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AeroTime • Miquel Ros

Otto Aerospace advances Phantom 3500 to PDR, targets first test aircraft in 2027

Otto Aerospace says it has completed the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for its clean-sheet Phantom 3500 ultra-low-drag business jet, moving the program from conceptual work into detailed design and production planning. The company reiterated plans to launch its first test aircraft in 2027, with first flight anticipated the following year.

2026-05-14T02:24:02.740043-07:00

Financial Times

Anduril raises $5B and doubles valuation to ~$61B as it scales autonomous warship operations in Seattle

2026-05-13T01:23:12.090665-07:00

newsroom.lufthansagroup.com

Lufthansa to move to 90% control of ITA Airways, formalizing majority stake deal for EUR325 million

2026-05-12T02:05:54.075685-07:00

FlightGlobal

Vertical Aerospace chair Domhnal Slattery steps down as VX4 industrialisation ramps and up to $850M certification funding procee

2026-05-13T03:55:07.480044-07:00

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AeroTime

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Otto Aerospace advances Phantom 3500 to PDR, targets first test aircraft in 2027 Otto Aerospace says it has completed the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for its clean-sheet Phantom 3500 ultra-low-drag business jet, moving the program from conceptual work into detailed design and production planning. The company reiterated plans to launch its first test aircraft in 2027, with first flight anticipated the following year.

2026-05-14T02:24:02.740043-07:00

Otto Aerospace advances Phantom 3500 to PDR, targets first test aircraft in 2027

FlightGlobal

Vertical Aerospace chair Domhnal Slattery steps down as VX4 industrialisation ramps and up to $850M certification funding procee Vertical Aerospace says board chair Domhnal Slattery will depart effective 12 May, prompting the company to seek a new chair. The move lands as the VX4 programme enters industrialisation, with reported backing of up to $850M to support certification and early scale-up.

2026-05-13T03:55:07.480044-07:00

Vertical Aerospace chair Domhnal Slattery steps down as VX4 industrialisation ramps and up to $850M certification funding procee

Financial Times

Anduril raises $5B and doubles valuation to ~$61B as it scales autonomous warship operations in Seattle Anduril said it raised $5 billion in a round led by Thrive Capital and Andreessen Horowitz, doubling its valuation to about $61 billion in under a year. The company linked the financing to “aggressive” investment plans spanning manufacturing capacity, R&D and infrastructure to produce advanced defense systems, including autonomous warship operations in Seattle.

2026-05-13T01:23:12.090665-07:00

Anduril raises $5B and doubles valuation to ~$61B as it scales autonomous warship operations in Seattle

SpaceNews.com

Quantum Space to build maneuverable spacecraft in Tulsa, Oklahoma, aligning production with its new executive base Quantum Space says it will build its highly maneuverable spacecraft in Tulsa, Oklahoma, leveraging the city as the location of the company’s new chief executive. The decision ties the next phase of spacecraft development to an updated leadership and operations footprint in the US.

2026-05-12T12:24:46.032528-07:00

Quantum Space to build maneuverable spacecraft in Tulsa, Oklahoma, aligning production with its new executive base

Vertical Mag

Thibauld Jongen appointed EASA certification director EASA has named Thibauld Jongen as its aircraft certification director, placing him in charge of the agency’s certification posture and leadership of the function responsible for validating new and modified aircraft designs. The appointment signals a focus on combining innovation with aviation safety expertise within the EU type-certification framework.

2026-05-12T06:46:23.592482-07:00

Thibauld Jongen appointed EASA certification director

newsroom.lufthansagroup.com

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Lufthansa to move to 90% control of ITA Airways, formalizing majority stake deal for EUR325 million Lufthansa has confirmed it is formalizing its option to buy an additional 49% in ITA Airways, taking its stake to 90% for EUR325 million. The move follows the group’s earlier plan to secure control in late 2Q26/early 2027, extending Lufthansa’s integration of ITA into its systems and alliance operations.

2026-05-12T02:05:54.075685-07:00

Lufthansa to move to 90% control of ITA Airways, formalizing majority stake deal for EUR325 million

ch-aviation

China Eastern Airlines ex-chair held for bribery as corruption probe spotlights governance risks in airline procurement China Eastern Airlines’ former chair was held over an alleged bribery case, according to cluster coverage. The development adds to scrutiny of airline leadership conduct and the controls surrounding aircraft and other procurement decisions.

2026-05-11T17:03:41.420917-07:00

China Eastern Airlines ex-chair held for bribery as corruption probe spotlights governance risks in airline procurement

Bloomberg

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Boeing faces a 737 replacement crossroads as CEO Kelly Ortberg weighs how to sustain the comeback and rebuild trust Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg must soon decide how to replace the 737 and restore public confidence in the company’s trajectory. The strategic call comes against a backdrop of Boeing’s efforts to turn the page with regulators, airlines, and global customers, including in Trump- and China-linked diplomacy.

2026-05-11T15:47:26.665737-07:00

Boeing faces a 737 replacement crossroads as CEO Kelly Ortberg weighs how to sustain the comeback and rebuild trust

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Leadership News

Otto Aerospace advances Phantom 3500 to PDR, targets first test aircraft in 2027

Anduril raises $5B and doubles valuation to ~$61B as it scales autonomous warship operations in Seattle

Lufthansa to move to 90% control of ITA Airways, formalizing majority stake deal for EUR325 million

Vertical Aerospace chair Domhnal Slattery steps down as VX4 industrialisation ramps and up to $850M certification funding procee

News Timeline