US Aerospace Industries Assn. forecast that US aerospace sales will increase slightly in 2010 before slowing in 2011, with already stagnant civil aircraft sales falling next year. In its annual forecast released yesterday, AIA said total US aerospace sales are expected to rise 4.1% year-over-year to $214.1 billion for full-year 2009 and then remain basically flat in 2010, barely growing to $214.4 billion. Civil aircraft sales are expected to rise 2.4% year-over-year for full-year 2009 before dipping 7% in 2010 to $76.7 billion.

Boeing called yesterday's 787 first flight a success despite the inclement weather that cut it short, setting the stage for what the company hopes will be a smooth flight test program culminating with FAA certification and first delivery to launch customer ANA in the 2010 fourth quarter.

The 787 achieved first flight today, taking off at 10:28 am local time from Paine Field in Everett, Wash., as a throng of Boeing employees gathered in the airfield cheered.

Sky Holding Co. and Oaktree Capital Management announced formation of a new aircraft finance and leasing partnership in which funds managed by Oaktree invested $500 million in Sky.

BAE Systems Asset Management announced the sale of three BAe 146QT freighters to Cobham Aviation Services Australia, which had been leasing the aircraft since the early 1990s. Cobham will use them to service a renewed A$100 million ($91.2 million) contract awarded by Australian air Express. BAE and Cobham also extended the lease on one passenger BAe 146-300.

Boeing is prepared to fly the 787 as early as Tuesday morning, it said last week, adding that the timing is "dependent on final internal reviews, taxi test and receiving the final experimental ticket" from US FAA. On Dec. 10 the manufacturer finished its final review of the Nov. 30 static test designed to validate the side-of-body modification to the aircraft (ATWOnline, Dec. 2). Final gauntlet testing on the first flight test aircraft also was completed successfully, it said.

Irkut Corp., manufacturer of the MC-21 passenger aircraft scheduled to enter service in 2016, selected Pratt & Whitney's PW1000G geared turbofan engine to power the plane. The MC-21 family (sometimes identified as the MS-21) will comprise three variants seating between 150 and 212 passengers, with first flight planned for 2014. Irkut announced design freeze 11 months ago (ATWOnline, Jan. 7).

Flydubai took delivery of its sixth 737-800 this week. VGS Aircraft Holding (Ireland) leased one 737-800 to Comair (South Africa) until March 2013.