NORAD-Tracked Activity Not Considered a Threat

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) recently announced that they had tracked four Russian military aircraft operating in the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) surrounding Alaska. The incident trails several other Russian military activities in the region this month.

Pilots Forced to React After Receiving Mid-Air Collision Alert

On September 19, two passengers on a flight from Newark to San Francisco were injured after United pilots executed an emergency maneuver. The aircraft had reportedly received a notification from their Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) and was attempting to escape a crash. With the recent increase in FAA scrutiny, another accident is likely the last thing United needs.

Powered by Four Honda Fit Engines With Custom Redrives... And It's Off The Runway In 300 Feet!

OK... not exactly an Affordable Flyer but certainly notable in sport aviation circles... there is a 35% scale homebuilt B-29 plying the skies these days... the extraordinary result of builder Tom Hodgson’s long-running development of the third scale replica, powered by 4 Honda Fit engines with a number of specially designed accessories to deliver enough power to get this 50 foot wingspan monster off in just 300 feet... on grass. 

First Road-Certified Flying Car Achieves New Heights

The PAL-V Liberty, the first true FlyDrive vehicle, recently passed its first Periodic Technical Inspection (PTI/APK). This milestone comes four years after the flying car’s official road certification. PAL-V will now be working to finalize the Liberty’s air certification through a compliance demonstration.

Rapid Modernization Required in Nearly 40% of FAA ATC Systems

The U.S. Government and Accountability Office (GAO) is living up to its name after completing an audit on the 138 FAA air traffic control systems. The report found that 51 systems are painfully outdated, causing concern for both security and efficiency. The office’s investigation was motivated by a systems outage on January 11, 2023.

Final Date Confirmed: November 6-7-8, 2025 On SnF Campus

After a number of consults with our friends at Lakeland, a final decision was reached for the debut of the first Affordable Flying Expo. Those disappointed by the loss of both the Sebring and DeLand sport aviation fly-ins can rest easy now that the Affordable Flying Expo is finally and officially on the books for November 6-8 of 2025. The Affordable Flyer Expo will boast plenty of opportunities to inspect some aircraft, getting shoppers up close and intimate with new aircraft as they navigate the lengthy purchase process. It will also offer an exceptionally strong opportunity for MOSAIC issues to be explained, discussed, and utilized (if we actually get the rule by next Oshkos

Another Premium Features Comes to 'Performance Plus' Tier

ForeFlight has once again updated its 'FPL Drawer' with some modest enhancements for subscribers, but as per usual, some of them will be tied to the firm's pricier subscription tiers. Most notable is the addition of a nifty strip of data while quickly keying in waypoints to the standard flight planning window, telling pilots the essentials about their route like distance, ETE/ETA, fuel burn, winds, and corridor width. For those who find it a little obtrusive, the window can be compacted to gain additional room for the map underneath.

Also: LSA Mistook For Drone-BANG!, 2025 Flight Sim Expo, Multi-Mission Hardware, Joby in UAE

Vertical Aerospace recently completed Phase I testing of its VX4 prototype. They are now working with the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to start untethered tests. The Vertical VX4 features a 20% power-to-weight ratio increase from the previous model, allowing it to reach cruise speeds of 150 mph. Last month we described how the FAA sent notices of violations to 27 operators of UAS, along with proposed fines totaling more than $341,000. The largest fine was $32,700 for an operator whose drone caused a Wesley Chapel, Florida, Sheriff’s Office heli

Also: LSA Mistook For Drone-BANG!, 2025 Flight Sim Expo, Multi-Mission Hardware, Joby in UAE

Vertical Aerospace recently completed Phase I testing of its VX4 prototype. They are now working with the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to start untethered tests. The Vertical VX4 features a 20% power-to-weight ratio increase from the previous model, allowing it to reach cruise speeds of 150 mph. Last month we described how the FAA sent notices of violations to 27 operators of UAS, along with proposed fines totaling more than $341,000. The largest fine was $32,700 for an operator whose drone caused a Wesley Chapel, Florida, Sheriff’s Offi

The Intent Of The Flight Was To Spread The Ashes Of A Recently Deceased Family Member

On September 1, 2024, about 1102 mountain daylight time, an American Champion Aircraft 8GCBC, N23BD, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Meeteetse, Wyoming. The pilot sustained serious injuries, and the passenger was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A family member of the passenger reported that, the intent of the flight was to spread the ashes of a recently deceased family member over the Shoshone National Forest.

From 2022 (YouTube Version): Jenny, I’ve Got Your Number...

Among the magnificent antique aircraft on display at EAA’s AirVenture 2022 was a 1918 Curtiss Jenny painstakingly constructed to Curtiss’s original specifications by the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Chapter 1414 in cooperation with the Vintage Wings and Wheels Museum. The two organizations, both of which hail from the village of Poplar Grove in north-central Illinois, set about the project in service of a noble, joint ambition to build a flying aircraft representative of aviation’s iconic early days.

Aero Linx: International Aviation Womens Association (IAWA)

The International Aviation Womens Association (IAWA) is an international organization for women who hold positions of impact in the aviation and aerospace industry. Founded in 1988, IAWA brings together women of achievement and promotes their advancement throughout the world. Women are assuming greater and more visible roles within the industry. Through annual global conferences, regional receptions and connects, IAWA provides a forum to share views on matters of importance to the industry, as well as to women in general. 

Altitude Reservation (ALTRV) Airspace utilization under prescribed conditions normally employed for the mass movement of aircraft or other special user requirements which cannot otherwise be accomplished. ALTRVs are approved by the appropriate FAA facility.  

“...this Russian activity in the Alaska ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat." Source: From a press release from NORAD, detailing how four Russian aircraft were detected within the ADIZ. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) recently announced that they had tracked four Russian military aircraft operating in the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) surrounding Alaska. The incident trails several other Russian military activities in the region this month. The command clarified that these aircraft did not breach American or Canadian airspace.