The recent US rescue of two downed Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle crew members over Iran will likely be remembered not simply as a successful personnel recovery mission, but as one of the clearest modern demonstrations of how much airpower is required to retrieve a single isolated aircrew in heavily defended airspace. Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle What emerged in the days after the operation was not the story of one helicopter slipping quietly into hostile territory, but of an extraor

Air Tractor Holdings has acquired Thrush Aircraft in a move that marks one of the most significant consolidations in specialist utility aviation in recent years, bringing together two of the best-known names in agricultural flying under a single owner while preserving both brands as standalone operations. The transaction, which closed on 3 April 2026, is notable not only for its commercial implications but for its historical resonance. In effect, it reunites the two principal

Atlanta-based hypersonic aircraft developer Hermeus has completed the maiden flight of its Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 demonstrator, marking another step in its campaign to eventually challenge the legendary speed benchmark set by the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird. The uncrewed aircraft flew from Spaceport America in New Mexico in early March, becoming the company’s second new aircraft type to achieve a first flight in less than a year. The flight itself was not an all-out record attempt.

The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation has issued a strong rebuke of Iran over what it says were unlawful violations of sovereign airspace across the Middle East, warning that the actions posed a serious and ongoing threat to civil aviation safety in one of the world’s most heavily used air corridors. Adopted on 31 March 2026 at ICAO’s headquarters in Montréal, the decision marks a rare and pointed intervention by the UN aviation body into a matter that

Embraer’s KC-390 Millennium has successfully completed a demanding cold-weather demonstration campaign in northern Sweden, underlining the Brazilian-built airlifter’s growing credentials for operations in Arctic and high-latitude environments. Conducted at the Vidsel Test Range military facility, the March campaign was designed to assess the aircraft’s ability to perform in extreme winter conditions while also supporting modern dispersed operating concepts such as Agile Comba

Bell Textron used the stage of FIDAE 2026 in Santiago, Chile, to highlight a strong commercial milestone for its light single-engine helicopter portfolio, announcing that the Bell 505 recorded its highest number of orders in Latin America during 2025. The achievement reflects the continued momentum of the Bell 505 across a region where operators increasingly require flexible, lower-operating-cost rotorcraft capable of serving a wide range of missions. From private transport a

Vietnam Helicopter Corporation (VNH) is reinforcing its position in Southeast Asia’s offshore aviation sector with an order for three Airbus H225 helicopters, a move that underlines both its confidence in the type and its intent to modernise for the next phase of offshore operations. Announced in Hanoi on 7 April 2026, the new aircraft will be operated by VNH’s subsidiaries, Southern Vietnam Helicopter Company (VNH South) and Northern Vietnam Helicopter Company (VNH North). T

For the first time since the Apollo era, astronauts are once again heading beyond low-Earth orbit, and with Artemis II, NASA has opened a new chapter in crewed deep-space flight. More than just another rocket launch, Artemis II is a full-scale test of the systems, spacecraft and human endurance that will underpin the next generation of lunar exploration. The significance is immediate, Artemis II is not simply a space story; it is a story about aerospace engineering at its mos

By Garth Calitz Photos by Garth Calitz and Trevor Cohen The South African Air Force (SAAF) entered a new chapter on 1 April 2026 with the appointment of Lieutenant General Carl Moatshe as its new Chief, marking a significant leadership transition for one of the country’s most strategically important military services. The change of command was formally marked during a handover parade, hosted at SAAF Mobile Deployment Wing (previously AFB Swartkops) on the last day of March.

By Rob Russell On Thursday, March 26th, the Air Mercy Service marked its 60th anniversary. A gala cocktail party was held at the organisation's hangar complex at Cape Town International Airport to commemorate the occasion. From its humble beginnings in March 1966, based at Youngsfield airfield, next to Kenilworth racecourse, the Organization evolved into an independent Trust in 1994. The AMS is a non-profit organisation with active operational bases in the Western Cape (Cape