The World of Aviation

F-35A development aircraft AF-01 and AF-02 have flown from Lockheed Martin’s Forth Worth factory in Texas nonstop to Edwards AFB in California to commence flight test operations with the USAF. The two aircraft are the first of eight to be eventually based at Edwards for propulsion, aerial refuelling, logistical support, weapons integration and flight envelope

The US House Armed Services Committee has added funding for the GE/RR F136 engine for the JSF program to the FY011 US defence budget after funding was omitted by the Pentagon, the fifth year in a row this has been done. The US$485m (A$553m) in funds would allow development of the F136 engine to continue.

The Navy’s three AgustaWestland A109 Power helicopters provided under the Retention and Motivation Initiative (RMI) by Raytheon Australia achieved 1500 hours over the last contract year. The milestone was recognised by Raytheon Australia’s managing director, Michael Ward, on May 13. “From its inception this program has characterised everything we are about as a company –

London’s airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick, were forced to close for six hours on May 17 due to new ash clouds from Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano. The new ash clouds have also forced airport closures in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Netherlands, including Amsterdam-Schiphol and Rotterdam airports, which is expected to have a major knock-on effect

Albany regional airport in the southwest of WA was shut briefly on May 16 after a bomb scare. WA Police says that a call was made to airport officials at approximately 4:30pm on the Sunday afternoon, warning that a bomb had been placed in the airport building. The terminal was subsequently evacuated and a search

The US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has ceded to Pentagon advice and Congressional support and has approved a multi-year buy of 124 F/A-18E/F/G Super Hornets for the US Navy. The contract, expected to be awarded in the near future, will reportedly see the aircraft acquired for at least 10 per cent less per unit, or