About a year ago, Northrop flew the new B-21 Raider prototype for the first time. This new flying wing bomber is slated to eventually replace the US Air Force’s B-1b and B-2 fleets. But recent news suggests it might pick up another, quite unexpected mission – that of a fighter!

Unlike some previous electric-powered flight concepts, Magnix specifically chose to make their motors ‘electron-agnostic.’ Though their Caravan ran on lithium-ion batteries, they’ve also worked with Universal Hydrogen to power a DHC-8 using fuel cells.

The thoroughbred named Citation was famous for his career as one of the winningest American racehorses in history. Today, the jet’s namesake has largely been forgotten in the aviation community. But the stylized horseshoe logo on Citation jets still pays homage to an old stallion

Concorde had the smallest passenger windows of all planes. Its speed of Mach 2 meant the outer surfaces ranged from 90° to 127° C during flight. Glass and aluminum expand at different rates, so by limiting the amount of glass, designers minimized the expansion-induced stresses.

During the interwar period, the biggest seaplane was the Dornier Do X, which could transport 100 passengers for short flights or up to 66 for transatlantic distances. None of the Do X survived WWII, so now it lives on only in pictures. Follow Luminary Air Group for more history!

As ever, the Learjet was also a popular target for modification. One such case was NASA’s Learjet Observatory which sported a 12-inch infrared telescope that could fly above most of the atmosphere. Speaking of modification – that’s our specialty here at Luminary Air Group!

The Vickers Viscount (initially Viceroy) first flew in '48 and the final Viscount was not retired until 2009. The plane didn’t get Luminary’s acoustic insulation, but you can. To get our cutting-edge treatments for your own craft, give us a call and tell us exactly what you need!

Leonardo touts the AW609 as perfect for medevac, search & rescue, and general utility roles, both for military and civilian customers. We hope to see them in the sky soon. Luminary Air Group has decades of experience fitting cabins for the specialized rigors of medical missions!

Boeing’s B-52 is not the only 1950s bomber design that still sees active service. The Tu-16 'Badger' is a twin-engine jet aircraft that first flew in 1952, and was similar to the American B-47. The Badger continues to ply the skies in China in the form of the Xi’an H-6.

Frank Sinatra was famous for more than just his music and his purported mob ties – he also became a big proponent of the private jet. Sinatra owned multiple aircraft throughout his life, including a Martin 404 (pictured), a Morane-Saulnier MS.760, a Gulfstream II and a Learjet 23

Following the success of the Falcon 20 and Falcon 10, Dassault decided the next logical step for their business jets was not to increase passenger capacity, but rather improve the range. They accomplished this with the three-engine Falcon 50 which took its maiden flight in 1976.

The Avro Lancaster was Britain’s most famous WWII bomber, but its lineage continued well past the war. The design had already been improved upon to become the Avro Lincoln before Germany surrendered. But its ultimate incarnation would be called the Avro Shackleton.

In October 2023, the national leaders of Spain and India met to inaugurate India’s first private military aircraft manufacturing facility. The first C-295 is slated to roll off the Valdodara line in 2026. Once India’s needs are met, it will likely start serving other militaries..

Anyone who follows the world of business jets will know that Honda announced in 2021 their intention to expand on the popular HA-420 HondaJet design. But where many private jets die quietly on the drawing board, Honda appears ready to make their new HA-480 “Echelon” a reality.

The Beechcraft King Air may be over 40 years old, but it still has plenty of history to write. Here at Luminary Air Group, we’re happy to say we’re contributing to that history. Want to turn yours into the perfect tour plane? Air ambulance? Special-mission craft? Call us today!

World War II resulted in more aircraft being produced than any other period in history. The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses were numerous, numbering about 12,700 and became the face of the bombing campaign. Follow us here at Luminary Air Group for more aviation factoids every week!

At least 60 SS airships were built during WWI and flew a combined 50,000 hrs. Reportedly, they sighted a grand total of 49 U-boats, 27 of which were later engaged by Royal Navy forces. Are you a fan of aviation history? Keep an eye on Luminary Air Group’s page for more every week

In addition to their work with rockets and spacecraft, NASA has a fleet of aircraft for its research projects. They acquired a Pilatus PC-12 which is currently based at the Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The primary purpose is to test technologies for the ATM-X project

What ultimately became the Canadair CP-107 Argus began with the Bristol Britannia as the template. Gone was the elegant cigar-shaped fuselage, replaced with a simpler unpressurized one. The CP-107 was the first aircraft to incorporate titanium and plastic as part of the structure

The AC-208 Combat Caravan comes in several different configurations and had its first active combat mission in 2014 but it hasn't been a blockbuster seller. Cessna also threw their hat in the ring for US Special Operations Command’s Armed Overwatch program with an MC-208 Guardian