lørdag 30. september 2023

F-35 er ikke ferdig testet - DefenseNews

 

Det er vanskelig å skjønne at dette er nå og ikke for 10 år siden. (Red.)



F-35 program finishes years-late tests needed for full production

By Stephen Losey

 Sep 29, 06:28 PM




Two U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs from the 421st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron taxi on the runway at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Sept. 5, 2023. The Pentagon has completed a series of key simulation tests of the F-35's combat capabilities, that could pave the way for a full rate production decision. (Tech. Sgt. Leah Ferrante/Air Force)

WASHINGTON — The F-35 program has completed a long-delayed series of crucial tests, which could pave the way for a decision next year to officially move the advanced fighter jet into full-rate production.

The Joint Simulation Environment tests, known as “runs for score,” were finished Sept. 21, as was the initial trial validation, F-35 Joint Program Office spokesman Russell Goemaere said in an email to Defense News Friday.

The Pentagon’s Office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation, will now analyze the data collected in the tests, which were conducted through much of September. DOT&E’s report on the F-35′s performance in the JSE tests could be delivered to Pentagon leaders by the end of December.

The Joint Simulation Environment’s 64 test trials at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland were designed to put all three versions of the F-35 through a variety of in-depth scenarios, similar to situations they would likely encounter in real-world combat.

DOT&E said in a report released in January that those scenarios would include defensive counter-air, cruise missile defense, and combined offensive counter-air, air interdiction and destruction of enemy air defense trials.

The completion of the JSE tests marks a crucial step for the program — one that is needed before the F-35′s initial operational test and evaluation phase can be closed, and the Pentagon can make a Milestone C decision that officially authorizes it to enter full rate production.

In an interview with Air and Space Forces Magazine this month, the head of the F-35 program, Lt. Gen. Michael Schmidt said a Milestone C decision would likely be made in early 2024. But Schmidt acknowledged to the magazine that the fighter is already being built at nearly full capacity, muting the effect a full-rate production authorization would have. Lockheed Martin typically aims to build roughly 150 F-35s each year.

The watchdog Project on Government Oversight has criticized the Pentagon for producing F-35s as if it were already in full-rate production, before such crucial tests were completed. POGO analyst Dan Grazier told Defense News earlier this year that if the F-35′s testing finds problems with the fighter before a full-rate production decision is officially made, it would mean hundreds of fighters already built and in use could need extensive retrofitting.

The Pentagon originally hoped to make a Milestone C decision on the F-35 in December 2019, but the deadline repeatedly slipped as the setup of the Joint Simulation Environment fell further behind schedule.

Creating the simulation environment proved challenging for the department, and the Pentagon struggled with the verification, validation and accreditation process. The tests fell years behind schedule.

In a roundtable with reporters at the Air and Space Forces Association’s Air Space Cyber conference earlier this month, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said he was confident the JSE would allow the F-35 to go through the tests it needs, and said it contained “a really remarkable set of capabilities.”

Kendall said many of the JSE test results would be classified.

GA ulykke i Zimbabwe - ASN

 


Date:Friday 29 September 2023
Time:c. 07:03 LT
Type:Silhouette image of generic C206 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Cessna 206 Stationair
Owner/operator:RZM Murowa
Registration:Z-CAM
MSN:
Fatalities:Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6
Aircraft damage:Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Category:Accident
Location:6 km NW of Mashava -    Zimbabwe
Phase:En route
Nature:Passenger
Departure airport:Harare-Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport (HRE/FVRG)
Destination airport:Murowa Mine
Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources
Narrative:
A Cessna 206 Stationair operated by RZM Murowa, crashed in the Zvamahande area.
The six occupants died and the aircraft was destroyed.

Briter går bananas - Aviation23.be

 

Eight (!) unruly passengers compel easyJet flight bound to Tenerife to divert to Lanzarote – Similar problem with another easyJet flight to Fuerteventura

By

 André Orban

 -

29 September 2023

0

955

The easyJet flight came from Manchester and had to make an emergency landing in Lanzarote

Emergency situation in the air on easyJet flight U22011 from Manchester to Tenerife South airport, operated by Airbus A320 registered G-EZOP. This has been forced to divert to Lanzarote airport due to the presence of eight passengers who were violent on board the aircraft.

This has been reported by the air traffic controllers through an account on the social network X, formerly known as Twitter.

According to the crew, there was a risk of attacks on board, which made it necessary to facilitate a direct route and shorten the approach as much as possible. Police presence at the airport has been coordinated once the flight landed.

The flight continued to Tenerife after the turbulent passengers were taken into custody at Lanzarote. But the return flight U22012 from Tenerife South to Manchester has been heavily delayed by some 10 hours for checks into the aircraft.

Another flight from the same company bound for Fuerteventura expedited its landing due to problematic passengers

Added to this incident was another incident also on easyJet company flight, specifically the U22311 that left London Luton at 13:30 bound for Fuerteventura. The crew told controllers that it had several problematic passengers on board. Given this situation, they expedited their approach manoeuvre while the police presence was coordinated upon their arrival. The plane landed at 18:08 this Friday.

Source: El Dia, La Provincia, Flightradar24

Mali Air Force operert Il-76 havarerte i Mali - Telegram video


Flyet hadde over 100 ombord hvorav de flest var Wagner soldater. Sjekk den elendige landingen med tragisk utfall her: https://tinyurl.com/3an438ta



Date:Saturday 23 September 2023
Time:c. 0900 UTC
Type:Silhouette image of generic IL76 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Ilyushin Il-76
Owner/operator:Malian Air Force
Registration:TZ-98T
MSN:1023411378 ?
Fatalities:Fatalities: 2 / Occupants:
Aircraft damage:Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Category:Accident
Location:Gao International Airport (GAQ/GAGO) -    Mali
Phase:Landing
Nature:Military
Departure airport:
Destination airport:Gao Airport (GAQ/GAGO)

Narrative:
An Ilyushin Il-76 suffered an accident during landing at Gao International Airport (GAQ/GAGO) in Mali.

The aircraft touched down late on runway 06L (2500 m long) and failed to stop on the remaining runway. It travelled another 380 m past the end of the runway, crossed a perimeter road and went down an embankment.
A fire erupted, which consumed a large part of the aircraft.

An unknown number of occupants were aboard. It was reported that a Russian pilot and a Malian crew member were among the fatalities.

AF/KLM med storhandel hos Airbus - AW&ST


Typisk når en er på reise er dårlig dekning. Her vi er nå, i en Airbnb utenfor barokkbyen Scicli langt sør på Sicilia, er det dekning. Vi drar herfra nordover til byen Cefalu. På veien passerer vi Sigonella, nær Etna som hadde et oppgulp i går. Ser du på FR24 vil du se et par helikoptre utenfor- eller nær Pozzallo. De kikker etter asylsøkere. Alt går som planlagt med oss. Været har vært vekslende med regn og tordenbyger. Temperaturen er normal, rundt 25 grader. Mye bading.  (Red.)



September 2023


The Air France-KLM Group will place an order for 50 Airbus A350 family aircraft - with purchase rights for 40 additional aircraft - to accelerate the renewal of its long-haul fleet

- Air France-KLM to become the world’s largest operator of the Airbus A350 family aircraft.


The Air France-KLM Group today announced that it plans to place a landmark aircraft order to pursue the renewal and rationalization of its long-haul fleet, to the benefit of the Group’s environmental and economic performance.

This Group order will cover 50 Airbus A350-900 and A350-1000 aircraft - with purchase rights for 40 additional aircraft - with first deliveries expected in 2026 through to 2030. This will be an evolutionary order, providing the Group with flexibility to allocate aircraft within its portfolio of airlines, according to market dynamics and local regulatory conditions.

Air France-KLM CEO Benjamin Smith stated: "This new order will be a major step in the renewal of the Group’s fleet. The Airbus A350 is a state-of-the-art aircraft with an excellent track record at Air France, where it has rapidly become a favorite among passengers and crew since its entry into service in 2019. It is the perfect fit for the network needs of the Group and boasts outstanding performances: it is a quieter, more fuel efficient and more cost-effective aircraft compared to previous generations. It will be instrumental in helping the Group reach our ambitious sustainability targets, including -30% CO2 emissions per passenger kilometer by 2030(1) .”

These aircraft will replace previous-generation aircraft, namely Airbus A330 and older Boeing 777 aircraft.

This new order will come in addition to an existing Air France-KLM order for 41 Airbus A350-900s for Air France, of which 22 have been delivered to date.

Air France-KLM will also be among the launch customers of the Airbus A350 Full Freighter version of the aircraft, having ordered 8 aircraft to renew and expand its cargo fleet.

With these combined orders, covering up to 99 aircraft, Air France-KLM would become the world’s largest A350 family aircraft operator.

The Airbus A350 symbolizes the transition to a more sustainable air transport industry. The aircraft consumes 25% less fuel than an equivalent-sized, previous-generation aircraft, thanks to the use of lighter materials: 53% composites and 14% titanium. Its noise footprint is also reduced by 40%.

Fleet renewal is the Group’s primary lever to immediately cut CO2 and noise emissions. Alongside the use of sustainable aviation fuel and eco-piloting techniques, it is one of the pillars of the Group's decarbonization trajectory, which aims for -30% CO2 emissions per passenger/km by 2030 compared to 2019. Since the 2000s, Air France-KLM has reduced its noise footprint by 40% and the Group continues to work with all its stakeholders to adapt its operations.

By 2028, the share of new generation aircraft in the Air France-KLM fleet will reach 64%, compared to 5% in 2019.

As of September 25, 2023, Air France-KLM operated a fleet of 533 aircraft to over 300 destinations worldwide. Once this order is placed, the Group will have over 220 aircraft on order, including 100 Airbus A320neo family aircraft, with first deliveries expected by the end of 2023.

This order remains subject to standard company approvals.

fredag 22. september 2023

God natt

 Bloggen tar ferie og reiser til Sicilia i morgen. Tilbake den 7.10. Kanskje sporadiske innslag underveis.



Godt jobba...... Mye skjedde mens denne var på vakt - Flightradar24


 Dere fortjener en pitcher kald Coors i messa på SIG i kveld. Lurer på om norske besetninger får bli med på slike turer? Det burde de jo. Men det er vel for dyrt.(Red.)



Emirates trenger A380 flygere og ber erfarne Airbusflygere søke - Gode lønnsvilkår - Curt Lewis



Emirates seeks to recruit new A380 pilots with tempting set of perks


Dubai based flag-carrier Emirates is looking to recruit new pilots to fly its fleet of Airbus A380 aircraft.


As well as securing one of the most lucrative positions in the aviation industry, potential future Emirates A380 pilots are also being offered a host of impressive perks.


The airline is inviting experienced pilots to apply for positions as captain and first officer with a virtual recruitment afternoon, taking place on October 4, 2023, with the Emirates recruitment team.


A380 Direct Entry Captains’ Program

To join the A380 direct entry captains’ program, Emirates requests that prospective employees have accrued a “minimum of 7,000 hours total flying time multi-crew, multi-engine”.


Only time spent operating a turboprop and/or turbojet aircraft can qualify, and not periods that have been spent in a simulator.


It is also a requirement that those applying have recently obtained a minimum of 3,000 hours in command of an Airbus fly-by-wire (FBW) wide-body aircraft, which includes the A330, A340, A350 and A380.


For successful candidates, contracts will be open-ended and include a full monthly roster with a minimum of eight days’ leave.


Flights are single or multi-sector and can be one to nine days in duration, with layover periods generally lasting 24 to 48 hours. New pilots will receive a salary of $12,000 a month, tax-free.


Other benefits will include concessional travel tickets, accommodation provided by Emirates and 42 days holiday a year.


If pilots have children, Emirates will also provide $12,000 a year per child for schooling.


Pilots will be chauffeured to the airport when they are on duty and then driven home following their shift.


Business class upgrades to first class, free company uniform dry cleaning and an annual profit share are also included.


Accelerated Command

Emirates are also recruiting pilots to join as A380 first officers on an “enhanced salary package with an accelerated command upgrade scenario”.


Recruits will need to have operated in the right-hand seat for a minimum of 700 stick hours and complete two Pilot Proficiency Checks (PPC’s).


If they meet the required standards and display the necessary level of performance, they will then be eligible for accelerated command via an assessment process and an upgrade course.


To qualify for the opportunity, candidates will need to have had a “minimum of 6,000 hours on multi-crew, multi-engine aircraft” and currently be “type rated as a commander on an Airbus FBW aircraft with a minimum of 1,500 hours on type”.


Those accepted onto the program will receive a salary of $9,923 a month tax-free and benefit from 42 days holiday a year.


More information about Emirates’ recruitment drive can be found on its career opportunities webpage.


https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/emirates-recruiting-pilots-airbus

Ubemannede marinefartøyer over Stillehavet - Stars & Stripes

 

Slike fartøyer blir vel hilst med et virtuelt marineorkester ved ankomst. (Red.)


Navy’s unmanned surface ships make historic visit to Japan

By 

ALEX WILSON


STARS AND STRIPES • September 21, 2023



The USV Ranger, an unmanned surface vessel, completed its first trip to Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, with the USV Mariner on Sept. 18, 2023. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)

YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — Two of the U.S. Navy’s first autonomous ships arrived at the home of the U.S. 7th Fleet on Monday, a journey across the Pacific that marked several firsts and tested the ships’ durability.

The USV Ranger and USV Mariner, both unmanned surface vessels homeported at Naval Base Ventura County, Calif., arrived at Yokosuka after several weeks of operations in the Indo-Pacific.

The ships over the past month participated in exercises like Large Scale Exercise 2023 — operating in conjunction with the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and its strike group — while Navy evaluated the new technology, according to Cmdr. Jeremiah Daley, head of Unmanned Surface Vessel Division One.

“During these operations, we seek to gather new insights into these emerging technologies to provide essential learning opportunities for our leadership to set a course for future unmanned projects and additional prototypes; and eventually full integration into fleet operations,” Daley told media pierside at Yokosuka on Thursday.

Langtur for fly med korte bein..... Qantas B717 på tur via SVG - AirLive video

 


Even worst! It took 34 days, 16 flights and 13 countries to ferry a single Qantas Boeing 717 to graveyard in California

Sep222023

News

Qantas is sending its old Boeing 717’s fleet at the other side of the earth to be dismantled.

The Boeing 717s have to flight to Victorville, USA to be stored, probably destroyed.

The question is why Qantas is sending its aircraft that far despite having a storing field at Alice Springs.

We already noticed the aircraft VH-NXI took 13 flights and 9 days to reach its final destination.

But there is worst! An aircraft took 34 days, 16 flights to reach Victorville in California’s desert.

The plane (reg. VH-NXR) left Canberra on 12 July, here are the flight legs:

  • Canberra to Alice Springs, Australia (12 July 2023)
  • Alice Springs to Darwin, Australia
  • Darwin to Cebu, Philippines
  • Cebu to Chubu, Japan
  • Chubu to Chitose, Japan
  • Chitose to Taipei, Taiwan
  • Taipei City to Rayong, Thailand
  • Rayong to Naqpur, India
  • Naqpur to Muscat, Oman
  • Muscat to Hurghada, Egypt
  • Hurghada to Sofia, Bulgaria
  • Sofia to Stavanger, Norway
  • Stavanger to Reykjavík, Iceland
  • Reykjavík to Goose Bay, Canada
  • Goose Bay to International Falls, USA
  • International Falls to Victorville, USA (15 August 2023)

The aircraft has flown on regional and domestic routes for QantasLink for the past 15 years. All up, it has completed more than 29,000 flights and safely carried more than 1.6 million customers for both Qantas and Jetstar over two decades.

F-35 - Grusomme tall for flyets tilgjengelighet ved operative avdelinger i USA - Stars & Stripes



Dette gjelder altså USA og vitner om en alvorlig krise gjeldende for lagerbeholdning av vitale deler. Er det bedre her? (Red.)

F-35 fighter jets ‘mission capable’ only 55% of the time, watchdog report finds

By 

MATTHEW ADAMS

STARS AND STRIPES • September 21, 2023



Marine Corps pilot Maj. N.H. “Robo” Thayer conducts a conventional landing of a F-35B Lightning II at Naval Air Facility El Centro, Calif., in February 2021. (Drew Verbis/U.S. Navy)

WASHINGTON — F-35 fighter jets are available to fly only 55% of the time, and 73% of replacement parts must be sent back to suppliers because the Pentagon’s maintenance depots are inadequate, according to a new report from government auditors.

“The military services must take over management of F-35 sustainment by October 2027 and have an opportunity to make adjustments — specifically to the contractor-managed elements,” the Government Accountability Office wrote in its 96-page report released Thursday. “Reassessing its approach could help [the Defense Department] address its maintenance challenges and reduce costs.” 

En USN P-8A på vei mot Svartehavet - Flightradar24

 


Om en uke passerer jeg Sigonella, utgangspunktet for flyet over, i bakkenivå. på vei vestover mot Cefalu

F-35A norske i Finland - The War Zone / X

 

Sjekk The War Zone med lengre rapport her: https://tinyurl.com/2fxx3rnr

lmavoimat
🇳🇴F-35A’s operating out of Tervo road base verifies that the #F35 is suitable for the #FinnishAirForce's dispersed operations combat method, says Major General Juha-Pekka Keränen, the Commander of the .