A Delta Air Lines aircraft waits on the new taxiway at Los Angeles International Airport. The taxiway was added as part of the expansion of two of the north runways.
Credit: Marty Wolin/Moreno Valley, California
A Sikorsky S-61 firefighting helicopter drops water over a brush flare-up at the edges of the Post Fire near Gorman, California. "I shot many other helicopters there, but none with the intense flame," photographer Marty Wolin says. "Getting to the right location takes a lot of planning, luck, timing and intuition."
Credit: James Reeder/Palmdale, California
Boom Technology's XB-1 returns to the Mojave Air and Space Port following a sixth successful test flight. On this mission, it reached a new altitude of 20,000 ft., completed a flutter excitation system (FES) test at Mach 0.65 and demonstrated successful FES operation in flight. The XB-1 is expected to approach supersonic flight this year.
Credit: Martin Boschhuizen/Gorinchem, Netherlands
A KLM Boeing 777 returns home after a transatlantic journey. "A view like this is only for those who wake up very early to catch the sunrise in May," photographer Martin Boschhuizen says.
Credit: Matt Hughes/Exeter, England
A Chilean Air Force de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter banks after departing the British Antarctic Survey's Rothera Research Station Skyway in Antarctica.
Credit: Isaac Mekary/The Gables, New South Wales, Australia
Qantas' fourth Boeing 787-9, painted with a special Yam Dreaming livery inspired by the art of Indigenous Australian artist Emily Kame Kngwarreye, leaves its gate and begins its taxi toward the runway.
Credit: Marty Wolin/Moreno Valley, California
A Coulson Aviation firefighting Boeing 737 drops flame retardant over the Nixon Fire in Anza, California, in front of billowing smoke clouds.
Credit: Ashley Askew/Hampton, Georgia
This Kalitta Air Boeing 747, in classic livery, lands at Los Angeles International Airport amid night lights. Freight flights run around the clock, especially as the busy holiday shipping season approaches.
Credit: Ashley Askew/Hampton, Georgia
After an evening of wind shear and storms, the calm finally returned to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, with this patiently waiting Delta Airlines Boeing 757 reflecting the apron lights.
From firefighting helicopters to supersonic test planes, these are the editors' picks from Aviation Week's 2024 Commercial Aviation Photo Contest.
