The last flight of 617 Sqn Lancaster ‘Dark Victor’
In the first of a new series, aviation artist Mark Postlethwaite GAvA describes the events that inspired one of his dramatic artworks
Passengers enjoy high-speed VC10 run at Bruntingthorpe
The VC10 Preservation Group, which maintains Vickers VC10 K.4 ZD241 in ground running condition at Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire, was able to take 36 passengers for a high-speed taxi run on May 27, during the venue’s Cold War Jets Open Day.
Restoring an Lightning F.2A nose section
Hugh Trevor details the restoration of his Lightning F.2A cockpit – from ballistics target to museum piece
Coronet Buffalo - When 36 A-7s deployed to Waddington
No fewer than 36 Air National Guard A-7 Corsair IIs descended on RAF Waddington in 1985 for Coronet Buffalo. Editor Dino Carrara spoke to two pilots who took part in this memorable Cold War deployment.
The Dams Raid: then and now
Marking the 75th anniversary of Operation Chastise, Steve Beebee visited the Möhne and Eder Dams in Germany. Here he describes what can be seen in the area today and reflects on the legend - and sacrifice - of the Dambusters
111 Sqn's First Year with the Lightning
The RAF waited a decade from the first flight of the English Electric P1 prototype in 1954 to take delivery of a truly definitive operational Lightning variant. The F3 was well worth it, though — and No 111 Squadron’s pilots loved it. This is the story of the mark’s first year with ‘Treble-One’
Preparing for war
In October 1952, Exercise ‘Ardent’ put the UK’s offensive and defensive capabilities to the test. Some of its results made for sobering reading
IN PICTURES: 617 Sqn aircraft through the decades
We present a photographic rundown of the major aircraft types used by 617 Sqn from 1943 to the current day.
The career of Guy Gibson’s Dams Raid Lancaster
The Lancaster used by Wing Commander Guy Gibson on the Dams raid survived the war, but was ultimately scrapped. Nigel Price charts the history of this famous aircraft.
Your source for all the latest Airforce and military aircraft news
As the latest fifth-generation platform, the Lockheed Martin F-35 is in use globally for international partner airforces, from the United States Airforce (USAF) to the RAF and the Australian airforce, the sixth-generation fighters are already on the drawing board.
Find out which airforces are looking at virtual cockpits, networked platforms and piloted aircraft working with drone wingmen for the stealth fighters of the 2030s and discover which airforces are planning to replace their existing fleets with the fighter planes of the future.
Military Aircraft Retirement and Technology Updates
International forces around the world are deploying military aircraft manufactured in France, Russia and America including aircraft from Saab, France’s Dassault Rafale, Russian Mig-29s and the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon, which it will operate for years to come.
What will also be flying well into the next decade is the USAF’s Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor air superiority fighter. The next decade will also see the USAF’s newest stealth bomber, the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider enter service, while the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber will be in its seventh decade of operational service after refurbishments and restorations. This page is the only place you need to be to find out all the latest news on retirements and new deployments.
Be the first to find out which existing platforms such as France’s Dassault Mirage 2000 light weight jet and the Eurofighter Typhoon are facing the need for wholesale technology updates. The Eurofighter is being upgraded for an electronic warfare role in the 2020s and the USAF is improving some of its Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons with F-35 fifth generation technology.
From restorations to retirement and procurement, international projects for new networked technologies including piloted and autonomous platforms and the contracts to manufacture them, all of this fast-moving defence aviation news and analysis can be found here.
Related Airforce Topics
Want to find out more about other types of military aircraft? We have dedicated pages for the latest Military Aircraft Shows, Military Fighter Aircraft and all the latest cutting-edge Military Aircraft Technology.
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