By Garth Calitz The Blohm & Voss BV 141 stands out in aviation history as one of the most unusual and radical aircraft designs ever flown. Developed in Germany in the late 1930s, its quirky, asymmetrical structure was born from a particular operational need: maximum observational visibility. However, it ended up being one of the Luftwaffe’s most fascinating engineering experiments. Despite strong performance in flight tests, it never achieved full-scale production, overshadow

Russia’s Tu-214 airliner has returned to frontline civil service after receiving formal approval for a major change to its standard design. The aircraft, now equipped with a modern suite of domestically produced avionics and onboard systems, has been certified by the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) following a positive conclusion from the Russian Aviation Register confirming compliance with all stated airworthiness requirements. The Certificate of Approval marks a

By Garth Calitz While much of the general aviation industry was winding down for the festive season, the atmosphere at Van’s Aircraft’s Aurora, Oregon headquarters remained electric. In a moment that will likely be recorded as a pivot point in the company’s storied history, the team marked two days before Christmas not with a holiday party, but with a milestone: the official commencement of customer deliveries for the highly anticipated RV-15. On the afternoon of 23 December,

BRM AERO has reached a major milestone in light aircraft certification with the Bristell B23, which has become the first aircraft in the world to receive EASA CS-23 approval while being powered by the Rotax 916iS engine. Certified on 17 December 2025, this approval introduces the highest-power Rotax option to the Bristell B23 lineup, enhancing the aircraft's capabilities for advanced training, touring, and demanding operations, such as glider towing. The EASA approval of the

Australia is a country celebrated for its breathtaking beauty and hospitable nature, but it is also marked by its extremes. Vast deserts stretch for hundreds of kilometres, rugged coastlines confront harsh seas, and bushland gives way to ravines and mountain ranges that challenge even experienced travellers. For emergency medical services (EMS) operators, the main threat isn't just the terrain or wildlife; it's the distance. When accidents or medical emergencies occur, patien

By Rob Russell The DC 4 gets another panel beating and a new shape!!! Douglas Aircraft developed the C-124 from 1947 to 1949, from a prototype they created from a World War II-designed Douglas C-74 Globemaster and based on lessons learned during the Berlin Airlift. The aircraft was powered by four large Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major piston engines producing 3,800 hp (2,800 kW) each. The C-124 had its origins in the C-74. The Douglas C-74 Globemaster was a United States he

By Garth Calitz Ethiopia's geological "sleeping giant" has stirred, and its initial stirrings have thrown the global aviation industry into chaos. On Sunday, 23 November 2025, the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region erupted for the first time in over 12,000 years. While the eruption has had a significant local impact on livestock and nomadic communities, the atmospheric effects have led to a logistical crisis extending from the Horn of Africa to the Indian subcontin

Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC) is making a strong case for its R66 turbine helicopter as the future of military initial rotary-wing training. The Torrance, California-based manufacturer recently announced that a combined fleet of just six R66 aircraft has surpassed 2,300 total flight hours in less than 7 months of operation. This substantial accumulation of flight time is currently being logged across a spectrum of U.S. military training efforts involving Army, Navy, Coast

In a landmark decision underscoring Canada's commitment to strategic and sovereign aerospace capabilities, the Government of Canada has selected the made-in-Canada Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft to bolster the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) multi-mission air transport fleet. This significant procurement sees Bombardier providing six of its high-performance Global 6500 jets, a move that promises to enhance the RCAF's capacity for crucial worldwide utility and support missi

Gulfstream Aerospace has commenced the flight test program for its latest aircraft, the Gulfstream G300, after a successful first flight on 5 December 2025. This important achievement highlights the advanced development stage of the super-midsize jet, which was introduced slightly more than two months earlier on 30 September. Set to transform its category, the G300 is a significant enhancement to Gulfstream’s next-generation lineup. The inaugural flight of the first G300 test