Air International 2014-11
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A TH-57B Sea Ranger helicopter hover taxies down the flight line at Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Florida.
The imposing sight of two single-seat A-7s taxying towards the ‘last chance’ checkpoint at Araxos Air Base. The twin-seat TA-7C could not taxi with the canopy raised due to its shape; the crew opened it during last-chance checks.
The tiger-striped Corsair seen from a TA-7C flying abeam Scorpio Island, a former Onassis family resort in the Ionian Sea.
The Corsair was an extremely stable aircraft for low altitude missions.
An A-7E gets airborne for another mission from Araxos. Those fortunate to fly the type said it was a 'joy' to fly, incredibly stable at low level, very powerful, reliable and rugged.
The TA-7C sent to RIAT 2014 for the type’s last UK visit wore an all-over camouflage scheme that was on the A- 7Es and TA-7Cs when originally delivered.
Despite its age, the A-7 matched up well against fourth-generation fighters especially at low level thanks to its manoeuvrability and near ‘smokeless’ engine, which heat-seeking missiles found hard to track.
This 336 Mira A-7E's artwork depicts Mount Olympus, the eagle from the squadron badge and a stylised version of the Greek flag.
The 335 Mira 'Tiger' aircraft holds at the Araxos last-chance area as 336’s specially-painted A-7 takes off. Now flying Block 52+ F-16s, 335 is the oldest HAF squadron, having been formed in October 1941.
A-7s maintained 24/7 QRA status throughout their career at various locations. Captured at Araxos Air Base during its twilight years is one such aircraft carrying Mk82 bombs and AIM-9L sidewinder missiles.
Mounted on this A-7E’s wing is the Autonomous Free-Flight Dispenser System, which the Corsairs used during their last ten years of operation.
The 'Olympos' jet was part of the Corsair's retirement event in October 2014
An A-7E at Araxos carrying laser-guided bombs and an AIM-9L for self defence.
The Texas Instruments ANB/AAR-45 forward-looking infrared pod remained a key element of the A-7’s armoury, helping students prepare for low-level and night sorties before stepping up to the Block 50 F-16C/D.
A 336 Mira pilot in an TA-7C during the final stage of training.
Six Boeing 747s will be retired by mid-2016, although nine recently upgraded with new business class seats will be retained.
Flights inbound to Heathrow from Europe can be instructed to slow down thanks to the Cross Border Arrivals Management software.
Etihad’s first A380 A6-APA after roll-out at Airbus Hamburg.
One of three rooms in The Residence aboard the Etihad Airways A380.
Analysts say Qantas' in-flight experience, typified by first-class suites on its A380, remains a differentiator.
J-10As taxying at Yangcun Air Base.
This J-10A carries a PL-11, based on the Italian Aspide, and a PL-8B short-range air-to-air missile, a licence-built Python III.
The K/JDC01 laser designator pod used for the LS-500J laser-guided bombs carried by the J-10 is seen here on this CAC-owned test aircraft, CAC 95613
J-10A prototypes 1003 to 1006 in their dark camouflage and the first pre-series 1013 and 1016 in their light two-tone scheme together on the FTTC ramp at Jiugucheng during the flight trials.
A rare photograph of four J-10As flying in formation.
There are rumours an upgraded, semi-stealthy multi-role variant designated J-10C featuring enhanced avionics and other improvements is under development.
An operational 24th Division J-10AS, with the twin-seater's large bubble canopy, avionics spine and the rarely seen open chaff-and-flare boxes on the rear fuselage clearly in evidence.
The J-10 has a modern glass cockpit with one wide-angle head-up display and three multi-function displays. The improved J-10B features larger screens and a wide-angle holographic HUD.
Ground crew worked a three-month, 12-hour on/off watch system inside a temporary hangar at Camp Bastion where temperatures often reached 50°C.
A most recent arrival back home following its Afghanistan deployment was XV714/188 which had both its Carson main composite blades and five- rather than six-bladed tail rotor. It also needed a good wash.
The Sea King ASaC7’s distinctive large grey radome ‘bucket’ houses the Thales UK Searchwater 2000 radar.
During their five-year Afghan deployment, No.854 and No.857 NAS completed more than 2,000 sorties flying in excess of 9,000 hours to ensure coalition objectives were achieved.
Heat impacted the mission system's instruments during Operation Herrick so more time was spent maintaining them and cleaning the aircraft to reduce dust contamination.
Below deck on board RFA Argus ground crew prepare XV656 for flight deck operations.
During the exercise’s second week, the squadron worked with other surface ships going through their Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) force generation and participated in the 'Thursday War’, integrating with other Culdrose units and USAFE F-15s.
The ASaC7’s upgraded Rolls Royce engines and running take-offs ensured the aircraft performed to its potential on deployment.
The Thales UK Searchwater 2000 AEW radar fitted as part of the Cerberus mission system, with No.857 NAS Commanding Officer Lt Cdr James Hall.
Ground and aircrews must train hard to avoid the hazards that go along with the embarked maritime environment - here, flight deck operators confirm XV707 is detached from the flight deck and awaiting flight air control clearance.
The SKASaC Observer Full Mission Trainer (FMT) at Culdrose, which replicates all aspects of an Observer's mission and environment with the exception of forward motion.
Cost-cutting measures announced early in 2014 will see Qantas phase out its last Boeing 767-300ER by the end of the year.
Jetstar is Qantas’ offering in Asia-Pacific's competitive low-cost carrier market.
Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner A6-BLA showing the ‘Facets of Abu Dhabi' scheme.
Reportedly taken in the 1980s, this photo shows a Chinese delegation including the J-10's chief designer Song Wencong (fourth from right) in front of an IAI Lavi prototype.
An instructor pilot and a student naval aviator with Training Squadron 31 (VT-31) 'Wise Owls’ conduct pre-flight procedures before a training flight in a T-44C Pegasus aircraft.
Voyager KC2 ZZ331 taxies back to parking after an air-refuelling mission.
In time the MSO will have full control of air-refuelling, but for now they only do so once the aircrew has passed the receivers over. A view of the airspace behind the tanker is displayed to the MSO on a large screen to make it clear precisely what is happening out back.
An aircraft handler directs a T-45C Goshawk as it parks on the flight deck of the USS Harry S Truman (CVN 75).
A T-45C Goshawk assigned to Training Squadron 7 (VT-7) 'Eagles’, launches from the USS Harry S Truman (CVN 75).
A T-45C Goshawk training aircraft assigned to Training Squadron 9 (VT-9) 'Tigers’ prepares to land on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman (CVN 75).
The US Air Force plans to start a three-year process of moving all except eight (to be transferred to the US Army) of its 41 MC-12W Liberties to Air Force Special Operations Command in the current FY2015.
US Army RC-12X Guardrail 93-0701 at Leeds Airport, Yorkshire during a transit stop in February 2013. The aircraft was originally delivered as an RC-12P and was subsequently upgraded to RC-12Q (in 2011) and RC-12X configuration.
The RC-12X is the latest version of the Guardrail system. It uses a new Northrop Grumman multisensor suite and was first deployed to Afghanistan in February 2011.
The US Army is planning to supplement the Beechcraft-Boeing RC-12S Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System with 14 operational Beechcraft RC-12X Guardrails shown here.
MC-12W Liberty 09-0642 at Beale Air Force Base, California on September 22, 2014 following a 6,500 nm trip back from Kandahar airfield in Afghanistan
MC-12Ws prepare for a training flight from Beale Air Force Base in California.
Sixteen of the US Army’s 44 current multi-variant RC-12 Guardrails will be modified to RC-12X standard. The fleet already includes some aircraft upgraded to X-model configuration.
Two angles of the EVO showing it’s symmetry and also it’s streamlined elegance.
Piaggio Aero says the Avanti EVO’s cabin will be 20% quieter than earlier versions of the aircraft.
In its FY2015 budget proposal, the US Air Force plans to transfer 33 MC-12Ws to US Special Operations Command to replace the Pilatus-built U-28A.
Qantas domestic’s fleet includes 28 Boeing 737s - this one is pictured departing Cairns.
Ryanair received the first of 180 new Boeing 737-800s in September 2014.
Ryanair has a growing presence at hub airports.
An artist's impression of the new Boeing 737 MAX 200, of which Ryanair is the launch customer, with 100 firm orders and 100 options.