Aviation News Mega-Thread

n33d4sp33d_85 · Post by **n33d4sp33d_85** » Sat Aug 29, 2020 6:23 pm

https://caspiannews.com/news-detail/kaz ... 20-8-28-8/
https://eurasiantimes.com/can-russias-d ... bal-sales/
https://eurasiantimes.com/us-f-16-jets- ... y-experts/
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/ ... der-168016
https://sputniknews.com/russia/20200829 ... altic-sea/
https://sputniknews.com/world/202008291 ... g-flights/
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/377076/va ... t-squadron
https://www.forbes.com/sites/pauliddon/ ... -for-iraq/
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-ne ... GCt3I.html
https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air- ... -fighters/

n33d4sp33d_85 · Post by **n33d4sp33d_85** » Sun Aug 30, 2020 3:58 pm

Maiden flight KJ-600 AWACS

Multiple rumours are circulating that the Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation (XAC) KJ-600 AWACS has made its maiden flight from Xi’an-Yanliang on 29 August 2020.

This force multiplier aircraft is a further development from the JYZ-01 Technology Demonstrator and a mock-up of this AWACS was used for some years on the aircraft carrier mock-up facility in southern Wuhan for fitment checks.

Based on the Y-7, which is based on the An-26, the main change is the big radar disc on top of the fuselage. Also, and again similar to the E-2 Hawkeye, the aircraft features four vertical tails. The aircraft is powered by powerful engines (5,100 Hp WJ-6C?) that rotate six bladed propellers.

For takeoff from a carrier the aircraft will be assisted by a catapult, which will be introduced on the new (third) aircraft carrier (CATOBAR operations, Catapult Assisted Take-Off Barrier Arrested Recovery). Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation also produces the H-6 bomber and the Y-20 transport aircraft in addition to the MA60/600-series and the, soon to be flying, MA700 passenger aircraft. The factory is located at the same air base that is used by the Chinese (by CFTE) for all initial flight testing of new aircraft.

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United States and Russia; ‘Sabre rattling by the Superpowers’

Sending six B-52s with radio call sign "NATO" was actually the answer to the finale of the Russian Naval exercise Ocean Shield.

28 August 2020 will be a day to remember. While United States North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) scrambled Lockheed Martin F-22A fighters to intercept three groups of two Russian Tupolev Tu-142 Russian maritime reconnaissance and patrol aircraft flying towards the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), preparations were made for overflights and joint formation flights of six USAF Boeing B-52H Stratofortress bombers over all NATO countries.

The all-NATO single day mission titled "Allied Sky" included six B-52Hs, all from Minot AFB (ND), albeit four of them were already deployed as Bomber Task Force (BTF) to RAF Fairford (UK). The Stratofortress strategic bombers flew over all thirty NATO nations in Europe and North America. Almost simultaneously, Russian Naval aviation, as part of the finale for the "Ocean Shield 2020" exercise, conducted multiple missions.

Scramble Magazine has now learned that eight Naval Tu-142 anti-submarine aircraft made regular flights over the Pacific Ocean, the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Norwegian Sea, the Chukchi Sea, the Beaufort Sea along the Northern Sea Route and over neutral waters over or near Russia. Also, four Ilyushin Il-38 anti-submarine aircraft, two Sukhoi Su-24M bombers, two Russian Air Force Tupolev Tu-95MS strategic bombers and one Russian Air Force Ilyushin Il-78 tanker took part in the "Ocean Shield 2020" flights.

As for the "Allied Sky" mission, multiple NATO jet fighters flew alongside the B-52Hs for photo opportunities. One minor incident occurred during the mission. It was stated that two Russian Su-27 Flanker pilots intercepted a B-52 bomber conducting routine operations over international waters at the Black Sea. The Russian pilots flew in an unsafe and unprofessional manner igniting afterburners and crossing within 100 feet of the nose of the B-52 multiple times at co-altitude, causing turbulence and affecting the B-52's ability to manoeuvre.

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Kauhava Air Show reveals some surprising visitors

This weekend, on 29 and 30 August 2020, the Kauhava Air Show was held in Finland. Given the COVID-19 troubles, this is probably one of the very few airshows that have been able to take place worldwide this year. Besides the specially marked Ilmavoimat (Finnish Air Force) BAE Hawk (*), this year's Kauhava Air Show included, among others, Finnish Air Force Hawks, Grobs, Vinkas and F/A-18s, Finnish Army NH-90, French Air Force Rafales, Swedish Air Force Gripen, German Air Force EF2000 Typhoon and the Royal Air Force Red Arrows.

Surprise visitors at this year's airshow were two special aircraft from Swedish soil. Both the Saab JAS39E Gripen and the Bombardier Global 6000 GlobalEye had took off from Linköping (Sweden) on 27 August to participate in the airshow. The next generation Gripen E, serial number 6002 (c/n 39-6002), was first put on the static show to show off an array of air-to-ground payloads. Later, the three-tone grey splinter camouflaged JAS39E flew a number of flawless air displays above Kauhava. The military looking and grey coloured GlobalEye, with registration SE-RMU (c/n 9787), did not fully conceal its true identity: after upgrades and modifications, this aircraft will be delivered to the United Arab Emirates Air Force (UAEAF). At Kauhava, the UAE markings were covered with tape.

At the beginning of 2020, the Finnish Air Force started the HX programme. Finland’s HX programme is a multi-role fighter competition to replace its legacy F-18 Hornets. It is no secret that Saab has taken the step of adding the force-multiplying GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning (AEW) and Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) platform to its offer of the Gripen E/F to give it a wider set of capabilities.

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Philippine A-29 Super Tucano starts delivery flight

On 29 August 2020, the six Embraer A-29 Super Tucanos ordered by the Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas (Philippine Air Force) started their delivery flight, departing Sao Jose Dos Campos (SJK, Brazil) on their way to Recife (REC), with onwards flight expected to Fernando de Noronha (FEN) on Sunday 30 August 2020.

The aircraft, with an option for another 18 aircraft, were ordered on 30 November 2017. The A-29s will be used in the Close Air Support, Air-to-Air Intercept and surveillance roles. They are expected to join the 15th Strike Wing/16th Strike Squadron "Eagles" at Danielo Atienza-Cavite air base near the capital Manilla. If correct, the OV-10 Broncos are expected to be moved to the 17th Attack Squadron "Jaguars" at the same air base, where they will replace the SF260TPs.

Initially, a Dornier 228 would join the delivery flight to provide logistic support in those uncertain pandemic times. During their delivery flights the aircraft can be followed using their Brazilian test- and delivery registrations PT-ZZM/-ZZN/-ZZO/-ZZQ/-ZZS/-ZZU. PT-ZZM already made its first flight on 4 November 2019.

The delivery flight will continue via Amilcar Cabral, Sal Island (Cape Verde), Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain), Málaga (Spain) and Luqa (Malta). Unfortunately no dates are known at this moment.

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Ibom Air of Nigeria, founded in 2019, has received its fifth 90-seat Bombardier CRJ900. CRJ900 c/n 15283 (C-GZQM) was built for Iraqi Airways (IA/IAW) as YI-AQI and never delivered. It was stored at Mirabel until picked up by Adria Airways (JP/ADR) as SS-AAU from March 2014. It was returned to Falko Aircraft Leasing at Munich (MUC) in October 2019 and subsequently stored at Calgary from February 2020 as G-CLJH. It became 5N-BXO for Ibom Air (BXO on nose wheel) .

Ibom Air received its fourth Bombardier CRJ900 on May 6 2020. Plans for additional CRJ900s has stalled due to the impact of COViD-19. Plans had been to acquire ten CRJs within three years, and possibly acquire larger aircraft after that. Ibom paused operations with the onset of COViD-19 restrictions, and resumed flight operations in July. Ibom Air operates four routes in Nigeria: The capital city Abuja, Lagos, Uyo and most recently Calabar, launched in July.

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n33d4sp33d_85 · Post by **n33d4sp33d_85** » Sun Aug 30, 2020 4:07 pm

https://www.eastmojo.com/national/2020/ ... in-october
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... rcept.html
https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/key-e ... ts-in-apac
https://www.yourvalley.net/stories/idah ... oes,183412

n33d4sp33d_85 · Post by **n33d4sp33d_85** » Sun Aug 30, 2020 4:08 pm

Lockheed Martin plans to combine the top features of the F-35 and the F-22 aircraft into the F-22 Raptor Hybrid aircraft.

https://bulletinline.com/2020/08/30/fig ... -by-share/

n33d4sp33d_85 · Post by **n33d4sp33d_85** » Mon Aug 31, 2020 2:53 pm

Colombia replaces T-41D

Interesting news from Colombia, the Fuerza Aerea Colombiana (FAC, Colombian Air Force) has ordered new basic training aircraft to replace the venerable Cessna T-41D Mescalero, which is already in service since October 1968.

About ten years ago, the T-90 Calima programme was launched to replace both the T-34 Mentor and T-41 with the slightly modernised version of the Lancair FG, dubbed T-90 Calima by the Colombian Air Force. As the T-34 was retired, the T-41D however was kept in use with the military aviation school (EMAVI) at Cali-MF Suarez.

Not unexpectedly, the T-90C Calima programme, foremost aimed at developing the national aviation industry further, saw some shortcomings, like its cabin height, which made it unsuitable to train Colombia's tallest young men and women. About ten T-41Ds remained in service all along.

Considering all options, ironically, the FAC has now chosen the Cessna’s latest 172-version to replace them, with deliveries starting in June 2021. The military aviation school (EMAVI, Escuela Militar de Aviación "Marco Fidel Suárez") at Cali-MF Suarez will be using the new Cessna 172 for basic training.

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A year ago, Qantas extended its contract with Australia Post and decided to order three Airbus A321PFs. Now, their first plane is nearing delivery after conversion at Seletar in Singapore.

The aircraft involved is currently registered D-ANJA, which is a A321-200 with c/n 835. It is planned to become VH-ULD when it will be delivered, which is scheduled for October.

Life for this airframe started in June 1998 when it was delivered to British Midland as G-MIDC. In March 2011 it became TC-OBJ of Onur Air, which phased it out in 2018. Since November 2018 the plane was being converted to a freighter.

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n33d4sp33d_85 · Post by **n33d4sp33d_85** » Mon Aug 31, 2020 3:03 pm

n33d4sp33d_85 · Post by **n33d4sp33d_85** » Tue Sep 01, 2020 1:25 pm

Heads up! USMC F-35B Lightning IIs to RAF Marham

On 2 September 2020, ten Lockheed F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft from VMFA-211 ('CF-xx') "Wake Island Avengers" will arrive at RAF Marham (UK) in the evening hours. The USMC Lightning IIs departed their homebase Yuma MCAS (AZ) today (1 September 2020) and made a stop at Robins AFB (GA) before continuing further, most probably Bangor/Intl (ME).

The F-35Bs will participate in the exercise Crimson Ocean on board the HMS Queen Elizabeth. But before joining this exercise, the US Marine Corps personnel will face a planned period of quarantine and preparation before going to sea.

After returning from two months at sea in early July 2020, HMS Queen Elizabeth has spent the summer alongside in Portsmouth preparing for an Autumn Group Exercise (GroupEx) which will be part of the Joint Warrior (JW202) construct. The Joint Warrior exercises are usually run twice each year in March-April and September-October off the West coast of Scotland. There was no JW in April 2020 and the GroupEx will also see a bigger surface escort group join the UK Carrier Strike Group (UKCSG) and will include Dutch and US warships. The September GroupEx will be a big step-up in complexity from the modest scale of the recent exercise Crimson Ocean, consisting of 10 days of work-up, followed by two weeks of ‘free play’ in combat scenarios. Next to the ten USMC F-35B Lightning IIs, the air group will consist of five UK F-35B Lightnings and six Merlin helicopters. With 15 jets on board, this will be the largest embarkation of F-35s afloat in the world so far.

It is not known yet how long VMFA-211 will stay in the UK. There are rumours of several months.

The "Wake Island Avengers" received their first F-35B Lightning IIs in May 2016. On 30 June 2016, VMA-211 was redesignated as VMFA-211, becoming the second fleet squadron in the Marine Corps to operate the F-35B Lightning II as their primary aircraft.

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The UK and Belgium revealed they are exploring General Atomics MQ-9B SkyGuardian RPAS collaboration on August 17, the same week as Belgium announced its SkyGuardian contract.

Read more here: https://www.key.aero/…/uk-belgium-annou ... ollaborat…

#avgeek #military #news #uav #drone #mq9 #skyguardian #protector #gaasi #belgium #uk #british #belgian #aircraft

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AW101 rescue helicopter formally inducted into 330 skv

On 1 September 2020, the Leonardo AW101 Mk612 rescue helicopter was formally inducted into 330 skv at Stavanger/Sola. The Prime Minister Erna Solberg, Minister of Defence Frank Bakke-Jensen and Minister of Justice & Emergency Management Monica Mæland attended the official handover of the new helicopter, named SAR Queen, to 330 skv.

This marks the end of Westland Sea King operations from this base. So far, eight AW101s have been delivered to Norway and these were operated by the Operational Test & Evaluation unit (OT&E). All of them have been transferred to 330 skv.

In December 2013, a contract was signed between AgustaWestland and the Norwegian government for the purchase of sixteen AW101 Mk612 search and rescue helicopters. In June 2017, Per-Willy Amundsen, Minister of Justice and Public Security, announced the opening of Leonardo's AW101 Norway Training Centre at Stavanger/Sola airport. The training centre includes an AW101 Full Flight Simulator (FFS), jointly developed by Leonardo and CAE to Level D, which is a CAE Series 3000 device, along with an AW101 SAR console training system linked to the FFS to provide rear crew training.

The first AW101 Mk612 was delivered in November 2017 to the Operational Test & Evaluation unit. The final AW101 is expected to be delivered in 2023. The Sea Kings will be phased out gradually until the middle of 2023, after 47 years of service.

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Lebanese charter airline Wings of Lebanon has decided to cease all operations. The move by the company is the result of the lack of demand due to the current Corona-pandemic.

It's sole aircraft, The Boeing Company B737-700 T7-WLA, has been returned to its lessor and ferried to Toulouse-Francazal on 27 August for storage.

Wings of Lebanon was founded in 2006 and mainly carried out charter flights to destinations in Egypt and Turkey.

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On 31 August, EVA Airways Corp. 長榮航空 announced it has reached an agreement with The Boeing Company to reshuffle its remaining backlog of fifteen B787-10s. To reflect the current decline in passenger demand and increase in cargo demand, the airline has changed seven of the B787-10s on order into an order for three B777Fs and four B787-9s. No delivery date has been mentioned in the press statement.

Currently EVA Air already operates five B777Fs, four B787-9s and five B787-10s.

#avgeek #evaair #evaairways #boeing #dreamliner #b777f #b787

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n33d4sp33d_85 · Post by **n33d4sp33d_85** » Tue Sep 01, 2020 1:42 pm

n33d4sp33d_85 · Post by **n33d4sp33d_85** » Wed Sep 02, 2020 3:14 pm

Belgian Defence Agusta A109 delivered to VLOC

On 2 September 2020, Belgian Defence helicopter Agusta A109BA, serial H22 (construction number 3022) left Beauvechain air base for its last and final flight.

After a 2-hour flight over parts of Flanders the A109BA touched down at Oostende-Brugge International Airport around 11.00 hrs LT. After dismantling the blades and de-fueling the helicopter, it was transported to the nearby VLOC (Vlaams Luchtvaart Opleidings Centrum).

VLOC regroups some of the pilot- and MRO-education (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) in Flanders’ region. The Agusta A109 will be used as an instructional airframe for future MRO technicians. It will join the iconic all black Westland Sea King Mk48 (serial RS05), which has been donated to VLOC by the Belgian Defence some years ago.

Belgium acquired the Agusta helicopters in 1988, when 46 A109s were bought as a replacement for the Alouette 2. The helicopters were delivered from 1992, divided by 18 Agusta A109HO and 28 Agusta A109HA variants. Later they were renamed A109BA (Belgian Army). According to the Scramble Magazine database around eighteen A109BAs are still active.

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24 hour delay VMFA-211 F-35B Lightning IIs to RAF Marham

Due to adverse winds and weather enroute, the transatlantic flight of the ten VMFA-211 F-35B Lightning IIs to RAF Marham is rescheduled for Thursday 3 September 2020. Expected arrival time is again planned for the evening hours.

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Lessor BOC Aviation has decided to cancel 18 A320neos it had on order with Airbus. The 18 were part of an order of 20 A320neos the leasing company placed in January.

Originally twelve of these 20 were destined for Avianca, but they don't have a need for the airplanes anymore as they are in a large restructuring operation.

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Boeing delivers first MH-47G Chinook Block II helicopter

On 1 September 2020, during a ceremony at the Boeing Ridley Park, Philadelphia (PA) facility, Boeing delivered the first MH-47G Chinook Block II to the US Army.

The US Army is stalling its decision to replace its current fleet of CH-47F helicopters with the improved CH-47F Chinook Block II, but the US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) did decide to replace its fleet of MH-47G Chinooks with the Block II versions.

Actual orders for 24 examples are already placed with Boeing, with additional orders expected in the future. In total 73 MH-47Gs have been delivered to the SOCOM, of which four have been lost in accidents. All helicopters are used by the famous Nightstalkers (160th SOAR) at Campbell AAF, Fort Campbell (KY), Hunter AAF, Fort Stewart (GA) and Gray AAF, Fort Lewis (WA).

The brandnew Chinook has tail number 02909 painted on the rear pylon. The fiscal year is not known yet, but based on when the first order was placed, this is most likely 2018. This serial nicely follows the last eight “regular” MH-47Gs which were ordered in 2012 (one) and 2013 (seven) and carry serials 02901 until 02908.

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Singapore's first Aggressor Squadron

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has transformed their oldest fighter squadron, 140 Squadron "Osprey" based at Tengah air base, into a hybrid squadron which both operates F-16C/D Fighting Falcons and the F-15SG Strike Eagles as a dedicated aggressor squadron.

Shoulder patches using the word aggressor and another patch which had a modified shoulder patch for 140sq circulated on social media recently. This had enthusiasts wondering what was happening. These posts were quickly removed thereafter but it was clear the 140sqn patch had an F-15SG added in addition to the traditional F-16 and Hawker Hunter.

Apparently the squadron transitioned into a dual role commencing end August 2020 and will be flying both fighter jet types. The Eagles will remain at Paya Lebar air base and the Vipers will remain status quo at Tengah AB.

As of now it is unknown if any Eagles will change their squadron logos on the tail to 140sq markings, but this is unlikely. It is also not been confirmed if there is a trial period or if this is to remain permanent.

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n33d4sp33d_85 · Post by **n33d4sp33d_85** » Wed Sep 02, 2020 3:20 pm

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