The 2026 air show season opens in Plasy — The new air show season in Central Europe opens this coming weekend in Plasy, the Czech Republic.  It has already become a tradition that Den ve Vzduchu (Day in the Air), organised every year on the l...

In the upcoming weekend, the new #airshow season in Central #Europe will open, traditionally with Den ve vzduchu event in #Plasy, #CzechRepublic — a well-established season opener that brings together a mix of modern and historical #aircraft, dynamic #FlyingDisplays, and a full day of attractions:

Our #Monday #Airshow Photo today takes a closer look at the #flying #replica of the JK type (#Blériot system) #aircraft that was once developed and owned by the #Czech #AviationPioneer Jan Kašpar - the to made the first long-distance flight over the Czech lands:

Saunders-Roe Skeeter AOP.12 — Saunders-Roe Skeeter AOP.12 (c/n S2/7154, formerly XN348 of the Army Air Corps, UK), exhibited at Hubschraubermuseum Bückeburg (Bückeburg Helicopter Museum), June 2023. History of that small helicopte...

This #Sunday with Afterburner Archives we are recalling the Saunders-Roe Skeeter AOP.12 — the #rotorcraft that reflects a fascinating chapter in the evolution of #RotaryWing #aviation. Developed from pre-war ideas and refined through years of challenges and redesigns.

17 April 1934 – first flight of the Fairey Swordfish — On 17 April 1934, the prototype of the Fairey Swordfish torpedo bomber performed its maiden flight, with test pilot Chris Staniland at the controls.

92 years ago today, on 17 April 1934, the prototype of the #Fairey #Swordfish took to the skies for the very #FirstTime — a #torpedo #bomber that would go on to become one of the most recognizable #aircraft of the #WW2.

Operationalising the Shift to Air Defence: Key Outcomes of the 2026 NATO Air Chiefs’ Symposium — On 10 April, Allied Air Command (AIRCOM) reported on its website that it had recently hosted the first of its biannual NATO Air Chiefs' Symposiums (NACS) for 2026.

On 10 April, NATO Allied Air Command (#AIRCOM) shared details about the recently hosted 2026 NATO Air Chiefs' Symposium (NACS) — a pivotal event that brought together leaders from #Allied and #partner #airforces.

AeroSpool WT9 Dynamic Club-TOW — AeroSpool WT9 Dynamic Club-TOW (c/n DV062/2004, OK-JUU 43), Kunětice airfield, June 2025.

This #Wednesday in our #PhotoOfTheWeek series, we highlight the Aerospool #WT9Dynamic Club TOW — a #modern #ultralight #aircraft that combines efficiency, performance, and versatility in support of everyday #flying operations like #GliderTowing.

Aviatická 2026 – a classic revamped — The 34th edition of Aviatická pouť (Aviation Fair), the largest civil air show in the Czech Republic, is just a few weeks away. This year, the well-known aviation event will open a new chapter in its ...

Aviatická pouť 2026 promises a refreshed take on a well-established classic. As the show approaches, we take a closer look at what’s changing, what remains at its core, and what visitors can expect from the upcoming edition of this beloved #airshow.

In this week’s #Monday #Airshow Photo, we take a look at the legendary #Antonov #An2 captured during an evening #flying #display at #PłockiPiknikLotniczy2025.
Bathed in warm #sunset light, this #iconic #biplane, proves that even decades after its first flight, it still knows how to steal the show.

This #Sunday with Afterburner archives we are returning to June 2023 and TdBW open doors event in #Bückeburg, where we had the opportunity to photograph this trio of #EurocopterTiger UHT and HAD variants operated by the International Helicopter Training Centre of the #GermanArmedForces.

10 April 1963 – maiden flight of EWR VJ 101 — On 10 April 1963, the EWR VJ 101, a German experimental VTOL jet fighter, performed its first flight.

On this day in 1963, the #experimental EWR VJ 101 X-1 took to the air for the #FirstTime in a #HoveringFlight — marking a bold step in the #exploration of #vertical #TakeOff and #HighSpeed #flight concepts.

Expozice pardubického letectví – birth and development of a living aviation heritage collection — For European aviation enthusiasts, Aviatická pouť (the Aviation Fair) is an air show that needs no introduction. Having been organised for more than thirty years, it has become the largest civilian av...

The development of Letka Aviatické pouti from #Pardubice shows how history can evolve into a living, dynamic experience rather than a static display. This unique initiative is the great example how to keep the spirit of early #aviation alive in the skies, not just in museums:

Airbus A350 XWB — Airbus A350-941 XWB (c/n 002, F-WWCF), flying display at the XIV International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2019, Zhukovsky, August 2019.

This #Wednesday in our #PhotoOfTheWeek series we take a closer look at the Airbus #A350XWB, one of the #flagship #aircraft of #LongHaul #aviation that perfectly blends advanced technology with elegant design and represents a #NewGeneration of #AirTravel.

NASA’s X-59 Advances Flight Test Campaign with the second and third flights — On Friday, 20 March 2026, NASA's X-59 Quiet Supersonic Technology (QueSST) aircraft made its second flight, followed by the third flight a week later.

NASA’s #X59 #supersonic #aircraft is advancing its #FlightTest campaign with the #second and #third #flights.
Designed to demonstrate the possibility of resuming supersonic #flight over land by significantly reducing the #SonicBoom to a much quieter thump:

The flying season in Europe, when #gliders will once again be circling above many airfields, is just around the corner.
This has inspired us to start another week with a #Monday #Airshow Photo featuring the #Scheibe BergfalkeIV #glider, photographed at Aeroklub Broumov in #CzechRepublic.

Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser — Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser (c/n 12-558, D-EDEK), static display at open doors day in Aeroklub Jaroměř, Jaroměř, June 2023. On 29th October 1945, the new Piper aeroplane, designated PA-12 Super Cruiser,...

This #Sunday we are once again going back with memories to Open Doors Day at Aeroklub Jaroměř 2023. This time, however, to recall a different participant of this event — #Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser.

Transavia PL-12 Airtruk — The story of this unusual aircraft begins in Italy in the mid-1940s, when engineer Luigi Pellarini collaborated with the Milan-based company Carrozzeria Colli. Together, they developed a series of “fl...

Some #aircraft are designed to look good, while others are designed to just do their job well. The #Transavia PL-12 #Airtruk clearly belongs to the latter category.

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.

On 3 April 1933, two #Westland #aircraft, the PV-3 and the PV-6, successfully performed the #FirstEver #flight over Mount Everest as part of the #Houston – #MountEverest Flight Expedition.

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 Ti...

Today, we’re catching up with one of them: a unique gathering where #aviation meets the middle ages — the #NeuburgMiniTigerMeet, held alongside the city’s famous medieval festival, blending #modern #military #aviation with history,
atmosphere, and the unmistakable spirit of the Tiger community:
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It’s already April — spring has arrived in Europe, and with it, the #airshow season is just around the corner. But before we fully turn our eyes to what’s ahead, there are still a few #highlights from 2025 we haven’t yet had the chance to share.
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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.

In our #PhotoOfTheWeek article today, we are presenting the Přikryl-Blecha PB-6 Racek — a #lightweight, #twoseat sport #monoplane that represented the final step in the line of original designs by two #Czech #aviation #pioneers, Jaroslav Přikryl and František Blecha.

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 aircraft, Poland has not only strengthened its own air force, but also bolstered NATO...

In 2026, Siły Powietrzne / Polish Air Force celebrate twenty years of operating the #F16 #fighter #jet. Since its introduction two decades ago, the F-16 has become much more than just a step towards modernisation for the #PolishAirForce.

Our today's #Monday #Airshow Photo takes us back to 2014 and IV Festyn Lotniczy at Aeroklub Ostrowski in #OstrówWielkopolski.
One of the pilots who demonstrated his #aerobatic skills at the event was Artur Kielak, pictured here shortly after his display while taxiing his #XA42 #aircraft.

Eurocopter AS350 B3e Écureuil — Eurocopter AS350 B3e Écureuil (c/n 7545, OK-DSW, operated by DSA a.s.), taking-off for a flying display during open doors day at Aeroklub Jaroměř airfield, Jaroměř, June 2023.

This #Sunday with Afterburner Archives brings us back to Open Doors Day at Aeroklub Jaroměř 2023, to recall one of the participants of this #aviation event — #Eurocopter #AS350 B3e #Écureuil #helicopter.

Robinson R44 — On 31st March 1990, prototype of R44 helicopter performed its maiden flight.

Short #aviation stories on #Saturday - today, we´d like to recall the history of the #Robinson #R44, one of the most popular light #helicopters in the world:

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 Wagner.

On 27 March 1994, the #Eurofighter #Typhoon made its #FirstFlight marking the beginning of a new era for #European air power.

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19PM — Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19PM (c/n 651045, formerly “1045” of Československé letectvo / the Czechoslovak Air Force), on display at an intersection in Líně, near the Plzeň-Líně airfield, July 2025

In today's #PhotoOfTheWeek feature, we present the MiG-19PM, one of the #WorldsFirst production #supersonic #fighter #jets and a significant achievement in #1950s #aviation technology.

NATO strengthens Eastern Flank through IAMD exercise in Romania — In mid-March 2026, NATO Allied Air Command (AIRCOM) conducted a targeted Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) exercise in Romania as part of the enhanced multi-domain Vigilance Activity (eVA) “Ea...

In mid-March, NATO conducted an Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) #exercise in #Romania, aimed at boosting readiness and coordination across the #EasternFlank of the #Alliance.
Want to learn more about how the exercise unfolded and what assets were involved? Read the full story here:

In today’s #Monday #Airshow Photo post, we are looking back at the Memorial Air Show 2015 in Roudnice nad Labem, #CzechRepublic, where one of the highlights was this beautiful #replica of the #Avia B-534 — a #classic 1930s #biplane #fighter that perfectly captures the elegance of pre-war #aviation.

ŠK-1 Trempík — ŠK-1 Trempík (c/n: 01, OK-JXA) amateur-built aircraft, leaving Pardubice airfield, where it was part of static display at 31st Aviation Fair (Aviatická pouť) air show, Pardubice, May 2023. The ŠK-1 is...

Join us as we dive into the world of #PostWar #aviation passion and ingenuity with the #ŠK1 #Trempík in our #Sunday with Afterburner Archives series.
Designed and built by two #Letov #aviation plant engineers as a private project in 1969, the #aeroplane took to the skies in 1979.

John Trollope — John Lightfoot Trollope, a British air ace of the Great War, was born on 30 May 1897 in Wallington, Surrey.

The story of John Lightfoot #Trollope is one of determination, skill, and extraordinary courage in the #skies of the #WWI. In March 1918, he achieved a remarkable feat — becoming the #first #British #pilot to shoot down seven enemy #aircraft in a single day, securing his place in #aviation #history.