NATO AEWF Boeing 707-307C TCA (Trainer and Cargo Aircraft) LX-N19997 is rolled out at CASA EADS' Getafe facility following overhaul there. The company formally handed the aircraft, which had arrived on March 18, 2002, back to the NATO AEWF at Getafe on April 29. This marked the first large aircraft overhaul undertaken at the facility, which now joins Sabena in Belgium and Aeronavali in Italy as subcontractors for 707 TCA overhaul work following award of a contract on November 28, 2001.

A Fuerza Aerea Argentina (Argentine Air Force) IAI M-5 Finger stands on the ramp at Canoas Air Base, Porto Alegre, Brazil, in front of a French Air Force E-3F AWACS aircraft during the multi-national exercise Operacao Cruizeiro do Sul (Cruzex 2002). Held between April 29 and May 11, 2002, the exercise was aimed at practising combined air operations along NATO parameters and involved participation of aircraft from the Argentinean, Brazilian, Chilean and French Air Forces. These included Argentine M-5 Fingers and Daggers plus L-100 Hercules, Chilean Boeing 707-330B and Mirage M-50 Pantera, plus French E-3F AWACS, KC-135R and Mirage 2000. Brazilian aircraft from the host nation included A-1 AMX, UH-1H, C-95 Bandeirante and P-95 Bandeirante de Patrulla, F-103 Mirage IIIE BR, F-5E, T-27 Tucano, Boeing KC-137, C-130 and KC-130 Hercules.

General overview of the large aircraft area of the static park at ILA 2002, dominated by the Airbus A300-608ST Beluga, A340-600 and A318, together with an East Line Il-76 in the foreground.

NASA Dryden's ‘new’ B-52H, 61-0025, touches down at Edwards AFB, California, on April 16, 2002, now resplendent in NASA's traditional white and blue livery. The aircraft, acquired last year on loan from the USAF, completed Programmed Depot Maintenance at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, and was then initially flown direct to Wichita, Kansas, to participate in the B-52 50th anniversary celebrations on April 12, together with NASA's B-52B '008'. It was then finally delivered to Edwards to join the Dryden fleet.

Boeing completed delivery of the 400th 777 on April 29, 2002 when Seoul-based Asiana Airlines Boeing 777-28EER HL-7500 (c/n 28685) was handed-over to the Korean carrier. The aircraft, leased from ILFC, is the third example for Asiana and the 23rd for ILFC.

We could not resist including this nostalgic shot of an American Airlines Boeing 727 in the carrier’s classic Astrojet colour scheme to mark the retirement of its last examples of the type on April 30, 2002 after 38 years service.

Immaculate ‘new’ Tunisian Air Force C-130B Z21120/TS-MTJ (formerly USAF/58-0757) seen following roll-out at Ogden Air Logistics Center (ALC), Hill AFB, Utah, after a major refurbish following eight years in storage at AMARC Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona. The aircraft has now been delivered to the Tunisian AF at Sidi Ahmed/Bizerte, where it will join 21 Squadron.

Pilatus PC-21 prototype HB-HZA was formally rolled out at the Stans factory on May 1, 2002.

The front cockpit layout of the PC-21 shows a very clean design, dominated by the three 6in x 8in main AMLCD displays, with the up-front control panel and head-up display above.

An RAF Chinook HC.2 of 27 Squadron lands high in the mountains of Afghanistan during operations to support Operation Ptarmigan, the Royal Marines/45 Commando Group operation which commenced on April 16, 2002 to search and clear a high Afghan valley believed to have been occupied by al-Qaeda and Taliban forces. Note that the helicopter has a full ‘war’ fit of defensive aids, including ALQ-157 IR jammers, Sky Guardian 19 radar warning receivers, AN/ALE-40 chaff/flare dispensers and ALQ-156/AAR-47 missile approach warning system, plus a pintle-mounted M134 minigun in the forward starboard door. The operation concluded on April 18, with troops returning to Bagram. The Chinooks were again in use during 45 Commando’s Operation Snipe, which began on May 2 in an area of southeastern Afghanistan not previously investigated by coalition forces. This resulted in a huge arms cache being discovered in a large cave complex, which was subsequently destroyed with demolition charges.

Northrop Grumman’s X-47A Pegasus UAV prototype has been undergoing intensive testing and integrating of avionics and software at El Segundo, California, where it is seen here on March 26, 2002, as the aircraft prepares for its first flight. The aircraft conducted its third engine run on March 16, after previous runs in December and January, while on April 18 a successful autonomous start and shutdown of the P&W JT15D engine was achieved and repeated several times. The UAV is scheduled to move to the Naval Weapons Center, China Lake, California, for its first flight later this year.

Making their debut at ILA were the Red Bull team's two newly refurbished former Luftwaffe Alpha Jets.

Following the announcement that Thomas Cook was to establish a new Belgian-based holiday charter airline, operations have now begun under the Thomas Cook Airlines name with A320-231s from sister airline JMC Air, including G-CVYG seen here recently at Manchester. Operations began on March 6, 2002 and there are plans to serve some 34 holiday destinations in Europe. A Condor Boeing 757 is also being leased for the summer to provide services to Banjul and Dakar whilst summer capacity is also expected to be supplemented by a Boeing 767 between July and September.

Yet another airline to revise its corporate colours is Cyprus Airways, the first aircraft in the new scheme being A320-231 5B-DBD seen here recently at Manchester. It had been expected that the first aircraft in the new colours would be the first A319, but following recent return of this A320 from EuroCypria lease, it became the first example to be repainted.

About to touch down at Edwards AFB, California, at the conclusion of its first flight on April 23, 2002 is the sixth RQ-4A Global Hawk, which had taken off from Plant 42, Palmdale, California, where it was built at the manufacturer’s facility. Wearing the new dark grey camouflage being adopted for the type, the UAV will now join the other examples to continue the EMD flight test programme.

SN Brussels Airlines Avro RJ100 OO-DWC shows off the livery of SN Brussels Airlines, the new carrier which emerged following the demise of Sabena. As can be seen, the new colour scheme adopted is very similar to the previous Sabena colours to avoid having to undertake a major rebranding.

The Fuerza Aerea Argentina’s Agrupacion Aerea Presidencial (Presidential Flight) Fokker F28-4000 T-02 (c/n 11023) was transferred during February 2002 to I Brigada Aerea's Escuadron II at BAM El Palomar, Buenos Aires. The aircraft will undertake transport flights both for the squadron and for LADE (Lineas Aereas del Estado), the FAA's military airline which operates scheduled commercial flights to unprofitable destinations. Although re-serialled as T-50 and given FAA and I BA titles in place of the presidential titles, it has retained the previous VIP scheme, due to its excellent condition. Esc II now operates four F28-100s and this F28-4000.

The sad sight of the tail of National Air & Space Museum Boeing S307 Stratoliner N19903 ‘Clipper Flying Cloud’ protruding from the waters of Puget Sound following its ditching on March 28, 2002. Luckily, this unique airliner survivor was recovered structurally intact and returned to Boeing Field for assessment.

Diamond Aircraft’s first venture into the twin-engined light aircraft market is the DA42 Twin Star, represented at Berlin by the first, as yet unflown, prototype aircraft, D-GENI. The development of a diesel aircraft engine by low-volume diesel car engine prototype manufacturer Thiebert has resulted in Diamond launching the Twin Star to capitalize on the operating advantages such an aircraft can offer its owner.

AB139 prototype 01, which was lost in a crash on April 22, 2002.

Italian Air Force Piaggio P.180 Avanti MM62199, seen visiting Glasgow on April 16, 2002, is the first of a batch of updated ‘new-generation’ examples, deliveries of which commenced recently. The aircraft is operated by AMX-equipped 14° Gruppo/2° Stormo, based at Rivolto. The gap in the cheatline on the fin, where the unit badge is still to be applied, is evidence of its very recent delivery.

The Raytheon Premier I has been seen at some shows in the United States (such as Sun ‘n’ Fun in Florida in April 2002) but its appearance at Berlin Schonefeld was its first European outing to a major trade show. It sat in the static display throughout ILA.

During the first half of ILA the DLR's VFW-614 ATTAS (Advanced Technologies Testing Aircraft System), D-ADAM, appeared in the static and flying programme. The aircraft is highly modified and is to participate in a series of tests to evaluate the operation of unmanned air vehicles in controlled airspace over Germany. While the nose boom and smoke-generating pod over the port wing are visible modifications, the aircraft’s digital flight control system will allow the aircraft to function as a ground controlled UAV. Test flights are due to commence at the end of 2002 and last until the end of 2003.

Seen passing through Glasgow on April 16, 2002 was Shorts SD3-60-300 C-GPCW (c/n SH.3622), still in the colours of its former operator, Male, Maldives-based Ocean Air, with which it had operated as 8Q-OCA. The aircraft was routing back to Pacific Coastal Airlines in Vancouver

After almost 34 years in the airline business, Monarch Airlines announced on March 15, 2002 that it was finally to introduce a new corporate identity, although changes are relatively subtle. Airbus A321-231 G-OZBE seen here recently at Manchester, along with Boeing 757-2T7 G-MONE, are the first two aircraft to adopt the new colours.

Bombardier’s fourth Continental business jet prototype, C-GJCV (c/n 20004), makes its first flight on April 5, 2002 from Wichita/Mid-Continent Airport, Kansas.

Dash 8-Q402 C-GHQO (c/n 4003), the third aircraft built, has now joined Hydro-Quebec as its first aircraft and on April 23, 2002 began operations on the employees' shuttle service between Montreal and airfields serving five hydro-electric generating sites in northern Quebec. A second aircraft will join the fleet in the spring, replacing four veteran Convair 580s, which have been providing the shuttle service for the last 20 years.

Progress on the first Boeing 747-400ER is evident in this view of the aircraft on the production line in early May 2002, about to have its major sections joined up. Roll-out is scheduled for June, first flight in July and delivery to launch customer Qantas Airways in October. A second variant, the 747-400ER Freighter will roll out in the summer.

Boeing 737-6D6 7T-VJQ (c/n 30209), the first Series 600 for Air Algerie, was delivered to the Algerian national flag carrier on April 29, 2002. A further four 737-600 aircraft are due to join the Algiers-based airline by the end of this year.

London/Luton-based easyJet’s 25th new Boeing 737 takes off from Seattle on April 30, 2002 at the beginning of its delivery flight to the UK. The aircraft, 737-73V G-EZJO (c/n 30244), will be based at Liverpool and is the 13th Next-Generation 737-700 to join the airline, which has also, since 1997, received 12 new 737-300s.

Making its international debut at ILA was PZL Swidnik’s I-23 Manager four-seat light aircraft, designed by the Warsaw Aviation Institute and powered by a single Lycoming 360-A1A. Two orders for the type have already been secured from the Polish Defence Ministry.