2025 in review: The top aircraft developments we saw in 2025

2025 has been an important year of aircraft developments, with new aircraft being announced and delivered, companies ending production on classic aircraft, special demonstrations at air shows and records being broken.The following stories are some of the important developments GlobalAir.com has seen through 2025. 10. Denali debuts at Sun n Fun Textron Aviation debuted its Beechcraft Denali aircraft at the 2025 SUN 'n FUN Aerospace Expo on April 1-6 in Lakeland, Florida. The Denali program received the FAA certification of the GE Aerospace Catalyst turboprop engine on Feb. 27 and the program has amassed over 2,700 flight hours and 1,000 flights across the three test articles. The article can be read here. 9. King Air demo Paris Air Show Textron also debuted its new multi-mission Beechcraft King Air demonstration aircraft at the International Paris Air Show on June 16-19. The aircraft is meant for government, military and commercial use and is powered by PT6A-67A engines with dual oil coolers and extended-range fuel tanks. The aircraft also has a factory-installed extended utility nose, wing hardpoint provisions and a cargo door for air ambulance and freight operations. The article can be read here. 8. First PC-12 pro delivered Pilatus delivered its first PC-12 PRO aircraft to Dion Weisler, former CEO of HP Inc., in November. The PC-12 PRO is claimed to be the most advanced single-engine turboprop with 5 high-resolution touchscreen displays, a digital autothrottle system combined with the automatic Electronic Propeller and Engine Control System and a Pratt andamp; Whitney Canada PT6 engine. The article can be read here. 7. Last flying Douglas A-20 crashes The last remaining airworthy Douglas A-20 Havoc (N747HS) crash-landed during the WBCA Stars andamp; Stripes Air Show Spectacular in February at the Laredo International Airport (LRD). The light bomber and night fighter was designed in 1938 for the U.S. Army Air Corps but saw duty in the French, United Kingdom and Soviet Air Forces. The last of these aircraft were produced in 1944. While there were no casualties in the crash, N747HS was considered the only airworthy A-20 model in existence. The article can be read here. 6. TL Sport Backcountry TL Ultralight and its parent company, TL Sport Aircraft, unveiled the new Sirius BackCountry at Aero Friedrichshafen and showcased the STOL aircraft at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It's 700-mile range and 156 mph cruise surpass the Sirius it's based on. Kevlar carbon wraps rugged around comfort, cushioned by an Acme Aero Stinger pneumatic tail wheel assembly and Alaskan Gear Company bushwheels. The articles can be read here and here. 5. G300 announced / first flight Gulfstream Aerospace announced its replacement for the G280 model jet in September. The super-midsize Gulfstream G300 is designed to cover 3,600 nautical miles at Mach 0.80 or 3,000 nautical miles at Mach 0.84 with a maximum cruise altitude of 45,000 feet with its Honeywell engines. It will have a cabin altitude of 4,800 feet when flying at 41,000 feet, the lowest in its class, according to Gulfstream. It made its first flight on Dec. 5 at the Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel for 2 hours and 20 minutes at an altitude of 30,000 ft and at a speed of Mach 0.75. The articles can be read here and here. 4. Cub Crafters altitude record CubCrafter's Carbon Cub UL broke an altitude record for its backcountry aircraft in Oct. The aircraft climbed to a verified altitude of 37,609 ft above sea level at the San Luis Obispo Airport (SBP). It was piloted by pilot Jon Kotwicki, who wore a parachute as a precaution and relied on supplemental oxygen provided by project partner Mountain High Equipment andamp; Supply. The previous record of 30,203 ft was set in 1951 by aviator Caro Bayley in a PA-18 Piper Super Cub. The article can be read here. 3. First Global 8000 delivered / certified The Bombardier Global 8000 business jet entered into service on Dec. 8. It was delivered to Canadian businessman and longtime Bombardier customer, Patrick Dovigi. The aircraft then received FAA certification on Dec. 19. The aircraft has a range of 8,000 nautical miles, and what Bombardier says is the lowest cabin altitude in business aviation production. The articles can be read here and here. 2. Boom Supersonic flight Boom Supersonic completed the first supersonic flight of its XB-1 demonstrator aircraft while on livestream, breaking the sound barrier at the Mojave Air andamp; Space Port in California on Jan. 28. The demonstrator aircraft broke the sound barrier three times without generating a sonic boom that reached the ground, demonstrating that quiet supersonic travel is possible. The article can be read here. 1. Bonanza and Baron production end Textron removed the Baron and the Bonanza from its website in November and will no longer be producing new aircraft for the line. Once the current backlog of the Beechcraft Baron G58 and the Beechcraft Bonanza G36 is filled, the company plans to focus on the Denali turboprop. The company will continue to provide support for the aircraft. The article can be read here.