A Tupolev Tu-134A-3 (EX-020) operated by Kyrgyzstan crash-landed at Osh Airport (OSS), Kyrgyzstan, yesterday. The airplane landed hard in thick fog, rolled over and caught fire. Several people on-board were taken to hospital with minor injuries but, like a miracle, no one has been seriously injured or killed. Videos

Look what has arrived at Airbus Toulouse final assembly line! Is it an A320? No! An A330? No! An A380? Hm, let’s see… uhm, no! Is it Santa? Could be these days, but no! Hey, it’s the first front fuselage of the new A350 XWB! This first Airbus A350 XWB frame, a A350-900, (MSN 5000) will solely be used for static tests and unfortunately never will reach the sky.

The Japanese Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa has announced the selection of the F-35 Lightning II as the Japan Air Self Defense Force’s (JASDF) next-generation fighter. The F-35 is produced by Lockheed Martin and powered by Pratt & Whitney’s F135 engine. The F-35A conventional takeoff and landing variant (CTOL) was offered by the United States government with participation from Lockheed Martin. The initial contract will be for four jets in Japan Fiscal Year 2012, which begins April 1, 2012. The F-35 program will replace Japan’s aging F-4 fleet with highly advanced fifth-generation technology and capability. Procurement of the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine also offers potentially significant engine industrial participation for Japanese industry. The selection makes Japan the second country to receive the F-35 through the United States government’s Foreign Military Sales process, and makes Japan the 13th F-35 customer. Global participation is a centerpiece of the F-35 program and essential ...

Rugby World Champion “All Blacks” led the brand new Air New Zealand Boeing 777-300ER black plane out of Boeing’s paint hangar in Seattle. The video features a look behind the scenes of the unveiling of this special livery B777 to celebrate the win of the Rugby World Championship. Since many years Air New Zealand is a major sponsor of the New Zealand Rugby Union. Boeing revealed that it took two days longer than normally required to paint a 777 aircraft. 700 litres of chrome-free primer and paint was used, with a total of 14 painters working in shifts 24 hours a day. Jeff Klemann, Boeing Vice President of the Everett Delivery Centre, said it was the biggest job ever undertaken by his team, if not in world aviation. “It was, without a doubt, one of the most challenging paint jobs we’ve ever done, but the paint team was up for ...

The 7000th Boeing 737 built was delivered yesterday to Dubai-based flydubai. This Next-Generation 737-800 has been equipped with the new Boeing Sky Interior. “It is incredible to be delivering our 7,000th 737. We thank flydubai and all our customers who have made the 737 the world’s most popular jet airliner,” said Beverly Wyse, vice president and general manager of the 737 program. “This success is due to the years of expertise that thousands of employees continue to build into every Boeing 737 used in private, government and commercial service.” In November 2010, flydubai had the distinction to be the first airline in the world to offer passengers an enhanced onboard experience with the brand new Boeing Sky Interior. The 737 is the most produced large commercial jet airliner in history and continues to hit the record books as the program produces airplanes at record rates. The gap between each record ...

A few days ago American aviation and space travel enthusiast Robert Mason shared his story with us. Since early childhood he had the dream of traveling into space. In October 2011 his dream finally came true as he traveled to the “Edge Of Space” on board of a Russian MiG-29 UB. Now exclusively to our Flightstory Facebook page, he shared his video about the journey. Unfortunately it’s without sound but definitely worth watching anyway! Video: Flightstory on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/flightstory Related: Robert Mason: How I went into space

The first Boeing 787 Dreamliner for Japan Airlines (JAL) rolled out of the paint hangar last night. The airplane’s livery features the iconic new brand mark on its tail and underscores the airline’s commitment to provide the highest level of service to customers and contribute to the advancement of society. The logo is a distinct symbol of the airline which was the first Japanese carrier to fly internationally from Japan since 1954. Source: Boeing Photo: (c) Boeing

Boeing and Southwest Airlines today announced a firm order for 150 Boeing 737 MAX airplanes. Southwest is the first customer to finalize an order for the 737 MAX and becomes the launch customer for the new-engine variant. The Dallas-based carrier also ordered 58 Next-Generation 737s. The firm order is the largest in Boeing history both in dollar value, nearly $19 billion at list prices, and the number of airplanes. It supports Southwest’s initiative to modernize its all-Boeing fleet, the world’s largest fleet of 737s. As the 737 MAX launch customer, Southwest will take delivery of the first airplane when it enters service in 2017. The 737 MAX is the new-engine variant of the world’s best-selling airplane and builds on the strengths of today’s Next-Generation 737. The new-engine variant, powered by CFM International LEAP-1B engines, reduces fuel burn and CO2 emissions. Source: Boeing Image: Boeing

Airbus announced today that the European plane maker delivered its 7,000th aircraft, an A321, to US Airways – the airline that operates the largest fleet of Airbus aircraft in the world. This milestone comes just two years after the delivery of Airbus’ 6,000th aircraft. The 1,000th Airbus delivery was an A340-300 that went to Air France in 1993, nineteen years after the first Airbus aircraft was delivered – an A300B2 also to Air France, in 1974. The 2,000th delivery was six years later in 1999. It took half that time, just three years, to get to the 3,000th delivery in 2002 and three more years to reach 4,000 deliveries. The tempo went up another notch taking Airbus only two years to hand over its 5,000th aircraft, an A330-200 to Qantas in December 2007. The 6,000th Airbus was an A380 which was delivered to Emirates in January 2010. By the end ...

By Robert Mason The American Academy of Pediatrics reports, “Children are influenced by media—they learn by observing, imitating, and making behaviors their own” (2001, p.1224). I guess they are correct. BALTIMORE, MARYLAND—the nineteen eighties—It was during that decade that a very young Robert Mason’s fascination with aero- and astronautics began. From an early age, I recall watching shows such as The Galaxy Goof-Ups, Yogi’s Space Race, The Space Kidettes and, of course, The Jetsons, and always dreaming of a time when I could enjoy a rendezvous with the cosmos, traveling at great speeds, just like my animated idols. Fast forward nearly thirty years to 2011 as, it was late in this year that a much older, yet no less eager, Robert Mason realized his life long wish to travel near space at supersonic speeds. After trying (in vain) to win a trip aboard Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic through a contest ...

The first Embraer Phenom 100 business jet built at the company’s new Melbourne, Florida assembly facility made its first flight at Melbourne International Airport. The aircraft flew to an altitude of 41,000 and to speeds up to its MMO (Maximum Operating Mach number) with zero anomalies. “We are very proud of the production flight test results,” said Phil Krull, Managing Director, Embraer Executive Aircraft, Inc. “This flight clearly shows that our Melbourne team is ready to carry on seamless production of the Embraer Phenom 100 with the same level of excellence as our colleagues in Brazil.” “This is an extraordinary milestone for our Company” said Robert Knebel, Vice President, Sales for North America, Embraer Executive Jets. “To have one of our most successful aircraft built in Melbourne and flying across American skies embodies Embraer’s determination to build a strong footprint in the US.” Embraer opened the Melbourne production facility in ...

Airbus has started joining the first 21-metre long front fuselage section for the Airbus A350 XWB. This will be the first major section of the A350 XWB to enter the Final Assembly Line. The front fuselage is made up of the forward fuselage, manufactured by Premium AEROTEC in Germany and the nose section, already assembled at Airbus in Saint-Nazaire from components produced by Aerolia in France. This front fuselage is destined for the Airbus A350 XWB static test airframe. It will be followed closely by the first airframe for MSN1, one of five flight test aircraft Airbus will build. The first flight is currently scheduled for the first half of 2013. Photos: View inside the forward fusage: Photos: (c) Airbus S.A.S.

Boeing has set two new world records with the 787 Dreamliner for both speed and distance for the airplane’s weight class. ZA006 departed from Boeing Field in Seattle at 11:02 a.m. on Dec. 6 and set the distance record for its class (440,000-550,000 lbs.) with a 10,710 nmi (19,835 km) flight to Dhaka, Bangladesh, with credit for 10,337 nmi (19,144 km). This record had previously been held by the Airbus A330 based on a 9,127 nmi (16,903 km) flight in 2002. The flight went from Seattle across the U.S. to Nantucket. After crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the airplane entered European air space at Santiago, Spain, and proceeded down the Mediterranean, across Egypt to Luxor, across the Middle East and over India to Bangladesh. ZA006 – (c) Boeing Following an approximately two-hour stop for refueling in Dhaka, the airplane returned to Seattle on a 9,734 nmi (18,027 km) flight. The airplane ...

Lufthansa provided some more shots of the Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental that is currently in Frankfurt (Germany) for pre-delivery testing. The airplane will depart back to Seattle early afternoon CET Dec. 9. The 747-8I test plane is painted white with a gray belly and a blue tail fin – a basecoat of the Lufthansa livery without decals. Photos: Photos (c) Lufthansa

This great video features startup and flight display of a Supermarine Spitfire MK19 from pilot’s view at a German air show in 2011. This Spitfire is equiped with high power griffon piston engine and contra rotating propeller (listen to awesome startup). Most time it is operated in France, after it has been rebuilt at Chino (USA) by Steve Hinton and his team. The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire was designed as a short-range, high-performance interceptor aircraft. The Spitfire’s elliptical wing had a thin cross-section, allowing a higher top speed than several contemporary fighters, including the Hawker Hurricane. Speed was seen as essential to carry out the mission of home defence against enemy bombers. Video – by “ericgoujon”

Boeing and German flag carrier Lufthansa are approaching the start of pre-delivery testing of the new Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental at Lufthansa’s base at Frankfurt Airport from Dec. 6 to Dec. 9. The airplane is scheduled to arrive at Frankfurt Airport late afternoon Central European Time (CET) on Dec. 6 after an approximately 9-hour flight from Seattle. Three Lufthansa pilots will join two Boeing pilots on the flight crew for the flight. The airplane will depart early afternoon CET Dec. 9. Lufthansa will conduct a number of tests to help ensure a smooth integration of the newest member of the 747 family into Lufthansa operations. Lufthansa maintenance and engineering personnel will rehearse ground-handling processes for the 747-8 Intercontinental within the airline’s facilities and on its ramps at the airport. In addition, the crews will check how their ground-support equipment accommodates the airplane. These checks will help Lufthansa ensure a smooth entry ...

Youtube user “wineandflyguy” posted this nice Embraer 190 tribute video. It was filmed on jetBlue N296JB and features much in-flight cockpit footage, such as the HUD, FMC and PFDs. The E-190/195 family is a larger stretch of the E-170/175 family fitted with a new, larger wing, larger horizontal stabilizer and a new engine, the GE CF34-10E. These aircraft compete with the Bombardier CRJ-1000. In addition, being in the 100-seat range, it competes with the Boeing 717-200, and 737-500/-600 the Airbus A318, and the upcoming Bombardier CSeries. The first flight of the E-190 was in March 12, 2004. The launch customer of the E-190 was New York-based low-cost carrier JetBlue with 100 orders and 100 options.