The World of Aviation

Boeing has announced that it will add a further two 787s to its flight test program for the type after announcing recently that delivery of the first aircraft will be delayed until the middle for the first quarter of 2011. Unlike the six aircraft originally identified as being involved in the flight test program, the

The world’s first all-electrically powered aircraft made its first flight from Le Bourget airport near Paris on September 2. The four engine, all-eletric Cri-Cri aerobatic aircraft was jointly developed by EADS Innovation Works, Aero Composites Saintonge and the Green Cri-Cri Association, and its maiden flight lasted for seven minutes before the aircraft returned to Le

US lessor Willis Lease Finance Corporation has signed a memorandum of understanding to purchase four Sukhoi SuperJet 100s and four options. The agreement is valued at US$300m (A$330m), with the first aircraft expected to be delivered in 2012.

Virgin Blue and Etihad Airways have begun winding back their relationships with Emirates and Qantas respectively after the announcement of a wide ranging codeshare alliance between the two airlines. Virgin Blue has announced that it will end its codeshare arrangement with Emirates on trans-Tasman services while it will also sever its loyalty program relationship. The

Rolls-Royce says that there is no link between the uncontained failure of a Trent 1000 during ground testing and the delay in delivering the first 787. The engine manufacturer said in a statement to Australian Aviation that the failure of the engine during a test run in early August “caused no disruption to the Boeing

An uncontained engine failure on board Qantas Boeing 747-400 VH-OJP earlier this week could be linked to a recently issued FAA Airworthiness Directive (AD)  which was issued following the discovery of cracks in the low pressure turbine of a number of Rolls-Royce RB211 engines. The AD, which takes effect from September 27, calls for the