After Typhoon Fengshen hit the island of Panay, Philippines, much needed relief supplies were delivered by sailors from USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and other supporting ships, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on June 26.

HH-60H Seahawk and SH-60F Seahawk helicopters from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4, embarked aboard Ronald Reagan; SH-60B Seahawk helicopters from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (Light) 43, embarked aboard USS Howard (DDG 83); and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (Light) 37, embarked aboard USS Thach (FFG 43) made 19 relief sorties to deliver food and bottled water to areas most affected by the storm.

For the second consecutive day, a Philippine Air Force (PAF) C-130 cargo plane loaded with food and other supplies arrived at Santa Barbara airport in Iloilo. Two C-2A Greyhounds from Ronald Reagan also arrived, carrying water and rice.

In two days, Ronald Reagan has provided 28,128 20-ounce bottles of water and 9,000 pounds of rice for the effort. US and AFP personnel loaded the goods onto the helicopters for rapid delivery to the victims.

According to Rear Adm. Phil Wisecup, commander of the Navy ships, the relief flights will continue as supplies arrive from Ronald Reagan, the Philippine government and relief organizations. “We’re here as long as the government of the Philippines continues to request this support,” he said. “The Filipino people are our friends, and we’re trying to reduce their suffering.”

Airbus Military has rolled out the first A400M military transport aircraft from the final assembly line for the new airlifter in Seville, Spain.

The A400M incorporates materials and technology being used in the newest civil jets. It also incorporates features such as electronic controls, carbon composite structures and an automated handling system.

Airbus Military designed the A400M to be versatile enough to offer both tactical and strategic airlift capability. With a payload of up to 37 tons over ranges of up to 4,700 nautical miles, it is designed to carry all loads and vehicles in the European Staff Requirement inventory, serve as an aerial delivery platform and act as an in-flight tanker for both fast jets and helicopters.

The A400M is capable of carrying a 32-ton payload over 2,000 miles and can carry up to 116 paratroopers. It will travel at speeds comparable with jet transports both at low level and at altitude. It is powered by four new generation TP400-D6 turboprop engines developed, manufactured and supported by EuroProp International.

It’s the Antonov An-225!

The world’s longest airplane flew for the first time on December 21, 1981. The An-225, built by the Russian company Antonov, was manufactured to carry the Buran orbiter, Russia’s version of the Space Shuttle.

The Antonov An-225 holds over 200 records, including the world’s longest airplane at 84 meters or 276 feet.

Other specification of the An-225:

· Payload: 250,000 kilograms or 551,000 pounds

· Wingspan: 88.40 meters or 291 feet 2 inches

· Height: 18.1 meters or 59.3 feet

· Weight: 175,000 kilograms org 385,800 pounds

· Maximum speed: 850 km/h or 530 mph

· Range: 14,000 kilometers or 8,700 miles

There was only one An-225 ever built, a second was started, but not completed.

China is expected to unveil its new turboprop plane at the weekend, with the aim of increasing Chinese world market share for propeller aircraft.

The Modern Ark 600 or MA600 will roll off the assembly line in the northern city of Xian on Sunday, according to China Daily. The new plane will be comparable to the Canadian Bombardier and the French ATR.

The first and only model of the MA series on the market is the 50-60 seat MA60. The new MA600 is lighter than the MA60, and thus consumes less fuel. It is also equipped with maritime survival functions for island countries.

The MA600 is scheduled to begin trials in September and will be delivered to its first customer next year.

China also plans to build its own jumbo jets to compete with Boeing and Airbus. In March, it launched a new aerospace firm charged with this task and has already started building a mid-range, 70-90 seat aircraft called the ARJ-21.