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

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

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

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

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

Sikorsky is set to commence production of the newest iteration of its leading heavy helicopter, the S-92A+, signalling the next phase for one of the most extensively utilised large commercial rotorcraft globally. The aircraft will be manufactured and assembled at Sikorsky facilities in Stratford, Connecticut and Owego, New York, with the first production batch destined for a new head-of-state transport customer. The program also anticipates further orders from government and

By Rob Russell It's not an unusual sight nowadays to see so many white aircraft parked around airports. It's not due to a lack of imagination from the airlines! Gone are the days of fancy paint schemes. Well, at least for a few years! Whilst an aircraft painted all over showing a certain brand or advertising a certain product is unusual and stands out, most aircraft are white for some very practical (and as important, economical) reasons. (And to keep the bean counters happy)

It is widely accepted that modern aviation was born on 17 December 1903, when Orville Wright lifted off the sands of Kitty Hawk, ushering in a new era of powered flight. Yet what is less commonly known is that South Africa entered the age of aviation remarkably soon thereafter. Just six years later, the first powered flight in South Africa and indeed the first heavier-than-air powered flight on the African continent, took place on local soil. Interestingly, the origins of Sou

Embraer has unveiled what it calls the first true evolution of its acclaimed Praetor family: the new Praetor 600E and Praetor 500E. More than a routine upgrade, these aircraft introduce a fully reimagined cabin concept and next-generation onboard technology aimed squarely at redefining the private flight experience. When Embraer launched the original Praetor 600 and 500 in 2018, the Brazilian manufacturer set a new benchmark in the super-midsize and midsize categories. The Pr

By Garth Calitz When Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) authorised local manufacture of the Sling TSi light sport aircraft in early 2026, it was more than just another regulatory approval in a distant market. For South Africa’s aviation community, it marked another international milestone for one of the country’s most successful modern aerospace exports. From its roots in a Johannesburg hangar to production lines in the United States and now Brazil, Sling Aircraft