F-35C aircraft CF-3 makes a fly-in arrestment landing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland.

Lockheed Martin photo by Dane Wiedmann.

Edwards Airforce Base, Calif. and NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, Md, May 29, 2014 ? In three separate flight tests on May 27, Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35 Lightning II aircraft demonstrated air-to-air combat capability, completed the first flight test with the next level software load and accomplished a landing at the maximum test speed and drop rate.

In the Point Mugu Sea Test Range airspace off the Central California coast, an F-35B demonstrated the jet?s air-to-air combat capability when it sequentially engaged two aerial targets with two AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) during a Weapon Delivery Accuracy mission.

Test pilot Lt. Col. Andrew ?Growler? Allen tracked two maneuvering drone targets, making the very first dual AMRAAM shot from any F-35 variant, and the first live AMRAAM shot from the F-35B Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant.

?The U.S. Marine Corps, which operates F-35Bs, will be the first military service branch to attain combat-ready Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in 2015,? said J.D. McFarlan, Lockheed Martin's vice president for F-35 Test & Verification. ?This Weapon Delivery Accuracy test highlighted the air combat capability that will give Marine aviators a decisive combat edge in contested airspace.?

The F-35?s internally-carried AIM-120 AMRAAMs are a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile capable of all-weather day-and-night operations and considered a ?fire-and-forget? missile using active target radar guidance.

Flying from Edwards Air Force Base, an F-35A flew a 1.9 hour mission with the first-ever load of Block 3i hardware and software. Block 3i is the next level of capability and is planned to support U.S. Air Force F-35A IOC in 2016.

The F-35C, designed for aircraft carrier operations, completed a landing at its maximum sink speed to test the aircraft?s landing gear, airframe and arrestment system at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. ?Five sorties were conducted, building up the maximum sink rate test condition of 21.4 feet per second, which represents the maximum sink speed planned for this test,? McFarlan said. During the tests, the F-35C did three arrestments, several touch and goes and one bolter. The landings were to demonstrate structural readiness for arrested landings on an aircraft carrier at sea.

Fleet-wide, the F-35 has, to date, amassed more than 17,000 flight hours, with all three variant aircraft at the F-35 Integrated Training Center at Eglin AFB, Florida, surpassing the 5,000 sorties milestone this week.

Duxford today
The Blenheim was rolled out in public for the first time as a complete aircraft, fully painted as a night-fighter and with both Bristol Mercury engines now installed, on 30 May. This came on the heels of the aircraft?s first engine run the week prior. We now await the aircraft?s first flight ahead of what will hopefully be a very busy airshow season for ARCo. Once it returns to the skies, the Blenheim will be the world?s only airworthy example of this beautiful aircraft.

FROM HERE - http://www.globalaviationresource.com/v2/2014/05/31/aviation-news-bristol-blenheim-mk-i-l6739-g-bpiv-unveiled/
(Photo copyright David Whitworth)

That'd be cool to see in the metal, the Blenheim is up there with the Lancaster, Hudson and Griffon powered Spitfire on my wish list of aircraft to see.

1 June 2014 Press Release

Following Air New Zealand?s 2009 order for A320 Family aircraft, the airline has selected the added efficiency and performance of the NEO with an order for three A321neo, 10 A320neo and one additional A320ceo aircraft. The agreement marks the first time Air New Zealand has ordered the larger A321 aircraft and the NEO. Engine selection and cabin configuration will be made at a later date.

2 June 2014 Press Release

Delta will grow its A320 Family with an order for 15 A321ceo (current engine option) aircraft to offset jet retirements. The airline has selected CFM56-5B engines from CFM International to power the newly ordered A321ceo aircraft, which are scheduled for delivery starting in 2018. CFM International is a 50/50 joint company between Snecma (Safran) and GE.

Delta currently operates a large fleet of Airbus aircraft, including 126 A320 Family aircraft and 32 A330s. The order announced today brings Delta?s backlog to 45 single-aisle Airbus A321 and 10 widebody Airbus A330 aircraft.

ROKAF Receives Additional C-130J Super Hercules Aircraft
MARIETTA, Ga., May 30, 2014 ? Two additional C-130J Super Hercules aircraft operated by the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) ferried from the Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] facility here today.

These C-130Js will join the ROKAF?s other two Super Hercules aircraft, which were delivered in March. ROKAF aircrews also currently operate a fleet of C-130H legacy aircraft.

The ROKAF?s new Super Hercules is the longer fuselage or ?stretched? combat delivery variant. Lockheed Martin is also contracted to provide a two-year support program, including C-130J aircrew and maintenance training. South Korea is the 14th country to fly the proven C-130J.

Photo by John Rossino.

Naha, Japan, May 30, 2014 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Japan Transocean Air (JTA) finalized an agreement today for 12 Next-Generation 737-800 airplanes. The arrival of the new 737-800s in 2016 will mark the start of the airline's fleet renewal program. Pictured here are three 737-800s in the airline's livery.


PACIFIC OCEAN (June 2, 2014) An F/A-18E Super Hornet from the "Royal Maces" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 27 makes an arrested landing aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73).(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Matthew Riggs/Released)

Sunnyvale, Calif., June 4, 2014 ? The U.S. Navy?s Trident II D5 Fleet Ballistic Missile, built by Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT], has achieved 150 successful test flights, setting a new reliability record for large ballistic missiles. The Navy launched two unarmed missiles June 2 in the Atlantic Ocean from a submerged Ohio-class submarine, marking the 149th and 150th successful test flights of the missile since design completion in 1989.

The test flights were part of a demonstration and shakedown operation, which the Navy uses to certify a submarine for deployment following an overhaul. The missiles were converted into test configurations with kits containing range safety devices and flight telemetry instrumentation.

The operation included the first flight of two modernized avionics subsystems that control key missile functions during flight. The subsystems were updated under the D5 Life Extension program, which incorporates current technologies into the missile?s electronics to cost-effectively prolong the service life of the reliable D5 missile design on current and next-generation submarine platforms.

?The success of this Life Extension flight is a tribute to the dedication and innovation of the entire government and industry team,? said Doug White, Fleet Ballistic Missile programs vice president, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. ?In partnership with Navy Strategic Systems Programs, we set the bar high to provide a credible, reliable and affordable sea-based strategic deterrent for the nation.?

First deployed in 1990, the D5 missile is currently aboard U.S. Navy Ohio-class and U.K. Royal Navy Vanguard-class submarines. The three-stage, solid-propellant, inertial-guided missile can travel a nominal range of 4,000 nautical miles and carries independently targeted reentry bodies.

Photo: U.S. Navy

AMSTERDAM, June 5, 2014 ? Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Arke today celebrated the arrival of the airline?s first 787-8 Dreamliner at the Dutch carrier?s base at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. The airplane departed Paine Field in Everett, Wash. on Wednesday on its delivery flight to the Netherlands. Pictured here is the airplane on a previous test flight.

Duxfords Operation Neptune Tribute

Meanwhile here in Canada - The "Tiffie" made it
LINK - http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/whats-going-on/news/d-day-commemoration-canada-aviation-and-space-mu/

A B-52 Stratofortress from Air Force Global Strike Command lands at Royal Air Force Base Fairford, United Kingdom, June 7, 2014. Seventy years ago, Eighth Air Force supported a planned Allied invasion at Normandy with strategic heavy bombers and fighters during D-Day on June 6, 1944. The B-52 flew over Normandy to honor those Service members who fought and gave the ultimate sacrifice that day. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson/Released)

A B-52 Stratofortress from Air Force Global Strike Command lands at Royal Air Force Base Fairford, United Kingdom, June 7, 2014. Seventy years ago, Eighth Air Force supported a planned Allied invasion at Normandy with strategic heavy bombers and fighters during D-Day on June 6, 1944. The B-52 flew over Normandy to honor those Service members who fought and gave the ultimate sacrifice that day. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson/Released)

B-52 Stratofortress crewmembers from the 96th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., perform pre-flight checks before taking off at Royal Air Force Base Fairford, United Kingdom, June 7, 2014. The B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions. The bomber is capable of flying at high subsonic speeds at altitudes up to 50,000 feet. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson/Released)

The ?Spirit of Indiana,? a B-2 Spirit from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, prepares to land on the runway at RAF Fairford, England, June 8, 2014. The B-2 Spirit is a multi-role bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson/Released)

R.I.P. Rick
The world lost a huge talent today.
I am very saddened by this.