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Near Earth Autonomy Select Bell 505 for US Marine Autonomous Flight System
Bell Textron has been selected by Near Earth Autonomy to provide a modified Bell 505 airframe for the U.S. Marine Corps’ Aerial Resupply Vehicle – Expeditionary Logistics (MARV-EL) Increment 2 programme. The initiative aims to develop a new generation of uncrewed aerial logistics platforms capable of supporting frontline operations in contested environments. Announced on April 30, 2026, the partnership will focus on prototyping a configuration to operate without a pilot while
Garth Calitz
6 days ago3 min read


Sasol Targets 200 Million Litres of Sustainable Aviation Fuel Output by 2030
Sasol has taken a significant step toward entering the rapidly expanding sustainable aviation fuel market after receiving certification that could enable exports of its product to the European Union. The move positions the South African energy and chemicals group as a potential regional supplier of lower-emissions aviation fuel at a time when airlines, airports and regulators are searching for alternatives to conventional jet fuel. As pressure grows on the aviation industry t
Garth Calitz
Apr 273 min read


Piper Aircraft Introduces 7-Blade MT-Propeller Option for M700 Fury
Piper Aircraft has announced the introduction of an advanced seven-blade MT-Propeller as a new factory option for its flagship M700 Fury single-engine turboprop, marking another step in the company’s ongoing programme of product refinement and performance enhancement. The announcement, made from Vero Beach, Florida, confirmed that the new propeller has received European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) approval for installation on the M7
Garth Calitz
Apr 213 min read


Falcon 10X Composite Wing Marks New Era for Business Aviation
Dassault Aviation’s upcoming Falcon 10X is set to introduce a significant first for the business jet sector with the adoption of what the company says is business aviation’s first all-composite wing. The new ultra-long-range flagship, currently in development, is expected to combine advanced materials, aerodynamic efficiency and long-range capability in a move that could influence future aircraft design across the segment. The Falcon 10X was launched as Dassault’s answer to g
Garth Calitz
Apr 213 min read


Bell Reports Early Readiness Gains from V-22 Nacelle Upgrade Programme
Bell Textron has released initial operational data from its Nacelle Improvement (NI) Programme for the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey, reporting reductions in maintenance requirements and improved readiness rates among modified U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) CV-22 aircraft. The company said the upgraded nacelle system has now accumulated more than 10,000 flight hours, providing an early indication of how the changes are performing in active service conditions. Bel
Garth Calitz
Apr 213 min read


X-37B Spaceplane Continues Extended On-Orbit Testing Mission
The reusable Boeing X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle has been in orbit for over 230 days since its most recent launch, continuing a series of government-supported experiments designed to advance future space technologies. Although the Artemis program has overshadowed the project, it remains significant to the future of human space travel. Operating under the oversight of the United States Space Force and the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, the programme highlights the growing
Garth Calitz
Apr 143 min read


Airbus Racer Pushes Boundaries in Latest Flight Trials
Airbus has moved a step closer to proving the value of its high-speed Racer demonstrator, with the aircraft continuing to expand its flight envelope during a recent series of tests aimed at assessing performance, agility and operational flexibility. The aircraft, developed under Europe’s Clean Sky 2 research programme, is intended to explore whether a new generation of compound rotorcraft can combine the versatility of a helicopter with significantly higher speed and improved
Garth Calitz
Apr 14 min read


MD Helicopters Unveils Six-Bladed MD 564 Utility Helicopter
MD Helicopters has revealed the latest evolution of its long-running light utility helicopter family with the introduction of the MD 564, a significantly upgraded variant of the iconic 500-series. The new aircraft introduces a six-bladed main rotor system, a redesigned four-bladed tail rotor and enhanced performance figures aimed squarely at demanding utility and aerial work missions. While the MD 564 represents a major step forward in capability, the aircraft is not an entir
Garth Calitz
Mar 173 min read


Bell Advances High-Speed Vertical Lift with DARPA’s X-76 SPRINT X-Plane
Bell Textron has reached a major milestone in the development of next-generation military aircraft, successfully completing the Critical Design Review (CDR) for the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency’s ambitious SPeed and Runway INdependent Technologies (SPRINT) program. The achievement clears the way for the company to begin construction of a new experimental aircraft, now officially designated the X-76, which aims to combine jet-like speed with the flexibility of ver
Garth Calitz
Mar 103 min read


RTX Hybrid-Electric Demonstrator Moves Closer to Flight
In a quiet control room, a small group of engineers gathered around a bank of monitors. Many of them had spent years working toward this moment. Then, with the click of a mouse, power surged through a system that could help redefine the future of regional aviation. The system coming to life was an early version of the RTX Hybrid-Electric Flight Demonstrator’s experimental propulsion architecture. This project aims to combine a conventional thermal engine with electric propuls
Garth Calitz
Mar 105 min read
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