Aero-News Network: The aviation and aerospace world's daily/real-time news and information service
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Hide/Show Archive Navigation.

All News

May 06, 2025

Airborne-NextGen 05.06.25: AF Uncrewed Fighters, Drones v Planes, Joby Crew Test

 Also: AMA Names Tyler Dobbs, More Falcon 9 Ops, Firefly Launch Unsuccessful, Autonomous F-16s

 
 
The Air Force has begun ground testing a future uncrewed jet design in a milestone towards pilotless dogfighting. The YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A will be used to evaluate proposed focusing on propulsion systems, avionics, autonomy integration and ground control interfaces, helping to validate the performance of things as they are now while the USAF plans for future developments. A recent analysis claims that drones are responsible for up to two-thirds of near-misses with commercial aircraft at America’s busiest airports. The FAA has taken steps to avoid these events, but the spike in unauthorized drone flights certainly is not aiding their cau

Textron Calls in Backup for Special Olympics Transport

Manufacturer Coordinates Ninth Special Olympics Airlift

Mega general aviation aircraft manufacturer Textron Aviation is calling all Cessna, Beechcraft, and Hawker owners to coordinate athlete transport for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. This will be the ninth airlift event since 1987. Since the inaugural event, the SOA has carried upwards of 10,000 people to the Special Olympics World Games and USA Games.

Read More

2028 Olympics Site Turned Emergency Runway

Aircraft Forced to Land in California’s Riviera Country Club

The Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, which also happens to be a host for the 2028 Summer Olympics, turned into an emergency landing site for a Cessna 172 on May 2. The pilot was apparently experiencing engine issues and was unable to make it to Santa Monica as planned.

Read More

B-29 FIFI Engine Repairs Delay AirPower History Tour

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.

Read More

Spirit to Furlough Up to 350 Workers Amid Inventory Surplus

Wichita Supplier Pauses 737 Work as Backlog Clogs Production Line

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. They will affect employees working in 737 fabrication and composite thrust reverser components.

Read More

Merlin Autonomous Flight Testing At Quonset State Airport

Two Cessna Caravans Move Dev, Testing, Certification Forward

Merlin, with its global headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts and developer of autonomous fixed-wing aircraft flight technology, announced the start of flight operations at Quonset State Airport (KOQU) in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, bringing its testbed program closer to home where the company’s two Cessna Caravans will continue flight test and development operations.

Read More

Advertisement

Leesburg EAA Group Announces Ray Scholarship Recipient

High-School Soph Aspires To Become Airline Pilot

By Ted Luebbers The Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 534 in Leesburg, Florida announced that the 2025 Ray Aviation Scholarship winner is Abdiel Hernandez from Tavares, Florida, a 16-year-old finishing up his sophomore year at Tavares High School.

Read More

Sikorsky, Rain Test Aerial Firefighting With Autonomous Black Hawk

California Firefighters Watch Water Drops On Test Fires

Sikorsky and Rain demonstrated autonomous wildfire suppression techniques on test fires using a Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter equipped with its MATRIX flight autonomy system and Rain’s wildfire suppression planning software. The firefighting flights were conducted in Southern California on both propane and burning piles of brush.

Read More

Airborne 04.28.25: Onerous FAA Med Policy, Aviation WX, NFL Team v AeroVanti

Also: Airplane-Helo Risks, AirVenture Showcasing Korean War, United Purchasing JetZero Birds, Boom Gears Up

The FAA announced that the agency will not move ahead with its policy of issuing denials of incomplete medical applications when the prior long-standing policy was to defer them until the applications were complete. The agency said it will instead work with the aviation community to establish initiatives that will give pilots information on best practices to facilitate their medical applications as well as assist the FAA in processing applications deferred by AMEs. A recent report from the National Weather Service, showing vacancies as high as 40%

Read More

Airborne 04.28.25: Onerous FAA Med Policy, Aviation WX, NFL Team v AeroVanti

Also: Airplane-Helo Risks, AirVenture Showcasing Korean War, United Purchasing JetZero Birds, Boom Gears Up

The FAA announced that the agency will not move ahead with its policy of issuing denials of incomplete medical applications when the prior long-standing policy was to defer them until the applications were complete. The agency said it will instead work with the aviation community to establish initiatives that will give pilots information on best practices to facilitate their medical applications as well as assist the FAA in processing applications deferred by AMEs. A recent report from the National Weather Service, showing vacancies as high

Read More

Classic Aero-TV: Virtual Reality Painting--PPG Leverages Technology for Training

From 2019 (YouTube Edition): Learning To Paint Without Getting Any On Your Hands

PPG's Aerospace Coatings Academy is a tool designed to teach everything one needs to know about all our aerospace coatings technologies. It combines both classroom and hands-on training. In the class, PPG’s newest coatings technologies and product features are highlighted. In the spray booth, hands on allows you to learn proper preparation and practice the best application techniques. But paint can be expensive, so PPG is now employing a virtual reality painting simulator to help teach technicians to paint in much the same way that a simulato

Read More

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (05.06.25)

Aero Linx: International Federation of Airworthiness (IFA) We aim to be the most internationally respected independent authority on the subject of Airworthiness. IFA uniquely combines together all those with responsibility for policies, principles and practices concerned with the continuing airworthiness of civil transport aircraft throughout the world. IFA’s mission is to contribute to the debate and formation of policies, which affect the Airworthiness of civil aircraft worldwide, and to influence Regulators, Airlines, Maintenance Organisations and Governments to constantly improve aviation safety. 

Read More

Advertisement

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (05.06.25): Ultrahigh Frequency (UHF)

Ultrahigh Frequency (UHF) The frequency band between 300 and 3,000 MHz. The bank of radio frequencies used for military air/ground voice communications. In some instances this may go as low as 225 MHz and still be referred to as UHF. 

Read More

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (05.06.25)

“While the impact this may have on the team is unfortunate, these actions aim to support the long-term stability of our workforce and our program...” Source: A statement from Spirit AeroSystems, who 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.

Read More

NTSB Prelim: Cessna 310Q

Pilots Observed N8242Q In A Nose Down Attitude Spinning Toward The Ground

On April 1, 2025, about 1704 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 310Q, N8242Q, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Midvale, Ohio. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot’s family members stated that he had been practicing “360° maneuvers.” Preliminary Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data showed that the airplane departed about 1640 from Harry Clever Field Airport (PHD), New Philadelphia, Ohio, and made a series of 360° turns southeast of the airport.

Read More




Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

AeroTwitter

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC