Bell Textron has reached a major milestone in the development of next-generation military aircraft, successfully completing the Critical Design Review (CDR) for the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency’s ambitious SPeed and Runway INdependent Technologies (SPRINT) program. The achievement clears the way for the company to begin construction of a new experimental aircraft, now officially designated the X-76, which aims to combine jet-like speed with the flexibility of ver

Bell is set to make a strong impression at Verticon 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia, showcasing its latest aircraft, technological developments and comprehensive customer support solutions. The event provides Bell with an opportunity to demonstrate the versatility of its helicopter range while celebrating significant milestones achieved over the past year. In a symbolic opening to the show, Bell plans to become the first operator to fly an aircraft into Verticon 2026, arriving with

In a quiet control room, a small group of engineers gathered around a bank of monitors. Many of them had spent years working toward this moment. Then, with the click of a mouse, power surged through a system that could help redefine the future of regional aviation. The system coming to life was an early version of the RTX Hybrid-Electric Flight Demonstrator’s experimental propulsion architecture. This project aims to combine a conventional thermal engine with electric propuls

Sikorsky is set to commence production of the newest iteration of its leading heavy helicopter, the S-92A+, signalling the next phase for one of the most extensively utilised large commercial rotorcraft globally. The aircraft will be manufactured and assembled at Sikorsky facilities in Stratford, Connecticut and Owego, New York, with the first production batch destined for a new head-of-state transport customer. The program also anticipates further orders from government and

By Garth Calitz In a country where aviation often means gravel runways, high-density altitudes and long distances between fuel stops, aircraft need to be more than attractive machines; they need to be tough, simple and affordable. The Bat Hawk is exactly that. Over the years, this proudly South African light sport aircraft (LSA) has carved out a reputation as one of the most practical light aircraft operating on the continent. But the Bat Hawk’s story is about more than priva

By Garth Calitz A significant labour development is unfolding in South Africa’s aviation sector, as the government considers whether pilots, cabin crew, and certain aviation personnel should be designated as “essential services” under national labour legislation, a move that could fundamentally reshape industrial relations in the industry. At the centre of the process is the Essential Services Committee (ESC), a statutory body established under the Labour Relations Act. The c

By Rob Russell It's not an unusual sight nowadays to see so many white aircraft parked around airports. It's not due to a lack of imagination from the airlines! Gone are the days of fancy paint schemes. Well, at least for a few years! Whilst an aircraft painted all over showing a certain brand or advertising a certain product is unusual and stands out, most aircraft are white for some very practical (and as important, economical) reasons. (And to keep the bean counters happy)

By Garth Calitz The latest escalation involving Iran has once again reminded the aviation world of a hard truth: geopolitics and jet fuel are permanently intertwined. While commercial aircraft cruise serenely at FL350, they remain deeply vulnerable to events unfolding far below. The recent conflict centred on Iran has disrupted global air transport in ways both immediate and far-reaching and the ripple effects are being felt from Johannesburg to Tokyo. The most immediate impa

There are few things in aviation as universally understood as the urge to share a great flying story. Whether it’s a sunrise departure from a quiet Highveld strip, a coastal hop with endless blue on the horizon or a triumphant first solo, pilots are natural storytellers. Now, Slingers around the world have an added incentive to post those moments. Sling Aircraft has officially kicked off the next round of its popular #TakingYouPlaces competition — and this time, the spotlight

It is widely accepted that modern aviation was born on 17 December 1903, when Orville Wright lifted off the sands of Kitty Hawk, ushering in a new era of powered flight. Yet what is less commonly known is that South Africa entered the age of aviation remarkably soon thereafter. Just six years later, the first powered flight in South Africa and indeed the first heavier-than-air powered flight on the African continent, took place on local soil. Interestingly, the origins of Sou