The Aviationist Blog

The RAF Voyager “Vespina” has already carried out AAR (Air-to-Air Refueling) operations with RAF Typhoons and Lightning jets earlier today. Yesterday we reported about the maiden flight of the RAF A330 Voyager ZZ336 with its [...]

We take you inside the aircraft and its capabilities including the aircraft demonstration of austere operations. I have always been wary about an encounter with one particular animal — the wolverine. Resembling a small bear, [...]

One of the A330 Voyager aircraft was given a new VIP paint scheme. But someone said it looks like “a brightly coloured lollipop”. RAF A330 Voyager ZZ336 made its first flight sporting its brand new [...]

The aircraft sport an eye-catching, blue-yellow livery somehow similar to the one used by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. On Jun. 25, 2020, the Iranian Air Force was officially delivered three Iranian-made “Kowsar” fighter jets [...]

These stunning photographs show the integration of a B-1B Lancer with NATO and allied fighters during a recent long-range Bomber Task Force mission to Europe from the cockpit of the BONE. On May 20, two [...]

The aircraft is the first of 18 that will be assigned to Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron 30 (VRM-30) at Naval Air Station North Island. The first operational CMV-22B Osprey configured for the Carrier Onboard Delivery [...]

First image showing Northrop Grumman’s full-up Next Generation Jammer-Low Band (NGJ-LB) Demonstration of Existing Technologies (DET) electronic warfare pod being tested. On Jun. 22, 2020, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Airborne Electronic Attack Systems Program [...]

U.S. Air Force F-16CM Fighting Falcons, JASDF F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters, U.S. Navy EA-18G Growlers, a USN C-12 Huron, USAF MC-130J Commando II aircraft, and a USN P-8 Poseidon took part in a [...]

The F-35 Joint Program Office has released a bunch of images showing DCA (Dual Capable Aircraft) tests involving the release of inert nuclear bombs. It is not a secret that the F-35A, the CTOL (Convetional [...]

A bizarre video has recently emerged online. The footage below shows an F-5A Freedom Fighter of the 336 Sqn of the RNoAF (Royal Norwegian Air Force) towing a person on a sort-of sledge on a [...]

Poland Eyes New Air Platform Procurements as Rumors Around the Polish President’s Visit to the White House Emerge. According to a news piece published today by the Polish Dziennik daily, defense-related talks are planned to [...]

The U.S. Air Force will temporarily deploy four aircraft and crews to Curaçao to support drug-interdiction operations. An E-8 Joint STARS (JSTARS) and an E-3 Sentry Airborne Early Warning aircraft, supported by two KC-135 Stratotankers, [...]

30 years ago today, a Blackbird smashed a transcontinental speed record. On Mar. 6, 1990, SR-71 Blackbird S/N 61-7972 (tail number #972) made its final flight from AF Flight Test Center Plant 42 in Palmdale, [...]

Videos of gun and missile tests taken at the Russian GkNIPAS range are extremely interesting. The one of  the Su-34 is pretty unusual too. The top image, showing a Russian Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback attack aircraft [...]

Boeing unveiled its design for the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft. Now that all candidates are public, let’s see what we know about the helicopters that could replace the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior. On Mar. 3, 2020, [...]

We have been to Albacete, in Spain, to report about the first Flying Course of 2020. Half way between the eastern coast of Spain on the Mediterranean Sea and Madrid, Albacete is the hometown of [...]

Nose art for deployed Strike Eagles becoming a standard? The first 16 F-15E Strike Eagle jets belonging to the 494th FS of the 48th Fighter Wing deployed to the CENTCOM AOR (Area Of Operation) as [...]

The squadron has now been relocated to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, for the second part of the deployment. The 555th Fighter Squadron, also known as the “world famous, highly-respected” Triple Nickel, completed the [...]

This is the first time the incident is directly attributable to the Chinese military. A U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon was hit by a weapons-grade laser during a routine patrol above international waters on February 17, [...]

Third kill over Idlib by the Turkish Air Force in three days. Both the Turkish Ministry of Defense and the Syrian News Agency SANA have confirmed that a Syrian L-39 Albatros was shot down in [...]