The USAF has appointed Colonel Dawn Dunlop to head up the 412th Test Wing at Edwards AFB, the first such appointment for a female officer. Col Dunlop is a former T-38 instructor, F-15E operational pilot, and F-15 and F-22 test pilot, and was operations officer for the F-22 Combined Test Force at Edwards.
The first two RAAF C-17 pilots to be converted to the aircraft in Australia have successfully completed their Pilot Initial Qualification (PIQ) conversion course at RAAF Amberley. The 36SQN pilots, FLTLT David Whyte and PLTOFF Stephen Maunder, completed their course in early May which included time in the RAAF’s new full flight simulator which was
A report to Congress from the Pentagon justifying the continuance of the troubled F-35 JSF program has revealed the potential for further cost increases. The report, prepared by acquisition head Ashton Carter in response to a Nunn-McCurdy costs breach which required the program to be substantially restructured and forward cost and schedule estimates to be
India’s proposed purchase of 10 Boeing C-17s has been approved by the US Congress, clearing the way for final negotiations to take place. The sale, first revealed in an April Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSAC) notification to Congress, is valued at about US$5.8bn (A$6.9bn) including FMS fees, spares, training and infrastructure. “We are pleased that
Airbus Military has handed over the first of five C295 tactical transports to the Mexican air force, joining two C295s already operated by the Mexican navy. Meanwhile, an order for one additional C295 for the Finnish air force, to join two already in service, takes C295 sales to 82 aircraft ordered by 13 different operators.
The RAAF has agreed to review its future training requirements at the Evans Head weapons range on the northern NSW coast following protests from local residents and fishermen. The review order by Chief of Air Force AIRMSHL Mark Binskin comes after local media reported increased restrictions in the airspace and waters surrounding the range would
