Afterburner - The Aviation Magazine

3 April 2026

AVIATION HISTORY

3 April 1933 – the first flight over Mount Everest

On 3 April 1933, two Westland aircraft, the PV-3 and the PV-6, successfully performed the first-ever flight over Mount Everest as part of the Houston–Mount Everest Flight Expedition. Although flying over the highest mountain on Earth had long been a [...]
AIR SHOW REPORTS

Where Tigers meet the Middle Ages – the Neuburg Mini Tiger Meet 2025

At the beginning of July 2025, Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 74 – TaktLwG 74 (the 74th Tactical Air Force Wing) of the German Air Force organised its traditional aviation event, the Medieval Mini Tiger Meet. Held every two years, the meeting provides [...]
PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Přikryl-Blecha PB-6 Racek

Přikryl-Blecha PB-6 Racek (airworthy, full-scale replica of PB-6 “OK-BPI”, OK-KUU 56), waiting for departure from the 29th edition of Aviatická pouť air show, Pardubice, May 2019. The aviation adventure of two Czech pioneers, Jaroslav Přikryl and František Blecha, began in [...]
MILITARY AVIATION

Two decades of Polish F-16 operations – A pillar of NATO’s eastern flank

In 2026, Siły Powietrzne (the Polish Air Force) celebrate twenty years of operating F-16 fighter jets. By choosing these aircraft, Poland has not only strengthened its own air force, but also bolstered NATO’s air power, enhancing its ability to deter threats [...]
AVIATION HISTORY FRIDAY

27 March 1994 – first flight of Eurofighter Typhoon

On 27 March 1994, the Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon performed its maiden flight, piloted by chief test pilot Peter Weger. The history of the European-developed 4th-generation air-superiority fighter officially began in 1985, with a multilateral agreement between West Germany, the United [...]

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