Connecting Skies • Bridging Continents
Airbus Helicopters and Australian health-tech company Lindo are exploring antimicrobial blue light disinfection systems for HEMS aircraft to improve biosafety in aeromedical operations. Airbus Australia
Dassault Aviation and OHB have partnered to propose the reusable VORTEX-S multipurpose spaceplane to ESA, supporting Europe’s future autonomous space transportation ambitions. Dassault Aviation and
Archer Aviation says initial US eVTOL operations could begin in 2026 following record FAA certification progress for its Midnight aircraft and expanded flight testing activities. Archer Aviation has announced record progress in the FAA certification process for its Midnight electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft,
AirlinePros International has been appointed as General Sales Agent for LIFT across Australia, Canada, Germany, Spain, and France, expanding the airline’s international sales reach and supporting inbound travel to South Africa. AirlinePros International has been appointed as General Sales Agent (GSA) for LIFT across Australia, Canada,
Kenya Airways has partnered with TRACE as Official Airline Partner for Africa Forward — Le Concert, supporting international travel logistics for the flagship Africa-France Summit cultural event in Nairobi. Kenya Airways has partnered with TRACE as the Official Airline Partner for “Africa Forward — Le Concert,”
Uganda Airlines has unveiled a 10-year strategic plan focused on infrastructure expansion, fleet growth and operational self-reliance as it targets broader international expansion. Uganda Airlines has announced an ambitious 10-year strategic development plan centred on infrastructure expansion, fleet growth and operational self-reliance as the carrier seeks
Trimble has introduced a new smart antenna enclosure for its PX-1 RTX solution, aimed at accelerating integration for commercial drone delivery and UAV applications. Trimble
Phelan Green outlines its strategy to supply electro-sustainable aviation fuel from South Africa into European markets, aligned with upcoming EU and UK blending mandates. By
B&H Worldwide launches an online Case Study Library, showcasing real-world aerospace logistics operations including AOG response, engine transport, and supply chain solutions. Digital platform highlights
2011 – A Eurocopter X3 (X-Cube), French experimental compound helicopter, flew at a speed of 430 km/h (267 mph).
2011 – Judy Wexler becomes the first woman to pilot a human-powered helicopter, remaining airborne for 4 seconds and achieving an altitude of a few inches in the University of Maryland’s Gamera I.
2009 – A South African Air Force Agusta Westland AW109E, helicopter, 4022, crashes at the Woodstock Dam, near Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Flying with two other aircraft at low level and at high speed over the surface of the Dam, the helicopter stuck the water and crashed, then sinking into the lake killing the 3 crew.
2004 – The last F-4 Phantom fighters are withdrawn from service with the Israeli Air Force.
2002 – Death of Alfred Vogt, German glider designer.
2001 – Death of Alexei Andreyevich Tupolev, Soviet aircraft designer who led the development of the first supersonic passenger jet, the Tupolev Tu-144. He also helped design the Buran space shuttle and the Tu-2000.
1987 – Grumman A-6E Intruder, BuNo 155657, of VA-142, misses trap on the USS Lexington, both crew eject as jet leaves deck, lightened airframe climbs away, even on reduced power, to crash in the Gulf of Mexico ~50 miles S of NAS Pensacola, Florida. Footage of this accident: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czvEDNdyFBU&feature=related.
1984 – Entered Service: Airbus A310 with Air France.
1967 – First flight of the Aermacchi AM.3, Italian single engine high wing observation aircraft, joint venture between Aermacchi and Aeritalia, initially designated the MB-335.
1965 – After loss of control as a result of a gyroscope problem, Luna 5 crashed. It was the second Soviet spacecraft to reach the surface of the Moon.
1965 – The prototype HFB-320 Hansa Jet crashes due to a tail design problem.
1964 – American flyer Joan Merriam Smith lands her Piper Apache to complete the second round-the-world flight by a woman. she took 56 days.
1952 – Death of Elia Antonio Liut, Italian Aviation pioneer, first pilot to fly over the Andes.
1952 – Squadron Leader P. G. Fisher makes the first non-stop, unrefuelled flight from England to Australia in an English Electric Canberra bomber in a record 23 hours 5 min.
1950 – After the United States Air Force gives Convair a contract to install an Allison J33-A-29
jet engine with afterburner in place of the Allison J33-A-23 in the Convair XF-92A, 46-0682, test pilot Chuck Yeager attempts ferry flight from Edwards AFB, California to the Convair plant at San Diego but engine fails immediately after take off, forcing an emergency landing on the dry lakebed. Airframe is subsequently trucked to San Diego.
1941 – First flight of the Platt-LePage XR-1, also known by the company designation PL-3, early American twin-rotor helicopter.
1938 – Three B-17 Flying Fortresses use dead reckoning navigation to intercept the ocean liner SS Rex more than 600 miles at sea.
1936 – First flight of the Loire 102, French flying boat designed as a mail plane by Loire.
1936 – First flight of the Messerschmitt Bf 110, often called Me 110, twin-engine heavy fighter (Zerstörer – German for “Destroyer”).
1930 – With the Latécoère 28 “Comte-de-la-Vaulx”, Jean Mermoz takes off from Saint-Louis, Senegal, to Natal, Brazil for the first south Transatlantic Postal flight.
1927 – First flight of the Armstrong Whitworth Starling A. W.14..
1927 – First flight of the Yakovlev AIR-1 was a 1920s Soviet two-seat light biplane the first aircraft designed and built by Aleksandr Sergeyevich Yakovlev.
1926 – The Norge (semi-rigid Italian-built airship) reached the North Pole, at which point the Norwegian, American and Italian flags were dropped from the airship onto the ice. The expedition was the brainchild of polar explorer and expedition leader Roald Amundsen, the airship’s designer and pilot Umberto Nobile and American explorer Lincoln Ellsworth, who along with the Aero Club of Norway financed the trip.
1912 – Guido Nardini is the first Italian to cross the English Channel.
1912 – The Central Flying School (CFS), Royal Air Force‘s primary institution for the training of military flying instructors is established.
