UK Confirms F-35Bs Shot Down Drones as New Defences are Deployed for RAF Akrotiri The UK MoD has confirmed that its F-35B Lightning stealth fighters engaged and destroyed drones over Jordan, as it announces additional protective measures for RAF Akrotiri. Story: theaviationist.com/2026/03/03/u...

15 Years Ago: Last Operational British Harrier Flights On Dec. 15, 2010, sixteen Harriers took off from RAF Cottesmore for a farewell formation flight marking the end to 41 years of British Harrier operations. Story: theaviationist.com/2025/12/15/1...

@kaigreet.bsky.social has a nice article on delivery of last QF-16. I subconsciously assumed Air Force had a bottomless supply of old fighter converted to target drones, but no--QF-4 retired 2016 and exactly 127 QF-16s were ordered, pretty recently (2012) at that! They won't last forever.

The low orbit (now at ~418km) of the #ISS space station creates a strong parallax effect. After stacking 📷 (thanks @huubeggen.bsky.social, @edde.bsky.social, @kaigreet.bsky.social), measuring the angular separation and using the observers' latitude, a height of 428km (+/- 20 km) was calculated.

Tonight's ISS pass. Last minute decision to go out for it, taking advantage of the (relatively) clear skies. #space #iss #astrophotography #photography

Recently re-elected independent Cornwall Councillor Dulcie Tudor apparently believes 2025 is the time for LGBTQ+ people to 'fuck off'. #lgbt #cornwall #pride

Since posting my pics of the PM's visit I'm reminded once again that we seem to be the only nation that gets pissed off that the people running the country don't always use commuter trains and flights for official visits

I'm losing my mind at "should be in the Channel" comments on posts about HMS Prince of Wales, which is, in fact, in the Channel right now. Maybe it says something about those commenting.

Prince of Wales CSG escorts operating in the Plymouth danger areas along with an RAF P-8 Poseidon. The carrier itself isn't broadcasting AIS, but you can be sure it's still hanging around here.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Sec of State for Defence John Healey arrive at RNAS Culdrose on board an Airbus A400M Atlas C1 this evening. They departed out to sea on an RN helicopter, presumably for a visit to HMS Prince of Wales.

Keir Starmer is simply wrong in law. A trans woman with a Gender Recognition Certificate is considered a woman for the vast majority of legal purposes, as required by the ECHR. One would expect a former human rights lawyer to have a better grasp of legal detail.

Swedish Government Seeks Approval for Saab Gripen Sale to Peru, GlobalEye Sale to Denmark Sweden’s Parliament has to approve the intergovernmental sales, which include four GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft and 12 Gripen E/Fs, before orders can be placed. Story: theaviationist.com/2025/04/15/s...

B-21 Raider Expected to Arrive at Ellsworth AFB in 'Mid 2020s' Speaking at the Black Hills Defense & Industry Symposium, U.S. Air Force and Northrop Grumman officials said their next generation bomber is ‘close’ to being ready to enter service. Story: theaviationist.com/2025/04/15/b...

RFA Mounts Bay arriving into Falmouth earlier today, sailing past sister ship RFA Cardigan Bay. With HMS Scott and HMS Severn also in, and RFA Argus as a recent departure, it probably surprises some that it's not actually an RN port. cc @navylookout.bsky.social @warshipcam.bsky.social

Signal Group Chat Leaks: U.S. Secretary of Defense Lays Out Sensitive Details of Planned Airstrikes Aircraft, weapon types, launch times, and the estimated strike windows included in the latest screenshots released by Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic. Story: theaviationist.com/2025/03/26/s...

USS Nimitz Sets Sail For Likely Final Deployment Almost 50 years on from its commissioning date, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) departed Naval Base Kitsap on Mar. 21, 2025, for a deployment to the Indo-Pacific. Story: theaviationist.com/2025/03/23/u...

USAF Testing Angry Kitten EW Pod on C-130 as F-16 Integration Progresses The F-16 has completed the test phase for the integration of the AN/ALQ-167 Angry Kitten pod, as the USAF considers the platform for other types like the C-130, KC-135, and KC-46. Story: theaviationist.com/2025/03/13/u...

Hellfire R-9X ‘Ninja’ Missile Airstrike Shown in Newly Released Footage The low collateral damage variant of the Hellfire missile, with pop-out blades instead of an explosive warhead, was first documented in 2019, but has remained elusive. Story: theaviationist.com/2025/03/01/h...

U.S. Air Force Tests Harpoon Missile Integration on F-16 The 53rd TEG completed an operational taxi test with a U.S. Navy AGM-84N Harpoon Block II+ anti-ship missile loaded on a U.S. Air Force F-16. Story: theaviationist.com/2025/02/28/u...

Estonian Independence Day Marked With B-52, F-35, and F/A-18 Flypast Estonia celebrated its national Independence Day on Feb. 24, 2025, joined by forces from a number of NATO allies who help reinforce the nation against Russian threats. Story: theaviationist.com/2025/02/24/e...

Royal Air Force Protector RG1 Completes Further Flight Testing Following the type’s first UK flight in November 2023, unmanned Protector RG1s, the UK designation for MQ-9B, are now conducting regular flights from their Lincolnshire base. Story: theaviationist.com/2025/02/13/r...

B-52 Stratofortresses Begin Bomber Task Force 25-2 Deployment at RAF Fairford Two U.S. Air Force B-52 strategic bombers from Minot Air Force Base touched down in the UK on Feb. 11, 2025 to kick off the Bomber Task Force 25-2 deployment. Story: theaviationist.com/2025/02/13/b...

First Pictures of UK Developed R-73 Compatible Gravehawk Surface to Air Missile System for Ukraine The Gravehawk is a containerised surface to air missile (SAM) system designed and produced within a 12 month period. Story: theaviationist.com/2025/02/13/g...

RNLB Richard Cox Scott (17-29) departed Falmouth Lifeboat Station for the last time on Friday after 23 years, as the station switches to the Shannon class lifeboat #rnli #lifeboat #photography #coast #falmouth #cornwall

Worst part about this time of year is needing a coat outside but then every shop has their heating on full blast making you roast as soon as you step through the door

Dry Tree menhir, or standing stone, on Goonhilly Downs. 3 metres tall and made of gabbro, which is not native to the downs. The nearest source is a few miles away, so clearly it was put there for a good reason. Gave its name to RAF Dry Tree, a WW2 Chain Home station nearby. #history #cornwall

RAF Typhoon Lands Without Canopy After Suspected Bird Strike The pilot of a Royal Air Force Typhoon has landed safely after an unusual incident saw the jet’s canopy jettisoned over the North Sea before an emergency landing at RAF Coningsby. Story: theaviationist.com/2025/01/23/r...

The Lysander was an underappreciated hero of WW2. Obsolete in its initial patrol/spotting role early in the war, its STOL performance and excellent low-speed handling were put to use flying support resistance operations in occupied Europe under the cover of darkness. #aviation #photography #history

New UK National Drone Hub Facility to be Constructed at Predannack Airfield An expansion of unmanned operations is underway at the Royal Navy airfield, which could soon be used by General Atomics MQ-9 and Leonardo AW09 (Proteus) type aircraft. Story: theaviationist.com/2025/01/14/n...

Looking at the websites and published work of a lot of the photo/videographers who've been noted flying drones in the California TFRs, and it's evident every single time that at their level in the profession they should know better.

Mahoney proving he was always a good guy

Further Detail Emerges On Leonardo’s Proteus Rotary Wing UAS Demonstrator Scheduled to fly in mid 2025, Leonardo has unveiled an updated design of its Proteus rotary wing uncrewed aerial system demonstrator for the UK Ministry of Defence. Story: theaviationist.com/2025/01/08/l...

I bring a sort of 300 tab hyperfocus research binge to the Google Chrome session that my random access memory don't really like

Half-Moon Battery at Pendennis Castle was originally constructed in the early 1800s, and then upgraded progressively until just after the Second World War. The 6in guns mounted during WW2 saw active combat defending Falmouth Bay from German E boats. #cornwall #history #ww2 #kernow

Royal New Zealand Air Force Wants 737s or A321s to Replace Aging Boeing 757s The Royal New Zealand Air Force has begun a tender process for the replacement of its two Boeing 757 aircraft, naming Boeing 737 MAX 8s or Airbus A321s as their preferred options. Story: theaviationist.com/2025/01/02/r...

Irish Air Corps Orders Four Airbus H145M Helicopters A €91.7 million contract to replace Ireland’s existing EC135 fleet was awarded to Airbus Helicopters, with deliveries to commence in 2027. Story: theaviationist.com/2024/12/30/i...

Baykar Bid Wins Competition to Acquire Italian Manufacturer Piaggio Turkish manufacturer Baykar, which has risen to fame for its military UAVs, is set to purchase Piaggio Aerospace, which has been under administration since 2018, for an undisclosed sum. Story: theaviationist.com/2024/12/27/b...

Ex or current senior army officers spreading anti Royal Navy talking points to the press should only be listened to after they prove they can procure an existing armoured vehicle design without spending as much as the RN did for two whole 65,000t aircraft carriers

Italy Orders New Batch Of Up To 24 Eurofighter Typhoons Fresh on the heels of Spain’s order for 25 new Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, Italy has now signed a contract for 24 jets to replace earlier Tranche 1 airframes. Story: theaviationist.com/2024/12/23/i...

On Wednesday 18th Dec, Truro Cathedral hosted 'Carols with Pride', featuring an LGBTQ+ choir, poetry from Jay Hulme, and readings from several LGBTQ+ individuals. Privilege to photograph this historic service. #lgbt #cornwall #transrights

NATO Fighters Intercept Two Russian Tu-22M3 ‘Backfires’ Carrying Long-Range Supersonic Cruise Missiles The Russian aircraft over the Baltic Sea identified by NATO fighters turned out to be carrying inert supersonic cruise missiles Story: theaviationist.com/2024/12/17/n...

Final Trafalgar Class Submarine HMS Triumph Returns Home for Decommissioning HMS Triumph sailed into HMNB Devonport flying a decommissioning pennant on the afternoon of Dec. 12, 2024, marking an end to its 33 years of service in the Royal Navy. Story: theaviationist.com/2024/12/13/h...

HMS Triumph, the Royal Navy's last Trafalgar class submarine, arrived home to HMNB Devonport for the final time this afternoon before decommissioning. Article soon to follow in @theaviationist.com along with more images from the occasion.

Mildenhall’s 352nd Special Operations Wing Takes Delivery of C-146A Wolfhound On Dec. 4, 2024, C-146A Wolfhound 10-3077 arrived at RAF Mildenhall to begin a new permanently deployed presence in the European theatre. Story: theaviationist.com/2024/12/11/3...

GCAP Testbed Boeing 757 ‘Excalibur’ Completes First Modification Phase After recent flights showing off new fuselage-mounted sensor housings, Leonardo has announced that the first modification and flight testing phase for the GCAP testbed, is now complete. Story: theaviationist.com/2024/12/10/g...

Russia Will Send Su-27 and MiG-29 Fighters to North Korea, According to U.S. Navy Admiral While North Korean soldiers join Russia’s war against Ukraine, an apparent reciprocal has been revealed by the U.S. INDOPACOM Commander. Story: theaviationist.com/2024/12/10/r...

St Michael's Mount, like the French Mont Saint-Michel, is an island linked to the mainland by a tidal causeway. When the tide's in, the island is accessible by water only. The island actually has a small funicular railway, for cargo only, from the harbour up to the castle. #cornwall #history

Blues Brothers. Keep Cab Calloway

Russian Warship Reportedly Fired ‘Signal Ammunition’ at German Military Helicopter Over Baltic Limited details are presently available regarding the incident, which was apparently revealed by the German FM at a NATO Meeting in Brussels. Story: theaviationist.com/2024/12/04/r...