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.
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Historic
Lodestar being returned to its former glory at Pima
Lockheed R5O-5 Lodestar 12481 is close to completion at the Pima Air and Space Museum following a typically thorough restoration
Mosquito veteran Flt Lt Colin Bell celebrates 103rd birthday
Celebrating his 103rd birthday on Tuesday 5 March, Flt Lt Colin Bell shows no sign of slowing down as he looks back over an action-packed year
Night terrors – Luftwaffe onslaught
Twelve US bombers were lost during a 30-minute onslaught by Luftwaffe night intruders. Ian McLachlan describes the Americans’ ordeal
Restored Bücker ready to fly in Spain
An example of the CASA-built version of the famous trainer is ready for flight
NATO AIRPOWER: THE FIRST 20 YEARS
Andrew Thomas reviews air power during the first 20 years of NATO’s existence
Military
Pentagon unveils $850bn FY25 budget request and eyes further aircraft retirements
Released on March 11, the $849.8bn FY25 President’s Budget for the US Department of Defense (DOD) represents an increase of $7.8bn in spending when compared to the FY24 base request. The $167.6bn procurement budget includes $61.2bn for new military aircraft and related systems
Carl Vinson completes first Indo-Pacific deployment with Block III Super Hornets
The US Navy’s Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) – the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 1 (CSG-1) – returned to its homeport at NAS North Island in San Diego, California, on February 23, after completing a four-month deployment to the Western Pacific region and marking the end of the first operational cruise for the service’s new F/A-18E/F Block III Super Hornets
Brazil bids fond farewell to legacy Hercules fleet
The Força Aérea Brasileira (FAB; Brazilian Air Force) bid a fond farewell to its remaining C-130 Hercules tactical transports at Galeão Air Base (AB) in Rio de Janeiro on February 29, with the type having flown more than 377,000 operational flight hours over the past 60 years
Commercial
Bound for Brisbane
American Airlines is launching new services from Dallas/Fort Worth to Brisbane, Australia, in October using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft
Seeing the solar eclipse from the sky
Delta Air Lines is offering a special flight from Austin to Detroit on April 8, 2024, for passengers who want to experience a total solar eclipse from the sky.
United support for SAF
Air New Zealand and Embraer are among the companies to have joined the United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight Fund, an effort to increase production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) through investments in start-ups.
European expansion for flydubai
Low-cost Emirati carrier flydubai is expanding its network further into Europe with the launch of four new routes. From August, the carrier will become the first UAE airline to operate services to EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg, serving the border region of France, Germany and Switzerland.
Global’s first A380 takes flight
The first ‘fully acquired’ Airbus A380 of UK start-up Global Airlines has taken to the skies. The former China Southern Airlines example, re-registered 9H-GLOBL (c/n 120), carried out a 20-minute test flight from Mojave Airport, California.
Flight Simulation
London Control update
An updated version of the London Control air traffic control simulator, produced by Dale McLoughlin at DM Aviation, is now available.
Aerofly FS 4 development update
IPACS has announced the 737 MAX for Aerofly FS 4 is now available. The aircraft follows the 737NG, released in November last year.
P-47D Razorback ready for take-off
Aeroplane Heaven has released the Republic P-47D Razorback for Microsoft Flight Simulator.