The World of Aviation

Qantas has made some equipment changes on flights from Perth to Singapore and Sydney due to what it says are pilot training requirements. From July 22, its twice-daily Perth-Singapore flights with Boeing 737-800s will be reduced to daily with Airbus A330 widebodies. Meanwhile, Boeing 747-400s will replace A330 equipment on selected flights between Perth and

  Virgin Australia has commenced nonstop flights from Sydney to Hong Kong as part of its ongoing expansion into North Asia. The inaugural flight VA83 took off from Sydney Airport’s Runway 16L a little after 1000 local time on Monday. It was due to land at Hong Kong’s Chek Lap Kok Airport about nine and

Manufacturing of the centre fuselage for the F-35 Lightning II fighter has entered full-rate production (FRP) at Northrop Grumman’s integrated assembly line (IAL) at Palmdale in California. The centre fuselage production rate has increased to a production interval (PI) of 1.5 per day, meaning a centre fuselage for any of the three models of the

A General Atomics Predator B will cross the Atlantic under its own power for the first time as it makes its way for display at this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT). To be known as the Protector RG Mk.1 in RAF service, the aircraft will fly non-stop from North Dakota to RAF Fairford in

Qantas has begun the long goodbye for aviation’s most iconic figure, the Boeing 747. The finishing tape has been set for 2020, the year of the airline’s centenary. There will be much sadness, and much said, over the ensuing 30 months between now and when the 747-400 ferries its last passengers in Qantas colours. Nostalgia

It was a case of all smiles at Airbus’s Toulouse headquarters when the first BelugaXL rolled out of the paintshop. The over-size transport aircraft has been painted in a special Beluga whale-inspired livery including whale-inspired eyes and an enthusiastic grin. The first BelugaXL completed final assembly in early January. The aircraft will undergo ground testing