Spotter Magazine

15/10/2025

New airline Magnifica Air has unveiled its “private class” scheduled service as a hybrid between flying first class and flying private. The airline will operate scheduled services with a fleet of Airbus A220-300s and A321neos—all equipped with first-class, lay-flat seats.

Leased from Air Lease Corporation, the initial fleet will consist of four new A220-300s and two new A321neos, with services to start in 2027. The lengthy wait is partly due to the aircraft requiring a 8-10 month cabin outfitting, which has been contracted to Comlux Aviation. The first aircraft is expected to be ferried to Comlux this December.

Planned destinations include Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, San Jose and Palm Beach, with seat price expected to be about double that of a first-class airline ticket.

Image: Magnifica Air

15/10/2025

American Airlines will mark its centenary with a special livery on Boeing 777-300 N735AT. The livery, named 'Flagship', evokes its 1930s livery as worn on its DC-3s, featuring an orange lightning bolt motif. American has also stated that the aircraft's interior will be upgraded to something 'more luxurious'. Being a 777-300, the aircraft should make an appearance in a number of airports around the world, including the United Kingdom and Japan.

Image: American Airlines

15/10/2025

Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken has confirmed that all the F-16s pledged by Belgium to Ukraine will indeed be delivered as scheduled, once Ukrainian pilots have completed their training and all necessary technical procedures are finalized.

Belgium had to maintain its F-16 fleet in service pending deliveries of its new F-35s, of which three have been delivered so far, with a fourth going tech while on delivery in the Azores. As their number increases, Belgium will be able to release its F-16 fleet.

Photo: Mark Zerafa, 9H Media

15/10/2025

It's been a while that we launched our appeal for our readers to support Spotter Magazine, so an update is due. We're planning on a relaunch for the beginning of 2026 and we're developing new delivery channels as well.

Everything remains free of charge, so that our hobby can be enjoyed by one and all, regardless of their financial situation.

But, if you can help us along, it would be greatly appreciated.

Mark Zerafa Needs Your Help | For many years, Spotter Magazine has been providing free digital aviation content to aviation enthusiasts all over the world. What initially started as a per...

15/10/2025

An update video from the British Phantom Aviation Group showing the work that their volunteers have been up to to bring their trio of British Phantoms back to their former glory.

Video: BPAG

15/10/2025

Embraer has received an order from leasing company TrueNoord for 20 Embraer E195-E2 jets, with options to purchase up to a further 30.

Image: Embraer

14/10/2025

Pilatus has delivered a PC-12 to the Technical and Airworthiness Center for Aircraft and Aeronautical Equipment of the German Armed Forces (WTD 61).

The aircraft will be stationed at the Ingolstadt/Manching AB, where it will be used for training test pilots and transporting personnel and material.

Photo: Pilatus Aircraft Ltd

14/10/2025

Royal Air Maroc has announced the lease of six Boeing 737 MAX 8 from Dublin-based Avolon. The first two aircraft have already joined the RAM fleet .

According to Avolon, the first two have already joined the fleet, with the remaining four set to be delivered by 2026.

Photo: Mark Zerafa, 9H Media

14/10/2025

Spotted!! Air Algerie's first Airbus A330-900, msn2104, to be registered 7T-VJD, is seen here taxiing out for testing at Toulouse.

Photo: EuroSpot

14/10/2025

Yesterday marked the delivery of the first three F-35s at Florennes AB. These are the first Belgian F-35s on Belgian soil, while other earlier deliveries have been kept at Luke AFB, USA for crew training. A fourth aircraft is awaiting repairs in the Azores as it went tech during the ferry flight.

Photo: Belgian Ministry of Defence

14/10/2025

The Hellenic Army is rumoured to be interested in acquiring 30 AH-64D Apaches which will soon be retired by the US Army. The Hellenic Army currently operates a mixed fleet of AH-64As and AH-64Ds, and has suffered a severe blow when its base at Stefanovikio was flooded. As a result, at least part of this purchase may not only be intended as a means of spares recovery, not necessarily to bolster numbers by a full 30 Apaches.

Photo: Mark Zerafa, 9H Media

14/10/2025

Today in Aviation: 14.10.1964 - First Flight Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion

Developed in response to a US Navy requirement for a replacement for the CH-37 Mojave transport helicopters flown by the Marine Corps, the CH-53 was a scaled-up S-61R powered by twin GE T-64 turboshafts. Deliveries began in 1966, and the type was quickly deployed to Vietnam.

The helicopter was adopted by the USAF as the HH-53 'Super Jolly Green Giant', used for special operations and combat search and rescue missions

The aircraft was exported to Iran, Germany, Israel and Mexico, and more recently, the completely modernised CH-53K King Stallion has rekindled interest in the type, with orders from the US Marine Corps and Israel.

Photo: Mark Zerafa, 9H Media