Hungarian AF/59th TFW/2 Sqn MiG-29 '15', which was written off in April 17, 2008, is seen here on November 2, 2006.

Rarely ever seen, let alone photographed, are the Su-25s of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Air Force (IRGCAF). Seen here on approach to Tehran-Mehrabad International Airport on August 2, 2007, is Su-25UBK 15-2458, which is believed to be an ex-Iraqi Air Force aircraft. The IRGCAF has six ex-Iraqi Su-25Ks (15-2451, 15-2452, 15-2453, 15-2454, 15-1456 and 15-2457) and a single Su-25UBK. There had been talk for many years of a planned purchase of three Su-25Ts and three Su-25UBTs, but it has never been confirmed whether any were ever delivered.

Embraer Phenom 300 prototype PP-XVI c/n 998011 seen during its maiden flight on April 29, 2008, shadowed by Brazilian Air Force chase plane AT-26 Xavante FAB4509 from the Centro Tecnico Aeroespecial at Sao Jose Dos Campos.

German Air Force/AG.51 Tornado IDS 45+76 seen at Decimomannu, Sardinia, on April 8, 2008 whilst transiting from its base at Schleswig-Jagel to Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan, together with 44+46, 44+61, 45+51, 46+14 and 46+22. The aircraft will be deployed for a six-month rotation, replacing GAF Tornado IDS aircraft already out there supporting the International Security Assistance Force.

Seen here displayed at the FIDAE air show at Arturo Benitez International Airport, Santiago, Chile, on March 30, 2008 is Carabineros de Chile AgustaWestland A109E Power C-21 (c/n 11696). The helicopter is one of four of the type that were delivered to the para-military Carabineros last year.

Being towed out of the factory and onto the flight line at Everett, Washington, on the night of April 29, 2008 is the newly completed first Boeing 777 Freighter. Flight testing is scheduled to commence this summer, initially with the aircraft painted in Boeing livery, although it will then be repainted for delivery to launch customer Air France in the fourth quarter of 2008. Based on the 777-200LR Worldliner, the 777F has to date amassed 78 orders from eleven customers worldwide.

Austrian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon 7L-WG (AS07/GS024, ex 30+37) prepares to depart from Manching, Germany, on April 29, 2008 on its delivery flight to Zeltweg, Austria. The aircraft is the seventh of the type to be delivered to Austria, which plans to transfer responsibility for the quick reaction alert (QRA) role to the Typhoons of 1 Staffel at Zeltweg on June 30. They will replace the leased Swiss F-5Es currently undertaking QRA duties as a stop gap and the latter will be returned to the Swiss Air Force once the Typhoon has fully taken over the role.

Alenia Aeronautica announced on April 15, 2008 that it has begun operations with the largest anechoic shielded chamber in Europe, which will be used for electromagnetic compatibility testing of aircraft and systems. Located in the Alenia Ground Test Centre at Turin-Caselle Airport, the new facility has a hoist systems that is capable of lifting aircraft up to 25 tons in weight to a maximum height of 52ft, enabling them to be irradiated from below. First to use the chamber, as seen here, is Eurofighter Typhoon prototype MM-X603 (DA7).

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) officials confirmed in an announcement on March 15, 2008 that a further six Chengdu JF-17 Thunders have been delivered to the PAF JF-17 Test and Evaluation Flight at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex at Kamra. These follow delivery of an initial two aircraft to Kamra last year. One of the additional six, 08-107, is seen here as it taxies out for a test sortie from Kamra on April 21.

All Nippon Airways (ANA) Cargo Boeing 767-381ER JA8286 (c/n 24400) takes off from Singapore-Paya Lebar Airport for the first time on April 10, 2008 after completion of conversion as the first 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighter by ST Aviation Services Co. After its three hour maiden flight, the aircraft left the same day for the 14hr 51min non-stop flight to Seattle, Washington, where flight test and certification activities will be undertaken over the next few months by Boeing Flight Operations aircrew. Certification and delivery is anticipated in June. The aircraft is painted in the livery of launch customer ANA Cargo and ALLEX, a joint venture between ANA, Nippon Express and Kintetsu World Express.

Boeing commenced final assembly on May 1, 2008 of the third flight-test 787 Dreamliner, which will be the fifth aircraft overall, as two ground test airframes have also been produced. The aircraft, c/n 34636, is a 787-851 that will eventually enter service with Northwest Airlines.

Erickson Air-Crane S-64E N217AC '732' Malcolm, also wearing Protezione Civile titles and an Italian flag, is seen here undertaking fire-fighting operations at Aisone-Cuneo on October 3, 2005, whilst on lease to Italy's Protezione Civile. Erickson Air-Crane announced on May 1, 2008 that it has now agreed an 8 1/2-year lease contract for four S-64F Aircrane Helitankers with the Protezione Civile Italiana.

Close up of the starboard undercarriage of Aerolineas del Sur Boeing 737-228A CC-CSW after it aborted take-off on May 2, 2008 at Calama-EI Loa Airport, Chile, following the explosion of two mainwheel tyres.

MchS Rossii Yak-42D RA-42441 seen on April 17, 2008, at Olbia, Sardinia, where it had failed to stop before the end of the runway whilst landing in a torrential rain storm and overran. The aircraft appeared to have escaped without damage and no injuries were reported.

Kustbevakning (Swedish Coast Guard) Dash 8-Q311 KBV501/SE-MAA (c/n 622, ex C-FEDJ) arrives overhead Skavsta on May 8, 2008 at the end of its delivery flight from Canada, escorted by CASA 212 KBV583/SE-IVE. Three Dash 8s, converted to maritime surveillance aircraft by Field Aviation at its facility at Toronto/Pearson International Airport, Canada, are being acquired to replace the Coast Guard's two CASA 212s. The remaining two, KBV502/SE-MAB (c/n 631,ex C-FJGS) and 503/SE-MAC (c/n 638, ex C-FHEG), are currently still being worked on by Fields.

Cessna 525C Citation CJ4 business jet prototype N4CJ (c/n 525C-714001) takes off on May 5, 2008 from McConnell Air Force Base, Wichita, Kansas, for its maiden flight.

Beech B200 King Air N606AJ (c/n BB-1257) has been in use for several years as part of the joint Italian-US testing of the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) and is fitted with the weapon's integrated guidance system in its modified nose. An identical aircraft conversion has also now been completed by ATK and was delivered to the Italian Air Force on April 30, 2008.

New RAF King Air B200GT N3196N (c/n BY-36) seen during the hand over ceremony at the Wichita, Kansas, factory, on April 29, 2008.

One of the first AgustaWestland AW139s for the Abu Dhabi Police Air Wing, already in full colours but still wearing test registration I-EASK, is seen here during a test flight on April 29, 2008 at Turin-Caselle Airport, Italy. Abu Dhabi has ordered eight of the type for the Police Air Wing, with which they are expected to replace Bell 412s.

In a ceremony at its Vergiate plant in Italy on April 10, 2008, AgustaWestland handed over an AW139 medium twin helicopter to Atlantic Airways, which is based at Vagar in the Faroe Islands. Configured for 12 or 15-seat layouts, it will be used for both public passenger transport and offshore passenger operations. Although it will initially be operated in the Faroe Islands for a short period, it will then be relocated to operate services in the European contract market. The helicopter, l-EASY (c/n 31129), is seen here whilst still carrying its pre-delivery test registration.

Ejercito del Aire (EdA- Spanish Air Force) Bombardier 415 fire-fighting amphibian C-FQWA '43-32' (c/n 2067) is seen here on finals to land at Manchester Airport on April 23, 2008 during its delivery flight from Canada, arriving via Greenland and Iceland. It left the following day via France for Spain, where it will join Grupo 43 at Torrejon as UD.14-02, becoming the second of the type with the unit, which now comes under the control of the Unidad Militar de Emergencies (Military Emergencies Unit). Grupo 43 also operates 14 older model Canadair CL-215Ts.

Seen here at Malta during its delivery flight on November 9, 2007, Indian Air Force Hawk Mk 132 A3487 was one of the first two to be delivered. The aircraft crashed on take-off at Bidar Air Force Station on April 29, 2008.

Fledgling Iraqi airline Mesopotamia Air, which is based at Sulaimaniyah Airport, took delivery of its sole aircraft, MD-83 OE-IKB (c/n 49448), wet-leased from Vienna-based Austrian operator MAP Executive Flightservice, on February 2, 2008. The airline is now operating scheduled flights from Sulaimaniyah via Vienna to Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Stockholm-Arlanda. It is seen here on April 20 departing from Arlanda on its once-weekly flight via Vienna back to Sulaimaniyah.

Seen here undertaking pre-delivery engine tests at the Bombardier plant at Downsview, Ontario, on April 18, 2008 is Dash 8-Q402 9A-CQA (c/n 4205, ex C-FPEL), the first of four ordered (with two more on option) by Croatia Airlines last year to replace its three ATR42s.

Представление "Грипена" DEMO нового поколения. Под крылом - ракеты "Метеор", под фюзеляжем - управляемые бомбы "Пэйвуэй"
У Gripen Demo/NG основные стойки шасси перенесены в обтекатели по бортам фюзеляжа. Это позволило освободить дополнительный объем для топлива, которого самолет берет на борт на 40% больше, чем предыдущие варианты JAS 39.
Seen during the formal unveiling of the aircraft on April 23, 2008 at Linkoping, Sweden, is new Gripen Demonstrator 39-7 (converted from two-seat JAS39B 39803), which will be used to develop technology for a Next-Generation Gripen.

South African Air Force (SAAF) JAS39D Gripen 01, the first of 26 for the SAAF, was formally accepted on April 30, 2008. With all SAAF specific equipment flight testing completed in January, the way is now clear for delivery of the remaining aircraft, which will continue progressively through to 2012.

Boeing 737-96NER EC-KQQ (c/n 35223, ex N1780B) was delivered on April 30, 2008 to Spain's Palma de Mallorca-based Futura International Airways, which has taken the aircraft on lease from GE Commercial Aviation Services. The aircraft, which is the first 737-900ER for a European operator, is seen here on April 25 on a pre-delivery test flight from Paine Field, Seattle, Washington.

MIAT Mongolian Airlines' former Ryanair Boeing 737-8AS EI-CSG (c/n 29922) ’Ogedei Khaan' taxies out from Southend Airport, Essex, for its delivery flight to Ulan Bator Airport, Mongolia, via Berlin-Tegel, on April 22, 2008. The aircraft had arrived at Southend on April 16 from Prestwick for pre-delivery work from ATC Lasham and is the second 737-800 for the airline. It still wears basic Ryanair colours, but with MIAT titles and logos.