A very special piece of aviation history comes from the heart of Australia straight to your living room. The new documentary “From The Outback To The World” tells the remarkable story of a remarkable airline – Australian flag carrier Qantas. The DVD which has been officially licensed by Qantas is a must-have for every aviation enthusiast. The documentary is centered on six airplanes that stand for 90 years of innovation – the Avro 504K, Short Brother’s Model C Flying Boat, Lockheed Super Constellation, Boeing 707, Boeing 747 and Airbus A380. These milestones of commercial aviation are the key to success for the airline that was founded 1920 in the middle of outback Queensland. The DVD is divided into 9 chapters and is approx. 46min long. After a short introduction the viewer gets a tight overview about the birth of Qantas and how everything started. The mainpart is focused on each ...

Developmental testing of the new HC-130J has been completed. The plane which is developed for the United States Air Force Air Combat Command went through the last test point – air-to-air refueling on March 14. This was the first ever boom refueling of a C-130. This test point also applies to the MC-130J Combat Shadow II aircraft in production for Air Force Special Operations Command. Rollout of the first MC-130J is scheduled for March 29. The first HC-130Js and MC-130Js will be delivered in August. Source: Lockheed Martin

Not everyone is happy to see “Captain” John Travolta appearing in the new Qantas safety demonstration video. According to Daily Telegraph the video has angered cabin crew who say a “real Qantas pilot” – like Captain Richard de Crespigny, credited with saving 466 lives on QF32 – should front the message. Many flight attendants also seem to have a problem with being called “the team” instead of “flight attendants” or “cabin crew”. Well, judge yourself… Video VIDEO: Captain Travolta Oh and by the way, in case you haven’t noticed, there’s some mistake too. The entire video features an Airbus A380 but the cockpit shot shows a Boeing 747 flight deck. Hope they’ll do it better next time. John Travolta is an Qantas ambassador and owns an ex-Qantas Boeing 707–138 (N707JT).

Boeing today successfully completed the maiden flight of the Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental, the passenger version of the new 747-8. Flight BOE8 took off from Paine Field at 09:56 PDT for a 4 hours flight. Boeing currently holds 33 firm orders for the 747-8I – 8 from Boeing Business Jet (new Air Force One), 5 from Korean Air and 20 from launch customer Lufthansa. First delivery is expected for second quarter of 2011. Video

Boeing released this video today showing final taxi tests of the Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental. The plane moved on its own power for the very first time and speeded down the runway with up to 90 knots. During the tests last systems have been checked to make sure anything is working well. Now after the new airliner successfully passed all required milestones it’s ready for the first flight, which is scheduled for March 20, 9:45am PST (16:45 GMT). The maiden flight can be watched via live stream at http://www.newairplane.com/747/incredible/

The largest Airbus A350 XWB fuselage panel made from carbon fibre has been manufactured by Premium AEROTEC (Germany). Located on the forward right-hand side of the fuselage and measuring 93 square metres, the panel will undergo ultrasonic inspection, trimming and drilling in the coming days prior to being joined with the other panels that together will become the forward fuselage (Section 13-14). Airbus opted for large fuselage panels for the A350 XWB design as they can be tailored in terms of their thickness according to the different loads required at each part of the airframe. This approach enables Airbus to optimise the airframe overall which results in enhanced performance, greater robustness and less weight. The A350 XWB Family consists of three passenger versions – flying up to 8500nm/15,580km. In a typical three-class configuration, the A350-800 will offer 270 seats while the A350-900 and the A350-1000 will offer 314 and ...

Embraer delivered the 19th Embraer 195 jet to Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras, today. This is the 100th E-Jet that will be operated in Latin America and the Caribbean, where Embraer is the leader in sales of commercial jets between 60 and 120 seats, with a 79% market share. The first E-Jet in this region was delivered in 2005, when Copa Airlines (Panama), received an Embraer 190. Since then, nine more operators in the region could be won: Aeroméxico (Mexico), Air Caraibes (Guadalupe), Austral (Argentina), Azul (Brazil), Copa Airlines Colombia (former Aero República), Satena (Colombia), Taca (El Salvador), TAME (Ecuador) and TRIP (Brazil). The demand for air transportation in Latin America and the Caribbean grew 11.3% in 2010, compared to the previous year. The Brazilian market, alone, grew 23.5%, while the worldwide average was 5%. Source: Embraer

Heraldnet is reporting today that Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has purchased a restored MiG-29. The jet fighter was in service with the Russian and Ukrainian Air Force before it came to the U.S. for restoration. The jet is on display at Allen’s Flying Heritage Collection at Paine Field: http://www.flyingheritage.com/. Flying Heritage Collection has been aware of and supporting this MiG restoration for some years. The completely flyable MiG will most likely be on display at the FHC’s Everett facility only for a short time. Do you like to have a look into the cockpit? Well just go to the Mig-29 virtual cockpit…

Lufthansa today approved an order for 25 A320neo and five A321neo aircraft. The engine decision will be announced by the airline at a later date. Since its launch in December last year, the ‘neo’ has already attracted more than 330 commitments. Today the Lufthansa Group is Airbus’ biggest operator worldwide with around 338 Airbus aircraft currently in service. These include: 236 A320 Family; 33 A330s; 65 A340s; and five A380s delivered. In addition to this latest decision for 30 aircraft, the Lufthansa Group has an order backlog which includes 60 A320 Family aircraft, eight A330s, and 10 A380s. Source: Airbus

EADS today reported that the first Airbus Military A330 MRTT (Multi Role Tanker Transport ) for the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) has successfully completed its maiden flight. Prior to this flight, five A330 MRTTs had already flown. Those include three for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), and two for the UK Royal Air Force. Two of the aircraft are already technically complete and ready for delivery to the RAAF, pending finalisation of contractual discussion. The Airbus Military A330 MRTT is the only new generation strategic tanker/transport aircraft flying and available today. The large 111 tonnes/245,000 lb basic fuel capacity of the A330-200 airliner, from which it is derived, enables the A330 MRTT to excel in Air-to-Air Refuelling missions without the need for any additional fuel tank. The A330 MRTT is offered with a choice of proven air-to-air refuelling systems including an advanced Airbus Military Aerial ...

Boeing has completed final gauntlet testing on the first Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental. Gauntlet testing simulates flight conditions to test systems and ensure flight readiness. During the testing, Boeing test pilots put the airplane through its paces. Gauntlet testing is a crucial step in the path toward first flight. First flight of the 747-8 Intercontinental will occur after final flight readiness reviews, receipt of documentation from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and taxi testing. According to several sources the first flight could happen already next weekend. Source: Boeing

As an airline captain you enjoy fame, pride and glory. You’ve fun, a great life and girlfriends in every destination. You’re the man! It’s no difference with Icelandair. Watch this hilarious video of one day in life of an Icelandair crew.

I came across this amazing video, showing a Swiss Air Force JAS Gripen 39C performing acrobatics. The video features many cockpit views and comes in finest HD quality! The JAS 39 Gripen is a lightweight single engine multirole fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace company Saab. The aircraft is in service with the Swedish Air Force, Czech Air Force, Hungarian Air Force, South African Air Force, and the Royal Thai Air Force. It was developed to compete to the F-16 Fighting Falcon and F/A-18A/B. Correction: A fellow aviation enthusiast noted that this video is actually from Sweden – most definitely a SAAB movie – and was shot at the SAAB air field in Linköping Runway 29

Boeing has completed another key milestone on the way to the first flight of the 747-8I. A few days ago Boeing started up the 4 General Electric GEnx-2B engines for engine runs-tests. During this test all the computing systems, the backup systems, pneumatics and electric systems have been checked. The next milestone to come will be a simulated flight. Source: Boeing

Airbus Military recently announced that the industrial launch of the Airbus A400M airlifter has been approved and series production is ready to start! The first four series aircraft will be produced in 2012 and the production rate will gradually be ramped up to 2.5 aircraft per month by the end of 2015. “The industrial launch is a very important milstone for the programme. It is also excellent news for the suppliers and workforce who depend on the programme and who can now look forward to producing the A400M in the years ahead, said Airbus Military CEO Domingo Ureña.” Having reached this key milestone, Rafael Tentor, who has led the programme for four years, is handing over responsibility to Cédric Gautier, currently President and Chief Executive of EADS Sogerma, who will, from 1st April 2011, lead the programme to certification, delivery and entry into service of the aircraft with the launch ...

Cathay Pacific today announced that it will add further 27 aircraft to its fleet, with first delivery expected in 2013. The airline has orderd 15 more Airbus A330-300s and 10 more Boeing 777-300ERs. It has also finished a deal with aircraft leasing company International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) to add two more Airbus A350-900s. This latest orders come on top of the airline’s biggest-ever order, made in September last year, for 30 Airbus A350-900s to be delivered from 2016 to 2019 and six Boeing 777-300ERs to be delivered between 2013 to 2014. The latest order will enable the airline to replace older, less fuel-efficient aircraft as they are progressively retired from the fleet and at the same time continue with the expansion of its passenger network. Cathay Pacific now has a total of 91 new aircraft on order for delivery between now and 2019. CX Chief Executive Tony Tyler said: ...

Boeing today announced that Russian airline Aeroflot has paced an order for six Boeing 777-300ERs (extended range) and two Boeing 777-200ERs. “These Boeing 777 airplanes will strengthen our network strategy, particularly the international growth opportunities we expect from our joint businesses with SkyTeam partners when servicing the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games and the 2018 FIFA World Cup,” said Vitaly Saveliev, general director of Aeroflot Russian Airlines. “We value the combination of size, range and performance of the 777 airplanes, as well as the extensive customer amenities they offer. The seating capability of the aircraft will give us growth flexibility in slot-constrained airports and provide us with greater ability to serve new long-haul markets.” Russia is an important supplier for the Boeing 777 family. VSMPO, subsidiary of Rostechnologii State Corporation, manufactures large titanium forgings for landing gears, wings and pylon of the 777 jetliner. Russian engineers at the Moscow Boeing Design ...

Boeing today proudly announced that they have won a new customer for their slow-selling 747-8I. Air China today signed an agreement for the purchase of five 747-8 Intercontinental. So far the only two customers have been Lufthansa (20) and Korean Air (5). The agreement requires Chinese government approval. “Air China has been operating 747s since the 1980s,” said He Li, vice president of Air China. “The new, high capacity Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental will deliver exceptional economics and a great flying experience to our customers.” Air China, the flag carrier of the People’s Republic of China, will use the airplanes to expand its international routes. The new 747-8 Intercontinental carries 467 passengers in a three-class configuration. The airplane features a new wing design, an upgraded flight deck and improved engines (GEnx-2B). The interior incorporates features from the 787 Dreamliner including a new curved architecture that will give passengers a greater sense ...

Airbus today announced that the aircraft leasing company, ILFC, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for 100 A320neo Family aircraft, comprising 75 A320neo and 25 A321neo types. Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1100G engines have been selected to power at least 60 of them. ILFC is the first customer for the A321neo, the largest member of the A320neo Family. In parallel with this order, ILFC announced that it cancels its purchase of ten A380s. “With 104 wide bodies on order and fewer than a dozen single aisles it makes perfect sense to rebalance our order book and position ILFC strategically on the fuel-efficient neo ,” said Henri Courpron, ILFC Chief Executive Officer. Source: Airbus

At Heli Expo 2011, Eurocopter unveiled its new EC145 T2 – an evolved version of the EC145 that incorporates new Arriel 2E engines, Fenestron shrouded tail rotor, upgraded main and tail rotor gear boxes, an new digital avionics suite and a 4-axis autopilot. 17 helicopters from four international customers have already been orderd and they will be used for emergency medical services (EMS), oil and gas operations and business aviation. It benefits from the heritage of Eurocopter’s EC145 and its BK117 predecessor, which together have logged more than 2.8 million flight hours in service around the world. “Our EC145 T2 is the latest example of our company’s continued investment in innovation, which provides helicopters that are more efficient to own and operate, with higher performance and improved safety,” said Eurocopter President & CEO Lutz Bertling. The EC145 T2’s most visible change is the Fenestron shrouded tail rotor, which replaces the ...

At Asian Aerospace 2011 Airbus today announced some new cabin concept designs for the Airbus Corporate Jets. The family of jets comprises the A318 Elite, Airbus ACJ, A320 Prestige and the A330, A340 Prestige, A350 Prestige and A380 Prestige. Airbus corporate jets have won more than 170 sales to date. A new cabin concept called Phoenix features a colour-scheme and layout designed to appeal to Asian tastes. The main cabin features seating for six people around a large circular-table. Airbus Corporate Jets are able to offer this feature because they have the widest and tallest cabin of any business jet, existing or planned, which allows a good-sized table, as well as space to pass by the side of it. Playing games is a passion in many Asian cultures, for example Mah Jong in China – so Airbus has designed the circular table to fold into a rectangular shape when needed, ...

This news comes fresh from HELI-EXPO 2011… Bell Helicopters today unveiled their brand new model – the Bell 407AH. The Bell 407AH is an armed helicopter for law enforcement, paramilitary and other “special” missions. It is based on the commercial Bell 407, one of the world’s most successful commercial helicopters. The 407AH is Bell’s first commercially qualified armed/weaponized helicopter. It’s configurable for multiple weapons and surveillance packages like Mini-guns, rocket pods, FLIR, and NVG capabilities. Safety features include a rupture resistant fuel system, engine exceedence monitoring and a collective mounted throttle. Photos Video Source: Bell Helicopters