Aviation

Part of innovation is the trial-and-error process, and sometimes, the results were the wackiest, unique-looking planes.

First, there were the Javelins and the NLAWs. But there’s another not-so-secret weapon wreaking havoc on the invading Russian forces in Ukraine, and that is the Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 armed drone.

The IDF announced that it had successfully intercepted two Iranian Shahed 197 UAVs last year with its F-35I ‘Adir’ (the Mighty One) stealth jets. It is the first time a F-35 anywhere in the world had destroyed a UAV.

After the U.S. has provided more than $1 Billion in weapons to Ukraine, it is now refusing to receive 29 Polish Mig-29s for Ukraine’s use, fearing that Russia will consider the U.S. an active party in the war.

NATO allies collectively rejected Ukraine’s request for a no-fly zone in Ukrainian air space as it would potentially lead to a full-fledged world war.

The largest cargo plane in the world, the Ukraine-made Antonov-225 Mriya (AN-225), has reportedly been destroyed by the Russians after an assault had taken place on Hostomel (or Gostomel) Airport near Kyiv as reported by Ukroboronprom on February 27. The plane named “Mriya,” or the “dream” in Ukrainian, has been a source of Ukrainian pride, especially with aviation enthusiasts who marvel at the sheer size and engineering of the plane.

A sad day for Ukrainians and fighter pilots around the world, Ukrainian Colonel Oleksandr Oksanchenko, known as one of the best fighter pilots in the world, was reportedly killed in an air battle during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

While the whole world looked to the Ukraine crisis, China has reasserted that Taiwan is part of their territory and proceeded to deploy 8 aircraft to Taiwanese ADIZ.

A day of unfortunate helicopter crashes: Two Utah National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters crashed in northern Utah at a ski resort. Another accident involving a Sikorsky S-61N crashed in a US Navy facility last Tuesday, leaving all passengers dead.

If there was one plane that became a “pilot’s favorite” during the Second World War, the A-20 Havoc made it to the top of the list.

A new B-21 Raider heavy bomber is now being built at Northrop Grumman’s Air Force Plant 41 located in Palmdale, California as confirmed by Air Force Maj. Gen. Jason R. Armagost.

The US and the UK have signed an agreement that enables the two countries to evaluate the possibility of cooperation on future vertical lift programs.