Regional, Business & General Aviation

TOULOUSE - The Airbus A350-1000ULR successfully executed its maiden flight in Toulouse, France, marking a significant milestone for Qantas Airways' ambitious Project Sunrise.

Operating for nearly four hours and reaching altitudes over 41,000 feet, the heavily instrumented test aircraft validated its basic performance and a newly designed fuel system architecture. This specific variant is engineered to conquer unprecedented 22-hour non-stop routes between Australia, New York, and London by integrating an additional rear center fuel tank that extends its operational capability by an extra 1,000 nautical miles. Over the next two months, the aircraft will undergo rigorous testing to certify these structural modifications alongside highly efficient cabin cooling and ventilation systems tailored for ultra-long-haul comfort.

Once testing concludes, this initial prototype will be retrofitted for commercial service, while a second aircraft, the first slated for official delivery in April 2027, nears structural completion and interior outfitting. This ultra-long-range jet builds upon the commercial success of the broader A350 family, which boasts over 1,500 global orders and precedes an upcoming cargo variant. For Qantas, this fleet of twelve specialized aircraft, complemented by a dozen standard models, represents a definitive leap toward eliminating the final boundaries of direct global travel.

Source: Airbus
Associated URL: https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2026-06-worlds-longest-range-aircraft-the-airbus-a350-1000ulr-takes-to-the-skies

MOSCOW - Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) has transferred the first mass-produced MC-21-310 from the final assembly line to the flight-test department at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant.

This milestone represents the culmination of a decade-long initiative to replace all Western-supplied components, such as the landing gear, engines, and flight controls, which were barred due to international sanctions. Moving the airliner to the testing facility allows engineers to begin evaluating its systems ahead of schedule. The aircraft will undergo a rigorous validation program to ensure its readiness and safety before being officially certified and handed over to commercial clients. UAC noted that freeing up assembly space will allow the factory to steadily scale up production, with a long-term target of manufacturing 36 units annually.

Source: Flight Global
Associated URL: https://www.flightglobal.com/archive/2026/06/first-serial-production-mc-21-310-heads-for-flight-test-facility/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter%20week%202026-23
Author: David Kaminski-Morrow 

Forecast International (FI) announced the passing of its founder, Edward "Ed" Nebinger, on Memorial Day. A U.S. Air Force veteran, combat aviator, test pilot, and entrepreneur, Nebinger leaves behind a body of work that reshaped how the defense industry understands its own future. He was 102.

Nebinger founded Forecast International in 1973 on the premise that enough reliable data existed to support rational, long-range forecasts for aerospace and defense industries. A major step in the company's growth was taken in 1989, when Forecast International acquired the assets of DMS Inc. from its main competitor, Jane's Information Group. This asset, combined with several smaller acquisitions, enabled the firm to continue the development and expansion of its product line so that it soon covered the bulk of the industries producing platforms and systems within the overall Aerospace/Defense, Power Systems, and Electronics arena.

A true visionary, Nebinger challenged the team to continually innovate and build the tools they needed for intelligence and analysis. The company was behind the development of several proprietary research tools, including the 2007 launch of the Platinum system, a live relational database and the only patented system of its kind, which gives clients graphic-driven analysis across a 25-year span.

Today, Forecast International is a global business relied upon by the U.S. Department of Defense as well as international ministries of defense, with its analysts remaining some of the leading trusted voices on forecasts of defense and aerospace products, weaponry and programs.

"Ed helped the industry look at the future through a data-driven lens," said Aaron Heffron, President of Insights and Forecasting at GovExec. "His passion pushed FI to create tools and provide insights that reduced the guesswork, making the future more predictable and strategic planning possible. This mentality still drives everything we do. We extend our deepest condolences to his family. His was a life of service that is greatly admired and respected."

Before entering the private sector, Nebinger served twenty-five years as a U.S. Air Force officer. He flew a P-51 Mustang over the Normandy beaches on D-Day, completed a second combat tour in Korea, and went on to test supersonic fighters as a military test pilot. This service earned him several decorations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, the Air Medal with eleven oak leaf clusters, the World War II Victory Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and the Korean Service Medal.

Acquired by GovExec in January 2022, Forecast International continues to operate under the principles Nebinger established, drawing on a global analyst network to serve the industries he spent his career studying.

Source: Forecast International
Associated URL: https://www.forecastinternational.com/