Published by Michael October 27th, 2009
in Airbus and Photos.
The first Airbus A330-200 Freighter is seen here in preparation for ground tests in advance of its maiden flight scheduled for November 2009.
The most notable visual difference to the passenger version is a bulge on the bottom of the fuselage right above the nose gear. To overcome the cool looking standard A330’s nose-down body angle on the ground, unfortunately the A330F makes use of a revised nose landing gear layout. 
The same leg will be used, however it will be attached lower in the fuselage, requiring a distinctive blister fairing on the nose to accommodate the retracted nose-gear.
The A330-200F received its industrial go-ahead in January 2007. The first A330-200F has been rolled out in Toulouse on October 20, 2009.
The A330-200F is a mid-size, long-haul all-cargo aircraft capable of carrying 64 tonnes over 4,000 NM / 7,400 km, or 69 tonnes up to 3,200 NM / 5,930 km. It introduces a new versatile main-deck cargo loading system that will be able to accommodate both pallets and containers. Several different arrangements will be possible on the main deck, taking up to 23 Side-by-Side (SBS) pallets, aimed at the high volume, high value commodities or Single Row (SR) loading of 16 pallets (96 in X 96 in X 125 in SR pallets) and/or nine AMA containers aimed at the general cargo higher density markets.
Power is provided by two Pratt & Whitney PW4000 or Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines.
As of 1 January 2009, Airbus had 65 firm orders from nine customers: Aircastle (7), BOC Aviation (5), Etihad Airways (3), Flyington Freighters (12), Guggenheim Aviation Partners (2), Intrepid Aviation Group (20), MatlinPatterson (6), MNG Airlines (2), and OH, Avion LLC (8). Additionally ACT Airlines has signed an MOU for 2. The first delivery will be to Flyington Freighters in Spring 2010.
Photo: Airbus
Published by Michael September 2nd, 2009
in Photos, Aviation News and Boeing.
Boeing continues to make progress on the assembly of the 747-8 Freighter, as mechanics completed the installation of the new GEnx-2B engines on airplane No. 1 in final assembly at the factory in Everett, Wash.
The GEnx-2B continues its progress through its engine certification testing. It recently completed the first phase of flight testing on GE’s 747 flying testbed.
The GEnx-2B is based on the GEnx-1B engine launched with the 787 Dreamliner. The GEnx-2B engine has been designed for the 747-8 and rated at 66,500 pounds of thrust.
With the GEnx-2B engines, the 747-8 Freighter will be 17 percent more fuel efficient than the 747-400 Freighter, resulting in a 17-percent reduction in carbon emissions. It also will have a noise footprint that is 30 percent smaller than its predecessor, making it a QC2-compliant airplane on both departure and arrival.
The 747-8 Freighter is expected to make its first flight in the fourth quarter of this year, with first delivery scheduled for the third quarter of 2010. Boeing has secured 78 orders for the new 747-8 Freighter. Cargolux, Nippon Cargo Airlines, AirBridgeCargo Airlines, Atlas Air, Cathay Pacific, Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, Emirates SkyCargo, Guggenheim and Korean Air all have placed firm orders for the airplane.
Thx to Boeing for providing the photo.
Source: Boeing
Photo: Boeing
Published by Michael August 28th, 2009
in Photos, Military and Lockheed Martin.
Lockheed Martin recently released photos showing the inside of their new Airborne Multi-Intelligence Laboratory (AML). The Lockheed Martin AML is based on the Gulfstream III business jet and will be used “to tailor advanced sensor combinations to resolve specific military, strategic intelligence and homeland security mission needs.”
The plane features a computing capability that supports most commercial operating systems, a radome on the belly of the aircraft with ample volume for a range of sensors, and four workstations. In addition, the AML can process data both onboard and on the ground to accommodate a variety of experiments. While the AML is equipped with a robust suite of sensors as well as wideband and narrowband data links, the intent is to rotate sensors as necessary to answer specific requirements. To achieve that goal, the AML incorporates an easily reconfigurable architecture designed to allow different sensors and equipment to be rapidly integrated into the aircraft’s mission systems.
The airborne test bed received its Experimental Airworthiness Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Wednesday.
Photos via Flickr
Source: Lockheed Martin
Published by Michael August 25th, 2009
in Photos, Boeing and Orders & Deliveries.
Boeing today delivered a 777-300ER (Extended Range) to KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (Reg: PH-BVD - Name: “Nationaal Park Amboseli”). The airplane has been painted in a special SkyTeam livery in celebration of the alliance’s 10th anniversary. Today’s delivery marks the start of an in-service evaluation using chrome-free decorative paint and primer.
Photo: Boeing
More photos at Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nustyr/3856519598/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nustyr/3855729967/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nustyr/3855729713/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nustyr/3856520306/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nustyr/3856520138/
As part of Boeing’s lifecycle approach to reducing environmental impact and in response to KLM’s and other customer’s requests, Boeing has introduced a chrome-free primer and chrome-free exterior decorative paint to this airplane. In addition to simplified health and safety monitoring requirements, a chrome-free primer reduces the environmental impact of the paint and stripping process. Removing chrome from the paint and primer eliminates the need for special handling of paint waste and clean-up and designated offsite disposal areas.
Boeing will apply the non-chrome paint and primer on up to 14 airplanes across Boeing models for in-service evaluation with the intention of making it a standard option in the future.
Source: Boeing
Published by Michael August 24th, 2009
in Photos, Aviation News and Bombardier.
The first test component, a fuselage test barrel, for the new CSeries single-aisle aircraft, has been delivered to Bombardier’s Saint-Laurent, Quebec facility. The test barrel is representative of the main fuselage section of the upcoming CSeries aircraft. Its production and testing will demonstrate the manufacturing and engineering structural concepts before the aircraft’s final design phase begins in 2010. The CSeries aircraft’s entry into service is scheduled for 2013.
The test barrel, which measures approximately 23 feet (7 m) long and has a maximum diameter of approximately 12 feet (3.7 m), is made of advanced aluminum alloys. These materials have been selected to provide weight and maintenance advantages for CSeries jetliner operators.
Built by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, a unit of China Aviation Industry, the test barrel left Dalian, China on July 20, 2009, traveled across the Pacific and then 2,500 miles from California to Quebec.
Over 10 per cent of the CSeries aircraft will be manufactured in China by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation. Shenyang also supplies the empennage, as well as the aft and forward fuselage sections for Bombardier’s Q400 turboprop airliner.
Bombardier’s 110-seat and 130-seat CSeries aircraft will benefit from the latest technological advancements, including: fourth generation aerodynamics; increased use of composites and advanced aluminium alloys in structures; a next-generation engine – the Pratt & Whitney PurePowerTM PW1000G engine; and the very latest in system technologies, such as fly-by-wire and electric brakes.
Photo: Bombardier
Source: Bombardier
Published by Michael August 20th, 2009
in Photos and Airshows.
This week the 4th Red Bull Air Race of the 2009 season was taking place in Budapest (Hungary).
On Wednesday, American Kirby Chambliss upset championship leader Hannes Arch in Qualifying at 4th round, snatching one championship point away from the Austrian with the fastest time of the day. Australia’s rookie sensation Matt Hall got a career-best third while Arch’s main rival for the overall title, Britain’s Paul Bonhomme, fell to sixth place.
Today the American Michael Goulian won the thrill-filled final race, while Britain’s Paul Bonhomme grabbed second place and knocked Austrian Hannes Arch out of the championship lead in a thrilling battle over the Danube River in front of a national holiday crowd of 650,000. American Kirby Chambliss grabbed third place, which dropped Arch into fourth and off the podium for the first time in over a year. German rookie Matthias Dolderer took a career-best fifth place.
Photos
Photos by Red Bull (Thanks!)
Published by Michael August 12th, 2009
in Airbus, Photos and Aviation News.
Airbus recently completed two test composite fuselage sections for the new Airbus A350 XWB jetliner at the Hamburg (Germany) facility. The 18 metre long A350 XWB demonstrator fuselage helped to validate the production process for this widebody jetliner’s composite airframe.
Photos
Photos: Airbus/M.Lindner
Published by Michael August 8th, 2009
in Photos.
The world’s largest cargo plane, the Antonov An-225 Mriya (UR-82060) was spotted at Kiev - Gostomel (UKKM) (Ukraine) wearing a fantastic new livery!
Photos from Airliners.net and JetPhotos.net
The new design consists of blue and yellow stripes which represents the flag of the Ukraine. An “Antonov Airlines” logo is painted on the vertical stabilizers.
Published by Michael July 22nd, 2009
in Photos and Boeing.
Boeing today released photos of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight test airplane that has been painted in a special Boeing livery.
The fifth 787 flight test airplane (N787FT) is painted white with blue accents. The new livery incorporates visual and color elements from the distinctive blue-and-white Boeing Commercial Airplanes livery seen on the first 787 flight test airplane and other new commercial models. The simplified paint scheme will be applied to the three remaining unpainted flight test airplanes (Nos. 3, 4 and 6). Airplane No. 2 has been painted in the colors of launch customer ANA of Japan.
The modified livery, which saves time and expense compared to the full Boeing livery, will remain on the airplane until the flight test program is completed and it is refurbished and delivered to a customer.
The airplane’s two GEnx engines have been temporarily removed and returned to GE Aviation so that planned minor improvements can be made.
Source: Boeing
Photos: Boeing
Published by Michael July 21st, 2009
in Photos and Boeing.
Boeing today published a new photo, showing that they took a major step closer toward completing the assembly of the first 747-8 Freighter. Last week the forward and aft fuselage sections were loaded to join with the wing and center section.
The 747-8 Freighter is 250 feet, 2 inches (76.3 m) long, which is 18 feet and 4 inches (5.6 m) longer than the 747-400 Freighter. The stretch provides customers with 16 percent more revenue cargo volume compared to its predecessor. That translates to four additional main-deck pallets and three additional lower-hold pallets.
Boeing has secured 78 orders from cargo operators for the new 747-8 Freighter. Cargolux, Nippon Cargo Airlines, AirBridgeCargo Airlines, Atlas Air, Cathay Pacific, Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, Emirates SkyCargo, Guggenheim and Korean Air all have placed orders for the airplane.
Source: Boeing
Photo: Boeing
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