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Even with the vast resources and incredibly far-reaching scope of the Aero-News Network, every now and then a story that should be reported on slips through our fingers. There's a lot of news out there, and sometimes we just don't get to all of it... so we came up with the idea of News Spies.

“We are disappointed with today’s verdict and respectfully disagree with the outcome. From the outset, we have maintained that Gogo’s independently developed 5G technology does not infringe SmartSky’s asserted patents, and their claims of patent protection are invalid..." Source: From a statement by Gogo, following their court loss, as a federal jury in Delaware has ruled against Gogo Business Aviation and found the company liable for infringing four patents held by its competitor SmartSky Networks. The decision orders Gogo to pay $22.7 million in damages.

The Upgraded Vehicle Didn’t Even Make It to Sunrise

The debut of SpaceX’s Starship Version 3 booster didn’t exactly go as planned, with its test campaign starting and ending before the sun even rose. Booster 18 suffered a major structural failure partway into what was supposed to be a long list of cryogenic checks and pressure trials at Massey’s.

Lt. Col. Prevendar Tags in as Thunderbird 1 for 2026-2027 Show Seasons

The US Air Force’s Thunderbirds demonstration team closed out the 2025 show season with an abrupt shift in plans, announcing a last-second change to their 2026-2027 Commander and Thunderbird 1 pilot. As expected, no drama was acknowledged…just “unique team requirements” that led them to reverse the earlier selection and install Lt. Col. Alexander “Knight” Prevendar as the next Commander/Leader.

Deadheading Crews Now Bypass Top-Tier Customers for First Class

A change to American Airlines’ upgrade policy for deadheading pilots has drawn quick controversy, with frequent flyers and airline employees split on whether the move is safety-enhancing or tone-deaf. Deadheading pilots now receive automatic priority over even the airline’s highest-status customers when first-class seats are available.

Also: Elfin 20 Journey, BASE Jumper Rescue, Pipistrel Makes Waves, EAA Hall of Fame, Affordable Flying Expo 2026

Like most of the industry, kit manufacturer Sonex has been hit by the ever-increasing costs of parts and materials, and is being forced to pass some of the burden off to customers beginning December 15. Still, Sonex’s prices remain well under par, with many of its complete airframe kits available for under $40,000. The company detailed the price shifts for Complete Airframe Kits, Quick Build Kits, and AeroVee engine packages. Produced jointly by the Aero-News Network and SUN ’n FUN—in addition to the pre-show SNF Innovation Preview, the all-week SUN ’n FUN Digital Daily, Saturday Flight Live coverage, and our extensive daily news and video output—we are introducing something significant. MOSAIC Day Debuts Thursday at SUN ’n FUN and will designate Thursday as MOSAIC Day, featuring a full day of focused

Special Mission Aircraft Enhance Country’s Surveillance And Emergency Response

Diamond Aircraft announced it has delivered three of its DA62 MPP multi-purpose platform, special mission aircraft to the Greek Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection. These aircraft will significantly enhance Greece’s capabilities for aerial surveillance and emergency response.

Fatality is the Seventh Tied to Longmont’s Mile-Hi Skydiving Since 2018

A 60-year-old skydiver passed away on November 16 after his parachute did not fully open during a solo jump with Mile-Hi Skydiving in Longmont. Since 2018, at least seven fatalities have been tied to this popular site, representing more than 7 percent of US skydiving deaths in the last 7 years.

ODAA, FAA Provided Funding Support For Major Improvement

Hooker Municipal Airport (O45) in Hooker, Oklahoma, celebrated the completion of a major infrastructure upgrade with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its shiny new self-serve fuel system on November 17, 2025. The new system provides both 100LL and Jet A.

Also: 1st-Ever Space Crime Was a Fraud, IAE Buys Diamonds, Kennon Bows Out, Perseverance Rover

An interesting moment came about this past Sunday as ANN CEO, Jim Campbell, noted that the Aero-News Network came into being 30 years ago. ANN was the first actual aviation online news service, and in the ensuing 30 years, has amassed an extraordinary record... over 600,000 stories, a total of videos, podcasts, Airborne and Aero-TV features surpassing 10,000 programs... The debut of SpaceX’s Starship Version 3 booster didn’t exactly go as planned, with its test campaign starting and ending before the sun even rose. Booster 18 suffered a major structural failure partway into what was supposed to be a long list of cryogenic checks and pressure trials at Massey’s Test Site. The US National Archives has declassified more than 4,600 pages of radio communications, maps, tables, and logs related to the disappearance of legendary aviator Amelia