Afterburner - The Aviation Magazine

26 January 2026

AVIATION HISTORY

23 January 1909 – first flight of Blériot XI monoplane

On 23 January 1909, at Issy-les-Moulineaux, the first example of the Blériot XI monoplane successfully performed its maiden flight. The aircraft travelled approximately 200 metres and reached a speed of 75 km/h. Louis Charles Joseph Blériot, the famous French aviator [...]
MILITARY AVIATION

Denmark says farewell to F-16 Fighting Falcon jets

Just days after we published a summary of the military aircraft that shaped aviation history and were retired in 2025, this January has already brought the first farewell of 2026. On 18 January, Flyvevåbnet (the Royal Danish Air Force – [...]
PHOTO OF THE WEEK

ProFe Banjo MH

ProFe Banjo MH (c/n unknown, OK-LUA 52), static display during an open day at Aeroklub Broumov, Broumov, September 2022. The Banjo MH is a Czech-manufactured motor glider belonging to the family of high-wing, strut-braced gliders and ultralight aircraft, developed by [...]
MILITARY AVIATION

Wing Commander Sasha Nash – the new Officer Commanding of the RAF Red Arrows

On 12 January 2026, Wing Commander Sasha Nash began her service as the new Officer Commanding of the Royal Air Force Red Arrows Aerobatic Team (OC RAFAT), taking over the role from Wing Commander Adam Collins, who had successfully commanded [...]
AVIATION HISTORY FRIDAY

16 January 2003 – launch of STS-107, the final flight of Columbia

On 16 January 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia launched on STS-107 mission. The flight ended on 1 February with the Columbia disaster, resulting in the deaths of all seven crew members and the destruction of the space shuttle. The STS-107 [...]

From active duty to history – a short review of military aircraft retirements in 2025

FEATURED

14 January 2026

The year 2025 marked aviation history with several notable farewells to iconic military aircraft. These included both well-known workhorses from the Cold War era and relatively newer designs that proved ineffective in the modern combat [...]

First ever wingsuit foil soaring flight with altitude gain

DREAMERS AND DOERS

26 November 2025

In its press release published on 19 November 2025, the Red Bull company announced that Austrian wingsuit pioneer Peter Salzmann had once again pushed the boundaries of what is possible in human flight. This time, [...]

FEATURED