Airbus assembling Thai’s first A380
Airbus has started assembling Thai Airways’ first A380. Thai will become the ninth operator of the A380 when it takes delivery in the third quarter of 2012, Airbus says. The airline has firm orders for six A380s and will fly the aircraft on routes between Bangkok and Europe.
Darwin Airport to get explosive detection machines
Darwin Airport is set to receive a pair of Explosive Trace Detection machines by the end of the year. The $100,000 machines come as part of $200 million federal government initiative to beef up airport security that will fund a raft of new measure including full body scanners, multi-view X-ray machines and additional security dogs.
First stop China for 787 world tour
Boeing is sending its 787 Dreamliner on a six month world tour showing off what it touts as a game changing aircraft. The tour will begin December 4 with a weeklong stop in China where Boeing will pitch its new aircraft to government officials and representatives of Air China, China Southern and Hainan Airlines. That
Orion casts its net in fisheries op
An RAAF AP-3C Orion maritime surveillance aircraft has deployed to support a multi-national operation targeting illegal tuna fishing in the South Pacific. Operation KURU KURU, which ran from November 7 to 14, patrolled a 30-million square kilometre area as part of annual efforts to keep poachers out of the lucrative Pacific Tuna fisheries. The Orion
Airbus begins assembly of first production A400M
Airbus Military has started final assembly of its first production A400M transport. The French air force is scheduled to receive the airlifter (MSN7) in late 2012 or early 2013, Airbus said. Eight other A400Ms are at various stages of production. The A400M began test flights in late 2009 and is positioned as an intermediate sized
Hawker to show off diesel Diamond DA42
Hawker Pacific is set to tour the new jet fuel burning Diamond DA42-NG four seater piston twin around Australia early next year. The company will showcase the twin after a week long, 7150nm ferry flight from Diamond Aircraft headquarters in Austria to Darwin via eastern Europe and Asia. Powered by twin Austro Engine-made AE300 turbo diesels, Hawker says the
