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Articles from
March 2008
| Monday, March 31, 2008 |
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Boeing delivers third Globemaster to Canada
By FlyingNews @ 7:18 AM :: 64 Views ::
0 Comments :: Military Aviation
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Canada’s third CC-177 Globemaster III has been delivered by its manufacturer, Boeing, to the Air Force. The Air Force accepted Canada Three in early March at the company's Long Beach, Calif. final assembly facility.
Canada is scheduled to receive its fourth and final CC-177 from an existing contract, signed in February last year, during an upcoming ceremony later this spring.
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| Monday, March 31, 2008 |
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Bell Boeing Strategic Alliance Scores Five-Year Contract for V-22 Osprey
By FlyingNews @ 7:15 AM :: 81 Views ::
0 Comments :: Military Aviation
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Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today that the U.S. Department of Defense has awarded a $10.4 billion, five-year Multi-Year Procurement contract for 167 V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft to a strategic alliance between Bell Helicopter and The Boeing Company.
"This is a significant step in the V-22 program," said Dick Millman, Bell Helicopter president and CEO. "This five-year contract will allow us to plan much further out as we order long-lead materials, invest for capacity growth, increase our production rate, and deliver these unique aircraft on time to a war-fighting customer who really needs them."
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| Friday, March 28, 2008 |
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EADS-led AirTanker consortium signs 27 year air refuelling contract with the U.K. Ministry of Defence
By FlyingNews @ 7:27 AM :: 91 Views ::
0 Comments :: Military Aviation, Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers
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AirTanker, the EADS-led consortium, has today signed a 27 year contract with the UK Ministry of Defence for the provision of air transport and air refuelling capability to the Royal Air Force. The AirTanker consortium has also completed its financing for the programme, raising approx £2.5 billion (€3.2 billion) for investment in the fleet, a new state-of-the-art operational base and associated infrastructure.
The Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) programme includes the provision of a fleet of 14 new tanker aircraft, based on the latest generation Airbus A330-200 to enter service from 2011, replacing the previous fleet of VC-10 and Tristar refuelling aircraft. The contract also includes provision for all necessary infrastructure, training, maintenance, flight management, fleet management and ground services to enable the RAF to fly air-to-air refuelling and transport missions worldwide. The A330 FSTA aircraft will be more than 50% British by value. Through this agreement, EADS will become the RAF’s leading supplier of transport aircraft, complementing its existing commitment to supply 25 A400M aircraft to the UK forces.
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| Friday, March 28, 2008 |
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Diamond Aircraft receives FAA Known Ice Certification for the DA42
By FlyingNews @ 7:24 AM :: 206 Views ::
0 Comments :: General Aviation, FAA, Small Aircraft Manufacturers
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Diamond Aircraft announced today that the DA42, its turbo-diesel powered light twin, has received FAA Known Ice Certification. The FAA certification expands the coverage of the original EASA Known Ice Certification to N-registered aircraft, and enables US pilots to get even more utility out of their DA42 aircraft.
Burning a total of 12 gallons per hour on both engines, the DA42 has a range of up to 1,100 nm, and cruises at speeds up to 170 kts. With its twin turbo-diesel, FADEC-controlled engines, the G1000 glass cockpit, and now the ŒFIKI¹ certification, the DA42 is a superbly capable traveling machine.
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| Friday, March 28, 2008 |
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Boeing Announces Agreement to Acquire Vought Share of Global Aeronautica
By FlyingNews @ 7:10 AM :: 90 Views ::
0 Comments :: Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers
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Boeing [NYSE: BA] announced today it has agreed to acquire Vought Aircraft Industries’ interest in Global Aeronautica, LLC, a South Carolina fuselage sub-assembly facility for Boeing’s newest airplane, the 787 Dreamliner. After the transaction is complete, Global Aeronautica will become a 50-50 joint venture between The Boeing Company and Alenia North America, a subsidiary of Italy’s Alenia Aeronautica — a Finmeccanica Company. Vought will continue to produce the aft fuselage for the 787 at its facility adjacent to Global Aeronautica in North Charleston.
Closing will occur following receipt of regulatory approvals. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction will not affect Boeing’s current financial guidance. Boeing’s supplier management organization will continue to oversee Global Aeronautica along with the other major 787 supplier-partner team members.
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| Thursday, March 27, 2008 |
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Northrop Grumman's Global Hawk Unmanned Aircraft Sets 33-Hour Flight Endurance Record
By FlyingNews @ 7:21 AM :: 95 Views ::
0 Comments :: Military Aviation
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Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) RQ-4 Global Hawk set an endurance record for a full-scale, operational unmanned aircraft on Saturday, March 22, 2008, when it completed a flight of 33.1 hours at altitudes up to 60,000 feet over Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
"It was a picture perfect flight, landing flawlessly on centerline with enough fuel remaining to continue for two more hours," said Jerry Madigan, Northrop Grumman vice president of high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) systems. "The pilots and ground crew, as well as Edwards Air Force Base senior leadership were very impressed with the Global Hawk's performance, meeting or exceeding every flight objective."
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| Thursday, March 27, 2008 |
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AeroConversions Introduces AeroVee 2.1
By FlyingNews @ 7:18 AM :: 371 Views ::
0 Comments :: Sport Aviation, Homebuilding
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Sonex Aircraft, LLC announced the latest evolution in the AeroConversions product line this week with the introduction of the AeroVee 2.1 Engine Kit. AeroVee 2.1 is now the standard AeroVee engine kit, replacing the AeroVee 2.0. The AeroVee 2.1 continues the Sonex Aircraft and AeroConversions tradition of simple, elegant design.
Due to the increasing volume of AeroVee engine sales, Sonex and AeroConversions has been able to incorporate new features that enhance the already robust AeroVee design. The new AeroVee 2.1 features a purpose-built custom crankshaft that has a larger diameter and longer prop hub interface. This new design also eliminates the distributor drive gear and the racer spacer, making for an easier assembly. AeroVee 2.1 continues to use standard bearings, eliminating the need for custom bearings and allowing for easy replacement at overhaul time. All external steel conversion components are also now zinc plated for improved aesthetics and additional corrosion resistance.
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| Thursday, March 27, 2008 |
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Garmin® GPSMAP® 495: A Feature Rich, Great Value GPS for Pilots
By FlyingNews @ 7:13 AM :: 93 Views ::
0 Comments :: Aircraft Avionics
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Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, announced today the GPSMAP 495, a portable aviation device designed for pilots who want many of the same features as the popular GPSMAP 496 at a fraction of the cost. The GPSMAP 495 includes Garmin’s SafeTaxi® airport diagrams, Garmin’s Smart Airspace, AOPA’s Airport Directory data, enhanced high-resolution terrain database, aviation database with private airports and heliports, accelerated GPS update rate, and European VFR reporting waypoints.
“Those familiar with our aviation handheld product line will see the GPSMAP 495 as a cross between the GPSMAP 296 and GPSMAP 496 because it provides some of the advanced features found on the GPSMAP 496, but is closer to the GPSMAP 296’s price point,” said Gary Kelley, Garmin’s vice president of marketing.
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| Thursday, March 27, 2008 |
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Boeing Returns 2nd C-130 AMP Aircraft to Edwards Air Force Base
By FlyingNews @ 7:07 AM :: 55 Views ::
0 Comments :: Military Aviation
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The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has returned the second C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) aircraft, H2.5, to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., for continued testing and software upgrades.
A joint Boeing and U.S. Air Force crew from Louisville, Ky., flew the aircraft to the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards on March 22. The aircraft, assigned to the 123rd Airlift Wing, 165th Airlift Squadron, Kentucky Air National Guard, was in Kentucky for a comprehensive inspection and its first defensive systems check.
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| Wednesday, March 26, 2008 |
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| Wednesday, March 26, 2008 |
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HeliNiugini Takes Delivery of First of Two Bell 407 Helicopters
By FlyingNews @ 8:21 AM :: 74 Views ::
0 Comments :: Helicopters
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Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced the recent delivery of the first of two Bell 407 helicopters to HeliNiugini, a long-term Bell customer operating in Papua New Guinea (PNG).
HeliNiugini have been flying 206L's for over 20 years and anticipate the 407's will enable the work done in support of seismic research, oil and gas exploration and gold mining to be done at a higher altitude and with shorter cycle times.
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| Tuesday, March 25, 2008 |
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FAA Orders Inspections of Older 737s
By FlyingNews @ 7:44 PM :: 84 Views ::
0 Comments :: Commercial Airlines, FAA, Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers
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Federal regulators have ordered inspections for hundreds of older model Boeing 737 jetliners after numerous reports of fuel leaks caused by a potentially faulty bolt.
In August, a fire destroyed a China Airlines 737 when a bolt from a right wing slat pierced the jetliner's fuel tank. All 165 people aboard evacuated unharmed just before the Boeing plane exploded on a tarmac in Okinawa, Japan.
The Federal Aviation Administration later that month ordered inspections of similar newer model 737s, but expanded the order to older models because of their design similarities, agency spokesman Les Dorr said Tuesday.
You can read the entire article here.
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| Tuesday, March 25, 2008 |
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South Korea's Black Eagles to fly KAI T-50
By FlyingNews @ 9:19 AM :: 219 Views ::
0 Comments :: Military Aviation, Aerobatics
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South Korea’s air force aerobatics team will use the Korea Aerospace Industries T-50 from 2010, after the service inked a 10-aircraft deal worth an estimated 200 billion won ($200 million) this week.
The “Black Eagles”, who have performed over 500 times outside South Korea, last flew the Vietnam War-era Cessna A-37 “Dragonfly” that was retired in 2007 after the Seoul air show.
The team will be formed again after the first T-50 is delivered in 2010.
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| Tuesday, March 25, 2008 |
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Business Jet Door Falls Off; No One Hurt
By FlyingNews @ 8:52 AM :: 111 Views ::
0 Comments :: Flying Accidents, Business Flying
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Aviation officials say the main passenger door fell off a twin-jet business plane as it was taking off from a Colorado airport.
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Mike Fergus says the door tumbled from the Bombardier Challenger CL-60 shortly after takeoff Monday from Grand Junction Regional Airport. No one was hurt.
He says that he doesn't know how high the plane was, but that it returned to the airport and landed safely. He also didn't know how many people were aboard, but the plane can seat about 20 passengers.
You can read the entire article here.
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| Tuesday, March 25, 2008 |
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Pilot Error Cited in Indonesia Crash
By FlyingNews @ 8:42 AM :: 79 Views ::
0 Comments :: Commercial Airlines, Flying Accidents
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An Indonesian pilot shouted "Pull up! Pull up!" seconds before his jetliner plunged into the sea last year, killing all 102 people on board, according to an investigation Tuesday that blamed his errors and a faulty navigation system for the disaster.
"This is really bad. It is starting to fly like a bamboo ship," said one of the two pilots before the Boeing 737 crashed, according to comments captured by the cockpit voice recorder. "This is crazy!"
Last week, the government revoked low-cost carrier Adam Air's operating license because of its poor safety record.
You can read the entire article here.
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| Tuesday, March 25, 2008 |
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Pilot's Gun Fires on US Airways Flight
By FlyingNews @ 8:37 AM :: 97 Views ::
0 Comments :: Commercial Airlines, Weird Flying News
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A gun belonging to the pilot of a US Airways plane discharged as the aircraft was on approach to land in North Carolina over the weekend, the first time a weapon issued under a federal program to arm pilots was fired, authorities said Monday.
The "accidental discharge" Saturday aboard Flight 1536 from Denver to Charlotte did not pose a danger to the aircraft or the 124 passengers, two pilots and three flight attendants aboard, said Greg Alter of the Federal Air Marshal Service.
You can read the entire article here.
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| Tuesday, March 25, 2008 |
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KLM pilot unaware of new airport
By FlyingNews @ 8:35 AM :: 75 Views ::
0 Comments :: Weird Flying News
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Mumbai - A KLM flight en route from Amsterdam to Hyderabad in India circled the country for several hours before flying on to New Delhi due to confusion about Hyderabad's new airport. The pilot had set course for the city's old airport but air traffic control told him the facility had been shut and directed him to fly to the new airport.
The pilot did not know the new airport existed let alone had been opened and flew to New Delhi instead. Air traffic control refused permission to land and the pilot eventually managed to put the plane, with 243 passengers on board, down in Mumbai.
Indian papers are reporting that Amsterdam had not been informed of the closure of Hyderabad's old airport and the opening of the new one.
You can read the entire article here.
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| Tuesday, March 25, 2008 |
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Small plane missing off coast of Venice
By FlyingNews @ 8:31 AM :: 70 Views ::
0 Comments :: Flying Accidents
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Rescuers say they're searching for a missing plane that crashed off the Venice Pier late Monday night.
According to officials, three small training planes were working out of the Venice Airport at around 9:00 p.m. on Monday. They say two of them returned, but the third did not.
Witnesses in the area of the pier say they saw the plane go down about a mile off the coast, but so far the wreckage hasn't been found.
You can read the entire article here.
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| Tuesday, March 25, 2008 |
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First Flight for The Lancair Evolution
By FlyingNews @ 8:16 AM :: 165 Views ::
0 Comments :: Homebuilding, Business Aircraft Manufacturers, Small Aircraft Manufacturers
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Lancair International, Inc. is pleased to announce the latest addition to its line of high performance aircraft kits the Evolution, has achieved first flight. The Evolution aircraft kit is the result of 3.5 years of engineering, research and development at Lancair to produce a more spacious aircraft that will meet all flight handling characteristics required by FAA Part 23, including a 61 knot stall speed, while maintaining the Lancair tradition of extraordinary high performance.
In addition, the Evolution provides a new level of safety to the experimental kit market by providing the BRS® parachute system, Energy absorbing seats, and the AmSafe Aviation® airbag seat belts for those customers who demand the latest in occupant safety!
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| Friday, March 21, 2008 |
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GULFSTREAM G200 SETS SEVEN CITY-PAIR RECORDS
By FlyingNews @ 7:43 AM :: 89 Views ::
0 Comments :: Business Flying, Business Aircraft Manufacturers
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A Gulfstream G200 business jet recently set seven city-pair speed records in just 10 days, connecting cities in North America, Europe and Asia.
The large-cabin, mid-range G200 took off from Gander International Airport in Gander, New Foundland, Canada, on Feb. 16 and flew 2,193 nautical miles northeast-bound with 4-knot tailwinds at an average speed of 0.79 Mach. It landed at the London Luton Airport 4 hours and 45 minutes later. Gulfstream International Captain Eric Henman was the pilot in command and Captain Nicholas A. Rose served as second in command. On board the aircraft were flight attendant Emily Caldwell and one passenger.
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| Friday, March 21, 2008 |
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Dassault's Falcon 2000DX Enters Service
By FlyingNews @ 7:39 AM :: 89 Views ::
0 Comments :: Business Flying, Business Aircraft Manufacturers
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The Falcon 2000DX entered service recently when Dassault delivered the first aircraft to a customer in the Western United States.
Dassault introduced the 3,250 nm Falcon 2000DX at the NBAA Convention in 2005. The first flight followed on June 19, 2007 and the program was approved by the EASA on September 19, 2007 and the FAA in October 3, 2007. The Falcon 2000DX replaces the Falcon 2000 in Dassault’s product line.
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| Friday, March 21, 2008 |
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Airline Orders Six CRJ700 NextGen Aircraft
By FlyingNews @ 7:37 AM :: 61 Views ::
0 Comments :: Commercial Airlines, Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers
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Bombardier Aerospace announced today that it has received a signed firm order for six CRJ700 NextGen regional jets. The airline which placed the order has also taken options on an additional 10 aircraft, and has requested to remain unidentified at this time.
Based on the list price for the CRJ700 NextGen aircraft, the value of the order is approximately $207 million US. If all 10 options are exercised, the value of the order could rise to approximately $562 million US.
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| Friday, March 21, 2008 |
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Boeing Statement on 787 Center Wing Box
By FlyingNews @ 7:36 AM :: 81 Views ::
0 Comments :: Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers
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It is a normal part of the development of a new airplane to discover need for improvements, and that is what we are experiencing on the 787. The robust test process in place on the 787 program has confirmed the majority of our designs but we have found the need for some improvements.
The center wing box issue has been addressed. The fix is being installed on Airplanes 1-6 in the Everett factory. Installations have begun on the four airplanes currently in Final Assembly. All airplanes after Airplane 7 will have the solution incorporated from the beginning.
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| Friday, March 21, 2008 |
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ALOHA AIRLINES FILES FOR CHAPTER 11 BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION
By FlyingNews @ 7:30 AM :: 72 Views ::
0 Comments :: Commercial Airlines
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Aloha Airgroup, Inc., a Hawaii corporation whose principal operating subsidiary is Aloha Airlines, Inc., announced today that it filed a voluntary petition for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Aloha will seek the Court’s approval to allow the Hawaii-based company to continue operating.
Aloha is also seeking Court approval of a cash collateral financing arrangement with its principal working capital lender, General Motors Acceptance Corporation, to provide financing for operations pending a further hearing in accordance with bankruptcy rules. In doing so, Aloha seeks to protect 3,500 jobs, honor thousands of passenger travel reservations, keep the U.S. Mail and air cargo moving between the islands, and continue to provide essential ground-handling services for domestic and international airlines serving Hawaii.
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| Friday, March 21, 2008 |
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First Two AgustaWestland Helicopters With Versace Interiors Delivered
By FlyingNews @ 7:28 AM :: 73 Views ::
0 Comments :: Helicopters
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AgustaWestland is pleased to announce that the first two helicopters fitted with Versace-styled interiors have been delivered to their customers during an official ceremony held at its Vergiate plant today. The two aircraft comprising a Grand light twin turbine engine helicopter featuring a black and white interior and paint scheme and an AW109 Power light twin with a grey-coloured Versace-styled interior, ordered by Ioan Tiriac Air of Romania and Elimarca of Italy respectively, were formally accepted by the customers.
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| Wednesday, March 19, 2008 |
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Embraer Completes First Phenom 300 Wing and Engine Installation
By FlyingNews @ 7:32 AM :: 92 Views ::
0 Comments :: Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers
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Embraer successfully performed the wing-fuselage mating and installation of the engines of the first Phenom 300 executive jet, last week, at its Gaviao Peixoto plant. In addition, the first electrical power-on test was successfully completed on Tuesday, March 4.
“We are excited to see the Phenom 300 program on schedule for a mid-year first flight,” said Luis Carlos Affonso, Embraer Executive Vice President, Executive Jets. “The size and elegance of the aircraft, with its swept wing for high-speed cruise and long range, will make an impressive ramp presence. It is now becoming apparent how large the cabin is and how generous it is in terms of space and comfort.”
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| Wednesday, March 19, 2008 |
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Singapore Airlines' A380 lands at Heathrow
By FlyingNews @ 7:26 AM :: 92 Views ::
0 Comments :: Commercial Airlines, Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers
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History was made today with the arrival of the first commercial flight of the world's largest passenger aircraft, the A380, into London's Heathrow Airport. Singapore Airlines' flight SQ308 landed at 2:50 pm local time with a full load of 471 passengers plus crew.
This first A380 commercial service to Europe follows the delivery of the third A380 to Singapore Airlines on 11 March. Fitted with luxurious suites, award-winning four-abreast business class and a new, more spacious economy class, the A380 allows the airline's customers to travel to London in unprecedented comfort and
space.
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| Tuesday, March 18, 2008 |
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Cessna Introduces New 350 and 400 Aircraft to World Wide Sales Force
By FlyingNews @ 8:13 AM :: 121 Views ::
0 Comments :: Business Aircraft Manufacturers
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Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, this month introduced the new Cessna 350 and 400 aircraft to its Cessna Sales Team Authorized Representatives (CSTAR) at a conference in Bend, Ore. where the 350 and 400 are produced.
The conference included briefings from Cessna executives, Cessna Finance Corporation, Cessna Aircraft engineers and sales representatives from the Bend Municipal Airport facility and the Cessna Advanced Aircraft Club. A tour of the production facility was also provided to the CSTARs.
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