The World of Aviation

The next Skywest Fokker 100 to be repainted in Virgin Australia livery – VH-FNR – arrived in Townsville on August 25. The aircraft, which arrived as VA9950 direct from Perth, taxied direct to the Flying Colours paintshop where other Skywest aircraft have been repainted. The second Fokker 100 to rejoin the fleet in Virgin colours

An F-35 carrier variant refuelled from a USAF KC-135 for the first time on August 20. With the completion of this test, the F-35C joins the A and B models in proving that all three variants of the F-35 can be refuelled from a common tanker platform, despite using different methods. Earlier this month Strike Fighter

Following the successful completion of Exercise Talisman Saber 2013, nearly 1,000 Australian Army and United States Marine Corps personnel are preparing to take part in Exercise Koolendong 2013, which will be conducted at the Bradshaw Field Training Area south-west of Darwin. Starting on August 28 and concluding on September 7, Exercise Koolendong will involve 150

Cessna has successfully flown the first production example of its newest business jet, the Citation M2. During the almost two-hour flight, the M2 climbed to an altitude of 17,500ft and underwent a series of tests including the Garmin 3000 avionics suite. The six-seat, 1,300nm M2 was announced in September of 2011. Type certification is expected later

To little fanfare, Boeing has rolled out the stretched 787-9 variant of its 787 Dreamliner, with the aircraft moving from the factory at the company’s Everett plant to the flightline, in preparation for a first flight “later this [northern] summer”. Boeing says the 787-9 program is “on track”, with the second and third -9 airframes

The final F-111 strike aircraft to be displayed at historical museums has begun its retirement journey to the United States. Aircraft A8-130 has been gifted to the Pacific Aviation Museum in Hawaii in recognition of the close ties between Australia and America through a long period of coalition operations. Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal