Also: SkyFest Returns To Arlington, NY Air Show, Lovell Remembered, Virgin Galactic Delays
A uniquely painted 1958 Cessna Skyhawk, which had already been reported stolen once this summer, was recovered on the night of August 3 after being taken from Brackett Field in La Verne, California. The plane, owned by 75-year-old Jason Hong of Yorba Linda, was first stolen from Corona Municipal Airport sometime between May and late July. Falling just short of the 30,351-jump record, the 2025 World Skydiving Day counted 26,718 skydives from almost 40 countries. The United States topped the charts this year, with more than 13,000 jumps logged in the 24-hour period. The FAA has unveiled a new workforce plan that aims to hire 8,900 air traffic controllers by the end of 2028, with 2,000 of those hires expected in 2025. The move is part of a larger strategy to address the agency’s persistent staffing shortages, which have contributed to delays, operational strain, and growing concerns about airspace safety. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unlimited!!!
Airborne 08.11.25 is chock full of info in this Daily News Episode, Monday, August 11th, 2025... Presented by Aero-TV veteran videographer and Airborne Host Holland Lee. Holland is supported by ANN Chief Videographer Nathan Cremisino, as well as ANN CEO/Editor-In-Chief Jim Campbell. This episode covers:
Colorful Cessna Found in SoCal After Being Stolen… Again
World Skydiving Day 2025 Nears Record Numbers
FAA Looks to Bring On Nearly 9,000 New Air Traffic Controllers
SkyFest Returns To Arlington Muni Airport August 18th
NY Air Show Returns To Orange County Airport!
EAA Statement On Passing Of Apollo Astronaut Jim Lovell
Surprise, Surprise: Virgin Galactic Delays Space Tourism Project
Get Comprehensive, Real-Time, 24/7 coverage of the latest aviation and aerospace stories anytime, at aero-news.net. And be sure to join us again tomorrow, for the next edition of "Airborne Unlimited" here on Aero-TV. Thanks for watching. See you, again, tomorrow!
Airborne-NextGen 08.26.25: Iran UAV Knockoffs, X-37B Spaceplane, Army Training
Also: ERAU Uses UAVs, P550 Group 2 UAS, Starship’s Florida Launches, NASA Missions Chopped
The Air Force has put out a call to commission a one-to-one copy of the Iranian-designed Shahed-136. This is a low-cost attack drone that Russia has been using heavily against Ukraine… and that the US wants to know just how to take down. The request for information specifies that the drone must match the Shahed’s form, fit, and function, though the government isn’t providing any technical specifics. The X37B Orbital Test Vehicle launched this past week, August 21, on its eighth mission, lifting off at 11:50 p.m. ET aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Kennedy Space Center, Fla. The vehicle is now reported as 'healthy' on orbit and proceeding with standard checkout. Less than six months after completing its seventh mission with a landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., on March 7, 2025, the spaceplane is back in space. The US Army is making an “aggressive attempt” to get up to speed in drone operations by launching its Unmanned Advanced Lethality Course. Soldiers will spend several weeks out at Fort Rucker to build flying skills and practice drone strike scenarios. The program spans over a month, beginning with three weeks of classroom instruction. Soldiers get 20 to 25 hours on commercial simulators like Liftoff, VelociDrone, and Drone Racing League, essentially creating a “video game” type experience that soothes the transition to real-world flying. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-NextGen!!!
This year’s Zenith Homecoming event will soon be taking off at the plane maker’s kit factory, located on the grounds of Mexico Memorial Airport (KMYJ) in Missouri. 2025 marks the 34th round of the annual Open Hangar Days and Fly-In, bringing together kit builders and aviation enthusiasts from across the country. The event, held on September 19 and 20, has a fairly similar format to previous years. The FAA’s Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative (PAFI) is the current path for unleaded aviation fuels to clear regulatory hurdles… and it is not designed for shortcuts. Race Fuel Technology developer VP Racing is diving headfirst into this multi-year process with its UL100E unleaded avgas. After a master strategy meeting earlier this month on the grounds of the Sun n Fun Aerospace Expo campus, details have been completed for the first MOSAIC-dedicated, MOSAIC-centric Affordable Flying Expo (AFE25). With the rule officially announced, AFE25 stands to be the best opportunity for MOSAIC-interested folks to get their questions answered and for the industry to show the aviation community that they are ready to serve this expanding niche. All this occurs at THE BEST Sport Aviation facility in the South, the Sun n Fun Aerospace Expo, this November 6-8, 2025. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unlimited!!!
Organizers of the iconic annual Air Race Classic will soon be opening registration for their spin-off event, called the Air Derby. This so-called “Twist on Tradition” condenses the usual four-day, 2,000-mile odyssey into a one-day exercise in precision, planning, and navigation. Registration opens on September 1, with flights allowed anytime between October 1 and 14… and yes, unlike the original event, it is open to both male and female pilots. The National Championship Air Races have revealed the official lineup of competitors for the 2025 debut event to take place in Roswell, New Mexico, on September 10-14. Steen Strand, CEO of Emteq Labs, was the first to note that Kirk Hawkins perished August 19 in a wingsuit accident... Strand Posted, "I have devastating news to share. We lost Kirk, my close friend and partner at ICON Aircraft, to a wingsuit accident in Switzerland." Hawkins was the leading force behind the failed effort to develop an affordable amphibian LSA that came to be known as the ICON A5... All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unlimited!!!
Airborne-Flight Training 08.21.25: IndiGo Questioned, Drunk SWA Pilot, Air India
Also: Spartan Acquires, ICAO Warns, Mesa Standing Strong, Fight Against the ATC Shortage
India’s primary aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), is forcing IndiGo to the stand after learning that up to 1,700 of its pilots may have conducted training in unapproved flight simulators. The airline has two weeks to respond. The regulator says the lapses involve training for “critical airfield” operations into Leh, Kozhikode, and Kathmandu… all airports that demand extra preparation due to terrain, runway layout, or other unique challenges. Body cam footage was recently pulled from the arrest of David Allsop, a 52-year-old Southwest pilot who recently learned just how seriously sobriety laws are taken when it comes to bringing hundreds of people into the sky. He failed two sobriety tests before being arrested and having his license revoked. Newly released body camera footage shows police escorting David Allsop off a plane in Savannah, Georgia, where he was preparing to fly passengers to Chicago. India’s aviation regulator has issued a warning to its flagship airline after it allegedly exceeded the 10-hour pilot flight time limit at least twice. The show-cause was sent in June, and it seems Air India’s explanation didn’t do the trick. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the violations occurred on Bengaluru–London services AI133 on May 16 and 17, 2025, and were uncovered during a spot check. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne!!!
Airborne 08.20.25: More ATC $$$, Skydivers Win Dispute, Archer Long X-C
Also: New A4A Head, NCAR Still Green Lit, Textron ATAC, E-130J Becomes “Phoenix II”
SecTrans Sean Duffy, shortly after receiving $12.5 billion for the same cause, is looking for lawmakers to put another $19 billion towards the ATC system overhaul. However, it seems that Congress won’t bite until it sees meaningful progress from previous efforts. Duffy is signaling that what’s been allocated so far barely scratches the surface of what he claims is needed for the full modernization effort… lucky for him, the proposal has already earned some high-profile support. The Federal Aviation Administration Office of Airport Compliance recently issued a Director’s Determination that takes the side of a Nashville skydiving center, finally putting an end to a six-year legal dispute. The agency pointed out multiple grant violations, unreasonable requirements, and purposeful inaction in its decision. Archer Aviation’s ‘Midnight’ electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft has completed a 55-mile, 31-minute flight, marking its longest piloted flight to date. This, along with recent speed advancements, is a testament to the company’s envelope expansion efforts ahead of FAA certification. The flight was conducted from Archer’s test site in Salinas, California, with United Airlines executives on hand to witness the milestone. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unlimited!!!
SpaceX’s Starship is getting prepared to launch on Sunday August 24, with the launch window opening at 6:30 pm CDT. SpaceX has completed its investigations into the ninth flight test that ended with the loss of Starship as well as the Ship 36 static fire anomaly. Elroy Air, a San Francisco, California-based developer of autonomous hybrid-electric VTOL cargo aircraft announced it successfully accomplished transition flight, with its Chaparral aircraft performing vertical takeoff and then transforming to wing-borne horizontal flight three times since the end of July. The aircraft performed the transition flights autonomously and reached forward speeds of up to 70 mph. Boeing subsidiary Wisk Aero is partnering with Signature Aviation, a private aviation terminal provider, to make advanced air mobility (AAM) a reality. The Memorandum of Understanding outlines plans to proactively develop the necessary infrastructure for autonomous eVTOL operations. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-NextGen!!!
Airborne 08.18.25: Unlimiteds Cancel NCAR25, Starship 10, No ATC Privatization
Also: Solar-Powered Record, IAM Appeals, Airshow Pilot Lost, Air India Flamed
The Unlimited Class recently confirmed that it would be withdrawing from this year’s National Championship Air Races (NCAR), unfortunately following suit with the Sport Class, which announced its decision in late July. This leaves five classes to compete. The Reno Air Racing Association announced the Unlimited Class decision, calling it disappointing but not unexpected given the logistical hurdles of relocating an event that, until now, had spent 59 years in Reno. SpaceX’s Starship is getting prepared to launch on Sunday August 24, with the launch window opening at 6:30 pm CDT. SpaceX has completed its investigations into the ninth flight test that ended with the loss of Starship as well as the Ship 36 static fire anomaly. DoT Secretary Sean Duffy said recently that he is not considering privatizing the FAA or its air traffic control system, despite President Donald Trump having suggested it during his first term. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unlimited!!!
Airborne 08.15.25: NBAA v NYT Misinfo, MT Ldg Accident, Jump Pay Nixed
Also: Katharine Wright Trophy, Teen Pilot vv Antarctic, DA62 MPP, IndiGo Questioned
The New York Times put out a video editorial that included mischaracterizations and misstatements regarding how general and business aviation contribute to the funding of the nation’s aviation system. But NBAA corrected them in a letter to the news organization. On Monday, August 11, what looks to have been a stall during landing left five aircraft damaged. The four passengers traveling in the Socata TBM-850 survived, with two suffering minor injuries. Flight tracking data shows that the TBM-850 went down while attempting to land at Kalispell City Airport in Montana. The privately operated turboprop, registered N860CA to Meter Sky LLC, was on approach to runway 13 and seemed to stall just before the threshold, then veered off to the left. A fair number of Army paratroopers stand to lose monthly payments of $150 in monthly as leadership makes changes to the airborne force with the ‘reclassification’ of more than 22,000 paid parachutist positions. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unlimited!!!
Also: iFly EFB, World Skydiving Day, Air Avionics, Two New CubCrafters Kits
After a master strategy meeting this past week on the grounds of the Sun n Fun Aerospace Expo campus, details have been completed for the first MOSAIC-dedicated, MOSAIC-centric Affordable Flying Expo (AFE25). With the rule officially announced, AFE25 stands to be the best opportunity for MOSAIC-interested folks to get their questions answered and for the industry to show the aviation community that they are ready to serve this expanding niche. Van’s Aircraft RV-15 has officially gone into production. Wing kits will be the first off the line, with deliveries expected before the year’s end. Van’s Aircraft is an iconic name in the homebuilt community, with more than 11,000 aircraft flying worldwide. One of the many surprises at Oshkosh, this year, was not just the classic and classy new Spirit SE-1, but the all-new engine that powered it. Spirit Engineering developed the Spirit V2, a two-cylinder engine specifically crafted for their single-seater SE-1 aircraft, but it may eventually be seen in other aircraft... All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne!!!
After President Trump slapped a 39 percent import tariff on Swiss goods, Pilatus decided to temporarily cut ties with the US market by refusing to deliver PC-12 and PC-24 business jets to American customers. If the tariff chaos doesn’t die down soon, the commercial aviation industry could be facing similar complications. British low-cost airline group easyJet suspended one of its captains after being reported by guests who witnessed him drunk and naked at a luxury resort hotel in Cape Verde on August 5. He was due to fly a return leg to London Gatwick more than 36 hours later but the airline grounded him after the complaints and locating a replacement pilot. The Commemorative Air Force’s Air Base Georgia recently honored a true American hero in a powerful tribute flight on the P-51 Mustang Red Nose, assigned to Air Base Georgia and piloted by John Currenti. Mr. Petry was attending the recent EAA AirVenture Airshow and Fly-in in Oshkosh as a special guest of American Airlines and a participant in the annual Honor Flight. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unlimited!!!
Also: Model Aviation Month, ANA-Joby Form JV, Embraer Receives STC, Virgin Galactic Delays
The US Department of Transportation has officially dropped a long-anticipated rule that could change the game for American drone operators. Unveiled August 6 by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, the new proposed rule would (finally) allow unmanned aircraft to fly beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) without case-by-case exemptions. Archer Aviation announced two strategic acquisitions intended to speed up the development of its next-generation defense aircraft. Overair, a spinoff of Karem Aircraft, and Mission Critical Composites bring to Archer a patent portfolio, critical talent, composite manufacturing assets and a 60,000 sq ft facility specializing in defense composites. Pivotal recently put on a series of public safety demos for several fire agencies in California to showcase the potential of its single-seat aircraft to drastically improve emergency response capabilities, particularly in locations where terrain, time, or traffic could be the difference between life and death. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-NextGen!!!
Airborne 08.11.25: Cessna Stolen Again, World Skydiving Day, 9000 Controllers?
Also: SkyFest Returns To Arlington, NY Air Show, Lovell Remembered, Virgin Galactic Delays
A uniquely painted 1958 Cessna Skyhawk, which had already been reported stolen once this summer, was recovered on the night of August 3 after being taken from Brackett Field in La Verne, California. The plane, owned by 75-year-old Jason Hong of Yorba Linda, was first stolen from Corona Municipal Airport sometime between May and late July. Falling just short of the 30,351-jump record, the 2025 World Skydiving Day counted 26,718 skydives from almost 40 countries. The United States topped the charts this year, with more than 13,000 jumps logged in the 24-hour period. The FAA has unveiled a new workforce plan that aims to hire 8,900 air traffic controllers by the end of 2028, with 2,000 of those hires expected in 2025. The move is part of a larger strategy to address the agency’s persistent staffing shortages, which have contributed to delays, operational strain, and growing concerns about airspace safety. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unlimited!!!
Also: New SAF, Korean Air Buys 103 Boeings, Maryland SP Helo Rescue, OK AWOS Update
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation announced its first customer delivery of the all-new Gulfstream G800, “the world’s longest range business aircraft.” The G800 capped off its certification process back in April. Its biggest point of pride is the “industry’s lowest cabin altitude of 2,840 feet” at a 41,000 ft cruise. It even has the newer “plasma ionization air purification system” that became something to have in the COVID days, as well as a 100% fresh air system inside. Freezing temperatures and water-contaminated hydraulic fluid combined to bring down an F-35A Lightning II on January 28 at Eielson AFB, Alaska. After the pilot attempted to troubleshoot the issue for nearly an hour, the aircraft stopped responding to control inputs so he ejected safely and walked under his own power to an ambulance as the aircraft crashed in a fireball on the base. The Coast Guard, Royal Canadian Air Force, and the Canadian Coast Guard successfully conducted two separate medical evacuations from the cruise ship Ruby Princess, approximately 145 nm west of Cape Flattery, Washington, on Sunday August 24. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unlimited!!!
Airborne Affordable Flyers 08.28.25: Midwest Av Expo, Vickers, Air Race Classic
Also: Air Race Tkts Marked Down, Kirk Hawkins Lost, GADFLY AI-Driven Engine Analysis, Sport Aviation Halls of Fame
The Aero-News crew is getting ready to pack up a lot of video gear, their laptops and other tools in order to cover next week’s MidWest Aviation Expo. The 17th ANNUAL Midwest Aviation Expo will be Thursday, September 4-6, 2025 at the Mt. Vernon Outland Airport (MVN) Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Midwest Aviation Expo has been specifically organized to showcase the sport aviation industry and they do it quite well... turning into one of our favorite annual events... affording one and all to see some of the latest LSA and other sport aircraft as well as conduct a LOT of demo rides and one-on-one conversations about the planes and products on display. With MOSAIC finally in the rear view mirror, a number of promising LSA and Sport Aviation projects are starting to emerge out of the darkness. one of the more interesting is the Vickers wave, and all composite amphibious Pusher aircraft with side by side seating then something of a resemblance to the failed icon program. The Vickers program shows promise... Organizers of the iconic annual Air Race Classic will soon be opening registration for their spin-off event, called the Air Derby. This so-called “Twist on Tradition” condenses the usual four-day, 2,000-mile odyssey into a one-day exercise in precision, planning, and navigation. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne!!!
Airborne 08.27.25: Air Race Tkt Discounts, Europe AvGas, Deportation Flights?
Also: 500-Aircraft Deal With China, Florida ANG's F-35, FAA Denies Petition, UC Central Arkansas Aviation Academy
The Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) is offering its apologies to fans for the double class withdrawal from this year’s National Championship Air Races (NCAR). This comes in the form of 10 percent ticket refunds on existing orders, a 10 percent price drop on all new tickets, and the option to seek a complete refund or deferral to 2026. The three largest European suppliers of leaded avgas were recently granted an extension to the EU’s ban, securing 100LL production until April 2032. The first of the three approvals, granted for Shell, came from the European Commission’s REACH Committee on June 26. It passed with 26 votes in favor, one abstention, and none opposed, effectively securing Shell’s 100LL supply chain for the next seven years. DHS may be looking to create its own sort of airline for deporting illegal immigrants, aiming to cut the expenses of chartering aircraft. The agency would need to almost double the fleet it currently charters to meet its target number of deportations. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unlimited!!!
