What this spring’s biggest aerospace shows reveal about the future of flight — and how a sudden fuel shock might change the picture.

After years of noise about wanting to retire the famous Fairchild Republic A-10 ground attack fighter, the US Air Force now says it has graduated the last class of new pilots assigned to fly the "Warthog".

But just weeks later, the Pentagon announced that the A-10's. retirement is being pushed back to at least 2030. It's just the latest example of the titanium-enclosed jet beating the odds on bureaucratic survival.

Has the end really come for the Warthog or can the plane famous for its battlefield survivability once again stave off the end from Washington?

Americas defence reporter Ryan Finnerty speaks with the commander of the 357th Fighter Squadron that trains new A-10 pilots and retired air force Colonel Kim "KC" Campbell, whose combat service in the Warthog over Iraq has made her arguably the most famous A-10 pilot.

Show Notes:

Kim Campbell profile in Flight International, 2023:

https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/2023/06/rough-air-over-baghdad-a-10-pilot-kim-campbell-flies-into-aviation-history/

US Air Force begins first A-10 retirements:

https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/2023/04/usaf-begins-long-sought-a-10-retirements/

The A-10 returns to combat in Iran:

https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/2026/03/a-10-returns-to-combat-hunting-iranian-vessels-in-strait-of-hormuz/

A-10 "Sandy" mission over Iran:

https://www.flightglobal.com/archive/2026/04/iran-rescue-mission-featured-155-aircraft-refuelling-over-enemy-territory-and-one-lost-a-10/

The armed crop duster that could replace the A-10:

https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/2025/02/us-air-force-dubs-new-oa-1k-armed-crop-duster-skyraider-ii-ahead-of-first-delivery/

This week we discuss rising jet fuel prices related to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz in the Middle East, and look at how global carriers are responding to the crisis heading into the summer air travel season. 

The deadly 22 March collision involving an Air Canada Express CRJ900 exposed holes in overlapping aviation safety networks. Meanwhile, the entire US aerospace industry is coming to terms with a pending requirement to replace all altimeters on all aircraft to prevent interference from new 5G cellular networks, a multi-billion-dollar effort.

The annual report from NATO's secretary general is out and it shows some notable trends.

More than a year of threats and berating from US President Donald Trump seems to have spurred European governments to take on a greater share of financial responsibility for collective defence. Figures for 2025 indicate Europe and Canada now account for 48% of NATO spending versus only 40% in 2024.

Meanwhile in the Middle East, the US Air Force lost a Boeing E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control aircraft while on the ground in an Iranian long-range strike. The incident calls into question the ability of the USAF to execute its agile combat employment strategy for protecting aircraft on the ground.

FlightGlobal's European defence editor joins Americas defence reporter Ryan Finnerty to discuss spending trends in Europe and the future of the crucial airborne early warning mission set.

It is a month since the Iran conflict started, and a more far-reaching impact is beginning to take root, centred around the volatility of fuel prices. With fuel being the single largest expense for any airline, any spike in pricing will ultimately impact profitability. 

FlightGlobal’s head of airlines, Lewis Harper, joins Asia-Pacific airlines editor Alfred Chua to discuss what operators are doing to tackle the issue, and what the longer-term implications are. 

With the proliferation of eVTOL projects, vertical take-off and landing is no longer the exclusive privilege of helicopters.

Participants in this specialist sector of the aviation industry have been demonstrating their latest products and developments at the Verticon 2026 exhibition in Atlanta.

FlightGlobal’s European aerospace editor Dominic Perry discusses the highlights of the show and asks whether electric air mobility is just smoke-and-mirrors or a realistic prospect.

And as Airbus secures the most significant order yet for its A350F, air transport editor David Kaminski explains why the deal represents more than just a set of healthy numbers in the new freighter’s backlog.

It’s been more than two weeks since US President Donald Trump launched military action against Iran.

Dubbed Operation Epic Fury, the air and naval campaign has featured more than 200 fighter aircraft, all three of the US Air Force’s bomber types, and two aircraft carrier strike groups, plus the entire Israeli air force.

Despite facing that armada, Iran remains defiant, effectively halting ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and disrupting vital energy flows.

The inability of air power to achieve political and strategic goals appears to have caught the Trump Administration by surprise, despite numerous examples from history that have shown the limitations of air campaigns.

FlightGlobal's managing defence editor Greg Waldron joins Americas defence reporter Ryan Finnerty to discuss the latest developments in the war and what we may see next.

With the Iran conflict grounding aircraft, closing airports and stranding passengers, we assess the health of the Middle East airline industry going into this crisis – and the potential impact of a prolonged war.

FlightGlobal’s head of airlines, Lewis Harper, joins Asia airlines editor Alfred Chua to discuss the key data and developments.

When Airbus and Boeing commit to new single-aisle designs to replace their ubiquitous narrowbodies, the most anticipated decision will be the choice of propulsion.

Engine manufacturers Pratt & Whitney and CFM International are focusing on separate strategies, pitching the conventional and conservative ducted fan against the radical open rotor.

Each concept has its supporters and detractors. Each holds appeal and carries risk.

FlightGlobal's Americas aerospace editor Jon Hemmerdinger joins air transport editor David Kaminski-Morrow to discuss a power struggle which will potentially reshape the engine sector and the broader aerospace industry.

Of all the head scratching military procurement programmes across the world, few are more confounding than India's haphazard efforts at fighter aircraft modernisation.

Cancelled development efforts, shifting requirements, and struggling attempts at domestic production have all combined to stymie several attempts at modernising the Indian air force.

The geopolitical pressure is on, following last year's air battle between India and Pakistan, and New Delhi is once again attempting to recapitalise its fleet — both with new Rafale fighters from Dassault and another crack at domestic aircraft production.

FlightGlobal's managing editor for defence Greg Waldron joins Ryan Finnerty to discuss what's in store for India's latest attempt at a tactical revamp.