The World of Aviation

Key JSF partner nation, Norway, has announced it will delay its planned acquisition of the aircraft for about two years so it can order a more mature aircraft. Norwegian defence minister Grete Faremo announced the delay to “ensure operational maturity and optimum cost of production on the Norwegian aircraft.” Whilst previous plans were for deliveries

Captain Cameron Tribe has been appointed as the new chair of Swinburne University’s Aviation Industry Advisory Committee. Tribe, who is a senior 737 training captain at Virgin Blue and has also held various managerial positions, succeeds former chair Captain Mark Krieger. The Aviation Industry Advisory Committee helps to ensure the university’s aviation programs are industry

Eurocopter commenced flight tests of its X3 (pronounced, ‘X-cubed’) hybrid helicopter demonstrator on September 6 at the Istres test facility in southern France. In order to keep development costs down, the X3 is a blend of the AS365 N3 Dauphin fuselage, EC155 main rotor, EC175 gearbox, NH 90 engines, and features the twin fin tail

Strategic Airlines has lodged an application with the International Air Services Commission (IASC) to allow it to start up to six services per week to Thailand. The application seeks the equivalent of 4.2 Boeing 747 capacity units on the Thailand route, which would allow it to launch six weekly services with its 274 seat Airbus

The USAF took delivery of its first HC-130J Hercules on September 23. The aircraft was the 200th C-130J to be delivered by Lockheed Martin, and the 1500th C-130 to be taken by the US military since production of the original C-130A commenced in 1956. Australia has operated four versions of the C-130; 12 C-130As which

Virgin Blue has experienced another computer issue which has led the delays of some flights, although the airline has not been forced to cancel any services. According to various media reports, the airline’s New Skies check-in system experienced a “slowdown” on the morning of September 29 which forced airport agents to switch to manual check