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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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Historic
Historic Quiz: Aircraft nicknames
Across the annals of flight aircraft have been bestowed unofficial nicknames – some pleasant, others not so much – by those that flew or maintained them, worked on them. But do you know the often-forgotten nicknames for these types?
Spitfire Flight Test
In a recent re-issue of a special magazine by Key Publishing featuring military aircraft flight tests, Dave Unwin takes aloft the legendary Spitfire
Back to life – Mustang reborn in New Zealand
The term ‘time capsule’ is often used to describe World War Two restoration projects, but a New Zealand-based North American P-51D Mustang has such provenance that its claim is perhaps greater than most
The efforts to fly a Dutch F-104 again
In the March 2024 issue of Aviation News, Leonard van den Broek provides an update on efforts to return a Lockheed F-104 Starfighter to flight at Volkel Air Base in the Netherlands
Military
Combat Aircraft Journal May 2024
May 2024 issue of Combat Aircraft Journal in page-turning format features America's new 12-shooter, a report by Mark Ayton exploring the F-15EX Eagle II
A-10 Demo Team announce 2024 is final airshow season
The A-10 Demo Team has announced that this will be its last season on the airshow circuit.
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
Commercial
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.
Volotea goes big in 2024
Spanish low-cost carrier Volotea has announced plans to increase its fleet and expand its network in 2024 after achieving “historic financial margins” in 2023.
Why orders for widebody airliners rose in 2023
If 2023 proved anything, it was that there is high demand for airliners. While narrowbodies dominate sales, widebodies regained popularity after the slump during the pandemic years. Richard Schuurman explains what is driving this uptick
Flight Simulation
DCS: Spitfire LF Mk. IX
Welcome to the start of a new mini-series in which we take a look at the DCS: Spitfire LF Mk. IX - using a compilation of previous articles. The aim is to help you get the most out of this superb DCS module in one convenient series.
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.