New built Fokker 100s looming on the horizon

It seems there might be a new lease of life for a reliable old workhorse! The Dutch company NG Aircraft plans to build an updated Fokker 100 with possible service entry around the year 2015. NG is the successor to Rekkof ("Fokker written reversed"), which already tried to manufacture a new Fokker 100 variant for several years. The company has secured a loan for € 20 Mio to convert one of the Fokker 100 prototypes, which is currently in storage, into the prototype of the new version, which is called the XF series. Furthermore there seems to be some substantial interest from established F100 operators to retrofit older aircraft with the new technical systems, for example new avionics, new engines (have yet to be determined which model exactly) or winglets. This blogger wishes them the best of luck, as he likes the old Fokker design very much.

Here is a link to an article in flight global:

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/03/10/339286/fokker-100-revival-team-claims-interest-in-retrofit.html

Boeing to Offer Next Generation Tanker based on 767

This week Boeing announced that they are offering the Boeing NewGen Tanker aircraft based on the Boeing 767. This aircraft will be the Boeing bid in the US Air Force competition to replace 179 KC-135 tanker aircraft. Potentially if this competition would be won by Boeing the follow-on order could comprise hundreds more aircraft of the same type to be manufactured over the course of several decades and thus giving the old 767 a complete new lease of life. The flight deck of the Boeing NewGen Tanker will be completely revised and will feature the big flight displays of the Boeing 787. In addition to its tanker role the Boeing NewGen Tanker can also be used to transport military personnel and cargo.

Check out this cool Boeing video to learn more about this aircraft:

http://www.unitedstatestanker.com/video#TheBoeingNewGenTanker

Boeing 747-8F First Flight

Yesterday the Boeing 747-8F flew for the first time. This will kickstart approximately 1600 hours of flight testing, using the first three aircraft of this new Jumbo variant. Boeing 747 Chief pilot Mark Feuerstein took RC 501 (s/n 1420) for a 3:39 hours long flight around Seattle and the Northwestern United States.

Pictures and video on flightglobal:

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/02/09/338139/pictures.html

Turkish Airlines orders 20 Boeing 737s

Turkish Airlines currently on a shopping tour for new aircraft which is only comparable to the order spree of the Gulf Airlines. In addition to the 20 Airbus aircraft ordered a few weeks ago, Turkish now ordered 10 Boeing 737-800s and 10 longer Boeing 737-900ERs and also signed for 15 options. The aircraft will be delivered from 2011.

Here is a link:

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/02/04/338030/turkish-airlines-to-acquire-20-737-800900ers.html

Ethiopian Airlines orders 10 Boeing 737

Rapidly expanding african Airline Ethiopian Airlines , which is currently preparing for membership in Star Alliance, orders 10 Boeing 737-800s for use on their intra-african network. Currently Ethiopian already flies 3 737-800s and 5 737-700s. The airline made headlines at this years Dubai Airshow when it ordered 12 Airbus A 350s.

Here is a link:

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/01/22/337522/ethiopian-airlines-to-purchase-10-737-800s.html

Turkish Airlines orders 20 Airbus A 320 Family Aircraft

Turkish Airlines ordered 20 Airbus A 320 family aircraft consisting of 14 Airbus A 321s and 6 Airbus A 319s. Also the airline signed for 10 options which can be for any A 320 family member. The planes will be delivered in 2011 and 2012. In case the options will be exercised, those narrowbody jets would be delivered in 2013.

Here is a link:

http://atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=18936

China Eastern orders 16 Airbus A 330s

Yesterday China Eastern has announced that it has ordered 16 Airbus A 330s for delivery from 2011 to 2014. Interestingly there are currently rumours that Gulf Air has cancelled 16 Airbus A 330s because they want to focus more on regional flights instead of longhaul flights. Could it be that those 16 planes were originally destined for Gulf Air?
Once all A 330s are delivered, China Eastern will operate a fleet of 36 aircraft of this type.
Here is a link:

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/12/28/336640/china-eastern-signs-for-16-a330s.html