Live n’ deadly TV Presenter Steve Backshall is doing a bit on the Peregrine Falcon. And to demonstrate how incredible this bird of prey is, he decided to replicate the maneuvers of the Falcon in our jet fighter. We had tremendous fun being around Steve and his crew and were quite interested as well as finding out how Steve would cope with G force and the jet fighter experience. Check it out on the BBC Live’n’deadly show and on their website. In the meantime, here are some pics of the day of filming.

Fly the L39 Albatros in Switzerland. With winter coming fast, we are very pleased to announce that we will add more flights in Switzerland this winter. Flying on a bright day, with clear blue sky, crisp air, cold temperatures and the snow capped mountains is more than extraordinary. The beauty of flying in Switzerland is that as soon as you take off, it’s already magical. Our L39 Albatros jet fighter is based in Sion, which is a valley in the middle of a triangle made of Montreux, Bern and Lake Maggiore.

Article 117S is NPO Saturn manufactured vectored thrust engine for he ne SU-35, themselves a major upgrade of the AL-31F, with greater thrust, longer service life and better economy. The 117S engine was able to raise maximum thrust from 12.5 to 14.5 tonnes A new fan propeller with the diameter increased from 905 millimeters to 932 millimeters, new high and low pressure turbines and a new digital control system were used on the engine. With this engine, the new SU-35 is the most maneuverable fighter today.

VSS Enterprise achieves manned free flight from over 45,000 ft (13,700 metres) and successfully glides to land at Mojave Air and Spaceport. 10th October 2010, Mojave, CA. Virgin Galactic, the US company developing the world’s first commercial manned space flight system and tourism business, is delighted to announce the successful completion today of the first piloted free flight of SpaceShipTwo, named the VSS Enterprise. The spaceship was released from its mothership at an altitude of 45,000 ft (13,700 metres).

Sukhoi aircraft holding has begun ground and flight trials of the modernized fourth generation Su-33 naval fighter. Modernization works and trials are being carried out at the KnAAPO aircraft plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur under a state defense order in 2010. Su-33 (Su-27K) is a multi-role carrier-based fighter with horizontal takeoff and landing, and aerial refuelling capability. The fighter features folding wings and horizontal tail for hanger storage. It was designed to defend naval ships from airborne attacks.

“We’re very pleased with the Government of Israel’s decision to move forward with the U.S. government’s Letter of Offer and Acceptance for the F-35,” said Tom Burbage, Lockheed Martin executive vice president and general manager of F-35 Program Integration. “This is another step in the longstanding relationship between Lockheed Martin and the nation of Israel. The Lightning II will strengthen Israel’s national security posture both militarily and industrially.” The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations, advanced sustainment, and lower operational and support costs. Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 with its principal industrial partners, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. Two separate, interchangeable F-35 engines are under development: the Pratt & Whitney F135 and the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team F136. “We’re very pleased with the Government of Israel’s decision to move forward with the U.S. government’s Letter of Offer and Acceptance for the F-35,” said Tom Burbage, Lockheed Martin executive vice president and general manager of F-35 Program Integration. “This is another step in the longstanding relationship between Lockheed Martin and the nation of Israel. The Lightning II will strengthen Israel’s national security posture both militarily and industrially.”The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations, advanced sustainment, and lower operational and support costs.Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 with its principal industrial partners, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. Two separate, interchangeable F-35 engines are under development: the Pratt & Whitney F135 and the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team F136.

General Electric has defeated the Eurojet consortium in a contest to provide the engine for a new version of India's long-delayed Tejas light combat aircraft. The US manufacturer has won a deal to supply 99 F414-INS6 turbofans for the Tejas MkII, following a selection decision by India's Aeronautical Development Agency.

Everyone knows what it’s like for an airplane to land: The slow maneuvering into an approach pattern, the long descent, and the brakes slamming on as soon as the plane touches down, which seems to just barely bring it to a rest a mile later. Birds, however, can switch from barreling forward at full speed to lightly touching down on a target as narrow as a telephone wire. Why can’t an airplane be more like a bird, asked MIT researchers, who have demonstrated a new control system that allows a foam glider with only a single motor on its tail to land on a perch, just like a pet parakeet.

The last flying example of one of Britain’s most iconic historic aircraft, Avro Vulcan XH558 is once again facing a funding crisis which could lead to her being permanently grounded and the Nuneaton Based Air Cadets are urging air enthusiasts and members of the public to pledge their support in a bid to help to keep her flying. Air Cadets from 121 (Nuneaton) Squadron recently had a visit from members of the Vulcan to the Sky Trust, who came along to talk to them about the last flying example of one of Britain’s most recognisable historic aircraft Avro Vulcan XH558. David Wilson and Ann Raske of the Vulcan to the Sky Trust described how after a career of 33 years of service, XH558, the Spirit of Great Britain, was the last Vulcan to fly with the RAF. Her final service flight was on 23rd March 1993 to Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome in Leicestershire. They then went on to detail the 14 years of work, which had gone into restoring her to an airworthy condition and how on the 18th October 2007, Vulcan XH558 roared into the air again. An unforgettable day for the Vulcan to the Sky team. Unfortunately the Leicestershire based Vulcan to the Sky Trust who operate the Vulcan XH558 have suffered badly under the current financial climate, with some commercial sponsors withdrawing support. As a result the trust has until the end of October this year, to raise the £400,000 needed to keep her in the air otherwise the aircraft could be sold off to a private collector, possibly in Russia or the US, and may never fly again. Flt Lt Paul Hincks of 121 (Nuneaton) Squadron said, “The financial situation will eventually improve but if XH558 stops flying now we will never see her back in the air again. Generations of young people have been inspired by the sight of the Vulcan’s unique delta wing shape and sound of its four mighty Olympus engines. Hopefully with the support of the public Vulcan XH558, Spirit of Great Britain, will continue honouring the past and inspiring future generations of air minded young people.

Boeing announced today that it has completed production of the first Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F/A-18F Super Hornet that has the capability to be converted into an electronic attack aircraft. Boeing is pre-wiring the RAAF's second lot of 12 Super Hornets for potential electronic attack capability conversion during production at the company's facilities in St. Louis. "Incorporating the ability to introduce an electronic attack capability on 12 RAAF Super Hornets as they are produced in St. Louis provides maximum flexibility for our Air Force in the future," said RAAF Group Capt. Steve Roberton, Officer Commanding 82 Wing, which includes Super Hornet and F-111 aircraft. "Ultimately, if a decision to incorporate an electronic attack option is pursued, it will further expand the broad capability of an already formidable Super Hornet weapon system." The Australian government announced in March 2007 that it would acquire 24 of the advanced Block II versions of the Super Hornet, all of which are equipped with the Raytheon-built APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. Eleven Super Hornets are now operating at RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland. All 11 aircraft were delivered ahead of schedule and on budget. Boeing will deliver Australia's 24th Super Hornet in 2011. "Besides giving the RAAF the potential of introducing electronic attack capability in the future, producing these 12 aircraft with this configuration from the outset also reduces cost when compared with retrofitting at a later date," said Carolyn Nichols, Australian Super Hornet program manager for Boeing. The Boeing Super Hornet is a multirole aircraft, able to perform virtually every mission in the tactical spectrum, including air superiority, day/night strike with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, maritime strike, reconnaissance, forward air control and tanker missions. Boeing has delivered more than 430 F/A-18E/Fs to the U.S. Navy. Every Super Hornet produced has been delivered on or ahead of schedule and on budget.