By Garth Calitz The Vietnam War remains one of the most studied air campaigns in military history. Fought between 1955 and 1975, the conflict saw the first large-scale use of helicopters in combat, intense jet-versus-jet dogfights, strategic bombing campaigns and the emergence of sophisticated air defence systems. More aircraft types were employed in Vietnam than in any conflict since the Second World War. From supersonic fighters and heavy bombers to rugged propeller-driven

Airbus Helicopters has unveiled the U145, an autonomous, uncrewed version of its widely used H145 twin-engine helicopter, marking a significant step forward in the evolution of rotary-wing aviation. Introduced at the ILA Berlin Air Show, the U145 combines the proven performance and payload capacity of the H145 with advanced autonomous flight technologies. Airbus plans to conduct the aircraft's maiden flight, initially with a safety pilot on board, before the end of 2026, with

Gulfstream Aerospace has reached two notable milestones for its flagship Gulfstream G700 business jet, completing its 100th customer delivery and recording its 100th city-pair speed record. The latest speed record was achieved on a flight from Savannah, Georgia, to San Jose, California, completed in 4 hours and 36 minutes at an average cruise speed of Mach 0.91. The aircraft then continued from San Jose to Teterboro, New Jersey, covering the route in 4 hours and 14 minutes, a

Bell Textron has reached a major development milestone in its Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program, successfully completing the assembly of the first two wing structures for the MV-75 Cheyenne. The achievement marks a significant step toward flight testing and eventual production of the U.S. Army’s next-generation tiltrotor aircraft. The newly completed wings will be integrated into the first two MV-75 test aircraft, advancing assembly activities as Bell moves c

The race to unlock practical electric aviation reached another notable milestone on June 5 when Florida-based nonprofit Helios Horizon announced what it describes as the first piloted electric aircraft flight powered by solid-state batteries. At Zephyrhills Municipal Airport (KZPH), northeast of Tampa, Helios Horizon founder and chief test pilot Miguel Iturmendi conducted a series of test flights in a modified Pipistrel Taurus motor glider equipped with a newly developed soli

By Garth Calitz Photos By Garth Calitz and Trevor Cohen Thousands of aviation enthusiasts braved the cold at Air Force Base Swartkop on Saturday, 6 June, for the annual South African Air Force (SAAF) Museum Airshow. Reports from the SA Weather Service confirmed that Friday night was the coldest night in 2026, but the subzero temperatures did not deter the 11000-odd aviation enthusiasts that qued at the gates from as early as 6 am. They were rewarded with several visiting airc

South Africa’s general aviation community is set to gain a significant new facility with the opening of Atlantic Aerodrome, a purpose-built aviation precinct located in the Swartland region, approximately 40 minutes from Cape Town’s city centre. The development is scheduled to open its first phase on 26 September 2026 and aims to provide a dedicated base for aircraft owners, flight schools, charter operators and aviation-related businesses seeking an alternative to the conges

NASA’s groundbreaking X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft has successfully exceeded the speed of sound for the first time, marking a major milestone in the agency’s efforts to revolutionise high-speed air travel and pave the way for the return of commercial supersonic flight over land. The historic flight took place on 5 June 2026 from Edwards Air Force Base, California, with NASA test pilot Jim “Clue” Less at the controls. During the 81-minute mission, the experimental a

Gulfstream Aerospace has unveiled its latest business jet developments to the European market, with the Gulfstream G300 and G400 making their public debut at the company’s exclusive Discover the Difference event in Farnborough. The showcase featured a full-scale mock-up of the new super-midsize G300 alongside one of the three G400 flight-test aircraft currently participating in the certification programme. The event provided customers and industry stakeholders with an up-clos

By Garth Calitz The Industrial town of Secunda was the temporary home of the prestigious Presidents' Trophy Air Race for the 2026 edition. Secunda was built around the world's largest coal-to-liquids fuel facility operated by Sasol. This monster of industry is painfully visible from the airfield. Established in the 1970s to produce synthetic fuel and reduce the country's dependence on imported oil, the town has become a major economic hub in the area. Likewise, the Secunda F