Aircraft & Propulsion

Long-endurance Pipistrels; hybrid certification advances; fuel cell propulsion testing; and 3D-printed hydrogen tank.

Marking a significant step on the long road to certification, Boeing’s 777-9 test fleet has expanded to include WH004.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) is showcasing a new counter-uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) role for its MQ-1C Gray Eagle

Stratolaunch is shifting its focus to its 747 launch platform after successful repeat flights of the first autonomous, fully reusable hypersonic test aircraft.

A new bill supported by Boom aims to change U.S. legislation and permit supersonic over land flight above Mach 1, provided no sonic boom reaches ground.

Resupplying distributed forces in the face of adversary attacks on supply chains presents new challenges.

Approval by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency in 2028 could align auspiciously with Comac’s planned C919 production ramp-up.

The timeline for Clean Aviation relies on 2035 for service entry to enable the replacement of 75% of the fleet with more sustainable aircraft by 2050.

Roadable aircraft advances; U.S.-sourced drone batteries; oversize cargo for defense; and electric jet engine.

As European startups struggle to raise cash, Heart Aerospace moves from Sweden to Los Angeles.

Hinetics’ power-dense superconducting motor eliminates the need for cryogenic fluids.

The Trump administration’s fiscal 2026 budget request threatens to cut NASA programs that focus on green aviation.

In addition to provisions affecting aerospace, the deal also grants relief to UK sectors that had been facing steeper rates—aluminum, steel, and cars.

The European Commission plans to impose tariffs on Boeing imports into the European Union, should the trade dispute with the U.S. not be settled.

NASEM's report lays out a set of research priorities for NASA to help achieve its goal of reducing aviation-induced cloudiness and persistent contrails.

Will JetZero's blended-wing body passenger jet become a reality? Our editors weigh in.

Airbus and GIFAS note that the high proportion of new employees is partly responsible for the sustained drop in productivity.

An interim Air Force One and SpaceX-modified Marine One are among the early Trump administration changes to the U.S. military’s VIP fleet.

Leonardo has established a new aeronautics division, consolidating the company’s fixed-wing crewed aircraft, aerostructures and UAS work under one roof.

Northrop Grumman says an advanced inertial navigation device that could pave the way for precise hypersonic flight guidance in GPS-denied environments has flown successfully on Stratolaunch’s recently confirmed Talon-A Mach 5-plus test flights.

MTU Aero Engines is working on re-arranging logistics flows between its existing facilities and with partners to minimize the impact of U.S.-imposed tariffs.

Superconducting motor runs; Electrifying two-seater; Hybrid hydrogen eVTOL; Hydrogen-powered turnaround.

It will enable the startup’s WM2500 2-megawatt-class electric propulsion system to be tested driving the fan module from a Honeywell LF507-1F geared turbofan.

Joby achieved a major feat in its eVTOL development program late last month when its S4 air taxi made the first piloted transition between vertical hover and forward cruise.