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Air Refueling

Air Refueling

World Air News Round Up & African Airline News

This article will have reports on aviation industry globally and Africa as follows,

Milestone Test Flight,Everett- The Boeing Dream liner made its 1000th flight recently, marking another milestone in the flight test programme.There are seven aircraft taking part in flight testing.

At the time of writing, the programme was near its 3000th hour of flying and the 787s have flown a collective total of more than one million miles.

The test conditions needed to certify the 787 are nearly 80% complete for the first mode, with Rolls-Royce engines. Those for the second model with General Electric engines are nearly 60% complete.

B-52 Engineering Contract

Wichita- The US Air Force has exercised a $21, 7-million option for Boeing to continue supporting the B-52 Stratofortress bomber under an engineering sustainable programme contract that Boeing received in June 2009.

Under the terms of the $750-million, 10-year ESP contract, Boeing will continue to perform engineering assignments that maintain the B-52 as a ready, reliable and viable asset to the USAF.

Blackhawk Appointments

Waco, Texas-Jim Allmon, president of Blackhawk, has announced the appointment of Edwin Black as director of global sales with Scott Cheairs moving to fill the newly created position of director of core parts sales.

Black now takes on responsibility for worldwide sales and the company's staff, including its offices in Europe. Brazil and South Africa.

Cheairs will be responsible for sales of engines and other systems and components returned to Blackhawk during upgrades and will report to Black.

Saudi Upgrades Fleet

Seattle-Boeing and Saudi Airlines have teamed to modernize the flag carriers 777 fleet to enhance the passenger experience and environment.

The project involves modifying the interiors of 22 of Saudi Arabian Airlines 23 Boeing 777-200ERs with the modifications scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.

Bombardier Expands Plant

Montreal-Bombardiers Mirabel plant is undergo a big expansion in preparation for assembly of its new cSeries narrow-body to compete head-on with Boeings 737 and Airbus A320.

The Canadian manufacturer currently produces CRJ700, CRJ900 and CRJ1000 regional jets at Mirabel.

In advance of building a prototype CSeries aircraft, the company is to modify its existing CRJ hangar.

Then a new hangar will be built for the CSeries aircraft contributing to the flight test programme, the building eventually being converted into a delivery centre for the CSeries and CRJ.The next step will be to add a final assembly hangar similar in style to the existing CRJ final line.

New Multi-Purpose Borescope

Miami-US-based Spectronics Corporation has introduced the CB-1000 Cobra; part of the Cobra series of multi-purpose borescopes, the new scope featuring a built-in UV LED for detection of fluid leaks and surface flaws and a white light LED for component inspection.

The CB-1000 Cobra has a "no-droop" shaft that maintains its position for easy acess into hard-to-view areas. A clip-on inspection mirror provides the added capability of detecting flaws normally hidden from view.

First Japanese A380 Order

Tokyo- Sky mark Airlines, Japans third largest and fastest growing airline, has signed a contract for four A380s with Airbus, firming up a Memorandum of Understanding announced last November.

HBC Appointment

Wichita- Hawker Beech craft Corporation (HBC) has announced the appointment of Jim Holcombe as vice president of Beech craft Marketing and, in this role, he will be responsible for global marketing and branding of the company's Beech raft products.

He assumes the role alongside 21-year HBC veteran, Ron Gunnarson, vice president of Hawker Marketing.

IAF Gets First C-130J

New Delhi-The Indian Air Force (IAF) recently celebrated the induction to service of its first Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules at Hindon Air Force station, India.

The aircraft is the first of six C-130J ordered under a US Foreign Military Sale in late 2008.

Lufthansa A380 Daily Service

Johannesburg- Lufthansa German Airlines has increased its capacity between South Africa and Germany by almost 1100 seats per week as the result of increasing its Airbus A380 services from five operations a week to a daily service linking Johannesburg and Frankfurt.

Since the introduction of the A380 to South Africa last year, Lufthansa has increased its capacity by an impressive 3850 seats per week.

New Shadow Cast

Marietta, Georgia- The first Combat Shadow 11 for the United States Air Force Special Operations Command has completed manufacture at the Lockheed Martin facility in Marietta. The MC-130J Combat Shadow 11 will fly clandestine or low visibility, single or multi-ship-low-level air refueling missions for special operations helicopters, and infiltration, ex-filtration and resupply of special operations forces by airdrop or air-land.

Congo Airline News

Brazzaville- Our correspondent reports that Ceiba, the Equatorial Guinea airline, has started scheduled lights to Brazzaville using ATR72-500s thrice weekly.

This is an expansion of its service which previously only operated to Pointe Noire.

Other news is that Kenya Airways has now received approval from the Congo CAA to operate to Pointe Noire as does Ethiopian Airlines.

In addition, Equaflight Service in Pointe Noire has received an ATR72-500 and a Dornier 228 on wet lease for charter flights.

It is also reported that Brazzaville's second runway will enter service in the near future.

Code Share Agreement

Lagos- Air Nigeria and Ethiopian Airlines have commenced a code share partnership that is expected too boost travels options in Africa and to overseas destinations.

A statement by Air Nigeria said that the activation of the agreement would bring seamless onward connections to Addis Ababa and beyond for Air Nigeria customers. It said it would also enable easy connections for ET customers to West and Central African destinations on Air Nigeria.

A340 Service To Kenya

Johannesburg- South African Airways has introduced wide-body A340 -200 and A340-300 aircraft on the Johannesburg-Nairobi route, effectively increasing capacity into Kenya by 582 seats per week.

SAA previously operated the Airbus A319 and the Boeing 737-800 into Kenya.

SAAFF Congress 2011

Johannesburg- The spotlight will be on the freight forwarding industry when the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) Congress takes place at Emperors Palace, Johannesburg, on June 8 and 9.

The two-day congress will focus on critical issues facing the industry including customs affairs, cargo security, supply chain costs, industry transformation, the impact of the Duty Bill and Control Bill, the Consumer Protection Act and Companies Act.

Other topics will include: skills development, insurance and various other challenges facing the freight forwarding industry globally and in sub-Saharan Africa.

Running alongside the congress will be a two-day industry exhibition, as well as a full-day SAAFF Seminar on June 8.

The congress will feature a line-up of heavyweight local and international speakers and panelists from Government and industry, providing a crucial platform for the freight forwarding industry to engage with decision and policy makers in an open forum for debate and engagement.

New Offices Opened

Abu Dhabi,UAE- In a move that furthers its expanding global presence ,Rockwell Collins has established new office locations in Abu Dhabi and Dubai to support growing opportunities in the Middle East.

African Airline News

Order Confirmed, Johannesburg- Comair has confirmed an order for eight Boeing 737-800s fitted with the new Sky Interior for operation by its low cost division kulula.com.

New Branding, Tunis- Sevenair has been renamed Tunis air Express.

Airbus Deliveries, Dakar-Senegal Airlines has taken delivery of two A320s to operate domestic and regional services.

Additional Boeing, Lagos- ILFC has leased an additional B737-300 to Air Nigeria .The carrier plans to eventually operate 15 of these aircraft by mid-year.

Equipment Purchase, Nouakchott-Mauritania Airlines is to start operations with three Boeing 737s comprising two series 500s and a single series 700.

Sax Expansion, Johannesburg-South African Express has leased an additional two Bombardier CRJ700 regional jets bringing its fleet to five of the type.

New DRC Airline, Lubumbashi- Air Karongo is a new start-up passenger airline in the DRC that replaces the now defunct Air DC which failed to start services.

The airline has taken delivery of at least one BAe146-200 jet.

Triple Boeing Delivery, Addis Ababa- Kuwait Leasing Company ALAFCO has delivered three Boeing 737-800s to Ethiopian Airlines as part of the carrier's fleet expansion.

Libyan Lease, Tripoli.Turkish carrier, Tailwind Airlines, has leased a Boeing 737-400 to Air Libya, but it may have returned to Turkey following the outbreak of violence in Libya.

Air Namibia Lease, Windhoek. Air Namibia has concluded a lease agreement for three Embraer ERJ135s with Air France Regional.

Aircraft Transfer, Cairo- Egyptian carrier, Air Memphis, has taken over the two Fokker 50s of the now defunct Palestinian Airlines after the demolition of the Gaza airport, the only suitable runway for operation by these aircraft.

New Subsidiary, Libreville-Equaflight has established a Gabonese subsidiary and operates an Embraer 120 Brasilia.

New Wide body, Libreville- Air Gabon replaces its Airbus A340-300, Wet Leased from Portugal's HiFly, with a smaller Airbus A310-300.

Cancelled Order, Lagos- Arik Air reportedly cancelled an order for two Bombardier Dash 8-Q400s that have been awaiting delivery for some months now.

Additional SAAB, Accra-CTK Network Aviation has added a third Saab 340 to its fleet.

Fourth Airbus, Casablanca- Air Arabia Maroc, a subsidiary of Sharjah-based Air Arabia, has added a fourth Airbus A320 to its fleet.

ATR Lease, Malabo-Equatorial Guinea-based Comfort Airlines has leased an ATR72-500 from Danube Wings.

New Carrier, Freetown- Fly 6ix is a new start-up in Sierra Leone operating a single Embraer ERJ 135 regional jet leased from Kenya ALS Ltd.

ART Delivery, Luanda-Angolan carrier, Fly540, has started services and has taken delivery of an ATR72-500.

Services Stopped,Lisbon-Portuguals flag carrier,TAP,will stop scheduled flights to South Africa, instead flying to Maputo citing higher yields on this route.

New Aircraft, Pointe Noire-Transair Congo, based in Congo Brazzaville, at Pointe Noire, has received its own an B737-300 for passenger services in the region.

About the Author

Anthony Juma is the Editor and Senior Aviation Director at Wings Over Africa Aviation. 
This is an Air Charter Company that specializes on Scheduled  Flights into Major Cities ,National Parks & Game Reserves In Kenya|Uganda|Tanzania|East Africa And Africa. The website has guided thousands of travelers to achieve their dream holiday. For more information and guidance, visit the site at http:// / www.wingsoverafrica-aviation.com/index.php/sheduled-flights.html

What was the first plane that could refuel in mid-air ?

Also is there any helicopters that can do this ? Thanks

Some of the earliest experiments in aerial refueling took place in the 1920s; two slow-flying aircraft flew in formation, with a hose run down from a hand-held fuel tank on one aircraft and placed into the usual fuel filler of the other. The first mid-air refueling between two planes occurred on June 27, 1923, between two Airco DH-4B biplanes of the United States Army Air Service. An endurance record was set by three DH-4Bs (a receiver and two tankers) on August 27–28, 1923, in which the receiver airplane remained aloft for more than 37 hours using nine mid-air refuelings to transfer 687 gallons of aviation gasoline and 38 gallons of engine oil. The same crews demonstrated the utility of the technique on October 25, 1923, when a DH-4 flew from Sumas, Washington, on the Canadian border to Tijuana, Mexico, landing in San Diego, using mid-air refuelings at Eugene, Oregon, and Sacramento, California.
In January 1948, General Carl Spaatz, then the first Chief of Staff of the new United States Air Force made aerial refueling a top priority of the service. In March 1948 USAF purchased two sets of Cobham's refueling equipment, which had been in practical use with British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) since 1946, and manufacturing rights to the system. FRL also provided a year of technical assistance. The sets were immediately installed in two B-29 Superfortresses, with plans to equip 80 B-29s.

Flight testing began in May 1948 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and was so successful that in June orders went out to equip all new B-50's and subsequent bombers with receiving equipment. Two dedicated Air Refueling units were formed on June 30, 1948: the 43rd ARS at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, and the 509th ARS at Walker Air Force Base, New Mexico. The first ARS aircraft used a hose refueling system, but testing with a boom system followed quickly in the autumn of 1948.

In 1949 from February 26 to March 3 an American B-50 Superfortress Lucky Lady II of the 43rd Bomb Wing flew non-stop around the World in 94 hours, 1 min., a feat made possible by three aerial refuelings from four pairs of KB-29M tankers of the 43rd ARS. Before the mission, crews of the 43rd had experienced only a single operational air refueling contact. The flight started and ended at Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, Texas with the refuelings accomplished over West Africa, the Pacific ocean near Guam and between Hawaii and the West Coast.

F15 Mid-Air Refueling by KC-135 Washington Air National Guard - Vid 1