Afterburner - The Aviation Magazine

14 May 2026

SPACE

VORTEX-S – Europe’s bid for a reusable orbital spaceplane

On 11 May 2026, the French company Dassault Aviation published a press release on its website announcing its collaboration with Otto Hydraulik Bremen Societas Europaea (OHB SE) and other European partners on a proposal for the VORTEX-S multi-purpose autonomous spaceplane [...]
SHORT AVIATION STORIES

Viking Dragonfly Mk I

Viking Dragonfly Mk I (c/n 01/82, D-EJUL), exhibited at Luftfahrtmuseum Wernigerode, June 2018. The Dragonfly, one of the most interesting amateur-designed light aircraft, performed its maiden flight on 16 June 1980. The aeroplane was developed by Bob Walters and featured [...]
AVIATION HISTORY

Liberation Festival 2026 – open day at Classic Trainers / Hangar 3

On 2 May 2026, the gates of Hangar 3 at the Plzeň-Líně airfield once again opened to visitors, showcasing the historic aircraft belonging to the Classic Trainers association. This year, the event was also linked to the opening of a [...]
AVIATION HISTORY

8 May 1927 – transatlantic flight of L’Oiseau Blanc begins

On 8 May 1927, Charles Nungesser and François Coli began their transatlantic flight attempt, flying the Levasseur PL.8. In April 1913, the Daily Mail officially launched a transatlantic flight competition. The editorial office offered a prize of £10,000 – equivalent [...]
MILITARY AVIATION

Stingray takes flight – MQ-25A moves US Navy closer to carrier-based autonomy

Boeing and the United States Navy have reached a significant milestone with the first flight of an operational Boeing MQ-25A Stingray. This signals tangible progress towards routine carrier operations and a broader shift in naval aviation. Lasting around two hours, [...]

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