Page 4 - Aviation News (February 2020)

HEADLINES E175-E2 Maiden Flight

The Embraer E175-E2 regional airliner Embraer 175-E2, PR-ZXM, on its maiden fl ight from the runway adjacent to Embraer’s
made its inaugural fl ight from the from São José dos Campos on December 12. Faria Lima complex and fl ew for 2hr
company’s facility in São José dos Campos, Embraer 18min. Embraer’s Capt Mozart Louzada
Brazil, on December 12. Embraer will use and system tests. The third prototype will commanded the aircraft along with fi rst
three aircraft for the E175-E2 certifi cation be used to validate maintenance tasks and o cer Wander Almodovar Golfetto and
campaign. The fi rst and second prototypes be outfi tted with interior furnishings. The fl ight engineers Gilberto Meira Cardoso
will conduct aerodynamic, performance E175-E2 departed at 11:07am local time and Mario Ito.

Iran Fires Missiles at US Bases in Iraq

Following the assassination of Iranian Washington to temporarily station a rapid B-52Hs crossed the Atlantic on January
Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) response unit, which would be ready 7, routing around the south of Spain
and Quds Force leader, Gen Qassem to evacuate US diplomatic personnel and over the Mediterranean. In the
Soleimani, at Baghdad International and citizens from Iraq, should the need previous week, the US had engaged in
Airport, Iraq, in a drone strike on January arise. The following day, local television a large-scale force mobilisation to the
3, Iran retaliated with a ballistic missile reported that a C-130 and fi ve or six region. More than 40 USAF Boeing C-17A
strike on the night of January 7/8, CH-47 Chinooks had arrived at Andreas Globemaster IIIs and several Lockheed
targeted against the US air base at Al Asad Papandreou AFB, the air base adjacent to Martin C-5M Super Galaxy heavy-lift
AB south of Baghdad and at another base Paphos International Airport. strategic transports delivered troops,
in Erbil in northern Iraq. The Times reported on January 7 along with additional equipment to the
As many as 16 missiles were fi red, 11 that the RAF would send up to fi ve extra region, such as Patriot surface-to-air
of which reached their targets. They are Chinook helicopters to join four examples missile batteries, ground vehicles and
believed to be Qiam-1 and Fateh-110-series that were already based in Irbil. The helicopters. Additional tankers, transports
short-range ballistic missiles. No casualties newspaper said the aircraft could be used and special operations aircraft have also
were reported, but satellite images released to remove some of the 1,400 UK military deployed to the region, along with 12
by the private company Planet Labs and civilian personnel currently in the United States Marine Corps F/A-18C/D
showed impacts at several locations on country supporting the fi ght against the Hornets from Marine Fighter Attack
the sprawling Al Asad base, including direct Islamic State group. Squadron 251 (VMFA-251) ‘Thunderbolts’,
hits on hangar facilities near fl ight lines on Prior to the missile attack, several which will operate from Jaber Air Base,
which were parked H-60 Blackhawk and air units had deployed. The USAF Kuwait. These departed Marine Corps Air
V-22 Osprey aircraft. One helicopter was confi rmed it was sending six Boeing Station (MCAS) Beaufort, South Carolina,
damaged, a US defence o cial confi rmed B-52H Stratofortress heavy bombers on January 1 as part of the US’ Immediate
to Military Times. to the island of Diego Garcia in the Response Force and were noted passing
On January 8, the Republic of Cyprus Indian Ocean, located 2,613nm (3,008 through Lajes Field in the Azores the
government accepted a request from miles/4,841km) from Iran. The fi rst two following day.

Grey Wolf for Global Strike Command

The Leonardo MH-139A
helicopter was o cially named
Grey Wolf during a ceremony at
Duke Field, Florida, on December
19. A detachment established
at the base will support testing
and evaluation of the new
helicopter for Air Force Global
Strike Command (AFGSC). Grey
Wolf will replace the UH-1N for
security and support of the ICBM
fi elds in the northern US. USAF/
Samuel King Jr

4 AVIATION NEWS FEBRUARY 2020

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