Afterburner - The Aviation Magazine

15 May 2026

AVIATION HISTORY

15 May 1918 – the first US regular airmail service commences

On 15 May 1918, the first scheduled and regular airmail service in the United States officially commenced, connecting New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. The first regular domestic airmail service was operated by the US Army. In previous years, [...]
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 [...]
PHOTO OF THE WEEK

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 [...]

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