First Taobao 747F takes off [VIDEO]

The ex-Jade Cargo 747-400ERF (35169) in the video below was purchased late last year by Israel-based CAL Cargo Airlines in a Taobao auction for US$23.3 million. It has been stored at Shenzhen Bao’an Airport (SZS) and was ferried today to Tel Aviv, where it will undergo maintenance at the IAI-Bedek MRO facility. CAL Cargo Airlines […]

• Caryn Livingston
• June 22, 2018

Breaking news: Qatar signs LOI for five more 777Fs

Qatar Airways today signed a Letter of Intent with Boeing to purchase five 777 Freighters. Assuming the order is finalized, Qatar Airways may become the operator of the world’s largest jet freighter fleet outside the big express companies. The carrier currently operates two 747-8Fs, thirteen 777Fs, and eight A330-200Fs. It also has three more 777Fs […]

• David Harris
• April 10, 2018

Here come the first 737 NG freighters! VIDEO

Last week, Seattle-based Alaska Airlines put its first freighter-converted 737-700F into commercial service with a maiden flight between Seattle and Anchorage. The aircraft was converted by Israel Aerospace Industries’ conversion arm, Bedek Aviation Group, in Tel Aviv, and is the first of three 737-700s Alaska Air retired from its passenger fleet, and is having converted […]

• Charles Kauffman
• October 6, 2017

The future of drones [VIDEO]

In the aviation industry, the future may belong to drones, but, as this video shows, there are still problems… And, of course, not all trouble comes from below…

• David Harris
• August 18, 2017

World’s top cargo carriers in action [VIDEO]

To finish off our multi-part analysis of the world’s top cargo carriers in 2016, and to give you some good weekend viewing, here is a series of videos of the carriers at the top of the list. If you wish to read the full analysis, Part I is here, Part II is here, and Part […]

• David Harris
• August 11, 2017

EFW begins A330 P-to-F conversions in Singapore

EFW, the Germany-based MRO and conversion joint venture of Singapore Technologies Aerospace and Airbus, ferried an A330-300 (127, ex-Hi Fly) from its Dresden facility (DRS) to ST Aero’s conversion center at Singapore’s Paya Lebar Airport (QPG) for conversion to freighter configuration for DHL Express. DHL is the launch customer for EFW’s A330-300P2F program, and the […]

• David Harris
• June 9, 2017

Lockheed Martin’s LM 100J completed its first test flight

Earlier today, the commercial variant of Lockheed’s popular C-130J “Super Hercules” completed its first test flight, following the same flight path over North Georgia, and Alabama that test pilots usually chart for its military counterpart. Like the Super Hercules, the LM-100J will be capable of operating in rugged terrain unsuitable for other commercial freighters. As […]

• Charles Kauffman
• May 25, 2017

It’s back in the sky!

UK-based Hybrid Air Vehicles resumed test flights of its Airlander 10 hybrid airship this week, after a nine-month hiatus. The program suffered a setback last year after the test aircraft took a nosedive while attempting to land. Although nobody was hurt during the crash, and much of the ship remained intact, the test unit sustained […]

• Charles Kauffman
• May 12, 2017

Boeing’s KC-46A tanker achieves another milestone

This week, Boeing announced it had added a sixth aircraft to its KC-46A aerial refueling tanker test program. The newest addition to the test fleet will be used to evaluate the tanker’s resistance to electromagnetic fields. In practice, the KC-46’s electronic systems must prove resilient to potentially disruptive electromagnetic discharges. To check this, the tanker […]

• Charles Kauffman
• May 5, 2017

BOC Aviation purchases two 747-8Fs on AirBridgeCargo’s behalf

Earlier this week, Japan-based Nippon Cargo Airlines cancelled its outstanding order for two 747-8Fs (NCA cancels remaining 747-8F orders).  Today, the announcement of a firm two-aircraft order from Singapore-headquartered BOC Aviation appeared to soften the blow, but it will have no real impact on Boeing’s backlog, because it is part of Boeing’s already-announced twenty-unit agreement with Russia-based […]

• Charles Kauffman
• March 31, 2017