Saab unveiled its first GlobalEye Airborne
Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft
at its Linköping site, Sweden, on February- GlobalEye is an advanced, swing-role
airborne surveillance system based on a
Bombardier Global 6000 jet.
This first aircraft is equipped for ground
and flight trials to gather aerodynamic data.
The development and production contract
was awarded at the Dubai Air Show in
November 2015 by the United Arab Emirates
with an initial order for two machines. An
additional order by the UAE for a third was
announced in 2017.
A milestone was reached at RAF Valley,
Wales, on February 16, with the arrival of
two new training aircraft. The pair of US-built
T-6C Texan II advanced turboprops are part
of a planned fleet of ten that is set to deliver
Basic Flying Training (BFT) at Valley for RAF
and Royal Navy pilots from 2019.
Their arrival represents a further
development in the delivery of the UK
Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS),
the partnership between the UK Ministry of
Defence and Ascent Flight Training Ltd.
RAF Valley Station Commander, Gp
Capt Nick Tucker-Lowe speaking shortly
after the aircraft had touched down, said:
“Today marks the arrival of the first Texan
T-6C aircraft which will enhance the MoD’s
basic flying training provision for the next
generation of RAF and Royal Navy fighterpilots from 2019 onwards. I am delighted
that RAF Valley will be the home of Basic
Flying Training and that the Texan T-6C fleet
will offer our trainee fighter pilots a first-class lead-in aircraft to prepare them for
their advanced jet training on our existing
fleet of Hawk T2s, which are already
operating here.”Boeing’s first 737 MAX 7 was rolled out at
Renton, Washington State, on February 5.
The new model is the third and latest member
of the company’s 737 MAX family, with
technology improvements that enable it to fly
1,000nm (1,852km) farther and carry more
passengers than its predecessor, the 737-700,
while having a claimed 18% lower fuel costs
per seat.
The first example, registration N7021S,
will now undergo system checks, fuelling
and engine runs on the flight line in Renton.
The jetliner, the first of two MAX 7 flight test
machines, will begin its flight testing programme
in the coming weeks. The 737 MAX 7 is
scheduled to enter service in 2019, following
delivery to launch customer Southwest Airlines.
Boeing has also finalised the configuration
of the fourth member of the MAX family, the
MAX 10. Engineers now have the designrequirements in place and are moving
towards the detailed design phase prior to the
start of construction of what will be the largest
member of the company’s single-aisle family.The variant has a stretched fuselage that is
66in (168cm) longer than the MAX 9 and will
carry up to 230 passengers. First deliveries
are expected to commence in 2020.PHOTOS, NEWS STORIES AND ARTICLES
In order to give the best coverage possible, Aviation News is looking for additional contributors. So if you have photos, news stories or articles of
modern or historical civil and military aviation subjects we would like to hear from you. Please contact the Editor at [email protected]http://www.aviation-news.co.uk 5Boeing Debuts MAX 7
The first Boeing 737 MAX 7, N7021S, after being rolled out at Renton on February 5. BoeingSaab’s first GlobalEye AEW&C Global 6000 at
Linköping on February 23. SaabT-6Cs Arrive at RAF Valley
Saab Reveals GlobalEye
Texan II, N2843B, shortly after arriving at RAF Valley with N2770B. UK MOD Crown Copyright
2018/Cpl Peter Devine RAF Photographer04-05_headline_newsDC.mfDCDC.indd 5 02/03/2018 15: