The World of Aviation

737 Mendoowoorrji was the fourth aircraft in Qantas’s flying art series.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB)’s continuing investigation into the crash of a Sydney Seaplanes Beaver floatplane into Jerusalem Bay, north of Sydney on December 31 2017 which killed all six people on board will continue to examine the pilot’s health. The ATSB released its interim factual report into the accident involving de Havilland Canada DHC-2

Japan will have its first aircraft carriers since World War 2 after announcing its intention to acquire up to 42 short takeoff and vertical landing F-35B variants of the Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter to operate off its Izumo class helicopter carrier ships.

A RAAF C-130J Hercules has been able to put its newly-fitted external fuel tanks to good use during its participation in Exercise Christmas Drop, a US Air Force exercise to airdrop Christmas packages to remote Pacific Island communities.

Tiny Air Kiribati is to significantly grow its fleet with the acquisition of two Embraer E190-E2 jets.

Qantas has operated its first flight to Hong Kong using the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, while Singapore Airlines has introduced the Airbus A350 onto the Adelaide route.