Vulcan Week
The Avro Vulcan is one of the true icons of historic aviation. Starting out as a key part of Britain's nuclear deterrent in the Cold War era, the Vulcan is an aircraft that almost everyone has a soft spot for - and that's largely thanks to XH558. Its incredible restoration, thanks to the work of the Vulcan to the Sky Trust, thrilled airshow crowds up until 2015, but it still has a role to play in inspiring the next generation of aviation engineers.
Latest from Key.Aero
Explore the latest news and features by our world-class aviation journalists. Stay up to date on the latest military aviation developments, commercial airline news, historic plane restoration projects, flight simulation releases and much more.
The future of engineering
We speak to Sam Scrimshaw, the Deputy Crew Chief at the Vulcan to the Sky Trust, about getting into aviation engineering – and why it’s a great career...
A guided tour of the Vulcan cockpit
Taff Stone, the Chief Engineer at the Vulcan to the Sky Trust, shows you around the controls...
Vulcan XH558: What is Operation Safeguard?
How a fundraising campaign for one of Britain’s most cherished aeroplanes is aiming to inspire the next generation of engineers...
The restoration of XH558
In 2004, over 20 years after its final RAF flight, permission was granted to restore the XH558 back to flying condition. This is how it was done…
The design genius of the Vulcan
What made the Avro Vulcan bomber so far ahead of its time? Designed just five years after the Lancaster, it’s incredible to understand the advancements that were made in such a short time
Your Historic Aviation 5-a-day
A selection of great images from yesteryear for your weekend enjoyment!
Stunning pictures of first 777-300ERSF taking part in flypast
Shortly after reaching the halfway mark with the joint GECAS and IAI conversion project, the Israeli firm flew the jet as part of a commemorative flypast
A century of aviation innovation
The pioneering spirit of the Vulcan continued right the way through the 20th Century and into the 21st – and shows no sign of slowing…
Your Historic Aviation 5-a-day
On this day in 1934 the Fairey TSR.II took to the air for the first time and would serve with distinction in World War Two, by which time it was known as the Swordfish...
Read a rare report on the Vulcan from 1952!
We’ve unearthed a 69-year-old review from The Aeroplane of 698’s second-ever flight – it was described as both ‘extra-terrestrial’ and like ‘a giant stingray…’
Quiz: How well do you know your airliners? - Part 2
Back by popular demand, this week's Commercial Aviation quiz focuses on identifying the aircraft instead of the airline. Do you know your A330-200 from A330-300 and Boeing 777-200LR from 777-300ER? Let us know what score you get!
The Vulcan’s engine
When you say XH558, for many people one thing immediately springs to mind: the Vulcan howl…
IndiaFoxtEcho’s MB-339
IndiaFoxtrotEcho is one of the first developers to release a military aircraft for the new Microsoft Flight Simulator platform: the Aermacchi MB-339....
UK Discovery Tour
Welcome to the first of our four-part UK Discovery Tour, in which we visit some of the new hand-built airports and cities in Microsoft Flight Simulator. In the first leg of our grand tour between Land’s End and Shoreham, we explore some of the famous landmarks in the south and western part of the British Isles.
The Human Element
In this first instalment of our new ‘Human Element’ series, in which we talk to publishers, developers and end-users within the flight sim industry, we met up with Pere Casellas, technical director and co-founder of Virtual Fly and Oscar Mateos, sales and marketing manager of its parent company, Aircatglobal.
Jolly Green II completes developmental testing
The USAF’s new combat search and rescue helicopter, the Sikorsky HH-60W Jolly Green II, has completed its developmental test programme at Eglin AFB in Florida
Back to Basics - Series 3, Lesson 4
In this lesson, Peter Stark looks at sensory illusions and teaches us some piloting techniques to stay out of trouble.
Fly Tampa’s Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport
We travel to the land down under and explore Australia's largest hub, Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport.
PILOT'S Boeing B314 Clipper
One of the most unique and perhaps romantic aircraft ever built in the golden era of aviation – the Boeing 314 Clipper Flying Boat – has a fascinating and rich history. The team at Pilot’s has spent years researching and producing a study-level sim of this remarkable aircraft and we test-fly the ‘Early Bird’ model designed for Prepar3D.
42 out of 46 former Flybe domestic routes have now been restored
As 'Flybe 2.0' gains momentum, it’s been revealed that a significant proportion of its former links have been re-established in its absence
FlyPast Podcast Episode 17
In the latest episode of the FlyPast Podcast, the team celebrates Vulcan Week on Key.Aero by chatting to Sam Scrimshaw, the Deputy Crew Chief on XH558...
Orbx Simulations' Paris City Landmarks
In this review, we visit the capital of France and take a closer look at some of the 200 new points of interest added to Microsoft Flight Simulator by the Orbx TrueEarth team.
Microsoft’s UK Update
For its third world update for Microsoft Flight Simulator, the Microsoft/Asobo team has given the UK a makeover, applying improvements such as more accurate terrain elevation, new textures as well as upgraded airports and points of interest.
Which airlines were the original operators of the Boeing 747?
Many carriers have flown the venerable Boeing 747 since its introduction in 1970, but there are only a select few who can make the claim of being the original jumbo customers. Key.Aero examines which firms acquired brand-new examples of the iconic jet
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