Antonov An-124 UR-82070 is currently at Manston and is reportedly due to be used in the next James Bond film. It had previously spent over two years impounded at Maastricht Airport in Holland for non-payment of landing fees. Subsequently bought by Air Foyle for $6m, the company intended at the time to return it to a fully airworthy state. Its current status is unknown.
From Duxford, the Museum has taken delivery of the Polish Lim-5 (a licence-built MiG-17F), G-BWUF, distinctively marked in North Korean colours.
The Bournemouth Aviation Museum at Hurn has received some new arrivals recently, including HS Buccaneer XX897 with an unusual radar trials nose. It also wears the livery of locally-based European Aviation which sponsored its restoration.
‘Black 6’, the previously airworthy Messerschmitt Bf 109G-2, made its final journey when it arrived at the Royal Air Force Museum Hendon on March 10, 2002, going on public exhibition the following day.
Ugandan DAS Air Cargo aircraft can be found regularly at Manston, here a Boeing 707-351C, 5X-JET waits for its next flight.
The first DC-8-62 for Swaziland cargo operator African International Airways. Put on the South African register as ZS-OSI, the aircraft is a former Kitty Hawk Air Cargo aircraft and still wears their stripes with the addition of its new owner’s globe tail markings. The aircraft is shown after receiving acceptance checks at Modern Jet Support. The airline currently also operates two DC-8-54F (JT) versions.
Two rare types continue in residence at Fairchild Dornier’s Oberpfaffenhofen factory and were pictured in March 2002. The Dornier Do 24T-3 flying-boat is c/n 5344 and is the former Spanish Ejercito del Aire HD.5-3 which was operated on air-sea rescue duties until retired.
A busy scene as No 814 Sqn brings four AgustaWestland Merlin HM.1s aboard HMS Ark Royal for the first time in March 2002 to conduct operational sea training.
Commemorative tail marks on Lockheed Martin F-16A, FA-106, seen recently at Kleine-Brogel AB in Belgium. The 60th anniversary of No.149 Sqn takes place in July 2002.
Pictured on November 10, 1942, possibly at the recently constructed strip at Krendi, is Air Vice-Marshal Keith Park’s personal Hurricane which he had coded OK-2, following his Battle of Britain example, OK-1, with his rank pennant applied below the cockpit. He was appointed AOC in Malta in July 1942 and relieved the hard-worked AVM Hugh Pughe Lloyd.
One of the F-4Fs being refuelled by a KC-10A Extender over Scotland en-route to the USA.
A crewman aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) directs a Republic of Korea Army Sikorsky UH-60P Black Hawk during Deck Landing Qualifications (DLQ) on March 25, 2002. This was part of Exercise Foal Eagle, an annual US/South Korean exercise aimed at improving interoperability.
Two China United Airlines Ilyushin Il-76MDs 11-1035 and 11-4037, are pictured at Kabul airport on March 25, 2002 delivering humanitarian aid.
Two Lockheed S-3B Vikings of VS-31 'Topcats' prepare to return to the USS John F Kennedy (CV 67) on March 17, 2002. The JFK relieved the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in the Arabian Sea. CVN 71 returned to Norfolk, Va, having spent a record 159 consecutive days at sea out of 189 deployed.
Pictured is one of two Boeing 727-200s, used by Africa's first low-cost airline, Kulula.com Kulula, meaning 'easy' in Zulu, is a subsidiary of South African carrier Comair which is a British Airways franchise operator. The new venture was launched in August 2001 and was profitable within six months. It flies Johannesburg to Cape Town and Durban.
Seen on approach to Heathrow on March 23, 2002 is Pulkovo Aviation Enterprise Ilyushin Il-86, RA-86106, operating for Aeroflot on a flight from St Petersburg.
Preparing to leave Hurn for Australia and the Temora Aviation Museum near Canberra, was G-BURM ex-WJ680, a former No 100 Sqn BAC Canberra TT.18.
Two Eurocopter SA330J Pumas from Geo-Seis Helicopters of Fort Collins, Colo, are contracted by US Military Sealift Command for transferring cargo and are embarked aboard the combat stores ship USNS Spica (T-AFS 9). Pictured is N330JA, which is part of the US Navy's Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP) Puma Team, dropping supplies aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C Stennis (CVN 74) which is in the Arabian Sea supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
The first production Eurocopter Tiger attack helicopter and the first for the German Army.
The new national airline of Switzerland, Swiss, officially came into existence on March 31, 2002. Pictured flying over the Alps is Airbus A320 HB-IJP.
Caught just at the moment of touchdown is AfricaOne DC-10-30 5X-ONE at Mansion on March 2, 2002. The new start-up, owned by Das Air and a Tanzanian company Infra Investments is to start flights from Gatwick to Entebbe, Uganda, on April 29. The airline is looking for a second DC-10 and a short-haul aircraft to launch more services from Entebbe and Lagos.
The news of the death of Kenneth McDonough in the March issue, prompted the use of this picture which shows a D.H.34 of Daimler Hire crossing Plough Lane, Croydon, in 1923. Ken’s artistry was undisputed and there is to be a special display of his work at this year’s Guild of Aviation Artists exhibition in July.
Former DAT Delta Air Transport Avro RJ100, OO-DWE, is pictured at Manchester on March 26, 2002 wearing the titles of Sabena’s successor, SN Brussels Airlines.
Photographed at Manchester on March 22, 2002 wearing Monarch’s new livery is Boeing 757, G-MONE.
Pictured at Heathrow on March 2, 2002 is the first -300 variant Boeing 757 for Icelandair, TF-FIX. The aircraft is to be regularly used on the Keflavik to London route.
Following a landing accident some time ago, North American P-82 Twin Mustang 465162/N12102 has been undergoing a rebuild to restore it to flying status. It is seen outside the Commemorative Air Force headquarters (previously Confederate AF) hangar at Gillespie Field, San Diego, Calif, looking good for the future. However, the propeller blades are imitation plastic examples until actual ones are obtained.
VG Airlines took delivery of its first aircraft on March 14, 2002. The Airbus A330-200, OO-SFQ was previously operated by Sabena. The airline intends to fly from Brussels to Boston and New York. For more information see www.vgair.be
Two rare types continue in residence at Fairchild Dornier’s Oberpfaffenhofen factory and were pictured in March 2002. The prototype Dornier Do 31 V/STOL transport test-bed, D-9530, one of two built in the 1960s (the second example, D-9531, is with the Deutsche Museum at Oberschleissheim). Rolled out in 1965, the aircraft was powered by two Bristol Siddeley Pegasus 5s with eight Rolls-Royce RB.162 lift engines in pods on the wing tips.
Stirling V PK148, an ex-51 Sqn aircraft, was reserved for Air Transport as OO-XAM. It was registered G-AKPC for the ferry flight from RAF Polebrook to Thame, where this photograph was taken in 1948.
A surviving Lockheed R5O-5 Lodestar, 833538, exhibited at the March Field Museum, Calif. A transport type flown by both civil and military operators, the Lodestar appeared in a number of different versions and production reached 625.
The last two of a total of eight McDonnell Douglas F-4F Phantoms of the 20th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Wing, to undergo programmed depot maintenance (PDM) at EADS Manching plant departed back to the USA on January 29, 2002. The aircraft, 72-1231/HO and 72-1257/HO, departed for their transatlantic flight from Hopsten AH and flew direct with USAF tanker support to Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. From there they routed via Tinker AFB, Okla, then on to their base at Holloman AFB, NM, the journey taking a total of 13.8hr. Twenty-four Luftwaffe Phantoms are based at Holloman and operated in US marks for pilot training, of which eight were due for PDM between 1998 and 2001. The USAF, which is responsible for the maintenance of the US-based Phantoms granted the contract to EADS. The picture shows one of the F-4Fs, 72-1231/HO, over Germany
Seen sporting two more eye-catching tail markings are Frontier Airlines Airbus A319s N901FR and N904FR, pictured at Denver recently. A change to the scheme is the large bold lettering which replaces a hand-written style of titling.
THE CONTINENTAL is one of a number of new executive jets of varying size and performance that Bombardier is developing. The programme was officially launched at the 1999 Paris Air Show and, is aimed, according to the company, "...as a cost-effective step-up for current light jet operators as well as for operators constrained by their current midsize aircraft." Described as being in the super mid-size business jet category it’s cabin is designed for eight passengers. The range with a full load is 3,100nm (5,741km) with fuel reserves which would allow non-stop travel between New York to London or Los Angeles and Berlin to Riyadh. The first metal was cut in October 1999 with the first flight taking place from Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, on August 14, 2001. Five flying prototypes are performing 1,500 flight test hours with two further complete aircraft being used for ground testing. Certification with Transport Canada and FAA is expected in the third quarter of 2002 followed by JAA in 2003. Latest figures state that 125 firm orders are held by Bombardier with deliveries of green aircraft to commence in the fourth quarter of 2002.
A new Turkish airline, Inter Airlines, is to start operations with this Boeing 737-800. Based in Antalya it will conduct charter flights between Turkey and Europe. The airline is scheduled to receive a second Boeing 737-800 later this year.
The first Instrumented Production Aircraft (IPA) Eurofighter made its maiden flight from Caselle Airport in Turin on April 5, 2002. IPA 2 was flown for 25min by Alenia Aeronautica’s Chief Test Pilot, Com.te Maurizio Cheli.
The first British production Eurofighter has been ‘rolled out' at BAE Systems’ Warton facility. Seen on March 19, 2019, IPA I or production Typhoon number one (PT 001 on fin), was being prepared for engine running prior to a first fight expected in mid-April. The current seven development aircraft will he joined by five IPAs, the UK flying DA 2 & 4 and IPA / & 5. Two-seater IPA I will concentrate on integration of the Defensive Aids Sub System (DASS).
A Dassault Rafale-M from the French carrier Charles de Gaulle ignites its afterburners as it does a fly-by of the USS John C Stennis on March 14, 2002. Both aircraft carriers are deployed to support Operation Enduring Freedom. Although deploying Rafales to the area, France had yet to fly the type on operations over Afghanistan at the time of writing.
A 15m model of the Ekip under construction at Saratov
An illustration of what the completed, full-size Ekip would have looked like.
