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All News

December 24, 2025

King Air Makes Autoland Emergency Landing

Just Two Onboard During Landing

A Beech B200 Super King Air, N479BR, made an Autoland emergency landing at Broomfield-Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, CO (BJC/KBJC) in what appears to be the first real-time use of the safety feature. The avionics manufacturer admitted that they could... "confirm that an emergency Autoland activation occurred in Broomfield, Colorado," the company said in a statement. "The Autoland took place on Sat., Dec. 20, resulting in a successful landing. We look forward to sharing additional details at the appropriate time." 

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FCC Bans Foreign-Made Drones Citing NatSec Risk

UAS And Components Added To List Of ‘Unacceptable Risk’

The Federal Communications Commission, responding to President Donald Trump’s Executive Order “Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty,” as well as upcoming mass-gathering events in 2026 and 2028, has taken steps to safeguard the public by updating the list of unmanned aerial systems and components that pose “unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons.”

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Jim Richmond Foundation Steps Up Its Giveaway Game

JRBAF Smacks 50 More Horsepower on its Cessna 182A Raffle Aircraft

The Jim Richmond Backcountry Aviation Foundation (JRBAF) decided its 2025/26 raffle airplane could use a bit more oomph, so it’s giving the Cessna 182A a power makeover before handing over the keys. The aircraft’s original 230-horsepower Continental O-470 is being swapped out for a factory-overhauled Continental O-520, bumping output to 280 horsepower.

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Leonardo’s Next-Gen Tiltrotor Gets Off the Ground

NGCTR Technology Demonstrator Flies for the First Time After 10 Years in the Works

Leonardo has added another tiltrotor to its proven resume, checking off the first flight of its Next Generation Civil Tiltrotor - Technology Demonstrator (NGCTR-TD). The test took place on December 19, 2025, at Leonardo’s Cascina Costa di Samarate facility.

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Airborne-Flight Training 12.18.25: MOSAIC Updated, CFI Scholar, Lvl 5 C172 Sim

Also: MGen. Jeannie Leavitt, NTSB Blasts Congress, Austro 5M Hours, Firehawk Helo Pilot Training

The FAA has released an updated set of advisory circulars to support the transition to the long-awaited 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. Minnesota CFI Gabriel Kesler has won Sporty’s $2,500 Pilot Training+ Scholarship, which he will use to obtain his multiengine and multiengine instructor ratings. Kes

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Airborne 12.22.25: Indian Rez Plane Theft, Another Stolen Plane, New NASA Boss

Also: Bombardier’s Mach 0.95 Jet, Bristell Upgrade, Leonardo M-346, Happy Holiday!

The effort to reunite a plane with its pilot has continued to rise through the ranks, reaching federal levels in a recent letter to the DoT and the Department of the Interior. The agencies are being asked to step in after a Stinson 108 was emergency-landed and held captive on the tribal land in northern Minnesota. The request centers on a 1946 Stinson 108 owned by Darrin Smedsmo which was flying over the Red Lake Indian Reservation toward Bemidji for training when his engine suffered a catastrophic failure, forcing a landing on Minnesota Highway 1. An early-mo

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California Air Guard Team Makes High-Risk Night Rescue

Reached A Woman on Fog-Covered Cruise Ship

The California Air National Guard's 129th Rescue Wing on a high-risk night mission in fog rescued an unresponsive 79-year-old woman from the Ruby Princess cruise ship 100 miles off the California coast, according to the Air National Guard. "The mission was approved as a 'high-risk' mission going out the door, which is pretty rare for us," said Air Force Lt. Col. Ben Copley, a helicopter pilot with the 129th Rescue Wing. "This person was probably going to die today if they didn't get picked up."

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Airborne-NextGen 12.23.25: Wisk Gen-6, Eve Full-Scale eVTOL, New NASA Boss

Also: Archer Aviation, USDOT’s National AAM Strategy, Rocket Lab Win, Joby Prepares

Wisk Aero announced the successful completion of the first flight of its Generation 6 aircraft, a critical step forward in the company’s quest to deliver the first certified, autonomous passenger carrying eVTOL aircraft to market in the U.S. Wisk is the only developer that has designed, built, and flown six generations of eVTOL vehicles. The aircraft performed its initial vertical takeoff, hover, and stabilized flight maneuvers at the company’s flight test facility in Hollister, California. Eve Air Mobility’s uncrewed, full-scale eVTOL engin

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ANN Wishes Our Readers, Listeners And Viewers A VERY Happy Holiday

Yes... We Will Be On A Holiday Schedule For The Christmas Holiday

As the Aero-News staff observes the worldwide holiday of Christmas this weekend, we wanted to let our readers know that ANN will still be on the job, reporting breaking news in the aviation and aerospace fields as it happens -- in Real Time -- just like always. Aero-News will be publishing at a slightly reduced level on December 25th and 26th, as our staffers spend some time with their families... some of whom may not recognize them away from their computers. Basically, we're going to treat the long weekend as just that: a long weekend, meaning you'll still be able to find several new stories each day on our website.

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Rocket Lab Lands $816M Contract for Missile-Tracking Satellites

Tranche 3 Award Grows the Company’s Role in US National Security Space

Rocket Lab has earned its largest single contract to date, receiving $816 million from the US Space Development Agency to build 18 missile-tracking satellites for the Space Force’s Tracking Layer Tranche 3 program. The award covers the design and production of spacecraft intended to detect and track advanced missile threats, including hypersonic weapons.

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Airborne 12.19.25: Solberg Airport v NIMBYs, Tecnam P2008JC Revealed, Spirit $$$

Also: Army Helos Rescue 18, Stadiums v Drones, Hartzell's New Sky-Tec, R66 Mil Fleet Logs Time

The owners of Solberg-Hunterdon Airport (N51) have taken their dispute with local officials to court, arguing that a newly adopted zoning procedure by Readington Township is designed to quietly “suffocate” airport operations -- not just regulate them. The lawsuit claims the measure would prevent modernization and eventually make the family-run field economically unsustainable. Tecnam has introduced the P2008JC NG: a much-anticipated update to its two-seat training aircraft, now certified under EASA CS-23 standards. The variant replaces the ea

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Klyde Morris (12.19.25)

Klyde Deals With A Little Disappointment

FMI: www.klydemorris.com

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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: t

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NASA Names SpaceX Crew-12 Members For ISS

Four Spacefarers From Three Space Agencies Set For Long-Duration Mission

NASA announced the crew members for its upcoming SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station in early 2026. Four crew members from three space agencies will launch no earlier than February 15, 2026, for a long-duration science mission.

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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 definitel

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Airborne 12.17.25: Skydiver Hooks Tail, Cooper Rotax Mount, NTSB v NDAA

Also: New Katanas, Kern County FD Training, IndiGo’s Botched Roster, MGen. Leavitt Named ERAU Dean

The Australian Transportation Safety Bureau (ATSB) has wrapped up its investigation into a recent skydiving incident, revealing that one of the jumpers was left hanging 15,000’ AGL from the aircraft’s horizontal stabilizer due to an inadvertent deployment of his reserve parachute. He was able to cut himself free and pull his primary chute. Cooper Aircraft Corporation has expanded support for Rotax installations with a new mount for naturally aspirated engines. The new mounts cover the Highwing, Legacy, B Model, Onex, Sonex, Waiex, a

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2025 SUN ’n FUN Innovation Preview Spotlights Are Online!

Dozens of Companies Unveiled Innovative Products Ahead of the 51st SnF Aerospace Expo

Kicking off the 51st SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo, we hosted the second annual SnF Innovation Preview to give more than 20 companies just enough time in the spotlight to debut their new planes, products, engines, accessories, and more… In other words… it was a LOT of news, and it’s all still up for your viewing pleasure.

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SportPlane Manufacturers: Time to Step Up and Send Your Info

Third-Edition Resource Guide is Getting Ready… But It’s Waiting on You

The third edition of the SportPlane Resource Guide—soon to launch as the expanded, fully digital eSPRG—is almost ready for release. The layout is there, dozens of instructional chapters are written, and hundreds of aircraft write-ups are complete. This edition will be bigger, more detailed, and easier to update than the previous 1,100-page print version (probably settling in at more than 2000 pages!), with the potential to far exceed even our own anticipations with S-LSA, E-LSA, ultralights, avionics, and accessories. The only major thing slowing it down is one simple piece: more data from manufacturers.

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Airborne Programming Continues Serving SportAv With 'Airborne-Affordable Flyers'

With The eSPRG Only Weeks Away From Its Start Date, A-AF Will Help To Support Sport Flyers, Worldwide

With the all-new and all-digital SportPlane Resource Guide getting ready for publication early next year, the Aero-News Network is pleased to announce yet another addition to the Airborne video news programming roster… Airborne-Affordable Flyers. Dedicated to keeping people up-to-date on the most affordable aspects of sport and general aviation, Airborne-Affordable Flyers is one of our most exciting offerings yet. A-AF will delve into more than just the current LSA community, but look at all aspects of aviation to examine and ev

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Classic Aero-TV: In Praise of Alabama’s Patriot Aircraft USA

From 2023 (YouTube Edition): "Ain’t Your Daddy’s Super Cub”—Don Wade

Co-owned by Don and Ron Wade—the former of Don’s Dream Machines, a storied Alabama Continental and Lycoming engine shop—Patriot Aircraft USA is the proud maker of the Super Patriot, an eminently capable and stylish backcountry STOL airplane patterned, after a fashion, on Piper’s iconic J-3 Cub. Of the company over which he presides, Patriot Aircraft USA president Don Wade states: “Patriot Aircraft stands as a proud symbol of unyielding adventure, freedom, and unwavering American values..." 

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NTSB Prelim: Toomey Long EZ

At An Altitude Of 1,500 Ft Above Ground Level (AGL), The Airplane’S Engine Began To Run “Extremely Rough.”

On November 19, 2025, about 1630 eastern standard time, an experimental, amateur-built Long EZ, N82MT, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Beaufort, South Carolina. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The airplane departed the Chesapeake Regional Airport (CPK), Chesapeake, Virginia, at 1345, with an intended destination of Zephyrhills Municipal Airport (ZPH), Zephyrhills, Florida. Preliminary Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data obtained from the FAA showed that the airplane climb

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Looking for a Job? ANN is Looking to Give You One!

We’re Hiring Editors, Developers, Video Journalists, Oh My!

Yes, despite the last few years being one of the most unpredictable stretches in aviation media we can remember, ANN is still standing… and somehow, still expanding. The pandemic didn’t exactly make life easy, but we’ve come through it with enough energy to tackle our next round of projects. Fortunately for you, they are already stacking up faster than we can keep up with. Moving forward, we’ll be ramping up efforts on an expanded “Airborne Unlimited,” launching the third version of the SportPlane Resource Guide in a digital format, rolling out coverage for all the greatest airshows, and diving into new Aero-Reality programmin

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Expanding Our Vast Horizons... ANN Now Available on Roku and FireTV!

And That's But One Of Over A Dozen Major Developments Planned For The Next Year Or So

Aero-News Network is now available on Roku and Amazon FireTV! That’s right folks. You can now get your daily dose of aviation news… right on the ol' giggle box! This is an EPIC development for our network, one of many to come, and we’re thrilled to offer you this new way to watch our news programming. Whether you’re a traditional website reader, podcast listener, or YouTube subscriber, we’re dedicated to giving you quality, honest, aviation news that you can trust and broadening our reach and audience aggressively in the coming years, so that we may both Grow and Inform the aviatio

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The Go-to Guide for Affordable Flying Is (Finally) Returning

SportPlane Resource Guide (NG) Volume 3 is Bigger, Bolder, and a Whole Lot Easier to Carry

The SportPlane Resource Guide has, like many old kit builds, been collecting dust for years. Over the next year, the book is finally getting a third edition…and this time, it's going digital -- uit HAS to... its simply too big to carry around. Aero-News Network is well on its way to debuting the new e-book with a renewed focus on affordable, entry-level flying mach

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Aero-Biz Survival 101 (1120a): Expert Ideas To Help You Through Tough Times

Brand New! Avoid The Need For A Comeback... Get Your Marketing Right, Right Now!

Some time ago, the Aero-News Network, responding to numerous requests, established a marketing and communications sister company by the name of AEROPRENEUER... and it's been doing amazing work under these difficult circumstances -- and getting results! We're getting rave reviews from our clients, and working hard to earn the trust of a number of new marketing partners along the way. ANN's Amber Cedroni has come up with a few tips to help aero-businesses stay alive in these tough times, and

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ANN: Your Daily Source of Aviation News - However You Like It

Whether You’re a Reader, Watcher, or Listener, ANN Has Got the Coverage You Need

Aero-News Network has been delivering aviation and aerospace news for thirty years (!!!), and by now, we’ve wiggled our way onto just about every platform out there. Whether you’d rather read, watch, or stream, there’s a way to keep ANN in your daily routine. Here’s a quick rundown of where you can find us...  

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ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (12.24.25)

Aero Linx: Aerospace Human Factors Association (AsHFA) The AsHFA Network brings together a vibrant, growing, and welcoming community of aerospace human factors professionals—uniting experts from industry, government, academia, and clinical practice. Whether you are an established specialist or exploring new frontiers in aerospace human performance, the Network offers a place to connect, collaborate, and innovate.

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ANN's Daily Aero-Term (12.24.25): Mach Technique [ICAO]

Mach Technique [ICAO] Describes a control technique used by air traffic control whereby turbojet aircraft operating successively along suitable routes are cleared to maintain appropriate MACH numbers for a relevant portion of the en route phase of flight. The principal objective is to achieve improved utilization of the airspace and to ensure that separation between successive aircraft does not decrease below the established minima. 

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ANN FAQ: View Aero-News YOUR Way ... The 'Headlines And Teasers' Option

Choose How YOU Want To View Your Aero News: Headlines And Teasers

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.

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Aero-News: Quote of the Day (12.24.25)

N479BR owners stated that N479BR... "experienced a rapid, uncommanded loss of pressurization... whereupon the two pilots immediately put on their oxygen masks and the Autoland system 'automatically engaged exactly as designed when the cabin altitude exceeded the prescribed safe levels," the company said. The pilots decided to leave the system engaged due to the 'complexity' of the situation... While the system performed exactly as expected, the pilots were prepared to resume manual control of the aircraft should the system have malfunctioned in any way..." 

Source: Some intriguing, if questionable, comments about the re

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