The US Department of Defense has assigned a key architect of the project that became the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme to look at launching an all-new, "future vertical lift" (FVL) aircraft to enter service after 2020.
A key goal will be to reduce the danger of aircraft operating in vertical lift mode. Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2003 are said to have claimed 215 helicopters and 380 lives.
Here's a picture of a Chinook in service in Afghanistan.
As Flight's Italy Special Report is published you'll find a selection of Italian-themed aircraft images thoruhgout the week.
Today's image is of an Alenia C-27J Spartan.
Flightglobal reported in 1999 how Alenia and Lockheed Martin rolled out its first C-27J Spartan.
... and some images of Italy taking delivery of first of 12 C-27J Spartans developed by Alenia with Lockheed Martin.
PLUS this profile of the aircraft including its general arrangement, a cutaway drawing and a link to Flight's test pilot Mike Gerzanics verdict on its handling.
This picture of an F-22 Raptor has been entered to the Menace category of this year's Flight International front cover competition.
The RAF is "determined" to learn the lessons following the loss of one of its C130K transport aircraft that exploded in mid-air after enemy action started a fire in its starboard outer wing in Iraq in 2005.
The aircraft crashed following...
Image courtesy RAF
Our very own Stephen Trimble wrote a blog post on the DEW line recently about Alenia Aeronautica opening up the floor to suggestions for its Aermacchie 346 jet trainer.
Have a look at the AirSpace discussion thread and see if you can come up with anything more impressive. And if Alenia Aeronautica likes your idea, you get to have a ride in the thing.
To find out what that might be like, Peter Collins, one of Flight's test pilots, had a go in the prototype...
Picture credit - Alenia Aeronautica
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