Aviation News Mega-Thread

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https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing ... 08.article

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https://www.defenseworld.net/news/27093 ... __Aircraft

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https://www.hotcars.com/boeing-block-ii ... y-testing/

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The Russian Kommersant’s reported that the Russian Ministry of Defense concluded, under new conditions, the largest contract so far for the supply of Il-76MD-90A military transport aircraft with the Aviastar-SP Ulyanovsk plant that is part of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), which again is part of Rostec.

The previous contract, dated from 2012, provided for the supply of 39 Il-76MD-90As at an average price of USD 51,3 million (3,6 billion rubles) per aircraft, in a total sum of some USD 2 billion (140 billion rubles). So far, Aviastar SP delivered six Il-76MD-90As. These will be followed by thirteen aircraft during 2020 and 2021, all under the old contract. In 2021, the new contract will be activated with fourteen new Candids that will be delivered by 2028, the unit-price will increase to USD 65 million.

The production of the Ilyushin was hindered by the acceptance of PS-90A-76 engines, manufactured by the United Engine-Building Corporation (UEC), which is also part of Rostec. UEC faced for quite a while troubles with the engine fans, but it is said these problems have been resolved.

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Lockheed Martin delivered the first KC-130J Super Hercules tanker (BuNo 169536/NY-536) assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 452 "Yankees" ('NY'-xxx'), the Marine Forces Reserve squadron at Stewart Air National Guard Base (NY) on 29 May 2020.

VMGR-452 is the second Marine Reserve squadron to operate the KC-130J and this delivery signifies the recapitalization of the squadron’s existing KC-130T fleet. VMGR-452 has operated Hercules tankers for more than thirty years, flying KC-130s in support of Operations Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

KC-130s are operated in support of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) commander by providing tactical in-flight refueling for fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and tilt-rotor aircraft; aviation delivered ground refueling of aircraft or tactical vehicles; assault air transport or air-landed or aerial-delivered (parachute) personnel and equipment; pathfinder support, battlefield illumination; tactical aeromedical evacuation; and tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel support.

Currently, besides VMGR-452 some sixty KC-130J s are operated by

VMGR-252 "Heavy Haulers" ('BH-xxx') from MCAS Cherry Point (NC), often with a detachment at Sevilla/Morón (Spain)

VMGR-234 "Rangers" ('QH-xxx') from NAS Fort Worth, JRB/Carswell Field (TX)

VMGR-352 "Raiders" ('QB-xxx') from MCAS Miramar (CA)

VMGR-152 "Sumos" ('QD-xxx') from Iwakuni (Japan)

#aviation #avgeek #avaddict #avgeeks #aircraft #aviationenthusiast #planes #LittleRockAFB #LRAFB #USAirForce #C130 #C130J #C130JSuperHercules #Hercules #militaryaviation #jetfighter #fighteraircraft #militaryaviationnews #aviationnews

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"Herk Nation" receives its last C-130J

On 27 May 2020, Air Mobility Command's 19th Airlift Wing received its final C-130J Super Hercules directly from Lockheed Martin's Marietta (GA) facility.

The delivery of the C-130J, with serial number 17-5897, marked a historic milestone for Little Rock AFB (AR) and USAF's Air Mobility Command. The particular Super Hercules was the final new C-130J to arrive at Little Rock AFB (LRAFB), being the "Home of Herk Nation". The 19th Airlift Wing began transitioning from older C-130H cargo aircraft to the newer C-130J models in 2004.

LRAFB now boasts a C-130J/C-130J.30 fleet of 47 aircraft shared between both the "operational" 19th Airlift Wing and "training" 314th Airlift Wing.​Twenty countries already operate the C-130J. Although more countries are expected to follow, Germany will be the latest country to receive the Super Hercules for the time being.

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https://simpleflying.com/emirates-a380- ... ying-2022/

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In 2015 COMAC awarded Fokker Services the contract to design the interior of the VIP-version of the ARJ-21-700.

Fast forward to 28 May 2020 when the first VIP ARJ-21 (B-001X) dubbed CBJ, or China Business Jet, flew for the first from Shanghai-Pudong.

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Montenegro is first military customer for the Bell 505

The Montenegro Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced that it signed a contract worth € 3,2 million to procure two Bell 505 Jet Ranger X for its armed forces. So Montenegro will become the first military user of the Bell 505. The first Bell 505 will be delivered in July 2020 with the second one to arrive early 2021.

In April 2019 *), Bell Helicopter demonstrated the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X (F-HJRX) as a replacement for the Vojska Crne Gora (Montenegro Armed Forces) Gazelle helicopters. At the homebase of the Helicopter Squadron at Podgorica-Gulobovci the Bell 505 was demonstrated to the Minister of Defence, Predrag Bošković, as well as officials from Bell Helicopter Europe and the Armed Forces. The Ministry of Defence announced in November 2019 that it intended to procure in total four Bell 505 Jet Ranger X for its armed forces.

The Bell 505 will replace within the next 5 years the Gazelle helicopters that are now over 30 years old. According to the Scramble Magazine database, Montenegro has 13 Gazelle helicopters in its Army inventory (plus one for the Police), of which about 8 are reported active.

It will not be the first Bell helicopters for Montenegro. In 2018 three Bell 412s were ordered and delivered within less than 9 months.

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https://www.flightglobal.com/airlines/l ... 11.article