Aviation News Mega-Thread

n33d4sp33d_85 · Post by **n33d4sp33d_85** » Thu Sep 24, 2020 6:15 am

https://www.flightglobal.com/aerospace/ ... 94.article
https://www.flightglobal.com/airframers ... 07.article
https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/eas ... 10.article
https://www.flightglobal.com/strategy/u ... 04.article
https://www.flightglobal.com/strategy/v ... 06.article
https://www.flightglobal.com/strategy/v ... 95.article

n33d4sp33d_85 · Post by **n33d4sp33d_85** » Thu Sep 24, 2020 2:59 pm

Qatari Eagle seen with external pods during test flight

Alex Farwell kindly provided these images of the second Boeing F-15QA, destined for the Qatar Emiri Air Force. Serial 17-0002 was flying with two external pods from St. Louis Lambert International (MO) on 24 September 2020.

The Lockheed Martin AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Extended Range (XR), under the left hand air intake, is a targeting pod that provides positive target identification, autonomous tracking, GPS coordinate generation, and precise weapons guidance from extended standoff ranges.

The Lockheed Martin AN/AAQ-13 LANTIRN (Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infra Red at Night) navigation pod, under the right hand air intake, provides high-speed penetration and precision attack on tactical targets at night and in adverse weather. The navigation pod contains a terrain-following radar and a fixed thermographic camera.

Under each wing the Eagle seems to carry two captive AIM-9X Sidewinder Captive Air Training Missiles.

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Final F-16 Quick Reaction Alert duty for Leeuwarden air base

On 24 September 2020, 323 squadron "Diana", based at Leeuwarden air base (the Netherlands), took over the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) duty of their collegues of Volkel air base F-16s.

Two (with two spares) armed Diana F-16s are now placed on a 24/7, few minutes alert status to SCRAMBLE, to counter any military or civil air threat that approaches the controlled airspace of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg (BENELUX).

Within a period (...), as the Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu, Royal Netherlands Air Force) reported, the F-35A Lightning II will take over this task at Leeuwarden. The first Dutch operational F-35A squadron, 322 squadron "Polly Grey", based at Leeuwarden is expected to be Initial Operating Capable (IOC) in 2021.

Since 1 January 2017, the QRA duties in BENELUX airspace are rotating between the Dutch air bases Leeuwarden and Volkel and the Belgium air bases Kleine Brogel and Florennes. Every base will execute its QRA task for four months before its handed over to the next base, so late 2021, early 2022 it is apparently planned that the Dutch Lightnings will get their first QRA tasks.

We hope that 323sq Fightning Falcons will get an Alpha alert Scramble to for example Russian strategic bombers that approach the BENELUX airspace, so a final goodbye to them is a equitable remuneration for Leeuwarden air base and the squadron.

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Israeli billion dollar arms deal and additional Koala helicopters

Italy and Israel inked an agreement on an additional order for five AW119Kx Koala training helicopters. This deal confirms that Israel ordered the new helicopter as a replacement for the Bell 206 helicopters that were in use with the Heyl Ha'Avir (Israeli Air Force) Flight School at Hatzerim AB since the 1970s. The total number of Koala helicopters ordered is twelve. The first order for seven AW119Kx helicopters was already placed in February 2019.

After the news that Israel signed a peace agreement with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, the Israeli prime-minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, went to the White House to get approval for a new weapons package. This package, total value reported to be USD 8 billion, includes additional Lockheed F-35I Adir fighter aircraft, eight KC-46A Pegasus tankers and Bell V-22 Osprey multi-mission, tiltrotor aircraft.

The Israeli wish list aims at bringing forward the delivery of KC-46s, which may indicate they have to be diverted from the USAF productionline. The requested number of F-35I Adirs will lead to an extra squadron to be equipped. It is not yet clear if the Bell V-22 Osprey will replace the ageing Sikorsky CH-53A / S-65 Ya’sur 2025 or that they will be added to the inventory and take over some of the roles from the Ya’sur 2025. The talks also included exploratory discussions on a possible successor of the AH-64A Peten attack helicopter that are planned to be withdrawn from use in 2025. No word was mentioned on new F-15I Ra'am fighter aircraft.

The request for a new weapons package would be in addition to the existing Foreign Military Financing agreement with the US. The current agreement, signed in 2016, increased US assistance from USD 34 billion in the decade to USD 38 billion between 2019 and 2028. The Israeli request is based on an accelerated process aimed at getting all the approvals before the November US presidential elections.

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Earlier this week we reported that the Lufthansa's supervisory board was to vote on a new revised widebody fleet-plan due to a much slower return to normal operations. Part of the plan was the retirement of all four-engined aircraft, except the B747-8s.

Lufthansa has now issued a press-release stating that they will remove their final eight Airbus A380s and ten A340-600s from planning and put the planes into long-term storage. The planes will only be reactivated if there is an "unexpected rapid market recovery".

The press-release doesn't mention the airline's remaining 17 A340-300s and seven B747-400s at all, which means these still might have a future in the airline's fleet.

At this moment seven A380s (D-AIMA/B/F/G/J/K/N) are stored at Teruel, while the other seven are still in Germany. All 17 A340-600 are already at Teruel as well.

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RSAF Stratotankers get third lease of life

Four new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) civil registration numbers were assigned for the four ex Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) KC-135Rs recently. The new registrations, N569MA, N571MA, N572MA and N573MA, would imply all of these were sold to a civilian operator.

With the recent KC-46A Pegasus delays and the increasing age and the pressure on the USAF's existing fleet of air-to-air refueling aircraft, this would be a welcome relief.

The RSAF tankers are equipped with a boom as well as a probe-and-drogue system which makes them even more versatile for a civilian operator, especially since the US Navy is already using private contractors for some time. The recent retirement or the airframes, and high maintenance standard of these four aircraft means they are a useful asset to a third party operator.

It is to be seen who has snapped them up but thereis one current operator of a fairly sizable fleet (Omega Air) who would be Sramble's primary suspect.

Also, purchasing non-US military hardware means they don’t have to be de-militarized, making these four ex-RSAF tankers even more valuable for an existing operator and little conversion is required post acquisition.

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On 24 September the very last assembled Airbus A380 left the hangar at Toulouse-Blagnac. The aircraft, c/n 272, will be delivered to Emirates. Currently there are nine A380s left to be delivered; eight to Emirates and one to ANA.

Airbus was planning to use the vacant space at Toulouse to establish a new A321neo production-line, but these planes have now been shelved due to the Corona-pandemic and the reduced production rates of new planes as a result.

This year, which is the 15th year since the aircraft's roll-out in 2005, is not a good year for the large Airbus as airlines have announced the permanent retirement of the type. Currently the only airline operating A380s on a regular basis are China Southern Airlines and Emirates.

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n33d4sp33d_85 · Post by **n33d4sp33d_85** » Fri Sep 25, 2020 4:12 am

n33d4sp33d_85 · Post by **n33d4sp33d_85** » Fri Sep 25, 2020 6:32 pm

On September 8, 2020, Draken International, the global leader in advanced adversary air services, flew the first-ever adversary support sortie on the US Air Force’s newly-awarded Combat Air Force Contracted Air Services (CAF CAS) Adversary Air (ADAIR) contract. Draken’s aircraft, flying from Kinston Regional Airport, provided realistic training threats in support of Air Combat Command’s F-15E flying training unit from the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. These highly successful sorties begin a new era of preparing F-15E crews to meet future enemy threats.
In addition to the first-ever sorties on CAF CAS ADAIR, Draken partnered closely with the USAF and NC’s Global TransPark to establish the first-ever operating location off-base supporting CAF CAS ADAIR sorties. Detailed planning and preparation by Draken aircrews, maintenance and logistics personnel, and support teams from Draken’s locations around the country was the key to a smooth transition creating a fully functioning operating location from scratch. “We began preparations months before our arrival in North Carolina. We treated standing up this capability for Seymour Johnson support as a no-fail mission” said Terry Scott, Draken International’s Program Director for the CAF CAS program.
Upon mission completion, Major Skyler Collins, the Government Flight Representative for the 4th Fighter Wing, stated he was “very pleased with Draken’s operations and execution.”
“This is a critically important mission for Air Combat Command”, said Bill Tart, the Chief Operating Officer at Draken. “I was impressed by the teamwork between our professionals and the state of NC, the Kinston airport authority, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Air Force’s Acquisition Management and Integration Center’s professionals, and the leadership at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.”
“Draken aims to exceed every expectation for these high demand training events, and to ensure a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the “Fourth but First” Fighter Wing,” declared Joe Ford, the CEO of Draken International.

https://www.facebook.com/drakenintl/pho ... &__tn__=-R

Deep Freeze

A US Air Force C-17A Globemaster III, of the 62nd Airlift Wing and based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (WA) just completed three winter fly-in, or WinFly, missions of the 2020-2021 Operation Deep Freeze season.

The Globemaster (serial erial 03-3127 with construction number 50135/F134/P127) delivered 151 personnel and 165,000 pounds of cargo to McMurdo Station (Antarctica).

Operation Deep Freeze is a joint service, inter-agency support for the National Science Foundation (NSF), which manages the United States Antarctic Program (USAP). Joint Task Force-Support Forces Antarctica (JTF-SFA) provides Department of Defense support to the NSF and the USAP through ODF.

"The 2020-2021 ODF season marks the 61st Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty and the 65th year of military dedication, ingenuity and labor in support of the Antarctic mission,” said Col. Jamielyn Thompson, JTF-SFA deputy commander. “Each season presents new challenges and this year was no different as we took special precaution to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while also providing transportation and logistics to the US Antarctic Program and the National Science Foundation.”

JTF-SFA coordinates strategic inter-theater airlift, tactical deep field support, aeromedical evacuation support, search and rescue response, sealift, seaport access, bulk fuel supply logistics, port cargo handling and transportation requirements.

The Operation Deep Freeze season runs annually, 1 August through 31 July. This timeframe allows the NSF’s research teams and partnered entities the safest and most efficient method of accomplishing their joint goals.

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n33d4sp33d_85 · Post by **n33d4sp33d_85** » Sat Sep 26, 2020 7:31 pm

https://eurasiantimes.com/after-rafale- ... or-turkey/
https://eurasiantimes.com/nato-commitme ... -typhoons/
https://eurasiantimes.com/saab-delivers ... air-force/
https://eurasiantimes.com/why-us-blocke ... f-35-jets/
https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/09/26/t ... eek-pilot/
https://sputniknews.com/military/202009 ... an-border/
https://theaviationgeekclub.com/first-l ... elicopter/
https://theaviationist.com/2020/09/26/i ... -aircraft/
https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/d ... uae-report
https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-set- ... e/46057020
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2020 ... ted-source

n33d4sp33d_85 · Post by **n33d4sp33d_85** » Sun Sep 27, 2020 4:15 pm

Defence Review Netherlands.

Read more (long read !) at https://www.scramble.nl/military…/defen ... etherlands

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Long awaited first operational Canadian Kingfisher arrived

On Friday 25 September 2020, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) officially introduced its long awaited first new Fixed-Wing Search And Rescue (FWSAR) Airbus CC-295 Kingfisher aircraft.

A week earlier, on 16 September 2020, the RCAF Kingfisher (serial 295501) started her flight from the Airbus facility at Sevilla/San Pablo (Spain) to CFB Comox (B.C.). It is expected that, while making familiarisation and test flights, "501" will be immediately incorporated into the RCAF 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron.

The latter squadron, part of 19 Wing, flies six De Havilland Canada CC-115 Buffalo aircraft, which will be replaced by the Kingfisher, and five AgustaWestland CH-149 Cormorant rescue helicopters. Officialy, CC-295 with serial number 295517 was the first aircraft to arrive in Canada. Being a maintenance training variant of the Kingfisher, "517" was already delivered to Comox in February 2020 by an Airbus flight crew and is in use by the 418 Search and Rescue Operational Training Squadron at Comox.

The Kingfisher FWSAR has been recognised for its speed and agility, as well as its keen searching and hunting skills. Eventually to be found all across Canada, the Kingfisher is specifically designed to perform search and rescue missions across Canadian territory. The aircraft is equipped with integrated sensors that will allow crews to locate persons or objects from more than 40 kilometers away, even in low-light conditions. Its communications systems will increase interoperability with other search and rescue assets, such as the CH-149 Cormorant.

Eventually, the RCAF will operate sixteen CC-295 Kingfishers with 19 Wing at CFB Comox (B.C.), 17 Wing at CFB Winnipeg (Man.), 8 Wing at Trenton (Ont.), and 14 Wing at CFB Greenwood (N.S.); the same locations currently providing search and rescue services across the country. RCAF search and rescue aircraft and personnel are located where they can effectively respond to search and rescue incidents in all regions of Canada.

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n33d4sp33d_85 · Post by **n33d4sp33d_85** » Sun Sep 27, 2020 4:23 pm

https://gazette.com/premium/airmen-at-c ... b64f3.html
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/ ... -it-169573
https://pledgetimes.com/france-handed-o ... come-kaal/
https://theaviationist.com/2020/09/27/s ... air-force/
https://theaviationist.com/2020/09/27/t ... -abkhazia/
https://www.foxnews.com/tech/attacking- ... g-fast-war

n33d4sp33d_85 · Post by **n33d4sp33d_85** » Mon Sep 28, 2020 2:41 pm

Beechcraft T-6C Texan II for Royal Thai Air Force

On 28 September 2020, Textron Aviation Defense LLc announced a contract with the Kong Thap Akat Thai (RTAF, Royal Thai Air Force) for an Integrated Training System in support of operations at the 4th Air Division/Flying Training School at Kamphaeng Saen, Nakhon Pathom air base.

The contract is for twelve Beechcraft T-6C Texan II advanced military training aircraft, ground-based training systems for pilots and maintenance professionals, a mission planning and debrief system, spare parts and ground support equipment.

Training of RTAF pilots and maintenance professionals is set to begin in Wichita (KS) in 2022, while the twelve T-6C Texan II aircraft - christened the T-6TH in Thailand - are expected to join RTAF between late 2022 and early 2023. Textron Aviation Defense plans to ferry two of the twelve aircraft to Thailand, crating and transporting the remaining ten aircraft to Kamphaeng Saen air base.

The Texan IIs are intended to replace the Pilatus PC-9 aircraft now flying with Flying Training School. It is expected that in the near future also twelve AT-6TH Wolverine light attack aircraft are expected to be ordered to replace Aero L-39ZA/ART aircraft now flying with 411 squadron "Thunder" at Chiang Mai.

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Airbus has received a firm order for an Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) from OCCAR, Europe’s organisation for the management of cooperative armament programmes.

The order, which OCCAR has placed on behalf of NATO’s Support & Procurement Agency (NSPA), follows the decision from Luxembourg to maximize its participation into the Multinational MRTT Fleet (MMF) programme with a significant increase from 200 to 1,200 the number of flight hours contracted. The aircraft is part of the three additional options originally included in the contract and will increase the MMF fleet to nine aircraft.

This new order follows the delivey of the first two aircraft (30 June and 10 August 2020). The third aircraft delivery, initially planned for Koln (Germany), will go to Eindhoven air base (the Netherlands) and is expected soon. The swap in delivery location is caused by the fact that the infrastructure at Koln is not ready yet.

The ninth aircraft will provide greater availability of the MMF fleet, enabling other NATO nations to cover their needs in air-to-air refuelling, strategic transport and medical evacuation.

The MMF programme is funded by lead nation the Netherlands and started in 2012. Luxembourg, Norway, Germany, Belgium and Czech Republic have also the exclusive right to operate the NATO–owned aircraft in a pooling arrangement, a prime example of European operational defence collaboration. The aircraft will be configured for in-flight refuelling, the transport of passengers and cargo, and medical evacuation operations.

The European Defence Agency (EDA) initiated the MMF programme, OCCAR manages the MMF acquisition phase as Contract Executing Agent on behalf of NSPA. Following the acquisition phase, NSPA will be responsible for the complete life-cycle management of the fleet. The fleet will be based at Eindhoven air base (the Netherlands) and Koln (Germany).

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Another three F-35A Lightning IIs delivered to Norway

On 27 September 2020 at around 18:40 hrs LT, three F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft (serials 5387, 5388 and 5389) were delivered to Ørland (Norway). The commander of 332 skvadron, Lieutenant Colonel Tron Strand, welcomed the new aircraft together with the Air Wing Commander, Colonel Øivind Gunnerud.

So far the Luftforsvaret (RNoAF, Royal Norwegian Air Force) received 28 aircraft, of which seven are operated by the 62nd Fighter Squadron "Spikes" at Luke AFB (AZ). The air force will continue its preparations and training towards full operational capability (FOC) in 2025.

In 2008, the Norwegian Ministry of Defence said it was planning to buy 52 Joint Strike Fighters, but that each year's purchase must be approved by Parliament. Norway participates in the F-35 program as a Level 3 partner in the system development and demonstration phase, with a view to enabling its industry to compete for industrial opportunities.

The Norwegian Air Force has decided to develop the Joint Strike Missile for the F-35 and other aircraft. On 14 June 2012, Norway placed an order for its first two aircraft, after receiving a promise of US support to integrate the Joint Strike Missile on the F-35. Norway received its first three F-35A Lightning IIs in-country in November 2017, and reached initial operating capability (IOC) in November 2019.

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n33d4sp33d_85 · Post by **n33d4sp33d_85** » Mon Sep 28, 2020 2:53 pm

n33d4sp33d_85 · Post by **n33d4sp33d_85** » Tue Sep 29, 2020 2:10 pm

Upgraded PLAAF air bases for Xian H-6 bombers

The last couple of months, China is progressing very well in the reopening of People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF, Chinese Air Force) air bases that had been dormant for decades.

The Nanyang-Neixing air base (N32.973274, E111.882773) in the Henan province is operational by now. Not only the apron area and runway saw major modernisations including twenty shelters for H-6 size aircraft. Also the caverns in the neighbouring mountain were enlarged to a serious degree with multi new H-6 size entrances.

Rumour has it that the nuclear role Xian H-6N bombers of the 106th Brigade are based here (serials 55x3x). This H-6 variant was first shown to the public during the Beijing flypast in October 2019.

Only 400 km to the east, the dormant air base at Lu’an (N31.62806, E116.269537) in the Anhui province is currently undergoing a major modernisation. This includes the construction of many H-6 size shelters on the new aprons. Whether also the cavern will be made available again will be known within a few months.

The Xian H-6 is currently in full production in three versions for the Chinese Air Force and Chinese Navy at Xi’an-Yanliang. The original design of this aircraft, the Tupolev Tu-16, first took to the air on 27 April 1952, only one week after the first flight of the XB-52.

#avgeek #avgeeks #militaryaviation #ChineseAirForce #PLAAF #XIAN #H6

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On September 29, four Belgian Air Component-operated F-16AM (MLU) Fighting Falcons will deploy to the Middle East in support of Operation Inherent Resolve – a coalition mission against so-called Islamic State.

Read more here: https://www.key.aero/artic…/belgium-dep ... iddle-east

#avgeek #military #belgium #f16 #fightingfalcon #fighter #belgian #airforce #jet #aircraft #aviation #news #defence

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First of four former RSAF KC-135s leaves for new home

The first former Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) KC-135R Stratotanker departed from Changi airport just after 09:00 hrs LT this morning (29 September 2020).

All RSAF markings were removed from ex RSAF 753 (construction number 18633/T0672), which is now registered N573MA. The paint of the aircraft has clearly been affected from exposure to the tropical elements, since it had been stored outside from late June 2019.

Nice touch was that the aircraft is named “Timothy Dalton”, after the actor playing James Bond (among many other roles). We wonder which actors' names will appear on the other three airframes...

The aircraft will fly to the USA via Guam to be delivered to its new owners. It is listed in the FAA register under Wilmington Trust, which will have leased it to its actual operator. This operator is still to be disclosed.

After being rescued from the boneyard by the RSAF in the mid 1990s - and despite its respectable age of 57 years (!) - the aircraft will continue to soldier on for the foreseeable future. This is a huge testament to the type's durability.

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