The World of Aviation

The fifth Airbus Military A400M, ‘Grizzly 5’, has made its first flight, taking off from Seville, Spain, on a 2hr 10min flight on December 20. Grizzly 5 is the fifth and final member of the A400M flight test fleet, which to date Airbus Military says has now completed more than 2500 hours of the planned 3700 hour

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified the US Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia of 10 Alenia C-27J transport aircraft and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of US$950 million. The December 19 notification says Australia has requested a possible sale of the aircraft

The small team at Australian Aviation wishes all our readers, whether of the magazine, website and Express, and followers of our Facebook page, a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous 2012. We have enjoyed bringing you coverage of the many high profile aviation and defence events of 2011, and look forward to bringing

Japan will purchase 42 Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters as it moves to cope with increasing security concerns in northeast Asia. The Pentagon’s F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) said Japan’s initial letter of agreement will include four conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) F-35As to be delivered in 2016 and built as part of low-rate

Australia’s business elite will joint forces with its top gourmands to raise money for homeless and hungry Sydneysiders. The Qantas-sponsored “CEO CookOff” will see teams of 10 executives competing to prepare meals for some 1000 poor people. The CEOs will be assisted by 30 of Australia’s celebrity chefs, including Qantas ambassador Neil Perry, Peter Gilmore,

Northrop Grumman has successfully completed first flight of its re-engined E-8C Joint-STARS battlefield surveillance test aircraft. The US Air Force last year contracted Northrup to overhaul a pair of its E-8Cs by replacing their TF33 turbofans with Pratt & Whitney JT8D-219 engines. The Boeing 707 based Joint-STARS fleet has suffered in availability and field performance