Space shuttle program ends with no replacement in sight, F-35 pilot training begins, and American Airlines orders Airbus jets for first time

AVIONICS INTELLIGENCE VIDEO BLOG, 25 July 2011. The Space Shuttle Atlantis completed its last mission to the International Space Station marking the end of the U.S. space shuttle program -- without a replacement space capsule ready to go. In other aviation news the first F-35 production jet landed at Eglin Air Force Base to kick off pilot training and American Airlines broke with tradition in its latest narrowbody aircraft order by buying Airbus jets for the first time. John McHale’s Avionics Intelligence Video blog touches on these subjects and gives perspective on where America's manned space program is heading.For more, please see:More than 500 layoffs announced by Boeing in its Space Exploration divisionSpace shuttle retirement homes announcedAmerican Airlines splits big narrowbody passenger jet order between Boeing and AirbusFirst F-35 jet for pilot training arrives at Eglin AFBF-35 training jets funding approved by NorwayAirbus sets air show sales record at Paris, receiving commitments for 730 aircraft worth $72.2 billionTest of Orion navigation system made during latest space shuttle missionNASA budget remains flat, supporting commercial spaceflight as shuttle program winds down