Based in London, Tony covers European defense programs. Prior to joining Aviation Week in November 2012, Tony was at Shephard Media Group where he was deputy editor for Rotorhub and Defence Helicopter magazines. Tony has covered avionics, unmanned vehicles, the supply chain and cyberwarfare.
A photograph taken by a German aviation enthusiast has revealed a possible new variant of Airbus’ EC135 light twin-engine helicopter. The image, taken at the Airbus Helicopters plant at Donauworth, Germany, in mid-July, shows that Airbus has reused its long-serving EC135 prototype D-HEEX and converted the aircraft with a five- or possibly six-blade main rotor system and a new design fenestron anti-torque system, with a stabilizer fitted on top of the vertical tail rather than as part of the tail boom.
LONDON—The U.K. Royal Navy’s last Invincible-class aircraft carrier, HMS Illustrious, has been decommissioned. The 22,000-ton ship, which has been used as a helicopter carrier since the retirement of the Sea Harrier fleet in 2006 and the withdrawal of the Harrier GR9 in 2010, was formally retired during a ceremony in Portsmouth on Aug. 28.
