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✈️ World’s longest-range private jet, USAF gets eagle-inspired flying robots, spinal tumor removed through patient’s eye

Plus: China’s fusion reactor aims for 5x energy gain by end of 2027

The Gulfstream G800 has officially become the world’s longest-range private jet after earning certification from both the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

With a maximum range of 9,000 miles, the jet is designed to fly nearly anywhere in the world without a single stop—except Sydney, if taking off from London.

The G800 can cruise at Mach 0.85 and travel 8,200 nautical miles (15,186 kilometers), which is 200 nm more than earlier projections. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.

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If operated at Mach 0.87, it still covers 8,000 nm (14,816 km), and at a high-speed cruise of Mach 0.90, it can manage 7,000 nm (12,964 km). The jet’s maximum speed has also increased to Mach 0.935 (717 mph) from the earlier Mach 0.925.

“This level of performance is game-changing for private aviation,” said Mark Burns, president of Gulfstream. “With the certification of the G800, Gulfstream has again exceeded expectations thanks to the expertise and rigor of our flight test, certification, and manufacturing teams.”

The aircraft has also achieved improved takeoff and landing performance. It now needs only 5,812 feet (1,771 meters) for takeoff and 3,105 feet (946 meters) for landing under standard sea-level conditions, giving it access to a wider range of airports.

The US Air Force has inducted multiple aerial cargo glider systems to improve its autonomous resupply operations.

In a recent press release, California-based defense company DZYNE Technologies announced that it has delivered multiple “Grasshopper” expendable aerial cargo glider systems to the service.

This delivery is part of a broader effort to transform contested logistics operations by integrating precision-guided, unmanned aerial delivery platforms.

Neurosurgeons at the University of Maryland Medical Center in the U.S. have achieved a groundbreaking milestone by successfully removing a spinal tumor through a patient’s eye socket. The pioneering procedure could open new frontiers for treating deep-seated tumors.

Mohamed A. M. Labib, MD, a neurosurgeon and assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine who led the high-stakes operation, revealed that the patient, 19-year-old Karla Flores, had already undergone two grueling surgeries to remove the rare brain tumor called a chordoma.

However, during her recovery, doctors discovered another chordoma, this time near the base of her skull, requiring an even more innovative approach, as traditional ones, through the neck, mouth, or nose, posed major risks, including infection or limited visibility.

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