The V-280 demonstrator in forward flight mode. (Photo: Bell) Bell’s V-280 Valor tiltrotor won against Sikorsky’s Defiant compound helicopter and is set to become the new utility rotorcraft of the U.S. Army. The U.S. Army has awarded the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft contract to Bell and its V-280 Valor tiltrotor. The announcement arrived on …
B-21 Rolls Out!
The United States Air Force has unveiled the Northrup-Grumman B-21 Raider in a ceremony in Palmdale, California. The B-21 is said to be the first sixth-generation stealth bomber, leapfrogging a few fifth-generation aircraft, including the Lockheed-Martin F-22 and F-35 fighters. It’s reportedly more capable in numerous respects than any bomber in the world, though what …
IFTS: A Deep Dive Into The Joint Italian Air Force – Leonardo Training Centre
One of the Leonardo-owned M-346s of the International Flight Training School. (Photo: Leonardo) The IFTS will train up to 80 pilots per year using dedicated infrastructures, training ranges and reserved airspace. The International Flight Training School (IFTS) has become internationally renowned, throughout its four years of operations, as one of the most advanced and state-of-the-art …
Explosion Hits Engels-2 Airbase, Russia, Reportedly Damaging At Least Two Tu-95 Bombers
Screenshot from the CCTV showing the explosion in Engels-2 airbase on Dec. 5, 2022. In the box, a satellite image of Engels-2 airbase from Google Maps. According to the first reports, at least two Russian Tu-95 Bear bombers were damaged in the attack. Engels-2 airbase, located in Saratov Oblast, some 400 km southeast of Moscow …
Let’s Have A Closer Look At The B-21 Raider Stealth Bomber
Some of the most interesting details we have noticed in the B-21 Raider (Image credit: David Cenciotti/The Aviationist) Here’s our second analysis of the Northrop Grumman B-21 sixth generation stealth bomber. It was short, sweet and stealthy. The rollout ceremony for the new Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider was a well-produced but succinct event that hinted …
Italian Army Takes Delivery Of Its 60th And Final UH-90A Helicopter
Italian Army UH-90A (Image credit: NHIndustries) Italian Army’s UH-90A helicopter fleet handover complete. The Esercito Italiano took delivery of the the 60th and final UH-90A (NATO designation for the Italian Army NH90 TTH) multirole helicopter. The aircraft, assembled at Leonardo’s Venice Tessera facility, was handed over the service on Nov. 25, 2022, during an official …
U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Nose Gear Collapse Incident At Kadena Air Base
A screenshot from NHK media outlet showing the F-35B after the nose gear collapse. (via NRH) The 5th gen aircraft suffered a nose gear down collapse during towing. An F-35B Lightning II, belonging to the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 ‘Green Knights’, was involved in an incident on the ground at Kadena Air Base, …
Dallas Midair Tragedy: New Videos Show Startling Change in Flight Path of P-63
Multiple foreign news outlets shared a video earlier this week that appears to show a foreign object striking the Bell P-63 Kingcobra just moments before it dove into the midsection of a Boeing B-17 at the Wings over Dallas Air Show. The resultant midair collision killed all five occupants of the B-17 and the solo …
NTSB Calls For Special Operating Rules for Alaska Air Tours
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Wednesday published a letter urging the FAA to develop and implement new airspace regulations for Ketchikan, Alaska, a popular air tour area. The proposed framework of regulations would be, according to the NTSB release, “…specific to Ketchikan to require more conservative flight visibility minimums and enhanced weather training …
Take A Look At These Photos Of An F-35 Flying With The ALE-70 Towed Decoy Door Open
A quite rare sight: an F-35 flying with the flare and ALE-70 towed decoy dispenser doors open. (All images: Steve Fortson) The ALE-70 towed radio frequency countermeasure is stored under a hatch next to the dual infrared countermeasures dispenser doors, that appear to be open too. The images in this post were taken last week …