Author: FlyMarshall Newsroom

The YFQ-44A has carried out its first captive carry evaluations with an inert AIM-120 AMRAAM missile as the U.S. Air Force entered the weapons integration testing phase of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program. On Feb. 23, 2026, the U.S. Air Force released the first photo of an Anduril’s YFQ-44A Fury “fighter drone” carrying an AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile) during an undated captive carry test. The test was conducted as part of the weapons integration phase of the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, which employs inert munitions to methodically validate integration, structural performance, and safety, ensuring the…

The 2026 edition of the FAA-EASA International Aviation Safety Conference will take place from June 16-18 at the Westfield Marriott Washington Dulles, Chantilly, USA. The theme of the conference this year is Safety Together: Innovation, Integration and Trust. This 3 day global forum will feature keynote speeches, flash talks and panel discussions involving high level representatives from EASA and the FAA, as well as other aviation authorities, aviation associations and industry to address a range of important safety topics. For more information follow this link to the event page hosted by the conference organisers American Association of Airport Executives (FAA-EASA International Aviation…

When artists have big tours, it’s not uncommon to see them travel in private jets, or in some cases, even charter commercial aircraft. After all, a lot of people and a huge amount of equipment has to be moved. However, chartering an Airbus A380 isn’t something you often see… but that’s exactly what’s happening right now, if rumors are to be believed, as flagged by PYOK! Qantas A380 operates intriguing Sao Paulo to Sydney charter flight On Sunday, February 22, 2026, a Qantas Airbus A380 flew from Sydney (SYD) to Sao Paulo (GRU). Specifically, the 14hr49min flight departed at 10:28PM…

As any aviation geek can attest to, sometimes the journey can be even more fun than the destination. Over the years there are many flights I’ve been tempted to take simply because they seem “cool,” for a variety of reasons. Anyway, in this post I’d like to share what I consider to be the most interesting avgeek flights out there. I’d love to hear what other avgeek flights OMAAT readers find interesting as well. In no particular order… The United Airlines island hopper While you could fly nonstop from Honolulu to Guam in just over seven hours on a 777,…

During the latest mission from Edwards AFB, the pilot aboard the F-22 directed the MQ-20 to perform tactical maneuvers, adjust waypoints, fly Combat Air Patrol profiles, and execute simulated threat engagement tasks. The U.S. Air Force and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. carried out a new autonomy demonstration involving an F-22 Raptor equipped with the latest government reference autonomy software and MQ-20 Avenger unmanned aircraft, GA-ASI announced in a public statement. While details have not been disclosed, the test, which was carried out recently, took place out of Edwards Air Force Base, California, and focused on validating MUMT (manned-unmanned teaming)…

The fastest business jet of 2026 combines record-setting performance with refined comfort that transforms private travel. Luxury meets speed as redefining Mach performance pairs with a first look inside an ultra-modern cabin. Engineering the future of private aviation now supports bespoke interiors that function as offices in the clouds. According to Fortune Business Insights, the worldwide business jet market is projected to expand by $21.67 billion between 2026 and 2034. Rising demand reflects leaders prioritizing time savings, privacy, and consistent long-range travel flexibility. You may be exploring charter access, fractional programs, or ownership as faster aircraft reset expectations. Understanding speed…

Nowadays I don’t seek out airline elite status the same way that I used to in the past. While I still think there’s huge value to earning airline miles, the value of status simply isn’t there in the way that it used to be, at least not consistently — upgrades are tougher to come by, premium cabins are often priced more reasonably in cash, and all the while airlines have (mostly) made status harder to earn.That being said, in recent years, I’ve started pursuing Air France-KLM Flying Blue elite status, as I think it’s a super fun program. I’ve qualified…

GA-ASI has named its YFQ-42 Collaborative Combat Aircraft as Dark Merlin, a small, fierce falcon species which hunts other falcons while collaborating in groups. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) has announced on Feb. 23, 2026, the decision to name Dark Merlin its YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). The selection of the name of a specific falcon species has been motivated by its characteristics which reflects the ones of CCAs.GA-ASI has named its YFQ-42 Collaborative Combat Aircraft as Dark Merlin, a small, fierce falcon species which hunts other falcons while collaborating in groups.The YFQ-42 In fact, dark merlins are a small…

In the past, I’ve written a post comparing the major hotel loyalty programs, sharing what I view as the pros and cons of each. There are various factors to consider, ranging from a hotel group’s global footprint, to elite recognition, to the points earning structure. For many people, the single most valuable perk of hotel elite status is upgrades to suites. In this post, I want to compare the suite upgrade policies of the “big four” hotel loyalty programs, to determine which is best. Comparing hotel loyalty program suite upgrade policies Who doesn’t love a suite upgrade? I mean, it…

The Adaptable Communications Suite will allow the B-2A Spirit to operate efficiently within the Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control environment. Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has announced that a B-2A Spirit stealth bomber of the U.S. Air Force has flown for the first time with the Adaptable Communications Suite (ACS) 4.0. The milestone is part of the ongoing modernization of the platform, meant to ensure the B-2 is ready to meet evolving mission requirements. The development follows the announcement last year of new communication and survivability upgrades. At the time, the service mentioned an upgraded beyond-line-of-sight satellite communications capability, without…