The Defence Ministry on Tuesday said it had signed a memorandum of understanding with AgustaWestland, a unit of Italy’s Finmeccanica, to buy six AW609 tilt-rotor aircraft for search and rescue operations. Major General Abdullah al-Hashimi, the ministry’s executive director of strategi...
AstroLabs – named after the astrolabe, an ancient navigational device perfected by the Arabs – is a new co-working space in Dubai. While there have been a slew in recent years – Shelter, The Pavilion, Make, The Cribb – this latest venture, which officially opened late last...
As top Aerion executives meet with Dubai air show attendees, the aspiring supersonic business jet manufacturer is continuing to search for a US assembly site for flight-test and production aircraft. The selected location will form the “new home of Aerion Corporation”, says the company. Its production system is taking shape ahead of a scheduled first flight date in 2021 and entry...
Airbus has underlined its faith in the A380, despite slower-than-desired activity and an absence of sales for the type so far this year. Chief operating officer for customers John Leahy, speaking at the Dubai air show, insisted that the “case for the A380 is inevitable”. He is confident that the type is becoming “known in the marketplace” and that a new customer could...
Airbus Helicopters has taken its in-development H160 twin-engined helicopter to a speed of 176kt (202km/h) during flight tests, and believes a never-exceed speed (Vne) of 180kt should be achievable. Disclosing the flight-test progress at a Dubai media briefing held at the H160 mock-up on the static display, Benoit Terral, sales promotion manager for the type, said the velocity was achieved duri...
General Electric has launched its Middle East Aviation Technology Center, which will serve as a regional customer and product support hub. The US engine manufacturer says it hopes to increase productivity, maximise performance and minimise downtime for customers by leveraging data analytics, domain experience and software capabilities. Gary Mercer, vice-president of engineering services for...
Flying into the future of the UAE is New Zealand's Martin Aircraft Company and Martin Jetpack. The company signed an exclusive contract with the Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) at the Dubai Airshow on Monday to become the launch customer for the world’s first practical jetpack. “The fuel-run jetpack flies at up to 5,000 feet and solves problems that others can’t with its abil...
Bombardier Commercial Aircraft is in discussions with Abu Dhabi Aviation with the aim of establishing an authorised service facility (ASF) for Bombardier's Q Series turboprop regional airliners. The facility was announced at the Dubai Airshow yesterday. The two parties have signed a memorandum of understanding on the ASF, with final agreement subject to acceptance of commercial terms and...
LR Systems (Stand 642) is here promoting its aircraft stripping and painting robots. The stripper version is to enter service in 2016. The technology will help cut costs, eliminate some dangerous tasks and save weight on the aircraft, according to the Netherlands-based company. “Our 20-kilowatt laser makes stripping twice as fast as the current process,” program director Peter Boeij...
China’s AVIC is displaying a model of the FC-31 fifth-generation fighter for the first time at Dubai, having first aired the concept at Airshow China in Zhuhai last year. A product of the Shenyang concern, the FC-31 is based to a large extent on that of a “J-31” prototype (31001) that has been flying since 2012, but shows some notable differences from that aircraft. The fins are...
Beechcraft Defense's AT-6 Wolverine might soon have a launch customer, with a letter of offer and acceptance for six light-attack turboprops being prepared for the government of Iraq. In partnership with the US Air Force, Beechcraft intends to offer Baghdad six aircraft initially, with options for more in increments of six. That offer is likely to be delivered next month. The US State...
While all the talk in the run-up to the Dubai air show was about the prospects for large commercial orders being announced, it was the United Arab Emirates air force that opened sales, with a surprise, $1.27 billion contract with Saab for advanced surveillance aircraft. Announced during a press briefing on 9 November, the agreement – which was reached on the first day of the show –...
Here is a roundup of news coming out of day two of the Dubai Airshow: Airbus studying A350 variant Airbus is studying whether there is demand for a larger member of its A350 jet family and expects to make up its mind within a couple of months, its sales chief said on Monday. The European planemaker is not yet offering a specific design to airlines, but anything that it does decide to buil...
Flying across the world in an open cockpit vintage biplane might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for Tracy Curtis Taylor, it is a chance to “get a bird’s-eye view or the view of gods”. The British aviator, 53, is part way through a 21,000 kilometres solo flight from the UK to Australia in a 1942 Boeing Stearman Spirit of Artemis aircraft. And the adventurer, who emb...
Running now
Brazil, SANTANA
08/09/2026
United Kingdom, London
Honda Aircraft Company announced first delivery of HondaJet Elite II in Brazil, marking a significant milestone in the company’s continued commitment to general aviation in South America. The de...
