Russia

Moscow, August 5. The Sukhoi Company transferred a batch of multipurpose Su-30M2 fighters to the Russian Air Force in the framework of the 2014 State Defense Order. The Russian Air Force Commission checked the technical documentation on the combat aircraft at the airport of Sukhoi?s subsidiary ? Komsomolsk-on-Amur aircraft plant (KnAAZ). The military pilots tested fighters on the ground and in the air. Afterwards the new aircraft flew to the place of their deployment. This year the Air Force will receive a few more Su-30M2.

Su-30M2 is designed to gain air superiority by destruction of manned and unmanned aircraft with medium- and short-range air-to-air guided missiles, engaging surface and ground targets with all kinds of weapons, primarily precision ones, while acting individually or in a group in any weather conditions. The aircraft can be used for aircrew piloting technique training and for the use of air weapons. Having a second crew member reduces the load on the pilot in a combat mission with long-range guided weapons, during night operations, as well as during long-haul flights with mid-air refueling.

The Su-30M2 main features include a modified weapon control system with advanced capabilities to destroy ground and sea targets; a new cockpit display system with multifunctional color liquid crystal displays; improved navigation and radio communication systems; a modern onboard defense system; a wide range of ?air-to-air? and ?air-to-surface? weapons hosted on 12 hardpoints; an in-flight refueling system; a strengthened airframe and landing gear, ensuring aircraft operation with full fuel tanks and maximum combat load at take-off weight up to 38 tons. The Su-30M2 weapon control system provides for detection, tracking and destruction of air, ground and sea targets with aircraft weapons in all weather conditions, day and night.

Seville
The UK?s first Airbus A400M tactical transport remains on track for a September delivery, with the Royal Air Force?s lead ?Atlas? having performed its first low-speed taxi trial in Seville, Spain.

Aircraft MSN15 ?was moved under its own power for the first time on 10 August?, says Airbus Defence & Space.

Northern Iraq last night

Oman
Oman has retired its last four operational Sepecat Jaguars, with the strike aircraft carrying out a disbandment flypast with 8 Sqn at its Thumrait air base on 6 August.

Muscat's retirement of the Jaguar leaves the Indian air force as sole operator of the Anglo-French type.

R.I.P. Robin.
Another amazing talent, that improved my life is lost.

Another very sad day

U.S. Navy F/A-18F Deployed Against ISIL - Catapult Launch & In Flight Cockpit View

Columbia
Today has Begun the training flights on the Colombian skies
102 USAF men and six F-16 aircraft are at the Colombian Air Force Airbase in Rionegro, Antioquia, part of the "Lightning" Exercise which is carried out with a Kfir squadron of the Colombian Air Force until August 20, 2014.
This training is a continuation of the meeting held at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada in 2012, between the Colombian and American crews in the exercise called "Red Flag".
"Lightning" aims to strengthen the training and provide a forum for the exchange of experiences and achieve optimal levels of interoperability with different countries, where the development of combined operations required.
This activity is a demonstration of the important place which today has the Colombian Air Force in the international community, which has allowed him to be invited to air exercises in Brazil, Canada and the United States thanks to the skills, discipline, flight training and operational our crews.


U.S. Airmen, assigned to the 169th Fighter Wing from McEntire Joint National Guard Base of the South Carolina Air National Guard, and the 155th Airlift Squadron from the Tennessee Air National Guard, remove equipment from the rear of a C-17 Globemaster III, Aug. 9, 2014, at Rionegro, Colombia during Relampago (Lightning) 2014. Relampago is a combined air cooperation engagement with the Republic of Colombia. One hundred Airmen and six F-16s are participating in the first major joint-air training opportunity under the auspices of the South Carolina National Guard's State Partnership Program with the country of Colombia. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Jorge Intriago/Released)

U.S. Air Force F-16 Block 52s fighters, assigned to the 169th Fighter Wing from McEntire Joint National Guard Base of the South Carolina Air National Guard, taxi into Colombian Air Base General Arturo Lema Posada at Rionegro, Colombia, during Relampago (Lightning) 2014, Aug. 9, 2014. Relampago is a combined air cooperation engagement with the Republic of Colombia. One hundred Airmen and six F-16s are participating in the first major joint-air training opportunity under the auspices of the South Carolina National Guard's State Partnership Program with the country of Colombia. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Jorge Intriago/Released)

Australia - A day in the life of Taranis

First African-designed and manufactured Aircraft flies



The South African designed and developed AHRLAC (Advanced High-performance Reconnaissance Light Attack) prototype performed its first public flight earlier today in front of a group of journalists gathered at Wonderboom Airport, north of Pretoria. Developed by Paramount Group and Aerosud, the AHRLAC is the first all-new military aircraft developed in South Africa since the Rooivalk and highlights an impressive level of local expertise in design, engineering and flight qualification.
LINK - http://www.africandefence.net/paramount-groups-ahrlac-makes-first-public-flight/

And in the UK
Two Lancaster Bombers Fly Together for First Time in 50 Years

At RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire two Lancaster Bombers took to the skies today for the first formation flight of this aircraft type since the 1960s. The Lancaster ?Thumper?, which is part of the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight has been joined by the Canadian Lancaster ?Vera? from the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Ontario. The two Lancasters will visit some 60 air shows and public events across the UK over the next 5 weeks and today?s flying was in rehearsal for tomorrow?s first public engagement at the Bournemouth Air Show this weekend.



(photo's Crown Copyright)

France
14 August 2014 Press Release

The world?s newest Widebody airliner, the Airbus A350-900, has successfully completed a series of Route Proving trials, receiving an enthusiastic welcome at each of the 14 cities it has visited over the past three weeks. At the technical Route Proving the aircraft must demonstrate its readiness for airline operations on a global scale. This last series of trials is required for Type Certification, which is expected in Q3 this year.

The A350 XWB completed its Route Proving after landing in Toulouse, France on August 13th (17:00 UTC) coming from Helsinki, Finland. The exercise took the flight test aircraft, MSN 005, across the globe on an impressive 20-day trip flying over the North Pole, each ocean and stopping at 14 major international airports world-wide. During its World Tour, the aircraft flew approximately 81,700 nm /151,300 km in some 180 flight hours, with all flights performing on schedule. The aircraft was operated by Airbus flight crews as well as Qatar flight crews on the route from Doha to Perth, Moscow and Helsinki. The Airworthiness Authority pilots from the European Aviation Safety Agency also participated and flew the aircraft on two legs.

A major highlight was the trip from Johannesburg Tambo International Airport, located at 5,558 feet (1,694m) above sea level, to Sydney, demonstrating the A350?s excellent performance at high altitude airports. The flights from Johannesburg to Sydney and Auckland to Santiago de Chile demonstrated also its capability to fly ultra-long-haul routes or Extended range Twin Operations (ETOPS).

?The aircraft has performed remarkably well confirming the high level of maturity that it has been demonstrating all the way during our development and certification tests. We are set for the Type Certification in the coming weeks, as planned?, said Fernando Alonso, Senior Vice President Flight & Integration Tests, and added: ?I truly believe that the aircraft is fit to enter into service and perform to the expectations of our Customers.?

The technical Route Proving commenced on July 24th in Toulouse/France and comprised the following destinations: Frankfurt, Singapore and Hong-Kong. On the third trip, the aircraft visited Johannesburg, Sydney, followed by Auckland, Santiago de Chile and Sao Paulo. The fourth and final journey included Perth followed by Doha, Moscow and Helsinki.

At each destination, the A350 XWB performed as expected and on schedule. Checks were made on standard maintenance as well as typical airport operations and compatibility. The automatic landing capability of the A350 XWB was also successfully demonstrated during a local flight performed at Johannesburg.

Cyprus

Tornado surveillance aircraft come in to land at the British Royal Air Force Base at Akrotiri, near the southern port city of Limassol, Cyprus, on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014. British Bases spokesperson Kristian Gray says a small number of Tornado aircraft will be stationed at the base from where they will carry out missions to support thousands of people fleeing advancing Islamic militant forces in northern Iraq. An Associated Press photographer counted a total of six Tornado aircraft at the base. Gray says three C-130 transport aircraft and a Voyager refueling plane will also be using the base to assist in the relief effort. (AP Photos/Pavlos Vrionides)