Afterburner - The Aviation Magazine

7 May 2026

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, [...]
PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Vyugov A-5 Albatross

Vyugov A-5 Albatross (c/n: –, ЭВС-017, home-built aircraft), exhibited at the Central Air Force Museum (Центральный музей Военно-воздушных сил РФ) in Monino, July 2017. Vladimir Konstantinovich Vyugov (Владимир Константинович Вьюгов) was born in 1937 in Lysva (Perm Krai). His fascination [...]
MILITARY AVIATION

Hungarian Air Force receives two additional Gripen C fighters

On 30 April 2026, the Saab company announced on its website that Magyar Légierő (the Hungarian Air Force – HunAF) had received two new JAS 39 Gripen C fighters. The delivered aircraft are going to be operated by 101/1. Harcászati [...]
AVIATION HISTORY

1 May 1912 – first flight of Avro Type F

On 1 May 1912, the Avro Type F, a pioneering British aircraft, successfully performed its maiden flight. The Type F was a light, mid-wing monoplane powered by a single 35 hp Viale radial engine. The aircraft was equipped with a [...]

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