Australia is considering acquisition of a fifth Boeing C-17 Globemaster airlifter instead of the two Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules that it has been planning to buy. In language that suggests Australia has almost decided on another C-17, Defense Minister Stephen Smith cites Canberra’s great satisfaction with the performance of the four C-17s that it bought last decade. They “have delivered excellent service and have provided [the defense department’s] first true global-airlift capability,” Smith says.

Japan Airlines, once the largest operator of the Boeing 747, has retired the aircraft entirely from its fleet. Symbolizing the carrier’s downsizing amid bankruptcy protection, the 747 has left Japan Airlines’ service to be replaced with smaller aircraft. The last two services by the type were flown on March 1, arriving at Tokyo from Honolulu and Okinawa.

BEIJING — China’s primary space programs are going smoothly, says national space contractor China Aerospace Science & Technology Corp. (CASC), listing the Tiangong 1 docking target, Shenzhou 8 satellite, Chang’e 3 lunar mission and Long March 5 launcher. Last year’s Chang’e 2 mission to the Moon provided a firm foundation for the next phase of the country’s lunar exploration program, CASC says in a report carried by the official Xinhua news agency. It gave no details about progress with the other programs.