From 2022 (YouTube Edition): Educate, Inspire, and Honor Through Flight

To say that the crew of the Commemorative Air Force’s B-17, Texas Raiders, is passionate would be an understatement! Crew Member and Wing Historian for the CAF Gulf Coast Wing, Kevin ‘K5’ Michels is absolutely no exception. After taking a flight on the B-17 we caught up with Michels to hear a little about the history of the CAF and this particular aircraft. The CAF was formed in 1957 by Lloyd Nolen with the $1,500 purchase of a P-51D Mustang. The CAF has grown tremendously since its inception in Mercedes, TX nearly 65 years ago. 

Aero Linx: Brodhead Pietenpol Association The Brodhead Pietenpol Association is a newly reorganized (in 2017) non-profit educational corporation that grew and developed from an earlier type club for owners, pilots, builders, and aficionados of the Pietenpol Aircamper and Sky Scout. The original BPA was started in 1975 (then called the National Pietenpol Association) as a social and builder support group. It has evolved over the years and now, after four decades, has blossomed into a newly re-organized Pietenpol-focused educational organization with part of its mission now including among other activities, promoting aviation safety related to antique amateur-built aircraft, disseminating safe amateur aircraft building info, and promoting recognition of the historical significance of Bernard Pietenpol as a ground-breaking designer, builder and promoter of early amateur-built aircraft.

NonDirectional Beacon An L/MF or UHF radio beacon transmitting nondirectional signals whereby the pilot of an aircraft equipped with direction finding equipment can determine his/her bearing to or from the radio beacon and “home” on or track to or from the station. When the radio beacon is installed in conjunction with the Instrument Landing System marker, it is normally called a Compass Locator. 

There's A Lot To Like On ANN's Latest Social Media Site

We all know how important Social Media is to a lot of people, particularly those under 30. We also know how important those folks are to the future of aviation. In so many forums and at so many events, we talk about how to attract the next generation of pilots, mechanics, and enthusiasts to our industry, and social media is certainly critical to getting the message out to those who practically live online.

“We achieved full mission success today, and I am so proud of the team. It turns out Never Tell Me The Odds had perfect odds—never before in history has a booster this large nailed the landing on the second try. This is just the beginning as we rapidly scale our flight cadence and continue delivering for our customers.” Source: Dave Limp, CEO of Blue Origin, following their logging a clean booster recovery with New Glenn, giving Jeff Bezos’ company something it has been publicly chasing for years: proof that its heavy-lift rocket can reuse components the same way SpaceX has since October 2024. The flight also shipped two NASA satellites towards Mars as New Glenn’s first paying-customer science payload.

Negotiated Agreement Fell Through in August Due to Unexpected ASTG Objections

After more than five years of unsuccessful contract talks, pilots at Air Transport International (ATI) are ready to strike. The dispute follows the collapse of a long-awaited agreement in August, which pilots say was derailed when ATI’s parent company, Air Transport Services Group (ATSG), raised last-minute objections that stripped away key updates.

Spaceplane Checks Off Several Pre-Flight Tests at Kennedy Space Center

Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser spaceplane has cleared another round of pre-flight milestones at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, bringing the lifting-body vehicle a step closer to the skies. The company has been running the spacecraft through a long list of test campaigns ahead of its debut under NASA’s CRS-2 cargo contract.

ALPA Now Calls for FAA Protections in Future Government Closures

The federal government’s reopening after a 43-day shutdown was cause for widespread celebration throughout the industry, which was on the brink of collapse as thousands of flights were chopped each day it dragged on. For unions, the excitement was quickly replaced with the urge to protect aviation when a repeat inevitably occurs.

ALPA Now Calls for FAA Protections in Future Government Closures

The federal government’s reopening after a 43-day shutdown was cause for widespread celebration throughout the industry, which was on the brink of collapse as thousands of flights were chopped each day it dragged on. For unions, the excitement was quickly replaced with the urge to protect aviation when a repeat inevitably occurs. The Air Line Pilots Association, which represents more than 80,000 pilots across the US and Canada, is leading the charge. Specifically, the union is calling on Congress to pass the Aviation Funding Stability Act, which would allow the FAA to continue operating during funding lapses by drawing from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund (AATF).

Brazilian Air Force And Saab Partner On Flight Test Campaign

Embraer and Saab, along with the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), successfully completed the certification flight test campaign for in-flight refueling of the Gripen E fighter jet by the KC-390 Millennium multi-role aircraft.