Aviation News
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Such a pity, R.I.P Rik Mayall. Here's part 1 of an interesting doco series on the Young Ones:
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The Dornier Do 17 one year on?
LINK - http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford/whats-going-on/news/the-dornier-do-17-one-year-on/ -
Meanwhile In Bulgaria
Aircraft of the Greek Air Force participate in multinational exercise THRACIAN STAR 2014, that takes place in Bulgaria, over May 25 and June 4. The exercise, organized Romania, Bulgaria, Greece and the USA, aims mainly at increasing the level of training in a multinational environment, developing military cooperation among NATO member states. Among the goals of the exercise, there are exercising NATO techniques, tactics and procedures, the active participation in training and carrying out air missions with American, Bulgarian and Greek partners.
(photos USAF)
Meanwhile in Russia
Moscow, June 10. Today the Sukhoi Company has transferred to the Russian Air Force the first batch of serial Su-34 front-line bombers under the 2014 State Defense Order. The aircraft took off the airfield of the Novosibirsk aircraft plant and headed to the place of their deployment. The new bombers were delivered according to the 2012 State Contract for a large batch of Su-34s. The 5-year State Contract for Su-34s signed in 2008 was fulfilled last December.
The large government contracts for Su-34s were signed with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation in 2008 and 2012. Those are the largest orders for combat aircraft under the State Armaments Program for the years 2011 ? 2020. Their fulfillment guarantees a stable work load of the Sukhoi Company and its partner-companies in the long run. The Su-34 aircraft currently in service with the Air Force demonstrate high performance.
The features of the new generation frontline bomber include, in particular, an increased up to 4000 km flight range, a maximum speed of up to 1900 km/h, 8 tons payload. The Su-34 has a new weapon system and an air refueling system.
(photos Sukhoi)
Staying with Sukhoi
Moscow, June 10. Today after the regular test flight of the T-50 aircraft at the airfield of the M.M.Gromov Flight Research Institute in Zhukovsky near Moscow, while the plane was landing, a smoke above the right air intake was observed, then a local fire broke out. The fire was quickly extinguished. The plane is to be repaired. There were no injuries. The Sukhoi Design Bureau set up a commission that will investigate the causes of the accident. This incident will not affect the timing of the T-50 test program.
(photo Sukhoi) -
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11 June 2014 Press Release
Wizz Air, the largest Central and Eastern European low cost - low fare airline, has taken delivery from Airbus of its 50th A320 Airbus aircraft during a special ceremony in Toulouse, France, taking the total of its A320 fleet to 52. The carrier was one of the first Eastern European Airlines to take delivery of an A320 with Sharklet fuel saving wing tip devices in April 2013. Wizz Air, an all Airbus operator, has ordered a total of 112 aircraft.
12 June 2014 Press Release
The first Airbus aircraft for Indonesia?s Lion Group has rolled out of the paint shop hangar in Toulouse, France. With the airline?s colourful livery, the aircraft will be delivered in Q3 2014 and will be operated by Lion Group?s full service unit Batik Air on its growing domestic and regional network.
The aircraft is the first from a major order placed by the Lion Group in March 2013 for a total of 234 A320 Family aircraft (109 A320neo, 65 A321neo and 60 A320ceo).
ATLANTIC OCEAN (June 7, 2014) Sailors from Air Department aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) refuel T-45 Goshawks from Training Air Wing One and Training Air Wing Two. Theodore Roosevelt is underway preparing for future deployments. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Anthony N. Hilkowski/Released)
WATERS NEAR OKINAWA (June 8, 2014) Aviation mechanics perform maintenance on an F/A-18E Super Hornet from the Royal Maces of Strike Fighter Squadron of (VFA) 27 on the flight deck of the forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). George Washington and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, provide a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interest of the U.S. and its allies. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Benjamin K. Kittleson/Released)
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Meanwhile just down the hill
Our local Lancaster gets a new temporary paint job, for its trip to the UK.
"Ropey" completed 66 missions over Europe in the Second World War.
LINK- http://www.hamiltonnews.com/news/skyfest-takes-off-this-weekend/
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Meanwhile in North Korea
These undated pictures released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on June 16, 2014 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspecting the submarine No. 748 of Korean People's Army (KPA) naval unit 167 led 7th regiment at an undisclosed location in North Korea.
The admirals of the Soviet Union declared North Korea?s prize submarine to be obsolete back in 1961, and Western experts stubbornly point out its inability to sink enemy vessels.
But Kim Jong-un, the ?Supreme Leader? of North Korea, offered navigation tips and issued stern battle orders during a proud tour of a Romeo class submarine of the People?s Navy.
Designed in the 1950s, the vessel was in production for the Soviet Union for only 48 months until being succeeded by nuclear-powered submarines 53 years ago.
Every other navy in the world then gave up on the Romeo, with its noisy and easily detectable diesel engine ? apart, that is, from North Korea?s. Today, the country has 20 Romeo class boats, comprising almost a third of its submarine fleet.
During his visit, pictures of which were released Monday, Mr. Kim mounted the vessel?s conning tower and went on a short voyage, during which the official news agency reported that the multi-talented leader ?taught? the submarine?s captain a ?good method of navigation.?
Mr. Kim also urged his commanders to think ?only? of ?battles? and ?spur combat preparations.?
Any captain of a Romeo class submarine might, however, view hostilities with trepidation.
The boats carry Yu-4 torpedoes, a Chinese-made weapon dating from the 1960s with a range of six-and-a-half kilometres. The Los Angeles Class nuclear-powered attack submarines of the U.S. Navy, meanwhile, carry Harpoon missiles that can sink a ship 240 km away.
The North Korean vessel is a ?basic? model with ?virtually no anti-submarine performance,? says IHS Jane?s Fighting Ships.
This means the Romeo might try damaging a ship ? provided it happens to be less than four miles away ? but it would be helpless against an enemy submarine trying to send it to the bottom.
At least one North Korean submarine has gone to the bottom without any help from the country?s enemies. A Romeo class boat sank in an apparent accident in 1985.
Of North Korea?s 20 submarines in this category, seven were supplied by China between 1973 and 1975 and the rest built in the country?s own shipyards between 1976 and 1995. More than three decades after the Soviet Union had stopped making the vessel ? and after it had been phased out by the navies of Syria, Algeria and China ? North Korea was still producing its own version of the Romeo.
Meanwhile in the UK
A B-2 Spirit from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., performed air refueling with a KC-135 Stratotanker from RAF Mildenhall, England June 11, 2014, over Cornwall, England. Whiteman AFB is participating in familiarization training operations while deployed to RAF Fairford. (U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Christine Griffiths/Released)
A B-52 Stratofortress deployed to RAF Fairford, England from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., performs air refueling with a KC-135 Stratotanker from RAF Mildenhall, England June 11, 2014, over the United Kingdom. The B-52 fuel tank can hold up to 312,197pounds of fuel during the refueling mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christine Griffiths/Released)
A B-52 Stratofortress deployed to RAF Fairdford, England from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., prepares to air refuel with a KC-135 Stratotanker from RAF Mildenhall, England June 11, 2014, over the United Kingdom. The B-52 fuel tank can hold up to 312,197pounds of fuel during the refueling mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christine Griffiths/Released)
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