The World of Aviation

F-35B development aircraft BF-1 performed the JSF’s first vertical landing on March 18 at NAS Patuxent River near Washington. Pilot Graham Tomlinson (a former RAF Harrier pilot) put the aircraft down on a Pax River ramp smoothly after slowing to a hover, as can be viewed here. The vertical landing came just one day after the aircraft’s

Air New Zealand has announced a number of changes which will more closely align its trans-Tasman and Pacific services with its domestic product, including removing business class on a number of services. The changes will see Air NZ standardise its Airbus A320s used on trans-Tasman and Pacific services to an all-economy 171-seat configuration, dropping business

Reports out of JSF partner nation Denmark this week suggest that country may be wavering in its support of the F-35 program and is perhaps leaning towards ordering the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet instead. Danish broadcaster DR has reported that cost increases and program delays meant the Danish Defence Command was longer considering the F-35

The 747-8 flight test program has passed another milestone with the first flight of the third and final 747-8F flight test aircraft, RC521, on March 18. Crewed by pilots Captains Paul Stemer and Keith Otsuka, plus systems operator Ralph Chaffin, RC 521 took off from Paine Field in Everett at 3:27 pm for a two-and-a-half-hour

Philippine Airlines started its first services between Manila and Brisbane on March 18, making it the third Australian gateway for the carrier. The twice weekly services are operated by a 302 seat Airbus A330-300 in two class configuration. The carrier has also introduced the higher capacity 777-300ER on Sydney and Melbourne services during February.

The Royal Federation of Aero Clubs of Australia (RFACA) has chosen four students from around Australia to receive $6000 scholarships from Airservices Australia to aid with their flying training. The four winners are Joanna Cantly and Vanessa O’Brien from Darling Downs Aero Club in Toowoomba, Lauren Mengel of Alice Springs Aero Club and Sam Regan