By Garth Calitz A very memorable piece of aviation history came alive at Jack Taylor Airfield on 23 May 2026, as pilots, owners and Chippie enthusiasts gathered to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the iconic de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk. Even the notorious Krugersdorp weather behaved itself and delivered beautiful flying conditions. The event, hosted at the home of the newly rebooted EAA chapter 973, paid tribute to one of the world’s most respected post-war training

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for an urgent parliamentary hearing into what it describes as growing aviation safety and regulatory oversight failures involving South African Airways, the South African Civil Aviation Authority, Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) and South Africa’s Department of Transport. In a statement issued on 25 May, DA Transport Spokesperson Chris Hunsinger said the party would request that Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Transport s

In a carefully coordinated conservation mission, The Bateleurs assisted in successfully relocating a 250kg adult male lion from Kariega Game Reserve to Somkhanda Game Reserve, highlighting the increasingly important role aviation continues to play in wildlife management and species preservation across Southern Africa. The Bateleurs brought together pilots, veterinarians, reserve managers and wildlife conservationists in a tightly timed mission that depended heavily on favoura

Eve Air Mobility has reached another important milestone in the development of its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft after successfully completing the hover and low-speed phase of its flight test campaign. The achievement marks a significant step forward as the company prepares to enter the critical transition flight testing stage later this year. Backed by aerospace giant Embraer, Eve announced that its full-scale engineering prototype has now completed

For 75 years, Bell has been woven into the industrial and aviation identity of Fort Worth, Texas, growing from a bold post-war relocation into one of the world’s best-known rotorcraft manufacturers. The company this month marked the milestone by reflecting on its long-standing relationship with the city that became the foundation for its helicopter ambitions and future military programmes. The story began in the late 1940s, when company founder Lawrence “Larry” Bell recognise

Airbus has revealed new details about one of the most ambitious engineering features of its upcoming A350F freighter programme, the largest main deck cargo door ever fitted to a commercial aircraft. Designed to improve freight handling efficiency while supporting the aviation industry’s shift toward lower emissions, the innovative cargo door represents a major leap forward in widebody freighter design. At the heart of the A350F programme is a clear objective: create a next-ge

For nearly seven decades, Becker Avionics has built its reputation not through aggressive marketing campaigns or attention-grabbing technological claims, but through a steadfast commitment to reliability in some of aviation’s most demanding operational environments. From emergency medical service helicopters and aerial firefighting aircraft to law enforcement operations and executive transport fleets, Becker’s avionics systems have become a trusted presence in cockpits around

A major milestone in modern military aviation has been achieved with the successful first flight of what is being described as the world’s first unmanned Airborne Early Warning (AEW) solution. Swedish defence giant Saab and American unmanned aircraft specialist General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. have successfully integrated Saab’s LoyalEye airborne radar system onto the MQ-9B unmanned aircraft platform. The landmark flight took place on 19 May at GA-ASI’s Desert Horiz

Russia has taken another step in the evolution of its flagship stealth fighter programme, with a newly developed two-seat version of the Sukhoi Su-57 “Felon” reportedly completing initial ground taxi trials. The development signals Moscow’s growing focus on export markets as it attempts to expand international sales of its fifth-generation combat aircraft. Images circulating in Russian defence media during May showed what appears to be a modified Su-57 airframe featuring an e

The appointment of a new board at Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) comes wrapped in optimism and ambitious promises, but the real challenge facing the state-owned airport operator may be far greater than the celebratory tone surrounding the announcement suggests. ACSA has unveiled a refreshed leadership team as it embarks on a R21 billion airport upgrade and innovation programme intended to modernise infrastructure, improve passenger experience, and strengthen operational