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 restoration projects, flight simulation releases and much more.
Trending Topics
Historic
NF Meteors: The RAF’s First Jet Night-Fighters
Armstrong Whitworth turned the Meteor from a simple day-fighter into one of the first radar-equipped all-weather jet interceptors. Doug Gordon remembers the career of the early night-fighter Meteors, the NF.11 and NF.13.
South African Airways: Wings of the Rainbow Nation
Jozef Mols outlines the history of South African Airways...
Rhodesian Eagles 266 Sqn’s Typhoon Years
The mostly Rhodesian-manned 266 Squadron flew the Hawker Typhoon from 1942-45...
A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY - Air Transport Auxiliary
A world of opportunity was how the late Lettice Curtis described flying as a ferry pilot for the Air Transport Auxiliary.
Military
First operational test mission for the F-15EX
Full, large scale operational tests with the US Air Force’s first two Boeing F-15EX Eagle IIs recently got underway at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The 57th Wing at Nellis announced on October 22 that the new type’s first-ever operational test missions were being undertaken at Nellis from October 18-25, paired with F-15Cs and F-15Es
Ageing RCAF CF-188A/B Hornets engaged in busy EAP deployment
The Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF’s) fleet of ageing CF-188A/B Hornets have been kept busy during ongoing Enhanced Air Policing operations based out of Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base in Constanta, Romania, alongside colleagues from the Forțele Aeriene Române/Romanian Air Force (RoAF)
Another successful USMC Australian rotation concluded
Another US Marine Corps (USMC) Marine Rotational Force-Darwin (MRF-D) deployment to Australia has successfully concluded. After an eight-month stay in the Northern Territory, the contingent of approximately 2,200 Marines and their equipment which made up the tenth iteration of MRF-D made their way home during September and October
Commercial
Cathay Pacific reveals sobering January traffic stats
The flag carrier’s load factor dropped to just 13% during the month as it continues to deal with travel restrictions and quarantine requirements
Airbus reports €1.1 billion loss for 2020
The aerospace giant expects to deliver the same number of aircraft this year as it did in 2020
Finnair to dismantle A319 at Helsinki Airport
The narrowbody flew for the airline from October 1999 until it was withdrawn from use in September last year
Flight Simulation
DCS: F/A-18C Hornet available for pre-purchase
Eagle Dynamics SA and Belsimtek have announced that the DCS: F/A-18C Hornet is now available for pre-purchase.
Challenging Airports - Valdez Alaska (PAVD)
Flying MilViz’s DHC-3 Otter, we take a look at Valdez, a small fishing town in southern Alaska that features a major oil export terminal, diverse wildlife, glaciers and world-class backcountry skiing.
