MELBOURNE, Australia ? Feb. 22, 2015 ? A Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system (UAS) landed Feb. 21 at the Avalon Airport in Australia for display at the Australian International Air Show. The system's ability to conduct high-altitude surveillance missions for greater than 30 hours is ideally suited for the vast Asia-Pacific region.

"This is the first time that a Global Hawk has flown into an international air show," said Ian Irving, chief executive for Northrop Grumman Australia. "This really speaks to the maturity and reliability of the system. As the Royal Australian Air Force seeks to procure the MQ-4C Triton UAS, a variant based on Global Hawk, they will be able to use the system's capabilities to transform the way they conduct maritime surveillance missions."

Last year, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced the defence force's intent to purchase the Triton UAS for high-altitude, long-endurance surveillance missions to augment the country's current P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.

16 February 2015.
A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress is towed from a maintenance area at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. The aircraft, tail number 61-1007 and known as the "Ghost Rider,? is being regenerated for active service after sitting in storage since 2008 when it was decommissioned and sent the Boneyard. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Greg Steele/Released)

LINK - http://www.janes.com/article/49027/usaf-to-return-mothballed-b-52-bomber-to-active-service

Master Sgt. Wendy Minar, 53rd Communication Systems Squadron, checks out the pilot seat of a B-1B Lancer during a tour of the aircraft Feb. 19 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The 53rd Wing bomber from Dyess AFB, Texas was here for a few missions and to allow wing personnel an opportunity to see one of their geographically separated aircraft up close. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

An Airman sits in the co-pilot seat of a B-1B Lancer during a tour of the aircraft Feb. 19 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The 53rd Wing bomber from Dyess AFB, Texas was here for a few missions and to allow wing personnel an opportunity to see one of their geographically separated aircraft up close. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)
This F-16 Viper Managed To Fly Back To Base Missing Half A Wing

LINK - http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/this-f-16-viper-managed-to-fly-back-to-base-missing-hal-1687086936

Iran Optimizing F14 Fighter Jets for New Missions
LINK - http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13931203001381
Flying Heritage Collection

For the first time in well over half a century, a German Junkers Jumo 004 jet engine has been brought back to life! At 2:45 Pacific Standard Time, restorers at Aero Turbine conducted the initial tests on the first of two turbojet engines slated to power the Flying Heritage Collection?s restored Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter. ?The tests today went well,? said restorers. ?We were able to gather a lot of valuable information that will help with further Jumo engine runs.?

The original WWII-era Jumo 004 was painstakingly re-engineered using sophisticated metal alloy components and modern production techniques in order to overcome the problems encountered with the notoriously troublesome power plants during the war. After many more months of work, the Flying Heritage Collection will finally take the world?s only WWII-era, flyable Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter back into the skies!

LINK - https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152841379843666

A 48th Fighter Wing F-15E Strike Eagle takes off from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Feb. 24, 2015. The Liberty Wing?s forward presence and ready forces execute missions now in support of regional and global operations. (U.S. Air Force photo's by Airman 1st Class Trevor T. McBride/Released)

Fake US aircraft carrier the target in latest Iranian drills
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) ? With rockets roaring and guns blazing, more than a dozen swarming Iranian speedboats assaulted a replica of a U.S. aircraft carrier Wednesday during large-scale naval drills near the strategically vital entrance of the Persian Gulf.

"American aircraft carriers are very big ammunition depots housing a lot of missiles, rockets, torpedoes and everything else," the Guard's navy chief, Adm. Ali Fadavi, said on state television. A direct hit by a missile could set off a large secondary explosion, he added.

Fadavi last month boasted that his force is capable of sinking American aircraft carriers in the event of war. He previously called carriers easy targets and said Iran naturally wants to sink them.

The drill, named "Great Prophet 9," was held near the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world's oil passes. Iran's regular army carried out naval drills near the strait in December.
I bet the US NAVY will be a lot more careful in the Gulf --- NOT lol


In these pictures released by the semi-official Iranian Fars news agency on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015, Revolutionary Guard speedboats assault a replica of a U.S. aircraft carrier during large-scale naval drills near the entrance of the Persian Gulf, Iran. (AP Photo/Fars News Agency, Hamed Jafarnejad)

Shooting is easy when the target doesn't shoot back.

Shooting is easy when the target doesn't shoot back.

Jarink

And not moving

Both the wingless F-16 and Jumo 004 articles are interesting and I can't wait to see that 262 flying... even if it is only in YouTube vids

PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 23, 2015) An MH-53 Sea Stallion takes off from the flight deck of amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). America is conducting training maritime operations off the coast of California. The ship is the first of its class and is optimized for Marine Corps aviation. (U.S. Navy photo by Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) Airman John Kelvin Chavez/Released)

EL CENTRO, Calif. (Feb. 21, 2015) U.S. Navy flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels are conducting winter training where pilots must complete 120 practice flights before kicking off the 2015 air show season. (U.S. Navy photos by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Andrea Perez/Released)


Rafale fighter jets sit on the deck of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, which is operating in the Gulf, at sunset on February 24, 2015 (AFP Photo/Patrick Baz)

Privateer Airborne

LINK- http://www.warbirdsnews.com/warbirds-news/privateer-airborne.html
LINK- http://www.gosshawkunlimited.com/

WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 26, 2015 ? Boeing [NYSE: BA] was named ?Eco-Company of the Year? by Air Transport World (ATW) today at the trade publication?s 41st Annual Industry Achievement Awards.

Pictured here, the Boeing ecoDemonstrator 787 flight test airplane in Seattle. In 2014, the ecoDemonstrator 787 tested more than 25 technologies to improve aviation?s environmental performance.

26 February 2015 Press Release

The A350 MSN2, one of Airbus? five A350 XWB test aircraft, has landed today at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport for the first time ever. The aircraft will continue its journey from Paris to Munich this evening, with media guests on board travelling to the Airbus Group Annual Results conference taking place on the 27th February.

An AV-8B Harrier with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepares to take-off aboard the USS Essex (LHD 2) during Amphibious Squadron/Marine Expeditionary Unit Integration Training (PMINT) off the coast of San Diego Feb. 24, 2015. The training prepares pilots and flight crew members for similar operations they may encounter while deployed this spring.

RIP Leonard Nimoy

27 February 2015 Press Release

The A350 MSN2, one of Airbus? five A350 XWB test aircraft, landed on Thursday evening at Munich International airport for the first time. Munich is one of the biggest Lufthansa and Star Alliance hubs worldwide. Lufthansa has 25 Airbus A350 XWB on order. The flight on Thursday landed with 90 international journalists on board who attended the Airbus Group Annual Results Press conference on Friday in Munich.

Heritage Flight Training and Certification course.
Davis-Monthan AFB.
2-24-15.
(Photo's by: Ned Harris)



Second RAF A400M Touches Down at RAF Brize Norton