An Israeli air force colonel has been selected to train to fly as a payload specialist on a US NASA Space Shuttle mission in late 1998. The pilot, who is unidentified for security reasons, will conduct national science experiments provided by Israel, but the US space organisation will pay for the pilot's training under the conditions of an agreement which was signed in October 1996.
Source: Flight International
The January incident at Ellsworth AFB resulted in the destruction of the $450 million bomber and a rare quadruple ejection of the crew, who were attempting to execute an instrument landing during poor weather.
Athens signed a long-sought letter of offer and acceptance with airframer Lockheed Martin covering 20 F-35 stealth fighters, with options for a further 20 jets.
The joint North American Aerospace Defense Command dispatched fighter aircraft from both the USA and Canada on 24 July to intercept a combined flight of bombers from Russia and China operating in international airspace around Alaska.
