The Australian Army has grounded its fleet of five CH-47D Chinook heavy lift helicopters after a possible safety issue with the aircraft’s advanced flight control system (AFCS) was discovered. The ADF says the grounding was to ensure safety and was consistent with Army Operational Airworthiness procedures. “The precautionary suspension will remain in place pending technical
The F-35B Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) version of the JSF has performed its first landing on a ship, when BF-2 landed vertically on the LHD, USS Wasp on October 3. The landing marks the beginning of ship suitability testing, known as developmental test 1, for the F-35B. Other milestones to be completed
US based commercial air-to-air refuelling company, Omega Air Inc has bought three former RAAF Boeing 707 tanker transports. The three aircraft, all ex Qantas 707-338Cs which were converted to tankers in the early 1990s and have been in open storage at Richmond since the fleet was retired from RAAF service in June 2008, were transferred
Up to seven ex RAAF F-111s will be offered on loan to aircraft museums and historical organisations for display, Defence Materiel Minister Jason Clare has announced. The aircraft will be loaned contingent on a number of conditions “to ensure the safe preservation of the aircraft”, including housing the aircraft inside, completing specified preservation maintenance, and
The US Navy will commence sea trials with an F-35B JSF development aircraft on October 3. Scheduled to be held aboard the LHD USS Wasp, an instrumented F-35B will conduct a number of short takeoffs and vertical landings to prove the type’s ability to operate from a vessel. Despite the initial trials being scheduled to
Iraq has made the initial payments for 18 Lockheed Martin F-16C fighters, the first step in rebuilding that country’s fast jet combat capability after almost a decade of war. The aircraft will be Block 50/52 variants, and the sale is valued at about US$3 billion. “These aircraft will help provide air sovereignty for Iraq to
