Airbus today announced that Singapore Airlines has signed an agreement to expand its fleet with 15 more A330-300s. The aircraft will join an existing fleet of 19 A330-300s, flying from Singapore to destinations across the Asia-Pacific region and to the Middle East. As with the carrier’s existing A330 fleet, the new aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines. The twin engine A330 is one of the most widely used widebody aircraft in service today. To date, Airbus has won more than 1,100 orders for the aircraft and more than 750 A330s are currently flying with over 80 airlines worldwide. In addition to passenger and freighter models, the A330 is also offered in VIP and Military Transport/Tanker variants.

Chapman Freeborn, the world’s leading company in the field of aircraft charter collaborated with the international logistics service provider Logwin to successfully complete another heavy cargo project. A rotor used in power generation together with associated equipment weighing a total of 97 tonnes was flown from Düsseldorf, Germany to Santiago de Chile, Chile. Chapman Freeborn chartered an Antonov An-124 freight aircraft from Ruslan International on behalf of Logwin. The flight was accompanied by a camera team from the US broadcaster Discovery Channel. The Antonov AN-124 stands ready for loading on the runway. The rotor, which has been repaired in Germany, is to start its return flight to Chile. The defective rotor was flown from Chile to Düsseldorf for repair back in February this year. The oversized consignment has been delivered by Logwin on four trucks. Another two trucks carry loading equipment. With a length of eight meters and a height ...

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced the imposition of a $1.05 million civil penalty against Boeing for allegedly failing to correct a known problem in production and installation of the central passenger oxygen system in its Boeing 777 airliners. The FAA based its proposed civil penalty on inspections of nine newly assembled aircraft between April and October 2010. Inspectors discovered that spacers in the oxygen delivery system distribution tubing on the aircraft were not installed correctly. Improper installation could result in the system not supplying oxygen to passengers should depressurization occur. “There is no excuse for waiting to take action when it comes to safety,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “We will continue to insist on the highest levels of safety from our aircraft manufacturers.” “The FAA has strict regulations when it comes to the maintenance and installation of aircraft systems that all manufacturers and operators must follow,” said ...

Airbus provided this absolutely beautiful video of an Airbus A380 in flight display at Paris Air Show Le Bourget 2011. The video was shot at the air show’s first public day and reflects Airbus’ new campaign “Love A380“.

At the Paris Air Show 2011 in Le Bourget, Airbus won orders and commitments worth about US$72.2 billion for a total of 730 aircraft. This success sets a new record for any commercial aircraft manufacturer at any air show ever. The commitments comprise Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for 312 aircraft worth US$28.2 billion and firm purchase orders for 418 aircraft worth around US$44.0 billion. The A320neo Family was clearly the star of the show, by winning unprecedented 667 commitments worth US$60.9 billion. Included are two historical orders from AirAsia and Indigo. AirAsia ordered 200 A320neo which marks the largest order ever placed for the A320 Family, Indian low-cost carrier Indigo ordered 150 A320neo and 30 A320. Furthermore, this means that the total A320neo Family backlog since its launch in December 2010 has now reached 1,029 units, making it by far the best selling airliner in the history of commercial aviation. ...

Paris Air Show Le Bourget 2011 Airbus orders part 2: ALAFCO, the Kuwait-based international Aviation Lease and Finance Company, has signed an agreement for six more Airbus A350 XWB aircraft. This repeat order brings ALAFCO’s total order for the A350-900 to 18 aircraft. ALAFCO placed its first order for the A350 XWB in 2007 when it ordered 12 A350-800s. These were later upsized to the larger A350-900 in 2010. The A350-900 typically has a capacity of around 40 more seats than the A350-800. In addition ALAFCO has signed an agreement for 30 Airbus A320neo aircraft. ALAFCO already ordered 26 A320s of which 25 have been delivered. Including this order, it shall then take ALAFCO’s total order for Airbus single aisle aircraft to 56. Recently-merged AviancaTaca, which includes subsidiary AeroGal of Ecuador, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for 51 A320 Family aircraft, including 33 eco-efficient A320neo. Once firm, the ...

Here it comes, the counterpart of yesterday’s Paris Air Show 2011 – Airbus Orders Part 1 posting. Paris Air Show Le Bourget 2011 Boeing orders part 1: Qatar Airways announced an order for six Boeing 777-300ERs (Extended Range) airplanes at the international 2011 Paris Air Show. Boeing announced orders and commitments for 17 747-8 Intercontinentals. Placed by two undisclosed customers. One carrier has committed to 15 of the new passenger version of the 747-8 while another carrier placed an order for two. The orders bring the 747-8 Intercontinental total backlog to 50 firm aircraft, plus five from a commitment from Air China contingent on Chinese Government approval. It also brings the total 747-8 backlog, including 76 747-8 Freighters, to 126. Air Lease Corporation (ALC) will purchase up to 33 airplanes. The agreement calls for 14 firm orders and four options for Next-Generation 737-800s, as well as five 777-300ERs (Extended Range) ...

Lockheed Martin provided this video today, featuring pilots discussing different features of the F-35 Lightning II. The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a fifth generation multirole fighter with stealth capability. It’s still under development and comes in three main models; A conventional takeoff and landing variant (F-35A), a short take off and vertical-landing variant (STOVL) (F-35B), and a carrier-based variant (F-35C). There’s also the F-35I, a F-35A with Israeli modifications and the CF-35, a F-35A with Canadian modifications.

Paris Air Show Le Bourget 2011 opened its doors just yesterday. Many orders have already been announced by various manufacturers. This is part 1 of a summary of Paris Air Show 2011 Airbus orders. More to come during the next days. GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), the commercial aircraft leasing and financing arm of General Electric, has announced a firm order for 60 A320neo Family aircraft. GECAS has selected CFM’s LEAP-X engine for all 60 A320neo aircraft. Saudi Arabian Airlines has placed a firm order for four additional A330-300 aircraft in addition to the eight ordered in July 2008, taking the total order for the type to 12. Saudi Arabian Airlines placed its first order with Airbus in over 30 years in 2007 for 22 A320 Family aircraft and later placed an order for eight A330s. In 2009, Saudia upsized by converting 15 of the A320 orders into the larger ...

Date: 06/21/2011 04:40am Location: Atlanta, GA Aircraft Type: Boeing 757-232 Registration: N6714Q Operator: Delta Air Lines Flight: 1323 Phase: Take-off Level of Damage: Unknown Injuries & Fatalities: 3 persons with unknown minor injuries Delta flight 1323 bound for Los Angeles, a Boeing 757, sustained a left engine failure 15 minutes after take-off from Atlanta. The plane returned to the airport and landed without incident. The passengers deplaned via slides, 3 persons have been injured during the deplaning procedure. Video by FOX Delta Passenger Recalls Troubled Flight: MyFoxATLANTA.com Source: FAA

Airbus published this video with a highly futuristic vision about a future airplane cabin. Airbus promises to make aircraft cabins more ecological, using new self-transforming materials that offer unmatched confort.

Today a Tupolev Tu-134A-3 operated by Russian carrier RusAir (RA-65691) crashed near Petrozavodsk Airport (PES) (Russia). During final approach flight 9605, that departed from Moskva-Domodedovo, crashed on a highway and burst into flames. The weather at the time of the accident was bad with low visibility. According to reports, ILS at the airport failed as well as runway lights. 44 people on board died, 8 could be rescued from the wreckage. Video

This week’s Photo of the Week is this vintage Kaman HH-43 Huskie catched at the Olympic Airshow in Tumwater, WA. This true treasure of aviation was used from the 1950s to the 1970s primarily for firefighting and rescue in the close vicinity of air bases, but was later utilized as a short range overland search and rescue aircraft during the Vietnam War. (c) Photographer: “N324F” Did you know that your photo could be featured here, too? Just enter the Flightstory Flickr Photo Contest.

Boeing today announced that India has signed an agreement to acquire 10 Boeing C-17 Globemaster III airlifters. Indian Air Force (IAF) will take delivery of its C-17s in 2013 and 2014. “The C-17 will elevate India’s leadership in the region,” said Dinesh Keskar, president, Boeing India. “With its tactical and strategic capabilities, the C-17 fulfills India’s needs for military and humanitarian airlift. The important transaction reaffirms our close relationship of several decades with India and also highlights our commitment to the strategic partnership between the two countries.” “Boeing is pleased that the Indian Air Force (IAF) has selected the C-17 to support its airlift mission,” said Mark Kronenberg, vice president of International Business Development for Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “We look forward to partnering with India as we move forward with the agreement’s 30 percent offset program, which will help strengthen India’s aerospace and defense capabilities.” During rigorous field ...

Do you want some air show action? Here you go! This week’s winner of the Flickr photo contest has it all what makes a great air show shot, paired with simply stunning colors and contrast! (c) Photographer: Chris Ball (cmball) Did you know that your photo could be featured here, too? Just enter the Flightstory Flickr Photo Contest.

It was the first German aircraft to be built in any significant numbers after the Second World War: a classic aircraft of the type “Pützer Elster B” (D-ELKY) has been extensively restored with the assistance of the Porsche Museum and will now have the mission of representing the museum at airshows as its “flying ambassador”. There are close historic ties between the Porsche Museum and the “Elster” (magpie): the Porsche aeroengine Type 678 was tested in this aircraft type at the end of the 1950s. The museum of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, now has plans to nurture its tradition not only on land, but also in the air. After extensive restoration lasting three years under Project Manager and owner Jürgen Gassebner, a “Pützer Elster B” has been restored to its former splendour. The restorers invested over 1,000 hours in giving the flying machine a thorough overhaul. Particular ...