BizAv And GA Mobilizing After Hurricane Devastates Jamaica

The National Business Aviation Association says its HERO – Humanitarian Emergency Response Operator – database has been activated to respond to the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa’s devastating impact on the island nation of Jamaica.

Semi-Autonomous Test Flight Signifies ‘Continued Progress’

Anduril Industries’ YFQ-44A Collaborative Combat Aircraft was flown for the first time on October 31, 2025, announced by the U.S. Air Force, who also confirmed that a decision about production of the CAA is still expected during FY2026 despite the ongoing government shutdown.

Canadian Customers Can Now Receive Immediate Deliveries

Diamond Aircraft announced that its flagship DA50RG single-engine piston aircraft with retractable gear has received type certification from Transport Canada. This signifies another notable achievement in the company’s history of innovation as it expands the aircraft’s global regulatory approval and enables immediate deliveries to customers in Canada.

Also: Drone Rulemaking Stalled, LA County FD Adds FIREHAWKs, Wilsbach Confirmed, CAF Honors Vet

Even with parts of the federal government on pause, Yosemite National Park isn’t letting BASE jumpers off easy. Park officials announced that three people were recently convicted for illegal parachute jumps off Yosemite’s formations amid a legal push to lift the 40-year ban against them. BASE jumping has been prohibited in all national parks since the 1980s. One of the more intriguing features of the 2025 Affordable Flying Expo, scheduled for November 6-8 at the Sun n Fun Aerospace Expo campus is a Friday event we call the MOSAIC Town Hall. Scheduled for Friday, November 7th at 1800ET, the MOSAIC Town Hall will be presented in the nearby Prop 75 building and webcast LIVE via www.airborne-live.net and for the attending audience. Textron Aviation Defense announced production plans for the UJTS, or Undergraduate Jet Training System program. That

Unit In Germany Simulates Enemy Forces In JMRC Exercises

AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc., dba EagleNXT, a provider of advanced drone and aerial imaging solutions, announced the sale of three eBee VISION drones to the U.S. Army’s 1st Battalion, 4th  Infantry Regiment (1-4 IN), stationed at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany.

Also: AFE25 Ticket Info, Flying Into AFE, Deltahawk Steps WAY Up, SnF Invaluable to AFE25

OK... this is an insane record... and one that is likely to stand for a while as we’re not sure there are many who would choose to challenge it. A next-gen CubCrafters Carbon Cub UL has climbed to a verified altitude of 37,609 feet above sea level over the California coast just a few days ago — setting what CubCrafters claims to be an unofficial new world altitude record for Cub-type aircraft (and let’s face it, it’s not likely that most Cub-types have seen anywhere near HALF that altitude. The Affordable Flying Expo is building up a healthy head of steam as additional exhibitors join the mix and the list of aircraft on display grows by the day. Recently, we received confirmation of the Deltahawk RV14 test vehicle, and added both Tecnam and JMB Aircraft added 5, possibly as many as 7 additional aircraft to the growing static display lin

Further Expands Air Medical Transportation Capabilities

Bell Textron hosted a special signing ceremony at the Air Medical Transport Conference with Air Methods to announce a purchase agreement for three Bell 407GXi helicopters to add to their fleet as well as to celebrate a recent delivery of a Bell 429. Together, the new aircraft further expand the air medical transportation capabilities of Air Methods.

Also: AIR Loses eVTOL Demonstrator, USCG Getting New Helos, Freighter Fleet To Grow, US Army Falls Behind

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, in partnership with NASA, successfully completed the first flight of the X-59, an innovative, quiet supersonic aircraft designed to return the capability of supersonic flight to commercial air travel. The X-59 launched from the Skunk Works facility at the U.S. Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, and landed near the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. King Schools is stepping up to help fill the gap left by the sudden closure of AceCFI, offering impacted CFIs a major discount to its Flight Instructor Refresher Course (FIRC). AceCFI, an online FIRC service, ceased operations after its FAA authorization expired on September 30, 2025. While the FAA had officially removed AceCFI from its list of approved providers on August 29, few customers received any advance notice. Nearly a month in

Also: Beech M-346N, Metro Gains H160 EMS STC, New Bell Boss, Affordable Flying Expo Tickets NOW On Sale!

Purdue University’s Research Foundation and the Archaeological Legacy Institute have confirmed that they will be putting their quest to find Amelia Earhart’s Lockheed Electra aircraft on hold until next year. The announcement blamed seasonal weather that would jeopardize the expedition if it continued to wait for Kiribati’s green light. SpaceX is clipping the wings on its Starlink Mini users. The company announced that starting November 7, 2025, the maximum supported operating speed for its Roam, Local Priority, and Global Priority plans will drop from 550 mph (471 knots) to 450 mph (391 knots). The change comes as part of what SpaceX calls “ongoing efforts to optimize network performance.” Months after the Federal Aviation Administration pulled her medical on bogus mental health-related claims, Xyla Foxlin has retu

John Vining Discusses At EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025

ANN’s Jim Campbell spoke with John Vining, North American Sales Manager for SD Planes, at the 2025 EAA AirVenture Air Show and Fly-in in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. John said the company is manufacturing the 51% kit in the Czech Republic right now and they are available in the U.S. He said there is interest as he sold three kits last year and two the year before. The airplane is classified “EAB” that is, Experimental Amateur Built, and based on its performance it can be flown with a Sport or Private pilot license. It can be configured with lights for legal night flight.