Author: FlyMarshall Newsroom

The secret is out: more people are flying private, and they’re doing it in record numbers. According to the latest tracking data, global business jet activity is climbing to unprecedented levels, fueled by corporate demand, fractional programs, and private travelers. WingX, a data analytics company that specializes in tracking and analyzing business aviation activity worldwide, reports that business jets logged more than 232,000 flights this month through September 25, an 11% increase compared to the same timeframe last year.   That figure already makes this September one of the busiest months ever, with the final tally expected to climb higher once…

LONDON — Russia is selling military equipment and technology to China that could help Beijing prepare an airborne invasion of Taiwan, according to an analysis of leaked Russian documents by a U.K.-based defense and security forum.The Royal United Services Institute’s analysis is based on around 800 pages of documents, including contracts and lists of equipment to be supplied by Moscow to Beijing, from the Black Moon hacktivist group, which previously published some of the documents online. It does not identify its members but describes itself in a manifesto as opposed to governments that carry out aggressive foreign policy.The authors of…

Today the IAF phased out the MiG-21 Bison after a 62-year-long career, spanning two thirds of the air force’s total lifespan. The MiG-21 is often thought of as synonymous with the Indian Air Force, being the largest user of the aircraft outside of the Soviet Union itself, with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) domestically producing around 600 fighters of the 872 aircraft that were inducted into the IAF between 1966 and 1980. It was the IAF’s first supersonic jet fighter and by far the longest serving in the service, being the backbone of the fleet from its induction in 1963 until…

On January 29, 2025, we saw a devastating accident near Washington National Airport (DCA), whereby an Army Sikorsky UH-60 helicopter collided with an American Eagle CRJ-700, leading to 67 fatalities. This is the first crash of a US airliner since 2009, and it’s just horribly tragic. As you’d expect, airline crashes typically lead to lawsuits, and the first such suit from the family members of one of the deceased has just been filed. What I find interesting is which parties are being sued, since it’s not necessarily what you’d expect. Family of American Eagle crash victim file federal lawsuit On Wednesday, September…

The Thai Air Force has ordered one Airbus A330 MRTT+, making it the first customer for the Airbus A330neo-based tanker/transport aircraft. The jet features both boom and hose-and-drogue refueling capabilities, a medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) kit, and a VIP cabin. Military conversions of the model began in 2026 at Airbus’ Getafe factory, with delivery currently scheduled for 2029. The MRTT+ brings Trent 7000 engines to the table, with aerodynamic tweaks and winglets offering 8% lower fuel burn over its predecessors. Stock Code AIR Business Type Planemaker Date Founded December 18, 1970 CEO Guillaume Faury Headquarters Location Toulouse, France The aircraft produces…

The two announcements highlight RTX’s parallel work on both air-breathing and solid rocket propulsion technologies through its businesses. RTX made two propulsion announcements on Sept. 24, 2025, highlighting the company’s involvement in both air-breathing and rocket technologies through its businesses. Pratt & Whitney revealed that it has completed critical tests on its small turbofan engine family, while Raytheon announced the acceleration of the Mk 104 dual-thrust rocket motor’s production. Pratt & Whitney Unlocks More Thrust for Collaborative Combat Aircraft Pratt & Whitney completed a series of critical tests on its family of small turbofan engines, which are intended for use…

By Bjorn Fehrm and Henry Tam September 26, 2025, ©. Leeham News: We do a series about ideas on how the long development times for large airliners can be shortened. New project talks about cutting development time and reaching certification and production faster than previous projects.. The series will discuss the typical development cycles for an FAA Part 25 aircraft, called a transport category aircraft, and what different ideas there are to reduce the development times. We will use the Gantt plan in Figure 1 as a base for our discussions. Figure 1. A generic new Part 25 airliner development…

Almost every aviation enthusiast at one point or another has wanted to be a commercial pilot, and those who commit to flying as a career are often rewarded with a high-paying career that also allows them to command the very aircraft that we all admire. Generally, commercial pilots are thought of as being airline pilots, but this isn’t necessarily true. Airline pilots specifically hold an ATPL, while a commercial pilot’s license allows the certificate holder to be compensated for flying. In other words, a CPL permits a pilot to fly for a job. All ATPL holders are commercial pilots, but…

In the ongoing roller coaster of defense budgets for 2026, a new development has emerged courtesy of the US Air Force and The War Zone. Specifically, the most recent development regard business jets being outfitted as aerial tankers to aid in the ongoing push to recapitalize the tanker fleet. The idea may sound strange, but it isn’t a foreign one to the world’s largest air force. The hundreds-strong fleet of aerial tankers is aging due to the bulk of the force being mid-century Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-10 Extenders. The USAF already operates a number of Gulfstream and Bombardier-based “bizjet”…

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has become the launch customer of the Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport Plus (MRTT+).  The A330 MRTT+, based on the A330neo, will be delivered with both hose-and-drogue and boom refueling systems, a medical evacuation kit, and a VVIP cabin for state transport. Conversion is scheduled to begin in 2026 at Airbus’s Getafe site in Spain, with delivery expected in 2029.  “Thailand’s selection of the A330 MRTT+ underlines the trust placed in this platform, while embracing the next evolution in efficiency, capability and sustainability,” said Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and…