All articles by Craig Hoyle – Page 13
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News
UK announces Ukrainian fighter pilot training pact
The UK Ministry of Defence has pledged to deliver future training to Ukrainian air force fighter pilots, although its commitment stops short of any transfer of combat aircraft to Kyiv.
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Interview
Bruce Dickinson’s take on flying the iconic 747 as ‘Ed Force One’
Iron Maiden frontman and ‘Ed Force One’ captain Bruce Dickinson reflects on his memories from flying Boeing’s iconic 747 on the Book of Souls tour.
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In depth
How Boeing’s ‘Incredibles’ crafted 747 as Queen of the Skies
While the 747 programme’s last delivery has closed a chapter of history for the Boeing type, it will always remain “Queen of the Skies”, according to Michael Lombardi, the company’s senior corporate historian.
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Analysis
From freighters to Air Force One: how the current 747 fleet is deployed
After a production run totalling 1,574 aircraft, Boeing’s 747 remains in widespread use around the globe, with almost one-quarter of all delivered jumbos still operational.
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Analysis
How special 747 variants have delivered in military and niche roles
Boeing’s ever-versatile 747 continues to fill a range of niche applications for military and other operators, even including its use as a satellite launch platform.
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News
Italian industry cements its role in GCAP fighter effort
Italy’s leading defence companies have signed a contract to advance the nation’s role in the UK-led Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), which seeks to deliver a new manned Tempest fighter and complementary systems for operational use from 2035.
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News
Lockheed’s first Greenville-built F-16 makes debut flight
Lockheed Martin has performed a debut flight with the first F-16 fighter built at its Greenville site in South Carolina: a two-seat, Block 70 example built for Bahrain.
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News
Qinetiq boosts fixed-wing training fleet for German military
German operator Qinetiq GmbH has announced a fleet expansion involving its acquisition of nine secondhand Pilatus PC-9Bs and a new-build pair of Diamond DA62s.
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News
2Excel to disband The Blades aerobatic display team
The UK’s 2Excel Aviation has called time on its aerobatic display team The Blades, citing factors such as global economic pressures and the reduced number of domestic air shows for creating “an unsustainable business model”.
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News
New signals intelligence role planned for Dutch Reapers
The Netherlands could acquire three signals intelligence-gathering pods for its General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted air vehicles.
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News
Airbus nears C295 maritime patrol deal with Spain
Airbus Defence & Space expects Spain to sign a contract this year to acquire C295 twin-turboprops adapted for maritime patrol duties, after the nation’s air force recently retired its last long-serving Lockheed P-3 Orion.
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News
Ukrainian interior ministry leadership killed in H225 crash
At least 16 people were killed when a Ukrainian interior ministry-operated Airbus Helicopters H225 transport crashed near Kyiv on 18 January.
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News
French air force to take 13 Rafales this year, as next order nears
The French air force should receive 13 new Dassault Rafales during 2023, with Paris also expected to this year sign a production contract for its final tranche of the multirole combat aircraft.
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News
Avionics upgrade to keep French air force CN235s flying until 2040
Paris is to fund a cockpit modernisation programme for the French air force’s Airbus Defence & Space CN235 medium transport fleet, with the activity to enable the twin-turboprops to remain in operational use until 2040.
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News
British Army units to field Elbit’s Magni-X micro air vehicle by mid-year
The UK Ministry of Defence has contracted Elbit Systems UK to equip the British Army with Magni-X micro-uncrewed aerial systems from later this year.
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News
Dassault resumes Rafale deliveries to French air force
Dassault has delivered the first new Rafale to its domestic customer since 2018, with the transfer of a B-model fighter to the French air force.
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News
Airbus readies high-flying Zephyr for 2024 service launch
Airbus will begin taking customer commitments for its Zephyr high-altitude platform station this year, with the production aircraft’s entry into service being targeted by the end of 2024.
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Analysis
Romania picks Watchkeeper X for tactical UAV need
Romania is to acquire Watchkeeper X tactical unmanned air systems for its army via Elbit Systems, under a deal worth around $410 million.
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News
New technology additions will keep A330 MRTT ahead of the competition: Airbus
Airbus Defence & Space is furthering its pursuit of new technologies for use with the A330 multi-role tanker transport, as it eyes major additional sales opportunities for the type.
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News
Brazil puts Gripen E into operational service
Saab’s new-generation Gripen E has entered frontline service with launch operator the Brazilian air force.