As airlines around the world face mounting pressure to reduce carbon emissions, South Africa is preparing to enter the rapidly emerging sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) market with what could become one of the world's first commercial-scale electro-sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF) production facilities. Energy company Phelan Green has announced that its clean fuels subsidiary, Phelan eFuels, will use Honeywell's Fischer-Tropsch (FT) Unicracking technology at its planned eSAF f

Gulfstream Aerospace has reached two notable milestones for its flagship Gulfstream G700 business jet, completing its 100th customer delivery and recording its 100th city-pair speed record. The latest speed record was achieved on a flight from Savannah, Georgia, to San Jose, California, completed in 4 hours and 36 minutes at an average cruise speed of Mach 0.91. The aircraft then continued from San Jose to Teterboro, New Jersey, covering the route in 4 hours and 14 minutes, a

Bell Textron has reached a major development milestone in its Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program, successfully completing the assembly of the first two wing structures for the MV-75 Cheyenne. The achievement marks a significant step toward flight testing and eventual production of the U.S. Army’s next-generation tiltrotor aircraft. The newly completed wings will be integrated into the first two MV-75 test aircraft, advancing assembly activities as Bell moves c

Aviation startup JetZero has officially broken ground on its new aircraft manufacturing facility and corporate headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina, marking a major milestone for both the company and the U.S. aerospace industry. The project represents one of the most significant aerospace investments in recent American history. JetZero plans to invest approximately $4.7 billion in the development of an expansive manufacturing complex near Piedmont Triad International Ai

The race to unlock practical electric aviation reached another notable milestone on June 5 when Florida-based nonprofit Helios Horizon announced what it describes as the first piloted electric aircraft flight powered by solid-state batteries. At Zephyrhills Municipal Airport (KZPH), northeast of Tampa, Helios Horizon founder and chief test pilot Miguel Iturmendi conducted a series of test flights in a modified Pipistrel Taurus motor glider equipped with a newly developed soli

The dream of a new generation of hybrid-electric regional airliners has suffered a significant setback following the bankruptcy of Dutch aviation start-up Maeve Aerospace. The company, which had spent the past five years developing a low-emissions regional aircraft known as the Maeve Jet, officially ceased operations after failing to secure the funding required to continue development. A Dutch court declared Maeve Aerospace and its parent company, Green Transition Alliance, b

By Garth Calitz Photos By Garth Calitz and Trevor Cohen Thousands of aviation enthusiasts braved the cold at Air Force Base Swartkop on Saturday, 6 June, for the annual South African Air Force (SAAF) Museum Airshow. Reports from the SA Weather Service confirmed that Friday night was the coldest night in 2026, but the subzero temperatures did not deter the 11000-odd aviation enthusiasts that qued at the gates from as early as 6 am. They were rewarded with several visiting airc

By Rob Russell The recent budget speech, by the Minister of Defence, Ms Motshekga, in which barely anything about the SAAF was mentioned, apart from them being “hard at work repairing” wrongs, has thrust the future of the SAAF into the fore again. The SANDF has gone one way since the ANC took over ruling the country. From a once great and proud Defence Force, feared by many countries around the African continent, to the laughing stock of the continent. Equipment stands arou

South Africa’s general aviation community is set to gain a significant new facility with the opening of Atlantic Aerodrome, a purpose-built aviation precinct located in the Swartland region, approximately 40 minutes from Cape Town’s city centre. The development is scheduled to open its first phase on 26 September 2026 and aims to provide a dedicated base for aircraft owners, flight schools, charter operators and aviation-related businesses seeking an alternative to the conges

NASA’s groundbreaking X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft has successfully exceeded the speed of sound for the first time, marking a major milestone in the agency’s efforts to revolutionise high-speed air travel and pave the way for the return of commercial supersonic flight over land. The historic flight took place on 5 June 2026 from Edwards Air Force Base, California, with NASA test pilot Jim “Clue” Less at the controls. During the 81-minute mission, the experimental a

A landmark Pretoria High Court ruling has removed Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) requirements from the licensing process for international airlines operating to and from South Africa, providing greater regulatory certainty for foreign carriers serving the country. The judgment follows legal action brought by business organisation Sakeliga against the International Air Services Council (IASC), which had sought to consider B-BBEE compliance and other race-based

Gulfstream Aerospace has unveiled its latest business jet developments to the European market, with the Gulfstream G300 and G400 making their public debut at the company’s exclusive Discover the Difference event in Farnborough. The showcase featured a full-scale mock-up of the new super-midsize G300 alongside one of the three G400 flight-test aircraft currently participating in the certification programme. The event provided customers and industry stakeholders with an up-clos

Before Bell delivered the first certified helicopter, the future of vertical flight was proven with an egg. While pilots and engineers struggled with the uncertainties of rotorcraft technology, a single demonstration showed how physics could not just make it possible, but safe. This became the spark that led Bell into pioneering a new era of aviation. A Visionary in Aviation Larry Bell’s lifelong passion for aviation led him to start the Bell Aircraft Corporation, now Bell Te

A major step forward in developing South Africa’s future aviation workforce has been marked with the launch of the WorldSkills South Africa - Elangeni Aircraft Maintenance Academy, a pioneering initiative aimed at bringing specialised aviation training opportunities to young people from underserved communities. Officially launched at Elangeni TVET College’s Inanda Campus, north of Durban, the academy is the first facility within South Africa’s public education sector dedicate

By Garth Calitz The Industrial town of Secunda was the temporary home of the prestigious Presidents' Trophy Air Race for the 2026 edition. Secunda was built around the world's largest coal-to-liquids fuel facility operated by Sasol. This monster of industry is painfully visible from the airfield. Established in the 1970s to produce synthetic fuel and reduce the country's dependence on imported oil, the town has become a major economic hub in the area. Likewise, the Secunda F

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

By Garth Calitz The proposed development of Cape Winelands Airport has reached a major milestone after the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEADP) officially concluded the appeals process relating to the project’s Environmental Authorisation. In a final ruling, the Minister for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Wilhelm Bredell, dismissed all remaining appeals lodged against the development, effect

By Rob Russell Airbus Helicopters recently held an event at the Denel Overberg Test Range to show off their multifunctional flexrotor and discuss their various UASs and what they can do and where Airbus is taking drone development. The event was hosted by Nam-Binh Hoang, MD of Airbus South Africa. After welcoming everyone, he gave a brief overview of what Airbus does in Southern Africa, the services and support it provides in the Commercial, Helicopter, Defence and Space fiel

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

Boeing's MQ-28 autonomous combat aircraft has successfully completed its first international flight operations, conducting a series of test missions in the United States airspace and marking a significant milestone in the programme's development. The Australia-developed aircraft recently conducted three operational test flights over the Pacific Ocean from the Point Mugu Sea Range at the U.S. Naval Base Ventura County, California. The deployment marks the first time the MQ-28

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 Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for an urgent parliamentary hearing into what it describes as growing aviation safety and regulatory oversight failures involving South African Airways, the South African Civil Aviation Authority, Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) and South Africa’s Department of Transport. In a statement issued on 25 May, DA Transport Spokesperson Chris Hunsinger said the party would request that Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Transport s