Aero-News Network: The aviation and aerospace world's daily/real-time news and information service

Air France Takes Delivery Of First A380

The French Carrier First European Airline To Fly The Super-Jumbo

Air France is the first European airline to fly the all-new double-deck Airbus A380 on scheduled services. The aircraft, which was handed over in a delivery ceremony Friday in Hamburg, Germany, is the twentieth A380 delivered by Airbus.

Atlantis 'Go' For Launch November 16th

Flight Readiness Review Clears STS-129

NASA's space shuttle Atlantis is targeted to begin an 11-day flight to the International Space Station with a November 16th launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Liftoff is scheduled for 1428 EST.

Air Force Officials Announce Candidate Bases For JSF

Eleven Bases Have Been Selected As Candidates

Air Force officials in Washington, D.C. released the list of candidate locations October 29 for basing the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter. The list of candidate bases was approved by the secretary and chief of staff of the Air Force and identifies the first group of bases to be considered for joint strike fighter basing decisions.

NASA Says Two Ares I-X Parachutes Malfunctioned

Impact With The Ocean Likely Caused Booster Buckling

NASA officials said in a news conference Friday that two of the three 150-foot parachutes designed to slow the descent of the Ares I-X booster failed, causing it to be damaged when it impacted the water.

EADS RAAF Tanker Stops Over In Dover

Aircraft Traveling From Australia To Spain

An EADS A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) destined for the Royal Australian Air Force touched down at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware on October 29 for a stopover on its journey from Australia to Spain.

Sikorsky Delivers First Aircraft With Polish-Built Cabin

U.S. Army Black Hawk Update First Of Three In The Works

Sikorsky announced Thursday it has delivered the first aircraft with a cabin produced at PZL Mielec, a Sikorsky company in Poland. The 145th UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter was delivered to the U.S. Army on September 30th.

Gone West: 'Rocket Man' Hal Graham

Designer Of The Original Jet Pack

Harold "Hal" Graham, who is credited with designing and flying the original jet pack, was found dead in Crossville, Tennessee on October 22nd. Graham was "in his 70's."

Aero-News: Quote Of The Day (10.31.09)

"Don't play this too much. The parachute thing was like 'Hey, look at that.' We're not worried about that. There's no investigation. There's no unusual thing we're doing. We're just going through our usual post (flight) tests." Source: Ares I-X Mission Manager Bob Ess.

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (10.31.09): Procedure Turn

A maneuver prescribed when it is necessary to reverse direction to establish an aircraft on the intermediate approach segment or final approach course.

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (10.31.09)

Northrup Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge

The Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge is a $2,000,000 incentive prize program designed to build an industry of American companies capable of routinely and safely flying vertical take-off and landing rocket vehicles useful both for lunar exploration and for other applications.