F-35 gets a boost from Tokyo
Japan will purchase 42 Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters as it moves to cope with increasing security concerns in northeast Asia. The Pentagon’s F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) said Japan’s initial letter of agreement will include four conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) F-35As to be delivered in 2016 and built as part of low-rate
Qantas to help homeless find out if CEOs can cook
Australia’s business elite will joint forces with its top gourmands to raise money for homeless and hungry Sydneysiders. The Qantas-sponsored “CEO CookOff” will see teams of 10 executives competing to prepare meals for some 1000 poor people. The CEOs will be assisted by 30 of Australia’s celebrity chefs, including Qantas ambassador Neil Perry, Peter Gilmore,
First flight for re-engined Joint-STARS
Northrop Grumman has successfully completed first flight of its re-engined E-8C Joint-STARS battlefield surveillance test aircraft. The US Air Force last year contracted Northrup to overhaul a pair of its E-8Cs by replacing their TF33 turbofans with Pratt & Whitney JT8D-219 engines. The Boeing 707 based Joint-STARS fleet has suffered in availability and field performance
Cathay delays 747-8F deliveries
Cathay Pacific will push back deliveries of two Boeing 747-8 Freighters in response to weak cargo demand. The airline said it will still take delivery of four 747-8Fs next year but will delay two others to 2013. The move will cut the carrier’s cargo capacity growth in 2012 from 17 per cent to 10 per
Melb pax numbers continue mixed trend
Continuing a half-year trend, Melbourne Airport has reported strong November growth in international passengers while domestic passengers declined. International numbers were up 10 per cent over November last year to 546,138 while domestic numbers dropped three per cent to 1.8 million, the airport said. Total passenger numbers were down less than one per cent. Domestic
Piper delivers Mirage to Victorian company
Victorian company Pressfast Industries has taken delivery of a new single engine Piper Mirage. The company, which produces pressed metal products, will base the aircraft in Moorabin in Melbourne’s east and use it primarily for business travel to Sydney and Brisbane. The aircraft was delivered on December 12, with the sale first announced during the
