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“This is more than just an airplane — it’s a tool for exploration and a symbol of freedom. By entering the raffle, you're not only getting a shot at owning a serious backcountry machine — you're also investing in the future of public access to America’s most remote airstrips.” Source: Brad Damm, Executive Director of JRBAF, extolling the virtues of the Jim Richmond Backcountry Aviation Foundation's announcement of the Grand Prize for its 2025/2026 charitable raffle: an outstanding, meticulously restored, fully backcountry-ready 1958 Cessna 182 sporting a red on white paint scheme, STOL kit, oversized backcountry tires, and other extensive upgrades.

Rumor Mill Says Most Dev Work is Finished for Long-Delayed Cargo Carrier

Boeing’s 777X might be getting close to certification, according to pundits watching the process from afar–at least, that’s what the rumor mill says. The biggest issue for the 777-9s had to do with thrust links breaking under vibration, a problem that quickly grounded the test fleet when it came to light. Beefed up linkages, and some extra engineering-hours invested seem to have things back on the right track, and not a moment too soon. Scott Hamilton of Leeham News reported on the issue with some confidence, believing that the 777-9 will be coming out of the oven pretty soon. “Boeing sees the program is finally on track for certification this year and EIS next year..."  

AirVenture Crowds to Get a Peek at Classic Racer Plane

EAA Chapter 252 has just finished up work on their non-flying display version of Wittman’s Buster racer using a combination of newly manufactured and classic parts. The effort to resurrect a classic racer honors some of Oshkosh, Wisconsin’s own aviation pioneers, drawing on local talents to build a replica from the ground-up. The (non-flying) aircraft dug deep into EAA archives to bring out some of the old cast-off parts from the original racer, which mate to a perfectly recreated scratch-built airframe that looks every bit the winner of 1947.

Company Says Two Test Aircraft Will Be Flying Next Year

The U.S. Air Force says that an expansion of production of its Next-gen stealth bomber, Northrop’s B-21 Raider, could be accomplished at the company’s Palmdale, California plant. The Air Force also said that at least two of the aircraft should be flying in 2026 and although they’ll be configured for testing, they can be rapidly converted for combat use.

Software Delays Clear, Production Schedule Back On Track

Lockheed Martin has delivered, as of May 1, 2025, 72 F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft to the Department of Defense following several months of delays in implementing the Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3), according to the Pentagon’s F-35 Joint Program Office, or JPO.

Aviation Assets Make 39 Water Drops In 23 Flight Hours

Aviation assets of the U.S. Army’s Kosovo Force Regional Command-East (KFOR RC-E) reacted swiftly and decisively with rapid coordination to respond to a wildfire threatening the centuries-old Serbian Orthodox Devic Monastery located in the Drenica Valley. Over the course of 23 flight hours the team made 39 water drops to stave off the fire’s advance.

Interest Revives But Assembly Lines Closed, Plant For Sale

Following the latest Paris Air Show, Boeing announced it is evaluating the possibility of restarting production of its giant C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlift platform ten years after the last one was delivered to the U.S. Air Force.

From 2010 (YouTube Edition): Ed McKeown Introduces His Award-Winning Rearwin Restoration

Inspired by the world’s newfound aviation intrigue, Raymond Andrew Rearwin, along with his sons Royce and Ken, started Rearwin Airplanes in 1928. Bursting into the industry scene during the “Golden Age of Aviation,” the company designed and built more than 400 aircraft before closing in 1946. Among the instrument trainers and gliders, Rearwin Airplanes debuted the Rearwin Cloudster in 1939; featuring strut-braced high-wings, the aircraft included an enclosed cabin and fixed, tailskid undercarriage.  Though the Cloudster’s commercial success was poor, the airplane has remained a namesake among antique aviation enthusiasts.

The Airplane Made A Sharp Left Turn Towards The Runway Impacting The Ground Just North Of The Runway

On June 24, 2025, about 0934 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-300 airplane, N3609Q, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Big Lake, Alaska. The pilot and flight instructor were seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The airplane departed from the Palmer Municipal Airport (PAQ) at about 0900 on a training flight with about 60 gallons of fuel on board. A witness at the Big Lake Airport (BGQ) reported seeing the airplane over the trees on the south end of the runway. The airplane made a sharp left turn towards the runway impacting the ground just north of the runway.