600 Business Jets to Receive the Connectivity Service By the End of 2026

NetJets is joining the ever-growing number of operators turning to low-Earth-orbit internet, announcing that it will equip 600 aircraft with Starlink connectivity under a new agreement with SpaceX. Installations start almost immediately and are expected to run through the end of 2026, marking one of the largest business-aviation rollouts of the service to date.

Recovered In 400 Feet Of Water Under The South China Sea

The Navy has recovered the F/A-18F Super Hornet and MH-60R Seahawk aircraft that crashed in the South China Sea during two separate incidents in October off the USS Nimitz (CVN 68). A contracted boat equipped with an unmanned system retrieved the F/A-18F Super Hornet and MH-60R Sea Hawk from a depth of approximately 400 feet, according to U.S. Naval Institute News.

The Flying Bulls Will Bring Restored P-38 And DC-6B To EAA AirVenture

Marvin “Lefty” Gardner’s restored P-38 “White Lightnin,” which once flew with the Commemorative Air Force (CAF), will make an appearance this year at Oshkosh when Austria’s Flying Bulls bring the aircraft to the show. As ANN reported in June 2008, P-38 November-Two-Five-Yankee took to the skies after extensive renovation. It had previously been damaged in a forced landing, and the Gardner family sold the plane to energy drink manufacturer Red Bull. It was then transported to Ezell Aviation for an extensive restoration. Gardner, CAF co-founder and former chief check pilot, died at age 87 in 2008. The legendary aviator was a staple at Reno as well as at air shows throughout the country. 

Software Enables ForeFlight Flight Plan Pushed To AV-30

uAvionix, provider of avionics solutions for general aviation, announced the release of AV-30 software version 3.2.0 for the AV-30-E (experimental), followed soon by the update for the AV-30-C (certified). The update enables pilots to plan a route in ForeFlight, push it directly to the AV-30 display, and have the autopilot follow the flight plan.

Permits Royce Williams To Become Eligible For Congressional Award

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 signature.

Administrator Bryan Bedford Did Not Divest From His Old Airline Despite Promises

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford is under fire after the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) told lawmakers he failed to follow through on a key promise he made during his confirmation: divesting from the airline he once ran.

Also: Airbus Acquisition, USCG Helo Sniper, Remember Pearl Harbor, New Thunderbird 1

Gulfstream’s newest addition to its next-gen lineup, the super-midsize G300, is officially airborne. The jet lifted off from Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV), staying in the air for 2 hours and 25 minutes. The crew took the aircraft to 30,000 feet and cruised at Mach 0.75, checking off the major boxes needed to kick off the flight-test campaign. The Trump administration has officially locked in its pick to spearhead the biggest upgrade to America’s air traffic control system in decades. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford announced on December 4 that Virginia-based national security company Peraton has been selected as the program’s Prime Integrator. Aero-News friends over at Stop ADS-B Abuse have long profiled the infernal systems  where ADS-B data can track aircraft activity for fully-automated bill

Also: AirVenture Tkts, Pipistrel TC, Samson Patent, Kolb Aircraft Resumes Production

The FAA has released an updated set of advisory circulars to support the transition to the long-awaited Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) rule, offering new direction for pilots, instructors, and light-sport repairmen. The documents, published November 14, aim to align long-standing guidance with the performance-based system that will replace the outdated light-sport framework when MOSAIC takes effect in 2026. Dynon has released SkyView HDX software version 17.4, bringing a fresh round of upgrades and quality-of-life improvements to its flagship experimental avionics suite. The update centers on improving usability, expanding hardware compatibility, and ensuring the system remains current with global data models and evolving technology. Attendees and exhibitors of the Affordable Flying Expo were the first to hear about a powerful new ini

Gabriel Kesler Left Job In Healthcare To Pursue Flight Training

Minnesota flight instructor Gabriel Kesler has won Sporty’s $2,500 Pilot Training+ Scholarship, which he will use to obtain his multiengine and multiengine instructor ratings. Kesler is a newly certificated flight instructor who teaches in a variety of training environments, including EAA’s Sport Pilot Academy in Oshkosh, where he instructs in RV–12s and contributes to the Pilot Proficiency Center during AirVenture. He left a job in healthcare to pursue flight training full-time.

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 signature.