Flight Image of the Day

Boom time on planet Honda

2009-11-07T11:55:06Z

Michimasa Fujino's peers could be excused for wondering what planet he lives on. While the chief executives of most business jet makers have watched the economic world crash around their ears, Fujino has been busy doubling his workforce to 420 over the past year. Many of those hired by his HondaJet operation have been cut loose by established rivals. Read more...

(HondaJet)

FAA to mirror EASA S92 emergency directive

2009-11-06T10:23:46Z

The US Federal Aviation Administration plans issue an airworthiness directive calling on Sikorsky S-92 operators to repetitively inspect the helicopter's main gearbox mounting feet for cracks, defects that could lead to gearbox detachment and loss of control of the helicopter. More...

JAXA aims for 2014 suborbital demonstrator

2009-11-05T08:37:20Z

(Flightglobal)

Pakistan's first Saab 2000 AEW aircraft enters final testing

2009-11-04T06:11:37Z

Pakistan's first of five Saab 2000-based airborne early warning and control aircraft has entered final system testing in Sweden, with the work having already demonstrated the capabilities of its integrated self-protection equipment.

Islamabad became the launch - and so far only - military customer for a Saab 2000 derivative when it signed a deal for the Saab Microwave Systems Erieye radar-equipped type in June 2006. Its first example made its flight debut from Saab's Linköping site in mid-2008. Read more...

(Peter Liander/Saab)

Flight International Cover 3-9 November: World Airliners Part Two

2009-11-03T07:40:21Z

From the resurrected Twin Otter to Mitsubishi's MRJ, part two of Flight International's restyled annual appraisal of airliner programmes scrutinises major developments in the regional sector. Leading data for each type is provided in tabular form with information on prices, performance, and orders/deliveries to 30 September.

Regional jets: Regional revolution
STOL twin-props: Turning back time
New generation turboprops: Plans for the future
Russian/Chinese regional types: Slow burners
Small regional types: Niche benefits
Cargo conversions: Finding a new role

Image of the Week: AgustaWestland Merlin

2009-11-02T11:16:13Z

This week's Image of the Week (featured on page 3 of Flight International), is taken by AirSpace user Mike Rivett, known as Photomotion (his website is http://www.fotomotion.org). The image is of an AgustaWestland Merlin at RIAT to mark the 100th anniversary of naval aviation.

Start a gallery on AirSpace for your chance at having your photograph featured as our Image of the Week.

United Airlines Ends 737 Services

2009-11-01T08:50:35Z

An era ended at United Airlines on 28 October as the carrier operated its last Boeing 737 passenger flight, more than 40 years after introducing the twinjet.

Flight 737, operated by 737-300 N331UA, took off from Washington Dulles and made what amounted to a farewell tour with stops at all the carrier's hubs - Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles, with the final touchdown at its San Francisco maintenance base. (Pictured) Read more...

(United Airlines)

Narrow margins: Airbus and Boeing face pressure with the A320 and 737

2009-10-31T10:17:33Z

Although pressure has been mounting on Airbus and Boeing to move forward with their plans for single-aisle replacement designs, the rivals have been more concerned with developing their current programmes.

Airbus continues to make incremental improvements to the A320 family, addressing weight reductions and operating weight increases amid ongoing studies of a winglet programme. Read more...

Airbus is evaluating a re-engined A320, which could like something like this:

(Tim Bicheno-Brown/Flightglobal)

Read more about part one of our annual report of the world's airliners here.

Lockheed foresees long, rich futures for C-130J, F-16

2009-10-30T12:10:31Z

Lockheed Martin has updated plans for rapidly escalating C-130J Hercules production output, while F-16 deliveries are set to contract for two years before possibly doubling again after 2012.

Chief financial officer Bruce Tanner, discussing third-quarter earnings on 20 October, revealed that C-130J deliveries will grow from 12 aircraft in 2008 to 16 this year and 26 next year. Read more...

(USAF/Mstr Sgt Kevin Gruenwald)

Dornier Seastar revived by buoyant seaplane market

2009-10-29T11:56:53Z

Dornier Seaplane announced that it will launch production of its Seastar amphibian having exceeded the requisite order tally needed to give the 10-seat aircraft a second lease of life.

The Seastar - whose six-month demonstration tour of North America culminates here in Orlando - first flew in 1984. Three were built in Germany before production was halted in 1991 due to a lack of funding. Read more...

(Billypix)

Continental Joins Star Alliance

2009-10-28T08:36:35Z

Earlier this week Continental Airlines joined Star Alliance, becoming the group's 25th airline. Continental had an 18 month transition from its previous alliance with SkyTeam.

The impetus for Continental's move was the merger between Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines that was unveiled in April 2008. Delta and Continental have considerable overlap in the New York market and geographically close hubs in Atlanta and Houston.

Recently Continental president Jeff Smisek told ATI sister publication Airline Business that the carrier fills a very valuable spot for Star. Prior to Continental joining the alliance Star had virtually no presence in the key New York market. Read more of our interview here...

At an event celebrating Continental's ascension to Star Alliance, the carrier unveiled a Star Alliance themed livery on a 757.

(Photo Credit: Lori Ranson)

In other Star Alliance news, Continental and Asiana recently signed a codeshare agreement. Continental also signed such an agreement with ANA, and the entire group expects to launch a transatlantic JV in early 2010.

Flight International Cover 27 Oct-2 Nov: World Airliners Part One

2009-10-27T08:46:26Z

In the first installment of Flight International's restyled annual survey of the world's airliner programmes, we examine the mainline jet market by sector. Leading data for each type includes specifications, prices, performance and order/delivery information at 30 September

Single-aisles: Airbus and Boeing face pressure with the A320 and 737
In-production widebodies: Airbus A330 and Boeing 777 remain popular
Next generation widebodies: Dreams of tomorrow
Emerging narrowbodies: China and Russia take on Airbus and Boeing in the single-aisle market
Russian airliners: Russian jet airliner projects face an uncertain future
Ultra-large airliners: Gigantic problems
Cargo conversions: Hope springs eternal

You can subscribe to Flight International here or here for the digital version.

Image of the Week: Red Arrows Break Formation

2009-10-26T16:21:26Z

This week's Image of the Week (featured on page 3 of Flight International), is taken by AirSpace user Sunshine Band. The image is of three BAE System Hawks flown by the RAF's Red Arrows display team.

Start a gallery on AirSpace for your chance at having your photograph featured as our Image of the Week.

VVIP completion houses in buoyant mood

2009-10-25T11:24:26Z

One sector of the recession-hit business aviation industry is bucking the trend by declaring 2009 to be shaping up as one of the best ever.

Demand for head-of-state "VVIP" widebody airliners continues to grow unabated, and suppliers to the top end of the completions market were in buoyant mood at the show. The head-of-state market is almost completely insulated from the aircraft-financing squeeze that has had such a detrimental impact on the spending power of high net-worth individuals. Most government-backed VVIP projects were budgeted for several years ago and are proceeding as planned. Read more...

Lisa plans to expand seaplane family

2009-10-24T09:32:24Z

French start-up manufacturer Lisa Airplanes is planning to build a family of turbine-powered seaplanes based on its two-seat Akoya ultralight, as demand for a larger stablemate continues to grow from its international customer base.

The new models will include a four-seat and six-seat version, says the privately owned start-up, which has secured around 50 orders to date for the Rotax 912-powered aircraft. Read more...

(Lisa Airplanes)