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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Sat May 23, 2020 4:49 pm

RAF Marham-based 617 squadron ready to deploy HMS Queen Elizabeth

Early June 2020, the "Dambusters" will deploy to the newest UK aircraft carrier. It is reported that the whole squadron will leave home-base Marham in a first-of to understand how a complete squadron can function on the ship and operate in a maritime environment on a day-to-day basis.

The deployment is seen as a next phase for the Lightning force in the journey to declaring initial operating capability maritime at the end of the year.

The Dambusters crew and supporting personnel will be placed in quarantine due to COVID-19 before the deployment to ensure that they do not pass the virus to the crew of the carrier, which has already had a period of isolation at sea.

During the isolation period, the squadron will continue to prepare for their deployment with routine maintenance on the aircraft and flying activity at RAF Marham (including night operations from 27-30 May). The weekend of 30-31 May will also be filled with flying activities.
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Sat May 23, 2020 4:51 pm

The modernisation programme of the Elliniki Polemiki Aeroporia (EPA, Hellenic/Greek Air Force) F-16C/D fleet is running on schedule.

Greek media covered a story about delays and problems of the EPA F-16 modernisation programme. The EPA commander contradicts these reports. The F-16 Hellenic Viper modernisation programme provides for their reduction to the F-16V Viper configuration and that will take about eight years. Since January 2020, Hellenic Aerospace Industry, in close cooperation with Lockheed Martin, started the modernisation programme, estimated costs USD 1,45 billion (1,2 billion euro). The final aircraft is expected, just as planned, to be delivered by 2027. In total, 54 F-16C/D Block 52+ and thirty F-16C/D Block 52 + Advanced will be modified to F-16V by HAI. One additonal aircraft will be used as a test aircraft with Lockheed Martin. The 85 F-16Vs are expected to serve the EPA until 2048.

On top of this programme, the Greek government is negotiating with Lockheed Martin since last January to purchase 24 F-35As in a USD 3 billion contract .
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Sat May 23, 2020 4:52 pm

First Enstrom 280FX for Peruvian Air Force

The first Enstrom 280FX for the Fuerza Aérea del Perú (FAP, Peruvian Air Force) has been spotted. The helicopter, future serial 671, was still registered N881QX (construction number 2168). Together with another one (maybe N881GE, c/n 2169) these constitute the first pair of a total order of eight replacing the Schweizer 300C at Escuadrón Aéreo de Helicopteros 510 at Pisco/BA Capitan Renan Elias Oliveira.

Base Aerea Capitan Renan Elias Oliveira is the homebase of Escuela de Formación de Pilotos N°51 (EFOPI), controlling five flight intsructional squadrons. Have a look at Scramble Magazine Air Order of Battle https://www.scramble.nl/orbats/peru/airforce

#avgeek Avgeekery.com #aviation #helicopter Fuerza Aérea del Perú #FAP Peruvian Air Force Escuela De Formación De Pilotos N51 #EAH510 Enstrom Helicopter Corporation #Enstrom280FX
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Sat May 23, 2020 6:55 pm

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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Sat May 23, 2020 9:57 pm

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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Sun May 24, 2020 8:51 pm

Vympel R-27 missiles in use with Vietnam Air Force Su-30MK2V

Quite rare! Two Không quân Nhân dân Việt Nam (Vietnamese Air Force) Su-30MK2V Flankers, serial 8536 and 8540, equipped with Vympel R-27 air-to-air missiles. The fighter aircraft were seen on recent footage from the Đồng Nai provincial online newspaper. Both Sukhois are part of the 935th Fighter Bomber Regiment based at Biên Hòa Airbase in Dong Nai Province, some 35 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City.

Vietnam first signed a contract for the procurement of four Sukhoi Su-30MK2 fighter aircraft in 2003. This was followed up by two other deals with Sukhoi in 2009 and 2010 for the purchase of eight and twelve additional fighter jets respectively. The final contract between Moscow and Hanoi was signed in 2013 and involved a batch of twelve aircraft for USD 600 million.

The Vympel R-27 (NATO reporting name AA-10 Alamo) medium-to-long range range air-to-air missile was developed by the Soviet Union in 1983 and is capable of speeds up to Mach 4.5. Each missile weighs approximately 250 kilogram, while its war head has a mass of almost 40 kilogram.
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Sun May 24, 2020 9:37 pm

Yokota Elephant Walk

On 21 May 2020, 17 aircraft from the 374th Airlift Wing and 353rd Special Operations Group performed an Elephant Walk at Yokota Air Base (Japan).

Nine C-130J Super Hercules from the 36th Airlift Squadron 'Eagle Airlifters', three C-12J Huron and three UH-1N Huey helicopters from the 459th Airlift Squadron 'Orient Express' and two CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft from the 21st Special Operations Squadron participated in the Elephant Walk portion of the "Samurai Surge" training exercise.

"Samurai Surge" allowed Yokota's units to test their mission capability through an Elephant Walk and formation flights. This, in order to provide aircrews the vital training needed to respond in the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility.
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Sun May 24, 2020 9:41 pm

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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Mon May 25, 2020 4:57 pm

All Nippon Airways has decided to postpone the delivery of their third and final Airbus A380 to at least October.

The orange turtle, which is currently registered as F-WWAL, will become JA383A once delivered. It is currently residing at Hamburg-Finkenwerder.
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Mon May 25, 2020 4:57 pm

Mitsubishi has announced some changes to the troubled SpaceJet-programme.

Firstly, Mitsubishi decided to halt all work on developing a 76-seat SpaceJet called M100. Mitsubishi announced this version during last year's Paris Air Show which was specifically aimed at the US-market.

Work on certifying the 90-seat version, the M90, is continuing, but will now be done solely from Japan as they will bring back all work to Japan. Previously the manufacturer has been doing a lot of work at Moses Lake (WA).

Mitsubishi has also decided to halt mass-producing the SpaceJet, citing a lack of a stable supply of parts due to the Corona-crisis.

As a result of all these things, certification of the M90 will take longer, which will also lead to a postponed delivery of the first M90 to All Nippon Airways. This was planned for this year, but it now on hold and unknown when it will be.

The move comes as Mitsubishi has decided to halve the budget for the development of the SpaceJet as demand for new planes have dropped due to Corona.
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