A RAAF C-17A Globemaster which supported relief efforts in earthquake and tsunami stricken Japan has returned to Australia, after two weeks in-country under Operation Pacific Assist. “Now that the initial crisis response is over and the focus of the mission has changed from search and rescue to reconstruction, there are sufficient resources available in Japan
A dual generator failure that caused the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter test fleet to be grounded on March 11 has been attributed to a faulty maintenance procedure which left excess oil in the aircraft’s lubrication system, according to the Joint Program Office (JPO). According to reports maintenance documents have been now been changed to improve
General Electric and Rolls-Royce have chosen to self-fund development of their F136 engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, after the US Department of Defense issued a 90 day stop-work order on March 24. “The stop-work order will remain in place pending final resolution of the program’s future, for a period not to exceed 90
Airbus Military’s A400M transport has completed a series of tests to verify its minimum unstick speed, or Vmu. Designed to test the lowest speed at which an aircraft can takeoff, the A400M has its nose raised as a special bumper bar fitted to the fuselage deliberately struck the ground at a maximum pitch-up angle of
A RAAF C-130J Hercules is currently in Norway to take part in an international exercise focused on the J model C-130. Fifteen RAAF members from Richmond based 37SQN are currently participating in Exercise Combined Strength 2011, being held at Norway’s Bodø Air Force Base from March 19 to 25. Open to countries who operate the
The Royal Air Force has phased out the last of its Panavia Tornado F3 air defence variants (ADVs), after a 25 years service career. Operations officially came to an end with the March 22 disbandment of 111 Squadron, which had operated the F3 from RAF Leuchars, Scotland, since 1990. Since July 2009 111 Sqn had been
