Fort Worth, Texas, April 6, 2014 ? The Sultanate of Oman accepted the first of its second order of Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-16 Fighting Falcons in a ceremony April 3 at Lockheed Martin?s Fort Worth facility. The fighter aircraft will ferry to Oman later this year.

In 2002, the Sultanate of Oman became the 23rd member of the F-16 family and now joins the 15 other countries which have ordered additional F-16 jets for their air defense. The new F-16s will add to the Oman Air Force?s existing fleet of F-16s used to defend Oman?s borders.

?Our partnership with Oman is a proud one,? said Orlando Carvalho, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. ?Working together, we are not only producing new F-16s, but also upgrading their existing F-16 fleet to provide the Royal Air Force of Oman with a common advanced F-16 capability configuration.?

(Lockheed Martin photo by Elizabeth L. Kaszynski.)

8 April 2014 Press Release

Skymark Airlines? first A380 has successfully made its maiden flight, following completion of the airframe assembly and system tests in Toulouse, France. The carrier?s A380 will be entering the next phase of production, covering cabin installation and painting at Hamburg, Germany.

Skymark Airlines will become the first A380 operator in Japan when it takes delivery of its first aircraft later this year. The airline has six A380s on order. Skymark Airlines will deploy their A380s on international trunk routes, in particular linking Narita to destinations in the US, offering its passengers the unique experience of space and comfort when flying the A380.

A JASSM-ER missile is released from B-1 bomber. Eglin AFB's Joint Air-to-Surface Missile program office recently reached a milestone with the first delivery of the newest JASSM variant. (USAF Courtesy Photo)

On April 4, 2014, the Israeli Air Force?s first C-130J Super Hercules aircraft left the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics facility where it was built in Marietta, Ga., for Nevatim Air Base, Israel. This Super Hercules was welcomed to its new home on April 9, 2014, in Israel with an official welcome ceremony at the air base.


Photo by Todd R. McQueen.

One of the last four F-22 Raptors from the 7th Fighter Squadron prepares to depart for Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., April 8. Holloman bids farewell to the F-22 Raptors as the 7th Fighter Squadron transitions its mission to Tyndall to continue training for air superiority. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Aaron Montoya / Released)

In Australia

PERTH, Australia (April 8, 2014) Three P-8A Poseidon aircraft from Patrol Squadron (VP) 16, are ready at Perth Airport to conduct search missions in support of the international effort to locate Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. VP-16 is deployed in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Keith DeVinney/Released)
In the UK


10 April 2014 Press Release

The new Airbus A350 XWB has made its first ever landing on British soil, visiting Cotswold Airport in Gloucestershire as part of routine certification tests.

The aircraft, MSN3, was flown by London-born experimental test pilot, Frank Chapman, and is one of the four A350 test aircraft currently flying and undergoing rigorous testing in preparation for the A350?s certification and entry into service later this year. In total the A350 XWB flight test campaign will accumulate around 2,500 flight hours with the fleet of five aircraft.
Southern California

PACIFIC OCEAN (April 8, 2014) A T-45C Goshawk from Training Wing (TW) 1 practices a touch-and-go landing on the flight deck aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Carl Vinson is underway off the coast of Southern California conducting unit-level training. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Scott Fenaroli/Released)

An Edwards B-1B Lancer takes off Runway 22L on April 1 to begin testing its new Sustainment Block 16A (SB 16A) software upgrades. The SB 16A software will work in conjunction with the long-range bomber?s new glass cockpit configuration in order to ensure its capabilities in a fast-paced integrated battlefield of the future. (U.S. Air Force photo by Ethan Wagner)

An interior view of the B-1B Lancer cockpit. The 419th Flight Test Squadron began testing Sustainment Block 16A (SB 16A) software upgrades at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on April 1, to work in conjunction with the long-range bomber?s new glass cockpit configuration. (U.S. Air Force B-1 System Program Office courtesy photo)

An interior view of the B-1B Lancer back station. The 419th Flight Test Squadron began testing Sustainment Block 16A (SB 16A) software upgrades at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on April 1, to work in conjunction with the long-range bomber?s new glass cockpit configuration. (U.S. Air Force photo by Chad Bellay)

Meanwhile in China
10 April 2014 Press Release

Qingdao Airlines, a Chinese start-up airline, has taken delivery of the company?s first ever aircraft, an Airbus A320 aircraft equipped with Sharklets, on lease from Hong Kong-based China Aircraft Leasing Company (CALC). The airline will become a new operator of the world?s best-selling single-aisle aircraft and make its first commercial flight from its home base of Qingdao in Eastern China to Chengdu, capital city of Sichuan Province in Southwestern China, later in April.

The A320, powered by CFM56 engines, features a comfort two-class cabin with eight business and 144 economy class seats.

Lhasa based Tibet Airlines from the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China has taken delivery of its first A319 with Sharklets. The aircraft which was handed over at the Airbus Tianjin Delivery Centre (ATDC) joins Tibet Airlines? existing fleet of eight existing A319s. The aircraft is the 165th assembled at Airbus?Tianjin Final Assembly Line (FALC).

The aircraft is powered by CFM56-5B engines and features a comfortable two class cabin, seating 128 passengers with eight in business class and 120 in economy.

In France really awesome

Apr 13, 2014
USS San Diego, USPACOM, At Sea - An AH-1Z Cobra from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 (Reinforced), 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, flies over the USS San Diego as part of Amphibious Squadron Marine Expeditionary Unit Integration Training (PMINT) off the coast of San Diego, April 11, 2014. PMINT is the first at-sea event in the 11th MEU's predeployment training program during which the unit will conduct sea-based training operations alongside the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Jimmy H. Bention, Jr./RELEASED)