December 2009

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REGULARS

UK NEWS COLUMN
Jon Lake casts a critical eye over the causes of two accidents which led to the loss of an RAF Nimrod MR2 and Puma HC1.

US MILITARY NEWS COLUMN
The winners and losers of the US military Fiscal Year 2010 budget are detailed by Robert F Dorr.

COMMERCIAL NEWS COLUMN
The contentious issue of providing extra airport capacity for the south-east of England is examined by Bruce Hales-Dutton.

FEATURES

WHEN SIZE MATTERS
Andreas Spaeth reports from Kiev – the home of the gargantuan An-225.

ZEUS VIPERS
Souda Bay, Crete, is home to the Hellenic Air Force Block 52+ F-16. Ian Harding got exclusive access.

THOMSON AIRWAYS' VELVET REVOLUTION
Bruce Hales-Dutton details developments at Thomson Airways.

FLYING FISH
Wolfdietrich Hoeveler reports on the Barracuda UAV Technology Demonstrator flight test and evaluation campaign that took place in Goose Bay, Canada, this summer.

PATROLLING THE MED
Francesco Militello Mirto and La Cavera Luca profile the aircraft used by the Italian Coast Guard.

BULGARIAN COUGARS FORGE NATO INTEROPERABILITY
Philip Stevens visited Krumovo AB to see if the Bulgarian Air Force is ready to play an active part in NATO.

BOEING 747-8: A NEW CHAPTER
The 747-8 is the biggest ever ‘Jumbo’. Chris Kjelgaard explains how this new variant will be different from its predecessors.

BUSINESS AVIATION FIGHTS FOR ITS FUTURE AT NBAA
Rod Simpson soaked up the atmosphere and the news from this year’s National Business Aviation Association Convention.

OCEAN WATCH
Dave Majumdar visited NAS Patuxent River to hear about the US Navy’s RQ-4N Broad Area Maritime Surveillance programme.

STRAIGHT TALKING
AIR International's Editor Mark Ayton spoke with Tom Williams, Vice President Programmes with Airbus, about the airliner market and the company plans.

STILL BOMBING AT 95
The RAF's No.IX(B) Squadron marks its 95th birthday on December 8, 2009. Mark Ayton went to RAF Marham to hear about the unit’s current roles.

IN IT FOR THE LONG-HAUL
The Airbus A330-200 Freighter performed its maiden flight on November 4. Mark Ayton was at Toulouse to witness it.

SEA KINGS TO THE RESCUE
Dino Carrara reports from RNAS Culdrose on the Royal Navy’s SAR Sea Kings.

FRONT COVER
The one and only An-225. Sven De Bevere
INSETS: A Hellenic AF F-16 Block 52+. Ian Harding
An Italian Coast Guard Piaggio P-166DL3 SEM Orca. La Cavera Luca

Contents pic credit
Royal Navy

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