“The world’s most effective air superiority fighter aircraft…….”

Two F-22 Raptors in column flight formation

Role
Stealth, Air superiority fighter

National origin
United States

Manufacturers

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
Boeing Integrated Defense Systems

First flight
YF-22: September 29, 1990
F-22: September 7, 1997

Introduction
December 15, 2005

Status
Active

Primary user
United States Air Force

Number built
119 as of June 2008

Program cost
$62 billion (USD)

Unit cost
US$137.5 million (2008 flyaway cost)

Variants

X-44 Manta
FB-22

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Two F-22s, the upper one being the first EMD F-22, “Raptor 01″.
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F-22A Raptors [...]

Qantas passenger numbers up 6% in August

The number of passengers carried on Qantas group flights was six per cent higher in August than in the corresponding month last year, thanks to a boost in numbers at budget offshoot Jetstar.
According to figures released by the airline on Tuesday, the Qantas group carried 3.4 million passengers in August, compared to 3.2 million a [...]

Cheap flights can cost you more

BARGAIN plane tickets can end up costing 250 per cent more than the advertised price, making them nearly as expensive as flying Qantas.

The cheapest advertised fare from Sydney to Melbourne – $28 on Tiger Airways – costs a further $55 if a passenger pays for add-ons free on the Flying Kangaroo. These include [...]

‘DIY jihad’ manual editor sentenced to 12 years’ jail

A former Sydney Qantas cleaner was today sentenced to a maximum 12-year jail term for compiling a “do-it-yourself jihad” manual.
Belal Saadallah Khazaal, 39, who has also worked as a journalist, was last year found guilty by a NSW Supreme Court jury of making a document connected with assistance in a terrorist act.
He is the [...]

Qantas rejects ‘flying dog’ tag

Qantas has dismissed an Australian survey that rates it the worst international airline.
The survey of 4000 subscribers to consumer magazine Choice also found Qantas’s domestic service was outshone by all rivals except its low-cost subsidiary Jetstar.
However, Qantas has cited a larger, international poll as proof its customers are satisfied.
The national carrier would not comment directly [...]

Qantas appoints Jetstar executive

Qantas has appointed former Jetstar executive Rohan Garnett vice president of leisure sales in North America, based in Los Angeles.
Mr Garnett will oversee Qantas’ relationships with industry trade partners, including travel agents and tourism authorities and manage group sales and business development initiatives.
Mr Garnett was Jetstar’s group general manager of people and a founding member [...]

Flight test: United Airlines economy class

Aircraft United Airlines 747-400.
Route Melbourne to Los Angeles.
Class Economy, seat 46K.
Seat pitch and width pitch 31 inches between rows of seats; 17 inches between armrests.
Seat configuration Three-four-three.
Luggage allowance Two checked-in bags allowed for economy flyers, with a maximum of 23 kilograms a person. One bag (no bigger than 23cm x 35cm x 56cm) and one [...]

How Geoff Dixon’s millions grounded Qantas

Between 2001 and his retirement in 2009, Geoff Dixon was, in cash terms, the highest paid airline executive in the world. In 2008, shortly before his retirement, Dixon was paid $12.1 million. This included a “retention payment” of $4.5 million. Clearly, the retention payment did not have the desired effect with Dixon’s services retained for [...]

Probe into exploding oxygen cylinder in 747 aircraft emergency landing drama

An exploding oxygen cylinder may have ripped open the fuselage of a Qantas jumbo jet that had to make an emergency landing, investigators said yesterday.
Such a blast would have major implications for 747 aircraft around the world, said the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
It has sent experts to Manila in the Philippines to inspect the [...]

QANTAS eyes Asian expansion, makes big executive payouts

Australian airline QANTAS is getting criticised for big executive payouts – but the airline is more focused on trying to buy in to the biggest shake-up in Asian aviation in a decade.
The company’s annual report shows former CEO Geoff Dixon retired from Qantas in November last year and took home almost eleven million Australian [...]