RAAF names first F-35 pilots
Squadron Leaders Andrew Jackson and David Bell have been named as the RAAF’s first two pilots selected to fly the F-35A Lightning. SQNLDR Jackson is currently executive officer with 2OCU at Williamtown and is a Fighter Combat Instructor (FCI) course graduate, while SQNLDR Bell is a qualified test pilot who has served with the Aircraft
Insult to injury – Qantas A380 and 747 clip wings at LAX
A Qantas A380 and 747-400 have clipped wings in a towing incident at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), the airline has confirmed. “The wingtips of two Qantas aircraft, an A380 and B747, came into contact at approximately 9pm (local) while being towed out of the hangar in Los Angeles. No passengers were on board,” an
FOC for final RAAF C-17s
The RAAF has declared FOC – full operational capability – for its fifth and sixth Boeing C-17 Globemaster III airlifters. The RAAF declared FOC for its first four C-17s in 2011, but two subsequent C-17s were delivered in September 2011 (A41-210) and November 2012 (A41-211). “I am pleased that this has been achieved within budget
Compare the pair – observations on the Qantas and Virgin results
So Virgin’s first half loss was in fact bigger than Qantas’s on a proportional basis. Yet in announcing that loss on Friday Virgin Australia CEO John Borghetti was good humoured and relaxed, and spoke of growth and opportunity. In contrast on Thursday, Qantas chief Alan Joyce was sombre and serious in announcing his airline
Air Force prepares for Centenary of Military Aviation Airshow
The Royal Australian Air Force is preparing to celebrate the Centenary of Military Aviation in Australia with an airshow to be held at its birthplace, Point Cook near Melbourne over this coming weekend. The airshow will mark the March 1 1914 anniversary of Central Flying School Lt Eric Harrison’s flight from Point Cook in a Bristol
Virgin Australia posts $84m loss despite rising revenue
Virgin Australia has posted a $83.7 million after tax loss for the first half of the 2014 financial year, despite a near six per cent increase in revenue to $2.22 billion. But despite the loss, and despite all the talk of capacity wars, the airline’s domestic operations, like Qantas’s and Jetstar’s domestic operations, are profitable,
