Aviation and Heritage Roundup June 2026
Provided by Paul Squires, CAPA-ACCA Contact, Wetaskiwin, Alberta
New Books
Fieseler Fi 156 Storch Detailed in Revised and Enhanced Second Edition Book
New Two-Volume Biography of Max Immelmann Dispels Myths, Provides New Insights For First World War specialists
Turkish Military Aircraft 1912-23 Detailed With Exclusive Photos, Unique Data Would include details on Canadair Sabre IIs
New Book Offers Extensive Reference Material for Modelling the BAC Lightning This could be an interesting series
New Book Offers a Unique, Hour-by-Hour Insight Into a Lancaster Bombing Mission Interesting
New Book Explores B-29 Superfortress Technical Aspects, Crew Prep and More
Sweeping the Skies: A History of No. 452 Squadron RAAF 1941-1945 An Article 15 Squadron that flew in England and the Pacific
Mosquito: The Ultimate Guide to the ‘Mossie’ Hope it’s not a hyped title
New Guinea Eagles: The Japanese Air Army Campaign in New Guinea 1942-43 Filling a gap in aviation history books
Bristol Beaufighter’s Complete Story Detailed in New Book
Hawker Typhoon: Its Service Career and Technical Evolution
Bomber Crew Escaper: A Wartime Airman’s Fight for Survival and Freedom
New Plastic Model Kits
LukGraph Developing Heavily Detailed, Fully Printed 1/32 DH.89 Dragon Rapide 3D printing has really opened up possibilities for modellers
MiniArt Releases New Fw 190D-9 Advanced Model Kit Every month a new Fw-190D model!
Eduard Releases New “Weekend Edition” MiG-21F-13 Fishbed
Two New Spitfire Kits Plus Detail Pack Coming From IBG in July
LukGraph Announces Upcoming Hansa-Brandenburg CC in Multiple Scales, Variants
Arma Hobby to Release New Tool Curtiss Hawk 81-A2 With Flying Tigers Liveries NOTE: This is the same series of P-40s that the RCAF flew in combat in Alaska
Eduard Releases New ProfiPACK Edition Bf 110F Model Kit
Special Hobby to Release New Tool Martin Baltimore Mk.I/II Kit A Baltimore in 1/48. Never thought I’d see that!
First Look: Detail Images of Special Hobby’s New Tool Fairey Albacore Kit One of the RCAF’s lesser-known aircraft
News June 2026
I noticed interesting new stories published on the BBC website, but apparently it’s now pay-to-view. As is The Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star.
July 1 – Forest Fire detection drones in Alberta
TEKEVER, Phoenix Heli-Flight bring autonomous wildfire detection to Alberta – Vertical Mag
June 30 – Static Federal funding effectively a cut to museum summer jobs
Federal Cuts Put the Squeeze on Summer Jobs for Youth | The Tyee
June 30 – Red Arrows also need new aircraft, like the Snowbirds (BBC story blocked by paywall). They will be performing in Detroit, July 17-19, at the Thunder over Michigan airshow for the US 250 celebrations.
New jets confirmed for Red Arrows in Hawk replacement
June 30 – China bans General Aviation following the Beijing incident, with unknown implications for the future of its small-plane aviation industry. Just what happened is still a mystery.
Reports: China Bans GA Flying Indefinitely Days After Dramatic Beijing Skyscraper Crash
June 30 – Five-hour baggage wait, no seats, no food, and threats of arrest if you left without your baggage. Bizarre incident at Orlando
Baggage Delays Strand 800 at Orlando Airport for 5+ Hours, Passengers Threatened With Arrest for Leaving
June 29 – Flight Deck Fridays at Air Force Museum
Trenton museum offers tours inside military aircraft | Belleville Intelligencer
June 29 – The last days of the Iranian Tomcats
The Space Review: The last days of the Persian Cats
June 28 – Atlantic Aviation Museum Open House
Hundreds enjoy family fun at Aviation Museum annual event – The Laker News
June 28 – Sad way to go, Houston Aviation Museum sells off it’s collection
Houston aviation museum liquidating artifacts before exiting
June 28 – Problems with Canada choosing non-US systems, or how electronics is affecting options for choice.
The US Data Link Canada Can’t Have That Could Cripple Its Saab GlobalEye & F-35 Fleet
Here’s Why Canada Is Moving Forward With Its Order For F-35 Fighter Jets
June 26 – When an RAF Phantom shot down a Jaguar by mistake
RAF Jaguar pilot recalls when he was shot down by a RAF Phantom
June 27 – Upgrade of Griffons stalled
Canada puts $800M Griffon helicopter upgrade on hold over technical ‘complexity’ | CBC News
June 27 – Air crew fired in flight story
TriStar pilot recalls when he and his crew were fired with no notice in the middle of a transatlantic flight
June 26 – Light plane hits tallest building in Beijing, news suppressed in China
China: Debris falls after plane hits Beijing’s tallest building
A small plane hit Beijing’s CITIC Tower. Hours later it was like nothing had happened | CNN
Small Plane Crashes Into Beijing’s Tallest Skyscraper, Raining Debris On Street
June 26 – Forced landing ends up in ditch in Manitoba
Small plane makes emergency landing on highway in western Manitoba | CBC News
June 26 – Drone injures two people at Ponoka Stampede
Aircraft safety in the spotlight after 2 people injured by drone at Ponoka Stampede | CBC News
June 26 – Bombardier takes on Gulstream with the Global 8000, a review of its capabilities
The Bombardier Global 8000 Just Flew Dubai To Los Angeles Nonstop – Route The Gulfstream G700 Can’t Match
June 25 – Buffalo Airways Birdog crashed near Fort Simpson, 3 killed.
3 dead in plane crash near Fort Simpson, N.W.T. fire officials confirm | CBC News
Wildfire aircraft crash in Canada: 3 dead – Wildfire Today
June 25 – Video of forced landing in Alaska
Watch: Moment small plane crash lands in Alaska wilderness
June 25 – Inside the terminal at Caracas when the earthquake hit
Terrifying Footage Shows Moment 7.5 Earthquake Rocks Caracas Airport
June 25 – Airbus Beluga retired
Full Circle: Airbus Beluga ST Retires To Toulouse Museum Beside The Super Guppy It Replaced
June 24 – Air Canada Q400 makes emergency landing after pilot suffers seizures
‘He was kicking and flailing’: Passenger recounts scary moments on diverted Air Canada flight | CBC News
Air Canada flight diverted to Boston after captain suffers medical emergency – CBS Boston
June 24 – Canadian UN cemetery in Gaza is gone.
Canadian peacekeepers’ cemetery in Gaza completely destroyed, satellite imagery shows | CBC News
June 24 – Alberta Government offering incentives for flight service to Medicine Hat and Lethbridge after WestJet cuts
Southern Alberta cities, province try to tempt air carriers as WestJet ends service | CBC News
June 24 – Boeing plans B.777-9 flight to North Pole to test systems
Boeing Sending Its 1st Production 777-9 Toward The North Pole In 11-Hour Flight Test
June 23 – Meteorite over Sault Ste. Marie
Bright fireball in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., skies ‘shocked and amazed’ onlookers | CBC News
June 23 – Families of victims want wreckage of Air India bombing released (story deleted on one site, and behind paywall at Globe and Mail)
June 22 – First Twin Otter 300-G for Ethiopian Airlines delivered
Ethiopian Airlines Expands Regional Network with Delivery of First DHC-6 Twin Otter Classic 300-G Aircraft – Aviation News
June 24 – People will collect anything!
Pass the sick bag! Why I published a book on the art of the airline essential | Books | The Guardian
June 24 – ex-OPAS Hamilton Metalplane history detailed
Randy’s Vintage Profiles: Hamilton H-47 Metalplane – Vintage Aviation News
Of note, the CF-OAx registration series is unique to the Ontario Provincial Air Service, but aircraft sold from the OPAS can carry them. An example is the Stinson Reliant CF-OAY, now on display in Edmonton but without reference to its past, which is unique as it was the first aircraft ever modified as a water bomber.
June 22 – Notes on Russian nuclear powered turbojet missile
A Possible Design for Burevestnik – Lawyers, Guns & Money
June 19 – Regional partnership to put exhibit in St. Catharines airport terminal
Niagara District Airport partners with St. Catharines Museum to unveil historical exhibition in terminal – Skies Mag
June 18 – Scotland fans fly to the World Cup game in their own light plane.
Scotland fans fly 22 hours in tiny plane to World Cup match
June 17 – A look at Shearwater Aviation Museum
An armchair tour of Shearwater Aviation Museum – Legion Magazine
June 17 – Customs delays leaves passengers stranded in Athens
Athens passport mega queue strands Luton bound Ryanair passengers
June 16 – Executive Citation Latitude crash-lands on highway in Texas
Bystanders rush to rescue aircraft passengers after fiery Texas crash
June 16 – Canada is in negotiations for an Italian M-346 jet trainer
Canada and Italy Launch Landmark Negotiations for Royal Canadian Air Force Advanced Jet Trainer Fleet – Aviation News
June 15 – Some RCAF C-130J overhauls to be done in Canada (remember when they all were, and other countries sent their Hercs here)
Super Hercules fleet gets upgrades from Abbotsford, B.C., aerospace techs | CBC News
June 15 – Another foreign review of the Avro Arrow, this time from Switzerland!
The Avro Arrow: The Mach 2 Super-fighter Canada Built, Then Destroyed | MiGFlug.com Blog
June 15 – Commercial Aviation companies in New York
Airliners Built on Long Island
June 12 – Some background details of the Kosmos 954 loss in the NWT
The story of when a Russian Nuclear Satellite crashed in Canada (and possibly inspired Clint Eastwood’s Space Cowboys)
June 11 – Ryanair charges to have parents sit with children on flights
Ryanair investigated over charging parents to sit with children
June 10 – Margaret Atwood adds her voice to proposed expansion of Toronto Island Airport
Margaret Atwood joins chorus of figures opposing Toronto Island Airport expansion – Toronto | Globalnews.ca
June 10 – Concern over aviation accident investigation (contributed by David Hills)
The furious dispute over what caused Air India flight 171 to crash
June 8 – European Future Combat aircraft plan abandoned over disputes about who should control it
France and Germany abandon joint project to build European fighter jet | Europe | The Guardian
Franco-German fighter jet scrapping leaves European allies at odds
How A Dassault Airbus Workshare Fight Killed Europe’s $116 Billion 6th-Generation Fighter Program
June 8 – Greek company plans robot water bomber capable of day and night operations
Marcos Aerospace Unveils the Quencher concept – Wildfire Today
June 8 – Why First Contact with another intelligent species might be a robot
The Space Review: The first alien intelligence may not be alive
June 7 – Girls Take Flight event in Ottawa
Girls lift off in free flights to encourage careers in aviation
And in London
Inspiring the next generation of women aviators – Skies Mag
June 7 – Stowaway on Texas flight. Link contributed by David Hills
Man sneaks onto United flight without valid ticket, authorities say | CNN
June 6 – Government eyeing mixed fleet of jet aircraft
Ottawa’s mixed fleet of F-35s and Gripens could total more than 100 aircraft, sources say | CBC News
June 5 – CWHM Avenger flies after rebuild
Avenger Dedication at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum – Vintage Aviation News
June 5 – New attempt to cross the Atlantic Ocean in an open-basket hydrogen balloon
Adventurers start journey across Atlantic Ocean in hydrogen balloon | CBC News
And they made it!
Alicia Hempleman-Adams crosses Atlantic in hydrogen balloon – BBC News
First British woman crosses Atlantic Ocean by open-basket gas balloon | The Independent
June 5 – Air leak on Space Station (ISS) caused near evacuation
NASA reverses evacuation alert for astronauts aboard International Space Station | CBC News
June 4 – Model Show held in Bomber Command Museum. A good draw for local visitors
Model contest coming to Bomber Command Museum in June – OkotoksOnline.com – Local news, Weather, Sports, and Job Listings for Okotoks, Alberta, and area.
June 3 – National Air Force Museum obtains H-21 helicopter from British Columbia Aviation Museum
“Flying Banana” making its way to National Air Force Museum of Canada | Quinte News
National Air Force Museum of Canada welcomes Vertol Canada CH-125 helicopter – Vertical Mag
June 3 – Last Harriers retired
The USMC’s AV-8B Harrier Has Flown Off Into The Sunset
June 2 – News from Albert Peres, local Mississauga Resident, on the plans and progress of installing a large metal model of the Avro Arrow in Malton, Mississauga
Mississauga plan for multimillion-dollar replica Avro Arrow airplane draws criticism
Avro Arrow replica nears completion – MPulse
Piece of city’s aviation history will soon arrive in Mississauga: Mayor | INsauga
Of Note: This effort is new and should not be confused with the full-size museum model built by volunteers of the Toronto Aerospace Museum (TAM), subsequently became the Canadian Air & Space Museum (CASM). New Board Members in Edenvale, ON are now the custodians of the entire CASM Collection, including the Avro Arrow model. The collection is now stored, and displayed in part at the Edenvale Aerodrome.
June 2 – New water-bombers on order, now we need a plan to use them
Canada’s aerial wildfire-fighting plan is a start — but it is not yet a strategy
June 1 – Quebec backs out of airship facility
Future of Flying Whales project in Eastern Townships up in the air after Quebec hits pause on funding | CBC News
June 1 – Plan to ban disruptive passengers from all airlines in England
Abusive passengers could be blacklisted from all airlines under new proposal
And this story slipped past me in January:
Air Force identifies last of the service members killed in 1952 Alaska plane crash | Stars and Stripes
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