March 2011 Archives

This week's Image of the Week (featured on page 3 of Flight International), is taken by AirSpace user Vintage Racer. His photo depicts the Blue Angels performing a flyby at February's Centennial of Naval Aviation kickoff at NAS North Island in San Diego.

AirSpace user Slider has uploaded these photos of Virgin Atlantic A330 G-VSXY conducting a training flight to East Midlands airport. The aircraft is expected to enter service next month to Orlando.

The first batch of 10 A330s ordered will not feature the carrier's premium product, Upper Class, although later deliveries will. The carrier will lease four of the A330s from lessor AerCap, and purchase the other six from Airbus. The carrier disclosed the agreement for the twin-jets in June 2009 after months of deliberation about an interim type to fill a capacity gap ahead of taking 15 Boeing 787-9s.

The British carrier is conducting a strategic review, which has attracted interest from a number of carriers, including British Airways who says it would like Virgin Atlantic's London Heathrow slots although not its brand. That won't bode well for Virgin, who is keen to retain its distinctive brand after the review.

This week's Image of the Week (featured on page 3 of Flight International), is taken by AirSpace user eclipse. His photo depicts a Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747-400 in the new colours departing London Heathrow's runway 27L around 8 August last year, around the time the aircraft entered into service in the new colours.

Boeing has released these two photos, one showing the 747-8 Intercontinental above clouds and the other of the aircraft above snow-capped mountains in Washington state. They were both taken during the aircraft's maiden sortie on Sunday 20 March. During the 4h and 26min flight, the aircraft reached an altitude of 6,096m (20,000ft) and a speed of 250kts (463km/h). Read more about the first flight...

For photos and video of the first flight and landing, go here.

Our AirSpace photographers were out and about Sunday morning in Everett to capture the Boeing 747-8I's first flight. Here are some of their photos. UPDATE: Below the photos find video from Boeing showing the aircraft's takeoff and landing. There are also pics here showing the aircraft in-flight over Washington state.

For a report on the first flight and what is next for the 747-8I and the other aircraft Boeing is looking to certify this year, read our article of the first flight and follow our correspondent Jon Ostrower for all the developments.

From Jon Ostrower:

Russian carrier Nordstar has emerged as the previously unidentified customer to have placed an order last year for four ATR 42-500s plus three options.

The carrier today took delivery of the first aircraft (below) from its order.

Nordstar says the turboprops will be fitted with special features to enable them to operate in the cold climates of Siberia and the far north of Russia. Read more...

In other ATR news, the airframer recently delivered an aircraft to Brazilian carrier Azul in a special pink livery to promote awareness of breast cancer.

This week's Image of the Week (featured on page 3 of Flight International), is taken by AirSpace user runlikehell (Mike Cleaver). His photo depicts a Vulcan at RNAS Yeoviliton Open Day 2010.

Keith says of his photo: "The Vulcan was on late in the day, and as usual the weather was somewhat variable: dark cloud with longish periods of brightness. I liked the sun catching the Vulcan airframe as it turned into do a fast flyby."

These video images of Japan's Sendai Airport clearly show the extent of flood damage to the apron, with tidal water surrounding the terminal building. Continue reading...

 

 

 

 

 

Azul Linhas Aereas took delivery of an interesting-coloured aircraft from ATR this morning in Toulouse.

Azul's pink liveried ATR72-200 aircraft will promote the fight against breast cancer, and its date of delivery (8 March) is significant in that it is also International Women¹s Day. 

The fuselage of the AZUL Linhas Aéreas ATR 72 is painted pink to symbolise the fight against breast cancer and it promotes FEMAMA, a Brazilian non-profit organization dedicated to fighting the disease. The aircraft will be seen throughout its operations in Brazil.

 ATR will donate funds to the Oncopôle to finance a breast cancer screening day.

This week's Image of the Week (featured on page 3 of Flight International), is taken by AirSpace user commercial aviation (Manuel Negrerie). His photo depicts Cathay Pacific's Boeing 777-300ER in the "Asia's World City" livery. Manuel snapped the aircraft at Taiwan's Taoyuan Airport at Taipei.

Cathay Pacific's Hong Kong base is also host to this week's Asian Aerospace show, which we're covering in full force with news, photos, videos, blogs, Tweets, and more. Check out our dedicated show site here.