Chang’e-6 Return Capsule Lands in Inner Mongolia

China’s Chang’e-6 mission has returned to Earth bearing samples collected from the far side of the Moon in a historic first for lunar exploration. Chang’e 4 was the first-ever landing of a spacecraft on the far side, and China became the third country after the United States and the Soviet Union to return a near-side sample with its Chang’e-5 flight in 2020. The sample return capsule landed Tuesday June 25 at about 2:07 EDT (2:07 pm Beijing time) in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Leased Aircraft Trapped in Russia After Invasion

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022 effectively trapped about 400 aircraft that had been leased to various Russian commercial airlines. Since then, international aircraft leasing companies have been suing dozens of insurance providers on claims for the aircraft. Upon reaching financial settlements with the Russian state-owned insurance company NSK the insurers turned over ownership to NSK, who then transferred ownership of the aircraft to the Russian airlines. Insurance claims settled thus far have totaled nearly $3 billion covering about 100 of the aircraft. The total amount of claims when all is settled could be more than $8 billion.

Coulson Aviation’s Aircraft Will Go On Permanent Display in Museum

In April 2024, Port Alberni, British Columbia-based Coulson Aviation announced it was donating its 1940s World War II-era Martin JRM-3 Mars converted waterbomber Hawaii Mars to the British Columbia Aviation Museum. It was originally anticipated to be ready for delivery in the fall of this year however, the company announced on June 24 that the aircraft will make its final flight to the museum in August, months ahead of schedule. Coulson purchased two of the Mars aircraft in 2007 to begin the company’s fixed-wing air tanker capability to support aerial wildfire suppression.

Unifor Fails to Reach Accord with Bizjet Manufacturer

Bombardier is in a bit of a tizzy with Canadian union Unifor, with 1,350 of the members about to strike following failed negotiations. The manufacturer had been in negotiations with a hard deadline of June 22nd, but absent an actual agreement with Unifor, the trade union is now preparing a strike. The company said it continued negotiations all through the night until the absolute last minute, with the intent to start Monday morning right where they left off. Monday came and went without any news, so it seems negotiations will keep dragging on a while longer...

Dragging Negotiations Send Aviators Off the Beaten Path

Air Transport International pilots started their picket at the Dayton Air Show, hoping to drum up some notoriety given their employer's sponsorship of the event. The pilots aren't too happy with ATI, believing that "a career as a pilot at ATI is getting increasingly difficult as ATSG management fails to recognize the value they bring to the overall success of the airline." 

Bay Area Locations Identified, Kilroy Oyster Point to be Hub

eVTOL aircraft leader Archer and Kilroy Realty announced plans to connect five strategic locations in the San Francisco Bay Area for an urban air mobility network that will enable commuter transit with 10-20 flights instead of driving and hour or more. The network hub will be at Kilroy Oyster Point in South San Francisco and provide air taxi service to vertiports in Livermore, San Jose, Oakland, and Napa.

Also: Eve Air Mobility, Surf Air, ISS Simulation Goes Wrong, Drone First Responder

The National Park Service isn't kind to drones, but once in a while even they see some use in the little tools, particularly where they can be used to assess the health of old growth forests without a crewed aircraft. Doodle Labs highlighted its work in networking a recent effort to scan, document, and assess the health of 'General Sherman', the world's largest living tree. Merlin, hot off a few test flights aboard some KC-135s, has gotten a $105 million production contract to automate the C-130J. The contract was granted under an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ)

Also: Eve Air Mobility, Surf Air, ISS Simulation Goes Wrong, Drone First Responder

The National Park Service isn't kind to drones, but once in a while even they see some use in the little tools, particularly where they can be used to assess the health of old growth forests without a crewed aircraft. Doodle Labs highlighted its work in networking a recent effort to scan, document, and assess the health of 'General Sherman', the world's largest living tree. Merlin, hot off a few test flights aboard some KC-135s, has gotten a $105 million production contract to automate the C-130J. The contract was granted under an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ)

Put a Piece of Aviation History In Your Pocket

PlaneTags have become a yearly presence at pretty much every airshow of note, and it’s not surprising why: For those who love to see legendary aircraft in action, PlaneTags allows them to take home a piece of the legend as a nifty little historically authentic souvenir. ANN Editor-in-Chief Jim Campbell spoke with the owner of Motoart PlaneTags, Dave Hall, at SUN 'n FUN this year. His company sources authentic portions of the skins from aircraft of all stripes, whether they come from a retired plane on the way to the boneyard or a legendary warbird in the shop for a restoration. It’s a n

Airplane’s Climb Rate Was Insufficient To Avoid The Trees At The Departure End Of The Runway

Analysis: The pilot was taking off from a 2,700-ft-long runway and described that during the initial climb, the airplane’s climb rate was insufficient to avoid the trees at the departure end of the runway. The pilot attempted to land on the remaining runway; however, the airplane departed the far end of the runway, impacted a berm, and came to rest in a lake. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.

Careerists Get Golden Opportunity to Shake Hands and Rub Elbows

AirVenture will once again be holding a job fair for the whole week, kicking things off on Monday, July 22nd all the way to Saturday, the 27th. The fair will run from 0900 local time until 1700 hrs every weekday, with an earlier 1600 hrs stop on the last Sunday of the show. As seems to be tradition, JSfirm.com will be pushing the endeavor, giving those in the industry a chance to move on to the next phase of their careers. 

All-Digital Aircraft Design in the Works Under AFWERX Program

Istari Digital has been granted a $15 million contract with AFWERX to provide a "groundbreaking program that will link models and simulations across the Air Force" in an effort to "address the most pressing challenges of "internetized" warfare." Istari says they've already been used in another USAF program, an effort to develop the "world's first digitally certified airplane", the Flyer Øne. That will become a "digital-first, fixed-wing drone to demonstrate and de-risk a new, digital-first engineering process from design through certification." Their new contract should bring that development speed to AFWERX, too, giving them the same tools that have made that program so quick.

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