The World of Aviation

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has restructured the F-35 JSF program, sacking the head of the JSF Program Office, Major General David Heinz, reportedly replacing him with Vice Admiral David Venlet, the current commander of the Naval Air Systems Command. Gates has described the JSF program as having a “troubling performance record” of late – despite him

Russia’s Sukhoi T-50 made its first official flight on January 29 from Sukhoi/KnAAPO’s Komsomolsk-on-Amur facility in Siberia’s far east. The T-50 is the prototype of the next generation PAK-FA (Perspektivnyi Aviatsionnyi Kompleks Frontovoi Aviatsy, or Future Frontline Aircraft System) under development for Russia and possibly India to replace the Su-27/Su-30 Flanker series from late next

The RAAF has commenced C-17 pilot training in Australia with the induction of its first two pilot initial qualification (PIQ) trainees, following last year’s delivery of a C-17 full flight simulator to RAAF Base Amberley. The simulator, operated by Boeing Defence Australia on contract to the RAAF, will provide 120 simulated flight hours to the

First flight of the Boeing 747-8F is scheduled for Monday February 8 (local time), Boeing says, after announcing that the aircraft successfully completed taxi tests on February 6 at the company’s Everett facilities. “The airplane performed well,” said Mo Yahyavi, 747 program VP and GM, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Based on early indications, the airplane is

Hong Kong Airlines has placed an order for six Airbus A330-200s, taking its total commitment for A330s to 23. The airline says that it plans to use the A330s to establish new medium and long haul services.

Virgin Blue officially opened its latest The Lounge at Perth Airport on February 4, making it the sixth lounge for the airline. “While it’s been a long time coming, we are pleased travellers now have a fantastic lounge to work or relax in whether they are travelling during the day or on one of the