Aviation News Mega-Thread

Threads about the world of aviation outside of airshows. General aviation, airlines, spotting, etc.
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Tue Mar 24, 2020 3:07 am

RyanS wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2020 2:07 pm Here's a thread to collect all sorts of aviation news items
Thanks a lot. Really appreciate it.
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Tue Mar 24, 2020 3:12 am

The US Marine Corps is not optimized to meet the demands of the US National Defense Strategy.

Thus, in the Summer of 2019, the USMC command started a redesign plan of its orders of battle and strategies with a ten-year horizon.

The planning lead to the redesigning the 2030 force for naval expeditionary warfare in actively contested spaces.

Units and squadrons within the plan that will be deactivated are:
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 264 "Black Knights" (‘EH-xx”) flying the MV-22B from MCAS New River (NC)

Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 462 "Heavy Haulers" (‘YF-xx’) flying the CH-53E from MCAS Miramar (CA)

Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 469 "Vengeance" (‘SE-xx’) flying the UH-1Y and AH-1Z from MCAS Camp Pendleton (CA)

And the following measures are expected too:

HMLA-367 "Scarface" (‘VT-xx’) flying the UH-1Y and AH-1Z will be deactivated at that location and relocated from Kanoehe Bay (HI) to Camp Pendleton (CA),

The number of F-35B and Cs per squadron will be reduced from sixteen to ten and the the number of Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) squadrons will be doubled.

Photo credit: aircraft from the three units that will be deactivated by Dan Stijovich (MV-22B and CH-53E) and Joe Copalman (AH-1Z)

#marineaviation #avgeek #avgeeks #USMC #USMArineCorps #F35 #AH1Z #UH1Y #CH53E #MV22B #VMM264 #HMH462 #HMLA469 #aviation Avgeekery.com #marines MARINES Marine Corps Times U.S. Marine Corps U.S. Marine Forces Europe and Africa U.S. Marine Corps
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Tue Mar 24, 2020 3:15 am

Russian military helping Italian government

In the early hours of Monday 23 March 2020, the first Russian Federation - Aerospace Forces (RF VKS - Russian Air Force) Il-76MD transport aircraft arrived in Italy. The transport aircraft started their journey at one of Russia's main transport air bases, Chkalovskiy, just northeast of Moscow and landed at Pratica di Mare (Italy).

The aircraft are loaded with necessary equipment, doctors and medical supplies to help Italy in its battle against the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. No less than nine different Russian Air Force Il-76MDs are used in this humanitarian operation.

Serial overview: Mark Remmel
Photo credits: Russian MoD
Video source: RuptLey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSCH8lOAw28

#avgeek Avgeekery.com #aviation Russian Air Forces #Ilyushin #Il76MD #covid19
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Tue Mar 24, 2020 3:17 am

On 20 February 2020, a historic Royal Navy Westland Wasp HAS Mk1 registered G-CBUI (former XT420), made a return flight to the former RNAS Portland (HMS Osprey) marking the first time a Wasp has landed at the former Royal Naval Air Station in over thirty years.

“To fly such an iconic heritage aircraft is an honour in itself” said veteran Navy pilot, Simon Thomas, “but to fly back to Portland, home of the Royal Navy’s small ships flights, three decades later was like stepping back in time!”

Nowadays Osprey Quay is HeliOperations’ operating base, but between 1959-1999, RNAS Portland was one of the busiest Naval air stations on the south coast and was home to the Royal Navy Wasp and later Lynx helicopter front line flights, as well as Wessex and Sea King helicopters.

Designed to operate from frigates at sea, Wasp helicopters operated around the world from the 1960s-1980s. With its folding tail and rotor blades, quadricycle undercarriage, castoring wheels and small size, the Wasp was ideally suited to fly from the small decks of Naval warships.

“The Wasp was the forerunner of all small ship naval helicopters” said Simon. “Its contribution to understanding and solving the challenges of flying and operating helicopters from ships at sea, was enormous.”

In its Naval Aviation heyday, Portland was absolutely buzzing, operating 24 hours with as many as 70 aircraft present at any one time. The first helicopter to land at the site, a Westland Whirlwind aircraft operated by 815 Naval Air Squadron, arrived on 14 April 1959 with the site formally commissioned as the Royal Naval Air Station Portland, HMS Osprey, on 24 April 1959. However, Portland can boast a naval aviation heritage back to as early as 1916 when as HMS Sarepta, seaplanes were operated from the harbour and early helicopter trials were explored in 1945 from the base.

The Air Station closed as a Royal Navy Air Station in 1999 and the site is now owned and operated by HeliOperations providing a forward operating and fuelling facility for UK military helicopters.

The historic Wasp, operated by the heritage charity, Navy Wings, landed on the airfield just as the latest helicopter of the Royal Navy, Wildcat HMA2 serial ZZ517 of 825 Naval Air Squadron from RNAS Yeovilton, flew in to refuel during a training sortie.

The Chief Executive of Navy Wings, Commodore Jock Alexander OBE, in the left hand seat of the Wasp, said “Nothing quite prepares you for such a truly remarkable sight – a historic Wasp and modern Wildcat flying side by side, making the link perfectly from our heritage to current operations and the future – at an airfield that has been in continuous use supporting helicopter operations for almost 60 years.”

The Wasp is part of the Navy Wings Heritage Flight based at RNAS Yeovilton and regularly flies at air shows and events keeping the history of naval aviation alive for future generations.
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Tue Mar 24, 2020 3:18 am

The Nigerian Air Force boosts Air Power capability against insurgency

On 21 March 2020, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) reactivated and commissioned another Alpha Jet after its Periodic Depot Maintenance (PDM). The commissioning of an additional Alpha Jet, with serial number NAF455, took place at the Kainji's 407 Air Combat Training Group (407 ACTG) overhaul depot.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, the Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, expressed his satisfaction with the conduct of the PDM with avionics upgrade. It was also stated that the reactivation of NAF455 would go a long way in boosting the morale of troops on the frontlines and better equip the NAF in its drive to sustain the offensive initiative against the terrorists and insurgents. According to Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, the in-house PDM, apart from being cost-effective when compared to the overseas option, would also provide NAF technicians the opportunity to build better technical capacities.

Kainji Air Base, located near the city of New Bussa, is named after the Kainji Lake which is situated nearby. Some five more Alpha Jets, apparently awaiting PDM, were observed in Kainji's main hangar during the commissioning ceremony.

Strikingly, Alpha Jet NAF455 (former Luftwaffe 98+47), which flew during the ceremony (with a female pilot), was provided with a new blue-blue colour scheme. Originally delivered to the NAF in 1982, NAF455 was normallly seen in grey maritime c/s.

Scramble processed fourteen active Nigerian Alpha Jets in its database (NAF450, 452, 453, 454, 455, 461, 465, 470, 471, 474, 475, 476, 477, 478). Any updates are welcome. The aircraft are based at Lagos/Murtala Muhammed and assigned to the 99 Air Weapons School/ 909 Tactical Fighter Training Wing and at Port Harcourt with the 97 Special Operations Group/ 206 Wing.
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Tue Mar 24, 2020 3:18 am

Tu-22M3M takes shape

On Friday 20 March 2020, the second modernised Tupolev Tu-22M3M took off from Kazan airfield (Russia). Being overhauled by Tupolev PJSC (KAZ workshop named after S.P. Gorbunov), which is part of the United Aircraft Corporation, the Tu-22M3M, with registration RF-94235 and Bort number 06 Blue, will be used for further tests and evaluations. A previous prototype of the modernised bomber first flew on 28 December 2018.

Strikingly, analysing and comparison recent and old(er) photographs, the Tu-22M3M's main difference is the possibility to carry out air refueling. Notably, the Tu-22M's in-flight refueling capability was cancelled due to the 1991 'START-I' United States - Union of Soviet Socialist Republics treaty.

Also, a new self-defense electronic radar suite is fitted. This replaces the tail gun of the existing Tu-22M3. In the past it has been stated that much of the new avionics are shared with the upgraded Tu-160M2. Armament is planned to be enhanced by adding the new Kh-32 missile, a heavily modified version of the current Kh-22, the subsonic Kh-SD, the hypersonic Kh-MT. It is expected that the Kinzhal (Dagger), a derivative of the ground launched 9M723 Iskander missile, which is now being carried by the MiG-31DZ supersonic interceptor aircraft, will be one of the first weapons that will be operated with the Tu-22M3M. Deliveries for state testing of the Tu-22M3M are expected to begin in 2021.
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Tue Mar 24, 2020 3:19 am

Let's have a look at Africa and the Middle East and what the larger airlines are doing there.

Air Algerie announced the suspension of all international flights until further notice on 18 March. Some domestic flights will continue to operate.

Air Arabia has already suspended all flights from its Moroccan-division, and will also do so in UAE as of 25 March.

Air Madagascar officiel has ceased all flights until at least 20 April.

air mauritius has no operations and has suspended all flights until further notice.

Fly Air Sénégal is not flying until further notice.

Cabo Verde Airlines has decided to stop flying until at least 18 April.

EGYPTAIR has ceased all operations until at least 31 March.

EL AL has suspended all flights, except to Johannesburg, London, Newark (NJ), Paris and Toronto as of 15 March until further notice.

Emirates has announced all passengerflights will be cancelled from 25 March onwards for two weeks, a result of the UAE forbidding all passenger flights in and out of the country for this period.

Ethiopian Airlines has suspended operations to 30 countries, but will continue to run quite some flights to destinations around the world.

Etihad Airways will also suspend all passengerflights for two weeks as of 25 March.

flydubai is of course impacted by the directive of two weeks suspension of passengerflights by the UAE and will cease all flights as of 25 March.

Kenya Airways was one of the last airlines to operate normally, but has now announced that all flights will be suspended as of 25 March.

Kuwait Airways was one of the first airlines to close down completely and has not announced a date of resumption.

Qatar Airways has announced it will gradually reduce capacity with 75% over the coming days.

Royal Air Maroc has stopped all flying on 15 March and will do so until further notice.

Royal Jordanian Airlines has also no operations and will reassess at 31 March.

RwandAir is also completely grounded and has announced that the suspension will at least be until 20 April.

FlySAA has suspended all flights, except for some domestic flights and expects that this will be so until the end of May.

SAUDIA AIRLINES الخطوط السعودية will not operate any scheduled passengerflights until at least 29 March.
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Tue Mar 24, 2020 3:20 am

"Fix, Fly, and Fight", Milestone for the Black Knights

On 20 March 2020, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314 "Black Knights" ('VW-xxx') received their Safe-For-Flight Operations Certification (SFFOC) at homebase MCAS Miramar (CA). The squadron worked together with the US Navy's F-35C Fleet Replacement Squadron, Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 125 "Rough Raiders" ('NJ-xxx') to reach this status.

The SFFOC marks the end of the squadron's oversight by VFA-125, which was responsible for ensuring that the "Black Knights" received the right training during their temporary relocation to NAS Lemoore (CA) from September 2019 to January 2020. VMFA-314 is now able to work independently and safe with their equipment, personnel and programmes in support of US fleet operations.

VMFA-314, part of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, carries the proud legacy from being the first F/A-18 Hornet squadron in the US DoD to fly the Hornet tactically to becoming the first operational F-35C squadron in the USMC.
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Tue Mar 24, 2020 8:51 pm

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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Wed Mar 25, 2020 1:47 am

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