ARIE EGOZI / TEL AVIV
The Israeli air force's F-16I multirole fighter made its first flight from Lockheed Martin's Fort Worth plant in Texas on 23 December, clearing the way for production deliveries to begin in the first quarter of this year. The 55min debut assessed the aircraft's flight controls and landing gear, plus its environmental control, cockpit and basic avionics systems. Atotal of 102 two-seat F-16Is will be manufactured for Israel until 2008.
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.
