This special issue of the Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology (AEAT) Journal, dedicated to the 6th European Aeronautics Science Network (EASN) International Conference on "Innovation in European Aeronautics Research". The long-term goal of EASN is to build up an open, unique European platform in order to structure, support and upgrade the research activities of European universities dealing with aeronautics, as well as to facilitate them to respond to their key role within the European aeronautical research community in incubating new knowledge and breakthrough technologies.