EC175 makes first flight
Eurocopter’s new EC175 has made its maiden flight, with the aircraft’s performance meeting and in some cases exceeding original expectations. The helicopter’s recommended cruise speed has been increased 10kt to 150kt without an impact on payload or range. During the test flight the EC175’s hover out of ground effect at maximum takeoff weight was proved
Airbus achieves order and delivery milestones
Airbus has achieved new milestones after having received 186 orders and delivered 54 aircraft during November to bring total orders to more than 12,000 – at 12,064. The manufacturer is also heading towards a delivery record in 2012, with 516 aircraft delivered to the end of November, compared with 534 for the whole of 2011.
New Zealand seeks CT-4E, King Air replacements
The New Zealand government will soon issue tenders for replacements for the RNZAF’s CT-4E and King Air training aircraft. The RNZAF’s 13 CT-4Es used for basic training are scheduled to reach their service life by the end of 2018, which coincides with the conclusion of a five-year lease package from Hawker Pacific for four King
A400M completes critical flight tests
Airbus Military’s A400M is closer to civil certification after completing a 32-day, 300-hour function and reliability flight testing program. Using a production-representative aircraft – the sixth A400M – 52 flights were made to complete the functional tests in advance of the aircraft proceeding to full type-certification testing by regulatory authorities. It is anticipated full civil
Industry backs Badgerys for second Sydney airport
Australia’s airline industry and leading analysts have urged the federal government to develop a new airport for Sydney within the next 10 years or risk imperilling the economy. The Australian Financial Review (AFR) has reported airlines, infrastructure analysts and aviation experts have presented a compelling case to the federal government in November for it to
Beginning of the end for Qantas Roller 767s
Looking rather well used, former Qantas 767-300ER VH-ZXB departed Sydney on December 11 bound for Roswell, New Mexico, where it will go into storage. ZXB was delivered to Qantas on the airline’s 80th anniversary on November 16, 2000, initially on lease from British Airways at the height of commercial and operational co-operation between the two
