The unpainted Su-35S-1 departing the runway at Komsomolsk-on-Amur on May 3, 2011 for its initial flight.

The latest fast jet type to be upgraded by Embraer is the Brazilian Navy's AF-1 Skyhawk.

Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16s operated by the 162nd Fighter Wing, 148th Fighter Squadron have recently started adopting Arizona ANG tail markings, including 'AZ' codes and fin flash with the Arizona and Dutch flag combined. The Dutch F-16 training detachment in the United States relocated from Springfield Air National Guard Base (ANGB) back to Tucson ANGB late last year and resumed training in the second week of January 2011. While some of the squadron's eight F-16AMs and six F-16BMs still sported a Spring field fin by the end of April, five 'AMs carried the new markings, including J-004, seen taking off from Tucson on April 29.

F-16 MLU M6.1 'lead-the-fleet' aircraft prior to its maiden flight with the new software loaded on April 18, 2011.

B-52 решали задачи в интересах войск в Афганистане в течение всего 2010 года - обычно они длительное время находились в воздухе в режиме ожидания. Дозаправка в полете осуществлялась от танкеров KC-10 и KC-135. На фотографии - несущий шесть УАБ GBU-31 JDAMS калибром 907 кг B-52 подходит к танкеру KC-135.
B-52Hs of the 93rd Bomb Squadron, Air Force Reserve Command, based at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, will carry conventional weapons only.

To mark the 65th anniversary of the Belgian Air Force and 60 years after permission was granted to establish its first official display team, 'The Red Devils' (Les Diables Rouges) have been reformed. The yellow and red scheme of the SIAI Marchetti SF.260Ds flown by the 'Hardship Red' display team have been replaced by this new red one. ST-03, -04, -23 and -27 have been repainted so far and will be joined by ST-02 soon. The 'Red Devil's last performed in the 1977 airshow season flying Fouga Magisters.

On May 6, 2011 six Tornado GR4s of No.XIII Squadron performed a final flypast over their home base, RAF Marham in Norfolk, before performing a mock airfield attack and landing for the last time in the hands of the unit's pilots. The flypast took place at 1313hrs after the formation had passed over RAF Honington, Suffolk, and RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire, where the unit had previously been stationed. The squadron will officially disband on June 1, one of two Tornado GR4 units axed in the Strategic Defence and Security Review of October 2010. In 2012 No.XIII Squadron will be reformed as a General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper unit, with its pilots based at RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, flying the UAVs in Afghanistan.

C-17A Globemaster III 1223 departs Long Beach, California, after the hand-over ceremony held there on May 10, 2011.

The prototype Tu-204SM 64150 is seen on take-off from the Aviastar-SP plant at Ulyanovsk.

The Tu-204SM's maiden flight took place at the Aviastar-SP plant at Ulyanovsk in December 2011 in icy conditions.

London Heathrow Airport covered in a blanket of snow on December 18, 2010.

Eurofighter is offering the EF-2020 for the Turkish Air Force. Depicted in the colours of 171 'Korsanlar' (Buccaneers) Squadron, the EF-2020 offer comes at a time when Turkey has delayed an order for 116 Lockheed Martin F-35s and commenced a project to develop a combat fighter locally.

One of the new Mi-171Shs in Fuerza Aerea del Peru (Peruvian Air Force) colours seen prior to delivery.

Four Polish Air Force Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrums from the 23rd Tactical Airbase at Minsk Mazowiecki transited Neuberg-Donau in Germany for a fuel stop on their way to Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP) 2011-3 at Albacete in Spain. The aircraft (MiG-29As 38 c/n 2960532038; 56 c/n 2960532356 and 67 c/n 2960526367, and MiG-29UB two-seater 28 c/n N50903014528) are from 1. Eskadra Lotnictwa Taktycznego (1st Tactical Fighter Squadron) and left Neuberg for Orange-Caritat in France, before arriving in Spain on May 2, 2011. TLP 2011-3 runs from May 2 to 27.

The Su-34 has received its final operational clearance from the Russian Air Force. Aircraft 48 was the last pre-production example produced and is one of three of the prototypes still flying.

The A320 is the backbone of the Jetstar fleet.
Qantas posted pre-tax profits of $165 million, while Jetstar, part of the Qantas Group earned a record $143 million.

Three Airbus A320-212s for First Nation Airways were delivered to the Nigerian start-up in April 2011. All three are leased from the Aviation Capital Group and previously served with Gulf Air before being refurbished and painted in Montreal, Canada. All of the aircraft transited through Glasgow Airport on their way to Kano in Nigeria. A320 5N-FNA, named Resilience (msn 409, ex N409AG), arrived at the Scottish airport on April 7 and departed on the 11th; 5N-FNB marked as Fortitude (msn 466, ex A9C-AJ) landed at Glasgow on April 8 and departed two days later, while 5N-FNC, Endurance (msn 497, ex A9C-EL) touched down on April 10 and also stayed two days. First Nation Airways was created by the staff and owner of the defunct Bellview Airlines and expects to commence operations shortly.

New Polish start up airline Yes Airways began operations with their initial aircraft on April 29, 2011, flying from Warsaw to Antalya in Poland. Two Airbus A320s were delivered to the carrier in late April on an operating lease from Fly Leasing. A320-214 SP-IAA (msn 533, ex EI-DDL) and SP-IAB (msn 566, ex F-GYFK) were painted in the airline's colours by Air Livery at Southend Airport, Essex. SP-IAA arrived at Southend for storage on September 10, 2010, and is seen about to depart for Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport on April 28. The airline will operate from Warsaw, Cracow, Wroclaw, Poznan and Szczecin to holiday destinations in Egypt, Greece, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey.

Supporters of the C-5M Super Galaxy will have to defend their aircraft in Capitol Hill hearings when the fiscal year 2012 budget is debated this autumn.

Superjet 100-95 EK-95015 completed the airliners first revenue earning flight on April 21, 2011.

Noted at McClellan Field in Sacramento, California, on May 9, 2011 was Convair C-131B Samaritan N131CR (ex 53-7819) of Airborne Resources of Midlothian, Texas. In addition to its long nose and fuselage top antennas, the aircraft wears a Lockheed Martin 'Skunk Works' motif on the tail. It previously had the words 'Airborne Imaging' on the forward fuselage (the operating arm of Airborne Resources), although the word 'Imaging' has since been painted out. The aircraft had been at McClellan for around a month prior to being photographed, reportedly undertaking aerial survey work. It has been deployed overseas several times, including to Honduras in early 2007.

Boeing 757-23N TF-FIC (c/n 30735) of Icelandair is seen at Manchester Airport on April 29, 2011 after being painted there in United Nations colours. The airliner arrived at Manchester on April 21 from Lasham in Hampshire, where it was stored as M-ABDG registered to FlyCorp. It was leased to Icelandair on March 3, and the airline will operate it on behalf of the United Nations.

The first of 15 Brazilian Navy U-15s (EC725s), shown with an Exocet anti-ship missile.

Forty-three FAB A-1 attack aircraft are being modernized by Embraer.

14 июля 2011г. опытный скоростной вертолет Sikorsky X2 совершил последний полет. На этом данная программа была закрыта. В общей сложности X2 совершил 23 испытательных полета общей продолжительностью 22 ч. Он показал максимальную скорость 468,6 км/ч. Затраты компании Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation на эту программу составили около 50 млн. USD. Полученные в ходе ее реализации наработки уже используются при проектировании перспективного разведывательного вертолета S-97 Raider (на рисунке), который создается с 2010 г. в рамках объявленного Армией США конкурса на поставку машин для замены вертолетов Bell OH-58D Kiowa Warrior.
Mock-up of the S-97 armed observation helicopter, aimed at the US Army's Armed Aerial Scout (AAS) requirement to replace the Kiowa Warrior.

C212-400 1541 (c/n 479) at Seville prior to delivery to the Thai Kaset.

A330-243 MRTT EC-339 destined for the UAE Air Force and Air Defence landing at Getafe on April 9, 2011, after its initial flight following conversion.

Northrop Grumman is converting older Guardrail variants as RC-12Xs at its facility at McClelland in Sacramento, California. RC-12X 91-0518 is seen there on May 9, 2011. The first to be fully converted was 93-00701, which received the glass cockpit, structural upgrades and Northrop Grumman's Airborne Signals Intelligence Payload, although some have been modified without the ASIP installed for use as trainers. At least six aircraft have been converted from Guardrail Common Sensor System 2s (RC-12Ps 92-13122 and -13123, and RC-12Qs 93-00697, -00699, and -00701). A total of 33 existing Guardrails are due to be upgraded as RC-12Xs and 14 have been funded, with an option for a further 14. The first two were delivered to the 1st Military Intelligence Battalion at Wiesbaden in Germany on January 13.

Bell's OH-58 Block II Kiowa Warrior is an extensively modified OH-58A Kiowa. The type's maiden flight took place at Bell Helicopter's research and development facility in Fort Worth on April 14, 2011.

One of the Brazilian Air Force upgraded F-5EM combat aircraft.

A second Bombardier CL415 was delivered to the Royal Moroccan Air Force recently. The aircraft (c/n 2080, to become CNA-TN) is seen transiting Manchester Airport on May 10, 2011 wearing the test registration C-GKCX. It will join CNA-TM (c/n 2079, ex C-GISO), which was delivered via the Azores in February. No details of the Moroccan order have been released, although at least four (and probably five) are believed to be destined for the north African nation. Bombardier announced that it delivered four CL415s between the end of January 2010 and January 2011, and received one new net order for the type in the same period.

This aircraft is believed to be a pre-production or early production version of the Shenyang J-15. The black and white arrestor hook is just visible behind the engine nozzles.

Another rejection for Rafale by India could be critical.

One of US Air Force Europe's C-130Js kicks up dirt while landing on the grass-covered strip next to the main runway at Krumovo on May 2, 2011.

Lockheed Martin MC-130J Combat Shadow II 09-6207 is seen lifting off from Marietta, Georgia, for the type's maiden flight on April 22, 2011. The aircraft was rolled out on March 29, and is the first of 15 funded for Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), out of a total requirement for 37. After completing a series of test flights the aircraft will be handed over in September to AFSOC at Cannon AFB, New Mexico. The Combat Shadow II is expected to reach its initial operational capability in 2012.

The first Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules for Qatar, 211/MAH, seen here on April 27, 2011, soon after emerging from the paint shop at Marietta.

Lockheed Martin is offering the C-130J Hercules to the TurAF to supplement its tactical airlift capabilities following delays to the Airbus Military A400M project. TAI is currently working on an extensive avionics upgrade package for the TurAF's existing fleet of 13 C-130B/E's under Erciyes Project. Delivery of six C-130E's from the Royal Saudi Air Force is also underway.

Produced for Northrop Grumman by Scaled Composites, the Firebird has been flying unannounced for over a year.

Noted at the Airbus facility at Hamburg-Finkenwerder in Germany on April 21, 2011 was new A319-115 Corporate Jet D-AVYN (msn 4679). The aircraft is destined for GTK Rossia (Russian State Transport Company), which is responsible for executive travel for the higher echelons of the Russian Government. At least nine A319s are used by Rossia, all acquired second hand with the majority formerly operated by Frontier Airlines of the US. This A319CJ is the first of two due to be delivered in 2012 under the terms of a Rb6.7 billion ($237.6 million) contract.

Boeing 737-300 ZS-SPU is seen on Velvet Sky's first schedule flight from Johannesburg to Durban just prior to sunset on March 22, 2011.

Boeing 737-36N G-TOYL (c/n 28594, ex G-THOL) seen on May 5, 2011 joined the fleet of bmi baby on April 14 on lease from GECAS. It previously flew with Thomson Airways. Bmi baby, the low cost subsidiary of BMI, has been applying individual tail logos to their aircraft since January 2010, each incorporating a different baby motif. The airline currently flies eleven Boeing 737-300s.

Qantas has retired some of its Boeing 747s early and reduced international and domestic capacity.

On May 10, 2011 Boeing Business Jets announced that it had delivered a Boeing 737-700 Increased Gross Weight (IGW) to Beijing Airlines. Beijing Airlines is the business jet subsidiary of Air China, and following service entry of the 737-700 IGW after completion as a Boeing Business Jet it will operate a fleet of eleven aircraft. The VIP transport (737-79L BBJ N448BJ, c/n 41090) is seen at Paine Field, Washington, carrying its line number on the nose. It was handed over in a 'green' configuration and will have an extended range fuel system installed by be PATS Aircraft Systems of Georgetown, Delaware. Afterwards a customised interior will be fitted at a completion centre.

Without an Indian order, Eurofighter's prospects look less bright.

Typhoon ZJ699 (IPA1) is seen on April 27, 2011 departing from BAE Systems airfield at Warton, Lancashire, carrying a pair of MBDA Meteor beyond visible range air-to-air missiles. The sortie is believed to be the first test firing of the Meteor from the aircraft. One of the missiles was fired over the range at Aberporth on the southern edge of Cardigan Bay in West Wales, while the other remained with the aircraft. The trial took place one year after the initial launches were made from Tornado F3 test aircraft operating from RAF Lossiemouth, Morayshire. The active radar guide Meteor is due to enter RAF service in 2015.

TAI is developing the Anka MALE UAV. This is the last of three prototypes due to be used in flight tests.

Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II 07-0745 (AF-7) became the first to be delivered to the US Air Force on May 6, 2011, when it arrived at Edwards AFB, California. It was formally accepted into the US Air Force inventory the previous day. It was joined by 07-0744 (AF-6) at Edwards on May 13. Test pilot Bill Gigliotti completed the maiden flight of F-35A 08-0746 (AF-8) from Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas, on May 6 - it is seen here landing after the sortie. The aircraft wears tail markings for the 58th Fighter Squadron, 33rd Fighter Wing, based at Eglin AFB, Florida, and will be the first delivered to the base. The wing will act as the training centre for aircrews destined to fly the aircraft from all three US services.

CF-02, the second Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II Carrier Variant, completed its maiden flight on April 29, 2011 from Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas. The aircraft was flown by F-35 Test Pilot Bill Gigliotti. It was due to join CF-01 at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, in late May. By May 11 the two Carrier Variants had completed 41 flights.

Alenia ATR72MPA in Turkish Navy colours. The service is due to take delivery of ten examples.

A-29B Super Tucano 5950 is seen undertaking a sortie during URUBRA I.

A full-scale mock-up of the AviBras Falcao MALE was shown at LAAD 2011.

The Horus 200 medium-range TUAV developed by Flight Technologies is part of Project VANT.

The Carcara II TUAV developed by Santos LAB for the Brazilian Marines.

The TAI Sivrisinek VTOL UAV is the result of a technology demonstration project. The aircraft is armed with two Cirits 2.75in laser guided rockets.