Also: Boeing Reports, Airbus-Spirit, USAF CV-22 Milestone, ANN/Oshkosh 2025 Stringers
A HEXA electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft experienced a component failure while performing demo flights at EXPO 2025 in Osaka, Japan. Though it was able to land without an issue, the bird and its twin will remain grounded until event organizers say otherwise. The HEXA is manufactured by LIFT Aircraft. Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been busy spearheading a multi-million dollar communications project at the Federal Aviation Administration, the agency that regulates the same airspace Musk’s SpaceX flies through. Employees pulled into this project, charmingly named “Project Lift,” have claimed that they have been forced to sign non-disclosure agreements. As airmen medical applications reach an all-time high, the FAA is turning to the public to review questions, comments, and concerns about the ce
National Mediation Board Says Parties Met 2X in April, But Nothing’s Inked Yet
FedEx pilots added the fourth annual notch in their prison wall carving this week, marking 4 years of negotiations since they opened things up in 2021. FedEx pilots have been flying using the last Collective Bargaining Agreement from November of 2015, soldiering on as they try to reach an agreement with the company. “The case has been under federal mediation since October 2022,” the ALPA says.
From 2010 (YouTube Edition): Imagine... Be The Change... Inspire
FROM 2010: One of the more unusual phone calls I have ever received occurred a few years ago... from Anousheh Ansari... long distance. About as long distance as it gets, these days, as Anousheh was calling form the International Space Station where she was plainly having the time of her life. You see, on September 18, 2006, the truly amazing Anousheh Ansari captured headlines around the world as the first female private space explorer. Anousheh earned a place in history as the fourth private explorer to visit space and the first astronaut of Iranian descent.
(Pilot) Felt A Shudder And Heard The Engine Sounding Differently, Followed By The Engine Chip Detector Light
On April 14, 2025, about 1800 Pacific daylight time, a Bell 206B, N16671, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Amboy, Washington. The pilot was not injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he had been operating the helicopter for about one hour, practicing takeoff and landings. While about 800 ft above ground level (agl), he felt a shudder and heard the engine sounding differently, followed by the engine chip detector light illuminating and the engine losing power. He entered an autorotation, turned right to an open field, and landed with about a 20-knot tailwind.
Also: Tricky Golf Course Deadstick, Textron Special Olympics, Artemis II, FlightSimExpo!
Stratolaunch conducted the second successful launch and recovery of its Talon-A2 autonomous vehicle in a flight that exceeded its previous speed beyond Mach 5, also for the second time. Stratolaunch is focused on expanding its hypersonic flight testing to support US defense objectives in its return to hypersonic flight since the end of the X-15 program in 1968. FIFI, one of only two flying B-29 Superfortresses, will be grounded for the next month or so for intensive repairs to two of its engines. Unfortunately, this timing means that the Commemorative Air Force will be forced to push back its 2025 AirPower History Tour. Spirit AeroSystems is temporarily laying off between 250 and 350 employees at its Wichita facility, citing an overproduction of parts for the Boeing 737. The furloughs, which begin May 12 and are expected to last about 30 days
Aero Linx: Utah Back Country Pilots Association (UBCP)
Through the sharing experiences, the UBCP has built upon a foundation of safe operating practices in some of the most challenging aspects of back country aviation. Because of the great initiative exercised by the UBCP Board Members of the past, airstrips such as Mexican Mountain, once sought to be closed, are open to the public today.
The UBCP and its members endorse and exercise responsible use practices such as "Pack it in / Pack it out" and "Tread Lightly" as well as some of our own in-house programs. From hosting regular meetings, to back country fly-ins, and our random meet-ups on Fremont Island, the UBCP aims to build a community of back country aviation enthusiasts.
Terminal Radar Service Area
Airspace surrounding designated airports wherein ATC provides radar vectoring, sequencing, and separation on a full-time basis for all IFR and participating VFR aircraft. The AIM contains an explanation of TRSA. TRSAs are depicted on VFR aeronautical charts. Pilot participation is urged but is not mandatory.
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We're all pretty excited about the new website design here at ANN, but we HAVE heard from some of you that you liked the way that content was displayed on the old site. We hear you, and before you chuck your bitgrinder out a 5th story window, you should know that there are several ways that you can view your Aero-Content.
“I am in awe of what this team has achieved. We’ve executed four incredible Talon-A flights, completed twenty-four Roc flights to date, flew two new supersonic and hypersonic airplanes in a single year, and we are firmly on the path to making hypersonic flight test services a reality.”
Source: Dr. Zachary Krevor, President and CEO of Stratolaunch, commenting as the company announced the second successful launch and recovery of its Talon-A2 autonomous vehicle in a March flight that exceeded its previous speed beyond Mach 5, also for the second time, demonstrating its practical reusability.
Iconic Superfortress Forced to Push Back the Start of the 2025 Tour
FIFI, one of only two flying B-29 Superfortresses, will be grounded for the next month or so for intensive repairs to two of its engines. Unfortunately, this timing means that the Commemorative Air Force will be forced to push back its 2025 AirPower History Tour. The iconic bomber had been undergoing typical preseason checks.
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