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Chinese Fifth-generation Fighter Goes on Show

Beechcraft seeks AT-6 certification as Iraq mulls offer

Beechcraft Defense's AT-6 Wolverine might soon have a launch customer, with a letter of offer and acceptance for six light-attack turboprops being prepared for the government of Iraq. In partnership with the US Air Force, Beechcraft intends to offer Baghdad six aircraft initially, with option...

UAE signs $1.2bn surveillance deal with Saab

While all the talk in the run-up to the Dubai air show was about the prospects for large commercial orders being announced, it was the United Arab Emirates air force that opened sales, with a surprise, $1.27 billion contract with Saab for advanced surveillance aircraft. Announced during a press b...

Dubai Airshow: news in brief

Here is a roundup of news coming out of day two of the Dubai Airshow: Airbus studying A350 variant Airbus is studying whether there is demand for a larger member of its A350 jet family and expects to make up its mind within a couple of months, its sales chief said on Monday. The European planemaker is not yet offering a specific design to airlines, but anything that it does decide to buil...

Round-the-world female aviator stops off for Dubai Airshow

Flying across the world in an open cockpit vintage biplane might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for Tracy Curtis Taylor, it is a chance to “get a bird’s-eye view or the view of gods”. The British aviator, 53, is part way through a 21,000 kilometres solo flight from the UK to Australia in a 1942 Boeing Stearman Spirit of Artemis aircraft. And the adventurer, who emb...

FLIGHT TEST: Diamond's DA62 glitters

Diamond Aircraft is set to make its debut at the National Business Aviation Association convention in Las Vegas, where it will be promoting its all-new DA62 diesel piston twin as a platform for corporate and charter operations. First deliveries, to European customers, will be followed soon by the first US aircraft – serial number 10, which is the machine that will be on show at NBAA. This wi...

Emirates signs $16bn engine services deal with GE Aviation

Emirates has signed a $16 billion OnPoint solution agreement with GE Aviation for the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of the GE9X engines that will power the airline's fleet of 150 Boeing 777X aircraft over a period of 12 years. This is Emirates’ largest engine MRO contract to date. At the 2013 Dubai Air Show, Emirates placed a record $ 76 billion order for 150 Boeing 77...

Etihad and Mubadala sign $1bn technical services MoU

Mubadala, the Abu Dhabi-based investment and development company, and Etihad Airways have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Dubai Airshow worth potentially $1 billion over a 10-year period. The agreement was signed by Homaid Al Shemmari, chief executive, Aerospace and Engineering Services, Mubadala, and James Hogan, president and chief executive of Etihad Airways, and cover...

Irkut upbeat on Su-30SM prospects

Moscow-based aircraft manufacturer Irkut is showcasing the multirole Sukhoi Su-30SM fighter at the Dubai air show, among a host of military products on display from the Russian industry delegation. The forecast for Su-30SM orders exceeds more than 100 aircraft, but Russian officials are already planning a major upgrade programme for the twin-engined fighter. Rostec chief executive Sergey Che...

Lockheed excited about UAE involvement

Lockheed Martin chief executive Marillyn Hewson had a big day at the Dubai show, officially opening the company’s new permanent chalet and visiting the stand of the company’s newly acquired Sikorsky helicopter unit. “We’re very excited about this new state-of-the-art facility that is a demonstration of our longstanding partnership with UAE, and really view this...

Boeing, Tata JV to perform AH-64 work

Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems have announced a joint venture to produce aerostructures for the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter in India. The joint venture will also compete for additional work on other Boeing plaftorms, says Boeing. “This partnership will capitalise on India’s industrial capability, innovation and talent to contribute to Boeing’s long-term competitiveness...

Al Mansouri calls to keep open skies ahead of EU policy talks

The Minister of Economy last night called for the preservation of open skies as aviation industry leaders gathered for the opening day of the Dubai Airshow. “For forty years, barriers and restrictions for airlines have come down. This is not the time to turn back,” said Sultan Al Mansouri. “The UAE is ready to join with the US and EU to help lead a new effort towards even grea...

Qatar Airways to renew Barcelona sponsorship ‘only if price is right’

Qatar Airways will consider renewing a shirt sponsorship deal with Barcelona only if the price is right. The Catalan club are pursuing a record sponsorship contract but the Doha-based airline has not yet agreed a deal. The outspoken boss of the airline Akbar Al Baker on Sunday suggested he was willing to play hard ball with the European champions. “We are in the middle of negotiatio...

AIA chief touts US pavilion while calling for DOD new starts

Aerospace Industries Association chief operating officer Bob Durbin is thrilled with the turnout of American aerospace firms at this year’s Dubai show, with the number of exhibitors in the US pavilion almost doubling to 140 compared with the previous edition. He says the turnout of smaller companies is particularly pleasing, as tier two and three suppliers are critical to the defence and...

AgustaWestland restates commitment to AW609 tiltrotor

With AgustaWestland presenting its full family of medium-class helicopters at Dubai, the one notable, although not unexpected, absence from its static display is the AW609 civil tiltrotor. Two of the company’s test pilots were killed in a crash in Italy of the second AW609 flight-test prototype (N609AG) on 29 October, with the incident now being probed by the country’s ANSV air acci...

Upcoming events

SAF Global Summit 2026

22/09/2026 - 23/09/2026
United Kingdom, London

NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition 2026

20/10/2026 - 22/10/2026
United States, Las Vegas

Essential news

Ten years of Riga Aviation Forum — insights from Zigmars Vestfals on growth, milestones and the road ahead

As the 10th edition of the Riga Aviation Forum was getting ready to open, 50SkyShades — a long‑standing Media Partner of the event — took the opportunity to sit down with Zigmars Vestfals,...

Air Charter Expo achieves third consecutive year of record‑breaking attendance

Global trade body The Air Charter Association (The ACA) celebrated another record‑setting edition of Air Charter Expo (ACE’26) on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, delivered in partnership with Busines...

Top of the week

Ten years of Riga Aviation Forum — insights from Zigmars Vestfals on growth, milestones and the road ahead

As the 10th edition of the Riga Aviation Forum was getting ready to open, 50SkyShades — a long‑standing Media Partner of the event — took the opportunity to sit down with Zigmars Vestfals,...