COMMERCIAL NEWS - Boeing’s 737 MAX returns to flight after the FAA grounding order is lifted, cargo carriers gear up for the impending coronavirus vaccine transportation, UK air traffic controllers contribute to emission cuts, and Embraer examines new aircraft deliveries over the next decade.
MILITARY NEWS - A massive arms package sale to the United Arab Emirates, worth $23bn, has been approved by the US State Department, including F-35A Lightning Ils and MQ-9B UAVs. Meanwhile, in the UK, a milestone has been reached in the Army Air Corps (AAC) AH-64E Apache programme, with the arrival of its first two helicopters at RAF Brize Norton.
UAV FOCUS - UK-based Stratospheric Platforms Limited (SPL) is developing a high-altitude, hydrogen-powered platform for telecom connectivity, NASA and Wisk partner up to work on autonomous flight in US civil airspace, and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) is awarded a US$93m contract to enhance the autonomous sensing capabilities of unmanned aircraft.
ROTARY FOCUS - The German Bundeswehr select the NHIndustries NH90 NFH to replace its Sea Lynx Mk88As for shipborne operations; the Bell/Boeing CMV-22B Osprey touches down on an aircraft carrier, and the Brazilian highway police is set to introduce its first of six Leonardo AW119Kx examples from 2021.
BUSINESS FOCUS - Gulfstream bolsters its G700 test fleet with the introduction of two more examples, the maiden customer for the Learjet 75 Liberty puts it into service, and the three major business jet manufacturers report a slump in Q3 2020 delivery figures.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - A recently retired US Marine Corps AH-1W Super Cobra has gained a new lease of life following its transfer to the US Army as a trials helicopter, having previously been operated by Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773. Elsewhere, US company Aerion completes wind tunnel validation of its AS2 supersonic business jet.
GA FOCUS - Mahindra halts Airvan 8 production and puts GippsAero up for sale, a Pipistrel Alpha Electro completes the world’s first solar powered flight in a production electric aircraft, and the UK’s Light Aircraft Association (LAA) plans to mark its 75th anniversary with a ten-day tour in May.
RUSSIAN REVIEW - Our Russia correspondent, Piotr Butowski, explains the country’s helicopter deployment to the ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Elsewhere, the Russian United Aircraft Corporation announces the modernised Tu-160M strategic bomber has completed its first flight with new engines.
COUNTING ON A COMMERCIAL COMEBACK - Twelve months ago, AIR International’s aviation experts presented “considered observations about the key issues facing the industry” for 2020. Then COVID-19 struck and all conjecture was consigned to history. Mark Broadbent highlights encouraging aerospace developments as the industry looks to better times.
THE DAY THE HARRIER DIED: TEN YEARS ON - Ten years ago, on a typically cold winter’s day, the UK military’s majestic BAE Harrier jump-jet was finally killed off. Alan Warnes takes an up-close-and-personal look at the decision that ended the iconic fighter’s career.
KNIGHTS OVER CROATIA - With the third decade of the 21 st century upon us, Croatia is still flying the Soviet MiG-21, the delta-winged icon of the Cold War era. Vladimir Trendafilovski assesses the itinerary of the Croatian Air Force’s robust MiG-21 fleet.
MC-21 COMES OF AGE - International trade sanctions imposed by the West have prompted Russia to further develop its own civilian aircraft. Piotr Butowski assesses the facts and fantasy around the Irkut MC-21.
BRANDENBURG FINALLY TAKES FLIGHT - After almost a decade of delays and disasters, and billions over budget, Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt is open for paying passengers. AIR International considers the technology and operations behind the ill-fated project.
CONCEPT INSIGHT - Slovenia-based light aircraft manufacturer, Pipistrel, unveils its Nuuva series of autonomous electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) unmanned aerial vehicles, with the aim of revolutionising future aerial cargo delivery missions.
SNAP DECISIONS - Germany demonstrated its combat readiness capabilities at Norvenich Air Base in 2020 with a large-scale SNAP exercise (Significance of National Air Power). Babak Taghvaee was present to see how the nation’s military aviation services responded.
FRESH LIGHTNINGS AT FORT WORTH - Matt Ellis visits Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, a vast military complex located in Texas, that serves as a prime location for photographing Lockheed Martin’s spanking new F-35 Lightning II fighters.
NEW TIME FOR NEO - Airbus did far more than re-engine the A330 when it created the new engine option - neo - A330-800 and A330-900. With the latter well established and the former only just delivered, Paul Eden assesses the neo’s place in a transformed market.
LIFE IN THE JUMBO YET COVER STORY - Once the supreme widebody airliner, the emblematic Boeing 747 seemed an endangered type as its retirement was hastened recently but hundreds are continuing to ply the skies. Mark Broadbent examines why.
THE HERO OF AERO - During his short tenure as CEO of Prague-based Aero Vodochody, Dieter John achieved some remarkable results. In this candid and revealing interview, Alan Warnes learns how John re-energised the company, and discovers the secrets of his success.
TACKLING A DEADLY THREAT - The challenge of bird strikes is almost as old as powered flight itself, but while technology and management measures intended to reduce these incidents have made great progress, there are still thousands of occurrences reported each year, as Tom Batchelor explains.
THE GREAT AMERICAN BONEYARD - Photographer Matt Ellis flies over the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, Arizona - a retirement home for over 4,000 planes, and one of the largest aircraft boneyards in the world.
FRANCE IN MIDDLE EAST - The Dassault Rafale has proved itself in many theatres, but lately its focus has been combatting terrorism in the Middle East. Jean Frangois Auran details how the French Air and Space Force operates the Rafales in the turbulent region.