Aviation

US Super Hornet jet blown off warship deck

An F/A-18 Super Hornet was blown off the flight deck of the USS Harry S. Truman near Norfolk, according to the Navy.

The accident happened on Friday in the Mediterranean Sea, as the carrier was doing a replenishment-at-sea, or ship-to-ship refueling. The incident occurred during extremely heavy rain, according to Navy officials.

The ship’s crew is all safe and well, however one sailor was hurt. The sailor’s injuries were deemed “minor,” and he is expected to fully recover.

The Navy is considering whether to rescue the Super Hornet from the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea, according to a Navy spokesman, despite the fact that it plainly possesses the capability.

After crashing into the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in January then sliding off and sinking into the South China Sea, the Navy recovered an F-35C Lightning II fighter from 12,000 feet of water in March. On average, the Mediterranean Sea is 4,900 feet deep.

The occurrence on Friday did not appear to cause any injuries, but the Navy did say one sailor was hurt while “doing operations under the unexpectedly intense rain.” They are in stable condition and are expected to fully recover.

The carrier, according to officials, is still mission capable. The matter is still being investigated.

Aviation

Aeroflot Buys Used Planes for Spare Parts Amid Sanctions

In the face of ongoing Western sanctions that have severely impacted Russia’s aviation industry, Aeroflot, the country’s largest airline, has devised a strategic plan to bolster its fleet’s spare parts inventory.

The airline is set to acquire five Boeing 737-800BCF freighters from Atran Airlines, a move that will allow it to dismantle the aircraft for critical components. The planes, which will be transferred to Aeroflot’s low-cost subsidiary Pobeda, will not be converted into passenger jets but instead will be stripped for valuable parts to support existing operations.

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Aeroflot’s plan to purchase these Boeing 737-800BCF freighters comes as part of a broader strategy to mitigate the effects of Western sanctions, which have crippled the Russian aviation sector. With the sanctions restricting access to essential aircraft parts and spare components, Aeroflot is exploring alternative ways to maintain and repair its fleet.

Instead of converting the freighters from cargo to passenger planes, a process deemed “unreasonably expensive” under current sanctions, the airline intends to focus on extracting high-value components such as engines, landing gear, avionics, and other essential systems.

The deal will be structured in a way that allows Aeroflot to indirectly purchase the freighters through an insurance settlement with the aircraft’s lessor, AerCap.

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The Russian government’s insurance company will reimburse the aircraft’s value, and the planes will then be leased back to local operators. This method circumvents some of the restrictions imposed by international sanctions while ensuring that the airline gains access to the necessary components to support its fleet.

By dismantling the aircraft for spare parts, Aeroflot aims to secure critical resources for the ongoing maintenance of its existing fleet. Components from the Boeing 737-800BCF freighters, such as engines and avionics, are expected to be reused in other aircraft within Aeroflot’s network, ensuring that the airline can keep its operations running smoothly