Australian Aviation

United Airlines and Boeing have confirmed an order for 25 787-8s and 50 options, valued at US$4.2bn (A$4.7bn) at list prices. United is intending to use the 787s to replace its 767-300s used on international services. The carrier has also announced its intention to order Airbus A350-1000s which will replace its fleet of 777-200s. This

Malaysia will retain 10 of its MiG-29 fighters for a few years and delay buying a replacement, according to defence minister Ahmad Hamidi. Despite reports last year that the fleet would be retired by the end of 2010 and sold on to a third party country, the decision to retain the capability will see six

An in principle agreement has been reached between partner nations and EADS on the future of the A400M transport, according to Spain’s defence minister, Carme Chacon. The announcement was made at a meeting of European defence ministers in Spain where future funding for the ailing project was discussed. “I am able to tell you with

The USAF has budgeted more than US$950m (A$1.07bn) through to 2015 to continue its acquisition of Lockheed Martin AGM-158 JASSM missiles. The move comes after a successful round of tests late last year in which the weapon achieved 15 hits in 16 test firings. The tests were conducted after earlier tests revealed flaws in the

The Commonwealth has called for tenders for the destruction of the RAAF’s retired F-111Gs which are currently in open storage at Amberley. The tender specifies the destruction of 13 F-111G airframes and 70 TF30 engines. It is understood the G models must be destroyed under US International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITARS) rules rather than

If it happened in commercial aviation for much of the last century it happened at United Airlines. The airline’s legendary chairman William “Pat” Patterson, while slight in stature, was a giant of a man and loved by all who knew him. And he knew everyone in the airline industry. This content is available exclusively to