Author: FlyMarshall Newsroom

The Antonov An-225 Mriya stands as one of the most ambitious engineering feats in aviation history, conceived during the Cold War to meet highly specialized mission requirements. From the outset, its designers faced challenges far beyond those of conventional transport aircraft: unprecedented payload targets, unusual mission profiles, and structural considerations that pushed the limits of aeronautical design. These demands shaped every aspect of the aircraft, especially its propulsion system. Understanding why the An-225 ended up with its distinctive six-engine layout requires exploring the design environment in which it was created. Factors such as available engine technology, mission flexibility, and aerodynamic…

It’s been almost a century since Lufthansa was first founded. Its history traces back to 1926, when the original Deutsche Luft Hansa was created through the merger of Deutscher Aero Lloyd and Junkers Luftverkehr. That airline operated as Germany’s flag carrier until the Second World War and was later dissolved. The modern Lufthansa emerged in the 1950s, after Luftag acquired the name, the crane logo, and the blue-and-yellow colors of the original carrier. Next year, the airline will mark 100 years since its founding, and to commemorate the milestone it will introduce a special anniversary livery across six of its…

The United States of America has the largest defense industrial base in the world, and a major element of that is the aerospace industry, which produces the finest combat aircraft anywhere on the planet. To support America’s allies around the world, a very large number of fighter jets are exported to partner nations that lack their own domestic industrial capacity. There are other ally nations such as Turkey, Korea, and Japan that produce aircraft domestically under license from American companies like Boeing, General Dynamics, or Lockheed Martin. At the same time, there are still others that either cannot or do…

The Boeing 747 is perhaps the most famous subsonic airliner of all time. With its distinctive partial upper deck, four engines, and historical provenance, the 747 is an icon of aviation. Boeing has produced the 747 in six major variants: the 747-100, 747-200, 747-300, 747-400, 747-8, and 747SP, with 1,573 examples sold across 55 years of production. Within each variant came a set of subvariants, typically including a cargo and short-range model for each series. Most of the 747 variants follow a straightforward line of progression, with each being more capable than the last. The 747-400 introduced technological advancements and…

Saudi Arabia’s explosive growth in commercial aviation is set to increase further with the revelation that it is planning to launch three additional airlines in the coming years. The new carriers form part of the kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan, and its ambitious goals of reaching 150 million annual visitors by the end of the decade. These would operate alongside the four existing Saudi carriers, each of which already has massive growth plans with substantial aircraft order books. Details about the three new airlines are still limited, but it is anticipated that one will be based in Dammam on the Gulf…

New Zealand’s flag carrier and largest airline has released a travel alert, following the proposed industrial action expected by cabin crew on Monday, December 8. Currently, Air New Zealand has been notified by unions E tū and FAANZ (Flight Attendants’ Association of New Zealand Incorporated) that represent thousands of the airline’s cabin crew of their intention to strike. Strike action is currently proposed to affect the carrier’s regional fleets (De Havilland Canada Dash 8-300 and ATR 72-600) between 05:00 am and 11:00 pm on December 8, which may cripple the airline’s extensive domestic network. These aircraft are responsible for offering…

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has begun a new phase in its long-running effort to modernize the US’s air traffic control infrastructure, issuing a request for information (RFI) for what it calls the Common Automation Platform (CAP). The initiative is aimed at replacing the two major systems now used to manage flights in US airspace with a single automated system.  The FAA says it is seeking industry input on how the agency could transition away from technologies known as En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) and the Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS). ERAM is the primary tool used at air route traffic control centers, while STARS supports controllers…

Emirates, the Dubai-based carrier, has made it clear that it wants larger planes. At the Dubai Airshow 2025 the airline even asked Boeing to conduct a feasibility study for a potential larger member of the 777X family, the 777-10. It has also been reported that Emirates is asking Airbus to make a larger A350. Of course, there is seemingly a simple and immediate solution. Tens of Airbus A380s are in storage around the world, with many being lined up to be scrapped. On the sidelines of the Dubai Airshow, Emirates’ CEO, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, told Simple Flying…

United Parcel Service Inc. and FedEx Corp. are working to secure enough freighters as they grapple with a ban on a pillar of their air-cargo fleets through the crucial holiday delivery season, and potentially beyond. An indefinite grounding of the workhorse MD-11 jet is in place as investigators probe why an engine tore off a […] source

It is often the case that most long-haul international airlines have three or four cabin classes and have traditionally offered economy, business class, and first class as a minimum. A premium economy has been introduced at some airlines to meet passenger demand. Business class has become somewhat redefined in recent years, but first class seems to be falling out of favor. One could suggest that airlines don’t make much money from first class ticket sales but put in a significant investment into creating a first class cabin. Is there no more need for the first class cabin, and is business…