Also: CiES Documents, Hypersonic Tech, SKYTRAC Health Monitoring, Skyryse 

Archer Aviation announced a blueprint for an eVTOL network in New York City that would connect travelers between Manhattan and nearby airports in New York and New Jersey that would use existing aviation assets like helipads in the city and airports as nodes for travelers looking to save travel time. In preparation for an upcoming In-Space Advanced Manufacturing (ISAM) mission, UK-based startup Space Forge has officially shipped its ForgeStar-1 satellite to the US. The work aims to harness space’s extreme conditions to create materials unavailable here on the blue planet. The company’s first rendition of the microwave-sized in-space manufacturing satellite, titled Forgestar-0, launched on a Virgin Orbit rocket in January 2023. However, a failure of the spacecraft’s fuel filter caused Forgestar-0 and several other research satellites to land in the Atlan

Also: Astronaut Pettit & Cosmonauts Return, Malaysia Wants Boeing Slots, Germany Nixes Typhoon Sale, More Boeing Woes

The CAF’s restored C-47 Skytrain “Ready 4 Duty” arrived at Maxwell AFB (KMXF) in Montgomery, Alabama, on April 17 for the first stop in its Navy to Victory tour recognizing the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII. The tour will cover 12,000  miles as it makes 30 stops in 7 countries in the USand Europe, returning home to Lancaster, Texas on July 4. For the fourth time since 2017, Congress is reviewing a bill that could completely reshape low-level drone flight in the US. The Drone Integration and Zoning Act would allow all 90,000 of the nation’s local governments to regulate drones below 200 feet as they please. The concept was first introduced under the name ‘Drone Federalism Act’ in 2017. The bill changed to its current title, ‘Drone Integration and Zoning Act,’ when Senator

Also: Cal Poly Aviation Club, $$un Country, Arkansas Aviation Academy, Teamsters Local 2118

In response to two recent general aviation accidents that made national headlines, more than 5,000 pilots have joined the “National Pause for General Aviation Safety.” This is a six-month campaign launched in April 2025 by the Air Safety Institute. The initiative, backed by the FAA and 22 other aviation organizations, urges GA pilots to slow down, refocus, and maybe—just maybe—stop flying into trouble. Epic Flight Academy and Seminole State College of Florida (SSC) have signed an agreement that enables pilots trained at Epic to transfer certifications as college credit hours toward a degree at SSC. A maximum number of 27 credits can be applied toward an Associate degree. An associate degree at Seminole State College requires 60 credit hours, so a pilot who goes from Private to CFI at Epic can get credit for nearly half that total. ALP

Pilot’s Failure To Maintain Airplane Control During Final Approach After Encountering An Unexpected Windshear

Analysis: According to the pilot, about 150 ft above ground level, the airplane encountered an unexpected windshear which resulted in a “significant sink rate” and loss of about 10 knots of airspeed. The pilot attempted to arrest the descent by adding engine power but was unsuccessful. The airplane landed hard, bounced, and then settled on the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

From 2016 (YouTube Edition): Who You Gonna Call When You Have a Rocket Engine that Needs a Spacecraft?

While at EAA AirVenture 2016, ANN CEO and Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell, sat down to talk with an old acquaintance about rocket flight and the spaceflight industry. He met up with Jeff Greason, who is the CEO of a new company called Agile Aero. Greason had been previously connected with XCOR Aerospace, and Jim asked about his venture in this new direction. You really have to watch the video to get the whole story about what Agile Aero is going to accomplish, but in a brief explanation, it could best be described as an organization that helps other companies find quick solutions to prototype spacecraft. 

New Variant Enables Conventional Takeoff & Landing

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions revealed an artist’s rendering of what will become the distinguishing feature of its new variant of the XQ-58 Valkyrie: retractable landing gear. The illustration was posted on X by the company.

 

 

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 co

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