07/26/2012: 100th F-35 Lightning II Sortie 7/12/2012 Marine Lt. Col. David Berke, commanding officer for the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, taxis in from completing the 100th F-35 Lightning II sortie at the 33rd Fighter Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla. July 11. The 33rd FW’s 100 flights completed include 74…
In an interview at Eglin AFB, Lt. Col. Lee Kloos, the first non-test pilot to start his transition to the F-35 discusses the experience. Kloos has 2000 hours of flight experience on the F-16 and is a USAF Weapons School graduate. Kloos started his F-35 training at Eglin last October. …
7/3/12: Or seriously need to exit stage right and perhaps fly to the UAE and hand in your Mirages. They're in SO much trouble: Low-flying Brazilian air force pilots shatter every window of the country's Supreme Court Two Brazilian air force pilots could be collared by the long arm of…
06/21/2012: Airbus Military has successfully demonstrated the loading of NH Industries NH90 and Eurocopter EC725 helicopters onto the A400M new generation airlifter. In a series of tests at Holzdorf air base in Germany and at Toulouse, France respectively, the NH90 and EC725 were loaded onto, and unloaded from, the Grizzly…
6/21/12: The X 3 is a Eurocopter proof of concept demonstration aircraft blending rotor and turboprop technologies. The helicopter is designed to provide a low cost high-speed operating form factor while ensuring the versatility and functionalities of a helicopter, such as VTOL, hovering, autorotation. It is aimed at customers who…
BK-1, the United Kingdom’s first F-35 Lightning II production aircraft, flew its inaugural flight mid-April 2012. Lockheed Martin test pilot Bill Gigliotti took the short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) jet through a series of functional flight checks during a sortie that lasted 45 minutes. The jet will complete a series of…
During the U.S. tanker competition, a consistent "missing" analytical element was an understanding that the A33o MRTT was just that a multi-capable tanker. Rather than having to carry fuel or carry other things, the tanker can do both. Because the tanker carried its fuel load in its wings, the basic…
The A400M is entering its final phases of testing before entering service, initially for the French military. Most recently, the A400M came to the air show in Chile and was highlighted by Airbus military while at that show. Now it is about to start and Asian tour. [caption id="attachment_37277" align="alignleft"…
