Lockheed Martin LM-100J and Russia’s new Irkut MC-21 airliner made their maiden flights in late May. Both are detailed in this month’s issue – the MC-21, appears on the front cover for the first time.

AIRSCENE, our monthly news section, provides an exclusive report on the Alenia-Aermacchi M-345 trainer; roll-out of one of the world’s largest aircraft - the Stratolaunch - at Mojave, California; a shoot-out by Austrian Eurofighters in Germany; Tiger tails from this year’s NATO Tiger Meet in France; a show report from HeliRussia including the maiden flight of the Kamov Ka-62 helicopter; and the usual mix of commercial and military stories from around the world.

Lead feature this month is an overview of America’s Doomsday plane; the US Navy’s E-6B Mercury, a military derivative of the Boeing 707. Tasked with various strategic missions, the E-6B makes interesting reading.

Other FEATURES cover issues surrounding gender equality in the airline industry; the RAF’s air mobility operational conversion unit – No.24 Squadron – tasked with A400, C-17A and C-130J crew training; engine exchange services for commercial aircraft; Exercise Atlantic Trident involving four of the world’s most advanced fighters – the F-22 Raptor, F-35A Lightning II, Typhoon FGR4 and Rafale – all packing a magnificent punch; Serbia’s MiG-29 Fulcrum fleet, its status and new aircraft; an overview of the highly-capable Alpha Jet, now in its final months of service with the Portuguese Air Force; Italy’s new M-346 Fighter Attack variant of the successful M-346 jet; and a look at Luftwaffe Eurofighters dropping bombs over the North Sea.

Packed with back-to-back news stories and features from cover to cover, no other aviation magazine packs so much in to 100 pages.