Chris Pocock has been covering the defense beat for AIN for over 30&nbsp;years. He is a British citizen and a graduate of the University of Cambridge. Chris worked in the air cargo business for ten years before becoming a full-time writer in 1983. He subsequently edited two air cargo journals before becoming AIN’s Defense Editor. He retired from that position in 2018, but still contributes to the publication. Chris has written extensively on aerial reconnaissance, including four books on the history of the U-2 spyplane. He also lectures on this and other topics related to intelligence-gathering in the Cold War.

Defense Correspondent

Chris Pocock

Pratt and Whitney and Rolls-Royce have committed to a Performance-Based Logistics (PBL) approach in support of the UK’s F-35B Lightning II fleet. They provide the F135 engine and its unique LiftSystem respectively. The companies will jointly provide technical support from RAF Marham.

 


Chris Cholerton (seated, left), president of Rolls-Royce Defence Aerospace signed an MoU here at the show with Bennett Croswell (seated, right), president of Pratt &amp; Whitney military engines. A PBL contracting structure incentivizes contractors to focus on outcomes such as the availability of the propulsion system. The two companies said they would also offer this support model to other F-35B operators.

 


Witnessing the signing were (standing, left to right) Cdr. Rick Thompson, head of the Lightning II team at the UK’s Defence Equipment and Support (DES) organization; Lt. Gen. Jon Davis, deputy commandant for aviation at the U.S. Marine Corps; Lt. Gen. Chris Bogdan, program executive officer for the F-35 in the Joint Program Office; Tony Douglas, chief executive officer of the DES; and Air Cdre Harvey Smyth, Lightning Force Commander for the Royal Air Force.

 


On Monday R-R announced that it had signed a production contract covering 13 LiftSystems plus additional program labor, spares and tooling, covering the next batch of low-rate initial production. An additional contract for LRIP 10 is expected later this summer, to cover deliveries through 2018.&nbsp;

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

P&W, Rolls sign F-35 Support Pact

The companies will jointly provide technical support from RAF Marham.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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Ultra-long-range model has amassed 75 records, many from customer trips

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News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

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Jennifer Leach English

Company noncommittal on expanding its lineup upwards, citing $1B investment cost

Embraer’s Plans for a Larger Bizjet Remain Up in the Air

Operations ebbed, backlogs were steady, and available aircraft increased

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Greenville-based charter operator pre-orders 10 eVTOL air taxis

SAI Flight To Operate SkyDrive eVTOL in South Carolina

Charles Alcock

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

2016 Farnborough Airshow

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