i just seen this pic over on sinodefence, is that smoke coming out of its stack :confused:

First Belgian Air Component pilot to start NH90 helicopter training

In preparation of the arrival in early 2012 of the new NH90 helicopters for the Belgian Air Component,
a first pilot will be detached to AgustaWestland in Italy to start his conversion on this new type.
After this the Lieutenant, now Seaking commander, will join De Kooy airbase in the Netherlands as an exchange pilot for a period of two to three years.
He will return to Belgium as soon as the first NH90 arrive.

source: http://www.baha.be/Webpages/Navigator/News/news_2010_3.html

thats right, it could just be a prototype, IIRC the original SU-27K (SU-33) prototype didnt have folding wings either, as it was just a converted SU-27B.

the folding wings could still be under development and i guess they would them be placed on the production version.
take a look at the fairings on top of the wings, i thnk that represents the folding mechanism, or it could just be a cosmetic feature for aerodynamic testing.

here’s a recent top view picture of the varyag, what the he*l is that green tubing, is that a catapult or something :confused:

http://www.fyjs.cn/bbs/htm_data/25/1007/263424.html

When’s the last time Lockheed Martin built a fighter aircraft that could land on carriers?

uhh….the S-3 Viking :rolleyes:

i think it is possible to westernise the SU-33, but then in cooperation with Israel’s aeropsace industries.
the best exsample to point at is the Indian AF SU-30MKI, witch is basicly a wesernised flanker, compatible with link-16 (i think), Litening III targeting pods, avionics….

the USMC did a few operations from LHD’s with OV-10 Bronco’s, so i guess it is possible 😎

Will the A-4s be getting a BVR capability?

as noted above, the A-4’s are sheduled to have the Rafael Derby integrated as parf of the upgrade, witch is a BVR missile 😎

http://www.rafael.co.il/marketing/area.aspx?FolderID=331&docID=887

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Python_(missile)#Derby

looking at the source of turbo trackers, i seen of pictures that marsh aviation as quite a number of ex-RAN S-2’s in storage, but the airworthiness of these frames are doubtfull. Brasil has operated the S-2 Tracker before and still has a few airframes left from the Minas Gerais era.

perhaps they will use there own old airframes if they stil have them, or they could be looking into buying ex-RocAF S-2T trackers.