By Garth Calitz In the history of Cold War aviation, few aircraft capture the daring and uniqueness of Soviet experimental design as clearly as the Bartini Beriev VVA-14. Developed in the 1970s, this amphibious vertical take-off aircraft was a futuristic hybrid intended to function as a seaplane, a flying boat and an ekranoplan, a ground-effect vehicle capable of skimming over the sea at high speeds. It was designed to address a significant threat: the increasing presence of

Federal Airlines (FedAir) has revealed a significant strategic expansion set to considerably enlarge its renowned lodge shuttle network throughout the Lowveld starting in May 2026. This initiative reinforces the airline's enduring position as the cornerstone of luxury safari connectivity in Southern Africa. It establishes a more organised, high-frequency schedule connecting major regional hubs with the nation's top private lodges. Starting in mid-May next year, FedAir will la

By Garth Calitz In a significant decision affecting the global cargo industry, the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released an emergency airworthiness directive grounding all McDonnell Douglas MD-11 and MD-11F aircraft. This directive, declared on 8 November, comes in response to the fatal crash of a UPS Airlines MD-11F during take-off at Louisville International Airport on 4 November. The FAA announced that it "has determined the unsafe condition is l

Textron Aviation has achieved a significant milestone with the FAA certification of its latest midsize business jet, the Cessna Citation Ascend. This accomplishment represents a crucial step towards its service launch later this year, reinforcing Ascend's status as the next advancement in the world's most successful midsize jet family. Designed and manufactured at Textron Aviation’s Wichita headquarters, the Citation Ascend represents a complete reimagining of the proven Cita

Boeing has officially broken ground on a major expansion of its Boeing South Carolina (BSC) site, the home of the 787 Dreamliner program. The move marks a significant investment in the future of the company’s widebody production as it gears up to increase 787 output to 10 aircraft per month by 2026. The expansion project will enable Boeing to address the increasing global demand for the 787 Dreamliner series, known for its long-range efficiency, passenger comfort, and economi

This week, a significant milestone in aviation history took place in California's skies as Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, collaborating with NASA, successfully conducted the inaugural flight of the X-59. This innovative supersonic research aircraft is engineered to travel faster than sound without the disruptive sonic boom that has historically restricted supersonic travel over land. The X-59, an elegant, needle-nosed experimental jet, departed from U.S. Air Force Plant 42 in P

The spirit of adventure and innovation that has long defined American backcountry aviation reached new heights, literally, when a factory-stock CubCrafters Carbon Cub UL climbed to a verified altitude of 37,609 feet above sea level. The flight, conducted on October 28, 2025, shattered expectations and set an unofficial world altitude record for Cub-type aircraft, eclipsing a benchmark that had stood for nearly three-quarters of a century. Piloted by Jon Kotwicki of Fly8MA Fli

By Garth Calitz Boeing has taken a major step in assisting in enhancing Australia’s maritime surveillance and anti-submarine capabilities with the induction of the first Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P-8A Poseidon into a comprehensive upgrade program. At the same time, the RAAF has welcomed its 13th Poseidon aircraft into service, further strengthening Australia’s fleet readiness and operational reach across its extensive maritime domain. This milestone signifies a new ph

By Garth Calitz The Indonesian Air Force has received its first Airbus A400M Atlas, representing a major advancement in the country's ongoing efforts to modernise its airlift fleet and enhance its regional operational capabilities. Delivered by Airbus Defence and Space to the Indonesian Ministry of Defence, this aircraft marks a significant milestone for both Indonesia and Airbus, as Indonesia becomes the tenth global operator of the A400M. The delivery ceremony took place at

Two US Navy aircraft from the USS Nimitz crashed in separate incidents within half an hour of each other over the South China Sea, prompting parallel investigations into one of the most unusual operational mishaps to strike a US carrier air wing in recent years. According to statements from the US Pacific Fleet, an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter and an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet went down roughly 30 minutes apart during routine operations on Sunday afternoon. Both crashes o