Year: 2023

The painting depicts the moment a Wirraway used tracer fire during the Battle of Wau in New Guinea – thought to be the first example of forward air control in military history.

The year after the year after the pandemic was meant to be quiet, but 2023 proved anything but. Here we present the biggest stories of the year. Click the links to our full coverage.

Qantas has ordered 29 of the aircraft type to replace its ageing QantasLink 717 fleet. Each A220 will seat 137 passengers and have the potential to fly between any two points across Australia non-stop.

In comes after Orbit’s unique satellite-launching 747 failed after taking off from Cornwall in south-west England earlier this year. A later investigation revealed a simple fuel filter dislodged mid-launch, leading to the loss of all nine payloads onboard.

The deal, which includes pay increases of between 14 and 18 per cent over three years, as well as an extra six days off per year, recognition for unpaid standby time, and overtime after nine hours, comes after months of negotiations and an intervention by Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson.

It follows the IATA, the world aviation’s biggest aviation trade association, passing a resolution for its members to hit net zero by 2050.