FIRST PRODUCTION 787 COMPLETES MAIDEN FLIGHT
Boeing's newest 787 has completed its maiden flight, taking off from Everett, Washington and landing just over 1h later. The aircraft, ZA102, is a temporary member of the flight-test fleet - it will eventually be delivered to launch customer All Nippon Airways - and will help demonstrate extended twin-engine operations (ETOPS), as well as complete function and reliability testing.
A330 TANKER DAMAGED IN REFUELLING MISHAP
Airbus Military is investigating the cause of an in-flight refuelling mishap that damaged a Royal Australian Air Force A330 multi-role tanker transport and a Portuguese air force Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter on 19 January. Part of the company-operated tanker's 18.2m (60ft)-long advanced refuelling boom system separated from the aircraft and fell into the sea during the training incident, but both aircraft landed safely.
BELL IN 'CLEAN SHEET' HELICOPTER PROGRAMME
Bell Helicopter has formally launched a new clean-sheet helicopter development programme called Magellan, "an official programme tasked with bringing a new product" to the marketplace, the company says in an internal newsletter, first revealed on the Sky Talk blog. Larry Thimmesch, Bell's vice-president of commercial programmes, is heading the programme.
AIR NEW ZEALAND SNAPS UP STAKE IN VIRGIN BLUE
Air New Zealand has acquired a 10-15% shareholding in Australia-based airline Virgin Blue. ANZ chief executive Rob Fyfe says the carrier has no intention of making a full takeover of Virgin Blue because Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board has capped its stake at 14.99%. Virgin Blue's largest shareholder is its UK parent, Virgin Group, with 26%.
CHINA APPROVES BOEING FLEET BONANZA
Boeing has received Chinese government approval for orders placed by Chinese airlines for 200 aircraft, worth $19 billion. The aircraft comprise narrowbody 737s and widebody 777s, to be delivered between 2011 and 2013, says the manufacturer. The aircraft are already included in Boeing's firm order backlog and comprise 185 737s and 15 777s.
BRAZIL SIGNS HERMES 450 UAV DEAL
Elbit Systems' Brazilian subsidiary Aeroeletronica has received a contract to supply an undisclosed number of Hermes 450 unmanned air vehicles to the Brazilian air force. The service conducted an evaluation of the Israeli system at its Santa Maria air base early last year.
ADS PRESIDENT ENCOURAGES GREATER FLEXIBILITY
The UK aerospace industry must work more co-operatively with the government and become more efficient, innovative and adaptable to secure its long-term future, ADS president Peter Rogers told the association's annual dinner last week. However, he praised the sector as a "success story for the British economy".
Source: Flight International
