Air International 2017-07
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Airscene
Discovery Air A-4N C-FGZS/337 gets airborne from Wittmund towing a air-to-air gunnery target.
Discovery Air A-4N C-FGZS/337 towing a target in formation with Osterreichische Luftstreitkrafte Eurofighter 7L-WI.
History was made at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, UK on June 12, 2017 when all three long-range bomber types assigned to the United States Air Force Global Strike Command were presented together for the media. The aircraft were in the UK to participate in Exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS 2017) staged around the Baltic Sea between June 1-16. This year's exercise involved 14 countries. BALTOPS is an annual multinational maritime focussed exercise designed to strengthen interoperability between NATO and regional partners. Running concurrently was Exercise Sabre Strike 2017; a long-standing US Army Europe led cooperative training exercise. Three B-1B Lancers and three B-52H Stratofortresses participated in both exercises. Two B-2 Spirits completed global power missions en-route to Fairford arriving on June 9 and, at the time AIR International closed for press, were expected to fly local missions during their deployment. The accompanying image shows from left to right 34th Bomb Squadron B-1B 85-0083/EL from Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, 110th Bomb Squadron B-2 88-0329/WM from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, and 20th Bomb Squadron B-52H 60-0002/LA based at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.
Concern about the US Air Force being able to meet the threat posed by a near-peer adversary are reflected by a near-term spending increase for B-2 Spirit bomber upgrades contained in the FY2018 US defence budget request.
Upgrades for F-15C and F-15D Eagles were included in the FY2018 US defence budget request.
Will former Armee de l’Air Mirage F1s have a second career as aggressors owned and operated by an American company?
On May 30, 2017, the US Air Force announced the future HH-60W had successfully completed its air vehicle critical design review. This shot shows a HH-60G Pave Hawk.
Four Vzdusne sily armady Ceske republiky (Czech Air Force) JAS 39 Gripens from the 21.Zakladna Taktickeho Letectva (21.zTL or 21st Tactical Air Base) at Caslav attended the NATO Tiger Meet at Landivisiau including tiger marked JAS 39C 9241 from the 211th Tactical Squadron.
The PSKV is the projected future replacement for the Mi-8. The Russians plan to spend RUB 45.6 billion for the entire PSKV programme during 2016-2024.
Lockheed Martin has proposed upgrades to the low-observable external coating of the F-22. Issues with the coatings contributed to a 60% mission capable rate in 2016.
Aeronautique Navale E-2C Hawkeye No.2 from Base de’Aeronautique Navale Lann-Bihoue provided airborne early warning and control during both the main composite air operations staged for the 2017 Tiger Meet, and shadowed missions supported by a Fleet Air Arm Sea King ASaC7 and a NATO E-3A Sentry.
For the 100th anniversary of RC 2/30’s escadrilles the squadron painted three Rafales with special tails featuring former and current insignia for each flight. This shot shows insignia used in 1917.
On June 9, 2017, Regiment de Chasse 2/30 ‘Normandie-Niemen’ celebrated its 75th anniversary. Based at BA118 Mont-de-Marsan, the squadron is one of the most prestigious in the Armee de I’Air with more aerial victories than any other unit. The squadron has painted Rafale C coded ‘30-HR’ in a striking colour scheme commemorating the squadron’s service in Russia during World War Two.
Tejas KH-2014, loaded with a Derby missile on the inner wing hard point prior to first launch. Note the two cameras carried on the under fuselage hard point and the pod on the outer wing pylon.
A screen grab from the video depicting the first Derby missile shot from a Tejas fighter.
A Turkmenistan Government Bombardier Challenger 870CS super-midsize VIP-configured bizjet, EZ-B024 (c/n 10332), noted at Ljubljana Joze Pucnik International Airport in Slovenia, where the aircraft passed through maintenance with Adria Tehnika.
A general view of the HeliRussia 2017 exhibition hall, with an AW139 and Ansat visible.noted
A view of the cockpit of the Ansat, one of the few light helicopters developed by Russian industry.
Eurofighters always make easy work of getting airborne.
Luftwaffe Eurofighter 30+26 made its maiden flight painted with a colour Atlantic Tiger tail for the TaktLwG 74 ‘Bavarian Tigers’ based at Neuburg Air Base. The aircraft received the special paint scheme ahead of its attendance at the 2017 NATO Tiger Meet at BAN Landivisiau, France.
Osterreichische Luftstreitkrafte Eurofighter 7L-WO parked on the ramp outside a hardened aircraft shelter at Wittmund Air Base.
US Marine Corps MV-22B BuNo 168011/YP00 is the colour bird of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 (VMM-163) based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California seen at King County Airport, Seattle on June 2, 2017.
Leonardo’s M-345HET in formation with a M-346 Master.
A second Boeing 787-10, N548ZC (c/n 40929), pictured at Boeing Field in Seattle, has recently joined the test programme for the latest 787 variant. It will be used for systems testing. A third 787-10 is in final assembly at North Charleston in South Carolina, and will test cabin environmental control systems.
EA-6B Prowler-equipped Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4 (VMAQ-4) 'Seahawks’ was deactivated at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, on June 1,2017.
Sukhoi Business Jet by RusJet displays excellent operational performance.
The SBJ passengers enjoy modern comfort.
The flight test crew for the first MC-21 flight: Oleg Kononenko (left) and Roman Taskayev.
This angle shows the high aspect ratio wing, which is made of composites processed in a new technology called vacuum infusion.
The first MC-21-300 flight test aircraft departs Irkutsk on its initial flight.
The MC-21-300's maiden flight saw the aircraft attain a speed of 162kts (300km/h) and an altitude of 3,281ft (1,000m).
Two Pratt & Whitney PW1431G geared turbofans power the first MC-21-300. Indigenous PD-14 engines are scheduled to be fitted to this aircraft by June 30, 2018.
In two-class configuration the MC-21-300 will be able to carry 163 passengers and have a range of 3,240 nautical miles (6,000km).
Airbus A330-202 EC-MOU (msn 1777) departs Manchester after repainting by Air Livery into the livery of Level, the International Airlines Group’s new low-cost long-haul airline which started revenue flights to North American destinations from Barcelona in June 2017.
Airbus A330-202 G-ZYGL (msn 1555) that Jet2 is leasing from AirTanker on finals to runway 06L at Palma de Mallorca.
The single Bangladesh Army Aviation C295W transport aircraft ordered in October 2016 is undergoing flight test at the Airbus facility at Seville. The aircraft, registered as S3-BRT (msn 170), should be delivered in the second half of this year under a contract that includes customer support and training. The aircraft is seen during a ground test at Seville on June 2, 2017.
All 15 A350-900s delivered to Cathay Pacific Airways have been delivered to Hong Kong powered by a blend of 90% Jet A-1 and 10% sustainable jet fuel.
The first Egyptian Air Force MiG-29M2 to fly from Lukhovitsy near Moscow was two-seat MiG-29M2 811.
The PW1200Gs powering the MRJ generate 17,000 lb (75.6kN) of thrust
Coinciding with HeliRussia was the first flight of the Ka-62 4,000 miles away at Arsenyev in the Far East of Russia. The flight was made at a speed of up to 59kts (110km/h) and altitude up to 1,000ft (300m).
One aircraft on show at HeliRussia was AW 139 RA-01996, the first helicopter of this type assembled in Russia.
Despite the Leonardo branding, appropriately the M-345 demonstrator retains the Aermacchi name on the tail. A sure way to advertise its pedigree. This aircraft, serial number C.P.X619, was originally built as a M-311.
This shot clearly shows detail around the longer nose and new engine air intakes; modifications made to the former M-311's external mould-line.
A computer-generated image showing the M-345's aft cockpit.
Harbin Z-19E armed helicopter during its May 18, 2017 maiden flight.
Boeing 737-3H4(WL) N617SW (c/n 27700) is one of six former Southwest Airlines 737s that have been bought by the Coulson Group, reportedly for conversion into aerial firefighting tankers - which would be a new role for the 737-300.
Almost 400 French derelict and stored airframes could be sold or dismantled in the next few years.
Mango Boeing 737-8BG ZS-SJO (c/n 32357) departs Johannesburg. This low-cost carrier is to review its fleet as plans proceed for it to be merged with its South African Airways parent company.
The 53rd edition of the NATO Tiger Meet was held at Base de'Aeronautique Navale Landivisiau, France between June 5-16. The event featured many striking tiger paint schemes including resident Rafale M No.36 assigned to 11F seen prior to take-off on a composite air operation on June 7, 2017.
Malindo Air, which is to be rebranded to Batik Air, was first to put the 737 MAX 8 into service with services between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
The nose section for the first Airbus Beluga XL has arrived in Toulouse following assembly.
Stratolaunch, pictured following roll-out at Mojave, has the widest wingspan of any aircraft at 385ft (117m).
Another new Russian rotorcraft development project is the LMV light helicopter; which is currently at the technical design stage.
Airbus has launched the ACJ330neo, a private jet version of the A330neo, with the capability to fly 25 passengers 9,400nm (17,400km) and accommodate conference!dining areas, a private office, bedroom, bathroom and guest seating.