Sat.Mar 22, 2025

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Test Pilot Dies In Jet Warbird Air Show Crash

AV Web

A well-known South African test pilot was killed in the crash of a vintage jet fighter at an air show there on Saturday. “It is with profound sadness that the organizers of the West Coast Airshow confirm a fatal accident involving James O’Connell, a highly skilled and respected test pilot from South Africa,” the statement said. “Mr O’Connell was performing a routine display intended to demonstrate the capabilities of the Impala Mark 1 – a beloved warbird with

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Confirmed: Korean Air To Ink Deal With Boeing For 20 777-9s & 20 787-10s

Simple Flying

Korean Air is set to close a $32.7 billion contract with Boeing and GE Aerospace , which would greatly expand the airline's fleet and boost its position in the global aviation market. The agreement, which includes a major purchase of Boeing aircraft and GE engines, was announced on March 21 during South Korea's Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Dukgeun Ahn's visit to Washington, D.C.

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What Are The Best Airport Lounges In The United States?

One Mile at a Time

Theres no denying that the general standard of airport lounges in the United States isnt great. If you think of airport lounges, you might think of crowded rooms with outdated furniture, stale snack mix, and cheap chardonnay. Fortunately not all lounges are created equal, so in this post I want to share some of my favorite airport lounges in the United States.

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Here's Where American Airlines Will Deploy Its Boeing 787s Fitted With New Business Class

Simple Flying

American Airlines has received a lot of criticism for falling behind compared to legacy peers Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. The Dallas-based carrier has failed to invest in its premium offering to maintain competitiveness, leading to poor financial performance and brand value compared to full-service rivals. However, the carrier seems to be focused on turning itself around.

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CAF Airbase Georgia Warbirds Set to Soar in 2025 Air Shows and Events

Vintage Aviation News

PRESS RELEASE As spring arrives, the legendary warbirds of CAF Airbase Georgia are ready to take flight for a packed 2025 air show season, bringing history to life across the United States. From March through November, these meticulously restored World War II-era aircraft will be showcased at some of the nations most renowned aviation events, performing thrilling aerial demonstrations and offering visitors up-close encounters with historic military planes.

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What Is The Lifetime Of A Boeing 787 Dreamliner?

Simple Flying

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is one of the most revolutionary aircraft of the 21st century. The aircraft is the most recent clean sheet design from American aircraft manufacturer Boeing , and offers major improvements in passenger experience, efficiency, and environmental impact. The 787's compromise between lower capacity and impressive range has made it a versatile and popular aircraft that has become an integral part of airline fleets across the world.

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Shuttleworth Collection to Host Combat Veteran F4U-5NL Corsair at 2025 Festival of Flight

Vintage Aviation News

The Shuttleworth Collection has announced an exciting addition to its 2025 Festival of Flight lineupthe combat veteran Chance-Vought F4U-5NL Corsair from Flying Legends will be returning to the UK and making its debut at Shuttleworth across both days of the event. Photo by Nigel Hitchman Set against the picturesque backdrop of Bedfordshire, the 2025 Festival of Flight promises an unforgettable weekend filled with thrilling aerial displays, rich aviation history, and family-friendly entertainment

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American’s “More Room Throughout Coach” Era: What Does It Teach Us?

One Mile at a Time

Its common to see people complaining online about how bad legroom is on most airlines, when flying in economy. Thats fair enough, because in many cases, legroom is pretty bad. Sometimes youll see people respond to those complaints by pointing out something that American did at the start of the 2000s. Im not sure Ive ever specifically written about this, so I figure it makes for an interesting topic, as it also provides some valuable context on why the industry is the way it is.

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How Many Private Jets Does Jackie Chan Own?

Simple Flying

It is not a secret that many celebrities have their private jets. The protagonist of our article today is no exception. I bet you have all heard about him. Jackie Chan, the internationally acclaimed martial artist, actor, stuntman, and philanthropist from Hong Kong, in fact, is not only known for his impressive cinematic achievements with more than 150 movies in which he starred but also for his passion for aviation.

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Weekly Review: March 22, 2025

One Mile at a Time

I hope everyone is having a nice weekend so far! Im at home in Florida, spending time with family, and have no travel coming up anytime soon. That works out for me, since I had a busy start to the year, and have a couple more trip reports to catch up on. On the points & travel front, this week Air France unveiled its new La Premiere first class, Heathrow Airport closed due to a power outage, Avianca and TAP Air Portugal opened a lounge in Miami, Malaysia Airlines ordered more Boeing 737 MAXs

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This Is The Oldest Boeing 737 Passenger Plane Still Flying For An Airline

Simple Flying

Almost 12,000 Boeing 737s have been built since being introduced by Lufthansa in 1968. The narrow-bodied jets are primarily flown by Southwest Airlines, Ryanair, United Airlines, and American Airlines. Their popularity began with the enormous success of the -200 variant, which lengthened the original Boeing 737-100, giving airlines substantially more flexibility.

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New Delta Safety Video: A Hundred Years Of Safety

One Mile at a Time

Delta Air Lines has just unveiled its latest safety video , and its a special one, as it celebrates the carriers 100th anniversary (well, sort of airlines take some liberties with their anniversary celebrations, as the company factors in predecessors that eventually became Delta). Delta unveils 100th anniversary safety video With Delta celebrating its 100th year of flight, the airline is debuting a new safety video, entitled A Hundred Years of Safety.

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Southwest Airlines' Big Shift: All The Changes

Simple Flying

Southwest Airlines recently announced its latest major change with the abrupt ditching of its much-loved Two bags fly free policy. Its a move that CNBC described as a stunning reversal of a customer promise that set Southwest apart from rivals for more than half a century and will result in most customers getting charged for checked bags from May.

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The Pro Pilot Path

Plane and Pilot

The pro pilot path is not always a straight linelike that fancy magenta line on your moving mapbut the destination can be as fulfilling as the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. And if someone were to tell the young you that becoming a professional pilot would be one of the best, most rewarding, and highly respected jobs you could attain while ultimately earning well into the six figureswithout the decimal pointyoud probably run faster than my dog sprints to the kitchen when heari

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These Are Delta Air Lines' Airbus A330 Routes Within The Continental US

Simple Flying

Delta Air Lines is the world's largest airline by revenue and one of the largest in terms of fleet size and passenger carried. The airline operates various types of widebody aircraft for its long-haul operations, with the Airbus A330 being one of them. The airline operates a strong fleet of 75 Airbus A330s across all three passenger variants. The fleet comprises 11 A330-200s, 31 A330-300s, and 33 of the latest A330-900neos.

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IHG One Rewards Premier Business Card Review: Worth It For The Perks

One Mile at a Time

Link: Apply for the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card Hotel credit cards are incredibly underrated. Even if you dont spend much money on them, they can offer huge perks, including elite status and free night certificates. When you combine these two factors, a lot of these cards offer outsized value. In this post, I want to look at the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card , which is an awesome card thats nearly identical to IHGs personal premium card, the IHG One Rewards Premie

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United Airlines To Retire 21 Aircraft Early In 2025

Simple Flying

United Airlines chief executive officer Scott Kirby announced earlier this month at a Barclays industrial event that it plans to retire part of its fleet early in 2025, according to a report by ch-aviation. This decision comes as the Chicago-based airline anticipates lower-than-expected profitability results for the first quarter of the year.

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FedEx Orders Boeing 777 and ATR Aircraft, Delays MD-11 Retirements

Airline Geeks

FedEx Corp. has exercised options to purchase eight additional Boeing 777 freighters from Boeing and pushed back retirement of the tri-engine MD-11 fleet.

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Is Boeing Losing The Mid-Size Aircraft Market?

Simple Flying

Boeing was once the world's largest commercial airplane maker, but, now, that accolade has been taken by its rival, Airbus. Today, Boeing has one narrowbody body aircraft family, the Boeing 737 , and three widebody families in production, the 767, 787, and 777. However, there is a midsized gap that the Boeing 757 once filled.

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Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Lockheed CP-140 Aurora

Vintage Aviation News

On March 22, 1979, the Lockheed CP-140 Aurora took to the skies for the very first time. A maritime patrol aircraft used by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), the CP-140 is based on the Lockheed P-3 Orion, which serves a similar role in the United States Navy. While the airframes are similar, the key difference between the P-3 and the CP-140 lies in their electronics.

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These UK Routes Suffered The Most Disruptions This Winter

Simple Flying

Passengers flying on routes to and from the UK faced considerable disruption during the winter months at the end of 2024 and the start of 2025. Such issues can arise for a number of different reasons, be it congestion, understaffing, strikes, or even things that are out of airlines' and airports' hands, like the infamous British weather. Either way, such disruption can be a cause of frustration for passengers.

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French Air Force Tests A400M for Arctic Operations on Icy Runways in Canada and Greenland

The Aviationist

In late January and early March, the French Air and Space Force, with support from Canada and Denmark, conducted critical Arctic tests. Pilots and crews trained in extreme conditions, facing -30 to -40C, gaining a better understanding of operations on frozen runways in remote locations. The French Air and Space Force (Arme de l’Air et […] The post French Air Force Tests A400M for Arctic Operations on Icy Runways in Canada and Greenland appeared first on The Aviationist.

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This Is Why The Boeing 747 Made A Comeback At Delta Air Lines

Simple Flying

On April 23rd, 1977, US-based legacy carrier Delta Air Lines operated what many expected would be the last Boeing 747 flight ever flown by the company. The carrier, after a brief stint of operating early-generation Boeing 747-100 aircraft, had decided that the model was simply going to be too large to serve the company's needs. Delta was busy building a business model connecting secondary hubs like Atlanta (ATL) to destinations across the world, and the immense capacity of the Boeing 747-100 did

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What Went Wrong with the AH-56A Cheyenne Attack Helicopter

The Aviationist

Ahead of its time in performance and design, the Lockheed AH-56 seemed like a promising attack helicopter for the United States Army during the Vietnam War, but instead ended up on the chopping block. Gunship Success During Americas involvement in Vietnam, it was discovered that adding firepower to a Bell UH-1 Iroquois or Huey helicopter, […] The post What Went Wrong with the AH-56A Cheyenne Attack Helicopter appeared first on The Aviationist.

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Which Airlines Have Ordered The Most Airbus A321XLRs?

Simple Flying

The Airbus A321XLR has been one of the most hotly anticipated commercial aircraft in recent years, with the plane seen as emblematic of the modern trend that has seen airlines prioritize smaller and more efficient jets for their longer sectors. After an extensive flight testing program, the type finally entered service last year, and a second operator has also since put it into regular use.

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EU Defense White Paper: €150b Loan Proposed to Fuel Defense Spending, Close Capability Gaps

The Aviationist

A new white paper, commissioned by the European Union, identifies capability gaps and limitations across its member states and offers ways forward for European and global security. Europe faces an acute and growing threat is how the white paper, titled Joint White Paper for European Defence Readiness 2030, begins. At the forefront of concerns by […] The post EU Defense White Paper: 150b Loan Proposed to Fuel Defense Spending, Close Capability Gaps appeared first on The Aviationist.

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Electronic Warfare Evolution: The Grumman EA-6B Prowler & EA-18 Growler Compared

Simple Flying

When the US Navy needed a dedicated airborne electronic warfare (EW) aircraft to deploy with its carrier air wings at sea, Grumman delivered the EA-6B Prowler. Introduced in 1972, the EA-6B was a successor to the A-6, featuring a special configuration that included a host of electronic sensors designed for EW in various forms. The Prowler was so capable that the US Marines procured their own small fleet to support their expeditionary forces.

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President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Aircraft Heads to Florida With the CAF Tampa Bay Wing

Vintage Aviation News

As reported by the CAF on The FLY!, the Commemorative Air Force’s newsletter, the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Tampa Bay Wing has recently welcomed a new addition to its fleetan L-26B Aero Commander, famously known as Ike’s Bird. This 1955 aircraft was used by President Dwight D. Eisenhower for short trips around Washington, D.C., and holds the distinction of being the smallest aircraft ever to carry the Air Force One call sign.

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A Closer Look At The Delivery Process For A Private Jet

Simple Flying

There is no doubt that private aviation has boomed since the pandemic, when private jets were, for some, the only way to travel. They discovered how convenient it is to fly by private jet and the flexibility that it allows and never went back to commercial flying. The experience of traveling by private jet is like no other and saves time, which is a huge concern for business owners.

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How European Airlines Cater To Kids Onboard

Simple Flying

Air travel as a child is often exciting, with many avgeeks like you and me having first fallen in love with aviation at a young age having been lucky enough to fly in our infancy. This is, perhaps, not a sentiment that is necessarily shared by parents of young children, with the stress of traveling with their offspring potentially unlikely to outweigh any enjoyment that they may have otherwise derived from the joy of flying.

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What Are The Benefits Of AAdvantage Gold Status?

Simple Flying

Legacy carriers in the United States, such as American Airlines , have gradually grown their loyalty programs into advanced, complex, and multifaceted systems that not only generate a significant portion of the company's revenue but also offer extra benefits and perks to an airline's most loyal fliers. The American Airlines AAdvantage Loyalty Program offers one of the most elaborate elite status schemes on the market today, one which rewards frequent fliers and other high-spenders for their cont

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The Private Jets That Can Fly The Furthest

Simple Flying

Over the past few years, private jet manufacturers have continued to innovate with longer-range capabilities, and today they currently offer some of the most impressive long-range aircraft that have ever been on the market. These jets allow passengers to easily fly extensive distances between continents without the need to stop and refuel. At the top of this list sits the Bombardier Global 7500, which offers an impressive range of 7,700 nautical miles.

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FedEx Delays MD-11 Retirement To 2032 & Orders 8 Boeing 777Fs

Simple Flying

FedEx has postponed the retirement of the MD-11 tri-jet fleet from 2028 to 2032 and exercised its purchase options for eight more Boeing 777 freighters, as stated in its third-quarter financial report. The news comes alongside the cargo airlines latest order for ATR 72-600 turboprop freighters.

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Explored: Where The Lufthansa Group Is Deploying Its Wet Leased airBaltic Airbus A220s

Simple Flying

The Lufthansa Group and airBaltic relationship has expanded significantly over recent months. In September, the two parties announced they would be growing their wet lease partnership, with the Latvian carrier providing up to 21 Airbus A220 aircraft to Lufthansa Group airlines for the summer 2025 season.

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Why Is United Airlines Retiring 21 Aircraft Early?

Simple Flying

Earlier this year we put out a video on United Airlines fleet plan for the year. It came via an update to investors dated January 21st, 2025. However, since then, the airline has made the decision to retire 21 aircraft ahead of schedule. Why is this?

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Korean Air To Resume Boeing 747-8 Flights To London Heathrow This August

Simple Flying

Korean Air has made headlines in recent weeks. The carrier caused controversy earlier this month when it unveiled a new livery as part of its larger efforts to refresh the Korean brand. Now, the carrier is making other changes, but this time, to its long-haul schedule.

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Qatar Airways Adds 5 New European Routes To British Airways Codeshare

Simple Flying

Qatar Airways and British Airways have expanded their codeshare agreement, with the British carrier scheduling flights with the Qatari airlines designator codes on five new routes from London to various European cities.

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