Author: Gareth

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Structure: ‘Comparatives and superlatives’

What are comparatives and superlatives?

When Hermeus flew its Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 past the sound barrier, every report wanted to know one thing: was it faster than anything a private company had flown before? To answer questions like that in English, we reach for comparatives and superlatives.

A comparative compares two things (the Mk 2.2 will be faster than the Mk 2.1). A superlative picks out one from a whole group (hypersonic flight is the company’s most ambitious goal).

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Hermeus Breaks Sound Barrier with Unmanned Jet at Mach 1.21

Hermeus Quarterhorse unmanned supersonic jet climbing over New Mexico desert with afterburner

An American aerospace company has broken the sound barrier for the first time as a private firm. Hermeus flew its Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 aircraft to Mach 1.21 on 26 May 2026. It was only the jet’s third test flight.

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Roleplay: Engine Fire on Takeoff from Gatwick

Your briefing

Aircraft: Boeing 737-800
Callsign: Speedbird 472
Route: London Gatwick (EGKK) to Rome Fiumicino (LIRF)
Current state: You have just taken off from runway 26L at Gatwick and are climbing through 500 feet when the right engine fire warning activates. Your co-pilot is beginning the engine fire memory items. You are on Gatwick Departure frequency.
Souls on board: 137
Your role: Pilot Flying (PF)

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Vocabulary: Six Words from the Headlines

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Word on the Wing: six words from the headlines

Welcome to Word on the Wing, our regular look at the aviation English behind the news. Below are six terms that turned up in recent aviation stories — from a budget airline’s collapse to a hydrogen-powered jet engine — each with a clear definition, an example, and a note on how to use it.

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Structure: ‘The first conditional’

What is the first conditional?

The first conditional describes a real or likely situation in the future. It has two parts: an if-clause (the condition) and a result clause (what will happen). The key rule: after if, use the present simple — not a future form. The result clause uses will + a base verb.

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FAA Launches Public Tracker for $12.5 Billion ATC Rebuild

Airport radar tower and communication equipment at dawn

The United States government has launched a new website that lets anyone track how a $12.5 billion investment in air traffic control (ATC) infrastructure is being spent. Called Modern Skies, the platform was unveiled on 22 May 2026 by the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It shows the progress of more than 10,000 projects at over 4,600 FAA facilities around the country.

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