Iran-Based Airline Purchases Airbus A340s

Iran-based airline Mahan Air has purchased 8 Airbus A340-600s from Virgin Atlantic. The eight four-engine, wide-body jets arrived at Mehrabad Airport in Tehran last night. The A340-600 seats more than 320 passengers in three-cabin configuration and has a range of 13,700 km (8,513 miles). The arrival of the Virgin’s A340s, believed to be less than ten years old, adds newer modern aircraft to the country’s aging civil aviation fleet and is a welcome sign for travelers to and from Iran. Mahan Air also purchased an Airbus A321 as part of the transaction.

File photo: A Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340-600 at JFK airport (reddit.com)
 

Flydubai to Fly to Five More Iranian Cities

The UAE-based flydubai Airline announced today that it will begin passenger service to five more destinations in Iran: Shiraz, Isfahan, Ahvaz, Hamadan and Tabriz. The airliner already flies to Tehran and Mashhad. Flydubai said today it will have business class cabins in all its flights to Iran.

The flights to Shiraz, Isfahan and Ahvaz will start on 8, 11 and 14 March respectively, with Hamadan and Tabriz joining the fludubai network on 16 March. Fludubai has 44 Boeing 737-800 in service, with 91 additional Boeing 737 MAX 8 on order. (Al Arabiya, 17 February)

Flydubai is starting its new Iranian destinations days before the 21 March Persian New Year, when thousands of Iranian tourists fly to Dubai to attend new-year celebration concerts, which are banned inside Iran. In the long term, flydubai’s service to seven major destinations in Iran could seriously damage the businesses of Iranian airliners which fly the same routes with much older planes.

Photo credit: flydubai aircraft at Dubai Airport (flydubai/Al-Arabiya) 

President Rouhani's trip to NYC aboard IRIG A340 - correction

President Rouhani boards Airbus A340-300 series aircraft 22SEP14 at THR / OIII, bound for JFK / KJFK to attend 69th annual session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Aircraft appears to be Iran Aseman A340-311, reg. EP-APA (cn 002) in new IRIG livery.

Aircraft is Islamic Republic of Iran (Mahan Air) Airbus A340-313, reg. EP-MMC (cn 282). See below:

Photos: Mahmoud Hosseini at Tasnim News Agency and Shahram Sharifi

Iran Passenger Plane Crashes in Tehran

Killing 39 Passengers and Crew Members

An Iranian passenger plane with 48 people on board crashed today after takeoff from Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport, crashing in Azadi Township in western outskirts of the capital. Iranian media reported that at least 39 passengers and crew members were killed, including a number of children.

The Iranian news site Tasnim reported that soon after the takeoff, parts of the plane’s wings were separated and landed in Tehransar Township.

The aircraft was an Ir-140, a version of Ukrainian An-140, assembled in Iran by HESA in Shahin Shahr from kits supplied by Antonov. The plane that crashed was operated by Sepahan Air, a domestic airline, and was scheduled to travel from Tehran to northeastern city of Tabas.

UPDATE: Iran's Ministry of Transport said on Monday that out of six Ir-140 aircraft built in Iran, 2 have crashed (including the one involved in Sunday's crash) and four are not operational.

Top photo: Iranian Ir-140 crashes in populated Azazi Township in western outskirts of Tehran (IRNA)

Bottom photo: File photo of an Ir-140 (IRNA)

Hard Landing at Zahedan

The pilot of an Iran Aseman airliner managed to make hard landing at Zahedan airport after the plane’s landing gears failed to open. 9 passengers were injured. The Aseman Flight 8053 with 113 passengers and crew members onboard had originated in Mashhad. (IRNA, 10 May)

Photo credit: Iran Aseman airplane after making hard landing at Zahedan airport. (Abtin Risbaf/ISNA)

Iran ICAO Dassault Falcon (Mystere) 20E lost in crash

 

File photo: Iran Civil Aviation Organization Dassault Falcon (Mystere) 20E, reg: EP-FIC (cn 334) 

Iran Civil Aviation Organization's Dassault Falcon (Mystere) 20E crashed during a calibration flight to test navigation equipment on 3 March 2014, on final approach to Kish International Airport (KIH / OIBK).

All four crew members were killed in the crash including Captain Jalili, Captain Mosavi and Captain Ameri.

File photo: Shahram Sharifi

Qeshm Air support livery for Persepolis Football Club

 

Operator: Qeshm Airlines 

Aircraft: Airbus A300B4-605R 

Reg: EP-FQM (cn 603) 

Location: Imam Khomeini International, Tehran (IKA / OIIE) 

Date: August 18, 2013 

Photo: Mehrad Watson / Airliners.net 

Notes: Qeshm Air special livery in support of Persepolis F.C.

Mahan Air charter flight to Sofia from Tehran

 

Aircraft: Airbus A300B4-603 

Operator: Mahan Air 

Reg: EP-MNJ (cn 380) 

Location: Sofia (Vrazhdebna) (SOF / LBSF) 

Date: July 23, 2013 

Photo: Hristo Stefanov / JetPhotos.net

New Pics: Mashad International Airport expansion

Expansion projects at Shahid Hashemi Nejad Airport (MHD / OIMM)

New public use storage facilities for small aircraft

New terminal expansion with high level of finish

New terminal seating at Mashad International /  Shahid Hashemi Nejad Airport

Minister Ali Nizkad disembarks from Red Crescent Society operated 

Mil Mi-171E, 6-9509 / IRC.4 (cn 171E00364073501U)

for a tour of the recent airport expansion

Photos: Nima Najafzadeh at  Fars News Agency

Newly completed airport terminal at Rasht, Iran

New terminal building at Sardar-e-Jangal Airport (RAS / OIGG) at Rasht

Airport's new terminal interior detail. Note high ceiling and overall elegant design.

Baggage claim area with single level baggage carousel and stacked baggage carts

New terminal's ticket counters and flight information displays

Position of new terminal next to airport building and control tower

Visible through the terminal glass: Iran Aseman Airlines Fokker 100 (F-28-0100), EP-ASQ (cn 11513)

Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency

'Free Syrian Army' claimed shootdown of Iranian cargo aircraft - Video

Video of the FSyA claimed shootdown of an Iranian aircraft to DAM / OSDI as provided by Alarabiya news. Video is grainy and hard to discern other than a large aircraft on final encountering a sheet of flame. Waiting for confirmation on this claim.

Gulf Air Postpones Flights to Tehran

Bahrain-based Gulf Air announced on Wednesday that it will postpone its planned resumption of flights to Tehran indefinitely. (Photo: the Gulf Today)

Karrar UCAV- part 2

The Karrar (UCAV) appears to take advantage of existing target drone technology.

Detail of solid rocket booster and jet engine exhaust. Armament appears to be a Mk. 82 type bomb.

Rear view suggests a (closed) chute canopy, for drone retrieval.

Rocket assisted takeoff

Rocket assisted takeoff (2)

Karrar UCAV production facilities (1)

Karrar UCAV production facilities (2)

Video:

Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency

Fajr Aviation Industry Unveils New Light Aircraft

A new Iranian-built twin-engine light aircraft was unveiled Monday in the presence of Defense Minister IRGC Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the unveiling ceremony, the minister said that the Faez (victor) aircraft was the result of work performed by engineers from the ministry and Fajr Aviation & Composites Industry.

The ceremony was held on the occasion of the 31st victory anniversary of Iran’s Islamic Revolution.

The 175-kilogram aircraft, constructed largely from composite materials, has a claimed range of 1,500 km (three hours) with a maximum speed of 240 km per hour.

It is further claimed to be capable of landing both on land and sea (presumably with floats attached), carrying various logistic, medical and postal payloads.

Faez has successfully passed all test flights, said the minister, adding that the aircraft has the ability to be upgraded from a single-person to a double-person aircraft.

Photos courtesy Fars News Agency.

HESA Saegeh Addition to the IRIAF - Updated

According to Iranian state media, the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) has taken delivery of two new domestically built Saegeh (Thunderbolt) aircraft. The delivery ceremony was held today at the HESA Company airport in Shahinshahr, Isfahan. A total of five Saegheh aircraft participated in a ceremonial flyby.

(click photos to enlarge)





Two additional HESA Tiztak (Bell AH-1J) helicopters were also reported to have been delivered to Islamic Republic of Iran Army Aviation (IRIAA).

Note: It makes for a bold statement for Iran to continue to paint its new Saegeh warplanes in glossy blue and yellow color schemes. Perhaps it was planned for these additions to participate in last month's Sacred Defense air show, but were not completed in time.

Update:

An unverified report at ACIG states that only Saegeh serial 3-7370 made its maiden voyage for the IRIAF today in Isfahan. The other four aircraft participating in today's festivities were Saegeh serials 3-7366, 67, 68 & 69; all flying in from Mehrabad.

It has been pointed out that the new plane lacks standard F-5 wing tip armament rails, as do three out of the other four aircraft. There is a rumor of an aerodynamic problem associated with the Saegah's use of wing tip mounted AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. If true, this might explain the reason for the continued use of a flashy color scheme: the Saegeh's primary role is that of an air show performer, over that of any secondary role as a combat aircraft. (Again, this is based on rumor.)

Photos: Fars News Agency

Iran aerospace research and industries (video)

Part 1: IR.AN-140 production at Hesa



Part 2: Jet engine industries



h/t Tictac @ ACIG

Iranian UAV Shot Down by US Jet over Iraq

Danger Room is reporting that an American fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone as it was flying over Iraq last month. The article goes on to state:

Iran has built an array of unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs. The pneumatically-launched Ababil ("Swallow") has a wingspan of more than 10 feet, and cruises at 160 knots, according to Globalsecurity.org. The Mohajer or Misrad ("Migrant") drone is a bit smaller, and slower-flying.

Iran has supplied Hezbollah, with both models. Misrad drones flew reconnaissance missions in both November 2004 and April 2005. Then, in 2006, during Hezbollah's war with Israel, the group operated both Misrads and Ababils over Israel's skies. At least one was shot down by Israeli fighter jets.

Since then, Tehran claims to have radically upgraded its unmanned fleet. In 2007, Iran said it built a drone with a range of 420 miles. Then, in February, Iran's deputy defense minister claimed its latest UAV could now fly as far as 600 miles -- a huge improvement over crude drones like the Misrad, if true. Iran often exaggerates what its weapons can do. But, if this drone really can stay in the air for for that long, the Washington Times notes, "it could soar over every U.S. military installation, diplomatic mission or country of interest in the Middle East." Including those in Iraq.

Iran to use AN-140 to Patrol Borders

From Fars News Agency:

Iran will need an additional 20 An-140 turboprop aircraft to ensure effective patrols of its national borders, an Iranian aircraft industry official said.

The Iranian HESA company has so far produced five An-140 passenger planes at a facility in Esfahan under license (as IRAN-140) and eight other aircraft are being assembled by Iranian specialists trained in Russia and Ukraine.

The An-140 is a short-range turboprop airliner, developed by Russia's Antonov design bureau as a replacement for the An-24 series aircraft. It can carry up to 52 passengers or can be used as a patrol or military transport aircraft.

Russia's Antonov aircraft manufacturing company and Ilyushin Finance aircraft leasing company promoted a new Russian-Ukrainian An-148 regional medium-haul passenger jet at the Iranian air show (took place from October 28th to 31st in Kish Island).

Iranian officials stated, though, that the An-148 negotiations had just started and the outcome would depend on the competitiveness of the Ukrainian-Russian plane on the Iranian market.

In its basic modification, the An-148 is designed to carry 70-90 passengers up to 5,000 kilometers. It costs an estimated 20 million dollars to produce, which is cheaper than Sukhoi's Superjet 100 (around 28 million dollars).

Kish Air Show Gallery

Iranian interest in the Antonov-148 jet

From PressTV:

A senior Ukrainian official has revealed that Iran is to purchase and later produce a version of the Ukrainian-made Antonov airplanes.

Dmitro Kiva, chairman of the Kiev-headquarters of the Antonov Aerospace Company, announced that Iran "will fully participate" in the subsequent production of Antonov-148 mid-range passenger jet, Interfax news agency reported on Wednesday.

The An-148, developed in Ukraine during the 1990s, is a twin-engine high-wing passenger plane designed for operation at rough airfields.

The Ukrainian official stated that the Iranian national aviation authorities are holding talks with their Ukrainian counterparts to make a version of An-148 which would be suitable for Iran's terrain.

"The Iranians are absolutely interested, they want to go forward on this," Kiva said.

Some 16 Russian and Ukrainian airlines and Cuba's national Cubania de Aviacion have voiced willingness to purchase An-148 once its production has begun.

The price for an An-148 once in production line would be between 18 and 22 million dollars depending on configuration, according to the Antonov Company.