Germany

The US Navy on 10 October announced the initial operating capability of its Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft.

The E-2 radar, communication and command and control aircraft was first introduced in 1964 to improve the radar range of aircraft carrier strike groups at sea.

The E-2D improves upon its predecessors with a passive electronically scanned radar array, more powerful datalinks and a fourth crew member to handle mission data.

?This is not an E-2C with upgrades,? says Cmdr John Hewitt, commanding officer of VAW-120, the E-2 squadron in charge of training and transition of units from the C-model to D-model Hawkeyes. ?This a brand new platform. There are some legacy systems shared between the two platforms, but those similarities end very quickly.?

LCS 7 Detroit Side Launch

Published on 18 Oct 2014

The Lockheed Martin-led industry team launched the nation's seventh Littoral Combat Ship into the Menominee River on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014. The future LCS Detroit was formally christened prior to her launch by Mrs. Barbara Levin.

Nagoya, October 18, 2014 ?
Today Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) and Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation held a rollout ceremony for the MRJ (Mitsubishi Regional Jet), a next-generation regional jet, at the Komaki Minami Plant of MHI's Nagoya Aerospace Systems Works in Aichi Prefecture. After unveiling Japan's first jet aircraft, MHI and Mitsubishi Aircraft are now ready to proceed toward the MRJ's first flight scheduled for the April-June quarter of 2015.

The MRJ order book stands at 375 aircraft: 191 firm, 160 options and 24 purchase rights. Japan Airlines has also signed a letter of intent for 32 of the regional jets.

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., Oct. 17, 2014 ? The Boeing [NYSE: BA]-built X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) successfully de-orbited and landed today at Vandenberg Air Force Base at 9:24 a.m. PDT, concluding a 674-day experimental test mission for the U.S. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office. The X-37B was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., on Dec. 11, 2012.

?We congratulate the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office and the 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg Air Force Base on this third successful OTV mission,? said Ken Torok, Boeing director of Experimental Systems. ?With a program total of 1,367 days on orbit over three missions, these agile and powerful small space vehicles have completed more days on orbit than all 135 Space Shuttle missions combined, which total 1,334 days. The innovative X-37B combines the best of an aircraft and a spacecraft into an affordable, responsive unmanned vehicle and continues to demonstrate that reusable space vehicles are affordable options that support vital missions.?

The first OTV mission began April 22, 2010, and concluded on Dec. 3, 2010, after 224 days in orbit. The second OTV mission began March 5, 2011, and concluded on June 16, 2012, after 468 days on orbit.

The X-37B program is demonstrating a reliable, reusable unmanned space test platform for the Air Force. Its objectives include space experimentation, risk reduction and concept-of-operations development for reusable space vehicle technologies that could become key enablers for future space missions.
Greece

After 40 years the A7 Corsair retires from Hellenic Air Force arsenal. HAF was the last Air force that still used this great aircraft.

PALMDALE, Calif. ? Oct. 16, 2014 ? The U.S. Navy's second MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system (UAS) has successfully completed its first flight. Operating out of a manufacturing facility in Palmdale, a Navy and Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) flight test team conducted the 6.7-hour flight Oct. 15. The flight is a critical first step in preparing the aircraft to fly to a Navy facility in Maryland later this month.

"Our team worked incredibly hard to get the second Triton ready for first flight, which will help us plan its ferry flight to Naval Air Station Patuxent River," said Mike Mackey, Triton program director, Northrop Grumman. "We're eager to continue working with the Navy during the next phase of Triton's flight test program to speed up its availability to the warfighter."

In preparation for a safe ferry flight, the aircraft will undergo a variety of ground checks and inspections.

Northrop Grumman is the Navy's prime contractor for the Triton UAS. Specifically designed for maritime missions of up to 24 hours, Triton can fly at altitudes higher than 10 miles, allowing for coverage of 1 million square nautical miles of ocean. Its advanced suite of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sensors can detect and classify different types of ships.

The Navy's program of record calls for 68 Tritons to be fielded.

A US Air Force B1-B bomber plane flies above the Syrian town of Kobane, also known as Ain al-Arab, on October 18, 2014 as seen from the Turkish border town of Suruc. Turkey is turning a deaf ear to insistent pressure to take a more pro-active stance in the fight against Islamic State (IS) jihadists, adding to existing strains with the West under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Western diplomats have repeatedly made clear they want to see the key NATO member play a key role in the coalition against the militants, who are battling for the Syrian town Kobane just a few kilometers from Turkey. (ARIS MESSINIS/AFP/***** Images)


Gavi?o Peixoto, Brazil, October 21st, 2014 ? Today Embraer rolled out the first prototype of the KC-390 military transport from the production hangar at the industrial plant of Gavi?o Peixoto, Brazil. The event was attended by the Brazilian Minister of Defense, Celso Amorim, the Commander of the Brazilian Air Force, Lieutenant-Brigadier General Juniti Saito, and delegations and representatives from more than 30 countries. This milestone rollout will allow the Company to perform important ground tests prior to the aircraft?s first flight, planned to take place by the end of this year.

?This significant milestone of the KC-390 Program demonstrates Embraer?s ability to manage such a complex and high-technology project and to perform it on track,? said Jackson Schneider, President and CEO, Embraer Defense & Security. ?It paves the way for the beginning of the ground tests to prepare for the first flight.?

?The KC-390 will be the backbone of the FAB?s air transportation network. It will be able to operate in both the Amazon and Antarctica. The jet engines give the aircraft enormous agility in fulfilling all of its missions, faster and better,? stated Aeronautics Commander, Lieutenant-Brigadier General Juniti Saito.

Following the rollout, the aircraft will continue with initial systems evaluations leading to the first engine run, and then to the ground vibration tests and the other planned ground tests. This aircraft is the first of two prototypes that will be used in the development, ground, flight and certification test campaigns.

The KC-390 is a joint project of the Brazilian Air Force with Embraer to develop and produce a tactical military transport and aerial refueling airplane that is a significant advance in terms of technology and innovation for the Brazilian aeronautics industry. The aircraft is designed to establish new standards in its category, with a lower operating cost and the flexibility to perform a variety of missions: cargo and troop transport, troop and cargo air delivery, aerial refueling, search and rescue, and combating forest fires, among others.

On May 20th, 2014, Embraer and the Brazilian Air Force signed the series production contract for the delivery of 28 KC-390 aircraft and associated initial logistic support. Besides the order by the Brazilian Air Force, there are currently intentions to purchase for additional 32 aircraft from other countries.

This years Hornets Ball
LINK- http://vimeo.com/109662377
Crank the speakers & put in full screen.

Very cool vid Alan

Thanks Detlef.
Moscow October 15. Today the Sukhoi Company handed over a new batch of Su-34 frontline bombers to the Ministry of Defense. The transfer ceremony took place at the airport of the Sukhoi Company?s branch ? Novosibirsk aviation plant. At the present time the aircraft plant operates at full capacity. The State contract with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation for supplies of the Su-34s to the Air Force up to the year 2020 guarantees a stable work loads of the Sukhoi Company for the coming years and identifies long-term development prospects. Currently, Su-34s have been used successfully in the military and demonstrate high performance.

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. Those are the largest orders for combat aircraft under the State Armaments Program for the years 2011 ? 2020.

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, a payload of up to 8 tons. The Su-34 has a new weapon system and an air refueling system.

MARIETTA, Ga., Oct. 23, 2014 ? Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] delivered another C-130J Super Hercules to the 61st Airlift Squadron at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, today.

Little Rock AFB?s new C-130J was ferried from the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics facility here by Maj. Gen. Michael Stough, director of Strategic Plans, Requirements and Programs, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Stough, who is a command pilot, is responsible for force structure planning, programming, doctrine and requirements for the nation's airlift and air refueling force.

The 61st, which has operated C-130s since 1956, is part of Air Mobility Command's 19th Airlift Wing.

Lockheed Martin photo by Damien Guarnieri.
POINT MUGU, Calif. ? Oct. 23, 2014 ?Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) successfully completed precision sloped landing tests Aug. 27 with the MQ-8C Fire Scout at Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, in preparation for at-sea testing.


Halifax found at 180m in Trondhjemsfjorden, Norway
LINK - http://nrk.no/trondelag/fant-sjeldent-bombefly-fra-2.verdenskrig-1.12001529
MESA, Ariz.-- The pilot of a rare airplane was forced to make an emergency belly landing on Thursday.
LINK - http://www.azfamily.com/news/Pilot-of-rare-plane-forced-to-make-belly-landing-280269662.html
What a great landing.I bet he flies IL-2 !!

RIDLEY PARK, Pa., Oct. 27, 2014 ? Boeing [NYSE: BA] this month delivered to the U.S. Army, 75 days ahead of schedule, the 300th CH-47F Chinook helicopter.

?This marks another benchmark for the CH-47F program,? said Lt. Col. Michael Hauenstein, the Army?s CH-47F product manager, Office of the Project Manager, Cargo Helicopters. ?More importantly, we have met this benchmark ahead of schedule, within cost, and produced an aircraft that performs as required worldwide. We wouldn't have been able to achieve this if it wasn't for the partnership of the entire Chinook community.?

The CH-47F has a modernized airframe, Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) cockpit that improves crew situational awareness and the Digital Automatic Flight Control System (DAFCS), which offers enhanced flight-control capabilities for the multitude of conditions in which the helicopter is used.

?The Chinook provides a lifeline to soldiers,? said Steve Parker, Boeing vice president, Cargo Helicopters & H-47 program manager. ?There are soldiers alive today because of the dedication of this team.?

Since the completion of the first CH-47F Chinook in 2006, 18 U.S. Army and National Guard units have been trained and equipped with the aircraft.

NORFOLK, Va. ? Oct. 27, 2014 ? The U.S. Navy has declared initial operational capability (IOC) for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft, designed, developed and manufactured by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC). It is the newest and most technologically advanced variant of the venerable E-2 Hawkeye airborne early warning command and control (AEW&C) platform.

"This significant milestone is a result of the strong partnership between the fleet, the acquisition community and our industry partner," said Capt. Drew Basden, commander, Airborne Command Control and Logistics Wing. "By achieving IOC, we can effectively deploy the E-2D for operational missions and continue our successful transition from the E-2C Hawkeye."

Developed and produced by Northrop Grumman, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is the world's only aircraft specifically designed as a carrier-based AEW&C system. The E-2D's structurally distinctive design ? which includes a rotating rotodome and four vertical stabilizer tail configuration ? provides unprecedented, 360-degree surveillance to the warfighter.

"Since the first E-2D Advanced Hawkeye delivery in 2007, every aircraft has been, and continues to be, delivered on cost and on schedule," said Capt. John S. Lemmon, program manager, E-2/C-2 Airborne Tactical Data System Program Office (PMA-231). "The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye represents a revolutionary jump in capabilities. I'm confident that the E-2D will continue to be ready, relevant and capable for decades to come and continue serving the Navy Carrier Strike Group with distinction."

29 October 2014 Press Release

The first A350 XWB for Vietnam Airlines, to be leased from AerCap, has just moved to station 30 at the Roger B?teille Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Toulouse, France. This new milestone marks the completion of some of the major airframe assembly as well as the successful first electrical power-on. In station 30, the aircraft will now undergo ground tests, while the cabin installation initiated in the previous station (station 40) will be continued.