A Double 7 for the A400M: French and UK Air Forces Ramp Up

09/19/2015
2015-09-19  In June, the French Air Force received its 7th A400M. The aircraft delivered to France was the 13th production aircraft of 174 currently on order Then this month, the Royal Air Force received its 7th A400M. [caption id="attachment_80698" align="alignnone" width="300"] MSN 24, the 7th RAF A400M. Credit: Airbus Defence…

The Impact of New Platforms on the Way Ahead: Air Vice Marshal Warren McDonald Focuses on Shaping Air Force Transformation

08/30/2015
2015-08-30 By Robbin Laird The Plan Jericho approach which the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has put in motion to shape a con-ops driven transformation process is built around the acquisition of new platforms, but then crafting ways for these platforms to operate and together in a joint manner to…

A Hybrid Manufacturer for a Hybrid Airplane: An Update on Osprey Manufacturing

08/05/2015
2015-08-03 By Robbin Laird The importance of manufacturing for national power and security is clear. The need to support a manufacturing renaissance is also clear for Americas’ future. And it remains a foundation for providing for American defense and security. No case is clearer than that of the Osprey.  The…

Building an 8,000-Hour Tactical Aircraft: 21st Century Materials Technology

08/03/2015
2015-07-27 By Ed Timperlake and Robbin Laird “Scientists dream about doing great things. Engineers do them” from the James Michener book Space. The quote originated from one of the legendary American Aeronautical Engineers, Jack Runckel who began with NACA before WWII and finished with NASA. As many history books state:…

Preparing for the Next Phase of Asset Transparency: Global Operationally Sustainment Chains

08/01/2015
2015-07-20 By Robbin Laird We have heard a lot of the years about supply chains, getting more transparency in supply chains, building “smart” supply chains, driving “value” from the supply chain and things like “just in time delivery” to lower costs while having effective support. Of course, these civilian terms…