By Garth Calitz For as long as pilots and aviation enthusiasts have been gathering around coffee pots at airfields, there have been a few certainties. Someone will insist that taildraggers are superior, that Steel aircraft are better than tupperware and someone else will proudly assert that blended-wing aircraft are the future. The first argument has been raging since the invention of the nosewheel. The second has been going on since composite materials took to the air in the

South African aviation services company National Airways Corporation (NAC) has acquired a stake in SkyConnect Leasing, marking a significant expansion of its international helicopter leasing interests. The investment was confirmed by NAC CEO JP Fourie during an interview at the company's headquarters at Lanseria International Airport. According to NAC, SkyConnect Leasing is an Irish-registered helicopter leasing firm operating from Prague, Czechia, and is deploying a fleet of

The United States has officially introduced a new presidential aircraft to serve as Air Force One, with President Donald Trump unveiling the modified Boeing 747 at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on 19 June 2026. The aircraft, formerly operated by the government of Qatar, has undergone extensive modifications to meet U.S. presidential transport requirements and will serve as an interim solution until the long-delayed Boeing VC-25B aircraft enters service, currently expected in

For decades, the light helicopter sector has changed relatively little compared with other areas of aviation. While advances in avionics, materials, and manufacturing have transformed commercial airliners and automobiles, many light helicopters still trace their origins to designs developed several decades ago. UK-based Hill Helicopters believes there is an opportunity to modernise this segment of the market through a combination of new technology, in-house manufacturing, and

Airbus Helicopters is advancing development of the Tiger Mk III, a major mid-life upgrade programme designed to ensure the Tiger attack helicopter remains capable of meeting the demands of future high-intensity combat operations. Developed through cooperation between France and Spain, the programme combines new avionics, sensors, communications systems and weapon capabilities with the proven performance of the existing Tiger platform. Launched in 2022 under the auspices of th

The Royal Air Force (RAF) has introduced a new low-cost counter-drone capability for its Typhoon fighter aircraft, providing an affordable and effective option for engaging unmanned aerial threats during ongoing operations in the Middle East. The capability centres on the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), a laser-guided rocket system that converts standard unguided rockets into precision-guided munitions. Originally developed to provide a cost-effective strike op

At the 2026 ILA Berlin Air Show, Boeing announced the expansion of its German industry team supporting the MQ-28 Ghost Bat collaborative combat aircraft programme. The move strengthens Boeing’s efforts to tailor the Australian-developed autonomous aircraft to the requirements of the German Air Force (Luftwaffe). Joining the programme are German defence and technology companies Diehl Defence and Rohde & Schwarz, which will work alongside strategic partner Rheinmetall. Rheinmet

Dassault Aviation has reached a major milestone in the development of its new flagship business jet, the Falcon 10X, with the successful completion of the aircraft’s maiden flight. The achievement marks the beginning of an extensive flight-test campaign as the manufacturer moves closer to certification and entry into service. The first Falcon 10X departed Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport in southwestern France at 11:10 local time on 19 June, with test pilot Sébastien Dupont de Dinec

By Garth Calitz The Vietnam War remains one of the most studied air campaigns in military history. Fought between 1955 and 1975, the conflict saw the first large-scale use of helicopters in combat, intense jet-versus-jet dogfights, strategic bombing campaigns and the emergence of sophisticated air defence systems. More aircraft types were employed in Vietnam than in any conflict since the Second World War. From supersonic fighters and heavy bombers to rugged propeller-driven

Airbus Helicopters has unveiled the U145, an autonomous, uncrewed version of its widely used H145 twin-engine helicopter, marking a significant step forward in the evolution of rotary-wing aviation. Introduced at the ILA Berlin Air Show, the U145 combines the proven performance and payload capacity of the H145 with advanced autonomous flight technologies. Airbus plans to conduct the aircraft's maiden flight, initially with a safety pilot on board, before the end of 2026, with