By Garth Calitz The South African general aviation community convened at the scenic Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre to celebrate members who have shown exceptional performance over the past year. The location was perfect, with aircraft frequently flying overhead as they made their final approach to runway 03R at OR Tambo. This marked the second year the event was held at this venue. Once everyone was seated, the formal proceedings began with the skilled MC, David

By Garth Calitz We planned to head to Tedderfield on Friday afternoon, set up camp, and spend the day snapping photos of everyone arriving for the first camping fly-in at the famous Sling Aircraft homebase. Unfortunately, the weather had a different idea. Friday afternoon got hit with those classic highveld thunderstorms that went on all night, putting a damper on our camping plans. The updated itinerary had us heading to Tedderfield on Saturday morning, while closely monitor

Photos Trevor Cohen FlySafair has elevated fan engagement to unprecedented levels with the introduction of a vibrant Protea-themed aircraft livery, crafted by 22-year-old self-taught graphic artist and student Dinika Naidu from Gqeberha. This special edition aircraft, unveiled at FlySafair’s Johannesburg hangar on 4 November 2025, marks the first anniversary of the partnership between the airline and Cricket South Africa (CSA). The design was selected from numerous submission

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

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 Prepare for the return of the Red Bull Flugtag in South Africa this November! This exciting event, centred around human-powered flight, will feature one of the nation's most renowned aviation personalities. Brian Emmenis, the founder of the famous Capital Sounds broadcasting company, is slated to be the official aviation host for the 2025 Red Bull Flugtag at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. Emmenis, affectionately known as the "Voice of South African Airshows,

By Garth Calitz Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Magaliesburg foothills, between Olifantsnek Pass and Buffelspoort Dam, Airspan Airfield once again came alive for the Sun ’n Fun 2025 Fly-In. With its 900-meter tar runway, friendly atmosphere, excellent facilities and scenic surroundings, Airspan provided the perfect venue for a weekend celebrating the spirit of aviation. Many of the attendees were planning on making a weekend of it, camping under their wing, but

Exercise Volfa 2025, held from September 22 to October 10, 2025, stands as the French Air and Space Force's premier annual high-intensity combat training event. Hosted in southwestern France, this exercise brought together over 1,000 personnel and approximately 50 aircraft from four NATO nations, including France, Italy, Greece, and the United Kingdom. The primary objective was to enhance interoperability among allied forces and prepare them for operations in contested airspa

The sixth edition of the Leonardo Drone Contest, held on 1–2 October 2025 as part of Italian Tech Week, saw Tor Vergata University emerge as the overall winner. The team was awarded on stage for their outstanding performance, with Politecnico di Milano securing second place and the University of Naples Federico II finishing third. This year, over 50 university students from seven Italian institutions competed in the event, which has become a cornerstone of Open Innovation in

By Garth Calitz Arriving at Heidelberg on Saturday, the final Speed Rally of the 2025 season looked rather doubtful due to the nasty...