Features

Feature – Flying Along With a SOFIA Mission

Feature – Flying Along With a SOFIA Mission

The SOFIA airborne telescope provides a unique capability to observe the heavens.  Charles Mason was able to see the aircraft up close and personal on two occasions with the media event held at Stuttgart and to participate in a mission from Palmdale.  In this feature for Global Aviation Resource, Charles details the history of the programme and describes the mission experience.

Aviation Event – Boeing 777X First Flight

Aviation Event – Boeing 777X First Flight

The Boeing 777X has finally undertaken its first flight from Paine Field in Everett Washington and this delayed event will signal the start of a long-awaited the flight test campaign. Rob Edgcumbe reports on the process to get the 777X programme this far, with pictures from Jake Welty and Rob Edgcumbe.

Airshow Report – MAKS 2019, Ramenskoye Airport, Zhukovsky, Russian Federation

Airshow Report – MAKS 2019, Ramenskoye Airport, Zhukovsky, Russian Federation

The bi-annual MAKS event in Zhukovsky is always guaranteed to uncover something unusual among the regular participants. This year was the first appearance of the Su-47 after many, many years tucked away in the Sukhoi storage area following its public outing in 2007. Paul Filmer provides a pictorial overview of some of the sights during the week.

Military aviation – Westlant 19

Military aviation – Westlant 19

Wednesday 9 October saw three F-35B Lightnings of 617 Squadron depart from RAF Marham heading west, for the Lightning Force’s first westbound Atlantic crossing. Their initial destination was Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina, in preparation for embarkation onboard the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth for Westlant 19. Chris Wood reports from Marham.

Luchtmachtdagen 2019

Luchtmachtdagen 2019

The Dutch are well known for their love of aviation, so it should come as no surprise that they like a good airshow. For several decades the Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu – Royal Netherlands Air Force) have held open days, now known as Luchtmachtdagen (Air Force Days), with hosting shared between their three main operational bases; Gilze-Rijen, Leeuwarden and Volkel. The last event was at Leeuwarden in 2016, which saw the first deployment of Dutch F-35A Lightning IIs to their homeland. The 2019 event took place at Volkel, home to two of the KLu’s F-16 squadrons, on Friday 14th and Saturday 15th June, and Chris Wood reports for GAR.

Exercises and Deployments – Red Flag 19-2

Exercises and Deployments – Red Flag 19-2

The latest iteration of the long running Red Flag series of exercises took place between the 8th and 22nd March at Nellis AFB, Nevada. Very much a multinational affair, Red Flag 19-2 attracted international participation from Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East, in addition to strong support from the USAF and US Navy. Paul Dunn reports on the exercise content.