The Aviationist Blog

Flying at altitudes and speeds unheard of for contemporary jet aircraft, the Blackbird family required a fuel with unique properties to perform in the extremes the aircraft would be subject to. The Mach 3+ speeds of the Lockheed A-12, M-21, YF-12A, and SR-71 would heat fuel up to 350 degrees, and, lacking insulated fuel tanks, […]

Originally struggling to achieve success in the China Burma India Theater, the Boeing B-29 Superfortress made its mark once tactics were changed and incendiaries were used. Originally operating out of the China Burma India Theater with disappointing results, costly losses, and constant supply issues, the Boeing B-29 Superfortress was struggling to achieve success in its […]

Believed to be a naval variant of the GJ-11, the GJ-21 is expected to operate from the Type 006 Sichuan LHD after mockups of the drone were spotted on test-sites representing the ship. China’s GJ-21 UCAV was captured while flying overhead in what is considered to be its first clear image in flight. Believed to […]

The UK’s Metropolitan Police Service is deploying UAS to London in a new trial hoping to provide police officers with a new intelligence gathering capability. The United Kingdom’s Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has unveiled their Drone as First Responder (DFR) program, which aims to deploy a UAS to arrive at the scene of an incident […]

The mission was supported by the Royal Danish Air Force, underscoring Denmark’s contribution in the security of the Arctic, and Greenland’s role in the defense of North America. In the second such deployment this year, U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs, a KC-135 Stratotanker and F-16 Fighting Falcons deployed to Greenland’s Pituffik Space Base. This […]

Finnish Air Force personnel are currently undergoing training at Eglin AFB, while extensive infrastructure upgrades and renovation works are underway at home to support the F-35s. Exactly one year after the Finnish Air Force’s first F-35A Lightning II entered production at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth facility in Texas, airframe JF-501 moved out of the final […]

The CH-47F Block II has improved efficiency, payload and fuel capacity, critical for the Army’s heavy tactical lift missions. Boeing announced on Oct. 21, 2025 two contracts from the U.S. Army, worth $461 million, for nine CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopters. Covering Lots 4 and 5, these contracts take the number of the Block II […]

Italy has launched the parliamentary process to approve the acquisition of a new batch of AW249s, which will complete the fleet of 48 attack helicopters. Italian Parliament’s documents show that Italy has launched the approval process for the acquisition of another batch of the new AW249 Fenice attack helicopter for the Italian Army. This batch […]

The Yak-130M sports a host of upgrades, including an advanced AESA radar, avionics, radio communications and targeting suites. One year after Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) presented the upgraded Yak-130M trainer and light fighter aircraft concept, the company unveiled its second manufactured prototype. The aircraft ‘002’ sported a light and dark-grey pixelated livery with UAC […]

A Chinese research paper on an ejectable cockpit for high-supersonic flight has drawn attention after a mysterious blended-wing test object appeared at the Gaobeidian radar range. Experts have linked a Chinese scientific academic paper about a crew escape module for a “high supersonic aircraft” to an unidentified flying dart-type aircraft that appeared at China’s RCS […]

A U.S. Air Force WC-130J Weatherbird from the 53rd WRS, as well as NOAA aircraft, have had to abandon planned missions early due to the strength of Hurricane Melissa. Weather reconnaissance aircraft have been operating at an extraordinarily high tempo in recent days to gather data on Hurricane Melissa as it threatens to devastate communities […]

After some scrubbed attempts, NASA’s X-59 QueSST flew for the first time from Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale on Oct. 28, 2025. In a landmark milestone for aeronautical research, NASA’s experimental X-59 QueSST (Quiet SuperSonic Technology) conducted its maiden flight today. The aircraft, designed and built by Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works at the Air […]

Several images showing what appears to be the second prototype of the J-36 heavy fighter have started circulating online. Several images showing what appears to be the second prototype of the J-36 heavy fighter have started circulating online. The second airframe seems to retain the core configuration of its predecessor, such as the extensive control […]

Oct. 28, 2025 marks the tenth anniversary of the last time an Avro Vulcan took to the skies. Following eight years of renewed airworthiness, XH558 landed on Oct. 28, 2015 after one final display. In circumstances that remain hotly discussed even a decade later, it was announced by the Vulcan to the Sky Trust (VTST) […]

A deep dive into Turkey’s purchase of RAF’s retired C-130Js and the future of its airlift fleet. In recent years, Turkey has been steadily strengthening its air and defense capabilities. One of the latest signs of this ambition is the confirmed purchase of twelve C-130J-30 Super Hercules tactical transport aircraft formerly operated by the Royal […]

The agreement was signed as the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, visited Ankara and met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan while touring Turkish aerospace facilities. An official release by the UK Government says the deal will guarantee the retention of as many as 20,000 British jobs and sustain the Typhoon production line at […]

The existence of the 9M730 Burevestnik was first made official in early 2018 as a part of six new strategic weapons, including hypersonic and ballistic missiles and a nuclear-capable torpedo. The Russian Chief of General Staff, General Valery Gerasimov, revealed on Oct. 26, 2025, that his country’s Strategic Rocket Forces tested the 9M730 Burevestnik (Russian […]

The U.S. Pacific Fleet has confirmed the safe rescue of all personnel after an MH-60R Sea Hawk and an F/A-18F Super Hornet from USS Nimitz both crashed into the South China Sea just 30 minutes apart. Five personnel, three on board an MH-60R Sea Hawk, and two in the F/A-18F Super Hornet, were recovered safely […]

The ceremony, held in Trieste, coincided with the 71st anniversary of the city’s return to Italy and marks the ship’s transition toward full operational service. The Italian Navy’s newest amphibious assault ship, LHD (Landing Helicopter Dock) Trieste, received its battle flag during a ceremony held onboard at Molo Bersaglieri, in Trieste, northeastern Italy, on Oct. […]

The Sichuan is the only amphibious assault Landing Helicopter Dock in the world to feature an Electromagnetic Launch System. The catapult aboard China’s massive Type 076 LHD (Landing Helicopter Dock) amphibious assault ship, the “Sichuan,” has been tested for the first time,images that appeared on Oct. 22, 2025 seem to suggest. The photos show the […]