Pilot killed in Royal Saudi Air Force helicopter crash

A Royal Saudi Air Force helicopter crashed on Sept. 13 in Taif during a training flight. The pilot was killed. It was not known if there were others on board the rotocraft.

Source: Pilot killed in Royal Saudi Air Force helicopter crash

Egypt allowed to retain Russian equipment installed on Mistral carriers if Cairo buys the ships

A French official said that if Egypt was to take off the two Mistral carriers previously ordered by Russia, Moscow is willing to allow Cairo to keep the equipment it had installed on those ships.

By Ludovic Péron (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Source: Egypt allowed to retain Russian equipment installed on Mistral carriers if Cairo buys the ships

BAE Systems Taranis to make final flights this year

The British Ministry of Defense has said that the BAE Systems Taranis will make its third and possibly final round of tests this year.

By Mike Young (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The trails could see the unmanned combat aerial vehicle carry out a simulated weapons release.

Source: BAE Systems Taranis to make final flights this year

Australia to get rid of Mi-24s at RAAF Base Tindal

A pair of Mi-24s that are languished at RAAF Base Tindal since 1997 might be disposed off in 2016. The gunships were on their way to Papua New Guinea (PNG) when the RAAF intercepted the An-124 transport carrying them and divert the cargo to Tindal. A newly installed government in PNG then had refused to allow the helicopters to enter the country.

Photo: Google

Sandline International, the owner of the helicopters, had trouble disposing them as the company could not find a new buyer.

Source: Australia to get rid of Mi-24s at RAAF Base Tindal

Not one but two videos from the first J-11BS public flying demo

Source: Not one but two videos from the first J-11BS public flying demo

Two exceptional PLAAF aerobatics team that you’ve never heard of

Officially, the August 1st is the aerobatic demonstration team of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). Tasked with performing at local and international airshows, the August 1st is considered the flying ambassadors of the PLAAF. However, there are two more aerobatic teams that seldom get coverage from the media outside China as they only perform at Changchu, Jilin province.

Red Falcon
The Red Falcon was established by the No.3 Aviation College in March, 2011. The team flies the Hongdu K-8 advanced jet trainer. Of the two jet-powered aerobatics team in the PLAAF. The Red Falcon is widely considered the better team. Manned by instructors from the Aviation College, they put up a more exciting show compared to August 1st in their J-10s.

Sky Wing

Source: Two exceptional PLAAF aerobatics team that you’ve never heard of

Chinese military satellite launched into orbit

China launched a military satellite into orbit on Sept. 12 using a Long March-3B rocket.

China designate the new satellite as Communications Engineering Test Satellite -1 (通信技术试验卫星一号).

Source: Chinese military satellite launched into orbit