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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 restoration projects, flight simulation releases and much more.
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Military
OPINION: What is going on with the RAF's Hawk T2 fleet?
With the RAF now suffering a crisis in its advanced jet training capability following the grounding of its Hawk T2 fleet due to engine woes, Alan Warnes asks why the UK MOD appears to be in disarray and whether or not this will be exacerbated in the upcoming Integrated Defence Review Refresh
Airbus: A400M Atlas C1 a boost for UK Special Forces
Airbus Defence and Space has said the RAF’s fleet of A400M Atlas C1 tactical transports are outperforming the Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules C4/C5 airlifters they are replacing, increasing the effectiveness of UK Special Forces operations
RAF Hawk T2 issues see just two fast-jet pilots graduate in six months
Only two RAF fast-jet student pilots graduated in the first half of the current financial year because the number of flying hours on the Hawk T2 training aircraft at RAF Valley has been significantly curtailed due to a fault with its Rolls-Royce turbofan engine, an influential group of MPs has been told
German CH-53G fleet suffers two emergency landings in one week
Two aircraft from the German Air Force’s ageing fleet of CH-53G Sea Stallion heavy-lift transport helicopters have been forced to perform emergency landings in Germany on two separate occasions in the past week
Inside the first year of Qatari Hawk operations at RAF Leeming
The Qatar Emiri Air Force is operating Hawks in its new training establishment at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire. Derek Bower explains why
Commercial
Quieter supersonic flight: NASA X-59 chief pilot's insights
Lead pilot David Nils Larson talks to Mark Broadbent about NASA’s latest X-plane, the X-59 Quesst
The Ultimate Boeing 747 Farewell Quiz!
After months of speculation, it’s finally happened. The last ever Boeing 747 to be built was handed over on January 31 in a ceremony at Paine Field. To mark the occasion, we’ve a special jumbo-themed edition of our commercial aviation quiz. Good luck, and long live the Queen of the Skies!
What aircraft are driving the post-pandemic regional aviation recovery?
Regional aviation bounced back quickly post pandemic. Tom Batchelor looks at the aircraft driving the recovery
Historic
Channel Airways - the story behind the 1960s low-cost trailblazer
The golden livery on its jets wasn’t Channel Airways’ own invention, but a low-fare, maximum-utilisation concept was. Sadly, as the late Bruce Hales-Dutton found out, it wasn’t enough to save this brave British independent carrier
Doug Matthews: Meet the warbird pilot with 120 world records
Success in the aviation business has allowed this Vietnam veteran and serial record-setter to make a huge contribution to the US warbird scene
How Willy Messerschmitt sabotaged the Me 262
With its shattering performance and heavy armament, Messerschmitt’s Me 262 was a deadly opponent for any Allied aircraft, yet its impact was only felt during the last few months of the Second World War. Its development had begun in 1938, so what really happened?
Flight Simulation
Microsoft Flight Simulator Aircraft and Avionics Update 1 released
The Microsoft Flight Simulator development team has announced Aircraft and Avionics Update I is now available to download.
Palm Beach for X-Plane out now
Orbx has announced KPBI Palm Beach International Airport for X-Plane 11 & 12 is now available.
Cessna 337F Skymaster takes flight in X-Plane
Thranda Design has announced the next aircraft in the Dynamic Generation Series, the Cessna 337F Skymaster, is now available for X-Plane 11 and 12.
