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Historic
BIG year for Meteor WS778!
Work to bring Meteor NF(T).14 WS788 back to life continues apace at Elvington’s Yorkshire Air Museum (YAM) near York…
Vast RCAF gallery on show as book launch beckons
An art exhibition has been launched as a special book celebrating the centenary of the RCAF is due for publication by CANAV books later this year
Meet the ex-Shuttleworth pilot who became Scotland's first astronaut
In Aeroplane’s monthly interview series, we recount the extraordinary flying career of Dave Mackay
The 'Bucc' stops here: inside stories of the RAF's last Buccaneer days
Thirty years on, we recall the final service days of the ‘last British bomber’
Military
Bahrain’s first F-16C/D Block 70s on delivery
The first three F-16C/D Block 70 Fighting Falcon multi-role fighters for the Royal Bahraini Air Force (RBAF) departed Lockheed Martin’s production facility in Greenville, South Carolina, on their delivery flight to Shaikh Isa Air Base, Bahrain, on March 6.
‘Bats’ complete final EC-130H sortie
The USAF’s 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron (ECS) ‘Bats’ – a part of Air Combat Command’s 55th Electronic Combat Group (ECG) – marked a major milestone in its transition to the new Gulfstream G550-based EA-37B Compass Call electronic attack (EA) aircraft on February 15, when the unit completed its final flight with the legacy EC-130H Compass Call (pictured) at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona.
F-35 achieves major production, nuclear milestones
The Pentagon’s Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, William A LaPlante, formally approved the US-led Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program – the development project behind the F-35 Lightning II – to finally move into full-rate production (FRP), following the attainment of the type’s Milestone C landmark, writes Tom Kaminski.
Commercial
Airlander 10 starts certification
Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) has formally begun the process of applying for a type certification for its in-development Airlander 10 aircraft, which it says is “designed to be the world’s most efficient large aircraft”.
Repercussions from Boeing 737 MAX delivery delays
Airlines are having to change fleet plans to cope with delivery delays of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
Royal Jordanian inducts inaugural E2s
Royal Jordanian Airlines’ first two Embraer E195-E2s have joined the fleet. In total, eight examples are expected to operate on RJ’s short and medium-range routes.
Qantas welcomes Airbus A220
Qantas introduced the carrier’s first two Airbus A220-300s on March 1, 2024. The carrier’s QantasLink subsidiary operated aircraft, VH-X4A (c/n 55253) and VH-X4B (c/n 55269), from Melbourne to Canberra and Brisbane.
Sikorsky to flight-test HEX
Sikorsky plans to flight-test a distinctive new aircraft called HEX – a hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) demonstrator with a tilt-wing.
Flight Simulation
Flight Adventure: The C-160 Transall
The year 2023 saw the 60th anniversary of the first flight of the Transall C-160 military transporter. In this flight adventure, we explore why it became such a long-lived and pivotal utility aircraft for such an extended time.
Richmond for MSFS released
The latest US destination from scenery developer Axonos is KRIC Richmond International Airport for Microsoft Flight Simulator.