The first production optimised F-35A JSF, vehicle AF-1, took to the air for the first time on November 13 for a 96 minute flight after a delay of about eight months. The aircraft is an instrumented test aircraft and is the first F-35A CTOL jet to be built on the Fort Worth moving production line
Pakistan has agreed to a deal with China for 36 Chengdu J-10B fighters worth up to US$1.4bn (A$1.5bn). The J-10, roughly the equivalent in performance and capabilities to late model F-16s, is entering service in large numbers in China, and Pakistan is known to have shown some interest in the aircraft for some time. The
Airbus has launched its new ‘sharklet’ wingtip device for A320 Family aircraft, which promise “at least” a 3.5 per cent fuel burn improvement over longer flights, with an order commitment from Air New Zealand. One of the 14 A320s recently ordered by Air New Zealand will be the first aircraft delivered with the ‘sharklet’ in
Boeing has completed the side-of-body modification on the first 787 and shortly expects to conduct validation testing, ahead of the delayed airliner’s first flight, which it still expects to make by the end of the year. The modification involved installing new fittings at 34 stringer points within the wing-body joint, and was completed on the
Boeing has announced that its first 747-8 Freighter was towed out of the Everett, Washington, factory on November 12 in preparation to start its flight test program. “It is very rewarding to see this airplane transition to the flight test phase,” said Mo Yahyavi, 747 program vice president and general manager. “Our employees, suppliers and
Federal Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research Senator Kim Carr helped to officially launch the new Australian Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AusAMRC) in Melbourne on November 13. The centre, which is a partnership between Swinburne University of Technology and Boeing, will improve Australia’s global competitiveness in aerospace manufacturing. It is initially being housed in
