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.

20 March 1922 – USS Langley was recommissioned — On 20 March 1922, the United States Navy’s first aircraft carrier, USS Langley (CV-1), was officially recommissioned.

Today marks 104 years since the #USSLangley (CV-1) was #recommissioned on 20 March 1922 — becoming the #first #AircraftCarrier of the #UnitedStatesNavy and opening an entirely new chapter in #NavalAviation history.

Arctic warfighting in focus – inside NATO’s exercise Cold Response 2026 — Between 9 and 19 March 2026, approximately 32,500 soldiers from fourteen NATO countries took part in this year’s edition of the Norwegian-led Arctic military exercise Cold Response 2026.

As Cold Response 2026 #military #exercise comes to an end today, it’s a good moment to take a closer look at how NATO trains for operations in one of the most challenging environments on Earth — the #Arctic.

IAR 316B — IAR 316B (c/n 171, formerly “86” of Forțele Aeriene Române / the Romanian Air Force), exhibited at Muzeul Naţional al Aviaţiei Române (National Romanian Aviation Museum) in Bucharest, March 2012.

In our #PhotoOfTheWeek article today, we take a closer look at the #IAR 316B, a Romanian-built development of the well-known #Aérospatiale #AlouetteIII #helicopter.
The #rotorcraft became an important part of the #RotaryWing #aviation of #Romania, serving in a variety of roles over the years.

Flygvapnet completes the first NATO Icelandic Air Policing mission — On 11 March 2026, the NATO Allied Air Command (AIRCOM) announced that Flygvapnet (the Swedish Air Force) had completed its deployment to Keflavík Air Base in Iceland. During this assignment, the Swedi...

Swedish Air Force had successfully completed its first #deployment to Keflavík AFB in #Iceland, within NATO Icelandic Air Policing #mission. That was a historic #milestone for #Sweden, as its air forces had taken the lead in an #AirPolicing mission for the first time since the country joined #NATO.

Let's start the new week with a touch of #WorldWarI #aviation spirit!
Our #Monday Airshow Photo today features an #ultralight #replica of the #legendary #Nieuport11 #fighter #aeroplane during flying display at Lotnicza Majówka Iława 2018 #airshow.

Spacek SD-1 Minisport — Spacek SD-1 Minisport (c/n 241, OK-YUU 72) ultralight, amateur-built sports aircraft, static display during open doors day at Čáslav airbase, May 2023. Spacek SD-1 is a family of ultralight, one-seat ...

This #Sunday with Afterburner Archives, we look back at our Photo of the Week from the end of May 2023, featuring the #Spacek SD-1 #Minisport.
Originally created as a personal project, that lightweight and efficient sport #aircraft is now flown by enthusiasts in several countries around the world.

Antonov An-225 Mriya — During its nearly seventy years of existence, the Soviet Union developed several exceptionally large aircraft. Only a few entered serial production, such as the Tupolev TB-3, the Antonov An-124 and th...

The #Antonov #An225 #Mriya is one of the most extraordinary #aircraft ever built. Developed by #AntonovDesignBureau in the 1980s, this massive, six-engine #TransportAircraft was created to support the #Soviet space programme and transport #Buran #spacecraft.

13 March 1977 – first flight of Sikorsky S-76 — On 13 March 1977, the prototype of the Sikorsky S-76 medium-size utility rotorcraft performed its first flight.

On 13 March 1977, the #Sikorsky #S76 took to the skies for the very first time. Today we mark the 49th #anniversary of that #MaidenFlight, which brought the beginning of a #helicopter that would go on to become one of the most recognizable twin-engine #rotorcraft in #CivilAviation.

NATO E-3A Sentry performs first AWACS mission in Finnish airspace — As reported by Allied Air Command (AIRCOM), during the first week of March a NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft conducted its first mission in Finnish airspace.

As reported by NATO Allied Air Command ( #AIRCOM ), during the first week of March a NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control System( #AWACS ) #aircraft conducted its first mission in #Finnish airspace.

Airbus A330 MRTT — Airbus A330-243 Multi Role Tanker Transport (c/n 1830, T-054 operated by Koninklijke Luchtmacht / the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force), exercise Lion Effort 2024, Čáslav, May 2024.

A #tanker, #transport #aircraft and #flying #hospital – all in one.
The #AirbusA330 #MRTT is one of the most #versatile #military aircraft in operation today, capable of #refuelling fighter jets in mid-air and carrying #cargo, #troops or #MedicalEvacuation modules.

Iconic Jumbo Jet joins Lufthansa’s 100th anniversary “XXL Crane” fleet — Founded on 6 January 1926, Lufthansa – Germany’s national airline and currently one of the world’s leading carriers – is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

In 2026, Lufthansa – Germany's national #airline and one of the world's leading carriers today – is celebrating its #100th #anniversary. To mark the occasion, several #aircraft have been given a #special 'XXL Crane' #livery, including the B747 jet.

#Monday #airshow photo from our collection:
This time, we´re looking back to 2012 to recall you the flying display of the #Sukhoi Su-22M4 from Siły Powietrzne / Polish Air Force, performed during SIAF - Medzinárodné letecké dni, Slovak International Air Fest at Sliač air base.

North American P-51D-30-NT Mustang — North American P-51D-30-NT Mustang (c/n 124-48248, OO-PSI, formerly NZ2406 of the Royal New Zealand Air Force), shortly after arrival to Hangar 3 / Classic Trainers association at Plzeň-Líně airfield,...

As every #Sunday, today we are revisiting one of our Photo of the Week articles from the archives. And this week, we are taking a look at the #legendary #NorthAmerican #P51D #Mustang ´Little Rebel´.

6 March 1936 – Avro Anson enters the RAF service — On 6 March 1936, Avro Anson, a new British twin-engine military aircraft, entered operational service with No. 48 Squadron of the Royal Air Force.

On 6 March 1936, #AvroAnson, a new #British #twinengine #military #aircraft, entered operational service with No. 48 Squadron of the #RoyalAirForce.
Originally designed as land-based aircraft for maritime reconnaissance, it was used for #training #bomber crews and as a transport #aeroplane:

DART AE – the hypersonic pioneer aircraft achieves first flight — On 27 February 2026, Hypersonix Launch Systems, the Brisbane-based company pioneering hypersonic flight technologies, successfully completed the maiden flight of its hypersonic unmanned aerial vehicle...

On 27 February 2026, the #DARTAE #hypersonic #technology #demonstrator #aircraft successfully completed its #firstflight, marking an important step forward for the programme led by the #Australian company Hypersonix Launch Systems.

Beechcraft King Air C90 — Beechcraft King Air C90 (c/n LJ-837, OK-DSH, operated by DSA a.s.), on static display during the 2017 edition of the Helicopter Show, Hradec Králové, May 2017.

Our new #PhotoOfTheWeek showcases the #Beechcraft #KingAirC90, a versatile #twinengine #turboprop #aircraft that is widely used for #civilian and #military #utility purposes #aroundtheworld.

Freedom Hawk 2026 – RAF training detachment deploys to Corsica — From early February 2026, and for the second consecutive year, Base aérienne 126 Solenzara (Air Base 126 Solenzara) hosted a Royal Air Force training detachment. The British deployment of eight Hawk T...

The Royal Air Force’s #FreedomHawk 2026 #training detachment has deployed to #Corsica as part of an #exercise aimed at enhancing #aircrew proficiency and #operational #readiness.
Read the full article for details on the units involved, the #training focus, and the broader context of the #deployment.

Our today's #Monday #Airshow #Photo captured during the International Air Fair 2019 in #Bydgoszcz, #Poland, shows an #ATR42 of the Firefly Airlines from #Malaysia presented at static display, offering visitors a closer look at one of the most recognisable regional #airliners in the world.

Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II — Pair of Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II (c/n 0665 and c/n 0687, respectively 81-0960 and 81-0992 of the 52nd Fighter Wing, United States Air Force), static display at Międzynarodowe Pokazy Lotn...

In keeping with our #Sunday tradition, we’re revisiting another Photo of the Week from our archives — a pair of Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II (#a10warthog) #aircraft from the 52nd Fighter Wing of the #USAF, photographed on static display at Air SHOW Radom 2009 in #Radom, #Poland.

27 February 1965 – first flight of Antonov An-22 — On 27 February 1965, prototype of the Antonov An-22 Antey, a heavy turboprop strategic transport aircraft (NATO reporting name: “Cock”), performed its maiden flight from Kyiv to Uzyn.

Today marks the 61st #anniversary of a significant moment in the #history of heavy #airtransport — on 27 February 1965, the #Antonov #An22 #Antey made its #maidenflight.
At the time of its debut, the Antey was the largest and heaviest #cargo #aircraft in the world.

Red Bull Train Landing Project – the world’s first landing and take-off with an aeroplane from a moving train — Dario Costa, an Italian aerobatic pilot and former Red Bull Air Race competitor, is widely recognised for accomplishing aviation feats that had never been achieved before. In 2021, he flew through two...

#RedBull #pilot #DarioCosta has achieved another #aviation #milestone by completing the world’s #first #landing on and #takeoff from a moving train with his #Edge540 #aerobatic #aircraft.
Read more:

Nakajima Ki-43-II Hayabusa — Nakajima Ki-43-II Hayabusa (c/n unknown; a replica built using original parts from an unknown number of wrecks), on display at Парк Победы (Victory Park) WWII memorial in Moscow, July 2017.

Light, agile and unmistakably distinctive — the #Nakajima #Ki43 #Hayabusa. Once one of the most important #fighters of the Imperial #Japanese Army Air Service during the #WWII, this #aircraft is the subject of our today's #PhotoOfTheWeek feature.

Hungary says farewell to its Mi-24 fleet — According to Hungarian aviation media, the country’s armed forces have just retired their fleet of Mil Mi-24 attack helicopters, effective in the first week of February 2026.

The wave of various, often iconic, #aircraft being retired from air forces around the world continues. Most recently, #Hungary bid farewell to its #Mi24 fleet, which for decades defined the combat helicopter capabilities of the country's air force.