COMMERCIAL NEWS - Airbus unveils its latest concept as it continues to study hydrogen-powered aircraft, JetBlue Airways takes delivery of its maiden Airbus A220, an upgraded variant of the Dornier 328 turboprop is in development, and London/Stansted-based Titan Airways becomes the first European carrier to use the A321P2F.
MILITARY NEWS - In this month’s military news, the first two T-345As (M-345 High Efficiency Trainer) are handed over to the Italian Air Force by Leonardo, and a USAF B-52H Stratofortress bomber joins forces with Royal Saudi Air Force F-15SA Advanced Eagles over the Middle East.
UAV FOCUS - The British Army trials 30 BAE Systems/UAVTEK-developed nano ‘Bug’ drones, UK-based Royal Mail makes its maiden delivery via UAV as part of a consultation period, and Boeing and the US Navy flight test the MQ-25 T1 test asset with the Cobham Mission Systems 31-301 aerial refuelling store.
ROTARY FOCUS - The first pair of NHIndustries NH90s bound for the Qatar Emiri Air Force have started maiden flights, customers of the Airbus Helicopters H135 can now select alternate gross weight options, and several manufacturers undertake development projects in the urban aerial mobility sector.
BUSINESS FOCUS - French aerospace manufacturer Dassault Aviation unveils its Falcon 6X long-range business jet, an undisclosed customer places a US$267m order with Bombardier for ten Challenger 350s, and Embraer completes the first conversion of a Legacy 450 to Praetor 500 standard in Europe.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - DARPA confirms the airborne retrieval testing of three Gremlins UAVs is nearing success, while British Airways announces a partnership with ZeroAvia to explore how hydrogen-powered aircraft can play a leading role in the future of sustainable flying.
GENERAL AVIATION FOCUS - Piper delivers its first Pilot 10Oi following type certification approval, Austrian-based Diamond Aircraft achieves a landmark 500th example of its popular DA40 NG, and the FAA issues a new airworthiness directive for Superior Air Parts (SAP) and Lycoming-built 0-360 and 10-360 four-cylinder piston engines equipped with an SAP-manufactured crankshaft assembly.
RUSSIAN REVIEW - Russian aviation expert Piotr Butowski details the top 2020 highlights from the Russian Federation, including commissioning the first new-generation Su-57 fighter and the maiden flight of the 11-114-300 regional passenger aircraft.
JOURNEY’S END FOR SERBIA’S MiGs - Between 1962 and 1986, the former Yugoslav Air Force received a total of 261 MiG fighters from Russia. By 2020, only one of them remained, but that was then lost in a fatal accident later that year. Aleksandar Radic reports on the demise of a Cold War legend.
INNOVATIVE DESIGNS, UNPRECEDENTED TIMES - As the relentless global march of coronavirus goes on, many people are anxious about returning to air travel. But there is hope on the horizon. Tom Batchelor explores the technological innovations that could improve safety and help restore passenger confidence.
SAAB’S GLOBAL FIGHTER PROGAMME - Alan Wames discusses the new-generation Gripen programme with Micael Johansson, the president and CEO of Saab, and Major General Carl-Johan Edstrom, the commander of the Swedish Air force.
NORTHERN FLIGHTS - Controversial travel restrictions on inbound passengers to Canada have prompted alarm, but innovation and consolidation are at the forefront of an industry fightback. Mark Broadbent discovers how.
CONCEPT INSIGHT - This month, Khalem Chapman examines the Bell FCX-001 experimental concept helicopter, which boasts advanced thermal engine cores that will drive an anti-torque system making for more control and simpler vehicle operations.
AUF WIEDERSEHEN, WARHAWKS - The F-16CM and DM Block 50 Fighting Falcons have been in service with the United States Air Force’s 480th ‘Warhawks’ Fighter Squadron at Germany’s Spangdahlem Air Base since 2010. But, as Babak Taghvaee explains, that is all set to change... eventually.
MAXIMISING THE TRUST - It has taken 20 challenging months for the 737 MAX to be recertificated, but it will take Boeing far longer to repair its broken trust. Chris Sloan steps on board a special 737 MAX flight - the first in the US since March 2019 - to examine whether the manufacturer has turned a corner.
TALKING TECH WITH EMBRAER - Gordon Smith speaks with Martyn Holmes, the new chief commercial officer at Embraer Commercial Aviation, to find out more about the company's bold new corporate strategy for the coming decade.
THE MERLIN’S MAGICAL RETURN - After waiting four-and-a-half years, the Royal Navy’s Commando Helicopter Force is finally transitioning to the new Commando Merlin HC4/4A. Ian Harding takes a close examination of the major modifications to the aircraft and its painstaking transition period.
HELL AND BACK WITH HIPS AND HINDS - Having survived combat in both the Mi-8/17 ‘Hips’ and Mi-24 ‘Hinds’ during several African conflicts, Al J Ventner gives us a candid firsthand description of his experiences flying these iconic Russian multi-role helicopters.
THE GRIPENS GUARDING THE GULF COVER STORY - Thailand may be famous for its tropical beauty and stunning beaches, but for a decade now the Royal Thai Air Force (Kong Tab Arkard Thai) has been operating Asia’s only fleets of Saab JAS-39 Gripen and Saab 340 AEW aircraft, as Analayo Korsakul reports.
SIDESTICKS AND SOFT STOPS - Bell expects to receive FAA certification for its all-new 525 Relentless in 2021. The aircraft promises a step-change in capability for commercial helicopter operators and future corporate and military applications, as Byron Ward, VP of the 525 programme, explains to Paul E Eden.
A CHANGE IN KOREA - Korean Air's plan to take over Asiana Airlines represents a major shake-up in the Asia-Pacific aviation industry. Why is it happening and what are the regional and global ramifications? Mark Broadbent finds out.