By Garth Calitz After a long afternoon of waiting to find out who did what in this year's Presidents' Trophy Air Race, the Gala Dinner finally arrived. The formal function was held at the Boesies, which is located on the Lake Umuzi campus, which is a stone's throw from the Secunda Airfield. Tarry and Iaan Myburgh, the dynamic couple who were the driving force behind the 2026 PTAR, were forced out of their comfort zone completely when the regular MC, David le Roux, had to att

Saab has officially rolled out the first Gripen F two-seat fighter aircraft destined for the Brazilian Air Force, marking a significant milestone in the long-standing partnership between Sweden and Brazil. The aircraft was presented during a ceremony held on 2 June at Saab's production facilities in Linköping, Sweden. The Gripen F is the two-seat variant of the latest-generation Gripen E fighter and has been specifically developed to meet the evolving training and operational

The Australian Border Force (ABF) is set to significantly enhance its maritime surveillance capabilities through the introduction of three Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft, which will be operated by defence services provider Metrea as part of the agency’s aerial surveillance programme. The new aircraft will strengthen the ABF’s ability to monitor Australia's vast maritime approaches, support border security operations and protect the nation's extensive coastline. With one of t

Textron Aviation has completed a major expansion of its flight test facilities at its East Wichita Campus, a move aimed at supporting growing global demand for the versatile Cessna SkyCourier and advancing development programmes across its turboprop aircraft portfolio. The expansion adds 57,000 square feet to the existing flight test hangar complex, including six new hangar bays on the northern side of the facility. The additional capacity will primarily support flight test o

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 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

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