraft has been leased to Turkish operator Atlasjet from new UAE carrier RAK Airways since June 15 and still wears RAK livery but now with Atlasjet titles. RAK Airways, which plans to become the national carrier of the UAE Emirate Ras Al Khaimah, took delivery of the 757 as its first aircraft on November 17, 2006. However, the airline has yet to operate any flights and it remains unclear at present when operations will commence.
Albanian Airlines DC-9-32 ZS-GAL (c/n 47601) seen on approach to London/Stansted Airport on September 4, 2007 operating the carrier's three-times weekly service from Tirana. This veteran aircraft, originally delivered to Garuda Indonesia as PK-GNG in January 1974, was delivered to Tirana on July 10 for lease to Albanian from South Africa's Executive Aerospace and retains its South African registration.
Two new variants of the HAL Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), a weaponised ALH in Indian Navy colours (foreground) and an Army ALH with the more powerful Shakti (Turbomeca Ardiden 1H) engine (behind) both undertook their maiden flights on August 16, 2007.
Making their public debuts at MAKS were the first two new prototypes of the ship-borne fighter variants of the Fulcrum, two-seat MiG-29KUB '947 Blue' and single-seat MiG-29K '941 Blue' (illustrated), which had made their respective maiden flights on January 20 and June 25, 2007. The Indian Navy is currently the sole customer, with an order for 12 MiG-29Ks and four MiG-29KUBs, plus options on a further 30. Deliveries are scheduled to commence at the end of this year.
Eurocopter Squirrel HT.1 ZJ270/'70' taxies past 705 Sqn's hangar. The aircraft are pooled and made available on a squadron-requirement basis, rather than individual Squirrels being allocated to particular units.
Austrian AF/2 Staffel F-5E J-3052 is seen during recovery operations after it was forced to make a belly landing at Graz on June 18, 2007 following undercarriage problems during a functional check flight. The pilot was unhurt and the aircraft appeared to have suffered minimal damage.
QinetiQ's Zephyr solar-powered High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) unmanned air vehicle (UAV) is launched from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico on July 23, 2007. QinetiQ announced on September 10 that the Zephyr has exceeded the official world record time for the longest duration unmanned flight with a 54hr flight during trials at White Sands. The trials were funded through a UK Ministry of Defence research programme. The flight significantly exceeded the current official FAI record of 30hrs 24mins set by an RQ-4A Global Hawk on March 22, 2001. However, because no FAI officials were present during the Zephyr flight, it may not stand as an official record. During the record flight it was flown to a maximum altitude of 58,355ft (17,787m) with a surveillance payload, whilst on a second flight it flew for 33hrs 43mins and reached 52,247ft (15,925m).
Seen here devoid of registration during pre-delivery test flying, this Mi-171 is one of two acquired by Rosneft, Russia's largest oil company, from the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant. These brand-new helicopters, manufactured and delivered in July 2007, will be operated by UTAir on behalf of Rosneft to support exploitation of the Vankorsk oil and gas field, one of the largest in the world. Of note are the two additional external fuel tanks, mounted on pylons above the sponsons on each side of the helicopter to enable long-range flights to be undertaken.
US Navy MQ-8B Fire Scout vertical take-off and landing unmanned air vehicle (VTUAV) 167786 is loaded onto US Marine Corps/VMGR-234 KC-130T 162308 'QH-308' at Northrop Grumman's Unmanned Systems Center at Moss Point, Mississippi, for transport to NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, for flight testing. Announcing the delivery on September 10, 2007, Northrop Grumman said this was the first time a Fire Scout had been carried on a KC-130T. An Army MQ-8B Future Combat Systems Class IV VTUAV was also loaded into the KC-130T to confirm that it could carry two of the type at once, but the Army MQ-8B was not transported.
Former Iberia McDonnell Douglas MD-87 I-AFRA (c/n 49834, ex EC-EXRI is seen here on September 11, 2007 after rollout from the Meridiana facility at Olbia following repaint in the colours of Air Burkina, Burkina Faso's only airline. The carrier currently has only two aircraft, an A319 and F28-4000, but will now add the MD-87, which will be operated on its behalf by Meridiana on an ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance) basis. The aircraft is owned by Finaircraft, an Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKDEF) company. Since privatisation several years ago. Air Burkino has been majority owned by AKDEF, through holding company Groupe Celestair, which titles it carries on the forward fuselage.
Boeing 737-7FS N356BJ (c/n 33962, to be 06-001), the first AEW&C aircraft for Turkey under the Peace Eagle programme, takes off from Boeing Field, Seattle, on September 6, 2007 for its first functional check flight following modification to incorporate the aircraft's mission systems.
Former Northwest Airlines Airbus A319-114 VP-BHI (c/n 1875, ex N357NB) seen at Southend Airport, Essex, on September 3, 2007, just after roll out from the Air Livery paint shop following respray in the colours of Russia's S7 Airlines (formerly Sibir). The aircraft had arrived at Southend on August 24 last year and is one of ten former Northwest A319s being acquired by the Novosibirsk-based carrier.
Seen here on August 24, 2007 at Boeing Field, Seattle, Washington, prior to delivery is Xiamen Airlines 737-85C B-2305 (c/n 35051), which was handed-over to the airline on August 30. The aircraft is the eighth of 52 now on order for the airline, including a new order for 25 announced on August 30.
A fire from leaking fuel quickly takes hold and begins to consume China Airlines Boeing 737-809 B-18616 at Naha Airport, Japan, on August 20, 2007, just after all passengers and crew had safely evacuated the aircraft.
A computer generated image of a Boeing 737-800 in Norwegian Air Shuttle colours.
Among the role-specific equipment fitted to the SARTU Griffins are a hoist, floating gear and a 'wet-fit' cabin (a watertight cabin floor). Based at RAF Valley, on the island of Anglesey, SARTU is ideally located, being adjacent to the sea and the mountains of North Wales.