FlightGlobal Focus

The former head of the US Army says a new generation of hybrid-electric rotorcraft can provide significant tactical advantages over traditional helicopters, including faster flight speeds and increased range.
General James McConville was the chief of staff of the US Army from 2019 to 2023. He’s also a seasoned rotary-wing aviator, having flown the Apache, Black Hawk, Kiowa and Cobra, among others.
After retiring from the uniformed service, McConville joined the board of electric aircraft start-up Beta Technologies and helped shape development of the company’s MV250 – an unmanned, hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing design that represents Beta’s first dedicated military aircraft. 
McConville argues that hybrid-electric aircraft can offer significant tactical benefits compared to traditional helicopters, including increased range and flight speeds. 
In an interview with FlightGlobal at the 2026 Farnborough air show, McConville laid out why he chose to join Beta and how his military experience shaped the company’s design choices on the MV250.

IATA has appointed its first female director general and its first leader in more than 40 years to come from outside the airline industry.
This week, Graham Dunn and Kerry Reals from FlightGlobal's Airlines team discuss the sustainability challenge facing Saadia Zahidi, and how her background at the World Economic Forum could prove to be a real advantage.

From the sidelines of the 2026 Farnborough air show last week, our editors and reporters break down the stories that dominated this year's exhibition. From commercial aircraft and engine orders to hybrid-electric technology development and defence announcements, we tell you all you might have missed.

This year's Farnborough air show kicks off as airlines grapple with the fallout from the Middle East conflict.
Meanwhile, governments around the world are seeking to dramatically expand the production of defence equipment amid geopolitical volatility.
The entire FlightGlobal team is at Farnborough this week to cover the news as it happens. In this episode, find out what the key themes are this year, in defence, aerospace and airlines.
FlightGlobal's Americas defence reporter Ryan Finnerty joins defence managing editor Greg Waldron, Asia airlines editor Alfred Chua and aerospace managing editor Jon Hemmerdinger this week.

One of two engine choices for the Boeing 787, the Trent 1000 has faced durability challenges as thrust demands have increased across the Dreamliner fleet. However, the manufacturer has been working hard on a series of enhancements that it is now rolling out, leading to dramatic improvements to time on wing.
In an interview with Murdo Morrison, Rachel Walker, senior vice-president for the Trent 1000, explains how the programme is progressing, and why Rolls-Royce is convinced it is already changing perceptions of the product.