Author: FlyMarshall Newsroom

The two new Kaan airframes are scheduled to begin testing in 2026, while Turkey is also developing its own engine to replace U.S.-made powerplants used by the prototypes. The second and third prototypes of Turkey’s Kaan fighter, named P1 and P2, have now been spotted in a recent official video covering the visit of Dr. Haluk Görgün, president of the Defence Industry Agency (Savunma Sanayii Başkanlığı – SSB) to the facilities of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI/TUSAŞ). We had previously reported in September 2025 that the second prototype, P1, had been captured in another official video of Turkey’s military veterans organization…

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has publicly questioned whether the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) can still deliver a jointly developed next-generation fighter jet, pointing to what he described as a growing mismatch between French and German operational requirements. In an interview on the political podcast Machtwechsel, Merz said the program faces “a real problem” with its requirements profile, warning that if the issue cannot be resolved, “then we cannot sustain the project.” Merz argued that France needs the next-generation aircraft to be both nuclear-capable and carrier-capable, requirements that the Bundeswehr does not currently share. He raised the question of whether…

BERLIN — Germany does not want to pursue nuclear weapons of its own, but is interested in incorporating French and British atomic bombs in a deterrence arrangement reminiscent of NATO’s U.S.-based nuclear umbrella, according to Chancellor Friedrich Merz.“I don’t want Germany to consider developing its own nuclear weapons,” Merz said in the Machtwechsel podcast, published online on Wednesday. It was the first major interview the chancellor gave this year. Instead, Merz suggested seeing whether France and the U.K. could be elevated to the same level as the U.S. nuclear umbrella to shield Europe and ensure NATO’s territorial integrity.“As with the…

Virgin Atlantic and WestJet have just rolled out loyalty reciprocity, something that I’m excited about on the surface. However, the single thing that I was most hoping for doesn’t seem to be terribly useful in practice. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club & WestJet Rewards partnership Virgin Atlantic and WestJet have a partnership, and it has just been expanded, with new loyalty reciprocity. The idea is that members of both programs can earn and redeem rewards for travel on the other airline. For those wondering about the logic of this partnership, keep in mind that Virgin Atlantic recently resumed Toronto (YYZ) flights,…

Here’s a topic I get questions about every so often, which I think makes for an interesting discussion… Making sense of airlines and their differing safety policies The airline industry is heavily regulated across the globe in terms of safety. Many aviation authorities are on the same page when it comes to rules, and there are some minimum safety policies you’ll find across the board. For example, virtually every airline requires passengers to put their phone in airplane mode while inflight, requires exit row passengers to acknowledge that they’re willing and able to assist in the event of an emergency,…

Air Astana has completed its order for up to 15 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft as Kazakhstan’s flag carrier moves to modernize its widebody fleet and expand long-haul operations. The deal, finalized on February 17, 2026, is currently the largest single aircraft purchase in Air Astana’s history. Combined with three additional 787-9s to be delivered through leasing arrangements, the airline’s Dreamliner fleet will reach 18 aircraft once all deliveries are complete. Strategic expansion plans The order builds on a commitment Air Astana announced in November 2025, reflecting the airline’s long-term growth strategy for operations from Central Asia. CEO Peter Foster described…

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has publicly questioned whether the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) can still deliver a jointly developed next-generation fighter jet, pointing to what he described as a growing mismatch between French and German operational requirements. In an interview on the political podcast Machtwechsel, Merz said the program faces “a real problem” with its requirements profile, warning that if the issue cannot be resolved, “then we cannot sustain the project.” Merz argued that France needs the next-generation aircraft to be both nuclear-capable and carrier-capable, requirements that the Bundeswehr does not currently share. He raised the question of whether…

Slovakia is in discussions with the United States to purchase an additional four F-16V (Block 70/72) fighter jets, a potential follow-on buy that would expand Bratislava’s planned Viper fleet from 14 to 18 aircraft. Prime Minister Robert Fico publicly raised the prospect after a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Bratislava on February 15, 2026, arguing that extra aircraft would help Slovakia move away from reliance on allied air policing. Air policing and MiG-29 replacement Lockheed Martin Slovakia ordered 14 F-16 Block 70/72 aircraft in 2018 to replace its Soviet-era MiG-29s, but the transition has taken longer…

Ever wonder how anti-seize lube works for airplane spark plugs? It’s not uncommon for airplane spark plugs to feature a thin layer of anti-seize lube. Spark plugs, of course, aren’t limited to automobiles. Nearly all airplanes with reciprocating engines use them as well. Understanding Spark Plugs Spark plugs provide the initial spark needed for combustion. Reciprocating engines have rods or “pistons” that move and down. During downstrokes, the piston draws fuel and air into the engine’s cylinder via an intake valve. As the valve closes, the piston moves up to compress the mixture. Spark plugs are designed to ignite the…

The Pentagon is looking for cheap commercial satellites that can maintain surveillance on other satellites in orbit, including close-range inspections, according to a Defense Innovation Unit solicitation published Tuesday.The Geosynchronous High-Resolution Optical Space-Based Tactical Reconnaissance project — also referred to as “Ghost Recon” (as in the Tom Clancy novels and video games) — is intended to address a vulnerability in America’s space-monitoring capabilities.The problem is that DOD “lacks sufficient satellites capable of providing high-resolution space-to-space imagery and maintaining custody of both friendly and adversarial satellites in geosynchronous orbit (GEO),” according to the solicitation.Hence, the Pentagon is looking for commercial satellites…