Expo to Return to Lakeland Following the Debut of the Affordable Flying Expo

The legendary SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo is getting ready to celebrate America’s birthday with its 52nd annual return to Lakeland next April… but not before it lends a helping hand to launch year one of the Affordable Flying Expo. Despite the widely recognized airshow season coming to an end, SUN ‘n FUN is sticking around. Sport aviation enthusiasts can return to one of the most iconic airshow campuses in the world for the inaugural Affordable Flying Expo from November 6 to 8, 2025. The timing couldn’t be better; with MOSIAC officially announced, AFE stands to be the best opportunity for the community to get involved, ask questions, and see all the industry has to offer.

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The federal government has officially gone into lockdown mode. The FAA will be laying off around a fourth of its staff, leaving 11,000 employees in limbo as another 13,000 air traffic controllers are forced to work on their own dime. Air traffic controllers are considered critical roles, meaning they are required to remain on the job but won’t receive pay until the shutdown ends. Side effects of the recent US government shutdown have made their way into the airshow side of things, with Pacific Airshow organizers confirming that some of its most iconic acts are no longer on the itinerary. The Canadian Forces Snowbirds and Royal Air Force Falcons will instead headline the event, standing in for the traditional USAF Thunderbirds performance. 55-year-old content creator Tang Feiji was killed on September 27, 2025, after losing control of his twin-rotor ultralight. He

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The first Affordable Flying Expo is shaping up well... as the promotion program hit high gear this week, we are pleased to announce that we are attracting a stunning number of sport aviation’s most exciting Sport, MOSAIC and LSA flying machines. The sleek Italian Porto Risen, which excited crowds at the last two Oshkosh appearances is on its way to Lakeland, where its efficient design is likely to get a LOT of attention. Another Oshkosh favorite, the Spirit SE-1 is flying in... Indian Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has finally spoken out against claims of “dirty business” in the investigation of Air India flight 171, which left 260 people dead. The complaint was submitted by Pushkar Raj Sabharwal, whose son was one of the pilots in the cockpit when the tragic accident occurred. The vertical aviation community is urging the FA

Also: USAF Reactivates Squadron For Drone Ops, Beyond Aero, Vertical Aerospace, Archer Midnight

Amazon Prime Air has halted its unmanned delivery operations after two of its MK30 drones ran into the boom of a crane in Tolleson, Arizona. No injuries were reported. The crash happened early on October 1, leaving both aircraft destroyed. Police in Tolleson quickly secured the site and confirmed that an investigation was underway. Federal officials also stepped in, with both the FAA and the NTSB doing their parts. Skydweller Aero announced the recent completion of a 74-hour flight of its unmanned, solar-powered aircraft in conjunction with the Navy. The flight was conducted over the Gulf of America and represents a major advancement in unmanned aircraft technology. Austrian air taxi startup FlyNow Aviation is celebrating the first untethered test flights of its eVTOL vehicle, the eCopter. The helicopter-like prototype first took to the skies with tether

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Just over three months after hitting the market, Piper Aircraft’s diesel-powered multi-engine trainer has logged its first domestic order. The deal will deliver five of the Seminole DX aircraft to Florida-based Skyborne Airline Academy. The Seminole DX was unveiled at this year’s EAA Oshkosh AirVenture. Designed to run on JET A and JET A-1 (with SAF approval in progress), the trainer’s twin DeltaHawk DHK4A180 engines offer about 40% better fuel efficiency than typical avgas piston engines. The FAA is looking to begin the first phase of what is shaping up to be a very expensive move, aiming to get part of its workforce situated in the DoT headquarters by early December. The agency confirmed the relocation in August as a means to improve collaboration and address safety concerns with its aging facilities. France’s largest air traffic controll

While On Short Final, About 300 Ft, The Pilot Performed A Forced Landing Near Trees

On September 7, 2025, about 0932 eastern daylight time, a CubCrafters Carbon Cub EX airplane, N40DT, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Thompsonville, Michigan. The private pilot was not injured and the passenger sustained minor injury. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The airplane departed from the Thompsonville Airport (7Y2), Thompsonville, Michigan, about 0917. Shortly into the local area flight, the pilot noticed a flicker on the Garmin G3X Touch display, but a low voltage warning never appeared.

Aero Linx: European Regions Airline Association (ERA) The European Regions Airline Association (ERA) represents a diverse membership of over 50 airlines and more than 150 associate members, including manufacturers, airports, suppliers and aviation service providers from across the aviation sector. At the heart of ERA’s mission is regional connectivity with our member airlines playing a crucial role in linking Europe’s regions. These connections support social and territorial equality and cohesion and drive economic growth through tourism, investment, business development and job creation.

Homing [ICAO] The procedure of using the direction-finding equipment of one radio station with the emission of another radio station, where at least one of the stations is mobile, and whereby the mobile station proceeds continuously towards the other station. 

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“We’ve had the privilege of flying in places like Japan and Dubai this year, but seeing our aircraft fly at home on the Central Coast and sharing it with our neighbors was truly special. I’m deeply grateful to our team and to everyone who came out to see us. Experiencing the aircraft up close shows just how quiet it is, and that gives a real sense of the future of flight we’re building.” Source: JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation, commenting as it flew its all-electric aircraft at the California International Air Show in a series of flights between the company’s home field of Marina Municipal (KOAR) and the air show at Salinas Municipal Airport (KSNS), both in California.