Fighter Jet Times - November 10, 2016

November 10, 2016

A USMC F-35B caught fire during a routine training flight, and made an emergency landing at Beaufort, South Carolina.  The incident was classified as a Class-A mishap - meaning that over $2 million of damage occurred.  The fire reportedly initiated in the airplane's internal weapons bay.
http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/11/07/marine-corps-f35-caught-fire-training-flight.html


Analysts are reporting that the Pentagon's decision to unilaterally impose final terms on the latest contract for F-35 fighters - after being unable to reconcile negotiating positions between the Defense Department and prime contractor Lockheed Martin - is likely to cut into Lockheed profits during coming years.  Lockheed Martin already earns a smaller profit margin for each F-35 sold than it earns for legacy aircraft such as the F-16.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/lockheed-pentagon-battle-over-f-35-price-1478264213


Repairs are reportedly underway for the first two F-35 fighters destined for delivery to Israel, to correct the faulty wiring insulation that has plagued recent examples of the stealth fighter.  The repairs are not expected to delay the planned delivery date in early December.
https://www.algemeiner.com/2016/11/03/report-after-insulation-fix-iafs-first-two-stealth-fighter-jets-set-to-arrive-in-israel-as-planned-next-month/


Japan's domestically produced stealth fighter technology demonstrator, the X-2 is expected to enter field tests by Japanese Ministry of Defense pilots this coming month.
http://www.defenseworld.net/news/17579/Japan___s_First_X_2_Stealth_Fighter_Jet_To_Be_Tested_This_Month#.WCRNC9QrLs0


Four RAF Eurofighter Typhoons have joined U.S. and South Korean fighters in training maneuvers over South Korea.  The RAF fighters also participated in recent training exercises in Malaysia and Japan, as part of the first Eurofighter Typhoon deployment to the Far East.
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2016/11/09/2016110900916.html


Two USMC F/A-18 fighters collided off the coast of San Diego.  The pilot of one of the aircraft was able to make an emergency landing at a U.S. Naval Air Base, while the other pilot ejected safely and was recovered at sea.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/marine-fighter-jets-collide-off-san-diego-pilots/story?id=43429571


India's government has approved Defense Ministry plans for the purchase of 83 Tejas fighter jets, as well as 15 helicopter gunships, 464 tanks and 598 mini-drones.
http://thediplomat.com/2016/11/india-orders-83-new-fighter-jets-15-helicopter-gunships-and-464-tanks/


Construction has reportedly begun on a prototype for a second version of China's FC-31 stealth export fighter.  The FC-31 is smaller than the J-20 stealth aircraft that recently entered low rate production for Chinese domestic use.
http://www.janes.com/article/65359/new-details-emerge-on-shenyang-fc-31-fifth-generation-export-fighter


The unveiling of China's first operational stealth fighter, the J-20 at this past month's Zhuhai Air Show has continued to stir apprehension among China's neighbors.
http://asia.nikkei.com/magazine/20161110-MISSION-CONTROL/Politics-Economy/China-s-new-J-20-stealth-fighter-stirs-up-questions

Space Highlights - November 9, 2016

November 9, 2016

The launch of NASA's GOES-R weather satellite was delayed for a second time, this time due to "technical issues" with the United Launch Alliance booster rocket.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/space/os-weather-satellite-delay-ula-20161107-story.html


Space-X has confirmed that it has determined the cause of its Falcon 9 booster explosion on September 1st, attributing the launch failure to an unexpected interaction between supercooled solid oxygen and the carbon-fiber materials that make up the tank.  The event occurred while filling the booster's liquid helium tanks - which are used to maintain pressure in the liquid oxygen and fuel tanks during launch.
http://fortune.com/2016/11/05/spacex-satellite-launch-order/


Despite confirmation that SpaceX has identified root cause for the Falcon 9 launch explosion in September, European satellite provider Inmarsat is examining alternative venues for launching its next communications satellite.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musks-spacex-may-lose-inmarsat-launch-order-1478165008
http://www.valuewalk.com/2016/11/spacex-inmarsat-satellite/


China successfully launched its first Long March 5 rocket this past week, introducing China's heaviest booster yet into service, with more than twice the launch capacity of prior Chinese rockets.  Among other objectives, the Long March 5 is expected to launch China's future Mars probes in 2020.  This first launch this past week carried the Shijian-7 satellite on its way towards geosynchronous orbit.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-space-idUSKBN12Z0AF
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3903972/China-says-new-rocket-brings-space-station-plans-closer.html


The latest time-lapse video from NASA's Cassini spacecraft reveals the formation, movement and dissipation of methane clouds in the atmosphere of Saturn's largest moon, Titan.
http://astronomy.com/news/2016/11/methane-clouds-over-titan


NASA's Opportunity rover has begun what is expected to be the final two years of its mission to Mars, after spending the month of October studying the geology of the Wharton Ridge, on the western rim of Endeavour Crater.  The rover is expected to drive into the crater in coming weeks - from whence it is unlikely to be able to climb back out again.
http://theusbport.com/opportunity-mars-rover-set-for-last-missions-to-find-water/20842


NASA is investigating a possible link between thruster problems with the Juno spacecraft, in orbit around Jupiter, and malfunctions of a similar thruster aboard a recently launched Intelsat satellite.
http://spacenews.com/nasa-investigating-possible-link-between-juno-and-intelsat-thruster-problems/


NASA's Dawn spacecraft has identified a mysterious landslide at the edge of a 10-km wide impact crater, labeled Oxo, on the surface of the dwarf planet Ceres.  The landslide is believed to hold clues into the structure of Ceres' surface.
http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2016/11/04/dawn_image_of_oxo_crater_on_ceres_shows_it_may_have_triggered_a_massive.html

Wide Body Report - November 8, 2016

November 8, 2016

The engine failure aboard an American Airlines' Boeing 767 last month has been tied to cracks in an HPT turbine disk.  The NTSB has confirmed that fatigue cracks have been found in the 2nd-stage CF6-80 turbine disk, indicating that the crack had initiated prior to the failure event, and that the cracks had been propagating.
http://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/dramatic-ge-engine-explosion-on-boeing-767-poses-puzzle-for-investigators/
http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2016/11/04/ntsb-american-airlines-engine-failure-showed-signs-fatigue/93285768/
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/engine-turbine-disk-had-fatigue-crack-before-ohare-plane-fire/


British Airways has unveiled a plan to squeeze an extra 52 seats onto its Boeing 777 economy flights.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/11/07/british-airways-to-squeeze-extra-52-seats-onto-boeing-777-econom/


Boeing has rolled out the first 777-300ER destined for United Airlines, fresh from the paint shop.
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/pictures-boeing-rolls-out-uniteds-first-777-300er-431099/


Air India has announced plans to resume Boeing 777 service on its New Delhi to London route.  Air India routinely adjusts its aircraft routing assignments to reflect seasonal changes in air traffic.
http://indianexpress.com/article/business/aviation/air-india-to-resume-boeing-777-services-on-its-new-delhi-london-route-3732696/


Boeing has reduced the number of engineers on contract that are assigned to support 777X development, cutting back several dozen contract engineers in October with a similar number notified that their contracts will not be renewed at year-end.
http://www.heraldnet.com/news/boeing-cutting-back-contract-engineers-on-777x-development/


China Southern signed a Memorandum of Understanding with GE Aviation at this year's Airshow China, for the delivery of GEnx-1B engines to power its 12 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners currently on order.
http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12276813/china-southern-selects-genx-engine-to-power-its-boeing-787-dreamliners


Qantas has unveiled its new livery and interior for its upcoming Boeing 787 Dreamliner deliveries.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2016/10/31/qantas-logo-livery-dreamliner/93074980/


Vietnam Airlines has taken delivery of its first of three Airbus A350-900 aircraft on order.
http://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/vietnam-airlines-receives-another-airbus-a350-3491990.html


Emirates has announced the shortest A380 route in the world: from Doha to Dubai.
http://www.traveller.com.au/emirates-announces-shortest-a380-route-in-the-world-doha-to-dubai-gsf2g5


Emirates plans to introduce the A380 super-jumbo on two New Zealand routes, with service to both Christchurch and Auckland.
http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/emirates-brings-airbus-a380-to-two-new-zealand-routes/

Single Aisle News - November 7, 2016

November 7, 2016

Embraer released its 2016-2035 Market Outlook for China, projecting a market requirement for 1,030 new aircraft in the 70 to 130 seat size class during this period.  Embraer's E2 family of E-Jets is projected to capture the major share of this regional jet market.
http://www.traveldailynews.asia/news/article/63246/embraer-projects-1-030-new-jet


China's Qingdao Airlines has selected Pratt & Whitney's PW1100G engine to power its fleet of 18 A320 NEO aircraft currently on order.
http://www.aerospace-technology.com/news/newsqingdao-airlines-selects-pws-purepower-engine-for-new-a320neo-aircraft-5657360


The China Development Bank (CDP) has selected the CFM International LEAP-1A engine to power its first batch of A320 NEO aircraft.
http://atwonline.com/engines/china-s-cdp-leasing-selects-cfm-leap-1a-engine-power-a320neos


Boeing has rolled out its first Boeing Business Jet 737 MAX-7 aircraft.
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/nbaa-boeing-unveils-bbj-737-max-7-430951/


Russia's Irkut has projected that they could sell as many as 980 MC-21 aircraft worldwide, the first prototype for which is expected to fly at the end of this year.
http://www.rusaviainsider.com/irkut-forecasts-980-mc-21-aircraft-to-be-sold-by-2035/


China's Comac has announced that China Easten Airlines will become the launch customer for its C919 single aisle airline, currently under development.  China Eastern placed a firm order for five C919 aircraft during this past week's Zhuhai Air Show.  Orders from SPDB Financial Leasing, and Citic Financial Leasing (both Chinese based lessors) brought the new order total to 23 for the air show, with options for 33 more.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-airshow-china-china-eastern-idUKKBN12W2Y2?il=0
http://www.reuters.com/article/airshow-china-comac-idUSB9N1CW002

Fighter Jet Times - November 3, 2016

November 3, 2016

The Department of Defense has concluded negotiations with Lockheed Martin for the ninth low rate initial production (LRIP) batch of F-35 fighters.  The contract covers the delivery of 57 additional aircraft.  To close the agreement, however, the U.S. government had to exercise a unilateral contract option - a rarely used clause that automatically imposes standard terms and conditions from previous contracts to bridge remaining differences between the government and Lockheed Martin negotiating positions.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-lockheed-pentagon-contract-f35-exclus-idUSKBN12X2LK


The Pentagon has notified Congress that it will require an additional $530 million in aircraft testing costs to complete the development of the F-35.  The request follows the release of another memo from the Pentagon's Director of Operational Testing, recommending that "the program be restructured now."
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-11-02/lockheed-s-f-35-said-to-need-500-million-more-for-development


Turkey has placed an order for a second batch of F-35 fighters, bringing its total order to 116 aircraft.
http://www.defensenews.com/articles/turkey-to-place-new-f-35-order


The first two F-35 fighters are expected to arrive in Israel on December 12th, with another six to be delivered in 2017, out of a total of 33 on order.
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/israel-plans-speedy-introduction-of-f-35i-431012/


The USAF's Scientific Advisory Board is being funded to launch studies in FY 2017 to help outline the requirements for a Penetrating Counterair Aircraft, which many in the industry are already labeling as a sixth-generation fighter.
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/air-force-scientific-advisory-board-takes-second-loo-431023/


China's J-20 stealth fighter made its air show debut at this year's Zuhai Air Show, with two fighters putting on a low altitude performance.  The J-20 recently entered low rate production.  Also featured at the air show was the latest version of China's J-10 fighter, the J-10B.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-j-20-fighter-jet-makes-public-debut-1478003124


Also on display at this year's Airshow China were the latest attempts to develop Chinese jet engines, including a display copy of the WS-10A, which is intended to eventually replace the Russian-built AL-31F engines which power China's J-10 and J-11 (Su-27) fighters.
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2042432/china-air-show-shows-latest-fighter-jet-engines


Chinese officials accused Japan of engaging in "unprofessional, dangerous provocative behavior" during the intercept of Chinese warplanes over the East China Sea.
http://thediplomat.com/2016/10/china-accuses-japan-of-endangering-its-military-aircraft/


India's government has set a goal to procure up to 200 single-engine fighters in an effort to recapitalize its air force fleet.  The F-16 and Sweden's Gripen are both expected to be entries in the new competition.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/govt-offers-to-buy-200-foreign-fighter-jets-if-they-are-made-in-india/articleshow/55130201.cms


Responding to Russian press reports suggesting that a deal for Indian procurement of Russia's 5th generation stealth fighter, the PAK-FA, was imminent, Indian officials have cautioned that terms for a final arrangement have not yet been closed.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/need-more-time-on-5th-gen-fighter-jet-india-tells-russia/317186.html

Space Highlights - November 2, 2016

November 2, 2016

A Japanese H-IIA rocket successfully launched the Himawari 9 weather satellite into orbit.
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/11/japanese-h-iia-rocket-himawari-9-launch/


India's ISRO is aiming to set a world record with the launch of 83 satellites on a single rocket in 2017.
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/ISROs_World_record_bid_Launching_83_satellites_on_single_rocket_999.html


China plans to introduce its new Long March 5 satellite booster later this week, with the launch of the Shijian 17 experimental satellite.
http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/china-national-space-administration/china-debut-powerful-next-generation-long-march-5-launcher-thursday/


Three crew members of the International Space Station - one Russian, one American and one Japanese - returned safely to earth aboard a Soyuz capsule.
https://www.inverse.com/article/22954-space-station-trio-returns-to-earth


NASA has released photos from the Cassini spacecraft, depicting Saturn's hexagonal cloud pattern at its north pole.
http://www.space.com/34573-saturn-rings-hexagon-vortex-cassini-photo.html


NASA's Curiosity rover has captured images of a small metallic meteorite on the surface of Mars.  The fact that the meteorite is intact, and did not produce a crater, gives evidence that it arrived at a time when Mars' atmosphere was thicker and could slow such a meteorite down before impact.
http://www.sciencealert.com/curiosity-has-spotted-a-weird-metallic-meteorite-on-mars


A computer glitch has been identified as the most likely cause for the crash of the European Space Agency's Schiaparelli lander after it entered Mars' atmosphere.
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/oct/26/mars-probe-crash-computer-glitch-exomars-schiaparelli-lander


The New Horizon spacecraft has finally uploaded the last of the data that was collected during its flyby of Pluto last year.
http://newatlas.com/nasa-new-horizons-pluto-data/46192/


Scientists believe that they have detected water on the surface of 16 Psyche, a large metallic asteroid that was believed to have been devoid of water up until now.  It is still unclear as to whether the water was native to the asteroid when it was formed or - as many believe - was deposited by subsequent impacts with other asteroids or comets.
https://www.inverse.com/article/22920-scientists-find-water-on-psyche


Astronomers have succeeded in capturing a visual light image of an exoplanet orbiting a star 1200 light years away.  Direct images of exoplanets are extremely difficult to obtain, due to the glare of the parent star.  The exoplanet in question, CVSO 30c is a large gas giant, orbiting the star CVSO 30 at a substantial distance.  The orbital period of CSVO 30c is estimated at some 27,000 years.
http://www.sci-news.com/astronomy/picture-giant-exoplanet-04321.html

Wide Body Report - November 1, 2016

November 1, 2016

Phillipines Airlines (PAL) took delivery of its first Boeing 777-300ER, an airplane that is being leased from Intrepid Aviation.
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/148332/new-pal-boeing-777-arrives-in-manila
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/boeing-intrepid-aviation-celebrate-delivery-of-milestone-777-300er-to-philippine-airlines-300353995.html


Boeing has unveiled a working mock-up for the wing tip folding mechanism for its future 777-X, currently under development.  The 777-X will feature a greater wing span than any aircraft yet flown, requiring the wind folding feature to navigate existing airports.
http://aviationweek.com/technology/watch-boeing-777x-folding-wingtip


An American Airlines Boeing 767-300ER caught fire at Chicago's O'Hare airport this past week, after its starboard engine suffered an uncontained event.  The airplane was powered by General Electric CF6 engines.  All 170 passengers and crew members evacuated safely.
http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/28/us/ohare-aircraft-incident/
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/29/chicago-plane-american-airlines-fire-investigation-ohare


Etihad Airways has announced that it will begin servicing its Abu Dhabi-Tokyo route with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner beginning on December 1st.
https://www.japantoday.com/category/travel/view/etihad-to-operate-boeing-787-dreamliner-on-narita-route


Qatar Airways has become the first airline to service Manila's Clark airport with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
http://www.interaksyon.com/business/133840/qatar-airways-first-to-fly-boeing-787-dreamliner-to-clark-airport


Qatar Airways has launched service at London's Heathrow Airport with the Airbus A350.
http://www.gulf-times.com/story/519529/Qatar-Airways-starts-Airbus-A350-service-to-Heathr


Qatar Airways' CEO has expressed his pessimism that Airbus will be able to deliver the full alottment of 12 Airbus A350-900 aircraft that were originally scheduled for this year.  Airbus has been struggling with supplier delays on the airplane.
http://dohanews.co/qatar-airways-chief-says-a350-orders-year-unlikely/


DAE has closed a leaseback arrangement with Vietnam Airlines for the delivery of three Airbus A350-900 aircraft.
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161030005026/en/DAE-Announces-Sale-Leaseback-Airbus-A350-900-Aircraft


Singapore Airlines celebrated the delivery of its sixth Airbus A350-900.
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/242149/singapore-airlines-celebrates-delivery-of-sixth-airbus-a350-900/