It is almost unbelievable what has happened in the world over the past months and years. First the tragic conflict in Ukraine, and now the escalation in the Middle East. Reports on social media about combat operations involving air forces are spreading rapidly. One expert after another offers their assessment, and before long the shoot-down of an Iranian Yak-130 trainer is presented as a major success and proof of the superiority of the Israeli Lockheed Martin F-35I. Whether this is deliberate propaganda or simply the incompetence of some of these “experts” is difficult to say!

Our stated aim, however, is to examine the technical aspects as objectively as possible. Naturally, we too can only draw conclusions from the information available to us – and this is precisely the approach we have taken in our report on the Sukhoi Su-27/34/35 family. In doing so, we hope to provide a more nuanced perspective on the real capabilities of one of the best-known fighter aircraft families of our time.

On a much lighter note, our major feature on the 2026 season of the Shuttleworth Collection takes centre stage. Our correspondent Will Moore has compiled many of the highlights from the shows of this unique collection. Due to the sheer scale of the material, the article had to be split into two parts – the second instalment appears in this issue, alongside a report on two exercises and the farewell of a popular aerobatic team, or more precisely its aircraft: the CASA C-101 Aviojet.

In this spirit: happy landings – and always check your six!

Robert Kysela, managing editor CHK6