Also: 1st-Ever Space Crime Was a Fraud, IAE Buys Diamonds, Kennon Bows Out, Perseverance Rover

An interesting moment came about this past Sunday as ANN CEO, Jim Campbell, noted that the Aero-News Network came into being 30 years ago. ANN was the first actual aviation online news service, and in the ensuing 30 years, has amassed an extraordinary record... over 600,000 stories, a total of videos, podcasts, Airborne and Aero-TV features surpassing 10,000 programs... The debut of SpaceX’s Starship Version 3 booster didn’t exactly go as planned, with its test campaign starting and ending before the sun even rose. Booster 18 suffered a major structural failure partway into what was supposed to be a long list of cryogenic checks and pressure trials at Massey’s Test Site. The US National Archives has declassified more than 4,600 pages of radio communications, maps, tables, and logs related to the disappearance of legendary aviator Amelia

Pilot’s Decision To Attempt Takeoff With Frost Covering The Airplane’s Wings

Analysis: The pilot of the light sport airplane was preparing to depart for a cross-country flight. A witness reported that when he arrived at the airport that morning, he saw the airplane on the parking ramp, not moored down, and the engine was running. As the airplane taxied through the ramp area, he saw that it was covered with frost. Soon after the witness had gone inside the airport office, he was notified from an airplane flying over the airport that an airplane had crashed on the runway. A photo of the accident site minutes after the accident revealed that the upper surfaces of the horizontal stabilizers were covered in frost.

Aero Linx: United Flying Octogenarians WELCOME to a most extraordinary group of aviators, the United Flying Octogenarians (UFO). Founded in 1982 with just a handful of pilots, we have grown to around 1,700 members worldwide, all of whom have acted as a certificated pilot in command (PIC) on or after their 80th birthday. We invite you to learn more about who we are. UFO exists to promote longevity, safety and, especially, fellowship among senior pilots. We represent the interests of senior pilots worldwide and aim to inspire youth to fly.  

Convective SIGMET A weather advisory concerning convective weather significant to the safety of all aircraft. Convective SIGMETs are issued for tornadoes, lines of thunderstorms, embedded thunderstorms of any intensity level, areas of thunderstorms greater than or equal to VIP level 4 with an area coverage of 4/10 (40%) or more, and hail 3/4 inch or greater. 

As Long As You Ask Us, It's Usually OK

It's a question the ANN staff is asked too many times per week to count. The message usually goes something like this: "I really enjoyed the story Aero-News did on (fill in topic here.) I'd love to post it on my blog/newsletter/website... is that OK?"

"The launch site was inspected, as is done every time after a rocket launch. Damage to a number of launch pad elements was detected. Such damage may appear after launch, so an inspection like this is mandatory in international practice.... The condition of the launch complex is currently being assessed. All the necessary spare parts are available for restoration, and the damage will be repaired in the near future." Source: Roscosmos issued a statement late in November 27 after damage occurred to a primary launch site, presumably imperiling future launches until the damage is fixed.

Station Crew Expands To 10 For Next Two Weeks

NASA astronaut Chris Williams, along with Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev, arrived safely at the International Space Station on Thursday November 27. During the next two weeks the station’s complement will expand to 10 crew members.

Operational Criteria Favored Lightning II By Wide Margin

Canada’s Future Fighter Capability Project conducted an evaluation in 2021 of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II versus the Saab Gripen E, and it wasn’t close: overall, the F-35 scored 57.1 out of 60 (95%) and the Gripen E achieved 19.8 points (33%). Both aircraft met Canada’s mandatory requirements but diverged significantly when scores for operational criteria were included.

Largest Foreign Order In Program’s History Nets Boeing $4.7B Contract

The Polish Armed Forces finalized a deal with Boeing for 96 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters in a contract worth $4.7 billion. The order is the largest in the program’s history by a foreign nation and was accomplished under the U.S. government’s Foreign Military Sales process.

Deal Includes 18 Aircraft Plus Advanced Ground Training Tools

The Federal Government of Belgium approved the purchase of 18 Pilatus PC-7 MKX aircraft along with a comprehensive 20-year service contract to provide training services based on the PC-7 MKX that includes an integrated ground-based training system. Pilatus will begin deliveries of the PC-7 MKX in 2027 to replace Belgium’s existing training aircraft.