Author: FlyMarshall Newsroom

Japan reports two ‘lock on’ incidents near Okinawa as advanced radar technology blurs the line between routine tracking and a hostile threat. Here’s everything you need to know. Japan has lodged a formal protest with China after two Chinese Navy J-15 fighter jets, operating from the aircraft carrier Liaoning, repeatedly conducted radar lock-on against Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-15s flying air defense identification zone (ADIZ) missions southeast of Okinawa on Dec. 6, 2025. According to the Ministry of Defense, the incidents occurred twice within a three-hour window and is considered a dangerous act well beyond what is necessary to ensure…

EXTRA PERKS AVAILABLE Enjoy breakfast, upgrades, and more Want to be able to self-book luxury hotel stays with extra perks through TravelWits, at fordb.travelwits.com? Email [email protected] for the password. Generally speaking, the best way to book luxury hotels is through a travel advisor who has access to programs offering extra perks at properties. These perks can include things like upgrades, breakfast, a property credit, and more, all with competitive pricing. Historically there has been no way to self-book a vast majority of these kinds of rates online. That’s no longer the case, so for those who like self-booking (or who…

After leaving Hamburg in early 2024, the first PEGASUS returned to Germany to receive the dedicated Kalætron Integral SIGINT suite by Hensoldt. Germany’s first PEGASUS (Persistent German Airborne Surveillance System) SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) aircraft, based on the Bombardier’s Global 6500 business jet, was photographed at Hamburg airport on Dec. 4, 2025. The aircraft arrived there for the next phase of its transformation, with the installation of the dedicated Kalætron Integral SIGINT suite by Hensoldt which will be carried out by Lufthansa Technik. According to flight tracking, the aircraft, registration N637HN, arrived in Hamburg directly from the Bombardier Flight Test Center…

I’m an airline product geek, and I like to keep an updated list of some of the best products out there, ranging from the best first class airlines, to the best business class airlines, to the best business class lounges, to the best business class seats. In this post, I’d like to share my updated ranking of the world’s best first class lounges, to reflect the changes we’ve seen over time. First, I wanted to talk briefly about my method for ranking first class airline lounges, and then I’ll get into my rankings, with an explanation of each. Why you…

The world’s major air forces still rely heavily on long-range bombers for strategic missions, nuclear deterrence, and power projection. These aircraft remain some of the most complex and expensive machines ever built, and each one reflects decades of national doctrine, engineering investment, and operational experience. Although drones and hypersonic missiles increasingly shape modern doctrine, major air forces continue to rely on large bombers because of their flexibility and ability to carry heavy or oversized munitions across intercontinental distances. This list looks at the most capable bombers flown today by the United States, China, and Russia. The ranking considers range, payload,…

An important part of data collection for the United States space program, the North American X-15 had astonishing performance utilizing the technology of the 1950s and 60s. The North American X-15 was built for one purpose – high speeds at high altitudes. An important part of data collection for the United States space program, the rocket-powered bullet-shaped research aircraft had astonishing performance utilizing the technology of the 1950s and 60s. Often overshadowed by other space programs, the X-15 provided crucial information on how space travel would affect astronauts and their spacecraft, with many of the aircraft’s test pilots becoming qualified…

On December 5, 2025, the United States Air Force received its first T-7A Red Hawk, which was originally assigned to the Air Education and Training Command. The jet landed at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph before being integrated into the 12th Flying Training Wing’s 99th Flying Training Squadron. The aircraft will soon become a critical piece of the Air Force’s combat training systems. The arrival of this aircraft marks the first step of the operational plan to continue developing the Advanced Pilot Training System’s capabilities. The aircraft is meant to replace the aging T-38C Talon and better prepare pilots for fifth-…

The unmatched mix of fuel efficiency, operational flexibility, and improved passenger comfort that revolutionized long-haul travel has made the Boeing 787 Dreamliner the most commercially successful widebody aircraft in aviation history. The 787’s performance indicated that investment in creative, high-risk “clean sheet” technology may fundamentally disrupt the aviation business and achieve long-term competitive advantage. The significant use of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) composite materials and the construction of big, one-piece barrel sections are the most distinctive features of the Boeing 787’s fuselage design. The stronger, corrosion-resistant composite fuselage allows for a more pleasant cabin atmosphere with increased humidity, lower simulated altitude,…

Holiday Air Cargo Booking Tips for Forwarders If you’re locking in freight two weeks out in December and sleeping easy, sorry – the data would like a word. We dug through millions of holiday-season air cargo bookings on the Freightos platform, and the pattern is annoyingly consistent: December is the one month where “book early to be safe” quietly stops working. Same-week bookings? Pretty normal. The weirdness lives in long-lead bookings – anything more than a week out. Those are 2–3 percentage points more likely to get canceled in the run-up to Christmas than at other times of year. And…

Almost two years ago, Boeing’s 737 MAX program was almost struck with another disaster when an Alaska Airlines flight had to divert after a sudden blowout of an emergency exit door plug. Since then, Boeing has announced a “war on defects”, greatly improving its quality control regime to ensure that faulty Boeing 737 MAX aircraft don’t take to the skies, as reported by The New York Times. We revisit the Alaska Airlines incident and the resulting quality control developments below. We then cover other changes made to improve Boeing’s working culture and simplify manufacturing processes. Boeing hopes that these steps…