Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), part of the Rostec state conglomerate, has delivered another batch of new-build Su-35S multirole fighters to the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS), reinforcing one of the service’s key frontline combat aircraft fleets. The delivery was announced on 17 April and marks the latest in a continuing series of transfers intended to sustain operational readiness and modernise Russia’s tactical aviation inventory. According to official statemen

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

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

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

Electric propulsion specialist magniX has unveiled a new air-cooled electric engine aimed squarely at the general aviation market, marking a further step in the company’s strategy to expand beyond commercial and regional aircraft applications into recreational and training segments. Announced on 14 April 2026 in Everett, Washington, and Lakeland, Florida, the new magniAIR engine is designed for light aircraft categories, including experimental, light sport, and flight trainin

Cirrus Aircraft says demand for its products in Europe remains strong as the manufacturer showcases two of its latest models at Aero Friedrichshafen in Germany. The company is presenting the updated SR Series G7+ piston aircraft and the new SF50 G3 Vision Jet, with the latter expected to receive European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) type certification later this year. The European market currently represents around 10% of Cirrus’ global fleet, a share that has remained

By Garth Calitz The Taildraggers Fly-In, a favourite among aviators for the past 16 years, was on the verge of being removed from the aviation calendar. Richard Nicholson, who had been leading the event since its inception in 2009, decided to call it a day. Initially, Nylstroom was the event's home, hosting the first 10 gatherings. Unfortunately, the Nylstroom airfield was overtaken by an ever-expanding squatter camp, prompting the organisers to move the event to Warmbaths in

By Garth Calitz South African Airways (SAA) has announced that its Group Chief Executive Officer, Professor John Lamola, will resign effective at the end of April 2026. This decision was confirmed after a Board meeting, with Barbara Creecy, acting as the shareholder representative, formally accepting Lamola’s resignation in conjunction with the airline’s Board. Professor Lamola will leave the airline after nearly four years, having initially joined SAA in July 2021 as a Non-E

Ethiopian Airlines has marked its 80th anniversary, commemorating eight decades of continuous operations and growth into one of Africa’s largest and most influential aviation groups. The milestone was formally announced at a press conference in Addis Ababa, where Group Chief Executive Officer Mesfin Tasew outlined the significance of the anniversary and the airline’s plans to celebrate the occasion throughout the year. The launch event, held at the Ethiopian Skylight Hotel, r

The Artemis II mission concluded successfully with the safe return of NASA’s Orion spacecraft, marking the end of humanity’s first crewed deep space flight in more than five decades. The capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of southern California following a 10-day journey that carried astronauts around the Moon and back to Earth. The Orion spacecraft travelled approximately 694,000 miles during the mission. Its return phase saw the capsule re-enter Earth’

Textron Aviation Defence has been awarded a five-year U.S. government contract valued at more than $150 million to provide sustaining engineering and program management support for the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II fleet operated by the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Army. The contract continues a partnership first established in 2021 and extends comprehensive Sustaining Engineering and Program Management (SEPM) services for an additional five years. The agreement covers the T-6A, T-6B a

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

The Portuguese Air Force has taken a significant step in modernising its pilot training pipeline with the selection of the Tecnam P-Mentor as the cornerstone of its new Elementary Flight Training (EFT) capability. The programme, awarded by the Portuguese Ministry of National Defence, will see seven aircraft delivered alongside a comprehensive training and support package. The contract has been awarded through Spanish aviation services provider World Aviation S.L. in partnersh

After a prolonged certification process, Enstrom Helicopter Corporation has received full regulatory clearance from both the Federal Aviation Administration and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, allowing the company to resume global deliveries of new-production helicopters. The milestone centres on the turbine-powered Enstrom 480B, which has now achieved full airworthiness certification under the latest safety requirements. The first newly built aircraft to meet thes

The recent US rescue of two downed Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle crew members over Iran will likely be remembered not simply as a successful personnel recovery mission, but as one of the clearest modern demonstrations of how much airpower is required to retrieve a single isolated aircrew in heavily defended airspace. Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle What emerged in the days after the operation was not the story of one helicopter slipping quietly into hostile territory, but of an extraor

Air Tractor Holdings has acquired Thrush Aircraft in a move that marks one of the most significant consolidations in specialist utility aviation in recent years, bringing together two of the best-known names in agricultural flying under a single owner while preserving both brands as standalone operations. The transaction, which closed on 3 April 2026, is notable not only for its commercial implications but for its historical resonance. In effect, it reunites the two principal

Atlanta-based hypersonic aircraft developer Hermeus has completed the maiden flight of its Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 demonstrator, marking another step in its campaign to eventually challenge the legendary speed benchmark set by the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird. The uncrewed aircraft flew from Spaceport America in New Mexico in early March, becoming the company’s second new aircraft type to achieve a first flight in less than a year. The flight itself was not an all-out record attempt.

The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation has issued a strong rebuke of Iran over what it says were unlawful violations of sovereign airspace across the Middle East, warning that the actions posed a serious and ongoing threat to civil aviation safety in one of the world’s most heavily used air corridors. Adopted on 31 March 2026 at ICAO’s headquarters in Montréal, the decision marks a rare and pointed intervention by the UN aviation body into a matter that

Embraer’s KC-390 Millennium has successfully completed a demanding cold-weather demonstration campaign in northern Sweden, underlining the Brazilian-built airlifter’s growing credentials for operations in Arctic and high-latitude environments. Conducted at the Vidsel Test Range military facility, the March campaign was designed to assess the aircraft’s ability to perform in extreme winter conditions while also supporting modern dispersed operating concepts such as Agile Comba

Bell Textron used the stage of FIDAE 2026 in Santiago, Chile, to highlight a strong commercial milestone for its light single-engine helicopter portfolio, announcing that the Bell 505 recorded its highest number of orders in Latin America during 2025. The achievement reflects the continued momentum of the Bell 505 across a region where operators increasingly require flexible, lower-operating-cost rotorcraft capable of serving a wide range of missions. From private transport a

Vietnam Helicopter Corporation (VNH) is reinforcing its position in Southeast Asia’s offshore aviation sector with an order for three Airbus H225 helicopters, a move that underlines both its confidence in the type and its intent to modernise for the next phase of offshore operations. Announced in Hanoi on 7 April 2026, the new aircraft will be operated by VNH’s subsidiaries, Southern Vietnam Helicopter Company (VNH South) and Northern Vietnam Helicopter Company (VNH North). T

For the first time since the Apollo era, astronauts are once again heading beyond low-Earth orbit, and with Artemis II, NASA has opened a new chapter in crewed deep-space flight. More than just another rocket launch, Artemis II is a full-scale test of the systems, spacecraft and human endurance that will underpin the next generation of lunar exploration. The significance is immediate, Artemis II is not simply a space story; it is a story about aerospace engineering at its mos

By Garth Calitz Photos by Garth Calitz and Trevor Cohen The South African Air Force (SAAF) entered a new chapter on 1 April 2026 with the appointment of Lieutenant General Carl Moatshe as its new Chief, marking a significant leadership transition for one of the country’s most strategically important military services. The change of command was formally marked during a handover parade, hosted at SAAF Mobile Deployment Wing (previously AFB Swartkops) on the last day of March.

By Rob Russell On Thursday, March 26th, the Air Mercy Service marked its 60th anniversary. A gala cocktail party was held at the organisation's hangar complex at Cape Town International Airport to commemorate the occasion. From its humble beginnings in March 1966, based at Youngsfield airfield, next to Kenilworth racecourse, the Organization evolved into an independent Trust in 1994. The AMS is a non-profit organisation with active operational bases in the Western Cape (Cape