RAF 100th ANNIVERSARY

84 Pages·2017·17.6 MB·English

R A F 1 0 0 S O U V E N I R I S S U E
UK £4.70 January 2018 www.aviation-news.co.uk
th
RAF 100 ANNIVERSARY
• Spitfi re Combat • Flying the Lightning, Phantom and Tornado
• Chinook: Rotary Legend • Stealth Force… and more
EXCLUSIVE
F-117
NIGHTHAWK

Squadron Boss
Recollections AMERICAN DC-10
S
Trijet Tales
FLYING THE JAVELIN

GLASGOW
AIRPORT
A Scottish
Success
QANTAS BOEING 787
S
Fulfi lling the Dream
Aviation News ad Nov 2017.qxp_PF Newsletter 28/11/17 14:45 Page 1
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
8
From the World War One Avro 504 of the Royal Flying Corps,
through The Few and the incomparable Spitfire, to the Dambusters.
The RAF centenary, 1918 to 2018, to be worn with pride.
For these and many other aviation designs visit www.philosophyfootball.com
or call 01255 552412 to order by phone.
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CONTENTS
p22
FEATURES REGULARS
18 Qantas 787s: Fulfi lling the Dream 04 Headlines
The fi rst Dreamliner for Qantas has entered service with
the type set to enable the airline to achieve a long-held 06 Military News
aspiration, as Chris Frame explains.
10 Civil News
22 Flying the F-117A Part 2: Bandit Boss p16
In this second article, Greg Feest details further 16 Preservation News
elements of his career on the F-117A Nighthawk.
28 Flight Bag
30 By Force of Arms
No.65 Sqn’s Spitfi res took part in some of the major 70 Air Base Movements
battles of World War Two, as Tom Spencer recounts.
71 Airport Movements
36 Serving the Royal Family
Charles Woodley details the different aircraft that have 74 Register Review
fl own the Royal Family around the globe for decades.
p54
42 Close Encounters
FREE BOOK!
Fast jet pilot Steve Gyles describes his eventful 25-year
career in the RAF.
CCllaaiimm yyoouurr
48 Chinook: Rotary Legend FREE CCiivviill
The Chinook is nearing four decades of service with the or Military
RAF. Peter Cooper profi les this versatile workhorse. Aircraft
Markings
52 Typhoon Specials
bbooookk wwoorrtthh
p60
A round-up of special schemes worn by RAF Typhoons.
£11.95
when you
54 Stealth Force
subscribe
Tim Ripley charts the journey of the UK’s F-35s.
to AAvviiaattiioonn
60 Glasgow Airport: A Scottish Success News.
Bernie Baldwin learns about the latest developments at
Glasgow Airport See pages 34
and 35 for details.
66 American Airlines DC-10s: Trijet Tales p78
Gerry Manning analyses the DC-10’s service with
American Airlines. Cover photos (main image): A montage of two images to mark the 100th anniversary of the RAF.
BBMF Spitfi re Mk IIa P7350, a Battle of Britain survivor, is painted in the markings of Spitfi re
78 Thai A350 Delivery
Mk 1a N3162 of 41 Sqn, coded ‘EB-G’. Darren Harbar Photography. The Typhoon FGR4 is from 1
The process involved in delivering an airliner was
Sqn. Jamie Hunter. Inset (top right): An American Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10. Gerry
witnessed by Martyn Cartledge. Manning. Inset (bottom left): The fi rst Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner for Qantas. Bernard Proctor.
Copies of Aviation News incorporating Jets can be obtained each month by placing a standing order with your newsagent. In case of diffi culty, contact our Circulation Manager. Readers in the USA may place subscriptions by visiting www.aviation-news.co.uk or by calling
toll free 800-428-3003 or fax [phone] or by writing to Aviation News incorporating Jets, 3300 Pacifi c Ave, Ste 500, Virginia Beach, VA23451-9828. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Aviation News incorporating Jets, Key Publishing Ltd C/O 3390 Rand Road,
South Plainfi eld, NJ 007080. Aviation News incorporating Jets (ISSN: 2047-7198), is published monthly by Key Publishing Ltd, PO Box 100, Stamford, Lincs, PE9 1XQ, UK and distributed in the USA by UKP Worldwide, 3390 RAND ROAD, SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ 07080.
Periodicals postage paid at RAHWAY, NJ AND AT ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES.
Printed in England by Warners (Midland) plc, Bourne, Lincolnshire. (ISSN 2047-7198). The entire contents of AVIATION NEWS INCORPORATING JETS is a copyright of Key Publishing Ltd, and can not be reproduced in any form without permission.
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Emirates has taken delivery of its 100th Celebrations in Hamburg to mark the delivery The airline’s 787s will be delivered in a
of the 100th A380 to Emirates. Airbus
A380.  Top officials from Airbus and mix of two- and three-class confi gurations,
the carrier celebrated the occasion on announce at the show on November seating between 240 and 330 passengers. 
November 3 in Hamburg. The airline has 12 that Emirates was buying 40 Boeing Engine options are being evaluated.
42 more A380s on order. 787-10 Dreamliners.  The deal, including The Dubai-based carrier cancelled an
A much-discussed announcement of associated equipment, is valued at order for the Dreamliner’s rival, the Airbus
further purchases of the type at the Dubai $15.1bn at current list prices and gives A350, in 2014, having originally committed
Airshow in November didn’t materialise. the operator the opportunity to switch to to 50 A350-900s and 20 -1000s.  It backed
However, Boeing was able to the smaller 787-9. out after conducting a review.
IAG Seals Monarch Slots Deal at Gatwick
Take-off and landing slots left vacant at Limited (ACL) could reallocate the slots. at Gatwick Airport and Wizz Air at London
London’s Gatwick Airport by the Monarch However, a week later the Court of Luton Airport, took up the rights in return
Airlines collapse are being acquired by Appeal backed the airline administrator for cash to help pay Monarch Airlines’
IAG, owner of British Airways. Monarch KPMG’s contention that Monarch Airlines creditors. Slots at Birmingham had
Airlines ceased trading with debts of was still an “air transport undertaking”, already been re-allocated, while KPMG
around £466m on October 2, 2017.  holding an “operating licence”. did not contest the return of those at
In early November the High Court The victory paved the way for KPMG Manchester to the ‘pool’ for take-up by
ruled that ACL Airport Coordination to organise a series of ‘slot swaps’. IAG existing or new carriers.
BBMF Spitfi re in New Colours
RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s
Supermarine Spitfi re LF.IXe, MK356, is back
home at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire after
an overhaul by The Spitfi re Company at
Biggin Hill.
It has also been painted in a new colour
scheme, representing 92 Sqn’s EN152 and
the code it wore, which operated in Tunisia
during April and May 1943. Flt Lt (later Sqn
Ldr) Neville Duke was among the pilots to fl y
this aircraft.
He went on to become the highest-scoring
Allied fi ghter ace of the Mediterranean
theatre, with 27 confi rmed victories.
The Spitfi re was returned to its base
on November 8 in the hands of Flt Lt
Spitfi re IX MK356 wearing its new scheme at Biggin Hill. Robin J Brooks
Andy Preece.
4 Aviation News incorporating Jets January 2018
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More Boeing 747s Retire
Boeing 747 services ended at United
Airlines on November 7. The airline
recreated the first 747 flight it operated in
1970, flying between San Francisco and
Honolulu. United put on a 1970s-inspired
menu and in-flight entertainment, while the
crew wore retro uniforms. Aircraft N118UA
operated the last flight and also a special
round trip for employees from Washington
Dulles International Airport on October
19. For the farewell this 747 received extra
United gave the Boeing 747 a suitable farewell on its final service for the carrier. Cary Liao
‘747 Friend Ship’ titles.
Another airline is taking the type operations on December 17 when flight intends to keep the type in service until
out of service. Delta Air Lines was DL154 from Seoul/Incheon touches December 31, flying sports teams and
due to end scheduled Boeing 747-400 down in Detroit. The SkyTeam carrier ad-hoc charters.
Prior to the disbandment, F-4E AUP serial
HAF 339 Mira Disbands 71744 was painted with different artwork on
each side of the tail highlighting 65 years of
operations by 339 Mira. This Phantom is due
for an overhaul and is expected to return to
operational service with 338 Mira. Paul van
den Hurk and Hans Looijmans
of the two locally based F-4E AUP Phantom
II squadrons belonging to the 117 Combat
Wing.
The standing down of the unit also
marked the expansion of its sister unit.
Personnel and aircraft of 339 Mira merged
with 338 ‘Ares’ Mira on the same day. The
unit will have about 25 operational Phantoms.
The Hellenic Air Force (HAF) has disbanded place on October 31 at Andravida air base There are currently no plans to reduce the
339 ‘Aias’ Mira. An official ceremony took in southwestern Greece. No.339 was one number of active F-4Es in service.
Massive JJJOOOBBB OOOPPPPPPOOORRRTTTUUUNNNIIITTTYYY
A320neo Order
Assistant Editor
Indigo Partners’ four portfolio airlines signed a memorandum
of understanding (MOU) on November 15 with Airbus for 430
Would you like to play a big part in the growing success story of Aviation
additional A320neo Family aircraft.  The jets will be split between
News? This could be your chance. As we gain more readers and plaudits from
the US’s Frontier Airlines, JetSMART (Chile), Volaris (Mexico) both enthusiasts and the aviation industry, we are now seeking an Assistant
and Wizz Air (Hungary) upon completion of the final purchase Editor to help us in the next stage of Aviation News’s development.
agreement. It will lead to further expansion of the carriers. The
Based at Key Publishing’s offices in Stamford, Lincolnshire, this is a full-time role.
commitment, comprising 273 A320neos and 157 A321neos, is You will assist editor Dino Carrara in the writing, compilation and editing of
valued at $49.5bn at list prices. articles on all aspects of aviation past, present and future as well as in sourcing
top quality imagery and contributors. The successful candidate should also be
Indigo Partners is a private equity fund based in Phoenix,
bursting with ideas for interesting and exciting features. It is a challenging and
Arizona, specialising in investments in air transportation. demanding role, but the rewards include the chance to travel all over the world
A breakdown of the aircraft allocations is within the civil orders to cover the best aviation stories.
table, see page 14.
You will need to be an aviation enthusiast who thinks nothing of spending a
day by the fence of an airport or air base and will have travelled in pursuit of
your interest. Ideally, you will already be an experienced journalist with an
understanding of regular production schedules within a small editorial team,
Airlander Breaks Free
though candidates without this background who can demonstrate excellent
potential may be considered.
The Airlander airship broke free from its mooring at Cardington
This is an outstanding opportunity to join Europe’s foremost specialist aviation
airfield, Bedfordshire, on November 18. The aircraft was not flying magazine publisher. Benefits include five weeks holiday per year plus a company
at the time of the incident. pension scheme.

The manufacturer, Hybrid Air Vehicles, said in a statement:
To apply please send a full CV and a covering letter explaining
“We are testing a brand new type of aircraft and incidents of this
why you think that you are the best person for the job to:
nature can occur during this phase of development. We will assess
Dino Carrara, Editor, Aviation News, PO Box 100, Stamford,
the cause of the incident and the extent of repairs needed to the
Lincolnshire, PE9 1XQ or email [email protected]
aircraft in the next few weeks.”
An automatic safety system operated, which is designed to rip
The closing date is January 8, 2018. 511/17
open the hull and deflate the aircraft if it breaks free from its mast.
Key Publishing is an Equal Opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all sections of
The previous day, the Airlander had completed its sixth test flight. the community. All applicants will be invited to interview based on merit.
www.aviation-news.co.uk 5
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A fl ight crew from Northrop Grumman and Air Test and Evaluation Squadron VX-20 conducting
The fi rst aerial refuelling between an
the fi rst aerial refuelling between a Hawkeye and a KC-130T. US Navy/Liz Wolter
E-2D and a KC-130T took place over the
Chesapeake Bay near NAS Patuxent River, refuelling capability will allow the E-2D on December 15, 2016, at the contractor’s St
Maryland, on July 14. Over the course of the to fl y missions lasting more than seven Augustine, Florida, facility. Beginning next
four-hour fl ight, the E-2D connected with the hours. Development of the capability year (2018), all new E-2Ds will be confi gured
KC-130T 12 times, including ten ‘dry plugs.’ began in 2013 and Northrop Grumman is for aerial refuelling. The fi rst operational
A total of 1,700lb (771kg) of fuel was under contract to modify three E-2Ds – two squadron capable of extended mission
transferred to the Advanced Hawkeye aircraft are already fl ying. durations is expected to be ready to deploy
during two wet contacts. The aerial The fi rst modifi ed E-2D made its fi rst fl ight in 2020.
Lightning II Landmarks
More milestones have been passed by the was en route to US where it will undergo a ferry fl ight that began at Lockheed Martin’s
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. The fi nal functional tests. production facility, adjacent to NAS Fort
fi rst of the type to be assembled in Japan, Also, in Japan, the USMC's VMFA-121’s Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas. Norway
by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries at the complement of F-35Bs was completed on has taken delivery of 10 F-35s and seven of
Komaki South Final Assembly and Check November 15 when the fi nal group of four the Lightning IIs are supporting Norwegian
Out (FACO) facility, arrived at Misawa AB, Lightning IIs arrived at MCAS Iwakuni. The training at Luke AFB, Arizona.
Japan, on November 2. arrival increased the ‘Green Knights’ primary The fi rst Italian-built F-35B conducted its
The Japan Air Self-Defense Force- aircraft inventory (PAI) to 16 F-35Bs. maiden fl ight in Cameri on October 25. The
owned Lightning II, which was fl own by a The initial three operational F-35As for the aircraft, serial number MM7451 (c/n BL-1),
US Air Force pilot assigned to the Defense Royal Norwegian Air Force arrived at Ørland was rolled out of the Cameri FACO facility
Contract Management Agency (DCMA), Main Air Station on November 3 at the end of in May. Tom Kaminski
Strike Eagle Honours 4th FW
Northrop Out of
MQ-25 Race
Northrop Grumman withdrew from the US
Navy’s MQ-25 competition on October 25.
The move surprised observers because
the contractor had extensive experience
on the project and the earlier Unmanned
Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance
and Strike (UCLASS) initiative that saw
an unmanned aircraft operate from a
US Navy aircraft carrier for the fi rst time.
The company’s decision followed its
assessment of the navy’s fi nal request
for proposal (RFP) and its decision that
responding to the request was not in the
company’s interest.
The service expects to select a
A 4th Fighter Wing F-15E Strike Eagle in a heritage paint scheme sits on the fl ightline at
Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, on November 8. Members of the 4th Equipment competition winner and release a contract
Maintenance Squadron fabrication fl ight worked for more than a month to complete the work in for full-scale development in 2018.
honour of the wing’s 75th anniversary. USAF/Airman 1st Class Miranda A Loera
6 Aviation News Incorporating Jets January 2018
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Stratofortress Final Pax River
‘Game Changer’
Prowler Retired
The USAF sent a new conventional
rotary launcher (CRL) for the B-52H to a
combat arena on November 6. This will
enable the bomber to carry a selection of
conventional smart weapons or GPS-
guided munitions internally. Master Sgt
Adam Levandowski, Air Forces Strategic
Armament Systems manager, said:
"Before these launchers, the B-52 was
not capable of carrying smart weapons
internally. Now each CRL allows for
internal carriage which adds an additional
eight smart bombs per aircraft. He stated:
"It’s a big game changer for current and
Touchdown for the last time – VX-23’s EA-6B lands at NAS Patuxent River in heavy rain at the
future warfare."
culmination of its final flight. US Navy/Liz Wolter
Plus, he added: "Now, combatant
commanders are presented with a much The VX-23 Air Test and Evaluation Squadron River Naval Air Museum in Lexington Park.
more flexible weapons selection without retired its last EA-6B Prowler airborne The EA-6B was the 56th of 170
the need to request additional air support.” electric attack aircraft at NAS Patuxent River, Prowlers produced by Grumman
Although rotary launchers are used Maryland, on August 29. Aerospace for the US Navy and Marine
on present airframes, this is the first of Known as ‘Salty Dog 536,’ the Prowler Corps. Prowlers remain operational with
its kind. had been assigned to the squadron since two Marine Corps squadrons at MCAS
2004. It is now on display at the Patuxent Cherry Point, North Carolina.
US Army AH-64Es Arrive in Europe
The US Army's 1st Air Cavalry Brigade at Illesheim Army Air Field, Germany. allowing it to return to Fort Drum, New York.
(ACB) arrived in Germany during November, Normally stationed at Fort Hood, The 1st ACB, complement of 12 CH-
marking an inaugural deployment of the Texas, the brigade will spend nine months 47Fs, 38 UH-60Ms, 15 HH-60Ms and the
AH-64E in Europe. Operated by the 1st supporting Operation Atlantic Resolve. It AH-64Es arrived in Belgium in October and
Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, the 24 formally relieved the 10th Mountain Division’s the bulk of the aircraft later flew to Illesheim
Apache Guardians will primarily be stationed combat aviation brigade on November 7, or to Katterbach Army Airfield.
C295W Delivered New Canadian
Fighter Plan
to Saudi Arabia
Competition for a future Canadian
fighter jet will begin in 2019 with plans
to award a contract by 2021 or sooner.
The Royal Canadian Air Force will
seek 88 fighters to replace its current
inventory of 76 CF-188 Hornets, which
are approaching the end of their
useful lives. Although Canada is an
international participant in the Joint
Strike Fighter programme, it has yet to
make a commitment to purchase the
A Saudi Arabian Airbus C-295W ASW variant on approach to Malta from Seville on November aircraft and the government plans an
7 for a fuel stop while on delivery to the Middle East nation’s Ministry of the Interior. Its future open competition.
serial will be MOI-C2. This was the second example (out of four ordered), following a first The Lockheed Martin F-35A,
C-295W that was delivered towards the end of 2015. Alistair Zammit Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafale,
Boeing F/A-18E/F and Saab Gripen E
are all likely to respond to the Canadian
First MQ-4Cs at Ventura
request.
As a stopgap, Canada is attempting
Two Tritons – the Northrop Grumman The aircraft will be tested before to purchase used F/A-18A/Bs from
MQ-4Cs Unmanned Air System (UAS), – deployment to Andersen AFB, Guam in 2018. Australia or Kuwait. Earlier plans to
should be stationed at Naval Base Ventura The navy plans to acquire 68 Tritons purchase 18 Super Hornets have been
County, Point Mugu, California, by the end and will initially operate the unmanned placed on hold due to an ongoing trade
of the year. They are the US Navy’s first aircraft from Naval Station Mayport, Florida tariff dispute between Boeing and
operational Tritons. and NAS Sigonella, Italy, as well as Guam. Bombardier. Tom Kaminski
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The Australian Helicopter Aircrew Training

Y System (HATS) project has received its fi nal
R
AIRBUS HELICOPTERS EC135T2+ training
A
helicopter.
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SPARTAN to New Zealand for participation
in Exercise Southern Katipo 2017 on
October 18. The milestone marked the fi rst
deployment for the battlefi eld airlifter since
it entered service.
Britain will commit four RAF TYPHOONS
to the Southern Air Policing mission
in Romania next summer. Following a
The National Nuclear Security Administration’s 737-4YO(C) N990ST at Albuquerque, New successful rotation in 2017, the fast jets
Mexico, on November 6. The aircraft, rarely spotted, has a livery similar to the one used by the will redeploy to the country to help police
US Navy for its C-40s. Originally delivered to Asiana Airlines, N990ST later saw service with the Black Sea skies.
Turkish Airlines and Adam Air. Joe G Walker
Raptors Attack Taliban
A new US offensive in Afghanistan, Small Diameter Bombs (SDBs) against the permanently deployed to the Central
which began on November 19, is being Taliban. The Raptor now has enhanced Command (CENTCOM) region in recent
supported by F-22A Raptors from the 95th air-to-ground mission capability including years and has played a regular role in pre-
Expeditionary Fighter Squadron. They are geo-location of selected emitters, electronic planned strikes in both Iraq and Syria. This
operating from Al Dhafra AB, United Arab attack, air-to-ground synthetic aperture marked the fi rst time the type has been
Emirates. radar mapping and designation of surface pressed into action in Afghanistan, amid
Following an Increment 3.1 upgrade, the targets, and the GBU-39. an increase in combat air power activity
F-22s have reportedly employed GBU-39 One Raptor squadron has been against the Taliban.
Final Coast Guard Spartan Emerges
The US Coast Guard received the service’s The Coast Guard HC-27J Asset Project Sacramento, California. A mission
14th and fi nal C-27J at Davis-Monthan Office (APO) took custody of the aircraft package to integrate sensors, radar, and
AFB, Arizona, on October 19. Tail number which had previously been assigned to the command, control, communications,
2705 had been in storage with the 309th Ohio Air National Guard’s 179th Airlift Wing. computers, intelligence, surveillance
Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration The C-27J was fl own to the Coast and reconnaissance equipment with the
Group since August 2013. Guard Aviation Training Center in Mobile, aircraft, is being developed by the Naval
Originally assigned the USAF serial Alabama. Seven Spartans are currently Air Systems Command. A prototype HC-
number 08-27014, the Spartan was the last of under the control of the APO with six 27J is undergoing ‘missionisation’ at NAS
13 C-27Js to be re-generated from storage. assigned to Coast Guard Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland.
F-16Cs Deploy
Phantom Wows
to Bagram
Centenary Airshow
Combat operations in Afghanistan are
now being supported by F-16Cs operated
by the 20th Fighter Wing’s 77th Fighter
Squadron. They deployed from Shaw
AFB, South Carolina, to Bagram Airfi eld
on October 26. The ‘Gamblers’ replaced
the 555th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron,
which returned to Aviano AB, Italy, after its
six-month deployment supporting Operation
Freedom’s Sentinel.
While deployed as the 77th Expeditionary
Fighter Squadron, the unit will be assigned
to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing/
Expeditionary Operations Group.
F-15Es assigned to the 336th
The annual airshow at the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s Flight Test Center at Gifu AB featured a
Expeditionary Fighter Squadron deployed to
display by a specially marked F-4 Phantom II. This year marked the 100th anniversary of the airfi eld
an undisclosed location in southwest Asia in – originally called Kakamigahara it began life as an army airship station – and Mitsubishi F-4EJ 87-
late-October and replaced the 492nd EFS, 8409 (c/n M109) received this spectacular green ‘pixelated’ scheme in recognition of the centenary.
which returned to RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk. Orange details represent the work of the Flight Test Center. Dr Andreas Zeitler
8 Aviation News Incorporating Jets January 2018
06-08_military_newsDC.mfDC.mfDC.mf.indd 8 04/12/2017 12:22
www.aeroprints.com
AVIATION TOURS 2018:
European Capital 16th Mar - 25th Mar
Aero 2018 [Limited seats] 13th Apr - 21st Apr
US East Coast 21st Apr - 27th Apr
Spain - Portugal [Limited seats] 13th May - 22nd May
Lisbon W/E 18th May - 20th May
UK Tour 26th May - 28th May
Canada Coast to Coast [Limited seats] 9th June - 25th June
Alaska [Limited seats] 23rd June - 2nd July
Citations Airlift 23rd June - 2nd July
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South Africa [2 seats left] 16th Sept - 26th Sept
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Antalya/Eurasia Airshow [Extns available] 27th Apr - 30th Apr
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p009_AN_Jan18_ad.indd 1 29/11/2017 10:39
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A new corporate livery, featuring a more prominent use of blue on the tail and a restyling of the titles on the fuselage, has been introduced by
Kuwaiti low-cost carrier, Jazeera Airways. Aviation Image Network/BaoLuo
World Cup Airport Worry
A new runway at Sheremetyevo International This expected infl ux prompted an winter weather. The construction company
Airport, Moscow, may not be completed expansion project, increasing terminal is confi dent work will be completed on
before the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia capacity to 57 million per year, adding a third time although the Russian newspaper
begins. The football tournament, which kicks runway and a supporting network of taxiways. Vedomosti has said the slow progress had
off across the country in June, is expected Local press reports suggest less than 44% forced Sheremetyevo to make provisions to
to welcome up to one million visitors – many of the new runway had been laid by October, accommodate the increased traffic with its
arriving via the Moscow hub. with further progress likely to be hampered by existing infrastructure.
AT200 Cargo Drone Flies
The Institute of Engineering Thermophysics Chinese technology companies, is based a load of 1.5 tonnes (3,307lb) and has a
of the Chinese Academy of Sciences on the New Zealand-built PAC750XL utility range of 1,356 miles (2,183km).
successfully conducted a 26-minute fi rst aircraft. The AT200 uses the PAC750XL’s STOL
fl ight of the AT200 pilotless cargo aircraft The prototype, registered B-10HE (c/n performance to operate from 656ft (200m)
on October 26 from Neifu Airport, near 200), is a standard production airframe airstrips. The twin aims of the project are
Puncheng, in Shaanxi Province. The fi tted with Pacifi c Aerospace’s normal belly delivering cargo to remote places in China
AT200, which is fi tted with a remote cargo pod, and all its windows blanked and for military logistics support for the islands
piloting system developed by a group of out. In freighter confi guration it can carry in the South China Sea. Rod Simpson
Safari 500 FedEx Launch
Order
Unveiled
A contract for the fi rm purchase of 30
ATR 72-600Fs, plus 20 options, has
been signed by FedEx Express. The
turboprops will be the fi rst ATRs to
be delivered in freighter confi guration
from the factory, with the new variant
equipped with a forward large cargo
door (LCD) and a rear, upper-hinged
cargo door.
Deliveries are scheduled to begin in
2020. FedEx worked with ATR to develop
the new aircraft.
Commenting on the contract, David L
Florida-based Safari has already sold six of its new 500 helicopter and expects to start
Cunningham, FedEx Express President
deliveries in 2018. Rod Simpson
and CEO, said: “ATR aircraft have been
The Safari Helicopter Company, which It uses the dynamic components of the successfully operating in FedEx service
manufactures the widely used piston-engined Safari 400 with power from a 180hp Lycoming for many years. The ’72-600F will play an
400 variant, has launched its new Safari 500. O-360-C2C engine. The cabin will be air important role in our global network by
This two-seater prototype, registered N15BB, conditioned, have dual controls and a large helping us deliver fast, economical service
has an all carbon fi bre fuselage and a dual- central console with space for a substantial to small- and medium-sized markets.”
skid undercarriage. avionics package. Rod Simpson
10 Aviation News incorporating Jets January 2018
10-12_14_civil_newsDC.mfDC.mfDC.mfDC.mf.indd 10 04/12/2017 15:19