The World of Aviation

Boeing is sending its 787 Dreamliner on a six month world tour showing off what it touts as a game changing aircraft. The tour will begin December 4 with a weeklong stop in China where Boeing will pitch its new aircraft to government officials and representatives of Air China, China Southern and Hainan Airlines. That

An RAAF AP-3C Orion maritime surveillance aircraft has deployed to support a multi-national operation targeting illegal tuna fishing in the South Pacific. Operation KURU KURU, which ran from November 7 to 14, patrolled a 30-million square kilometre area as part of annual efforts to keep poachers out of the lucrative Pacific Tuna fisheries. The Orion

Airbus Military has started final assembly of its first production A400M transport. The French air force is scheduled to receive the airlifter (MSN7) in late 2012 or early 2013, Airbus said. Eight other A400Ms are at various stages of production. The A400M began test flights in late 2009 and is positioned as an intermediate sized

Hawker Pacific is set to tour the new jet fuel burning Diamond DA42-NG four seater piston twin around Australia early next year. The company will showcase the twin after a week long, 7150nm ferry flight from Diamond Aircraft headquarters in Austria to Darwin via eastern Europe and Asia. Powered by twin Austro Engine-made AE300 turbo diesels, Hawker says the

Virgin Australia says pre-tax profits rose during the first quarter despite higher fuel costs, but stopped short of providing specifics. The airline said it could not provide clear profit guidance because of the uncertain global economic environment but continued “to expect an improvement in underlying performance over the last financial year.” Virgin Australia reported an

Qantas is the subject of yet another less than flattering international news story after a Twitter competition to win a pair of luxury pyjamas became a contest to come up with the best line bashing the beleaguered airline. Qantas invited its Twitter followers to use the ‘#QantasLuxury’ ‘hashtag’ to Tweet their “dream luxury in-flight experience” and get