F-35B engages lift fan in flight
The first F-35B development aircraft, BF-1, successfully engaged its vertical lift fan in flight during a flight from NAS Patuxent River near Washington DC on January 7. The lift fan was engaged while the aircraft remained in forward flight between 210 and 180kts (385 and 330km/h) and remained engaged for a total of 14 minutes,
Boeing restructures defence division
Boeing has announced a significant restructure in its defense businesses, with its Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) division to be renamed as Boeing Defense, Space & Security. CEO of the renamed unit, Dennis Muilenburg, says the changes will better position Boeing for growth in an evolving defence and security market. “Boeing anticipated flattening defence budgets and shifting
Quickstep appoints new CFO
Perth based Quickstep Holdings Limited has appointed former Boeing executive John Johnson to the position of chief financial officer. Johnson has held senior positions including commercial manager of finance (divisional CFO) Hawker de Havilland; financial controller (divisional CFO) ASTA Components; assisted as manager for the Defence Integrated Distribution System project team for BAE Systems; and
Boeing releases 2009 figures
Boeing has released its 2009 sales and delivery figures which show a dramatic drop in new aircraft sales compared to the records of recent years, although it did meet its delivery target for the year. In 2009, Boeing recorded 263 new commercial aircraft orders but only 142 net orders after cancellations were taken into account.
Cuts to JSF program flagged
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has proposed cuts to the planned F-35 JSF production ramp up in order to free up additional funds for the struggling aircraft’s development program. The cuts, proposed in a document signed by Gates on December 23 and leaked to Bloomberg, would see as many as 122 F-35s cancelled from the
UAE orders six C-17s
The United Arab Emirates has ordered six Boeing C-17 transports. The order, confirming an initial announcement made in 2009 for four , makes the UAE the second Middle Eastern country to acquire the aircraft after Qatar, which has two C-17s on strength. “The C-17 will give the UAE the ability to perform a variety of
