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December 16, 2025

Airborne 12.15.25: Special Episode--2025 Hits/Misses, and What It Means for '26

Also: The Aircraft That Delivered, Breakthroughs and Breakdowns Report, Aero-Standouts, Aero-Stumbles 

Welcome to a special episode of Airborne Unlimited... with a look back at 2025 and what it all might mean for 2026. Call it The Aero-News Aviation Reality Check — 2025 Edition, bit make no mistake... in one form or another, these are the stories, companies, planes and products that distinguished aviation this year. While there was a;lot to cover and much that we really didn't have th s[pace for, we wanted to offer some kudos to planes, products, powerplants and programs that deserved serious kudos... as well as those who most definitely did N

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Long-Awaited Air Force One Has a New Delivery Date

First of Two VC-25Bs Now Expected to Enter Service in Mid-2028

The long-running replacement of Air Force One has added another year to its official timeline, with the US Air Force expecting the first of two VC-25B presidential aircraft to enter service in mid-2028. This pushes delivery even further past the original December 2024 target.

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Feds Float New Rules for Bay Area Air Tours

FAA and NPS Open New San Francisco Commercial Flight Agreement to Comments

The FAA has taken another swing at regulating commercial air tours over popular San Francisco Bay parks and, in partnership with the National Park Service, has officially opened comments on a voluntary agreement proposal that it believes will keep the skies safe without jeopardizing tourism.

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Returning the Iconic DreamBig F-18 To the Air(show)

Interactive Aircraft Cockpit Damaged Leaving the ICAS Convention

DreamBIG Entertainment’s iconic F/A-18 Hornet cockpit has been a family favorite at airshows and community events across the country for years, and in its own time of need, that’s why many have come running to help. Nearly $40,000 has been raised to cover repairs after the beloved cockpit was damaged on its way home from the 2025 ICAS Convention.

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Yuba County Reluctantly Welcomes Ultralights to its Airport

Supervisors Vote to End the Ultralight Aircraft Ban… With a Catch

After nearly four years of effectively banning ultralight aircraft, local officials have finally voted to allow the little birds to restart operations at Yuba County Airport (MYV). Though the decision ends a dispute that escalated to a formal FAA complaint, ultralight pilots argue that the victory remains in limbo with unnecessarily restrictive rules filling the ban’s shoes.

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MGen. Jeannie Leavitt Named Aviation Dean At ERAU Prescott Campus

Aviation Pioneer, Leader In Aerospace Ops And Safety

Maj. Gen. Jeannie Leavitt, a trailblazer in aviation and a world leader in aerospace operations and safety, has been appointed Dean of the College of Aviation at the Prescott, Arizona, campus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

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Airborne-NextGen 12.16.25: Electra EL9, EVIO Hybrid-Electric, New Valo eVTOL

Also: Archer Takes On Hawthorne Airport, Saudi GACA, Soyuz Return, Push To Invest In SAF 

Electra is walking its EL9 hybrid-electric aircraft into the formal certification phase, filing its application with the FAA to begin the Part 23 process. Work with the FAA now shifts from compliance in development to acceptance of the certification plan and building out the test program. “This certification application signals that the EL9 is fast becoming a reality and reflects the progress our team and the FAA have made together,” said Electra CEO Marc Allen. EVIO has unveiled the product of more than eight years of rigorous development: the EVIO

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Delta Passenger Seeks $40M Over Fumes-Related Illness

Man Claims He Has Felt Persistent Effects of Toxic Fumes For More Than a Year

A Delta passenger has filed a $40 million lawsuit against Boeing, claiming to have suffered neurological and respiratory harm after inhaling toxic fumes aboard a B737. The incident allegedly occurred in August 2024 on a flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles.

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Spirit Airlines Speaks Against Closure Rumors

Competition Prepares to Step In As Spirit Claims Business As Usual

Spirit Airlines can’t seem to stay out of the industry spotlight, this time after a report suggested the ultra-low-cost carrier could be just days away from closing its doors. Unnamed industry sources allegedly claimed that at least two competitors are quietly preparing contingency plans to absorb stranded passengers if Spirit is forced to shut down amid the holiday travel spike.

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Airborne 12.12.25: Global 8000, Korea Pilot Honors, AV-30 Update

Also: Project Talon, McFarlane Acquisition, Sky-Tec Service, JPL Earth Helo Tests

Bombardier has earned a round of applause from the business aviation community, celebrating the formal entry into service of what it calls the “fastest civil aircraft since the Concorde.” Keys to the first Global 8000 were turned over to loyal customer and GFL Environmental CEO Patrick Dovigi on December 8. The Global 8000 comes with a headline-grabbing Mach 0.95 top speed, a certified 8,000-nautical-mile range, and a cabin altitude of just 2,691 feet at cruise. California Representative Darrell Issa (CA-48) announced the finalized 2026 National Defense Authoriz

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Airborne 12.10.25: New Gulfstream, ATC Integrator, Outrageous FFZ User Fees

Also: Airbus Acquisition, USCG Helo Sniper, Remember Pearl Harbor, New Thunderbird 1

Gulfstream’s newest addition to its next-gen lineup, the super-midsize G300, is officially airborne. The jet lifted off from Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV), staying in the air for 2 hours and 25 minutes. The crew took the aircraft to 30,000 feet and cruised at Mach 0.75, checking off the major boxes needed to kick off the flight-test campaign. The Trump administration has officially locked in its pick to spearhead the biggest upgrade to America’s air traffic control system in decades. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bed

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Airborne-NextGen 12.09.25: Amazon Crash, China Rocket Accident, UAV Black Hawk

Also: Electra Goes Military, Miami Air Taxi, Hypersonics Lab, MagniX HeliStrom

Amazon’s Prime Air drones are back in the spotlight after one of its newest MK30 delivery drones struck an overhead internet cable in Waco, Texas. The incident serves as an unnerving replay of safety concerns that surfaced just two months ago involving back-to-back collisions with a crane in Arizona. The more recent event occurred on November 18. The drone, registered  N139PA, had just wrapped up a delivery when it “clipped a thin, overhead internet cable,” according to Amazon. The maiden flight of LandSpace’s ZhuQue-3 rocket on December 3 was one

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Airborne Affordable Flyers 12.11.25: MOSAIC Docs, Dynon Upgrade, SnF MOSAIC Day!

Also: AirVenture Tkts, Pipistrel TC, Samson Patent, Kolb Aircraft Resumes Production

The FAA has released an updated set of advisory circulars to support the transition to the long-awaited Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) rule, offering new direction for pilots, instructors, and light-sport repairmen. The documents, published November 14, aim to align long-standing guidance with the performance-based system that will replace the outdated light-sport framework when MOSAIC takes effect in 2026. Dynon has released SkyView HDX software version 17.4, bringing a fresh round of upgrades and quality-of-life improvements to its flagsh

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Airborne 12.08.25: Samaritan’s Purse Hijack, FAA Med Relief, China Rocket Fail

Also: Cosmonaut Kicked Out, Airbus Scales Back, AF Silver Star, Russian A-60 Clobbered

A Samaritan’s Purse humanitarian flight was hijacked on Tuesday, December 2, while attempting to supply a mobile medical unit in South Sudan. Authorities were able to meet the aircraft on the ground and take the suspect into custody without further incident. The aircraft involved was one of the organization’s Cessna Grand Caravans that operates solely within Africa. The FAA has taken an unusually cooperative step towards pilot mental health reform, reducing the stabilization wait time for approved antidepressant medications from 6 months to just 3. Though t

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Airborne 12.08.25: Samaritan’s Purse Hijack, FAA Med Relief, China Rocket Fail

Also: Cosmonaut Kicked Out, Airbus Scales Back, AF Silver Star, Russian A-60 Clobbered

A Samaritan’s Purse humanitarian flight was hijacked on Tuesday, December 2, while attempting to supply a mobile medical unit in South Sudan. Authorities were able to meet the aircraft on the ground and take the suspect into custody without further incident. The aircraft involved was one of the organization’s Cessna Grand Caravans that operates solely within Africa. The FAA has taken an unusually cooperative step towards pilot mental health reform, reducing the stabilization wait time for approved antidepressant medications from 6 months to just 3. T

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Classic Aero-TV: Able Flight Empowerment --Introducing America’s Newest Pilots

From 2015 (YouTube Edition): One of Aviation’s Greatest Efforts Expands Our Ranks With Inspirational New Flyers

In this short, 2 ½ minute video, you’ll see and hear Charles Stites, who is the Executive Director of Able Flight, as he pins pilot wings on four new able flight students. You’ll also receive an introduction to an organization that takes pride in helping people succeed in ways that were not imagined before. Able Flight was created by pilots who believe that the life-changing experience of learning to fly is best shared, and they designed the Able Flight Scholarships to enable people with

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NTSB Final Report: Bell OH-58A

...The Dynamic Rollover Was Likely Caused By The Front Seat Passenger Inadvertently Contacting The Cyclic Control While Turning To Speak With The Rear Seat Passenger

Analysis: The pilot reported that while on a local flight he noticed a squall line approaching and elected to return to the private strip from which he had departed. During the approach, rain intensity increased, and the wind began gusting to about 15 knots. The pilot landed the helicopter, lowered the collective, and reduced power. While the main rotor was turning about 420 rpm, the helicopter suddenly rolled over onto its right side, resulting in substantial damage to the main rotor system and fuselage. 

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ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (12.16.25)

Aero Linx: Flying Physicians Association (FPA) FPA members are physician-pilots promoting safety, education and human interest projects relating to medicine and aviation. FPA organizes regional chapter meetings and an annual national meeting offering a unique combination of continuing medical education (CME), presentations by world-class aviation figures, and varied charitable and recreational opportunities.

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ANN's Daily Aero-Term (12.16.25): Low Approach

Low Approach An approach over an airport or runway following an instrument approach or a VFR approach including the go-around maneuver where the pilot intentionally does not make contact with the runway. 

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ANN FAQ: How To Get YOUR News Out On Aero-News

Good News, Bad News... It's ALL News

As the preeminent online aviation news resource out there, the editorial staff at Aero-News sees a large number of news releases. We look at all of them, and can usually tell whether something merits publishing consideration within reading the first couple of paragraphs. Often, however, a new and innovative product can be overlooked because of the very words written to promote it, by the very people who created it.

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Aero-News: Quote of the Day (12.16.25)

“There is no truth to any rumors that we are preparing to cease operations. It is business as usual at Spirit, and flights continue to operate normally... We are working closely with our debtor-in-possession providers and other key stakeholders on a wide variety of issues to support the financial needs and future of the business, as we have been throughout our restructuring process.” Source: From a statement from a Spirit spokeswoman, tryiung to ward off rumors of impending doom for the embattled airline. &nb

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