Also: Skydio Chief, Uncle Sam Sues, Dash 7 magniX, OR UAS Accelerator

US Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall was given a turn around the patch in the 'X-62A Variable In-flight Simulation Test Aircraft, or VISTA, to illustrate just how far autonomous aircraft have come. 

The aircraft sounds much snazzier than it is in reality, being a 30-year old, 2-seat F-16D with a nifty paint job and an R2-D2 in one of the seats. The aircraft has long been in the US Air Force Test Pilot School, where it received modifications for multi-axis thrust vectoring and aerodynamics. AgEagle Aerial Systems will ship 40 of its eBee VISION systems, along with 9 more eBees, with all the parts, support, connections, control stations, and miscellany required to keep the fleet operational in French army service. Maxar Intelligence has confirmed that the first two WorldView Legion satellites are performing well after being launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket last week from Vandenberg SFB, California. Shortly after launch, the satellites deployed their solar arrays and began receiving and sending signals. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-NextGen!!!

Airborne-NextGen 05.07.24 is chock full of info in this Weekly News Episode, Tuesday, May 7th, 2024... Presented by Aero-TV veteran videographer and Airborne Hosts Holland Lee, Sophie Hurlock, Brianne Cross, Christopher Odom, and Laura Hutson, and is supported by ANN CEO/Editor-In-Chief Jim Campbell, and Chief Videographer Nathan Cremisino, this episode covers:

• AI-Piloted F-16 Test Bed Gives Out Rides to USAF Brass 
• AgEagle Aerial Systems Ties Deal with French Army  
• First Two WorldView Legion Spacecraft Join Constellation
• Skydio Chief Offers Rare Insight Into US Drone Shortcomings
• Uncle Sam Sues To Seize $1.55 Million Aircraft Landing Gear
• Dash 7 to See magniX Electrification 
• Oregon UAS Accelerator Selects Executive Director  

Get Comprehensive, Real-Time, 24/7 coverage of the latest aviation and aerospace stories anytime, at aero-news.net. And be sure to join us again next week for the next edition of "Airborne-NextGen" here on Aero-TV. Thanks for watching. See you, again, next week!

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