Thierry Dubois is a freelance writer specializing in helicopters, business aviation and aerospace technology. He earned a degree in fluid dynamics from an engineering school in Toulouse, France in the mid-1990s. At an unexpected crossroads, he found his first job in journalism. In 1997, he started working for French aerospace weekly Air &amp; Cosmos in Paris. This lasted until 2000, when he moved south to Lyons. He then became a freelancer, working for various aerospace publications and has been part of the AIN team since late 2000. In addition to writing about business aviation, Thierry shares responsibility for the rotorcraft section. He also is a regular on-site writer for AIN’s daily editions at international airshows such as the Paris, Farnborough, Dubai and Singapore shows, as well as at EBACE in Geneva.
In 2007, he won the Honeywell award for “Best systems or technology submission” at the Aerospace journalist of the year awards. In 2013, he won an Aerospace Media Award for the "Best Safety, Training &amp; Simulation Submission."
In other activities, Thierry moderates international conferences on aviation technology topics. Thierry is married and has three children, who seem to begin enjoying the mountains–as their parents do.

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Thierry Dubois

<a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/2012-07-08/commercial-support-irkut-mc-21">Russian manufacturer Irkut</a> is studying airborne radar candidates for its Yak-130 combat trainer. Konstantin Popovich, Irkut v-p and head of the Yakovlev Engineering Center, announced at a Farnborough International airshow briefing yesterday that three radar options are being considered, from three designers–Phazotron, Ramenskoe-based NIIP and St. Petersburg-based Leninets. 
One option would be to use a pod, and most of the development should be completed by 2013. “The Russian ministry of defense helped define the direction to go,” Popovich added.
The optronics system is also to be finalized by next year. The ministry suggested adding the refueling system, when it saw “how close the Yak-130’s characteristics are to those of the MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-30,” according to Popovich.
Other “capability enhancements” in the works, reported Popovich, include an optronics pod, an in-flight refueling system and more weapon options for the jet’s nine hard points. 
Offering the Yak-130 to the U.S. Air Force is in the cards. “No particular contacts” have been established, however, Popovich said. He added that, so far, Yak-130 components have been 100 percent Russian but the aircraft could be fitted with some Western equipment.
This year, Irkut is delivering a first batch of 15 aircraft to the Russian air force, which has a total of 67 on firm order. AIN has learned that 16 were handed over to Algeria last year, but Irkut officials did not disclose this deal. Asked about Syria, Popovich stated his company does not supply Yak-130s to that country.

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