Hotilovo air base in the Tver Oblast houses Voyenno Vozdushnye Sily Rossii (VVS, Russian Air Force) units that operate the Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker and Mikoyan MiG-31 Foxhound. The Su-27s were assigned to the former 611th Istrebitelniy Aviapolk (IAP, Fighter Regiment) and the MiG-31s to the 790th IAP (including '09 red' shown), although both types are now assigned to Aviabaza (air base) 6968 following the reorganisation of the Russian Air Force.

Lockheed Martin F-16E Block 60 Desert Falcon N16EX/3081 in United Arab Emirates colours was noted in late January 2011 flying from Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas. The aircraft is believed to be an attrition replacement for 3052 that was written-off on January 9, 2006. The United Arab Emirates Air Force and Air Defence acquired 55 F-16Es (serials 3026 to 3080) and 25 F-16Fs (3001 to 3025). Eight of the aircraft arrived at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, on January 14 before proceeding to Nellis AFB, Nevada, to participate in Red Flag 11-2.

F-16B Block 15OCU 15119 wearing the markings of Esquadra 201 Falcoes, on January 18, 2011, making the subtype's last flight in Portuguese colours.

The past and the future: a French Air Force C-135FR tanker performs a trial refuelling of an Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport aircraft (MRTT). The KC-45A design, with which EADS is contesting the USAF KC-X competition, is heavily based on the A330-MRTT design.

ZJ518 is seen on January 22, 2010, before it succumbed to the JCBs.

Upgrade of the AP-3C Orion ESM suite is 18 months behind schedule.

An S-92 helicopter operated by CHC was the type due to be used for the now cancelled UK SAR-H programme.

A Gazelle from 5 Regiment based at Aldergrove in Northern Ireland carrying an L-3 Wescam MX-15 electro-optical and infrared imaging turret on its right hand side. The out-of-service date for the Gazelle has been extended to 2018.

Three Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawks (PF-108 to PF-110) were delivered to the Secretaria de Seguridad Publica (Ministry of Public Security) by the US Department of State on November 24, 2010, at Itzapalpa. They will be operated by the Polici Federal (Federal Police) and are the first of six due to be handed over under the Merida Initiative, a security co-operation agreement aimed at combating the narcotics trade, transnational crime and money laundering. The UH-60Ms have a nose-mounted forward-looking infrared system, NVG compatible cockpit and rescue hoist. Since 2008 the Polici Federal has operated seven UH-60Ls.

Skymark Airlines is the first Japanese carrier to order the A380 Super Jumbo.

The first upgraded Indian Air Force MiG-29UPG (KBU3301) is seen during its maiden flight from Zhukovsky on February 4, 2011.

Five of the six nations operating Eurofighter Typhoons have painted special markings on one of their aircraft each to mark the accumulation of 100,000 flight hours by the fleet. The aircraft involved are 7L-WC of the Uberwachungsgeschwader (Surveillance Squadron) of the Ostereichische Luftstreitkrafte (Austrian Air Force); 30+51 from the Luftwaffe's Jagdgeschwader 73 (Fighter Wing 73) 'Steinhoff'; MM7295/'4-6' of 4° Stormo, 9° Gruppo CIO (4th Wing, 9th Squadron) of the Aeronautica Militare Italiana (Italian Air Force); C16-42/'11-22' (seen here) of Ala 11 (Wing 11), Ejercito del Aire (Spanish Air Force) and ZK312/'EM' of No.6 Squadron, RAF. Each aircraft has '100,000 Flying Hours' titles on the rear fuselage. More than 260 Typhoons are currently in service.

Typhoon FGR4 ZJ932/'DB' of No.XI Squadron is seen taking off at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, on February 3, 2011. It displays four silhouettes under the forward section of the cockpit depicting two Tupolev Tu-95 Bear-H and two Tu-160 Blackjack strategic strike aircraft, marking interception missions to monitor the Russian types as they approached the UK air defence region. The markings are unofficial and first appeared approximately one year ago, but are due to be removed.

Рисунок перспективной палубной модификации истребителя Еврофайтер "Тайфун"
A carrier-based Typhoon has been offered to India.

RAF Sea King HAR3s like this one, alongside Royal Navy Sea King HU5s, look set to continue the majority of UK SAR cover following the cancellation of the PFI SAR-H programme.

Four Mil Mi-171E Hips have been added to the inventory of the Iraqi Army Aviation Command, with two being delivered on both January 16 and 23, 2011. The latest deliveries take the final number in service with the command to 14, all of which were acquired directly by the Iraqi Ministry of Defence in a deal coordinated by the US Forces - Iraq's Iraq Security Assistance Mission. Another 17 Mil Mi-17 Hips are also operated by Iraq.

This anonymous looking Kamov Ka-31 was seen flying near Kumertau, Russia on February 8, 2011. It is believed to be the fourth for the PLAN.
The large radar antenna of the Oko system is stowed under the helicopter’s belly when not in use and when deployed in flight, the antenna rotates at a rate of 6rpm

Chinook ZA677 is the first example to be equipped with a glass cockpit under Project Julius, emerging from the workshops at Fleetlands, Hampshire, as a HC4 and completing its maiden post-upgrade flight on December 9, 2010.

Boeing 767-381 ER(W) JA622A (c/n 40567) for All Nippon Airways was rolled out on February 2, 2011 at Everett in Washington. The airliner is the 1,000th of its kind produced and was the last assembled on the current production line. All subsequent 767s will be built in a new smaller bay at Everett.

БЛА по схеме "летающее крыло". В 1999 году "Boeing" получила контракт на постройку двух БЛА-демонстраторов технологий X-45A. Не пошедший в серию БЛА был создан по схеме "бесхвостка", его планер был выполнен из алюминиевых сплавов, а все внешние части и покрытие - из композитов (серийные машины планировалось строить почти полностью из композитов). Также не пошедший в серию Lockheed Martin RQ-3 Darkstar представлял собой достаточно большой БЛА. Он поднялся в воздух в 1996 году, но результаты испытаний оказались удручающими. В 2003 году в воздух поднялся БЛА X-47, сегодня он проходит испытания в рамках отработки концепции боевого БЛА. В интересах ВМС США аналогичные испытания проходит БЛА X-47B (на фото), совершивший первый полет в начале 2011 года. БЛА RQ-170 разработан "Lockheed Martin", применялся в Афганистане (где был впервые сфотографирован), а в конце 2011 года во время одного из заданий упал на территории Ирана. Информация по аппарату практически отсутствует. 27 апреля 2011 года первый полет выполнил еще один БЛА, созданный "Boeing", - X-47C Phantom Ray.
Airborne - the X-47B takes off and flies for the first time at Edwards AFB, California on February 4, 2011. The aircraft flew for 29 minutes during the flight test.

Tsentr Boevogo Primeneniya i Pereuchivanya Letnogo Sostava (Combat Training and Conversion Centre for Flight Personnel) were demonstrated at Torzhok in the Tver Oblast in early February 2011. No bort numbers have yet been assigned to the helicopters, as can be seen on this example seen at Torzhok on February 8. A total of 30 Ka-52 will be delivered to Russia by 2012.

Airbus A320-214 6V-AIH Gandiol and 6V-AII Kayemor are seen upon arrival at Dakar-Leopold Seda Senghor Airport on January 19, 2011 on delivery to Senegal Airlines. The two aircraft are the first for the carrier, which was founded in May 2009 and began operations with its new aircraft on January 25 with a flight between Dakar and Conakry. Gandiol (msn 799, ex M-ABCV and China Eastern Airlines as B-2361) is leased from CIT Leasing and Kayemor (msn 879, ex Spring Airlines as B-6258) from GECAS. The new airline has the initial aims of launching services between Dakar and Bamako, Banjul, Bissau, Conakry, Niamey, Nouakchott and Ouagadougou.

Hotilovo air base in the Tver Oblast houses Voyenno Vozdushnye Sily Rossii (VVS, Russian Air Force) units that operate the Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker and Mikoyan MiG-31 Foxhound. The Su-27s were assigned to the former 611th Istrebitelniy Aviapolk (IAP, Fighter Regiment) and the MiG-31 s to the 790th IAP, although both types are now assigned to Aviabaza (air base) 6968 following the reorganisation of the Russian Air Force. Su-27UB '20 red' (shown) was repaired and returned to service after landing without its undercarriage deployed on March 20, 2008, at Bezhetsk, where the 611th IAP was previously based.

Side-by-side at NAS North Island, California, are a Grumman EA-6B Prowler and Boeing EA-18G Growler of Electronic Attack Squadron 129 (VAQ-129) 'Vikings' based at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington. The Prowler has been painted in the scheme used by US Navy carrier-based combat aircraft circa 1942 to honour those who fought in the Battle of Coral Sea, while the Growler carries the colours worn by aircraft of Air Group 85 operating from the USS Shangri-La (CV 34) in 1944. Both arrived at NAS North Island in late January 2011 to participate in the Parade of Flight over San Diego Bay, which is the launch for a series of events celebrating the Centennial of Naval Aviation.

The first Kamov Ka-226 for the Russian Air Force is seen during its ground testing phase in early February 2011 at the Kumertau Aviation Production Enterprise facility.

Astraeus Boeing 757-2Q8 G-STRX (c/n 25621) has had decals applied by ATC Lasham at Southend Airport, Essex, to mark its latest charter, during which it will act as transport for the British heavy metal group Iron Maiden on 'The Final Frontier World Tour 2011'. The name 'Ed Force One' appears on the nose, Eddie being the band's long-serving mascot who also appears on the tail. The combi airliner departed Southend on February 8, 2011 for Stansted Airport, Essex, to pick up the group and its equipment before flying to Moscow for its first gig on February 11.

F-15E Strike Eagle maintainers perform final checks before take-off January 18, 2011, from Eglin AFB, Florida. This F-15E 90-0252/ET assigned to the 46th Test Wing is equipped with the new APG-82 radar.

The pilot and weapon system officer of an Israeli F-15 Baz have recently been disciplined for unauthorised manoeuvres during an exercise in late 2010. F-15D-50-MC Baz 733 (ex 90-0275) named 'Raz ha'Melech (King's Messenger) of the Israel Air and Space Force 106 Squadron based at Tel Nof is seen rolling while leaving Decimomannu, Sardinia, on November 19, 2010, after participating in exercise Vega 2010. The aircraft took off on departure and completed a 360° roll at low altitude, much to the annoyance of both the airfield personnel and the Israeli authorities. During the flight home it was also flown below the stipulated altitude and created an unauthorised supersonic boom. Both the pilot and WSO spent seven days in detention and have had their flight status revoked for one year for the offence.

The first A350 Extra Wide Body airliner is currently under construction. Cathay Pacific Airways has selected the A350-900 to form the backbone of its future mid-size widebody fleet, following the signature of a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Airbus for the order of 30 aircraft.

Airbus's A330 MRTT tanker has already been selected by Australia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. Away from the United States, the aircraft may also win selection in France, and possibly India and Brazil.

Cessna 208B Caravans N694MA (c/n 208B-694) and N74KA (c/n 208B-0770) of Kenmore Air/Kenmore Air Express are being prepared for delivery to GOMA Air of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Both were noted at Clayton Scott Field (previously known as Renton Municipal Airport) in Washington on February 5, 2011.

Apache AH1 ZJ174 is seen over the Electronic Warfare Tactics Range at Spadeadam during Exercise Lightning Force.

Bombardier appears to have worried Airbus, Boeing and Embraer with its CSeries - scheduled to enter service in 2013 and expected to offer direct operating costs at least 20% lower than the A319 and 737-700.

The last six DHC-1-200 Chipmunks in service with the Portuguese Air Force during the formation flight celebrating 60 years of service on January 29, 2011.

Tornado F3 ZE341/'HI' awaiting entry to the BAE Systems hangar at RAF Leeming in early February 2011, pending the removal of the remains of the previous occupant (ZE764) from the disassembly facility.

SPAF-112 was one of a pair of Sudan People's Air Force Mi-17-V5s that flew over the city of Juba on January 25, 2011. Both carried the South Sudan flag during the flight.

On February 7, 2011 Lockheed Martin rolled out at Marietta Georgia, the first of 15 MC-130J Hercules destined for the US Air Force Special Operations Command. The aircraft (09-6207, c/n 5656) will be delivered this summer. At least three others (09-6208 to -6210, c/n 5657 to 5669) are currently in production.

The Prefecture Naval Argentina (PNA, Argentine Coast Guard) has received its first Eurocopter AS355 Ecureuil (PA-80), which was assembled and tested at Tobalaba Airport, Santiago, by Eurocopter Chile. The helicopter flew to the Prefecture Naval facilities at San Fernando Airport in the suburbs of Buenos Aires. The second example, PA-81, will be delivered soon. The fleet of the PNA currently comprises two SA330 Pumas (serials PA-11 and PA-13), four SA365N Dauphins (PA-40 to PA-43) and four Schweizer 300Cs (PA-90 and PA-93 to PA-95), while it is also negotiating for the purchase of two Super Pumas.

Aeroeletronica Ltd (AEL) has been awarded a contract to supply Elbit Hermes 450 unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to the Forca Aerea Brasiliera (Brazilian Air Force). Details were announced on January 19, 2011 by AEL's parent company, Elbit Systems, but no information concerning the value of the contract or the number of UAS to be acquired was released, although it is believed that a single ground station and a pair of air vehicles are sought. The Hermes 450 was selected in September 2010 after evaluation in Brazil the previous year.

Australia's Wedgetail will require further development even beyond final operational capability in December 2012.

Bombardier DHC-8-402 Q400 NextGen N440QX (c/n 4347, ex-C-GHCV) for Horizon Airlines is seen preparing to depart Downsview Airport, in Toronto, on its delivery flight to Chicago-Rockford International, Illinois, on January 29, 2011. It wears a special scheme for the Oregon State University 'Beavers', the name of its football, baseball and basketball teams. Canadair CRJ-700 N609QX (c/n 10031) wears similar colours.

Bombardier DHC-8-402 Q400 NextGen HA-LQD (c/n 4063) was delivered to the Hungarian flag-carrier Magyar Legikozlekedesi Vallalat (Malev Hungarian Airlines) on February 4, 2011, sporting a retro scheme last seen on the company's aircraft in 1974. The colours have been applied as part of the celebrations of the airline's 65th anniversary. The turboprop is seen on February 7 arriving at Budapest-Ferihegy Airport from Cluj-Napoca Airport in Romania. Malev ordered eight Q400s (and placed options for another four) in July 2008 at the Farnborough International Airshow.

Will Boeing try an aggressive marketing campaign and offer trade-ins on 737NGs to try to keep its 737NG family competitive against the Airbus A320neo and the Bombardier CSeries.

Boeing 737-8K5 D-ATUE (c/n 34685) of TUIfly was rolled out of the Maastricht Aviation Aircraft Services paintshop at Maastricht-Aachen Airport in the Netherlands on January 20, 2011 wearing a new livery promoting the German railway company Deutsche Bahn (DB). 'DB ICE Im Zug Zum Plug' roughly translates as 'use DB railways to get to your flight'.

On January 27, 2011 Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II BF-05 completed its first flight at Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas. It was airborne for around 40 minutes. The aircraft is the fifth and last of the short take-off and vertical landing variant assigned to developmental flight testing. It will join the other four F-35Bs and one F-35C at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, later this year. Lt Cmdr Eric 'Magic' Buus became the first US Navy test pilot to fly an F-35B at that facility on February 3.

Brazilian Air Force A-29B 5951 and Embraer's Super Tucano demonstrator PT-ZNE are seen at New Orleans International Airport, Louisiana, on January 23, 2011.

In it to win it - Boeing is still bidding for the US Air Force KC-X programme offering its KC-767 NewGen tanker.