Solberg-Hunterdon Owners Claim New Ordinance Threatens Long-Term Viability

The owners of Solberg-Hunterdon Airport (N51) have taken their dispute with local officials to court, arguing that a newly adopted zoning procedure by Readington Township is designed to quietly “suffocate” airport operations -- not just regulate them. The lawsuit claims the measure would prevent modernization and eventually make the family-run field economically unsustainable.

Refueling Tanker Without Active Transponder Revives Airspace Safety Concerns

A JetBlue flight en route from Curacao to New York was forced to yield to a US Air Force tanker that passed directly through its projected flight path near Venezuelan airspace. The incident occurred roughly 40 miles off the Venezuelan coast and prompted the JetBlue crew to warn controllers of an immediate collision risk.

Yes... We Will Be On A Holiday Schedule For The Christmas Holiday

As the Aero-News staff observes the worldwide holiday of Christmas this weekend, we wanted to let our readers know that ANN will still be on the job, reporting breaking news in the aviation and aerospace fields as it happens -- in Real Time -- just like always. Aero-News will be publishing at a slightly reduced level on December 25th and 26th, as our staffers spend some time with their families... some of whom may not recognize them away from their computers. Basically, we're going to treat the long weekend as just that: a long weekend, meaning you'll still be able to find several new stories each day on our website.

Designed Specifically for 12-Volt Experimental and Home-Built Aircraft

Hartzell Engine Tech announced the expansion of its leading Sky-Tec brand with the new line of lightweight engine starters designed for experimental and home-built aircraft with 12-volt electrical systems. The new series of starters are designated the “XP’ line and will be available through Hartzell Engine Tech’s global distribution network in the first quarter of 2026.

Global Life In Network Hits Major Milestone

Austro Engine announced the global fleet of Diamond Aircraft powered by its engines has eclipsed a cumulative total of more than 5 million Life In Network flight hours. This landmark reinforces the efficiency, reliability, and performance of the company’s powerplants.

$610M Bump Strains Budget, Adds To Contract Squabble

Switzerland has reduced the order of Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation fighter aircraft after the U.S. government enforced a price increase of $610 million, after a contract dispute by the two parties. The original order was for 36 of the stealth aircraft.

Also: Archer Takes On Hawthorne Airport, Saudi GACA, Soyuz Return, Push To Invest In SAF 

Electra is walking its EL9 hybrid-electric aircraft into the formal certification phase, filing its application with the FAA to begin the Part 23 process. Work with the FAA now shifts from compliance in development to acceptance of the certification plan and building out the test program. “This certification application signals that the EL9 is fast becoming a reality and reflects the progress our team and the FAA have made together,” said Electra CEO Marc Allen. EVIO has unveiled the product of more than eight years of rigorous development: the EVIO 810 hybrid-electric regional aircraft… and a lengthy list of customers to go with it. The Montreal-based company has secured conditional agreements and options for 450 airplanes, setting the stage for an entry into service in the early 2030s. The clean-sheet design is backed by invest

Safer Skies Act Would Expand Authority Ahead of the World Cup

The US House of Representatives has given the green light to legislation aimed at closing a long-standing gap in airspace security over large stadiums. The bill would allow state and local law enforcement to disable unauthorized drones during games and other major events.

Also: The Aircraft That Delivered, Breakthroughs and Breakdowns Report, Aero-Standouts, Aero-Stumbles 

Welcome to a special episode of Airborne Unlimited... with a look back at 2025 and what it all might mean for 2026. Call it The Aero-News Aviation Reality Check — 2025 Edition, bit make no mistake... in one form or another, these are the stories, companies, planes and products that distinguished aviation this year. While there was a;lot to cover and much that we really didn't have th s[pace for, we wanted to offer some kudos to planes, products, powerplants and programs that deserved serious kudos... as well as those who most definitely did NOT. With MOSAIC finally out of the bag, partially, the industry stands at the forefront of great possibilities so long as it is ready to take advantage of the opportunities ahead of us and NOT blow it as it has with so many other promising developments. Still there are hazards ahead and in an

Also: Project Talon, McFarlane Acquisition, Sky-Tec Service, JPL Earth Helo Tests

Bombardier has earned a round of applause from the business aviation community, celebrating the formal entry into service of what it calls the “fastest civil aircraft since the Concorde.” Keys to the first Global 8000 were turned over to loyal customer and GFL Environmental CEO Patrick Dovigi on December 8. The Global 8000 comes with a headline-grabbing Mach 0.95 top speed, a certified 8,000-nautical-mile range, and a cabin altitude of just 2,691 feet at cruise. California Representative Darrell Issa (CA-48) announced the finalized 2026 National Defense Authorization Act includes his legislation that permits U.S. Navy Capt. E. Royce Williams (Ret.) to be eligible to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. The NDAA is expected to be approved by the House and Senate in the coming days before heading to President Donald Trump’s desk for his sig