China has taken another significant step toward the future of sustainable aviation after successfully completing the maiden flight of a hydrogen-powered aircraft in Hunan province. The test, conducted on April 4, 2026, saw a 7.5-tonne uncrewed cargo aircraft complete a 16-minute demonstration flight using a hydrogen-fuelled turboprop engine developed by the Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC). The milestone highlights China’s growing ambitions in alternative aviation prop

The Royal Air Force has demonstrated its growing Arctic operational capability after an RAF Boeing C-17A Globemaster III successfully landed at Canadian Forces Station (CFS) Alert, the northernmost permanently inhabited settlement on Earth. Situated approximately 1,100 miles inside the Arctic Circle at 82.5 degrees north, the remote outpost plays a vital role in NATO’s northern security network and climate research activities. The mission formed part of Exercise Polar Puma un

Bell Textron is reinforcing its commitment to the Australian rotorcraft market by showcasing the versatile Bell 429 at RotorTech 2026 in Brisbane, highlighting the aircraft’s growing reputation as one of the world’s leading multi-mission helicopters. As Australia’s premier vertical flight exposition, RotorTech provides a platform for manufacturers and operators to demonstrate the latest advancements in helicopter technology. Bell’s presence at the event underlines the company

The Russian-built Ilyushin Il-114-300 has successfully completed a new phase of certification testing in the Arctic, marking another milestone in the development of Russia’s domestic regional aviation programme. Conducted by specialists from the Ilyushin Aviation Complex, part of the United Aircraft Corporation under the umbrella of Rostec, the trials demonstrated the aircraft’s ability to operate in some of the harshest environmental conditions on Earth. The latest testing c

The Tanzanian government has announced a major financial commitment to support the continued expansion and modernisation of Air Tanzania, allocating TZS283.05 billion (approximately $109 million) to the state-owned carrier in the country’s 2025/26 transport budget. The funding package reflects the government’s determination to transform Air Tanzania into a stronger regional and intercontinental operator while improving operational efficiency, infrastructure, and long-term fin

Textron Aviation’s iconic Beechcraft King Air 360 is set to make its debut in Mongolia after charter operator Hunnu Air placed the country’s first order for the twin-turboprop aircraft. The move marks another significant step in the expansion of Mongolia’s regional aviation sector, with the aircraft expected to enter service by the end of 2027. Hunnu Air plans to deploy the Beechcraft King Air 360 across a range of operations, including tourism-focused flights, VIP commuter s

By Garth Calitz Photos by Trevor Cohen and Garth Calitz At its heart, aviation has always been about more than aircraft, technology and engineering. It is about inspiration, possibility and the ability to open horizons that once seemed unreachable. Few events capture that spirit better than the annual Children’s Flight initiative, which once again brought South Africa’s aviation community together in May 2026 to provide an unforgettable experience for close to five hundred un

By Rob Russell What do you say? Comparing a large animal with a “mystical bird-like character” doesn't quite make sense! But these two nicknames are given to two very different, but actually very similar, transport aircraft. The moose is the nickname for the Boeing C-17 Globemaster, which continues a very successful line of large military transport. It can trace its success back to WW2, with the C-47 and C-54, followed by the legendary, still-produced C-130 Hercules, then t

By Garth Calitz Sixteen years after opening its doors ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, King Shaka International Airport remains one of ACSA’s most debated infrastructure projects. To some critics, it was an expensive “white elephant” built for a once-off global event, which has been pretty much derelict since. To others, it has become a vital economic gateway for Durban and the broader KwaZulu-Natal province. The reality today sits somewhere between those two extremes. When

The aviation community is paying tribute to Irving Louis Burrows Jr., the former McDonnell Aircraft chief test pilot who became the first person to fly the F-15 Eagle, following his death on April 10, 2026, at the age of 98. Burrows leaves behind a legacy closely intertwined with one of the most recognisable fighter aircraft of the modern era, having played a pivotal role during the formative years of the Eagle programme. His passing has prompted reflections from colleagues,