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Magazine Issue

Aviation Week & Space Technology, October 5, 2026

VOL. 188 NO. 39 October 05, 2026
starship flight 14 image on Oct. 5, 2026, digital cover of Aviation Week & Space Technology

On its first orbital test run, Flight 14, SpaceX's Starship-Super Heavy managed two orbits of the Earth and deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites. The mission was a decade in the making.

Credit: SpaceX

SPACE

Starship taking off
article

On Flight 14, SpaceX Starship Reaches Orbit

Oct 02, 2026
After a decade in development, SpaceX’s Starship-Super Heavy transport reaches orbit for a test run.
Soldiers at computers at NATO Space Operations Center
article

NATO Seeks Alliance-Wide Military Space Contributions

Oct 01, 2026
For years, space has been a key enabler for NATO members. Now the alliance wants to make sure it becomes a supported—not supporting—operational area.

DEFENSE

concept art of person standing in front of F/A-XX
article

Boeing’s F/A-XX Win Leads Broader Carrier Air Wing Renewal

Oct 02, 2026
Boeing’s victory caps a two-month series of U.S. Navy disclosures that transform the vision for the future carrier air wing.
F/A-XX
videos

Podcast: Breaking Down Boeing's Big F/A‑XX Win

Sep 30, 2026
Editors react to Boeing being announced as the winner of the U.S. Navy's F/A-XX contest ahead of Northrop Grumman and share their impressions of the next-generation tactical combat aircraft's design after a new rendering was released.
missile launching
article

U.S. Army Creates High-Low Mix In Long-Range Strike Inventory

Oct 02, 2026
As the Army fields a full lineup of exquisite munitions, a parallel effort is creating a complementary inventory of affordable long-range alternatives.
Boeing T-7 aircraft
article

How The U.S. Air Force Finally Met Its Pilot Training Goal

Oct 01, 2026
For the first time in 35 years, the U.S. Air Force will train more than 1,500 pilots, although a shortage will remain.
Lockheed Blackbird SR-71 flying
article

NASA Asked Several Former SR-71A Staffers To Help Secret Restart

Sep 29, 2026
Nearly 27 years after the final Blackbird flight, NASA quietly launched a project last summer to return an SR-71A to flight.
SR-71A
videos

Podcast: The Case Of The Missing Blackbird

Sep 25, 2026
A special Lockheed SR-71A has gone missing after being displayed in front of a NASA facility for more than 26 years. Meanwhile, the NASA administrator is dropping hints that a new X-plane is in the works that happens to look a lot like a Blackbird. What's going on here?

COMMERCIAL AVIATION

Airbus A350F flying
article

Airbus And Boeing Advance Reset Of Big Freighter Lineup

Oct 02, 2026
The Airbus A350F has started its flight-test campaign, and the Boeing 777-8F will soon follow. The two aircraft may benefit from substantial pent-up demand.
United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX at airport gate
article

Boeing And FAA Grapple With 737 MAX Software Issue

Oct 02, 2026
Operators are avoiding 737 MAX flight management software with a known issue while the FAA weighs how to address the problem fleetwide.
ATR 72 cabin
article

Regional Airlines Confront Challenges And Eye Opportunities

Sep 30, 2026
North American regional airlines are recovering from pandemic lows, facing pilot shortages and exploring new tech to meet demand for underserved small communities.
exterior of Charles de Gaulle Airport
article

Climate Scrutiny Intensifies On Europe’s Airport Expansion Plans

Sep 29, 2026
Planned airport infrastructure investments in Europe highlight the gap between emissions targets and projected flight growth.

MILITARY SPACE

four U.S. military officers in chairs next to suited man by podium at conference
article

Pentagon Space-Based Target Tracking Constellations Take Shape

Oct 02, 2026
The U.S. Space Force is launching the first operational air moving target indicator satellites. Is the warfighter ready to use them?
falcon 9 launching
article

Podcast: What's The Buzz In Space Beyond Weapons—Earth Observation And Launch Laments

Sep 29, 2026
Editors reflect on what we learned at AFA on space and the Iran war, as well as launch concerns for the Space Force and how that resonates with what we heard at World Space Business Week.

TECHNOLOGY

Bye Aerospace eFlyer 2 full-scale prototype
article

The Week In Technology, Sept. 28-Oct. 2, 2026

Sep 28, 2026
Electric trainer flies; large cargo UAS takes shape; clean-sheet aerial firefighter flies; and Europe’s energy-dense aviation battery.

COLUMNS AND OPINION

Boom Supersonic overland flight
article

Opinion: Proposed FAA Rule For Overland Supersonic Flights Misses Mark

Oct 02, 2026
The FAA’s proposed rule seems more likely to create a boom market for regulatory gaming than to drive real technological progress.