The Boeing Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) 737 Avionics Flying Laboratory made its first flight at Wichita on 26 March. Boeing Aerospace Support has modified the aircraft to accommodate special avionics and instrumentation for development of the JSF. After two test flights lasting 2h, the 737 was delivered to the Boeing JSF site in Seattle. Boeing began design work on the 737 test aircraft in April last year, and started modifying it in December.
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.
